The Sun. — London, England, 1832-12-25 00:00:00

Ri GENERAL ELECTION. MIDDLESEX. (Concluded from our Paper of yesterday.) • Mr. HUME'S speech continued—This was the opinion of Ministers, for whom the Nob'e Lord had spoken, and by whose directions he brought forward the Reform Bill, which cannot he complete unless this ancient principle be carried into effect; and as it has not already been done, it will have to be carried by a Reformed Parliament. But there has been always an excuse against this species of Reform. I have been often told, " You cannot trust the people--they want information, and they cannot discrimi nate who are and who are not fit to be Members." I have, however, always said that there is no class, however low, that may not he respectable,—the very lowest equally so with the very highest. I for one don't attach respecta bility to the mere acquisition of wealth, or to the posses s•mn of—as they have been termed—dirty acres—(Cheers) --but that if a man be even a chimney-sweep, if he only act in a manner becoming his station, I believe him to be a man of more honour read move honesty than many men in the higher classes.---(Cheers.) Every man who performs his duty to his country, to society, to his friends, and con nexions, may be as respectable as the highest, although he may not have a shilling in his pocket.—(Cheers.) I cm never admit the old doctrine, that respectability applies oely to men of riches. I wish to extend the right of suffrage ; and in order to prepare the people for it, I would extend the benefits of education, and thereby enable them to dis eriminate who is fittest to represent them, and what mea sures are the most conducive to their interests.--(Cheers.) I hope that the community at large has an increased interne - once, though I do believe that there are many who have strugeled hard with poverty, and have bean unable to devote their time to instruction, so as to have become what they ought to be—members of a free State. The man who is taxed, and is without a vote, is not a freeman. He has a stain put upon hint which I would remove if possible, and I would thus add to the number of the constituents, and thereby add to the permanence of the Government and to the security of property.—(Loud and continued cheering.) I would, in lid, remove all causes of dissatisfaction. I have been told, " Don't trust the people ;" but why not? I have always found them honest; there are certainly bad men io all classes of society, but it has not been my lot to find fewer of them in the higher than in the lower classes.—(Cheers.) Indeed, if I speak the truth I am deserted by my rich friends--(Laughter)—who were anxious for my assistance when it suited their purpose, but now when the tug has come they have deserted me. I have found as much honesty in the middling as in the higher classes; and I hope I shall never desert the duty I owe of taking care of the interests of the middling classes. If we cannot do much, we will, at all events, point out what ought to be done, and I will leave it to the public to call on their represen tatives to put an end to all corrupt influence. If we cannot do that, we can dry up the resources of the Exchequer— (Loud laughter)—and that will be the surest means of obtaining redress.—(Cheers.) I expect great and im portant results in the course of a few years. I do not think it necessary now to go through all the Reforms— (A cry of " The Church") —because I speak of the prin. eiple generally ; hut I am just reminded by a friend near me of one part—namely, Church Reform. It may appear surprising to you, Gentlemen, that I our not so great a Church Reformer as many who are around roe. Indeed I have been considered rather an ultr as a Church Reformer ; but they refused all Reform twelve years ago, when that which would have satisfied the people then will not satisfy them now.—(Loud cheers.) I will state what I am prepared to do. lam not prepared to pull down the Church establishment, but lam prepared to reduce or abolish all pluralities—to di, tribute the public money among the working classes of the clergy, and to remove those drones that take the money but do no duty. I am prepared to take off the press nt onerous charge which presses on the Dissenters to support the Church.—(Cheers.) There are ample funds to sup port the Church establishment ; and if we are to have civil and religious liberty complete, it can never be so while I am obliged to pay another man's clergyman to support his Church.--CCheers.) With regard to the Bishops, I am desirous to remove them from the House of Lords; and while I say so, I am quite satisfied that I ant friend to that establishment which is at present in danger of being destroyed.—(Cheers.) I would have no clerical Lalagistrates—let them be confined to their pulpits and their p rrishes, and then the bad feeling which now exists will Ire destroyed. I am quite satisfied that if these changes are effected as regards the Church, and if thett'Are entirelyeemoved by commutation, and thereby in the want of employment arises from persons being unwil ling to employ capital for improving the land from the stead they have of the interference of the clergy man. The people must, however, bear in mind that a little patience is necessary, and that everything cannot be done at once. Sudden changes are liable to produce evils which ought to be avoided, and therefore I will riot hastily advomate any measure whatever. An other question is the operation of these changes as affecting the public creditor ; I, for one, am not tor defrauding the public creditor.—(Cheers.) Let us reduce our public expenditure, and let us not act unjustly ; but so take care of our own money, and ap ply it in such a manner, as to give relief to the country. It is not the amount of taxes which is so mischievolm, but it is the bad distribution of them.—(Cries of, True, true," and cheers.) I will give you one instance. The landed interest claims to be protected, while all other interests should be alike protected. Personal inte rests are of inferior value; and the qualification for a Member of Parliament is made in land, as if no other interest were at stake. The landowner. have been our legislators, and they it was who made our Taxes.—(Loud cheers,) If you look at the in heritance of land and that of money, there can be no doubt that the Legacy Tax is one which ought imme diately to be abolished. If the legacy be land it passes with out taxation, but if you have a hundred pounds, or five bun rhee pounds, to leave to your children, then a tax is placed upon it. I hope that a reformed Hoses of Commons will take an early opportunity of putting an end to that qualification, and put the rich and poor .in an equal footing in that respect. One of the favourite maxims of relief with me is the employment of the la h,:uring classes. I will state, confidently, that in this country five-eighths of the population are manufacturers; and as there are so many unemployed, and many others badly employed, it is the duty of a reformed Par liament to create employment; and one means of doing so is to take the duty from all raw materials, and thereby give full scope to the work ine cl rases. There is certainly a great error with respect to trade. Some people imagine that this country flourishes best if we restrict and limit our trade ; bet then the labour on land is necessarily limited. We should .chest our attention not to that in which we cannot succeed, but to that in which we may succeed. Therefore, in every new source of manufacture, every thing that wili employ a bend should be encouraged until we have supplied the whole esf gee labouring chews ; for people do not refuse to buy Kood.s tancause they don't want them, but because they cannot Nord to pay for them, and therefore the cheaper they ate made the more will people be able to buy them. If the corn laws , were taken off and encouragement given to the manufacturers, the whole world wiil father them ; but the policy has been, hitherto, to cramp tine industry of the cuuntry.--(Hear, hear.) I declare myself therefore a friend to free trade,on the principle that if any two men of different trades made an exchange with each other, they could make it advantageous to them both ; carry that principle among mil lens of people; and there is more benefit to be derived from it than from anything else. I confess my opi nion to be in favour of free trade all ower the world.—(Loud cheers.) England bra more facilities, and, I am sorry to say, more unemployed labourers, than any other country. I have no hesitation in declar ing, that all m onopo li es are a n injury to the country, end it is only by l e tting iwan all the springs ofindustry that we can expect to see the country com fortable and happy.--(Cheers.) Much of thet crime which we now see arises from poverty and dis tress, and if we remove the causes that give rise to them, it is evident tin it the effects would soon cease.—(Cheers.) In short, to sum up, I am not a person to promise snore than I think may be effected; but as all Govern , mews are formed for the benefit ef the millions, and not for the benefit of the few, all the acts of the few should have in view the interests of the many and not the interests of the few. I will follow that great principle which ought to be the object of all the Governments. It is my present intention to act on • principles I have declared , by which alone it is my belef that the country can expect to h ave peace, content,i and happiness. The course lam abou t to adopt gives me renewed energy and strength, supported and backed as I am by the people ; and I am the more anxious to fulfil the duty now intrusted to me, -in order that I may render, at the close of the next Parliament, a faithful account of my conduct ; and then, if 1 should appear to have neglected my duty, turn me out as a recreant unworthy of any longer enjoying your confidence and respect. Mr. Bveto came forward amid shouts of disapproba- • ton intermixed with some plaudiN ' After braving the storm for some time, he said, Gentlemen, if you will favour me with a hearing, I should feel that I was treating you with great disrespect if I did not come forward to ex press my best thanks to those who have done me the honour of supporting me at this election. I also feel bound to state to you my sentiments upon many ' subjects upon which my Worthy Colleague has expressed himself—(Bravo, and great confusion)—but if you will not allow me to speak, the fault is with you and not with myself, therefore, adieu.—(Great jeering and laughter.) Mr. B. bowed and retired. Sir CHARLES FORBES then came forward, and the noise, tumult, and uproar that prevailed in all parts of the crowd, it is utterly impossible to describe. Notwith standing this, our reporter being near the Worthy Baronet, we believe the following to be nearly every word he uttered. (The Sheriffs male one or two ineffec tual attempts to obtain silence.) I am determined to speak, and your noise shall never put me down.— (Laughter.) 1 should almost suppose that you were all Members of the House of Commons, and that you had changed your sittings from Westminster to the hustings at Brentford. I believe that many of you are as worthy of a seat in the. House of Commons as a great num ber who have found there way there.—(Laughter.) Many of you have, no doubt, fought your way in the .world in a honest and industrious way, and are as de serving of a seat in the House of Commons as some who are now in it.—(Laughter.) Now, Gentlemen, I have no desire to make a long speech ; I detest long speeches. Ycu have been treated with one nearly two hours in length by Mr. Hume, who has promised you a great many things; he promised you more in the course of an hour than he can accomplish if he live for a cen tury.--(Loud laughter, and cries of "We shall see.") Now, what I promise you is this, if you are determined to support the remaining institutions of our country, that you shall enjoy that peace, comfort, and happiness which Mr. Hume, and all his Reform in Church and State will never be able to give you.—(Laughter, and cries of " Oh, that wil4lo withlome, but we don't believe you.") In coming forward" as I! done, to cffer my self to the electors of Middlesex, I have had no private objects in view, I had only the good of my country at heart.—(Cries of " Oh, oh!") I therefore completely placed myself in the bands of the county, and those re spectable electors who called upon me to come forward at the eleventh hour. I did so in order to afford them an op portunity of recording their votes in favour of those prin ciples which I have always maintained, and always will to the last moment of my life, fearlessly, and without the expectation of favour or affection.—(Loud laughter.) I treat with contempt your interruptions ; you shall not put me down.—(Great confusion.) I am a man that never was put down yet, and never will be. Nothing shall deter me from speaking out in the presence of any man or body of men. Abuse has been heaped upon rue in every possible way ; but I regard it all with utter con tempt. You may call me an Anti-Reformer, a Conserva tive—any thing you please but a Whig or a Radical. I mean, by the word Whig, the Whigs of the present day. In that, however, I must make one exception, and that exception is, your worthy and long tried representative Mr. Byng.—(Cries of " Oh, oh,—but he don't like a re peal of the corn laws.") He is a Whig of the right sort. He is consistent, and stands by the principles with which he set out in life, and will stand by them as long as he is your representative. lam sorry that he should have met with such a reception as he has met with from you to day. I feel that much more than your treatment of my self ; for, to tell you the truth, I fully expected in what manner you would receive me on the present occasion.— (Laughter, and " How could you have been mistaken ?") I am not accustomed to measure my language to suit men of any party. I like only the measures and not the men. My conduct in Parliament has been always guided by the principles in which I have stood firm to be your re presentative ; and if I should again have a seat in Parliament—(Cries of " Hear, hear," and " You never will")—it will only be upon those principles. I have been told, at least it has been hinted, that I have been guilty of corruption in procuring votes. 1 deny the assertion. It was unworthy of the man that made it, knowing him, as I have done, so many years. I understand that, in my absence, on a former evening, Mr. Hume alluded very facetiously to this subject. He stated that I had been ill—confined to my bed and bled —(Laughter)-esrneaning by that that my pocket had been drawn upon.--(Laughter.) I deny it " in toto." It is true I have not withheld what has been necessary and legal to defray the charges incurred on my par at this election; and the only difference between Mr Hume and myself,_ of _ I'g — destruction which threatens it-.:(Laughter and Hear)—to save it from the destruction which has been threatened to it by such men as Mr, flume.—(lmmense confusion.) All that remains of our religion or liberties I consider to be threatened by Mr. Hume. He tells you, it is true, in fair language and sweet words, that it is not so ; but mark his conduct, and this is evident from the principles he stands forward to advocate, It is a proud circumstance to me to notice, that no fewer than 1,500 independent electors of Middlesex have come forward to support the cause and principles I advocate ; nearly one-fourth of the registered voters of the county, and probably three-fourths of the property of it.—(Laughter and confusion) 1 consider the Reform Bill as I always have considered it, a revolutionary measure, the consequences of which we cannot see.— (Great laughter.) I trust you will consider that I have come forward only for the purpose of keeping you from the thraldom in which you are likely to be placed. I trust that some gentleman of independent principles and property in the county will, ere long, put himself forward, and ask for your suffrages upon the principles I advocate, the adoption of which, you may believe me when I say, can alone save the country.—( Great uproar.) Sir JOHN Scorr LILLIE then came forward amidst loud f,heerg, and said, Gentlemen, I have not to thank you for the same number of votes that the two gentlemen who have pre ceded me have thanked you for, neither have I to thank you for the same reception you gave them.—(Cheers and laughter.) There is one observation, however, which I shall make at once, and that is, that upwards of 1,000 honest electors have honoured me with their votes, which have neither been booght nor solicited, nor obtained by any undue influence ; and there are many votes that I have lost through that undue influence which haslbeen made, and which can alone be removed by vote by bAllot.—(Loud cheers.) I do not complain of those who have been induced to vote contrary to what they intended some time ago, but I would tell them that they are voting against those who might have it in their power some time to injure them — (Cheers.) A few hundreds or more is no object to me— (A laugh)—but I will venture to say, that when undue influence has been used, and noble Lords by their deputies and agents influence persons to vote as they think proper, it is an encroachment on the Constitution. (Cheers, and a cry of "How do you like that, Byng ?") Mr. Hume has just alluded to what Lord Grey said in the House of Lords on subjects connected with the freedom of election, and Parlia ,.;entary Reform. I will now state to you what Lord Grey said when in the House of Commons, on that subject—what we all ought to, and do know :—" That it is a high infringe. ment on the liberty and privileges of the people, and highly criminal in Ministers who serve under the Crown, to interfere with any election." Now I will venture to say, that it is true that some of the leading Journals, which are supposed to be the organs of Government, have stated that Ministers have tried to influence the Middlesex electors.—(Cries of" No, no," and " Yes, yes.") I will only refer you to a certain Paper called the Globe, in which it is thrown out that if they (Mr. Hume's Committee) did not contradict a report of coali. lion with hive (SiF J. S. Lillie) plumpers should be given to Mr. Byng.—(Cheers.) Now, Gentlemen, it is unnecessary to deny what never existed; but flags have been held up in Hammersmith, with " Hume and Liilie" upon them, and was I to say, they should not be so ? The electors have a right to unite what names they please on their banners and their placards. The only apthority that I could have, was the Committee-room windows of the Hop. Baronet who has last addressed you.— (Laughter and hisses.) I do not think that the Hon. Baronet was a party to that, but there were " Ityng and Forbes" one side, and " Hume and Lillie, the Destructive?" on the other. Now, Gentlemen, I beg leave to state to you with respect to Destructiyes, that Igm a Destructive. But lam a Destruc tive of the existing abuses, And the Conservatives are for preserving c(l those abuses.—(Loud cheers.) So far I have no fault to find with those placards; but there is no in. consistency on the face of the globe more glaring than for an insinuation to be thrown out that Ministers would enLe ; the elections, after what I have stated to you Lord Grey said 1, - ; the blouse of Commons. I will just give you what is reported, :' that if a deviators from the prineiple on which those principles were founded was right, the resolu tions were inconsistent, it would be better to expunge them from the Journals of the House, than allow them to remain while the theory was so inconsistent with the practice." Now I can hardly conceive that Earl Grey would have said that in the House of Commons, and ealck. - avoured to exercise undue i nfluence eusong the Middlesex elector;,. howl du not attribute to the rf:spectable Editor of the Globe such behaviour—(Hear, hear)—for I believe he was absent at th e tirr,e ; but I only point it out to you to show that a great number of persons have been iuduced contrary to their original intentions. I could gives good many names if I thought pro per.—(Cries of " Name, name.") I have been called ou tp name, but if I were to begin to give them to you, I should detain you much longer than it i? My intention to do. Mr. Hume has referred to the distres of the country, but what the ether gentleman said in an swer t o it , I cop ld not hear. I tel myself a parish officer, for Magistrates when they do their duty, are nothing more than parish officers, ' and a great deal of distress 4s Come to my knowledge. I have _ - N passed many hours in the workhouse, and it has eler beets my wish to kewp some of you out—(A laugh)—and 1 will first give you a statement of the increase of the applications for relief, within the last three years, in Hammersmith. In 1329 there were 5,040; in 1830, they were increased to nearly a million, and in 1831, they were 11,89.0. Now there are in three years double the applications for parish relief; and unless this system is altered, and the oppressions now so heavy on the lower classes are thrown on the higher, I am apprehensive that the consequences will he such as every one who hears me to-day will be glad to avert.—(Cheers.) Sir C. Forbes made allusions as to what was said elsewhere about his being bled, but I beg to say there was no personal allusion to him. But the gentleman who was there, said he was ill in bed, and could not attend, and that he had been bled. I shall not trespass longer on your time. I have to express my best thanks to the candid and liberal feelings of the Middlesex electors, and more especially to the gentlemen of Hounslow, who came in a body to vote for me.— I hope, with respect to Mr. Byng, there will be no animosity shown on the present occasion. Mr. Byng assured me that with respect to the property tax, he was not opposed to it. The reason for my coming forward was to prevent a Tory getting in, and I am very glad it has terminated as it has. We are now about to separate, and I hope that the Reformers now present will not act in a riotous manner. I have been told that a disturbance was to take place to-day. (Cries of " No, no, no.") I hope that every honest man will prevent it. Perhaps on some future occasion I may be more fortunate than at present. 1 only came forward to keep the Tory out, who was in the field when I entered, and if I have succeeded in getting rid of one of those Tories, I think I have accomplished a great object, as I have thereby tended to secure the return of your worthy and valuable repre. sentative, Mr. Hume. I thank you, Gentlemen, for the houour ybu have done me, and shall trouble you no longer.— (Great cheering.) Mr. Hymn then said—Gentlemen, I have a pleasing duty to perform, and I have only to beg your attention for one moment, while I propose a vote of thanks to the Sheriff who has presided on this occasion. Mr. BYNG seconded the motion, and Mr. Sheriff HUMPHERY returned thanks. We are highly indebted to the Sheriff for the accommoda tion he affbrded the Press. NORTH ESSEX. A very numerous meeting assembled yesterday at Brain tree, to hear the official declaration of the successful can didat,s. Immediately upon the appearance of Sir J. Tyrell and Mr. Baring, who were received with mingled cheering and disapprobation, the High Sheriff announced the numbers to be— Tyrell Baring. Western Brand . and proceeded to declare the two first candidates duly elected. This announcement called forth violent disappro bation from the Reformers. It was evident that they were determined to take this opportunity of expressing to the faces of the new Members their opinion of the principles they held, and of the means resorted to iu order to secure their election. Sir J. TYRELL came forward amidst much groaning. It was a proud position for Essex—the present ascendancy of the Conservative and constitutional principles he (Sir J. Tyrell) advocated.—(Uproar.) Though it was the Tory party in that county that returned him, he would not forget that it was his duty to represent all without dis tinction. He would also call on his friends who had exerted themselves so zealously, and achieved the present signal triumph (such, in the midst of the wreck of sur. rounding counties, it was), to act in the same spirit of moderation.—(Cheers and groans.) Mr. BanlNg next presented himself. During "Sir J. Tyrell's address he might be heard with very little diffi culty at any moment, though nearly every sentence called forth strong disapprobation ; but from the beginning to the end of Mr. Baring's speech it was one perfect storm of groans and hisses. He did not continue for any length of time to stem the torrent of popular dislike. After a few observations he gave way, and retired from the hust ings. The following sentences were all we could catch ; —Though unable in language of strength adequate to the occasion to thank those electors who had honoured him with their support, he could not depart without-lit least . endeavouring to express his heartfelt congratulations on the position he held at the close of a contest so hot)ourable to the electors, and so favourable in its results to the in. terests of the country. It was a contest purely of principle. Many gentlemen, with, no doubt, the most conscientious views, hail advocated Reform. Upon their integrity there was no stain, and for the character of Mr. Western in particular he entertained great respect ; but the struggle was one of principles, not persons. To him, after 2§ years of public life, nothing could be more gratifying than to be taken up by that great countr and to have received from-itmach ti5:.4.11.5wax.43%.-4644.Ai, which was passed unanimously. Three cheers were also given for him. NORTH NORTHAMPTON. KETTEIIINGI, DA T. 23. The result of our election has been to leave us as we began in point of Members—that is to say, if the Tories had never commenced the contest Lords Milton and Brude- nell would have walked over the course ; but their in solence has had this good effect, that they have shown themselves to be the weaker party in this division, as Lord Milton is at the head of the poll, and Mr. Hanhury is near 200 above Mr. Tryon. Their great object was to turn Lord Milton out of this county, from which he had ejected Mr. Cartwright at the last election. In this they were foiled ; and it is believed that if the canvass had been sooner undertaken by Mr. lianbury, two Whigs would have been easily returned. The Tories bad exercised their puny spite by threatening both the principal innkeepers with loss of custom, &c., if they allowed the Whig party to dine in their houses. But a very intelligent member of the Society of Friends, Mr. Wallis, stepped forward, and r ffered a new capacious malting-house as a parlour for the party, where the dinner was consequently given with much g.041-hurnoured gayety, ornamental decoration, and large attendance of ladies to hear the speeches delivered after the repast. S 0 UTH DURHAM.—Deßuxarox, DEC. 22. The poll for this division commenced yesterday morning, and at the final close to-night the numbers were For Mr. Pease Mr. 13owes Mr. Shafto Thus has the result, as was anticipated, been most gratifying to the friends of independence. Mr. Pease, the Quaker candidate, has not only been returned, in the teeth of the Whig and Tory aristocracy and the Church, but he has been placed at the head of the poll. Tbe county of Durham, which scuds ten Members under the Reform Bill has now sent them all Reformers. Let those who talk of re-action in the north now hide their di minished heads ! SOUTH DEVON:-EXETEII, DEC. 22. The election terminated last night in favour of Lord John Rmsell and Mr. Bulteel. It is rather singular that the parties who have taken an active share i❑ the Conservative cause are all young men. The unsuccessful candidate (Mr. Yarde Buller) is only 28, or thereabouts ; the mover and seconder (Mr. Parker and Sir John Duckworth) are not far from that age ; whilst a very active partisan, Mr. Balwin Fulford, can not have counted many summers since he arrived at years of discretion. The singularity of the affair is this (and it was a general subject of laughter at the last contested election), that the " young gentlemen" rallied round the banner of the Tory candidate, and have done so in the present instance, whilst the older supporters of the "good old Constitution" have been quietly stealing over the enemy, as if they had had enough of it. I repeat that I think this will be the last contest between the Conserva tives and the Whigs. Each party is approximating nearer to the other, and a general disposition to amalgamate is the natural consequence. NORTH WILTS. (Abridged from the Devizes Gazette.) The nomination of representatives for the northern divi sion of this county took place in Devizes on Saturday last. Mr. WALTER LONG proposed, and Mr. W. E. WAL DRON seconded, the nomination of Sir J. Astley. Mr. T. L. PHIPPS and Mr. T. H. SAUNDERS nomi nated and seconded Mr. Methuen. Mr. GouLD, tanner, of Ct'n.shatn, proposed, and Mr. Wit.xuss, of the Seven Stars, Bradford, seconded the ❑o mination of Mr. Edridge. The latter believed it was thu first time in the history of elections that the nomination of a county Member had been proposed and seconded by tradesmen. Sir J. D. ASTLEV on presenting himself was received with loud and continued bursts of applause. A great deal (said the Hon. Baronet) has been said about retrenchment and economy. To any and every measure which can safely efi'ec' those objects I am particularly wedded. I will vigilantly watch and protest the public purse, and beg to assure you that not one farthing from that purse shall ever find its way into my pocket.,-(Cheers.) My most strenuous endeavour; shall also be directed to alleviate the burdens of the lower c►asses ; and I can truly say that I am most anxious to he the poor man's friend. Mr. METHUEN next came forward, and after the loud cheering had somewhat subsided, delivered an able speech, in the course of which he said—As I have seen accounts in the daily papers revolting to the feelings of Englishmen. and which, if true, are degrading and disgraceful to the aristocracy, I made a point not long ago of meeting my tenants at the audit, and telling them I came to canvass them as a candidate, not as a landlord, and that we would have none of these proceedings at Corsham. There has been a good deal to-day said about pledges, and I now hear a voice calling for my opinion on the subject. Well, my opinion is, if a candidate is to be valued on his being rich in such articles, a pawnbroker will be the best man to represent us—(Loud laughter)—and that if many such c indidatea are returned the House of Commons will be like a pawnbroker's shop—full of unredeemed pledges.— (Continued laughter.) I cannot decide for the ballot, though I do not see the same objections as are generally opposed to it.—(Cheers.) I know Lord Grey's Govern ment is opposed to its introduction; and I think, after the great boon we have so very lately received at his hands, we ought ❑ot at present to press a question which might be the means of harassing or even of overturning that Go vernment, were there a party (which I am convinced there will not be) able to divide strongly in favour of it (for we must recollect Lord Grey only holds the Pre miership at the pleasure of his Majesty). The King might not be disposed to sanction their continuance in office after Ministers were palpably at variance on so material a subject with a Reformed Parliament. Owing to the distress of the poorer classes (including the little shopkeepers) a link of the social chain is so weak and disordered, that if not speedily restored, it will pro duce consequences as prejudicial to the stability of the British empire as the evil itself is disgraceful to us as a Christian country.—(Here some one in the crowd cried out, " What do you say to the Bishops?") I hear somebody in front of the hustings asking my opinion of the Bishops. Why, I believe, taking them and the clergy on the whole, a more exemplary body of men does not exist. I rather think my friend questions me in conse quence of some stupid joke I cut at a Reform meeting about their Lordships' wigs. Now, it is rather a singu lar fact—but a fact it is, and belongs to history,—that since those observations of mine the Bishops have left off their wigs—(Much laughter)--though I will not posi tively assert that they have done so out of compliment to me.—(Continued laughter, in which some of the clergy on the hustings heartily joined.) To be serious, how ever, every body now believes reform to be necessary for the Church. I feel it necessary to say a few words on the subject of the corn laws. Those who know me know that all I have in the world arises from land. No man in his senses can give a pledge on this subject, inti mately connected as it is with that of our finances, taxa tion, currency, and flee trade; but when the details con nected with this important and vital question are laid be fore the House of Commons, it will be the duty of every Member to come to his decision with due regard to the interests of all parties.—(Loud cheers.) With regard to shortening the duration of Parliaments, I consider triennial Parliaments would be for the advantage of the country, though I should prefer four years to three, because Par liaments on an average never run their natural life, and by such a measure the advocates of triennial Parliaments would virtually obtain their object. As a candidate, I shall never be ashamed of showing my face, and I now stand forward to be questioned; you may question me— row me—do anything but pelt me—(A laugh)—but if you should feel it your duty to pelt rne, either with"tur nips or potatoes, I shall feel much obliged to you if you will take care to have them boiled first.—(Loud laughter, and cheers.) Mr. EDRIDGE then came forward, but his reception presented a striking contrast to that of the other candi dates, marks of disapprobation having been evinced the moment he presented himself, and continued with but little intermission throughout his address. There has been no sympathy between the Government and the people ; and who supported the Government through their ini quitous course ? Why, the nobility and country gentle men—the great landlords of England.—(" No, no ; no such thing.") They did ; and the great landed proprie tors have monopolized all the advantages of society.— (" No, no.") There are working men at this moment in Wilts who have not touched their wages from the farmer for 55 weeks.—(The scene that here arose beggars descrip tion. The farmers (and a very large number were present) it is well known, pride themselves on the punctuality of their-payments, particularly towards their servants; they therefore considered Mr. Edridge had made a most gross attack on the whole body. " Name, name," exclaimed a thousand voices at once, " don't let him say another word unless he names ;" " Turn him off; off with him," cried others. These cries at length gave way to general hisses ; at it was a long time before silence could be obtained. E t d b r e id gnd Y ir r ion '' t i a " w r l ' rc i li v many this of themw iota r u e n d t t i o c e n ade,p ll ai l on r rd . e still contend that they do not pay the wagesof their labourers when due._(" We do, we do.") Tithes, he said, had nothing to do with religion, and should he abolished. He then alluded to pledges, and said he would pledge himself, if returned, to vote for trien nial Parliaments, for the ballot, for the abolition of tithes, and for the removal of the qualifications now necessary for Members of Parliament —(Laughter.) The SHERIFF c died for a show of hands, which, as may be supposed, was decided in favour of Sir J. D. Astley and Mr. Methuen. Mr. Edridge demanded a poll, which the Sheriff fixed to commence on Tuesday morning, at 9 o'clock. BEDFORDSHIRE. The contest for the county of Bedford terminated on Friday afternoon, at 4 o'clock, in the return of Lord Charles James Fox Russell and Mr. Stuart, Sir Peter Payne, a zealous and honest Reformer, finding it impos sible to recover from the great minority in which he was left at the close of the first day's poll. The Reformers of Bedfordshire grievously lament being compelled to ad mit Mr. Stuart as a modicum of Tory alloy into their representation. They know, however, that they must submit, and they moreover know that the Reform Bill has been swamped in this county by the 501. rental clause thrust into it by Lord Chandos. This clause has given to that class, so far behind every other class in all that is intelligent, the means (as far as it goes) of inflicting a wound on the welfare of the country at large. It is, how ever, a consolation to know that the town and county of Bedford return three out of four of its representatives stanch Reformers. There seems but one improvement wanting, and that is ardently desired by both Whig and Tory—the vote by ballot. In all companies, and by all persons, this is stoutly demanded ; in every sense it is devoutly to be wished, hut, above all, to rescue the dependent from that overflowing influence which marks out men of p r i nc i p l e as victims to conscience or persecution. The basest of the expiring faction itself, will have their throes shortened by the vote by ballot. IRISH ELECTIONS. DUBLIN, D E , 20. The return of Mr. Morgan O'Connell for Meath makes the number of that family already elected four. There is now no doubt of the return of hitzsimo❑ (son-in-law of Mr. O'Connell) for Dublin county, and of Mr. Finn (brother-in-law of that gentleman) for Kilkenny county. If, as it is ❑ow stated, Mr. Morgan John O'Connell should be returned for Kerry, there will be seven of the family in the House of Commons. Indeed, I might say nine, for Dr. Baldwin, of Cork, and Mr. Ronayne, of Clonmel, are relatives of Mr. O'Connell. LON GF ORD. This contest is one of the closest ever witnessed. The poll was announced as follows last night:— Lord Forbes 565 Mr. Lefroy Mr. L. White Mr, Rorke 563 My c orrespondent informs m e th a t th e t wo former, who are Conservatives, will be beaten. Mr. White is a Whig, and Mr. Rorke a Repealer. The Conservatives were so hardly pushed yesterday that the High Sheriff came up and polled for them. SECOND DAY. The Conservatives strained every nerve to obtain a ma jority on this day's poll —parsons and proctors, et hoc genus omne, were brought to the hustings, and the Liberals were unable to run much a-head. There is no doubt but White and Rorke will be the Members. You ca❑ form no conception of the enthusiasm of the people. An instance of a most remarkable kind occurred within my own observation to-day. From the window of a Liberal Club Tally-room I saw a young peasant girl hur rying from the Committee-room of the Conservative can didates. She was literally dragging two men along with her. Wh en she arrived at the door of the Court house, she gave them in charge to a clergyman, and hastened over in triumph to the Committee-room of the Liberal candidates- Her father and brother, she said, had been detained by the agents of the opposing candidates since the commencement of the election. So soon as she learned it she set out, and had that morning walked more than twelve miles to Longford. On application, she was refused admittance to see her father or brother, and it was only by having recourse to stratagem that she succeeded. Her entreaties prevailed on them to accom pany her ; and, as she phrased it herself, " she saved them both from doin wrong." The name of this girl is (as she gave it herself) Katty Byrne, of the barony of Gra nard.— Correspondent of the Dublin Freeman's Journal. CouNzv or CARLOW. —Blackney and Wallace will b. returned this evening. The Conservatives are beaten here. COUNTY OF GALWAY.-Mr. J. Blake (the defeated candidate in Galway town) and M. D'Arcy, of Clifden, stand as Repealers for this county. SCOTCH ELECTIONS. (From the Edinburgh Paper of Saturday.) EDINBURGH COUNTY. This election has heen watched with the most intense interest during the whole day. By intelligence just re ceived from Mid-Calder and Dalkeith, the state of the vote now is :—At Mid-Calder, a majority of 89 for Sir John ; at Dalkeith, a majority of 13 for Sir George. Clear Whig majority at this time, 76. TRIUMPH of REF 0 R.lf in MID-LOTHIAN. Sir John Dalrymple is returned by a majority of 69. The final state of the poll is : EDINBURGH., Sir John Dalrymple 196 Str George Clerk 193 Majority for Sir J. Dalrymple --3 MID-CALDER. Sir John Dalrymple Sir George Clerk Majority for Sir J. Dalrymple —Se DALKEITII. Sir John Dalrymple Sir George Clerk Majority for Sir G. Clerk But amongst the old Freeholders, 4 voted as life-renters, and 4 as fiars on the same votes in favour of Clerk—so that 4 have to be struck off from Sir George, and added to Sir John Total majority for Sir J. Dalrymple .:. 65 Thanks to Sir John, the reign of the Tories in this county is at an end ! CHAraING.—The chairing of Sir John Dalrytnple takes place on Monday, the 24th, at the Cross of Edinburgh. MEMBERS RETURNED. ENGLAND AND WALES. NORTHUMBERLAND, COUNTY.—T. W. Beaumont, Esq., and M. Bell, Esq. no/mu, COUNTY—Sir W. W. Wynne, Bart., and R. M. Bid. dulph, Esq. SCOTLAND. FORFARSHIRE.—Hon. D. G. Halyburton. HADDINOTONSIIIRE.—J. Balfour, Esq. CAITHNESS-SHIRE.—Hon. G. Sinclair. KILMARNOCK, 131.1110I1.—Captain Dunlop. EDINGBLIRGIISMIRE.—Sir J. Dalrymple. AYR (Botioncii).—Mr. Kennedy. LANARKSIIIRE.—Mr. Maxwell. ARGYLSHIRE.—J. H. Callender, Esq. Fswe.—J. Wemyss, Esq., R.N. BE RWICKSIIIRE. —Mr. Marjoribanks. BANFFSHIRE.—G. Ferguson, Esq. CLACKMANAN AND KlNROS9.—Admiral Adam. STIRLING (BOROUGH).—Lord Dalmeney. FORFAR.—Mr. Ross. GREENOCK.-11. Wallace, Esq. FIFE (BOROUGII).—A. Johnston, Esq. IRELAND. DUBLIN, COUNTY.—C. Fitzsimon and G. Evans, Esqs. CARLOW, COUNTY.—W. Blakeney and T. Wallace, Esqs. WExworin, COUNTY.—R. S. Carew and H. Lambert, Esqs. LONGFORD, COUNTY.—L. White and J. Rorke, Esqs. LIMERICK, CITY. — W. Roche and D. Roche, Esqs. -- --- STATE OF THE POLLS. ENGLAND AND WALES. CUMBERLAND, DEC. 21. Lord Lowther Stanley Curwen Final Close lBB5 1693 1510 SCOT LINLITHGOW 111;11GRII, DEC. 21. Muri ay Dillon 273 Chalmers ,AND. IREL ,AND. LEITRIM, COUNTY. MAYO, COUNTY. S. White, Fsq.... 542' S. Browne Lord Clements 450 D. Browne Colonel Clements 330 Sir W. Brabazon , WATERFORD, COUNTY. LIMERICK, COUNTY. Galway Sir R. Keane 156 O'Grady .._ _. Power 1491 Massey MONACIIAN, COUNTY Perrin Blayney lOO2 Westenra 959 .. ..... IMTaiihy DONEGAL, COUNTY. ...... Gale 659 Coote Dunne l6 Sir E. Hayes Colonel Conolly Lord M. Hill u M. Maguire BRUSSELS. BRUSSELS, SUNDAY, I O'CLOCK. OFFER OF CHASSE TO CAPITULATE. The news has just reached this place, that at 9 o'clock this morning, a breach being then practicable, Chasse offered to evacuate the citadel provided he could get terms. To this Kasha! Gerard sent an answer expressing his readiness to prevent the further effusion of blood. What the terms were has not yet transpired here, but of the fact of the offer to surrender there can be no doubt. It wa4 considered of sufficient importance to send off a courier with the account from head-quarters, and I think it of equal consequence to make it the subject of an extra cou rier to you. It is import int that an event should be known as early as possible which makes it a certainty that the lives of probably some thousands may be saved, and that this ex traordinary contest may now be considered as at an end. I have not now time to say more. By my regular courier at 6 o'clock I shall probably be able to send you all the particulars. Yon have annexed whatever there is new in the morn ing papers, but of course they could not know of this event. (From the Independent.) ANTWERP, DEC. 22, 3, P.M. The fire of the battery in breach and of the counter battery has become very brisk since day-break, as has also that of the besieged, who fire charges of small shells, which fall in the French batteries and do great mischief. The fire of musketry which the besieged keep up from behind what remains of the parapet of the bastion No. 2, and through battlements formed of sacks of earth, is not at all destructive. The breach is greatly advanced ; it extends over half of the left face of the bastion. The mask wall is de stroyed, and they are now destroying the contreforts which still hold in the earth. It is thought that the breach will be practicable to morrow; but the fire from the right flank of the bastion No. 1 is not yet silenced. The subter;aneous descent to the fosse, and that which has been made on the outside, are brought as far as the masonry of the counterscarp. The great mortar has sent off eight bombs to-day, the effects of which were prodigious, as well by the force of their fall as by their explosion. A Dutch deserter came over this morning. He says he was witness to the fall of the first bomb, which made an excavation three fret deep in the curtain between the bas tions No. I and 5. The explosion was appalling to the men on duty, 5 O'CLOCE. The battery in breach still continues its fire, the effects of which are easily perceived. The points on which the balls are directed are greatly injured. The crest of the rampart is totally carried away. The Dutch return the fire but feebly in comparison with the terrific roaring of the breaching battery. How ever, all their shots are not thrown away—a chef de ba. taillon of Artillery has been severely, it is thought mortally, wounded. The " monster mortar" discharged only a bomb every hour yesterday. Every one of them reached the citadel, where their effects were terrible, All the projectiles thrown by the Dutch against the batteries No. 3 and 4 overshoot their object, and fall in the vicinity of the Berchem road. We have beard nothing from the batteries oa the other side of the Scheldt to-day. Two Dutch deserters, who came from the citadel this morning, agree in saying that the garrison suffersmore than can lie imagined. Their situation is most distressing. The fire of last ❑ight was not, as far as I can learn, very destructive, but still we have to lament the loss of several. We count amongst the killed a commandant of artillery, a captain, and another officer; four miners were destroyed by a bomb. The loss in the trenches was pro. portional. (From the Emancipation.) ZERG:HE3I, DEC. 22. Last night and to-day passed off without any remark. able incident. I mentioned yesterday that the coating of the Toledo bastion did not present as great resistance as was expected, and which the wall of the enceinte of the Lunette St. Laurent had led us to suppose. We can plainly see the ravages made by the bullets, and if the first calculation gave eight days as the time in which a breach would he practicable, the effect of the batteries since the MONTROSE BURGHS fire in breach xv 44 opened would warrant us in reds that period to 48 hours. Many conjectures are formed as to the loss which Cbltg 4 may sustain. That which appears to me the most ref . sonable supposition is that he will capitulate. I dril l this conclusion from the sort of passive resistance v:13 0 1 he has made from the commencement, never attempting so retard our works by any bold effort, nor yet giving up single point until he could no longer retain it without o ' posing his soldiers. A still more conclusive reason, which, in my opitti° leaves no doubt as to the course which Chasse will putt°, when the breach is practicable, is, the composition of garrison. He has three battalions of the 6th division,O e of the 7th, and one of the 9th. These five battal o , / present a total of about 400 officers, who are genersll,ll considered good, and form a proportion more than use of officers to men—perhaps intentionally so. Except t: j or three select companies, these five battalions are comP° of very poor soldiers, who are kept together only by the' officers. Besides the five battalions, G e neral Chasse l ig :, 400 good artillerymen ; hut it is not with his officers ,d his artillery that he could s ustain an assault, which WO' be made with great vigour, judging from the dispositi ° of the French. We are, then, drawing to a close, and we may hrli' that the General-in• Chief thinks so himself. We Si remember the letter written by the Marshil to the ster of War of Prance, in which he seemed to look the possession of the forts held by the Dutch in the O jai : of the inundations on the left bank of the Scheldt e' d ,j consequence of his making the garrison of the oits,j, his prisoners. At present the batteries established on b ° ` sides of the river, at Burght and Hoboken, seem to e t4 : o firm this hope : for their object se e ms to be not ooli be intercept all communication between the citad e l and / to Tete de Flandres, but to hinder the retreat of Chao' that fortress. However, the near approach of the assault ough t ( , put an end to all conjectures, if it were possible to e ll , our thoughts from an enterprise which has already ci ct ' sioned such cruel loss. The reasons I have just given are, I think, sufEcieot t° make the belief probable that a capitulation will take Pi r before the assault. But if the Dutch General should be at '; by his officers, such influence over the garrison as 10 , duce them to wait with firmness for a crisis which P' s , be followed by a massacre which it may not be possible check, even then the struggle would be short. The arrses ments already made, and that energy of character 10 01 ) belongs to French soldiers, would leave to the go.eirt,d,l scarcely time to send more than one discharge of artille; and perhaps two or three of musketry on their assails: There would then remain for Chasse no other re_,,d than an interior redoubt, a kind of cavalier', protto`; it is said, by a fosse of great depth, behind which be f o calculate on making a capitulation. A few days, 811 , 4 ), shall arrive at the close ; happy if the skill of the shall succeed in obtaining possession at the same ti (l ''' the citadel and forts of Zealand Flanders. We stated yesterday that the battery in breach -, 4 ° fire 6,000 shots in the 24. hours. It should have 1,000, and that number will be sufficient for the CO use of the cannon. Several pieces have been alreadY placed since the commencement of the siege. To-day as well as yesterday the road from the 1‘1 413 11 gate to Berchem has been extremely dangerous. A : King passed it yesterday in his carriage, at a smart t 0 the whistling was distinctly heard of a number of NW' shot, of which the effects were soon visible in the Wu' on each side of the way. (From the Union.) BERCHEM, DEC. 22, moil,Nl l46 ' Yesterday a Dutch soldier presented himself to our ife , at the Esplanade. He mentions that the garrison O w much from fatigue, caused by the length and mmy Prat. lions of the siege; and the danger of the assault is greatest they have now to undergo; they are anxiou' it, in order to bring the affair to a close. es° This prisoner did not deny that there were some r 1 ,0 lute men in the garrison, but the smallness of their a ti ber would render an assault decisive. Noor 1 ;,1 The Marshal, accompanied by Generals 1 - 10°„,111 Niegre, is arrived in the trenches, to inspect per s° o 4 the progress of the besieging battery on the flank o c i bastion attacked. When the scarp is destroyed, au rl' preparations for the descent into the fosse complere4i4 affair will go on in order. The soldiers look forwar, o ol joy to the moment when they can avenge with the the death of their comrades. batteries an T oo h tilt w ilh e ati a d. t: n ei lt,t7btreel renders ctoi nni t u h pe e sl e r t o teo a d d , r s tolai i er m . d p i a ffi s T s c a hu b ei l t e ei impassable, 4 7 1 has become more active ; although their shot falls oa l batteries our numerical loss is trifling. This morning, at 9 o'clock, we had sixteen men de combat since yesterday. Unfortunately the nuo ber ' on the increase, and it is with great regret we see officers suffer in partic u l ar . A b u ll et h as kill e d in a lO tery Lieutenant-Colonel Gamal, Captain Grandsive, an artilleryman. At 10 o'clock the Lieutenant-Colo fir, the staff of General Jarnin received a ball in the shou'd He fell in the arms of M. Carle, adjutant of the tic near him. In a short time afterwards a bomb killed i miners, a soldier of the 25th, and broke the leg ° officer of the same regiment. Yesterday I omitted t°, you that the Captain of Artillery, Brunet, was slo in the breach batt er y, aga i nst w hi c h t h e ene my ° directs his fire. The Dutch yesterday made a trifling descent ve 3 ; o o dike, with the intention of burning two houses : but r ,g Voltigeurs having perc e iv e d t h em rus h e d on in ads $ r followed by a part of their company, prevented the gaining their boat, and killed the whole party. o f The sth squadron of the baggage train, composeude of ocers, 197 sub-officers and soldi e r s , 21'9 horses, waggons, are on their rout e f rom Conde to ATI"' They will arrive in Brussels this morning, *A slight elevation on which cannon are placed, 3n is generally defended by a fosse. ANTWERP. ANTWERT, SATURDAY NW j ibe The firing during the day has been murderous. pat French have lost a considerable number of men, sa d or five excellent officers. ifect The " monster mor t ar " h as fi re d o ffB s h e ll s , the e of which, as described by a deserter who arrived this °, id ing, is tremend ous among th e b es i ege d. E a ch sho t valued at 121. sterling. It is 24 inches in diameter. tg, There have been two guns dismounted in the 0 . . 1151 0rt battery, of which th e s it uat i on i s most expose d t o SP`da of the flank and retired batteries in the bastions FeO.t and Pacietto. Th e di sc h arge of all sorts of projec i o , has been very great; among them are the pierries, or° mortars. The best place for viewing the citadel, viz., the 11 ;, Theatre of Varieties, has been closed to-day, in O r ° 1, quence of some persons having made signals from the ',eh A French sentinel who observed them fired his 011 ' his and lodged a ball beside the man most remarkable for movements. , 4 cei• The breaching-b a tt er i es h ave ma d e gre at sa v `c ar That part of the fortifications called the counter-W-' buttresses, has been visible this evening. s r- Two superior Prussian officers are stated to hav e 00r rived this evening in this city; I have not seen &ill' heard what i s th e i r o bj ect . n ee c ' l The friends o f th e D u t c h praise highly the defe I s the citadel. " There never was seen such a defe ri u c r itiih the excl3mation of one of their greatest admirers/ a Conservative. r i, CP, SUNDAY MORNING, 7 6.-- ° woe' There has been a great fire all night in the cl.derei One of their large buildings, which has been c°l ' .l bomb proof, has been blazing all night. 0 of The breach is very ne ar ly p ract i ca bl e : a great p a the fortification there has fallen down. Or' o‘c.- ° lo se. The Dutch have sent two superior ( fficers , it T o ba l GaGeorsnroden r s ,anhde a ffie e aCa p r t t a o i n, whom as p theyarl e presented mentires e° 0 10 . theEandos was unwilling at fi rs t t o rece i ve t h em, as the no uiro j a r es of the c it a d e l h a d re f use d to receive the par l ec nears. the part of the Marshal with the first summ on s. 9 o'c The firing continues at the most tremendous ra te. HA L F•PAST 9 dc i fsP j The firing has cea se d b y or d er of M ars h a l Gera,' god the Dutch soldiers have jumped out of their caseLOteile' isg danced with delight on the rampa r t s . The firi o g.,,,jel• suspended, th ere is no doubt of the surrender of the CO 10 o , o ,oCl' bre j I have been th e fi rst to te ll t h e news to th • dd i t tor Conservative of last night; and his first exclaims explaining that the Dutch had given up was, "D"- of cot Thecowardly souls." suspension of the firing continues, all tls Pe7 o o ll ' the city are thronging to the ramparts, &c., to hear th e ,hs to Some perso ns w ill h ave i t that G e n e r a l Chas e c ub , be forced to surrender Liefkenshoek and Lino, 10 forts are not under his command. 11 o'cO,C),'o.oo, I am about to go to Berchem to learn the noll° which, As the citadel cannot hold out, must be ?evert' HALF-PAST 11 O'CLOC°IO, Thera is a heavy firing beard at the fort of K r i s °