The Express.
London, England, 1852-03-17 00:00:00

THE ELECTIONS.

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Last evening Mr. Shelley met the electors of St.
James's parish at Willies Rooms, Brewer-street, Golden-
square. Mr. William Gesell 'ded ; and having intro-
duced Mr. Shelley to the in some prefatory obser-
vations, Mr. Medley adhemed the electors and recapitulated
many se the mimemess he had made use of on previous oc-
cams& RO IMO 1111111110 the various points mentioned in
his address, end open the subjoin of free trade brought for-
ward the feet ImeMeedble limb of its beneficial effects
upon the people. He amended that within the last four
or dm ymrs meow Maw had hese expepied upon the int-
provemmat of lead them hir a hag mead post—a fact which
proved that the agrlcalturlsts had no ream to be discon-
tented with their position. The agricultural labourers, to
a nmil, were free faders Demme they felt that their
wages went further under Me weft system than the
did Asmerly. (Hear, hear.) If they (the people
would take the agricultural districts, and eruunias the di •
ferent unions, they would find that not only had the ex-
penw =Mobbing the wortattemedeereased, but the num-
liar of inmost bedlam trelesell. It wet, moreover, a fact,
that vegmedyboloseqoaratiody speaking, disappeared, and
even in the gar* As bessecial results of free trade had
long been manikell. (Hear, hear.) The Earl of Derby had
alluded to him lest night, and had mewled limn of having
stated that if his Is obleised m ier deity spew wheat he
should put an additlesol half awona curter the rent.
Now, he disdained this imputation, and assured his hearers
that the best peedbis feeling simile misted between him and
his tenants, whom he made a point of at least twice
a year. The opionitnrista were is condition,
, and they knew perfectly well what tllialind to look to
for their Norms. Nothing, he cootie' led dame them
more berm Mas the constant interference ess
which they bed experienced for some time pest. get
other things which proved that free trade was beneficial to
the merle, he observed that the price of agricultural ilia-
' plantains wee much lees than it was formerly. For in-
sii=plough which would have oust 5/. previous to the
o of free trade might now be purchased for 50s.
he consequence was that be could sell his produce at a
lower rate and at a larger profit than he could in former
days. (Hear, hear.) He was a large sheep owner as well
as an agriculturist, and he could assure the friends of pro-
tection that he never sold his mutton or his wool at such a
price as in the last year. He thought that the greatest
misfortune that could happen to the tory party would be
for them to pin a majority upon the question of
free trade. He was no friend to a tory admi-
nistration, but he was not sorry for the change
which had recently taken place, because the whig
ministry had got so completely into the hands of a family
clique, that it was time they were sent to the right about,
and thati another party had the opportunity of exhibiting
their powers of legislation. He firmly believed that the
present administration was only an administration of the
day, and would be sure to tumble to pieces in the event of
a dissolution of parliament. The result of a dissolution
would be that they should have a government on a more
extended basis, and the people would have the satisfaction
of knowing that they_ were fairly and adequately repre-
sented. (Cheers.)—Mr. llenry B4eod proposed, and Mr.
seam° seconded, a resolution pledging the meeting to sup-
port Mr. Shelley, and the business terminated.

BURT.—Lord Duncan met the electors and non-else.
ton of Bury, at an epos* Brislogis Union-square, on Se.
Wesley evening, and addressed some 8,000 or 10,000 people.
Mr. Frederick l'eel, the present representative of Leomin-
ster, was introduced to the electors of Bury, Lancashire, as
• candidate for their suffrages, on Monday evening, at a
meeting in the Town Hall. There woe • large attendance.
Mr. Richard Ashton, chairman of Mr. Peel's committee,
presented the hon. gentleman with a requisition signed by
412 electors, out of a constituency of 970 voters.
LEOMINBTER.—Mr. J. G. Phinimoro is again in
' the field u a candidate for the representation of Lcomin-
-1 stet. He is a legal and parliamentary reformer and free-
' trader. Mr. Plnllimore is also in favour of the ballot and
abolition of church-rates, and is opposed to the vote to
Mainooth.
PORTSMOUTll.—Licutenant-Ocneral Lord F. Fitz-
els:mice, the late Lieutenant-Governor of this garrison, has
rest issued an address to the electors of the borough of
ortsmouth, soliciting their suffrages on free-trade princi-
ples. It is dated from the Island of Madeira, where his
lordship is now stopping for the benefit of his daughter's
health.

TRE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS FOR ARMS.—BIR-
, MtNnitAW, Nano( 18.—The wester gunmakers and opera-
five fitters of this town met at the Odd Fellows Hall this
morning, with the view, if possible, of arranging their
differences with regard to the price to be paid for finishing
the new Mini. rifle. A long discussion took place, in the
course of which both parties stated their respective cases
very fully. The masters having retired, the men resolved
unanimously to abide by the prices sanctioned by the Board
of Ordnance in Inll—being 121 per cent. higher than those
paid fur the last new line musket. Thus the matter stands;
and if the contenders do not give way it is pretty evident
that the orders for 18,0410 rifles must be executed elsewhere
than in Birmingham. It is a dispute which cannot well be
andentood by any but gunroakers. The statements of the
men and the contracting 'neaten are directly opposed.