All three candidates were busy among the electors of Southwark
last night. Sir William Molesworth met the inhabitants of a fresh district, in the large assembly-room of the Leather-market Tavern, at Bermondsey, which was well-filled; and he repeated the statements which he had made elsewhere. No questions were put; the electors crying out that they were well-satisfied; and a resolution, pledging those present to promote his election, was moved. In support of it, Mr. Aldis, a Dissenting minister, made this declaration— Though he was a most hearty and determined opponent of the Maynooth grant, he intended to record Ids vote in favour of Sir William Molesworth. ff he thought it possible to send to Parliament a man exactly representing his own opinions, he would vote for Mr. Miall—who was to a certain extent a personal friend of" his own: however, be considered, not only what was desirable, but what was attain- able; and from what he knew of the constituency of Southwark he did not think that it would be possible at present to carry Mr. Miall's election. Feeling that if he voted for Mr. Mall he would subtract from Sir William Mole.sworth's majority, and that if he abstained from voting at all he would be promoting the interests of the Tory candidate, be felt it his duty to support Sir William Moleaworth.
The resolution was carried without a dissentient voice.
Mr. Miall's meeting was at Knighton's Assembly Rooms, in Blackfriars Road. The principal topics of his speech were the Maynooth grant; "the French system of centralization," imitated in our Poor-law, and pur- sued by Sir James Graham; the abuses of the Poor-law; free erade; and class-legislation, pointing to the fact that the electors choose their repre- sentatives from a class- He believed that the Government had been carried on by means of a class- legislation which made laws to oppress the country at large. They had hitherto looked to baronets and those having titles to represent them. They had been led to think that with title, talents, private worth, and virtue existed. The people had not turned their eyes to themselves; and thus, if they looked to the Members of the present House, they would on their foreheads see the word "class" written.
Some one calling out "No claptrap!" Mr. Miall answered, that he had advocated the principles now advanced when it was dangerous to do so, and long before "the People's Charter" was promulgated. There was Some opposition to a resolution in his favour; but an amendment found no seconder, and the resolution passed.
The first general meeting of the Conservative candidate Mr. Pilcher'a supporters was held at the Bridge-house Hotel; and before the close of the meeting, nearly five hundred persons were in the room. Mr. Pilcher's address was remarkable chiefly for its negative character and large admis- Sion& He mainly relied on the long residence of his family in the borough, and his knowledge of its interests; he avowed himself "a firm Protestant," and "a friend to the poor." In reply to a question, whether he would vote for the extension of grants for ecclesiastical purposes, he replied, he had no hesitation in saying that he considered the Church to be quite rich enough without other support. An elector asked if he would support Mr. Villiers's motion for unqualified and immediate repeal of the Corn-laws; which elid- ed this curious reply-
" I should not like to be sent to Parliament shackled and chained on this ques- tion. (" Oh, oh!") It shall have my serious attention. (A voice—"Have you sot considered it ") I am in favour of a repeal of the Corn-laws, with such qualifications as would most benefit the community without inflicting injury on any individual or body of individuals. With regard to free trade, it is now only a question of time, and only a short time too. Even Sir Robert Peel says it will come to that soon; and perhaps he is even now only considering what he should give to the landowners in lieu—whether there shall be a consolidation of the Corn-
'
law and land be relieved of the Poor-law, thereby granting an unshackled trade in the staff of life."
./4 resolution in Mr. Pilcher's favour was carried by a doubtful majority.
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