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

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 4, 1847.

without some local claims upon your notice. I was born,
bred, and educated in the very heart of the city of West
=jester, and within the teemed of the Abbey bells, and i
base endeavoursd to show my sense of what was due to that
circumstance, by endeavouring to discharge the duties of a
citizen. (Cheers.) These &Mee have been already too
favourably noticed by the proposer and seconder of me
nomination. But I am quite aware that if that were all
bad to offer, and if my political conduct bad not been in
unison with the feelings and wishes of the great body of
the electors of the county of Middlesex, I should
hove no right to appear before you on the present occasion.
1 am, however, gentlemen, hippy to think that I have POOP
claims to your political confidence. I entered into political
life twenty-five years ago, and I then found an unreformed
parliament in no way representing the people of England.
( Hear, hear.) I found the criminal law full of anomalies •
I found civil disabilities and penal laws in existence against
our Roman Catholic fellow subjects. (Hear, hear.) I found
laws in farce pressing moat unjustly and unsatisfactorily upon
the consciences of those denominations of Christians who
sincerely differ from the Church to which I belong. I found
slavery existing in the colonies; I fount our trade and com-
merce fettered by the most unjust monopolies ; and I found
—what was the worst of all—that it was impossible to obtain
any redress of grievances, however clearly established, or in-
disputably proved. (Cheers.) I hesitated not to attach
myself to that small but increasing bend of men who bad
joined toeeler far the purpose of destroying that
pernicious system and substitutieg the more whole-
some state of things in which we now live. (Hear, hear.)
Gentlemen, during the whole of that period my conduct has
been at least consistent. (Hear, hear.) At present, I be-
lieve that political consistency is somewhat at a discount;
land although I cannot say that time and circumstances have
never modified my opinion upon political subjects, yet I can
say, and I have reason to thank that the great secret of the
confidence reposed in me by my late constituents may he
found in the Let, that during the whole of that time I was
never compelled entirely to alter my opinion upon any at
those measures which upset the system to which I have just
referred. (Hear, hear ) We gave the first blow to that
system by aiding Canning in 1828, and wegave the crowning
blow to it by assisting Sir R. Peel upon a late occasion.
Now during this struggle, continued with various successes,
I had the distinguished satisfaction of finding myself upon
every occasion side by side a ith your late lamented and re-
spected representative, Mr. G. Byng. (Cheers.) That le
the title, and the only title I have for appearing before yes
on the present occasion. Bat do not suppose that I have
the slightest disposition to repose myself beneath the taus*
already obtained. There arc still many social, fiscal, male
mercial, and educational reforms to be accomplished whisk
will empire the most unwearied exertions to bring about,
but which those whom I now address will, I hope, live to
witness. (Cheers.) I am warmly attached to the working
classes, and fed deeply what we all owe to them, especially to
those of Middlesex. Mr. Cobden, than whom there is no
more accurate observer, said, " that however great might be
the industry of the working claws; of the manufacturing dis-
tricts to which he belonged, still he must say, that by the
artisans of London and Middlesex they were fairly sur-
passed." I think they have been mot eaely negeeted ; and
I can assure the electors of Mtldlesex, that any measure
which may be brought forward Caving for its object their
amelioration, will have my most earnest support. (Cheer's.)
But whatever may be the opinions of the electors of Middle-
sex as to the reforms still necemary, I trust that all minor
differences will be laid aside, that we may all unite to sup-
port the government and to support each other, in rodeo-
ouric g to enable the country to pass through the crisis upon
which we have now entered. (Hear.) We must assist the
government and each other; and use every effort of privets
virtue to stem the difficulties we are sure to encounter, even
if it should please God to give up, at an early period,
a plentiful return of the fruits of the earth. (Hear, la ara
I have now for a gee at length of time represented a large,
enlightened, and influential constituency, where the suffrage
is nearly universal ; and as I have been made the subject of
a not very sparing or measured attack in consequence of a
eertain opinion which I hold, I must beg permission again to
say a few words about myself, especially as I have been told
that I am on this occasion " the Pope.' candidate for the
county of Malillesex." (Cries of "No.") I am sure that
before so enlightened an audience it is quite unnecessary
for me to say that I am not " the Pope's candidate." I am
nobody's candidate; otherwise I should not have been
chosen by the electors of Middlesex, who would have none
other than an independent person. (Cheers.) Indeed,
considering the enlightened sentiments of the sovereign who
now fills the chair of St. Peter, I am not quite sure that I
would not rather be "the Pope's candidate" than
the nominee of the gentleman who applied that
epithet to me. (" Hear, hear," and laughter.) You
must be all perfectly familiar with the correspondence
which has taken place between Mr. Hoare, on behalf of
others, and myself—a cortespondeace of which they were so
proud that they sent copies of it to every elector in the
county. (Laughter.) Now, I must complain of the manner
in which that correspondence has been dealt with; for in-
stead of publishing Mr. Hoare's letter to me and my reply
thereto, they withheld my reply for three days, during
which time they concocted a long and laboured answer to
it, and then published the three together, giving themselves
the very unfair advantage sear me of two to one—(cheers
and laughter)—thus depriving me of the power sf
laying simultaneously before the public any remarks
or explanations which I might have considered it
due to myself to make. (Hear, hear.) Now, I call
that rather sharp practice ; for although I am quite
sure it did not originate in any intention of unfairness,
still I think they ought to have had a little more considera-
tion for a man who was on his trial before a constituency of
the country than to publish a correspondence in that unfair
way upon a subject on which the public mind is much ex-
cited, and upon which mneh misconception and maunder-
stsnding exists. (Hear, hear.) I cannot accept their ex-
planation of my sentiments upon that subject. I must beg
to be judgd by my own words, and what I meant to say
was that should any measure be proposed for endowing the
Roman Catholic priesthood of Ireland, I would, having
no religious objections to the proposition, hold myself at
liberty either to consent or to oppose it. (Cries of "No
church allowance," " Separation of church and state.")
You may perhaps nay that such an answer is somewhat
ambiguous. I a mit it. But that only shows the unfairness
of putting questions to candidates on a measure which is not
before the House of Commons; which has not been before
the country for the last 20 years ; and which, to the best of
my knowledge and belief, no one of those parties, who are
likely to wield the destinies of the country, have the slightest
intention of proposing. (Hear.) I du say, considering the
present state of the country, the excitement which prevails
upon the subject, and the defections which have recently
taken place in the established church,—considering, also.
the reiterated declarations of the Roman Catholic clergy of
Ireland that they will accept of no endowment; that deny
minister were to propose such a measure my confidence in
his discretion would be materially abated. (Cheers.) I am
told that I was rash in the answer which I gave to Mr.
Hoare's letter. (No, no.) Had I been inclined to tempo-
rise I might have framed a cautious diplomatic !eau. which
nobody could have laid hold of ; I disdained, however, to do
so. I never vo•ed for the Maynooth grant, and for the best
of all reasons—the opponents of that measure never put the
question to the vote; they never ventured to come to a division
on the subject. Although I voted for the motion of Lord F.
Egerton, I did it twenty years since under circumstances
wholly different from the present. I have written a letter
to Mr. Hoare in the same sprit in which I speak—in a spirit
of perfect freedom, and in a spirit in which I always intend
both to speak and to write. I am no political adventurer
seeking to obtain a seat in parliament by flattering prevailing
prejudices. (Hear, bear.) I have neither ambition nor
private objects to serve. I am here to defend my own
consistency ; and if I am to sit for Middlesex, I trust
it will be on • satisfactory statement and understand-
ing of my opinions. (Hear, hear.) What I shall ask in I
return on your part is this : I have twenty years' chit-
racter from my last place. (Cheers and laughter.) Now
which of pas can produce a better ? (Continued laughter.)
I say, don't endeavour to tie and fetter my hands with
pledges and promises, especially with respect to measures
which are not before parliament. (Cheers.) If you agree
with me inopinion, give me your confidence ; at all events, put
a fair construction on my words and arguments. (Cheers.)
You talk about "endowing uuth and endowing error;" but
I ask is the state about to interfere in each matters ? I now
approach the subject to which the latter part of the corm
spondence has reference ; and I do so with very great un-
willingness, for I should be sorry if any expression whatever
should fall from me which could be supposed to partake, in
the smallest degree, of an irreverent character in treating
so serious and so sacred a subject. It is far from my
intention to speak of the opinions of my correspondent
in terms of ridicule or disparagement, least of all
'tmid I feel inclined so to speak of a clans of gentlemen
who, though I think they are grievously mistaken in this
instance, I am sure considered they were doing their duty
la putting forth such statements in such terms ; but I feel
compelled to notice that particular part of the letter because
I wish to point out, if possible, the dreadful inconsistency
which those who support such views are attributing to
Divine Providence. They attribute to Divine Providence
by the inference they say we ought to draw from certain
events which they have pointed out, that we have bon
visited with the wrath of Providence for endowing lam
College of Maynooth ; and they assert that, although We
have for many years endowed the Roman Catholic de rp of
Canada, and the college at Mayaooth in Ireland, and ,
been unscathed by Divine Providence, yet when in the pro-
em of time it became necessary to increase the grant of
money for such objects, all those dreadful &amain have
fallen upon us as a judgment. That assertion, if it mean
anything, is equivalent to this—that it is the degree and
amount, and not the principle, that constitutes crime in the
eyes of Omniscience. (A voiw, "It is bigotry," and cheers.)
I am told that in consequence of my entertaining these
opinions, my connexion with the county of Middlesex will
be very short. (Cries of "No, no," and cheers.) If that
be the case, I shall undoubtedly be extremely mortified to
lose the high and distinguished honour which you have this
day conferred upon me; but I shall bow without a murmur
to the decision of the electors, because I am well aware how
very imperfectly qualified I am to discharge the duties of the
high station in which you have placed me. But this
I ever shall say, that the proudest hour of my existence
was that when, after five and twenty years of public
life, during which time I have never altered nor con-
cealed my opinions, I was called upon to succeed such
a man as your late representative in Parliament by a requi-
sition the most numerously and respectably signed, by men
of all parties, that was ever presented to a public man.
(Cheers.) Now, gentlemen, sincerely thanking you for the
very great kindness with avliieh you have been pleased, on
such a day as this, to listen to me, and most cordially thank-
ing you for the honour you have conferred upon me—and
which I need scarcely say I value most highly—and knowing
that I shall vary shortly be called upon to tell you in what
manner I have fulfilled the trust which you have confided
to me, I respectfully, for the present, take my leave of yon.
(Much cheering.
Sir W. STIRLING congratulated the electors of Middlesex

on the choice they had made, and expressed his isonfidence
that the noble lord would always be found the advocate of
pure and rationalliberty, and of those temperate, moderate,
and liberal principles, in which he considered the true
Sappiness of the community rested—and which were equally
removed from the wild proceedings of democracy, and the
grasping and cupidity of aristocratic dominion. He looked
upon the noble lord as the faithful expositor of the feelings
of the great balk of the middle classes • who, in his opinion,
were the fittest depositaries of political power, and the
surest guides and guardians of the common weal. (Cheers.)
Lord It. GROAVENOR then proposed • vote of thanks to
the sheriffs for the manner in which they had conducted the
proceedings which was carried by acclamation.
Mr. Sheriff CHALLIS, in returnina thanks, raid, it was
a source of congratulation to him that in the first set of this
kind which he had had to perform he had been instrumental
in giving the freeholders of Middlesex an opportunity of re.
lecting ro excellent • member as his noble friend. He should
be glad if the general election should fall within his year of
office to find all of them at their posts to do their duty DS
well as they had done that dor. (Hear, hear.)
The usual ceremony of girding on the sword, end affixing
the spurs,was then performed and the proceedings terminated.

LORD GEORGE Bk:NTINCK AND THE IRISH RE-
PREsENTATIAEs.—A meeting of Irish members was sum-
moned by Lord George Hentinck, for two o'clock on
Tuesday, the 2nd inst., at Fenton's Hotel, St. James's-
street, to afford his lordship an opportunity of explaining
the outlines of a plan which he intends to bring forward
this evening in the House of Commons, on the subject of
railways in Ireland. Owing to some make eke in the
arrangements no preparations were made at Fenton'e for
the meeting, and the accommodation at Fendall's Hotel.
Palace-yard, to which it was adjourned, being round insuf-
ficient, it was ultimately held at the committee-room of the
newly formed " Irish Party," 8, Palace-yard. Lord George
Beaten& addressed the members in attendance at consider-
able length, and explaint d with great minuteness the
provisions of the plan which he intends to submit to the
consideration of the house this evening, which, as we are
informed, was warmly approved of by his attentive and
deeply interested auditory, who promised to give it all the
support that was in their power. The plan noised through
town, is that of refusing all grants for permanent measures
for Ireland, except such as are concentrated upon railroads,
these to be calculated at four millions a year far four 3 ears.
B.tL COSTUME AT CROCKFORD.S.—The first series
of balls at the new assembly tunics in Croekfurd'e Club,
concluded with the past mouth, and to crown that event a
fancy dm* ball was given last evening. The entertainment
was well supported and well arranged, a degree of order being
preserved that is not to be found in the more wild revels of a
masquerade, while, at the risme time, the amusements did
not degenerate into the " slow," which is los frequently
the result of good arrangement s—howevergood they may be.
The costumes were numerous and varied, although not
diverging from the beaten track of such disguises; indeed,
it L surprising that habitlo4 of such places—persons whom
one meets on every occasion, and who evidently make their
daces a study, should not exercise • little invention in that
respect. However, there was lee of this to complain of
than usual last evening, when everything "went o 6" re-
markably well. The band was excellent, and did full jus-
tice to the new quadrille and polka composed fur the ocea-
lion by H. Jullien.