The Express.
London, England, 1849-06-07 00:00:00

possible to give any colour to the objections whisk
were taken on his bthalf. Sir John Reid and Mr.
Rice were both returned by large majorities, the
rumben being for Reid 995, Rice 968, Halcombe
633 (about the same number as he polled in 1832)
and for Mr. Galloway 287.
On this mongols, Sir John Rae Reid, following Mr.
Rice's good example, had declared his intention of pay-
no head money. It proved, however, at a period
subsequent to the election, that, despite this open de-
claration, the usual " compliment" was exrch d by
his friends. There wee much murmuring because tt
was not forthcoming, and because Sir John Reid de-
terminedly refused to pay. At length, some of the
hon. member's principal agents and supporters, be-
having their party to be oompromised by his decision,
advanced the money from their own potketa, trusting
to Sir John Reid's otheexion with them to obtain
reimbursement. The head money and treating
charges were accordingly defrayed; but Sir John Rae
Reid still refused to recognise them, sad expressed a
very decided opinion on the subject. A very dis-
agreeable correspondence was the result, and at length
Sir John's own agents having threatened to sue him
for the sum total, he paid the demand, or part of it, as
is believed, under a very strong protest.
From this time down to 1847, Sir John Reid.
although he held his seat for Dover, ceased to interest
himself in the affairs of the town, and even went the
length of refining to have anything to do with the
disposition of the patronage which the administea-
don of the day would probably have committed 'to
him. The dissension, which corruption had thus occa-
sioned, was still further increased by the political dif-
ferences resulting from the polity of Peel. It was
soon obvious that Si- John lteid's hold upon Dover
was gone, and that, if he wished it, he stood bat •
small chance of representing it again.
Prior to the dissolution of 1847 the party in the
town who were most opposed to Sir John Reid
went op to London to procure a candidate. They
brought down Mr. Henry Thoby Printep, a wealthy
East Indian, who came prepared to spend freely and
to win if possible. Mr. Prinsep was brought down
as a conservative, but he by no means strongly de-
clared himielf either for protection or otherwise.
The party, however, who espoused hie cause were
chiefly opponents of the Peel policy, and the London
papers in the protection interest talked of him as
a candidate of their own. The gentleman who ap-
peared to be mainly occupied in promoting the in-
terest of Mr. Prinsep was an officer connected with
the harbour of Dover, who, though of some influence,
had many opponents in the town. Some of these
opponents objected to Mr. Prinsep as a candidate of
this individual's nomination. They evinced anxiety
to bring a man of their own, and made overtures to
the friendsof Mr.Rioe,in the hope of securing a coali-
tion. To any arrangement of this aert, Mr. Rice's
friends were, however, indifferent. "We de not want
a contest here," they seemed to say, "and we would
rather not enter into any arrangements, though if you
bring a man some of us may probably support him."
The party in question made several proposals to
influential members of the Peel sec-ion.
Amongst others, Lord Lincoln and Lord 'Chalks
Wellesley were asked to stand, but declined, having
arranged for seats elsewhere. At length Sir George
Clerk, who was thrown out of Stamford by the Mar-
quis of Exeter, was mentioned and accepted. Sir
George Clerk came down. He found Mr. Rice
firmly established, and Mr. Prinsep's friends hard at
work, with every prose. ct of success tire them.
Outwardly nothing could look darker than Sir George
Clerk's prospects; but thou who knew the wheels
within wheels that were at work, by no
means considered hie case desperate. 'At
the hustings, Mr. Rea end Sir George Cleek
had the snow of hands, which was unexpected
but significant. On the polling, Mr. Prinsep's friends
took the lead. At 10 o'clock the majority was very
great in his flunk the numbers being— for Prinsep,
413; Rice, 333; Clerk, 274. It was prely evident
that Sir George had no party, and that Mr. Rice's
friends had not come up. An hour or two after, the
respectable inhabitants of the town beg in to poll.
Mr. Rice was soon considerably ahead, and Sir
George Clerk's cause began to look up. The latter
candidate gradually increased upon Mr. Prime's, At
1 o'clock the numbers were—for Rice, 76.5 ; Primer,
678; Ueik, 631. Mr. Pekoe!) had at this
time, it is said, polled out all his friends,
and now it became necessary to obtain more, ;This
was done, as is confidently believed in Dover, by the
distribution of some 1,2001. or 1,5001. among the
lower cleat of tury voters. At two o'clock Mr.
Prinsep bad improved his majority ov.r Sir George
Clerk from 27 to 47. But tbe Rice party still came
op to poll, and the great majority of them split with
Clerk. At three, Sir George was only 22 behind,
and during the last hour nearly two Lundred more
voters for Mr. Rice came to the poll, and, despite
every exertion by Mr. Prinsep's supporters, brght
in Sir George Clerk by a majority ut 41. The Dum-
ber.) at the close of the poll were—for Rice, 1,104)
Clarke, 935; Prinrep, 894.
Mr. Prinsep'a bills at this election amounted to up-
wards of 5.0001. The contest cost Sir George Clerk
shout 1,0001., and Mr. Rice between 5001. and 6001.
Mr. Prinsep's friends alleged bribery against the sup-
porters of Sir
George Clerk, but the greater part of
his expenditure is believed to have been in flag-
hearers, ribbons, nuseengers, some head money, and
a little treating. By Mr. Prinsep's friends the expen-
diture in each of these various ways was most lavish.
There were upwards of 100 messengers engaged at
10s. a day each throughout a protracted canners, and
the" splendid banners," as the poll book has it, "pre-
sented a most pleasing effect." The whole
amount of the enormous bills contracted by
this party war, however, never paid. A.
deduction was made of about 25 per cent. ; and
though the arrangement caused gnat dissatisfaction,
payment on those terms was accepted.
Of course, however, this deduction will be an effec-
tual her to Mr. Prinsep's future pretensions at Dover.
At present Sir George Clerk and Mr. Rice ha+. the
town completely to themselves, audit an election were
now to take place, the probabilities are that they
would be both again returned. Sir George Clerk has
no party supporting him in Dover, but he is person-
ally peppier, and his opponents are in bad odour. Mr.
Rice's seat would be secure under almost any circum-
stances, but the division amongst the tonal renders it
doubly so.
From what we have said it will be obvious that
Dever is improving in the respectability of its electo-
rate, and that it is only necessary that candidates
should follow Mr. Rice's good example, in order that
the borough should be tolerably pure. At present.
the two worst features in the electioneering system of
the town are the payments for ribbons and flag-
besrers, and the exercise of government influence.
From the extent and variety of the patronageat the
disposal of the Customs, the Admiralty, the Harbour
Commissioners, the Lord Warden, the Post-office,
and the oaken of the garrison, it is clear that there
will always be a considerable section of Dover voters
interested in supporting the authorities of the day,
and in retuning a member who will vote in
glom pf she existing goveruseent. At the same time,
IN the constituency is enlargreg, the direct influence
of voters of this elms upon the poll is relatively lees.
Mi. Rice, who has enjoyed aWO share of the dis-
posal of the patronage under the Whigs, has distributed
k fairly, and with some regard to merit and compe-
tency ; and this may also slightly diminish the cor-
rupt infinence which has sometimes too much swayed
the constituency.
Mr. Ries has stated upon the beatings
that, in the
first instance, he owed his skidoo for Dover to the
support of the industrious and independent working
men. Lord Sydenkarn was brought to Dover by the
same body. It is highly to the credit of
this class that they should have been so
instrumental in returning the two best members
the town has had. It proves what may be done by
voters of the working class if they will only exert
their inflames. At an election the voice of the
art sun is as potential as that of the millionnaine if he
will only choose to think it so, and act with honour,
independence, and political integrity. The; example
which the working seen of Dover have set, in return-
ing Mr. Rice against the influence and temptation of
wealth, is a lesson which some constitusuates would
do well to lay to heart.

'

Tag Dons HAMM OF Ramos Wont).—
Th. se works having progremsd far enough to cover the en-
trant* of the harbour, the commbsioners ham decided on
deepe the satmeor, wr that the packets may .be enabled
to lan papasmagars at all times of dm
shelter may be afforded to stamen
instead of their being compelled to
This oudartakiagoo importwedisr
winsome& on Fiiday isca&-

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