The Honourable T. H. Liddell dined on Friday last with
a party or his friends at South Shields. His defence of the Londonder: y letter was but a lame affair-
" I have been called a hypocrite, and every name that is a disgrace to man- kind, merely because I received a letter from the 'Marquis of Loader:de:rya which was neither more nor less than an appeal from himself and Lady Lee- donderry to their friends and agents, and those connected with them b, the closest ties. It was nothing more nor less than, I may almost say, an affection- ate appeal to them to give what support they had in their power to that tackle- dual whom the noble Marquis deeined most worthy to be returned as their Representative. And, gentlemen, that letter was sent at a period sane flick time subsequent to the bringing forward of Sir W. Chaytar as my oppenents and when I tell you that beforehand 1 had already secured abundant u ppar: without any influence being used further than the known expression of his W- ings, I do ask whether, when the unexpected opposition rose up as it del, there Was any thing unconstitutional, oppressive, or tyrannical, in Lord Londonderry 'ending down such a letter as has appeared in print, in furtherance of the chime of that man he deemed most worthy to represent the county of Durhzw When the opposite party can point out any act of violence, or any tyrannicae,. threat, or show that any such act has been used in consequence of that letter. then let theta complain set Lord Londonderry's letter."
[If the "known expression " of Lord Londonderry's " feelings" bail elready secured Mr. Liddell " abundent support," where was the flea of ;he letter, and the threat with which it concluded? Answer that; Mr. Liddell.]
This foolish Member cannot let the Ballot alone-
" in considering the results of the late election, they undoubtedly coneey to a meat degree of gratification. It has diminished the forces of both the Whir. Radicals and of the extreme party ; And to get out of the difficulty in whate :my are placed, those despicable to- 'tans are now crying out for a further ex- tension of the democratic ,..e, in order to obtain that which under their own much-lauded Reform Bill they find themselves unable to tee:tie—main- tenance in office. Thus we see reiterated by the Whigs the Radical cry isx. the Ballot ; which has even a place fur an echo in South Sahli ! Lobe and general cries of" Nu, no !" ) But it is a cry which 1 believe y,na inosg- nantty repudiate. It is one which is not merely objectionable morall..—there are aka what I have before called technical objections, which rescue[ it dltheal if not impossible, to carry it into effect in the present state of the inan.elniae- When he alluded to what I has previously said as to those ditimulties, Mr. flute said, if I would apply to him he would show me twenty methods by whiall thing could be done. If Mr. Hutt frail given tae one good mhe I could liave spared him the other nineteen. But, in spite of the alleged simplicity of the ballot, I have reason to feel convinced that the technical di.tieulties vviil not be easily overcome. They are admitted in au article winch app,:ared in the Spec• tator,• wheleM it is proposed that a rehearsal should be made by -ICI or :kV electors at a time to enable them to practise vote by ballot, which is to he the grand 'panacea of every political evil. We are told that a machine ha- l:erica* structed by an ingenious mechanist for the purpose ; and I presume he Ma- jesty's Ministers will appoint a commission for rehearsing the mode of taking the vote by ballot in bodies of 300 or 900; and it is certainly Muted by est Spectator that some patriotic individual had a patent right to this machiae.1 Thus we shall have Mr. Ilutt with his twenty plans, Mr. Grote aiol the Spec-. tutor with their one plan, and the Government with its commission, all taking the thing in bard. We are told that it would lead to an increase of democratic power, and we are also told to look to Ateerioa. I would also call en, you, as commercial men, to look at the present condition of America ; and for myself trust say, that I hope some time will elapse heft,: e we shall have a further infu- sion of bean:racy into our constitution, when we see the miserable condition to which the finances of America have been reduced by the great preponderance e" the democratic principle in the constitution of that empire, urged by tile will cr: the DJunocracy to a degree of confusion which, to a commercial cou atry, ie a greater calamity than the united calamities of plague, pestilence, and I mune." [ What has become of your wise objection ebout the two balls and the ballot.box, Mr. Liddell? Why did you not reiterate that wise observation? You still think there are technical diffieultiee—you " I—ve reason to think" secret voting impracticable : then let us kio net what is your reason. At the former dinner you specified ar came to the balls lied the box: point out the difficulty of Me.. C sete's plan. And when you next profess to quote the Spectator ac tin authority, pray don't misrepresent it, after the fashion of ilitties lel ial hacks in town and country.] A dinner was given at Hertford, on Monday, to celebrate the raters- of Lord Mahon ; which was attended, accoiding to time IN•..neer, 1)r. only thirty persons.
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