The Express.
London, England, 1847-02-04 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX ELECTION.

The vacancy in the representation of the county
occasioned by the death of the late Gemini Byng, Esq , was
filled up yesterday by the election of Lord Robert Grosvenor.
The noble lord was escorted from his residence in London to
the hustings at Brentford by a large number of the free-
holders of the north, east, and southern divisions of the
county, and at Kew Bridge, according to previous arrange-
ment, several of those of the western division joined the pro-
ceasion. Notwithatandinz the inclemency of the weather,
which was the less endurable from the business being carried
on in the open air, there was a considerable body of persons
present. At 10 o'cloca the noble lord arrived, and took his '
place on the hustings, accompanied by the lion. P. Bou-
aerie, Sir E. N. Buxton, Bart., S. C. Whitbread, Esq., the
lion. F. 'lynx, Sir W. Stiring, Sir W. Clay, M.P., Sir Be
Lacy Evans, M.P., and others of the electors. Lady Grosve-
nor and family were also present, and rtmsined until the
close of the proceedings. The Sheriff's of London and Mid-
dlesex (Mr. Alderman Challis and Mr. Kennard) pi elided.
The usual forms of reading the writ of election, the Bribery
A, t, &e. having been gone through,
Mr. Alderman and Sheriff CHALLIS, in opening the bard.
ness of the meeting, said, it was impossible for them to beas-
acmhled on any matter more coon. eted with the interests
and happiness of a people who are guided by wisdom and ex-
peri ..ace. It was impossible to attach too much importance
to the opportunity given of electing their representatives ;
and is the proportion that they sought integrity and pro-
priety of principle in the man they elected, so would their inte-
rests be eared for and attended to—by expecting and exacting
the same honour, the same industry, the same integrity from
him. . .

Having passed a high culogium on the political conduct
and consistency of the late memo' eshe observed, that, how-
ever much some of them might dal; r from the politics of
the present noble candidate, in no measure which involved
the benefit of the country had he ever been the last to lend
the sanction of his name or influence; and concluded by
calling upon any one prepared to do so to propose a candi-
date, and soliciting • fair and impartial hearing for all
parties.
The Hon. P. BM/TRATE came forward and said that
the proposal he was about to submit was PO likely to be
received with ;general and unanimous support that he
need not detain them at any length. They were called upon
to choose a successor to • man who had been elected by them
fourteen or fifteen times, and had represented them more
than half a century • a man who, having chosen his political
creed In early life, had consistently adhered to it to the end.
(Cheers.) During the whole course of his political life Mr.
Byng had proved himself th friend of civil and religious
liberty, and had always held that the well-governing of •
country consisted in providing thr the welfare of the many
and not of the few. The principles of the late representative
the electors of Middlesex had adopted, and it now became
their duty to find a person to succeed him who entertained
the some vices, and would carry into effect the same
practices. Happily fur them they had • candidate
whose principles they could judge of not merely
from his promises, not from any written address,
to the electors, but from the acts of a long political life.
That candidate was the noble lord beside him. (Cheers.)
During twenty years that noble lord had shown himself the
friend of civil and religious liberty, and had taken • part,
always on the side of the people, in all the questions of social
ameudmeot and commercial reform which had durine that
period agitated the country. He entirely *greed with the
sentiments of the noble lord, and haa no hesitation in re-
commending him as their representative. (Cheers.) He
could not conclude without saying a few words as to a cor-
respondence which had been extensively circulated during the
last few days, not with the view of entering into the sub-
ject to which it referred, but to mark the conduct of the
noble lord in giving
.a straightforward and hones' answer to
an insidious question. (Hear, hear.) The person who
wrote that letter was a particular friend of his, but he repu-
diated all the sentiments contained in it. (Cheers.) The noble
lord, as he said, answered it in a straightforward and manly
manner, without putting any gloss upon it, though he knew
that that answer might create some difference of opinion
amongst the electors. (A voice—" But ha can't smother it
over.") There was, however, nothing so unfair to a candi-
date as to ask what he would do upon any question when you
cannot state what are the contingent circumstances under
which it might be brought before him. When they chose
a man, the rectitude of whose political We they
acknowledged, they ought to leave it to him to carry out
his principles in the way most consonant to his own feelings,
and not embarrass him with pledges. Such a man was Lord
Robert Grosvenor, and he had great pleasure in nominating
him as their representative. (Hear.)
Sir E. N. Bexeox seconded the nomination. No one
could be acquainted with the character aid virtaes of their
late representative without entertaining for him the highest
respect, and no man could throughout such a lengthened
political life—extending over 56 years—have preserved such
a cordial feeling with his constituents, unless he had been
actuated by the highest, the best, and purest motives. (Lend
cheer) When he heard of Mr. By itg's death he thought it
would be • difficult matter for the electors, looking at the
state of Ireland and this country, to find a man to supply his
place, with equal satisfaction to themselves and to the coun-
try. They, however, knew:Lord R.Groevenor—they knew him
to be the friend of the poor, and one who would not sanction
any measure which ha thought inimical to the people or the
constitution; and, although he might not concur in every
santiment of the noble lard's, he was still of opinion that
there was no man better qualified to represent them.
No other candidate being proposed, and Lord It. Gros-
venor having, upon a show of hands, been declared duly
elected,
His LORDIIIIP (when the cheers, waving of hats, &c ,
which greeted him on his approach to the front of the plat-
form, had ceased) expressed his thanks for the warm recep-
tion he had received, and thus continued:—This, gentle-
men, is not the first time I have appeared upon the hust-
ings. (A Voice—" And it won't be the leaf.") I hope it
will not. (Hear, hear.) Bat it is the first time I have ever
had the honour to appear before you in a public character;
and when I consider the extent of the constituency, and the
importance of the county of which I am now the represen-
tative, I do say that I feel overwhelmed with a sense of my
own insufficiency. Remember, gentlemen, that lam but
a plain and simple man, having no pretensions to oratorical
talent, and I must, therefore, solicit your indulgence even
in the brief remarks which it now becomes my duty to ad-
dress to you. (Hear, hear.) I assure you that nothing
would have induced me to obtrude myself upon
your notice had I not been called upon by the whole united
strength of the late lamented Mr. Byng's supporters, whose
wi-lies upon the subject were conveyed to me by my_ friend
Mr. Whitbread, the chairman of the committee. Nothing
short of such an assurance from such en authority could have
induced me to sever my connexion with my attached friends
in Chester, who during a period of twenty years have ho-
noured me with unwavering kiedness, and the most im-
plicit confidence. (Cheers.) But, before I proceed to speak
further of myself, permit me to say a wen( or two of the
late member for the county whose memory is so dear to us
all. (Cheers.) And, indeed, I do not know how I can
better express what I feel in reference to that honoured and
lamented gentleman than by the language of thine of his
fti..nds who would inscribe upon his tomb this proud
epitaph—that having for upwards of fifty years represented
not merely the suburban portions of the county, but nearly
one half of the metropolis duties a most critical and eventful
period of our history-, he descended to the grave fall of years,
without a single enemy, and with the respect and attach-
ment of 01l classes and parties amon-st his large and en-
, iightmed constituency. (Cheers.) Although, consparativly,
a st:angsr among you here, I hope I am not altogeliser