The Express.
London, England, 1861-07-10 00:00:00

RICHMOND ILECTION.

Mr. Roundel' Palmer, the new Solicitor-General,
was returned without opposition as member for Richmond
yesterday (Tuesday) in place of Mr. Rich, who accepts the
Chiltern Hundreds. Mr. Palmer was escorted to the Town.
hall, where the election prooesdiegs took place, by a num-
ber of gentlemen connected with the borough.

The Mayor (G. Smurthwaite, jun., Seq.iacted am return.
ing eller.

Mfr. L. 0001( nominated, and Mr. G. BIWIITHWAITE, seta.,
seconded, Mr. Roundel! Palmer as a fit and proper person to
succeed Mr. Rich, the cause of whose retirement—" an
affection of the eyes"—both took occasion to regret.
There being no other candidate forthcoming, Mr. Palmer
was declared to be duly elected.
XT. PALM= returned the electors his moat hearty and
sincere thanks for the great honour bestowed upon him.
He felt very strongly the responsibility as well as the
honour and privilege of the position in which they had
placed him, for it was no light thing, he could assure them,
to take part in the legislation of • country such as this. No
saifioe of time or labour of any kind could be too much in
behalf of such a people ; and he should be wholly unworthy
of their confidence if be entered into parliament or the dis-
oharge of the duties of the office he had been called by his
Queen to fulfil, with any views simply of his own personal scr-
grandieetnemt or to the satisfaction of any motives of ambition
which he might entertain. His wish was to serve his God
first and his country next—(applause)—and as loos as he
continued faithful to that profession he hope
that he should be enabled in some slight mea-
sure to do some service to his country. It was that
sense of responsibility of the seriousness of the duty that he
had undertaken which made him anxious rather to perform
than to promise much. lie wished to understand what be
was going to do before undertaking to do it ; and to see the
effects and consequences of the course of policy on which he
might enter before he pledged himself to that policy. He
wished also to move with that judgment and caution which
=Wit give a removable hope that the feeling and
opinion and support of the country might go
with the policy undertaken; and for these reasons
be had always a desire, and still desired, not
to encourage expectations of more than he might be able
to perform. At the some time, they would believe that
he was anxious in all things to follow • wise and liberal pa
Rey, and to promote the constant progress of those improve.
made, without which it was impossibLe that our interests
could keep pace with the advancing wants of society. He
bad accepted office, of course, with every confidence in
those under whom he should serve. Many of them were
his own political aseociates and personal trisects. Others he
had long watched, and he was convinced that they were
actuated by motives high, pure, and patriotic, and that
they entertained principles the country bad reason to ap.
prove ; and therefore he had not felt one moment's India.
tion in accepting the opportunity of allying himself closely
and cordially with them. (Applause.) As long as be had
the honour to fill the office of riolicitor-Geoeral it would be
his duty, as it was that of all subordinates, generally to sup-
port the measures the government introduced. In
some things of course he must waive his own opinion,
but not in matters of principle. He then referred to the
particular branch of improvement connected with the office
of Solicitor-General. They were all aware that the present
Lord Chancellor, under whom be would serve,' was a man
of the most brilliant powers—in the prime of life—a zealous
and sincere reformer, who bad done much while holding the
office of Attorney-General for the improvement of the
law. Under him he (Rt. Palmer) should do his
best to support his great ends. (Applause.) Although
Fa kinds of reform had more brilliancy and glitter than
reforms, he was fully persuaded that there were none
more real and practical importance to the welfare of the
people of this country. (Hear, hear.) It was invidious to
compare one reform to another,• hut he might safely say,
that of all the reforms introduced in our times
none were more important or extensively useful
than the institution of the county courts, which
had brought justice to the doors of all people.
In the same direction he hoped they should still move for-
ward, and that the criminal law, the commercial law, and
the law with respect to real property mad the transfer of
land—all law, in fact, would undergo a careful, vigorous,
and consistent revision with regard to the purposes of re-
form. (Applause.) lie fully believed that the office of
Lord Chancellor was never in hands more promising than
in Sir R. Bothell's. It should not be his (Mr. Palmer's)
fault, at all events, so far as will was concerned, if the
*forte of that high officer of state were not duly
seconded. From him personally not much would
be required by the government in any other de-
partment, yet he would not omit to my that the
policy of his friend the present Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, following as he did in the track pointed out before-
hand by the successful triumphs of free trade, had his warm
and cordial approbation. Of course on particular measures of
finance different opinions would oink but as be +m sot the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, be did not pretend to say that
this tax and that tax WWI always the best to be
taken off or put on. Such questions appeared
to him not to be of that great importance
which sonic people attributed to them, in comparison with
the general character and tendency of the finaucial policy
pursued in this country. The present character and ten-
dopey of that policy tons to remove us far as may be a the
remaining fetters of trade ; and he was quite sure it would
succeed. It filled the Exchequer ; it relieved the people;
and he was convinced that while the present government
continued in office it would be rigidly followed, LI
indeed it was last year, and is this year
and as far as they could at present judge with
signal success, notwithstanding • very acrimonious
oppositioe. (Applause.) Reprdiag foreign poll,/
be believed that in the hands of Lord Palmerton and
John Russell we might safely trust ourselves, and he enter-
tained no doubt that it would continue to be conducive to
the peace and security and honour of this country, and as
far as our interest went, to the liberty and independence of
foreign nations. And he thought, if there were no other
reasons for supporting the government, this would be
enough. As long as that government lasted be
should doubtless be in a subordinate position, and
therefore would have to act in due subordination.
But ea regarded the question of reform sod improvement,
he should prefer that policy which was liberal, provided
also it was rational, port, and safe. In answer to questiese
put to him, he repeated that es he held office under govern.
meat, he should be guided by the amine they took in
respect to reform ; also, that he was opposed to the tin.
conditional abolition of charelrrates.

CIOWIN-OFTICE, JuLYo.—Minisz9a RETURNED To
SERVE IN THE PILISBLIIS PAIIILLUIENT. —Lieutenant-Colonel

Luke White, of the (Smogs, in the county et Dalin, foe.
the county of Loeiford, in the room of Colonel Henry
White, who has amepted the office of steward of her Ma-
jesty's manor of Northstead. JULY 9.—fllr William Atha*
ton, Knight, of Westbourne-terrace, Flydesark, fa the
county of Middlesex, her Majesty's Attorney-General, foe
, the city of Durham. —Ge:ctfe.