The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-11-17 00:00:00

Hg?TRY EDWARDS.

That was ouly sounding, u I understood,
what had taken place previously amongst
the heads of the parties. Mr. Devenish simply asked
me in the event of. vaoany that I would give my
support to, or that I would not oppose, their
oandidate ; and that was what I wrote in
the hut* of the moment. I am not one
of thou experienced people, who weigh
and think over things—l wrote that note and,
handing it to Mr. Devenish, said, "Will it do?"
Hs read it and put it in his pocket —it was all right.
Mr. Devenish then went away, loam, to Weymouth.
and you know the result. Mr. Deveoish says that
one morning during the race week. I accidentally
meet Mr. Brooks at his offic' e. aod mention was
, made of CoL Freestun having broken faith with the
Conservative party. I have not the slightest recol-
lection of that having been named: I don't say it
was not, but, at this time, I have no recollection of
it. Mr. Devenish goes on to say that 1 instantly
replied, nothing should induce me to break my
word, that I would not stand with a Liberal
collative, and If pressed by my party to do so, would
rather laths them than break my word. That is the
statement of Mr. Devenish; POW you shall hear
mine—(applause). Standing here looking you in
the boo, 1 cannot say a single word to oonvsy to you
a stronger moaning or more earnestness than I feel
—I simply tell you that I want to speak the
truth and nothing but the truth —(cheers).
paid a complimentary visit to Mr. Devenish, and,
gr bile there, Me. Brook. came in, and the,. were
the usual formalities so far as conversation went to
begin with, after which something was said in
regard to the oompecit You all know quite enough
of that I dare say. They spoke of the desirability
of maintaining the compact, and I have no doubt
that I said, what I have wtitten I have written, and
1 will abide by it, and that nothing in the world
would induce me to break my word, and I
say so now—(applause). But what did 1 say That
1 would bold to that so long as the understanding
and compact existed between the leading parties in
Weymouth, who signed the agreement. 1 said I
should be part and parcel of the arrangement so long
as the party kept the compact. That was what I
stated to Mr. Devenish. And I said further,
according to Mr. Devenish's statement, that I would
not spend a single sispenos for the purchase of a
vote—(applause). Mr. Brooks pledged himself to
me in the same form, and Mr. Devenish simply
said that he WY quite desirous in every
possible way of supporting the same thing,
and that was the result of their meeting that day.
He (Mr. Edwards) distinctly said he would not
stand with a liberal collesgue so long as the arrange-
meat made between the heads of both parties exist&
—(A. voice you have forgotten the tails ; you lay the
stress upon the heads.") He was very glad to see
that the taila were taking Cite of themselves. Mr.
Edwards went on to say that he was not going to
dictate to them what course they should follow, he
was simply told that the leaders of the parties bad
agreed among themselves. lie did not want to
trouble them with the details of the contest, but
they could not lose sight of one thing—he WY a
Liberal in politics and he had never changed his ,
opinions, he altered his vote. When be issued I
his address soliciting their suffrage'', did he show
the least sign of change 1—(no, no.) Now came the
more @grime part of this correspondence. Mr. '
Devenish was a very important person—(laughter)—
so he made out, but he himself only stood on simple,
pare, independent principles, and he was not going
to bow to Mr. Devenish or any one else. His
conduct was plain and straightforward, and he
defied Mr. Devenish and all the Devenuthas to say
anything elss—(he&r,hear). This important contract
they knew how terribly it dinned in his ears in the
month of August, when every one was saying tb him
"Compact." When he came down his late worthy
colleague, Mr. Brooks, • most estimable man, °Dm-
menced his canvass, and (he Mr. Edwards) coca-
menoed his. He told him he should stand alone,
and canvass alone, and when he was asked as to a
colleague, he still replied he was going to stand alone.
When they asked him about the compact he was in •
difficult position, but he answered " Support
me; give me your vote, support your own
Liberal candidate." Over and over again at that
time he said he could not link himself with a
colleague, and he gave it as his reason that he once
had a colleague, but he was walked out, while his
i colleague got the seat, and he should not do it again.
They began their 'museum, day alter day passed on,
and on the 4th of November be received this letter
from Mr. Devenisli.:—

[corr.]
Rodsrll, ,frovemberlith, 1888.
Deer 84 From the turn political affairs of ibis borough
hese t• 111111 she time hat anired when I must coil upon you to
fulfil yiw.t written promise. a promise you have recently c0n-
....d in the pre anise of ED. Brook.e and myself.-1 ecu
dear of.. youre truly,
JAMES ALDRIDGE DEVENISH.

Mark this —be bad never seen or spoken to Mr.
Devonian from the time he alluded to in of August,
to that very moment. He had never had any coin.
munication with Mr. Devenish since he received this
letter. No application was made to him in any '
shape or form as to the fulfilment of a promise, and
be had spoken to Mr. Brooks, ezoept at the
club, to ask how he did. As to the words in Mr.
Devenish's bill, " Mr. Brooks when canvassing, :
after making a voter for Ids support made a point of
soliciting the second vote in favour ol Mr. Edwards,"
let them mark this, —Mr. Dsvenish who took the
chair at the Conservative meeting on Monday, whom
Mr. Hambro's friends felt a pleasure in clustering
around, had written that. Four days before that
letter vrie written Mr. Brooks retiring •ddress was
published, and they had Dent to London, aod he
believed all were free and independent. There bad
been a meeting, called he believed by Mr. Deicaish,
himself of Liberal and Conservative gentlemen,
who had signed the compact. Knowing what had
taken place out of doors, (in the invitation of Mr.
Powell, they were to know what was to be done
about the compact. He believed Mr. Deveoish
himself presided, and the result was the compact
was broken, Mr. Devonian himself using the
si,;nificant words that all arraogements were then at
an and, and every one was as free as air. (Voice :
" That was before the 4th of November ?")Deoidedly
before the 4th of November. After that the Con-
servative party met alone, and, as they did not like
the sweet of affairs, they sent to London, to bring
down a Conservative candidate, They did not
succeed. Here Mr. Edwards ensured his audience
that he honestly believed everything he was saying
to be perfectly true—sad yet that letter of Nov 4
was sent to him after the whole of these proosedings,
claiming the fulfilment of what he innocently
signed in June 1867. He wrote the letter, and
what did he my? Why, that in the event
of • vacancy—ha should be glad to assist in
carrying • Conservative candidate. Yet after they
had sent to Landon to bring down • second Con-
servative candidate to contest the borough against
hint (Mr. Edwards). Mr. Devonian wrote—" from
the tarn the political affairs of kin borough have
taken" etc. What on earth did the man mean'
Was be (Mr. Edwards) to be bound with his hande
tied behind him, while the other party were to be
free as that? When Mr. Demist' said every 000
was "as free as air," was Mr. awards to be chained
to a poet? He diii not sell himself to Mr. Devenisb,
he acted with honour, and he maintained he had
fulfilled his promise to the strictest letter. He had
lent himself to bring down a *wood Liberal
candidate to oppose the Conservative one. At this
point there was a little nenearOU in the room by •
wash at the lower end. It was ascertained that it
was caused by the breaking of • dun, and Mr.
Edwards said that was • mere matter of form—(a
laugh). He did not want to occupy their time, but
he wished to finish this matter. In reply to the
letter of November 4, he sent this reply to Mr.
Devonian :
[corT.]
3, Belvidere, Ste November, 0 a.m.
My dear air,—l sin lorry I was from home when your note
arrived. The promise that I made, with reference to the
politral ad ire of ernotith, war oonveyvd in a note written
at yew suatotion, when you called upon me on the Ott Judi,
ma, when r sought to he elected on the retirement of (..pt.
Orkiley, you then rid you would not oppre uiy Mere
provided I undertook in the event of a vacency on the Conner.
votive aide, I would aid aU fa re power to wan the raCursitif
year Conacraatial aaadalaga. Bea Malley haa never owarrred
and that promise ha. consequently lapeeS. Ac regards the
present elecUon I are informed that a joint meeting of Consery
wrier and Liberals having been herd at your request, the
poeo lon of parties wan fully resumed, and the ouneluelon
arrival at Ira in your own words, that all arrenrenents are
now at an and, and every one as free r alt.'—f an, dear eth
yours truly,
J. A. Devisee, Esq.

HENRY EDWARDS.
[COPY.]
Boded!, 6th November, ad&
Deer Sir,-1 called at your own require the day you
tomatoes& You at atm ea-premed In the most unaudited
twiner your resolve to lump tbe ontopect. To prevent mietakee
did muggy* your committing to paper the mibimit of our
0000 00, but OWI word mitten by you uuiotlrofv your
own. Imu startled to dud you intimating tint your promise
to keep the romped only applied to • metal vacancy, after the
etrong exprendoris you eo lately made we of In If, brooks and
roy pre.enea relative to the coming Election. My remark that
we were new as free u our appikel to the Elector., and wee
tos le me of Ulu the Liberal party had. almost unanimously.
agreed to break the pomp& I know of o,thtug Oaths. taken
place that can in any slay relieve you !TOM your pledge MO
werbnisly and deliberately given, both in writing and reputedly
in pueerustion. I therefore hope our Conservative Candidate
may calculate on your rendering him every support in your
power. WMtlair year reply, I out, dear Sir, your, truly
JAMES ALDIUDUE DICYLNISH.
U. Edwards, E.g., ll.e.

Could they really listen for s tingle moment
with Wien*, to smolt nonsense? He wrote
the letter in Jima, 1867, that in Um event of •
miosnoy be would support the return of • Conserv-
mitre ceadidate, to ociatinue to return on• and one.
When Mr. Dereatela bald his meeting and seat hie
people to bring down a sandidate, was poor Pill-
garhok to staid in the pillory Mr. Edwards Um
road kis Mlle of fidt Ifononbor

3, Belvidere, elk November, left
Dem' r .-113.p1y to yours of to-day. I bave, in spirit and
In letter, earned out everything I undertook. relative to
politimJ matter. to Weymouth, Mil hada( d""
bold myself, to use your oru mat% ansoiriment. bmbit
caved, am free so air," sad that on suleunderetanding may
4114 amongst tite *beton, I Wed to publish We corms-
pondrmea —I tun, dear sir, yowl truly,
HENRY EDWARDS.

7. A Derestish, Eau
Rodwell, 7th November, IS
Dear 0004 of our correqvuidenoe walrlyala. I am
ethemillY *mod you mrn rang to publish it, 6n that It may
ban stall mom extearted airculatioa I Ead ths nuns —I
I, dear Sir, yours truly,
JAM ES ALDRIDGE DEMIREL
H. Edwards, Eau,

/remade that statement bemuse be did not wish to keep
tbssn in ignorance of what bad transpired, and hejwas
very glad to find that Mr. Devenish hid • proper
appreciation of his character, and knew that when
he said he would publish the oorrespondence he
should stick to his word. And now he left
them to judge of his cionduct. He had told honestly,
faithfully, and truthfully, everything belonging to
this arrangement, he had not tried to garble any-
thing, ea he found it in the bilL There were the
letters, let them put their construction upon them,
not take his, and judge him accordingly. Since he
had been their representative he had tried earnestly
and in every possible way, to become one of them-
selves. He had identified himself with every
institution in the plaoe—(hsar)—not as • matter of
duty, but as matter of pleasure. Nothing that be
had dons in this plaos with regard to furthering the
interests of any party or anything had beer done eo
much as • matter of duty, for it bad been a pleasure
to aid and assist everything in the plate. What be
bad said out of doors he would say to them, he
looked upon it as a duty for • member of Parliament
to identify himself with the Owe and strive to do it
all the good be conld—(obeers).
On the motion of Mr. R. N. Howard, seconded by
Mr. .1. Potheoary, Mr. Edwards was thanked for
his past services, and the meeting pledged itself to
we Its best efforts to secure his reeleotion. Speeches
were also made by Mr. Nathan and Mr. Robens,
and the proosediogg clotted with a vote of thanks to
the chairman. . .

After this meeting • deputation from the Anti.
Compact Association met a deputation from the
friends of Mr. Edwards, and a coalition was formed
to promote the return of Edward. and Powell..
A grand meeting of the two sections of the Liberal
Patti, the old supporters of idr! Edwards, and
the Panti•Compaot friends of Mr. Pne ell, was 1111
at the But an Ageembly•room on friday evening.
The milling warn •o °women, one, and there irs,
scarcely room in the large hell for • sows more—in
fact, large is was the meeting of Tuesday, we shod I
think that frrm 150 to 200 more were crammed in on
Friday. The platform was crowded with the heed. ot
both of the former divisions, while the "tail." showed
that they were equallr t aid united. The roar of
applause that gretttd the entry of the two
and their conaniitiees was deafening, and the hehd,
that leaped up in re.ponee to tile noolutiona. wooed
thicker than the bayonet, of a vest battalion of infantry
at the "present arms!" R. Bayly, Req., was moved to !
the chair by Mr. ii, Brown, the chairman of the Anti.
Compact suoeiation, and the exchange of courtesies
between the two regiments grew quite unnecessary es
the evening proceeded, and it became evident that, for
this time at least, they were one—Both candidates
delivered stirring addressee, and Mr. Edward. said that
there was no question of there being in the new Perlis.
meat a large and united Liberal majority, and if they
had returned two Liberate for Weymouth, and anything
were required for the eneouragement of improvements
in Weymouth, in the way of eatablishing dockyards, or
giving other advnitsges. Government would be very
likely to attend toil, if they eould make out their case.
—Mr. Powell dwelt at some length on the inoonsistencies
in Mr. Hembro's address, and said that to call one •
! Liberal Conservative, was like calling him • wino fool,
or an honest rogue, and at best he could be but a milk-
end-water politician. Was the Irish church question
that had been no long before the public to he met by
homcespathio doses of Reform? Were the children of
the poor to be cared for by the law as to their bodily
wants, and their rneutal ones neglected? Should all
the greet reform. required be dealt with by the Liberns
who had introduced and cordially supported them, or
by the Conservatives who had opposed them as long u they
wind, yielded only what we, wrenched from them, and
at last in spite of all their professions of caution, taken
what their own leader called • "leap in the dark?'
The meeting ezpressed its great pleasure at the united
action of Liberal patty, and pledged itself to do all
legitimately in its power to
Mr. Powell to Parliament.—Mr. Brawn and Mr. Lundi
also spoke, and the enthunann was maintained to the
e ova. _

On Saturday the leviers of the parties were
actively eogaged in making preparations for the
grand struggle, and discussion of the political sittiv
lion was the absorbing topic amongst the town.-
folk. .

........
A report of the nominotion will be found in our
fourth page.