The Express.
London, England, 1846-11-05 00:00:00

whether they should invite all three parties, and after duly
wsighLng the matter, they came to the conclusion, that in
the present position of public and private matters as between
those parties, al; invitation to all might lead to unpleasant
consequences, and wight probably result in a collision it
de-
termination itelnteith was neither ol:,
was desirable to avoid.; they had come therefore to the
the parties, and neither bad
received
a circ to invite
jj„-„,weyer, that it would be
objectionable to entirely preclude those: Parties from the
op-
portunity of communicating with the meetb.4;. • and accord-
i
tngly a private letter was addressed to Earl Fi:teeenthr,
to Mr. G. Berkeley, and to Joyner Ellis, Esq., for himself
and the eight other gentlemen with whom he acted, in-
forming them of the meeting, and offering to be the medium
of any written communication which either of them might
think proper to address to the meeting for its perusal.
Having stated the circumstances under which the meeting
was called, he would direct its attention to its chief object,
and which, he conceived, would be found in the second
paragraph of the circular. The best course would be, first
to consider the present position of the independent electors of
the western division of the county of Gloucester; next, as
to whether, under existing circumstances, it was desirable to
express any opinion as to the propriety of the Hcn. G. Ber-
keley being again put in nomination or not; and thirdly
and lastly, in the event of such as opinion being expressed
either way, whether it would not be advisable to appoint a
committee to carryout the viewsso expressed by the meeting.
He was reminded that letters had been received from several
gentlemen approving of the meeting being held and account
mg for their absence. It was right also to tell them that
he had received a communication from Earl Fitzhardinge.
The best course would be to hear the letters from the absent
gentlemen read first, and then the meeting could determine
whether it would hear the communication from Earl Fitz-
hardinge or not.
T. NtcHoLsorr, Esq., of Lvdney, had received a letter
from Mr. Charles Rosser, which he would read. The
writer expressed his regret that he could not affix his sig-
nature to the circular,aa he had long ago determined to keep
aloof from party or politics. He thought however that the
electors of the Western Division of Gloucestershire should re-
joice over the broils of Berkeley Castle, for they had afforded
the electors the opportunity of showing that they were not to
be bound down by the will or the wealth of any family what-
ever, and that the really independent voters were not under
baronial or any other influence. Out of evil came good, and
he hoped the result would be that the electors would choose
a man who would march with the progress of events, and
not be behind the times. He (Mr. Rosser) regretted that
he could not as formerly join hand in hand with them, but
he was heart and heart with them, and his earnest wish was
to see the county fairly and freely and not nominally repre-
sented. Ile hoped they would find such a man as they re-
quired in Mr. G. Berkeley. Mr. Nicholson mentioned that
he had received a letter from Mr. Mtsshat, who was unable
to attend from illness, and from another gentleman who said
that his firm and family had six votes, and they would go
with them whenever the occasion came.
The Chairman next read a letter which he had received
from Earl Fitzhardinge :
Berkeley Castle, Nov. 2, 1216.—My dear Sir, In compliance with
the request contained in the letter signed by yourself and other gentle-
men, supporters of the Liberal interest in the Western Division of
this county, I address to von it short statement of the facts which led
to a communication which I felt called on to make to some friends
(both in the political and axial acceptation of the word) on the 15th
of September last. I believe it is known to most or all of you,
that ever since the contested election of 1532, for the Western
Division of this county, the entire expense of the registration
of voters, and of defending their votes when objected to by the
opposing party, has fallen on'osyself alone. And I an not aware
that the fact of my endeavouring to secure for u man the mere right
of voting for his representative in parliament can neonsairity email on
me a moral or political delinquency. In the summer of 1345, Mr. G.
Berkeley made a demand on me fur money, which I masted. I have
no intention to follow his example, and to enter into a detail of pri-
vette affairs, by discussing how far his demand was founded Is equity,
or whether I had not done more for him by pecuniary advances than
he was in any way entitled to. It is only neee-sary fur me to state
that I ref., ed his claim. Thu consequence was, that he acquainted
me and several others of his most influential supporters, that unless
theseclainis were acceded to, be would inunediately apply for the stew.
ardship of the Chiltern Hundreds and redyn his seat for the rowdy. I
believed him to tw wrings in this most decided and often repeat ed d,rla.
rani», and consequently ea•nestly, moat earnestly, requested him to
call his friends together, and to them that his means would MA
allow him to be at the expense of attending forliameut :though he
had the advantage of firing in my house in London rent free, tee), hot
that he would hold his seat either till they could find a substitute to
represent the liberal interest, or till a dissolution of parliament. To
these entreaties on my part he returned aposittre denial, and in some
of his communitations he even went so fur as to state that he would
not wait for the result of the Game Committee, of which he was
a member (and on which subject he appears to entertain very
wild and extravagant notions), but that before their report, i. e.
(the report of the committee) be would vacate his seat. This deter-
mination to resign was communicated, us, i have rid before, to several
others, and therefore extraordinary as his conduct may now appear,
the fact of the communication due; not rest on me endure or autho-
rity only. In the end of ISL., and the beginning of 1516, Mr. 0.
Berkeley appeared to have given up the attempt of inducing me to
advance money bv the threat of abandoning Lis seat, and I endea-
voured to render the pressure of his pecuniary affairs easier, by the
advance of a sum, the particulars of which Mr. Blossome, of
[dusky, is acquainted with. This, however, proved but a tempo-
rary expedient, and bin demands, in the summer of were
renewed. What course then had Ito pursue ? What other construc-
tion could be put on his conduct than that if I did not yield to twine
demand for money, when elected at an ensuing parliament, he might
turn short round and not only renew, but carry into execution Ins
threat of meating lus seat at a time when such a step might be fatal
to the liberal interest of the division. !faring taken for some years
an active part in the polities of the county, and secured, I hope, the
confidence of most who had comp rrated with me, I believe I should
' have betrayed that confidence if 1 had not Liken some steps to
make known to the Western divisions the foregoing circumstances,
which, joined to the very considerable and fast-iticreasing un-
popatirity of 31r. 0. Berkeley, seemed to me to ono ier his return to
parliament again not only inespedient, but almost inipoisible. Vet
what steps could I take ? It was not possible fur me. in toy own per-
son, to convene a public meeting or to pubbsli an address on such a
subject, and I determined in the ant MAMBOS to call together a
few of the most influential gentlemen in the Liberal interest, and
wise known characters placed them far beyond the suspicion of
being acted on by. improper motives, and to lay before them
the dargerous position in which the liberal Interest was
placed by the conduct of their pre sent r. presentative. They
viewed the tar as I did, and took certain preliminary measures
in order to secure their party from the peril to which it was
unquestionably capered. Their conduct, however, has been grossly
misconstrued, and has subjected them, as well as myself, not only to
the alanderous insinuations but to the most person.al and scurrilous
attacks of Mr. G. Berkeley,wbo does not scruple, if he thinks it would
suit his purpose, to invade and misrepresent ;a harsher term might he
used) the rights of social and domestic life and mix them up with
matters purely public. So much for what has passed, and I now have
only to place before the meeting the course I intend to pursue no re-
gards the politics of the Western Division of the county. I beg,
therefore, to state meet unequivocally that if the party are of
opinion either that I have in the slightest degree injured or
neglected their interest, or that such interest would better thrive
without my interference, I trust they will explicitly say so, and I
will interfere no farther, *MI this course will be infinitely the mast
agreeable to me, for at my time of life I And a strong and mereasime
desire to abstain from politics altogether. Mr. G. Berkelee sometime,
chnrynes me with deserting my party, at others with improperly in-
fluencing it. Both the charges cannot be true: the one must
refute the other. The fact is, that neither are true. I ran have
no inducement for the use of Improper influence. Nothing would in-
duce me to adept of an appointment or office under government. I
have no dependents to provide for. I hare revived honours from two
• of my sovereigns, and I hare neither the right nor the wish to expect
more. I defy, therefore, the most sbuiderona imagination to invent a
I motive or an inducement for me to interfere improperly in the choice
of a member of rairlieunent. I can hare but one—that of seeing the
old interest and the old It-lends whom I have fought for and fought
with, wed and fairly reps /tented in Parliament. If that desirable end
can be achieved without my SAYMOilice, I will do that which is
I the wish nearest to my heart, namely, to cease from all meddling
or interference. But if I still possess the confidence of my
former coadjutors; if they think me still worthy to take un
honourable position in their Councils and operations, and claim at my
• hands the assistance which I have heretofore given, I will not desert
them, and they shall hare it, even though it entail on me more gram
andabusive personalities than Ihave (if possible) hitherto experienced.
I fear you will hardly decipher this scrawl, as I have but a short
I time to write it in, and a muscular affection of my hand very much
impedes the facility of using my pen.—l remain, my dear sir, must
sincerely yours, Firzasmoneus.
" To Josiah Hunt, Esq."
. _

It was here announced to the meeting that Mr. G. Ber-
keley was at the door, and was desirous of being admitted.
The CHAIRMAN said he had understood that the meeting
had already decided the point, that neither of the parties
concerned in the proceedings out of which arose the present
meeting, should be invited ; Earl Fitzhardinge had abstained
from attending, and he could not see how they could admit
Mr. G. Berkeley.
LC. CASTE, Esq., inquired whether the chairman had a
copy of the letter sent to Mr. 0. Berkeley ?—Mr. NICHOLSON
replied, that he, having had a lengthened correspondence
with the hon. member before, had at the request of his col-
leagues written to him. He had not a copy of the letter by
him, but it informed the hon. member of the fact of such a
meeting being about to be held, that it was convened
by circular addressed to about 200 of the electors, and
that it was the wish of the parties calling the meeting that
neither Earl Fitzhardinge or himself (Mr. G. Berkeley) or
either of the nine gentlemen at the meeting of the lath of
September should be present, but that any written commu-
nication should be laid before the meeting.
The Cii.tinmax said, it was for the meeting to decide if
the hon. member could be admitted.
It appeared to be the unanimous opinion of the meeting
that they could not consistently admit the hon. gentlethan
to the room, and it was determined to inform him
of their decision in the most courteous manner
possible ; and on the suggestion of the chairman, a
deputation, consisting of Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Blox-
some, jun., and Mr. Morton, was appointed to wait upon
Mr. Grantley Berkeley, and inform him of the decision
come to.—After the lapse of a brief interval the deputation
returned, and Mr. Nicholson said, that the hon. gent. told
them that he left home on Saturday before his letters arrived,
and consequently had not received the one sent him by himself
(Mr. Nicholson). Under these circumstances, the hon. gent.
put it to the meeting whether it would kindly hear him or not.
The CHAIRMAN said that before the meeting decided, they
should have all the elements of the case before them. Now
he did happen to know that Earl Fitzhardinge and one or
more of the nine gentlemen, had expressed the strongest
wish to be present.
Mr. CASTLE inquired when the letter was sent to the
hon. member ?-111r. NICHOLSON said, on Friday, the 30th
ult., at the same time those to Earl Fitzhardinge and Mr.
Joyner Ellis were posted.—HAHNIAN VISOER, Esq., re-
marked that Mr. Orantley Berkeley had addressed long
letters through the public papers; and really the whole day
would be taken up, if they now allowed the hon. member to
enter cirri roce into all those matters again.
The CHAIRMAN said, it was his duty as expressing the
opinion of the meeting, to request the deputation to retire
again and inform the hon. member that they could not
admit him to their conference, but they would willingly
receive any written communication from him.—The depu-
tation left the room, and shortly returned, when Mr.
BLOESOME said, Mr. G. Berkeley bows to your decision. I
have informed him of the object of the meeting, and I have
mentioned to him that a letter has been read from Earl
Fitzhardinge. Mr. G. Berkeley wishes to hear that letter
read ; he considers it to be a public document, u he is in-
formed that there are reporters present.
The CHAIRMAN—The distinct understanding was that no
gentleman on behalf of the public press should attend. On
my own responsibility I procured the attendance of a gen-
tleman from Bristol to take notes, for the assistance of the
meeting afterwards, if It should be necessary, but with the
distinct pledge that the notes should not be published, ex-