The Express.
London, England, 1853-01-06 00:00:00

The Surplus, of the Reweave et leth October, 1632, after rrovidlag far
the thane foe that Quieter, w
To which fu to be *dded the Surpass of the Oocrolldated Pawl, as above
stated, to the present Quarter

Z 11.1129.192
711,116,1

:12.431.74'

TM amount baked in ths Quarter
granted by Parliamest out of Mei
The Surplus Revenue, after provit
Fund, and for the nayesent of 114
Quarter endfits Sth Januar,. 10

where. If the French people had been satisfied with con.
stitutional freedom, and to have advanced step by step,
as political education spread amongst the people, they
would not have lost their liberties, and their lives and pro-
perty would not have been placed, as now, at the
feet of a despotic tyrant. (Loud cheers.) They saw not
long ago Europe agitated to the very centre by a desire for
freedom and for constitutional liberty. Despotism tottered
and quailed before it, and they thought it would have been
swept away for ever. But what was the state of things
now ? The people everywhere cast down, despotism tri-
umphant, military executions and scourgings which made
one's blood run cold taking place everywhere under the
banners of that government of which the hon. gentleman
was the advocate. (Loud cheers.) But let him be just, for
he would not do injustice to any one, if he knew it.
Mr. B. CocartArtit—No, don't.

Sir ALEX. Cocascaw did not know the meaning of the
hen. gentleman's remark. What he meant to ray was this—
he did not believe that there existed any man anywhere to
whom the doings to which he had adverted would be more
abhorrent than the hon. gentleman who had just interrupted
him. (A laugh.) He was an advocate for the ballot
—(load cheers)—and before he joined the government he
took care to ascertain that his vJte on that subject was to
be left to his own arbitrament, and was not to be made
subservient to ministerial dictation. (Cheers.) The pre-
sent ;government were pledged to take the subject
of popular education into consideration. Other reforms
were also premised to them ; and as t i legal reform he
could pledge himself. He had the honour to be a member
of the commission for revising the common law of this
land • and when parliament met they would be prepared
to predate such measures as would show that they had
not been idle, or wanted seal. (Cheers.) The sub-
ject of our Antennas was now committed to one
of the ablest men of the present day. (Hear, hear.)
All persona seemed now to be agreed that the principle of a
graduated Income-tax was one that must be applied as far
as practicable at the earliest period. (Cheers.) He had
always been awake to those flimsy subtleties which
financiers had put forward ; for an income which depended
upon the precarious accidents of health and life, was a
totally different thing from one that was fixed and secured;
and when they taxed them both at the same rate, disguise
it as they would, they committed a grievous injustice.
(Loud cheers.) He knew the digitally of graduating such
• tax fairly ; but still an approximation was better than a
stubborn resistance to a principle which justice showed to
oe true. (Hear, hear.) There remained now the question
of our colonies, which had always from the earliest
timee been subject more or less to misrule. A
great reformer, however, had risen amongst us—Sir
William Metesworth —who had devoted his sound
intellect to investigate the subject and to find a remedy.
(Cheers.) It was no trifling thing that such • man should
be a member of the cabinet. It was true that the colonies
were not at this moment entrusted to him, but all his
opinions would have the great weight they deserved.
(Cheers.) Depend upon it his presence in the cabinet was
a guarantee to the people for colonial reform, and for the
introduction of self-government amongst the colonies of this
country. (Cheers.) Now what became of "sacrifice of
princiPle"? It was all very well to hurl &general anathema
at a man's head, and to say he was • political scoun-
drel. ready to sacrifice all for Rime; her ler thew plea.. rn
descend to particulars. (Hear, hear.) He believed
that the present government would have and would retain
the confidence of the people of England. (Cheers.) And
who would pronounce the verdict of the country urn it ?
No little hole and corner boroughs, no small constituencies,
bat such places as Southampton, Oxford, Nottingham,
Halifax, Leeds, Brighton, Wiltshire, Southwark, London ;
and he rejoiced to say that almost everywhere the govern-
ment candidate had been returned without a contest.
tateers.) At Hslifsx there had been an opposition, but
flir Charles Wood had been returned by a large majority.
rim) There was also a contest at Gloucester and at

..ssuthaniptoa. (Laughter.) There the opposition was in •
large minority, and nobody knew that better than them-
selves. (Cheers.) He bad no objection to dispute
the meat, only let them tight fairly. (Loud
cheers.) They thought, they knew the honourable
gentleman's opinions ; but they didn't. (Laughter.) It
had been said of old, " Oh, that mine enemy would write
a book !" Well, since the last election, their enemy had
written a book. (Laughter ; and cries of " It's dear at a
shilling.") Well, if they meant that the political wisdom
it contained was not worth a shilling, he agreed,with them ;
but he muat say that as • literary production it was the
work of a moat able penman. 11,: (Sir Alexander) was
certainly not prepared to find in it such desperately anti-
quated toryism as it contained. (Laughter.) It was
entitled, " Who are the Liberals ? " They would find
that out as far as Southampton was concerned. (Laughter
and cheers.) But the purpose of the pamphlet was to re-
vile the whip. In order to do that the hon. gentleman
went heck a century and a half, and he showed that they
were the wont and venal set possible. Now, he (Sir Alex-
ander) was not a whig. He was born and bred a tory ;
and he had changed his aide, from honest conviction, at the
time when Byron wrote, that

Nothing was Sled la the lama reee.
Eseept the whip mot gettlag lato Nem

(Laughter and cheers.) He had had nothing to do with
whip, except that being something more than a whig be
had supported them r going the farthest. (Cheers.) He
did not say that the administration of Sir Robert
Walpole was not exceedingly corrupt. He desired to
forget what the whip had done in put times, and
to remember what they had done in our own.
They had given us parliamentary and corporation
reform, and the penny postage ; they had abolished the
navigation laws ; they had made sugar cheep, and swept
slavery from our colonies. (Cheers.) They had likewise
done their best to resist the attacks and inroad. which had
been made on the great principle of unrestricted competition
or free trade. (Cheers) Why, the hon. gentleman's pam-
phlet
reminded one of the wolf and the lamb. Said the
wolf to the lamb " You young scoundrel ! you spoke ill of
me six months ago!" " Bless you, sir," said the lamb, " I
wasn't born then!" " Well, then, it was your father, you
young vagabond !" (Loud laughter.) The hon. gentleman
spoke of the Reform Bill, in his pamphlet, in exceedingly
derogatory terms; and he said that it was a revolutionary
and fatal measure. (Cries of " Oh.") Now, ho (Sir
Alexander) looked upon the enactment of the Reform Bill
as a great and (important epoch in the history of this
country. (Cheers.) He looked upon it, to use the Ma-
hommedan word, u the hegira of our political regenera-
tion. (Loud cheers.) The hon. gentleman said it was a
" fatal measure." They (the electors) must decide between
them. heers.) If it had not been for reform, where
would the institutions of our country be now ? (Ap-
plause.) It was that which bad enabled the House of Com-
mons to pass the repeal of the corn laws ; and when the
storm of revolution swept over Europe, and carried so many
states to destruction, should we have ridden it out if the
agitation for free trade had still been going on, and if the
people bad believed they were excluded from power by a
selfish aristocracy, who wished to keep food dear for
their own advantage. (Cheers.) It was the introduction
of the 101. householders which had fixed the institutions
upon a rock, and made them capable of resisting any as-
sault. (Cheers.) He considered that the Reform Bill was
a great benefit, and be was desirous of advancing a step
further, and of including a larger portion of the commu-
nity is what, to use a fashionable phrase, be might call the
" extended area" of representation." (Cheers.) He now
came to a very unpleasant subject. He was charged with
having been guilty of bribery and corruption at the last
election—(hear, hear)—but he was not the only delinquent,
fur they had included Mr. Wilcocks in the same charge.
(Hear.) Mr. Wilcock, bad taken no part in the present pro-
ceedings, but he was present to-day lest it should be said
that he shrunk from the accusation. lie (Bir A. Cockbura)
must own to being a little sensitive upon such a charge as
the present. Although where a judicial investigation was
to take place, it would generally be improper to enter upon
any previous discussion of it, there were exceptions to all
rules, and this was one, because he was openly charged
with offences which they were told would disqualify him
for the future. Now, he had known something about
Southampton before he was invited t., become a candidate.
He had also been counsel against the hon. geotlentan (Mr.
Bailin Cochrane) about a Bridport case. (Loud cheep.)
That Can involved a charge of bribery, but the seat was
given up, and so the charge was not gone into. Now,
he (Sir A. Cockburn) would not give up his seat, but he
would defy them. (Loud and long continued applau'e.)
at the election of 1841, when Lord E. Bruce and Mr.
Martin were first seated and then unseated, there was
sum of 4,0001. spent in corrupting the electors of South-
ampton. Beer was distributed like water, and money like

eal Jan. S, 16511, in part of the sums
ruitidatett Fund for Supply Services
for the change on the Consolidated
ly Barrio's in Grant Britain, la the

C 4,931,316
4,06,192

beer. (laughter.) Thom must have been rare times for
gentlemen in the beer line. (Loud laughter.) But who
did they think was the presiding spirit; Whom were the
cheques signed by ? By Mr. Mackey. (Loud cheers.) He
was sorry to say Mr. Mackey was not present, but there
was a gentleman concerned in those transactions who was
now sitting near him. Judge of his surprise and amusement
when he saw Mr. Lyell (the town sergeant), with hie golden
insignia (the mace), calling in sonorous tears for "Silence!"
while the act against bribery was read. (Laughter.) lie
should like to know what he had done with the cheque fur
450/. (Loud cheers and laughter.)
Mr. LTALL-1 never had one.
Sir A. COCLBUYN—WeII, he had credit for one ; but he
quite believed Mr. Lyel', for a person who could receive a
bribe, and then state that he was betraying the party who
gave it him, was quite capable of any falsehood. (Hear,
hear.) However, it was admitted that 4,0001. had been
spent • and Ise would not say that there were no misdoing&
on the other side. (Loud cheers and cries of " Oh.")
The abominations which were practised had brought dis-
grace upon Southampton ; and when he (Sir A. Cockburn)
was first invited to come forward, he confessed he did not
at all like the idea. But hewas told that between 1841 and 1843
the town had so greatly increased that 800 or 700 ten-
pound householders had been added to the register; and
that giving the ether tide all the venal votes, there would
stili be sufficient to carry the election. (Hear, hear.) Now
he had a very strong feeling on the subject of treating. He
considered that the man who was responsible for the intem-
perance and demoralisation to which It gave rise, was

answerable for mischief for which a life's 'Cautions might
not be sufficient to atone. And, as for direct corruption, it
was a thing
.._ .

" Twice eased;
It caned him that gives sad him that takes ;"

and he would n dirty his Sneers with it. (Cheers.)
Not a single farthing had been spent which had not pawed
through his own hands ; for though he had tie most un-
I bounded confidence in his friends, he had insisted on their
bringing him the bills before he would give any money
whatever. (Hear, hear.) For the first time in the
history of Southampton, beer was not given away—
(hear, hear)—and public houses were not opened.
For the first time there were no such orgies as those which
took place at the last election at the Riding School. (Loud
cheers.) He would pledge his faith as a man and his honour
as a gentleman that, so far as he knew and believed, not a
single farthing had been given by or for him in order to
influence a single vote. (Cheers.) He thought, however,
be could explain the present petition. The two hon. gen-
tlemen had been persuaded to came forward by a promise
of an easy victory. That was proclaimed at the Canton
Club; and some of his own friends had said, "Poor Cock-
ben will be beaten." Now, Mr. Baillie Cochrane was a
big man and he but a little one, but, when that was said
to him his answer was, "If I don't beat hint by 200 I will
est hat." (Loud laughter.) Now, it was quite easy to un-
derstand that hie opponents would anxious to obtain an
explanation how it was that they had been let in for a de-
feat. "Oh," says the lawyer, ' it's bribery and treating."
(Loud laughter.) Now that might not come altogether as a
novelty to the honourable gentleman's ears. (Cheers.)
Perhaps he was a convert to the doctrine of con-
tagion, and thought that he had brought it with
him In= Dradtera. (Laughter and cheersT) Well, the
lawyers said that they could get up a ease, and indeed if
they would " put money in their purse " the lawyers would
get up a case about anything. (Laughter.) One of the
charges was, that Mr. Bowett had given some cold beef
and beer to some men he was employing on the afternoon
of the election day. Down came a Speaker's warrant for
Mr. Bowett, and another for his eook. (Great merriment.)
The real secret was, that this issuing of Speaker's
warrants involved a good many six-and-eightpencee ;
and so long as the 6004 which had been
subscribed lasted Southampton would be deluged with
them. He had one comfort, however, and that was,
that when the 6001. was expeeded somebody would have
to pay his costs as well es their own—(cheers)—for if, when
he, his colleague, his agents, and his friends, had presented
themselves before the committee, it did not pronounce the
petition frivolous and vexatious, there was no justice to be
had in the country. (Loud cheers.) Referring then to a
placard warning the electors that he was disqualified, he
challenged the anonymous conecetor of that scandalous'
production to show his face. Come forth, said Sir Alexander,
thou nameless slanderer, and meet me here. (Loud cheers.)
Let the electors not be afraid of losing their votes. (Hear.)
It wee rather a startling thing to find a gentleman attempt-
ing to gain the seat in any other way than by
a majority. (Hear, hear.) A friend of his who had met
Mr. Cochrane on the continent said the hon. gentleman
had told him that be had so chance of being himself
elected, but it would be good fun to unseat Sir Alexander
Cockburn. (Sensation.) He (the hon. and learned gentle-
man) then proceeded to dwell upon the conduct of various
gentlemen residing at Southampton, and denounced the
tactics of the opposite party as a pitiful pettifogging dodge.
(Loud cheers.)
Mr. B. COCITILaiti—" Pettifogging "—that is not what I
expected to hear from Too, Bir Alexander.
Sir A. COCKBURN did not of course mean to apply the
term to the hon. gentleman, but it was clear that he
war to have the advantage of the trick. (Cheers.)
All that he wished for was a fair tight, and he was sure
that the hon. gentleman must in his own mind repudiate
the proceedings of his friends. (Hear, hear.) For himself
he need not say much. His conduct had for five long years
been before them. Mr. Austell, indeed, had charged him
with neglecting their local interests; but he had taken the
coarse he had been requested to do both by the town conn-
edl and a public meeting held on the same subject. (Hear.)
The charges against him, false and unfounded as they
were, were a scandalous insult to the town, andi to the
electors he appealed for protection and support. (Cheers.)
He bore no ill will to any one, and he felt sure that
when the bitter fee:logs caused by this struggle should
have passed away, his opponents would be ashamed of the
course they had pursued. (Loud cheers.) They would
find, perhaps, to their vexation and cost, that unfounded
accusations, prompted by • bitter and malignant spirit
towards men who never deserved it, only recoiled upon
their authors. (Loud cheers.) lie rejoiced to think that
his cause was that of the electors ; and that they would do
es they had done before—would bring it to a glorious
triumph and issue. (Loud and oft-repeated cheers.)

Mr. Britttie Coarse-xi was received with cheers and
hisses. Having entreated a patient hearing, and paid a
compliment to the eloquence, ability, and moderation of
Sir Alexander's speech, he proceeded to justify the course
• he had taken with regard to the petition. He hart only
followed the precedent of Lord Edward Howard's case. Of
the details of the petition he could not be expected to know'
anything. He found that his friends were averse to letting
Sir Alexander walk over the course. He did not see any
occasion for another hard battle with him when they had
had one so recently, and while the previous petition re-
mained undecided. He thought, therefore, that the course
kg had adopted was a fair and natural one ; and he did
not see why Sir Alexander should have shown so much
annoyance at the mere fact of a petition. It was one
amongst 130 others, and as for himself he (Mr. B. Coch-
rane) was perhaps not very thin-skinned—(derisive cheers)
—but all kinds of unfounded statements had been made
with regard to his conduct on the present occasion.
(Hear, hear.) Leaving all these personal questions, he
wished next to make some remarks upon the present
crisis. He had never had any great confidence in the
stability of the late government. (Cheers and laughter.)
With one or two exceptions there were no members of it who
had been in office before ; and it had arrayed against it a great
portion of the talent of the country. It was perfectly evi-
dent, therefore, that the memeet the difierent parties
joined in any one adverse vote, Lord Derby's government
must cease to exist. (Cheers.) He could not say that he
approved of all the measures of Mr. Disraeli. With respect
to the shipping interests, he supposed nothing could
be said against them, or against the reduction of
the tea duties; but as regarded the proposal to
repeal half the malt tax, and the consequent doubling
of the house duty, if he might venture to say so
of so great a person as Mr. Disraeli, it was a mistake.
(Cheers.) He had the highest feeling of personal respect
and esteem fur Lord Aberdeen and his party. Still the
present government was not the moat natural alliance, as
Sir Alexander would admit ; especially when the Earl of
Aberdeen had declared, that excepting on the question
of free trade, there was no difference between him and
Lord Derby. (Cheers.) In 1830, Sir Alexander, in his
speech on the Gnek ro.estion, spoke in the most severe
terms of Lord Aberdeen and the Peelites; and,
strangely enough, he applied to their conduct the
terms of "pettifogging, mean, and pitiful." (Cheers.)

Of Mr. Gladstone he said, ".his speech was fa!: of misrepre-
sentations," " petty-fogging conduct," " perverting
the fasts, and distorting evidence." (Cheers.) Of Sir Junes
Graham he said, " he never heard • speech more ungra-
ciou or in worse taste than his;" and in tones of bitter
irony he added, " I do not know his motto, but I will fur-
nish him with one—el bide my time.' " Then, again, one
would start with astonishment to read • speecn of Sir
Alexander, with respect to the conduct, or, as he called it,
the miaconduot of Lord Aberdeen and his party. He asked
" What ue the terms of your alliance ? If there is to be
an alliance I am bound to call on you to speak out plainly.
I Wiese that the candour of the transaction will
be on your—(the protectionist) benches." (llear.)
Now, he (Mr. B. Cochrane) repeated this question—What
were the terms of the alliance between the four sections of
the government? A conservative government could not be
carried on with such a coalition. Either the Peelites must
give way, or the liberals would have to sacrifice their
principles. He believed that Lord Aberdeen's party would
beatifies theirs; but he contemplated the disruption of a
government founded on such a combination. As Sir
Alexander had alluded to his pamphlet, he would quote a
passage from it. It was an extract from a speech of Sir
Jima Graham, delivered in 1842:—" The whole system of
secret voting was inconsistent with the English character.
If a man be an honest and firm friend, he will not want the
ballot. If he shirks, he will not avail himself of it. The
only persons to whom the ballot would be useful would be
those dirty, hypocritical scoundrels—men whose faces belie
their purposes--(great uproar)—men who pretend to be
your friends only to deceive and betray you; who flatter
you with vain hopes of support, which they have no inten-
tion to realise; men who talk of intimidation, but who
seek the opportunity of gratifying their sordid envy, their
revenge, and that bitter hatred which, combined with their
cowardice, make them the most contemptible of mankind;
these are the men who demand • measure that is • mere
excuse to lend to lies the confidence of truth." (Urea:
uproar.) If upon the ballot alone there could be such di-
versified opinions they must lead to disunion. (Hear.
hear.) Then, as to Austria. Were not the opinions he
had expressed those of the Earl of Aberdeen ?
Sir ALEX. COCKBURN did not believe they were, be-
cause the noble earl had proclaimed in the House of Lords
the other night that his foreign policy would be cautiously
to avoid all interference in the mutual concerns of other
countries, hut that he felt it was right for Englishmen to
indulge, when it could be done properly and becomingly,
in the expression of their sympathies with those institu-
tions which had brought glory to their owu land. (Cheers)
Mr. B. COCHRANE could only say that Lord Aberdeen
had opposed Lord Palmerston's policy ; and it was in con-
formity with Lord Aberdeen's policy of non-intervention
that be (Mr. B. Cochrane) had himself opposed Lori
Palmenton's principle of intervention. (Hear, hear.) Then
as to the Reform Bill. Was it wonderful that he a con-
servative should object to the Reform Bill ? At all events,
Sir Robert Peel, Lord Palmerston, and his party, had op
posed it. (Hear, bear.) He trusted that the passive
policy of Lord Aberdeen would be carried on, notwith-
standing the discordant materials of his government ;
and he hoped that even the hon. gentleman would in time
see the error of his opinions, and become a cooper relive.
In the present break up of parties, when friend did not
know the friend he knew yesterday, a seat in parliament
had no temptation to induce a man to do more than place
himself fairly before his constituency and ask them for their
confidence ir. him and in his opierioue. (Cheers.)
Sir ALEXANDER COCKBURN said a few words in expla-
nation, after which
The show of hands was taken. It was almost unanimous
in favour of Sir Alexander Cockburn, who was declared
duly elector:.
A poll was then demanded, and after a vote of thanks to
the mayor, proposed and seconded by the candidates, the
meeting was adjourned.

GLOUCESTER.
RETURN OF ADMIRAL BERKELEY.
(rams ova 1111PORTIR.)
GLOUCESTER, WEDNESDAY.
The poll opened thin morning at eight o'clock,
and, in accordance with the behests of the two rival com-
mittees, the electors " rushed to the poll " at an early heur
to record their votes. The booths were erected in a cluster
in the corn-market, in Eastgate-strcet, a email covered
building, totally inadequate to the purpose, and in the
most crowded thoroughfare in the city, being one of the
principal streets of Iccal traffic, besides being also the
great thoroughfare to the railway station. The consequence
was that great difficulty was experienced by voters in get-
ting to the poll ; and as a large majority were brought up on
flys and omnibuses, there was great confusion and excite-
ment in the neighbourhood, so that the tradesmen had to
close their shops and business was suspended. Throughout
the day bands of music were parading the streets, and
everybody wore his partisan's colours, while vehicles were
tearing through the streets, conveying the " free and inde-
pendent" to toe poll. The conservative party, contrary to
precedent, brought up their men early, so that at nine
o'clock the state of the poll was as follows:
Hope (conservative)
Berkeley (liberal)

Majority for Mr. Hope l5
The Berkleyites, however, now came in, and at ten were
in a majority of 7. At eleven o'clock they had considerably
ncreaaed this majority, the numbers being :

Berkeley
Hope 426
At halt-pest eleven the numben stood :
Berkeloy

491
Hope 466

The Beikleyites now began to consider themselves safe,
and rejoiced in an anticipated triumph. At twelve o'clock
the poll stood than:

Berkeley
Hope 509
From this time the conservative party became dispirited,
and many hung back from the poll, in the belief that the
victory had already been won by their opponents. On the
other hand, the liberal party, encouraged by their position
of vantage, increased their exertions, so that at two o'clock
the majority of Admiral Berkeley was increased to 60, and
at three o'clock to 70. At the close of the poil, at four
o'clock, the numbers were:
Admiral Berkeley
Mr. Hope G69
Majority for Berkeley
There have been many serious fights in the course of the
day, and one man has been carried off to the hospital in an
insensible state. The town is in a perfect state of smear,
all the shops are closed, and the people appear in a terrible
state of excitement. which it is feared may yet lead to seri-
ous disturbances. The majority has been quite unexpected,
the "blue" party having anticipated winning by a close
contest. Notice of bribery at the last election has been
served on Mr. Hope.

LICHFIELD.
RETURN OF LORD A. PAGET.

Yesterday the election took place in this city,
caused by the acceptance by Lord Alfred Paget of an office
in her Majesty's household, under the new government.
Lord Alfred is the popular memlier, and the turies did not
on this occasion venture to bring forward a candidate,
though a brother of the Ist° Sir William Follett contented
the representation of the city last July. Lord Anton owes
his seat entirely to family influence, but the "free and in-
dependent" section of the constituency speak with a good
deal of freedom and is terms by no means complimentary
of hie lordship's tergiversation, in going over to the pro-
tectionist party.
At 12 o'clock, Mr. Hall, the city sheriff, opened the elec.
tion proceedings, and after the due performance of the
necessary formalities,
The Rev. B. FLOTIE placed Lord Alfred Pane: in nomi-
nation.

IRccaLan CRorr CUAWNER, Eq., a county magistrate,
seconded.

------
No other candidate being proposed, the sheriff, amidst
much cheering, declared Lord Alfred Paget duly elected to
represent the city in parliament.
Lord A. PAOET then addressed the electors. A 6:catch frit nd
of the constitution, he was in favour of an extension of the
franchise ; he rejoiced to see the ballot made an '• open
question," and would hail with satisfaction any met.s re
that had a tendency to put a stop to bribery and c •rrup-
two, and took the poor man out of the hands of the man in
power, who, as the briber, was far the more guilty. (or his
wicked endeavour to demoralise the poor sot' r. whose
poverty placed him in his power. His lordship co3cludvd,
by again warmly thanking his constituents, and assuring
them of his determination faithfully to do his duty.
A vote of thanks to the sheriff terminated the busixess of
the election.

LEITH BURGHS.
RETURN OF ME. MONCREIFF.

On Tuesday, Mr. Moncreiff, appointed Lord Advo-
cate of Scotland, wu again re-elected to represent in par-
liament the united Burghs of Leith, Portobello. and
?dusselburgh. He was nominated by Bailie
Leith, and seconded by Bathe Renwick, Musselburgh ;
and, no other candidate being proposed, the Sheriffeleclued
Mr. Moncreiff duly and unanimously returned.

Mr. MONCRIIFF, on coming forward to acknowledge the
honour, was received with loud applause. lie said—
Gentlemen, a very short time has elapsed since I ad Tressed
you ; but a great deal has been done in that short time.
'We have gained one great triumph for the people—we
have confirmed the principle of free trade, which is now
written in irrevocable characters in the legislation of this
country. (Loud cheers.) But, gentlemen, Lord Derby's
government has fallen. I did not expect the bubble to
burst quite so soon ; but it inflated so much more ra-
pidly than I expected—it came to a crisis, not from ex-
ternal but internal causes, so quickly, that it was not
possible to arrest its fate any longer, and Lord Derby's
government resigned. I do not look upon that as a public
calamity. (Laughter.) I look upon it as a great retribu-
tion. (Hear, hear.) Lord Derby's government em-
braced many elements which, under other circumstances,
might have deserved the confidence of the country. There
were men of great ability in it. There were men fitted to
have done the country good service. But I do not 'mint
the fall of Lord Derby's government, because I thiuk it
was a government without a principle. (Hear, hear.) I
would never have connected myself with Lord Aberdeen's
government if I did not feel that, throughout the empire—
in England and Scotland—it is to all intents and purpoks,
and in every possible respect, a liberal, and nothing but a
liberal government. (Cheers.) I will now say a few words
' on one or two measures that may, perhaps, be interesting
to you. in the first place, with regard to parliamentary
reform, I see that Sir James Graham, who has teen re-
, turned for Carlisle, distinctly said that had it not been that

Lord Aberdeen and Lord John Russell bad declared that
the Batons Bill required revision, and would receive
revision, he would not have accepted office ; and I myself
believe the ecrent7 is now mush nearer having good and
liberal measures for the revision of the Reform Bill then
they have been at any other period of our history. I
would only say further, that the way in *lnch they
have behaved in the free trade struggle—the mode
in which the electors and nox-electors belayed—and
the present prosperity of the country, certainly rer.ders
this a very fitting time indeed to consider whether the
boundaries of our representation might not w'th advantage
be extended. Of course any mea.ure th.st may he pro-
' paged of that kind will receive ms hearty and willing sup-
port. As regards the questi-n of education 1 need not en-
large. I hold the same principles 1 h•ve always avowed ;
1 think ti is the great topic of the day ; and though there
are difficulties in tictall. and though there are abides of
difference in opini m, what I want, and will struggle to ob-
tain for Scotland, is a measure of education Is hich will
bring the means of knowledge within the reach of the
poorest family in the land. (Applause.) There is only one
other topic I shall say anything about—l menu the subject
of law reform. Unqu,stionably, if lam Ions; enough in
office to enable me to do so, I shall devote soy aft-ution
most strenuously to that most important sad—;; maly, ren-
dering the means of justice accessible to all at a cheap rate,
so that a man may get a rapid and sound juilt:intrit at the
least possible expense. Mr. Munereiff concluded by pro-
posing a vote of thanks to the Sheriff.
The proceedings were conducted amidst heavy rain.

HALIFAX.
TILE DECLARATION.
The official dnlaration of the state of the poll at
the close we., ma9^ by the Mayor yesterdsy morning from
the hustings. A little before eleven o'clock Sir Charles
Wood, M.P., accompanied by a large number ot his triends
and supporter, arrived on the hustings, and was greeted
by the acelamatioas of those who hail aseeinhled on the oc-
casion. Mr. Edward•, the defeated candidate, and his
friends also attended. and were well received. T:.e attend-
ance was inferior to that on the nomination ch,y, and con-
' sisted mainly of the friends and supporters of the right
hon. baronet. A few women and boys, who cheered the
tory candidate. con;regated in front ot the hustings, and
offered a good deal of interruption to Sir Cnar.es during
the early part of his address, but finding few sympathisers,
they grew weary of the r efforts. It seems that a slight
error in the calculation of the votes was made p.sterday,
the majority for the successful candidate being 56.
The Deputy Returning-officers having banded in their
poll-books, they were at once cast up, and the result de-
clared.

The MAYOR then said—Gentlemen, it now bAcornes my
duty to declare the result of this election. The Tires re-
ccriled for the Right lion. Sir Charles Wood are SSO, and
for Mr. Edwards 524 . thus leaving a majority in favour of
Sir Charles Wood of 56. (Loud cheers) And I hereby
declare the Right lion. Sir Charks Woed elected a repre-
sentative for the borough of lialtfax. (I.,tid and repeated
cheers.)
The indenture of return was then filled up and signed
by the mayor anl the movers and seconders of the two
candidates.

Sir C. WOOD then addressed the assaubly, and was
greeted with loud and repeated cheering. He said—Mr.
Mayor and gentlemen—(A voice: "Capital, led'. —laughter)
—1 have now to return you my grateful %buten for the
honour you have Conte: red upon me. (" Hear," and cheers.)
And if, gentlemen, I cannot find words adequately to ex-
press what 1 feel, it is because you have heaped and accu-
muiated upon me kindnesses and favours and houours tar
beyond those which I can possibly deserve. (Cheers.) I
appear here now fir the eighth time to thank you for having
cent me as your representative to pat liateint. (A female
voice—" We have not sent thee," and much laughter.)
And those amongst you who are most friendly to shortening
' the duration of parliaments will hardly complaiu et the:
length of time which I have sat—(" Hear,hear, " and a
laugh)—when I tell you that in twenty years I have bees
eight times elected by this constituency. (A voice—" And
will again, if you went it"—Hear, hear.) Gentlemen,
I thank you all for the unvarying kindness with which I
have been received by every one. I thank my
friends more especially for the unparalleled exertions
by which I have again been placed in the proud
position that I now occupy. (A voice in the
crowd—" Loog may yoa reign in it," and laughter.) Per-
haps things did not look quite so well this time yesterday
morning. (" Hear, hear," and laughter.) But 1 never for
one moment doubted the ultimate result. (Hear, hear.)
We saw that those who early in the day crowded to the
pull in favour of my opponent were those w'io had pledged
themselves to support him; and I knew right well mat
those who had promised me their support would not fail me
when they came to the poll. (" Hear, hear," sod cheers.)
And I must say in ad the anxieties of a severe contest,
nothieg can be more gratifying to a candidate, and nothing
more honourable to a coustituency, than to see men on
bath sides come up to the poll to vote as they had promised.
(Hear, hear.) lam proud and gratified beyond measure
to say that I have hardly a broken expectation to complain
of. (Hear, hear.) I never reckoned 1 should have a majo-
rity above 50; you have given me i 6. (Loud cheers.)
Proud, indeed, may I be to represent such a constituency;
and high is the place which Halifax will bear amongst the
constituencies of this empire, fur the independence of its
voters. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, Igo to parli::neat to repre-
sent your opinions; I believe that the principles which you
hold and which I hold ate the came. I have done my best
faithfully to discharge my duty hitherto, and certainly
your conduct towards me affords the best reason why I
should persevere as I have begun. If I did not faithfully
represent you, it would have been your duty to reject me
now ; and I take it as the greatest proof of your approba-
tion of the course I have pursued in my farmer parlia-
mentary conduct, of my now taking office under the present
government, and of the principles that government propose
to act upon, that you have sent me to parliament as a
member of that goverment so recently formed. (Hear.)
We are determined to persevere in that course of leaislatioa
which, with some interruption, has prevailed since I came
into parliament. (Loud cheering, and "That's right.") I
have borne my share in those measures which have been
passed for the relief of dissenters from unjust restrictions
upon their libertie,. (Hear, hear.) I have been a party
to the extension of the parliamentary franchise, which has
enfranchised your borough. (Hear, hear.) I have also
been a party to those measures which relieved your com-
merce from injurious restrictions, which gave full scope to
yoorindustry, which cheapened your food, and which bet-
tered your homes and your dwellings. (Much and repeated
cheering.) Gent:coon, that is the course which the pre-
cent government intends to pursue—(hear, hear)—and
when I stand before you again, I shall be able to render a
good account of the stewardship with which you have en-
trusted me, and also show that we have made
further and substantial progress in the advancement of
similar legislation. (Great cheering.) Gentlemen, I now
take my leave of you, thanking you for your kindness
throughout. I can assure you, and I think you know it
from put experience, that I shall from this moment forget
that any opposition has been raised against me, remeinber•
lag only that I now represent you all; and in whatsoever
way I can, I will promote the interests of all, and on what-
• ever subject representations are addressed to me, from
whoever person they may come, they shall receive from
me the must respectful attention. (Much cheering.) I
know but one thing now, I am one of th., representatives of
tt:e borough of Hulitax. I know that to my charge, in
C 311201011 with my friend on my right (Mr. Crossley), the
interests of your borough are intrusted; I hope you will
find us both to act as faithful stewards to you. (" Hear,
hear," and applause.) You will take your share in
the great interests of the United Kingdom. I have
been called upon to take my share in the government of
that mighty empire ; and I believe that so large a propor-
tion of it as is comprised within the boundaries of this
parish cannot but feel an interest in whet concerns any
portion of that empire. It will be our concern to promote
your interests along wan those of the country at large, and
the only promise I can make you is, that to the beet of my
moldy I will do my duty in that situation which it ham
pleased you to place me. (Cheers.)
The right hon. baronet concluded amidst laud and re-
puted cheering.
Mr. EDWARDS next came forward, and delivered a brief
address.
___

1 bar C. WOOD pro;c tel a vote of thanks to the mayor.
Mr. EDWARDS seconded the motion, saying he was de-
lighted to have the opportunity of doirg so. Their worthy
mayor was an ornat.tent to the town over which h.• pre-
sided; and he (Mr. Edwards) thanked him sincerely for
his impartial conduct during the whale of this election.
(Loud applause.)
'I he MAYOR. said he thanked his townsmen for this re-
netted proof of their confidence; and he hoped that if it
should happen that hereafter he should be placed in the
same situation of returning officer, that he should still con-
tinue to merit that confidence. (Cheers.) It had b; en his
endeavour to act impartially ; and, if he had succeeded in
doing so, in the peculiar position in which he was placed
(as the brother-in•law of Mr. Edwards), he should pre
eminently esteem that good opinion as long as he lived.
(Loud cheers.) lie cunelu•led by au appeal to their loyalty,
and calling for three htarty cheers for the Queen. (Tee
call was enthusiastic-4 responded to on all sides.)
Three cheers were then given for the Mayor, and the
proceedings of the election terminated.