The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-10-29 00:00:00

IRSET

TO THE FREE AND INDEPENDENT ELECTORS
OF THE BOROUGH OF DORGREETER.

Ciatrraznan,—
'WITH deep regret, and after long and
earkee eoesidorottoe, I think it my duty to
inform yea that it is not my intention st the mut
general Skittles to seek the proud distinetioa at again
repreeenling yea in the House of Commons.
I might bay* delayed for some time longer the making
known to you nay deckle°, or even have waited wail
the dikolutiou of the present Parliament had been
announced by the drat Minister of the Crowa ; but I
prefer to do seat once, while many of the details con.
waked with the enactment of a pew scheme of Parlia-
mentary representation are inoomplete, and before, I
believe, the exact numbers to be added to the eon.
stitasney out be known.
Macy resumes have 'who'd me to take this Hop,
which will close my political oonnection with your
Borough, and separate me from many hied friend' and
supporter.,E
having decided that.in feigns there
should eel/ he one rspresenktive for your ancient
Borough, I have to oonsider the changes which that
feet will involve. I could not conesal from myself that
when the general Blestion did take place, however
favourable might be the chances of success for the
sandialant selected to represent the opinions of the
Literal jportios of the constitniney, there would
oortoioly be • seated of • moot severe ohareeter.
. _

—Wit. I .01;;;;;:t.- U to b. again shoses for the
support of those opinions, that. could not be • doubt
that one of the result. of the proposed changes in the
COndittienaT would be to place many of my fronds,
who lune hitherto been my most strenuous supporters,
In • very delicate and trying position. Under the most
favourable conditions to myself, mash aerimony and
bitterness would be created, flowed probably by a
lengthened period of ill•will and beart-hurninga. I
reside too near our ecianty town, and have too many
friends amongst the inhabitants, who would be
sufferers in aty taus, to desire suocces at such a oat.
In 1862 when I Ars' bad the honour of being esteeted
as your &presentative' great alterations with regard
to the property is lb.s town were being made, and
new interests were being created. I was then younger.
and had my aspirations. I looked for ward to time and
circumstances smoothing away any severities that
might be produced by the contest which thee look
plan. I even cherished a hops that the success I then
obtained would be transmitted, by your favour and
indulgence, to others bearing my name and squally
managed with your town bye eoutontoity of intimate.
These born are more vague and uneertain Mao they
appeared to me then; and I believe many of the
Electors will to able to appreciate the additional reasons
which in this respect have weighed with, me in coaling
to a decision..

_
That decisMn having been arrived at after the
matured consideration, and after viewing the 'object
in all ito possible aspects. I have thought it best to
refrain from any consolation with those whom I well
know to be my tried friends and supporters, and whom
counsel might have heen siren in an opposite direetion.
By the time the dissolution ta.kes pleas. I shell have
been a Member of Parliament Twenty-one years—
elitism of whieh have been spent in your service; that
being the period that has elapsed sines I received
the weloome requisition, signed by • number of
influential electors, expressing a desire that I
should oome forward ea • sandidato for the honour of
representing your amoient borough. I eocepted that
invitation; sad shortly afterwards, through the untiring
efforts of a very large majority of the Electors, I became
one of your Repremintstivelt
During the long period I have bald this distinguished
post, I have been enabled, by your favour, to assist in
the enactment of various important measures whiali
bays secured the tranquillity et the country and added
greatly to the welfare and happiness of the people.
I will not venture to say that during a manic* of so
many years I may not on some few avulsions have taken
independent views in opposition to opinions entertained
by a portion of the constituency; but this at least I
ern say, that my votes have been the remit of deep
conviction, and an earnest desire to ptconote the honour
and prosperity of the Country.
Whet, the time shall arrive for resigning the trait
which you thou so generously committed to nit, and
which I have now held for is long a Win of years, I
shell retire into private life with the beppy conviction
that I have endeamiered to serve you faithfully and to
the hest of my ability. I shall look back on the period
of my service as the proudest of my life, and shall el ways
recollect with gratitude the great kindness and in-
dulgence I have invariably experieneed from all persons
conamted with the forongh.

-
I hare the honour to be,
^ .•