The Express.
London, England, 1848-12-08 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 8, 1848.

'ideation of the directors to a judicious point, they
ought not to lose sight of the great femurs whisk gars a
character to the institution—namely, that of baying been
raised to stimulate the energies and resources of t
agricultural districts ; for much of the stability,
and strength of the institution depended after all tapes Ms;
circulation of the capital stock amospt the Alma's/ skarn be
those important districts to whieh their suede= bed bees
directed. Its thought their object ought to be to iimmetsa4e
through those districts as mach as sable the efillfeel
stock of the company, instead of by es& a emels•
tion av was proposed by Mr. Hilton egmanazirst.
accumulation of it in the hands of a lbw
Three Kestlemen were then pat in nomination ter the else
of auditors. Mown Overton (107), Wright (93), and
at-horns (46), and the two Ant elected upon a ballot, as
sown by the number of votes attached to their names. A
preprietor barb g complained that the directors were oW-
nominated, and given notice that at the next meals* he
would submit a motion, placing their nomination in the
hands' of the sharenullere, the Chairman said that the
insinultion thereby intended that the directors wen acting
without control, was wholly groundless, because it was just
evidenced that tho mbar. bolder, hrld exclusively in their
own hands the power of freely and independently appointing
auditors from amongst thetas, lees to examine and aseartais
how the affairs of the institution were administered. The
chairman funksr gab), in answer to inquiries, that when the
securities they held on the part of Mr. Cooper, late a dime-
tor, would be paid, the company would be at very little loss
Indeed on his account. But he must say he thought it would
be highly injudicious to force thorn securities at present,
as Mr. Cooper had afforded every prayer facility for the
arrangement of the affair, and his friends expected there
would bo no loss to the blink. A vote of thanks was then
parted to the chairman, and the meeting aPparated.
BRITIsH SOUTHERN WHALE FISHERIVI.—At •
meeting of shareholders of the above proposed company, for
re-establishing these fisheries, by prosecuting them from
the Auckland Islands, held yesterday at 1, New Bank build-
ings, Princes street, Bank, it was announced that Lord
Hardwicke had consented to be appointed governor; that one
third of the required capital (300,0001.) had been already
subscribed, and that the islands had been i 'seed at the disposal
of the company by the grantees. Alter several resolutions
of a routine charactenand one also thanking the goverameat
forth. it grant of the Auckland Island ~their promise of a
charter of incorporation conferring a limited liability, and
for the instructions sent to the governors of the Anatolian
colonies, the meeting Deward, seemingly mush prattled
with their prospects.
THE MARINE. SOCIF.TY.—Yt stcrday a mewling
the governors and committee of management of the aloe
society was held at their offices In Bish msgate-street Without,
for general business. The report stated the objects of the
society to be, the equipment, maintenance, and instrisetion
of distrereel boys for the royal navy, the Indian navy, and
merchant service, and the fisheries. During the post quarter
20 bays had bent apprenticed to the B .st India Company's
service, and 47 into the merchants'; 20 who had served up-
ward. of 12 months' apprenticeship satiefutorily, have been
rewarded with new clothing, &c. The 'Alger& frigate has
ler some years past been the depot for the boys, which
having become unfit, the Lords of the Admiralty gave the
society the Venus, a 42-gun frigate, for the use of the boys,
where there are constantly maintained a complement of 100
boys. Above 50,000 kayo been thus provided for.
INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENT FOR YOUNG FELONL
—Yesterday a meeting of the supporters of the above Indies-
tion was held at the Brook-street Rattled School, in Henry'
passage, New-road, E. Jardine, Bag , in the chair. The
meeting was convened to consider the present position of tie
society and its progress. The report stated it was most ea
massing and estiefartory, although in its latency, having
been e 'romanced in April last there are at present 12 boys la
the school, whose ages vary from 12 to 19 yeses; meseget
them are se me whese characters ars of the meet isyearsl
and abandorn-t1 description, several of them burin', bow
imprisoned from ten to fourteen times. Thoth inakie
however since their reception has been of a most eratitylag
character. They are employed in shoemaking and tailoring.
hair-picking, the latter branch being of itself almeet
selesupportiog. They receive three meals per day, including
Sunday, are partially clothed and lodged, and furnished with
money, according to the amount of work accomplished. A
well sekettel library is also attached for their lase. A girls'
establishment on similar principles has been begun, several
females having been already remind.
THE ELECTRIC 'AMIS.—Notts ithatinding the in-
clemency of the weather a vast crowd assembled yesterday
vernier in Waterloo place, and the various avenues leading
to the York column, to witness the Chevalier Le Molk's ex-
periment in the production of light by means of electricity.
The patience of all present was severely tested, as the illumi-
nation did not take pleas until half-peat nine issued of be-
tween seven and nine, as previously announced in the papers.
As far as the production of a most brilliant light is concerned,
the experiment was attended with complete success. A single
jet, apparently not larger then a star, as seen with the naked
e$ e, made the whole area of Waterloo-place as bright as day,
soil enabled spectators to distinguish features and read hand-
-1 bills eicroasthc street. The effect was tett emely singular and pig.
tnresque. The gas lamp eat a most lugubrious figure, makieg
111140 W instead of light in every place not penetrated by
their more brilliant rival, while in pats under the intluenes
et the light, every flits* and cornice was thrown out with a
distinctness which we have seldom noticed even in the day-
time. At the same time we must add, that the chevalier
does not ads in to have attained the desideratum of continuity
of light any more than his competitors, Messrs. Stains and
Petrie. The light, though brilliant, was fitful, exhibiting
thanes of intensity and colour as the ends of the charcoal
were consumed by the fluid. The invos•or promises to at-
tain a continued Neil for ten hours, and hopes to make his
invention applicable to lighthouse and railway purposes, not
contemplating street or house illumination et present. So
far he would seem to be justified by the success of his experi-
ment last night, as not only in Waterlo-e.place, but fur aeon.
siderable way down the Strand, the affect of his light was
strongly perceptible. There is likely to be a war of patents
with reference to this invention. Messrs. Stake and Petrie
preceded the Chevalier by some days in their application
to the Patent-ONa, but the latter contends that, although
using the same material in the production of light, he has
so greatly altered end improved its preparation as to make
his arrangement an entirely new invention. Having seen
both lights we are of opinion that many improvemeuta will
be neceesary before either can be applied to any practical
purpose.
PURCHASE OF COMMISSTONS.— Sir,—The remarks
of X," in your paper on the ebervations of the
Timer on military finance are correct as far as they go ;
but your readers may be led to suppose that the Times
is correct in s'atirg that a captain gives 3,0001. for his
company, receiving in return in the shape of pay 1801. per
annum. On ref *nee to the Army List, you will find
that the regulated price of a company is i,8001., and the pay
of a captain, lls. 7d. per diem-2111. 7s. lld. par annum fur
1,8001., a sum quite exclusive of allowances and contingent
advantages, as " X." correctly states. That very many
captains of infantry have given more than the regulation (to
buttes their senior officer to retire) for their company, I do
not pretend to deny (but not 3,0001). I neither wish to
intrude on your valuable columns nor your time, but when
it is so easy to make a correct statement, the Times and its
3,0001, should not be allowed to pan unnoticed.—PLAlN
SELF-PRIMING FIRE-ARMS.—A private exhibition
of certain improvements in the constructioa of the locks of
fowling.pieces and small arms generally, which have bean
recently patented by Mr. C. J. Smith, of Birmingham, took
place yesterday at Rider's Hotel, Salisbury-square. Tho
great object of the invention is to avoid the loss of time
and uncertainty which even in the percussion locks occur to
s4me :tent in priming the piece after loading, and this is
achieved by attaching to the side of the lock a small tube
which forms a reservoir of detonating balls or boxes—suffi-
cient, in single barrel pieces, for 60, and in double, for 36 for
each barrel, discharges;; these balls being propelled singly
and with unerring exactitude into the cup of the touch-hole
(which is 1 ke the reservoir effectually protected from all dirt
WATERLOO-BRIM:M.—HALF-YEARLY MEETING OF and damp) only by bringing the hammer to full-cook. This
PRoFitleruita.—The above meeting took place yesterday, at contrivance, together with the absence of the rdinary nip-
ple, and the climinishireg by four-fifths the chamber of core-
the Freesessons'hell, Mr. Anderson In the chair. The sena-
m.unication lnit7eito the pnmir g and the charge, prevent
Lary read the report, from which it appeared that the amount
atmost the pc.eibility of a missare, while it ensures sar:ty
of tolls receitr"d for the half-year, ending 23rd August last,
from any accidental discharge. The detonadag boxes used
was 7,0671. De. 6d., which, with items from other sources, in-
we these guns are very small air-tight balls of copper, melee.
eluding 4711. Is. of previous balance, appropriated in aid of
meg the powder. An Improvement upon the Amen
dividends, made the whole reeeip's for the half year,pistol was sho.wn at the
8,3401. 19a Id. After the usual disbursements the report rican raT°lviit
tame., • principal feature of which is that
declared a dividead of h. per cent. on the annuities due. by a nerne.aMen cities trig. ger each barrel is brought up in
The report comgratulated the proprietors on the; fact that
slice tee opening of the
erailway terminus in the Waterloo- its turn " Priming cal' is load on the
ine from a the stock itself it the discharge
knia'th.intalisju,iyanlasdia' faun, hn ia 'en
cie° rjr4uo4,o. ifidhadeatitaky expected. Phej. takesn PIMOO. •
..There sewtishbant:::i7,..it,arojection to in-
along the bar-
nWa strecture was in a perfectly sound state, notwithstand. rmiMeseSae
the continued wet weather and the greatly increased red. y the bst stmaialleby _at these "WM 14 oft"
hog ON patentee, smil isms by Mat
Weak The report was unanimously adopted, and the out- in course ths experimente, that, with the awilesse of
gam directors were reidected. Thanks wen then voted fitted by .
M the chairman arid secretary, and the meeting was ad- a ""` to 'n• and wawa a a". !said al
once, eighteen discharges may be ensured in await
jeeemet until the first Thursday In June, 1849. minute,. Both inventions have attracted the attestlen
I.OIIBON AND COUNTY JOINT-STOCK BANIC.--AN of the military departments and then can be 150 dallbe thee
enfireardinary general meeting of the proprietors of this in many cases tho will be found of ascendedseniorik woe eenvenedfor yesterday:at the London Tavern with we may hope that their use will long be conlineri ttt
leN
the two-fold object (as explained by the chairman, Baidleir, sportsman rather than to the soldier.
Itee., M.P.) of considering the propriety of raising r TN SPITALFIELDL—LEsting the qualb
leen= of the directors from the possession of 20 to 60 evening, about viz
sheets, and of electing two auditors.—Mr. Hilton, a pro- o'clock, a fire broke oat in a cane and walking-Mick mar,
pektor, moved that the qualincetion be raised to I* !hares, rectory belonging to Mr.
Thee. Sowerbatts, in Dtilumtnet,
and the motion haying been Beconded, the hons chairman aortstreet, Spitalfieldn premises, which were Wee
aided, in answer to inquiries, that the directors suggested floors high, were of considerable length and breed* AA at
60, first because 50 201. shares would put teem on • per the time of the outbreak, contained some hundred pounds'
with every other joint. stock bank, and secondly becalms worth of stock, independent of the lathes and working Wis.
they conceived that ACI high a qualification as 100 shares On an alum being given, Mr. Sowerbatts hastened into
might exclude many eligible propnetors from the direction. the building in the hopes of saving hia books, but the flames
It was then moved sod)secoed, as an amen( ment, by pro- extended so rapidly that he was obliged to make a reel*
prieton, who exprrewi their fullest approbation of thee, tate retreat. The fire in the course of a few minutes had
remarks, that the
wquifleion be raised to 50 shares only, extended throughout the factory. By the time lies w
The
enn
which, upon a sho of hands, was carried by a majority of arrived the flames had, assumed a most alarming 011.13.
about 60 to 6. The chairman then explained that, as by the firemen were enabled to completely encompass ON Ones ;
deed of settlement the qualitiestion of audit
should be the but in spite of their utmost exertions they were MeV. Wile
manse as that of the directors, it became necessary for the pro- the fire extinguished until Mr. Sowerhatte hetery we sew
petoten to come to tome resolution on that subject before pletely dear t, and the upper floor of the mrioshadlinanlt
they proceeded to elect auditors. The beard had given their house burned out. The house No. 11, in the mom Ira% I
attention to the matty, and wre decidedly of opinion that belonging to Mr. Winer, farrier, is also extsaalvely beesed.
to raise the qualification be)ord 20 shares, which it was now, No. 13, let out in tenements, is also materially injlifid.
would be unwisely narrowing the choice of the proprietors Sowerb
his lam atta was ins The ured
ther sufferersfor only
were 3001., not more than Ow
in the selection of ofllean whose efficient and half of oinsured.
practical mode of &eclat- g the proceedir go of the directors INQUESTS, YESTERDAY.—FALLING OF A VIADUCT.
was their beet guarantee for the proper end judicious admit. —Before Mr. Biker, et lloorrtoo, on the bodies of 0.
'detention of the affairs of the institution. He had further Ward, cued 19, and J. Languton, aged 22 who waro killed
to observe that in no other similar institution hid the share- on Monday last by the filling in of three of the recently con-
holders the power of appointing their own auditor.—lt was @traded arches of the r,t and Vhst Indiaand Docks antT.Cmith Bir-
th= moved and seconded that no shareholder should he mlughamltailway.W.Rendall,empenter, , fore-
eligible as an auditor who was not poseened, in kis own miniver the excevators,deposed estates aoliclityof theworks,
right, of 20 shares.—Mr. Hilton moved that it be raised, as and concurred la describing the bricks, mortar, and work-
in the eon of the directors, to 50 shares ; but only three manship as of the best materials. As far as their experience
persons voting for this proposition, the original one was led them, the centring of the archt s was struck at the proper
carried by a large majority, the chairman herieg first ob. time, a• d they never saw the slightest flaw in any of the
served, that while it was desirable to give a better arches or piers previous to their giving way.—J. Tester,
guarantee to the shareholders by raising the qua- " clerk of the works, gave similar evidence. The arches were

like the how el a sharp vessel, which is placed in front of a
leeemetive =gine, and is forced through drifts soirctimr.
le=shove the top of the boiler. I have seen oar of the
en our Greet Western Railway attack and name •
mow. drift with apparent ease. The frt :en particles would
fly like clouds of mu t before it.
Our canes are still navigable, and freights have loon
pushed late the Warier with all despatch. The Hudson
river will scathe ens mass of ice, endow large steamers will
go late winter quarters. Then will eons the quiet of in-
astivity, and a time for enjoyment for all those whose pur
suite me connected with our internal trade. I have already
told you hew we pen war wink rs in town and country.

struck under his supirintesdema in the usual way, he
having previously received his directions from Mr. Attwood,
the amistant-engineer. The mikes is quake were saw
bend 7,8, and 9. No. 7 arch was keyed in upon the 13112
el October, and the wedges were slackened es the 16th of
November. No. 8 arch was keyed in es the 17th Ostober,
and the centres were slackened on the 13th of November.
No. 9 wee keyed in on the 18th of October, and it wee also
slackened on Nov. 13. He thought that that was nafficiest
time to allow between the two operations, even et this time
of the year. Every course was grouted in. Ne mpiteltem or
concrete had been filled in between the Inner spandril
walls. It was not customary to weight the mhos too heavily
at first. The mortar was of the best quality t• it was made
according to the tame of the specification, in theopurreportio3
to of 3 sand 1 lime. The brickwork was, in his on, well
ocastructed, well pointed, and the joints well fleshed up. He
attributed the accident to the 'continued wet weather, aided,
oerhaps, by the high winds of Saturday and Sunday last.—
Mr. John Attwood, assistant-eogineer, deposed that he had
been accustomed to works of this description for the last
twelve years. lie never saw work better executed than
this. The bricks were sound and good, the belt that
could be made. He wished he might always get the
am*. The mortar wee very good indeed. He paid
particular attention to it, and kept the mortar for the
arches by itself, and saw that it was midi according to the
specification. He considered that the centring hod sot bees
struck too early. He had frequently strock it is these weeks
after the keying In, at this season of the year.—Ks. Cesessee
and Mr. Oanett, surg one, briefly described the eaves Of
death in each ease to be suffocation. Mr. Ceseeme sided
that the third man, Oaratt, who was also wounded, leg he •
very precarious state ; erysipelas might set in.—The Ocwasee
thought it was not coronary to call any further evidenes. The
ease appeared to be quite clear; and, as far as he could see, ,
this was purely an accident, and no blame attached to any
jury brought in the following special reed*:
"That the deceased persons came by their death by en esti
dent under the arches of an intended railway, wMA trail
had been oonsideratdy Injured by rain; and that due caution
should be taken in future not to strike the centres so early,
and that the quality of the mortar should be improved."—
Tits Flan to Okay's. imx-Lgris.—Before Mr. Bedford, at
the Plough, Oarerstreet, Lied:m.l6'444n, into the origin of
the above fire, and cause of death of John Thaekray, aged
$B, a working shoemaker, who, together with his wife, lost
his life on the occasion of the deatruction by fire of the
premises of Mr. Powell, optician, 112, Oray'sian-lane, on
the night of yesterday ss'onight. The only additional eel.
dance adduced as to the origin of the fire was that of the
son of Mr. Powell, a child ten years of age, who, ea the
former occasion, deposed that he had never entered the shop
alter his father left it and turned off the gas, about half-past
nine in the evening. He corrected that statement by
saying that he had made a mistake. He had, by
the desire of his mother, about eleven o'clock,
three quarters of an hour before the outbreak of
the fire, entered the shop with a lighted candle,
to fetch an apron of his father's from behind the counter.
Mr. Belton, the surveyor to the fire office, stated that Mr.
Powell was insured in the Licensed Victuallers' Office for
2001. for stock, &c., and that the premises were intend in the
County for 2501. , and on the part of the fire office he stated
be had no complaint to make against Mr. Powell : they were
satisfied with his claim, and bed returned him the salvage.
Mr. G. Elio, the surgeon of King's College Hempiud, stated
that en making a pat marten examination of the deemed,
he found a fracture of the base of the skull sufficient to canes
death, independent of the injuries from the fire.—The jury
returned a verdict, "That the deceased died from a fracture
of the skull in jumping out of the window of house, No. 112,
Gray's-inn-lane, the house being on fire at the time, Whew
the 'fire originated there was no evidence to show."

himself tothe electorate as a determined radical. His
esamme at Hastings was most perseveriegly prosecuted.
Of two sitting members, Mr. Warre, having no
local Influence, was of course the weakest His seat
was consequently the most violently assailed. Mr.
Wane was accused of truckling to the old corpora-
tion (than which, as we may well suppose, nothing
could be more unpopular at Hastings). Ile was de-
scribed as a mere whig, and as a place-hunter—
charges difficult to meet and exceedingly likely
to prove injurious to a candidate. When Mr.
Wares came down to Hastings on the pulsing of
tie Reform Act, he consequently found his position
weakened. Mr. Elphinstone and his friends were
working away untiringly They had got agents from
Lewes, and had imported into the new borough all
the bad electioneering practices of that ancient seat of
bribery and treating. Banners were displaced from
every window, placards were posted on every wall,
public-houses were opened at every corner of almost
every street. The fishermen of Hastings were revel-
ling in a sea of mulled wine and the very messengers
condescended to call for no liquors inferior to howls of
punch. The people at Hastings began to think that
the Reform Act was really even a greater boon than
they had expected, and their expectations had been by
no means mean or moderate. The contest, amid all these
incentives, waxed extremely warm. "Up to the day
of election," records an ardent friend and admirer of
Mr. Elphinstone's, "each party was confident of suc-
cess, and, as the eventful day appeared, every exer-
tion became necessary." The polling occupied, as was
at that time permitted, two entire days. Mr. Warre
was triumphant, the numbers being—for North, 359;
Wane, 239; Elphinatune, 212. Air. Elphinstone's
supporters presented him with a cap of the value of
50/., as some consolation for his defeat It was a
handsome way of giving him a discount.
Whilst Mr. Elphinstone was working on the eke-
toral field at Hastings, Mr. Wane was not leas
actively engaged in the House of Commons. He
made some impression there, and, in 1834, the go-
vernment proposed to him to take office as a lord of
the treasury. Mr. Warre came down to Hastings
and consulted his constituents. They were favour-
able to his acceptance of the post. He commenced a
canvas, and so did Mr. Elphinstone. After it had
been prosecuted a day or two Mr. Plants, one of the
members for Hastings under the old system, appeared
unexpectedly in the field to rally the conservatives.
This created a division amongst the moderates, and,
Mr. WAITS finding he had no prospect of succeeding,
informed Mr. Elphinstone that he did not intend to
accept office.
In 1835 came the sudden election caused by Sir
Robert Peel's unexpected return to power. Mr.
Wane took the field, but finding he bad no hope of
success with Mr. Elphinstone and Mr. Plants opposed
to him, speedily withdrllw. These gentlemen prose-
cuted meet a tive canvasses. Mr. Planta, an ancient
Treasury hack, who had seen all the good and glorious
old days of toryism, was not to be oat-done by a
young stripling like "that Elphinstone." He de-
termined to outvie him in the brilliancy of his
banners, the size of his placards, and the strength of
his mulled port and Roman punch. As those engaged
in this contest will now tell you with delight, "no
expense was spared on either side." There was a'
party, however, who were not to be gained over by
the blandishments of either the young radical or
the venerable tory. These were the friends of
Mr. Warre, who, having consistently struggled
for the emancipation of the borough, were deeply
mortified and offended by., the rejection of their mem-
ber, who had fought thew battles. Mr. Wane's sup-
porters determined on finding, if they could, a third
candidate. They fixed upon a resident gentleman of
considerable influence, Mr. Musgrave Briscoe, of
Coghurst-hall. Mr. Briscoe declared that he stood as
HASTINGS. an independent candidate, free from party bias ; " no
Hastings has long been a political pnrzle. :Ever tory," but by no means a radicaL The appearance of
since 1830 its parliamentary proceedings have seton- this gentleman in the field complicated matters still
irked the Carlton and mystified the Reform. Such a more. There were now four candidates: Mr.
succession of curious changes and confusing combine- North, who had Vas support of Mr. Milward,
Lions might well baffle the closest scrutiny. Why and who, being obnoxious to no party, ob-
two whip should be returned by immense majorities Mined second votes from all sides; Mr. Elphinstone,
one year, merely to be hopelessly thrown overboard Mr. Plants, and Mr. Briscoe. It was thought, up to
the next; what were the accidents which contributed the last moment, that the contest between the three
to this singular result—that the same two members last would have been extremely close. Correspond-
, should only owe mince the Reform Act have secured ing "exertions" were made. There was a small
their return at any general election; these things party, however, who were not enlisted by either of
seem to the uninitiated, even on the spot, so utterly the three competing candidates. These were Mr.
inexplicable, that there need scarcely be surprise at a North's private friends. Their position was difficult ;
desire to have the circumstances of Hastings impar- because the tactics of their candidate were to offend no
hally explained, party. It was thought, however, that the contest
Hastings, prior to the Reform Bill, was what was would be the most close between Messrs. Elphinstone
called a treasury borough. Its constituency consisted and Planta. Mr. North's party were old whiga.
of the mayor, two jurata, and the resident freemen, They thought it necessary to keep out the tory
not receiving alms, who numbered about seventeen. at all events, so when they found their own
Hastings is one of the Clore Ports, and up to that candidate safe they split for Mr. Elphinstone,
period the parliamentary history of all the Cinque and brought him in by a large majority. The
Ports had been pretty nearly the same. First of all, numbers on this occasion were—for North, 374; El-
the Treasury exercised the franchise through a phinstone, 291; Planta, 179; Briscoe, 177. Messrs.
manager; then there came the setting up of the Elphinstone and Planta are estimated to have spent
manager's interest in opposition to the Treasury; 7,0001. between them in the course of this contest.
and, ultimately, the struggles of the inhabitants for It was at great cost and trouble that Mr. Elphin-
emancipation from both. The manager at Hastings, stone had obtained possession of the seat. He had'
in 1830, was a Mr. Milward. He died some years worked unceasingly in the borough for five years.
ago, and his widow, now the Countess of Waldegrave, He had spent between 7,0001. and 8,0001. (a vast deal
enjoys an immense life property from Hastings, more than he could afford) to make the borough his
where it is said Mr. Milward and his father-in-law own, and he had at last succeeded. In the intoxication
made not lam than 170,0001. In 1830 it had been of hie joy he treated the electors moetliberally. A series
determined to make a struggle for the right of general of dinners were given at the inns and public houses,
election by the inhabitants, "to open the borough," which had been open in his interest, and fora long time
as it was then called. An attempt of the kind after the election the "free and independent" revelled
which had been partially successful at Rye gave im- in the luxuries of a succession of public banquets.
pules to this important movement. Meetings were Mr. Elphinstone called this "keeping up hie influence."
held, and applications were made to the mayor and But the toy possessed was soon found to be not
Mr. Milward for admission to the freedom of the worth keeping. Two years after, when an election
town. These, of course, were constantly refund. became necessary on the death of the sovereign,
When the period for the struggle came, Mr. Robert Mr. Elphinstone came down to the town, not
Otway Cave and Mr. John Ashley Warre were se- to canvas for himself, but to bid farewell to
le as candidates by the inhabitants of Hastings, his constituents. At this, as may well be sup-
whilst Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Fane and Mr. posed, they were amazingly surprised. No one
Joseph Plants, Under Secretary of the Treasury, could understand, nor is it clearly ascertained
stood as candidates by authority of gsvernment. The to this day, what was the cause of so sudden
mayor refusing to accept the nomination of the two a resolution. Some talked of his ill health : others
first, Messrs. Cave and Warre were obliged to nomi- urged that Mr. Elphinstone had quarrelled with his
nate themselves. A poll followed. Late in the day on father about politics, and was desirous to make it up :
which it took place information was received that Mr. a still larger number thought their member could not
Otway Cave had b2en elected for another constituency. afford the expense of another contest : others believed
It was consequently decided to nominate a third Inds- that he was piqued by a want of parliamentary
pendent candidate, and Mr. Seej.Taddy was proposed. metes. Of course his friends were anxious to have
At the close of the poll the electors had tendered their Mr. Elphinstone's advice as to whom they should get
ewes as follows:—for Warre, 174 ; Cave, 157 ; to supply his place. Mr. Elphinstone was by no
Teddy, 64 ; General Fane 17 ; and Planta, 17. means indisposed to counsel them on that point. He
The votes for Fane and Planta had alone been re- recommended a friend of hie, a Mr. Hollond. " Who
ceived. The Mayor took no notice of the proffered was Mr. Hollond ?" Oh, a glorious fellow, a capital
suffrages for the other candidates, ani declared the radical, lots of money, everything that could be
two last to be elected. Against this decision a peti- wished ! Mr. Hollond was brought down without
lion was of course presented. Before, however, a delay, and he did not belie the description. Mr.
committee had been ;struck, the new government Elphinstone evinced the utmost anxiety for his re-
intimated their intention of introducing the Reform turn. He canvassed with him, spoke for him, and
Bill, and the further proceedings were consequently did many other things besides to promote his success.
dropped. It is said by tones in Hastings at this day—
After the introduction of the Reform Bill two or and we mention it as a matter of belief, knowing
three different parties began to canvass the town of that it is denied by Mr. Hollond's friends—but
in hopes of obtaining the suffrages of the it is said by people in Hastings that Mr.
Mr. Milward, the government Elphinstone bad even better reasons than mere
moooro, saw the game was up, and prudently coincidence of politics for introducing Mr.
inleemined to make the best he could of it. A Hollond to Hastings, and lending him his aid to secure
eindeition was got up to a Mr. Frederick the seat. No proof whatever exists of any such fact;
Nods, a nephew of Mrs. Milward, expressing the it is denied by Mr. Hollond's friends—and not im-
desire of thetpeople "to see their town represented by plicitly believing these reports, we should be glad to
a gentleman of independence, who, from his residence see it denied upon authority—bat it is eaid that a
and expenditure amongst them was likely to benefit handsome consideration was received by Mr. Elphin-
Hastings and its inhabitants." This requisition was stone towards the liquidation of the expenses he had
signed by about 50 of the residents, including many of been put to in keeping up the interest of the party.
Mr. Milward's personal friends. In the midst of this Messrs. Planta, Hollond, and Briscoe were canvas-
movement there unexpectedly occurred the dissolution sing with might and main. Where was Mr. North ?
of 1841. The prudence of the old management was That was just the question everybody was asking in
again exhibited. It was proposed to the inhabitants 1837, whist all these strange events were going for-
t* come to an arrangement whereby Mr. North, who ward. Mr. North, as we have seen, had been re-
may be taken as the representative of Mr. Milward, turned in 1835 at the head of the poll, by a tremen-
and Mr. Wane, who had fought the battle of the dons majority over every other candidate. Not being
residents, should be jointly returned, without further very skilful in the dissection of poll books, the bon.
opposition. Mr. North pledged himself to vote for member took all this as evidence of his uncommon
reform—the arrangement was concluded, and North popularity in the borough, and thought he might
and Wane were seated. win in a canter at any moment. But between 1833
One of the gentlemen who canvassed the borough and 1837 matters had mightily changed.
in 1830 was a Afr. Howard Elphinstone, a son of the Mr. Milward was dead, and the great bond of
Sir Howard Elphinetone who distinguished himself union in Mr. North's party was consequently gone.
in the battles of the Peninsula, and a grandson of That gentleman himself had pursued a most erratic
the admiral who " did battle with the Turks" at course in parliament. He had proved himself just
Tchesme. Mr. Elphinstone's mother was a sister of one of those men upon whom no party. could rely.
Mr. Warburton ; and he himself had married a sister From half the divisions he " upon principle " re-
of Mr. Curteis, who then eat for Sussex. and subs,- 'mined absent : in the other half he voted precisely
quently for Rye. The Elphinstone family had pro- as nobody expected and as nobody desired. Up to
party in the neighbourhood, and this gentleman fam quite the close of the parliament Mr. North remained
cied that he was by position and connexion the steadfast to his post in the House of Commons. It
legitimate representative of the borough. Young, was only when the division bell rang that he went
ambitious, extravagant, and regardless of conga- out ; and then he left it either for the
queues, Mr. Elphinstone had all the quail& library or for the wrong lobby, as the case
cations of a good candidate, and of a dangerous might be. At lest he came down to Haut-
opponent. The members elected under the compact ings. The banners of Planta, of Hollond, and of
of 1831 were whip. Mr. Elphinstene's father was s, Briscoe flaunted is the streets as ha paned along the
tory, bat toryism was at a discount, and he presented town. Us saw magma of his old supporters : the: