The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-06-06 00:00:00

TO THE FREE AND INDEPENDENT ELECTORS
OF THE BOROUGH OF DORCHItSTER,

GENTLEMEN,
IN expectation that a Dissolution of Parlia-
ment cannot long be delayed, I oonaider it my
duty again to offer myself as a candidate for the honour
of your suffrages.
As my Parliamentary duties have been urgent, and
measures of importance every day being discussed in the
House of Commons, I should not probably have
ventured to take this step so early in the Session, if
I had not been forced to do so by an Address to the
Electors of your ancient Borough, whioh has just been
forwarded to me.

I need not remind you that in 1852 I came forward
hy the invitation and express desire of the Liberal
party, to contest the Representation of the Borough.
I fought for them " the battle of the Constitution,"
under the most adverse circumstances. The cry wee
FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE. Need I Ely we were
triumphant. The victory then obtained for ever set
free "the electoral choice," and the scandal of "the
narrow circle of local connection" was effaced. By the
strenuous support and energetic exertions of those
friends in the Borough, who advocated Liberal principles,
I was enabled to obtain for lthem an independent voice
in the Representation, front which for years they had
been debarred. -

In the course of thirteen years that have since
elapsed, daring the whole of which period I have had
the honour of 'being your Reprmentative, I have never
received an intimation in any form, that either my
votes or the principles I advocated met with disappro•
kstion, or were in any way opposed to the views of the
Majority of my Constitotents.
You can imagine, therefore, my surprise, when I
learnt from the recent address of a stranger to the
Electors, "the very unsatisfactory stale of your ancient
and constitutional Borough," and "the dangers and
anomalies" of a position, in which at least you have
been enabled to choose your own Representative. It
seem to be implied by the terms of the address that a
few person., calling themselves "an influential section,"
are determined, as they presume to my, to correct and
reform the independent position you have for the last
thirteen years maintained, by nominating some one
whom they are pleased to consider better able to fulfil
the duties of your Representative, than the Member
you yourselves, not as a section, but as a majority,
returned to serve you in Parliament.
It in at all events satisfactory to receive the assuranoe
that the opponents of Lord Palmerston, although they
are quite prepared to eject him from power whenever
an opportunity occurs, nevertheless "greatly reverence
has name and career," since his Policy which has so
obviously added to the wealth, and increased the power
of England, would thus appear at length to command
approval from both sides in Politics.
Are .you content to be told that "no personal or
factious opposition" t 3 that policy will be offered
Would you not prefer trusting to performances rather
than to promises, however fair? Jam able to say that
' I have suoported " measures emanating from Lord
Palmerston's government," that I h•tve advocated "non-
intervention in the affairs of other countries," that I
have been "anxious to promote economy in every
branch of public expenditure," and that I have sup-
ported a policy which lis already oonsiderably
"lightened the taxation of the country, as far as is
compatible with efficiency and safety," above all. that
I have always considered "the Church as ea essential
element in our Constitution," and should "any endea-
vour at any time be made to separate Church from
State," I would most strenuously repel any attempt to
effect snob • Revolution. It is needless finally to add
that I have always felt "a special interest in the pros-
perity of Dorchester." From the close connection
between us, and those friendly associations which have
so long subsisted, I think you will admit that I am
more likely to be interested in all your local affairs,
than a gentleman who comes amongst you se an utter
stranger.
I cannot, therefore, perceive so much difference
between the opinions on which I have hitherto acted,
and those now put forward, as would justify you in
changing your member from a tried, to an untried man.
Already I have given proof in support of my convictions,
which surely should be more satisfactory to you, than
the bare declaration made by another of kis views on
political subjects.
I have reason to know that you are both just and
generous. If you see any reason to disapprove of the
manner in which I have discharged the duties entrusted
me, I should expect you to elect, and I am sure you
would not hesitate to elect, a member more to your
satisfaction; bet on the other hand, if you believe I
have acted faithfully and conscientiously, I am equally
sure that you will not be deterred by a 'section," sibo
call themselves " influential," from again placing me in
the proud position I have so bag held.
I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
• Your faithful and obedient Servant,
- 8.. B. SHERIDAN.
&soden, 48, Grosvenor Place.

EDUCATION. RICEIMOND, S.W.
MATSON f.',OLLEGE FOR LADIES.

THIS Old-Establishment for Gatrrussmes
.1 DAUGHTERS bag been removed from ROSEDALE-
HOU 5 to the above elegant Mansion, constructed ex-
presily for a high-claw Ladies' College, with large Bath,
Clew, and Lectare rooms, Refectory and elegant sleep-
ing apartments, situated on a cheerful and commanding
eminent*, with gravel soil, fine air, proximity to the
Hill, the Park, Kew Gardens, and the Railway Station.
The classes for English, French, German, Italian, Piano,
Singing, Drawing, Dancing, and Calisthenics are con-
ducted by eminent London Professors, under the imme-
diate superintendence of Mae. Dicutorr, and Protestant
Foreign Governesses. Religious instruction is given by a
clergyman, and Lectures in Science are delivered weekly.