The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-09-27 00:00:00

BRITISH PRESS.

JOHN !VILA'S; ESQ. M.P.
Monday evening a Meetieg uf the Committee and Freemen of
Suibury, lately engaged in securing the return of Mr. Wilke as a
Member of Parliament for that borough, wee held at the Angel
and Crown, Whitechapel. The pee pole of their assembling wan to
take into' consideration the conduct tif that gentleman in refusing to
realize the expectations of the freemen, as regards the payment of
their expdisea to and From the plate of election. The Meeting, it
appeayee, had not been called by advertisement, but by individual
application, and consisted of about au persons.
l'he Chair was taken about eight Wreck by Mr—Joliet Duce.
The CHAIRMAN. in his opening leech, proceeded to comment
upon the conduct of Mr. Wilke doting the election. Ina speech
at the Bleck Boy, Sudbury, destitute of argument and resew', and
calculated only to table the torch of diseord, he commenced by mt.
ting firth his own religious imeretuenna and prejudices. He was
every thing by turns; and, in the excicise of his piety, attended
high church, low church, and meeting-house. He appeared, in-
deed, a very religiene young man, !tech as could not fail to draw
down the blessiege of all the old women of Stlhery. Indeed, it
was almost it stn to say any thing to the preeudice of John Wilke*
but he would now prem.(' to the question more immediately before
them. They had seen how, after advocating Toryism, Whiggiem,
and Raelicmism, he dwelt much on the religious principles which
he wished to see promulgated through the country: and. in the
neck: of this, lie promised to take every man down to see him tri-
umphantly chaired in Sudbury. The inference they all drew was.
of course, th.st he would supply the customary mode of conveyance 4
but 31r. now put in a plea that he could not adhere to the
...seed') they were accustomed to, because Mr. Rotch, the other
caedidate, would not tires to It, and that. therefore, if he did so, it
would endanger his Seat in Parliament; but, he said, if any of the
candidates would take the lead, and advance money, he would di.
rectly follow the example. But now let them mark the proceeding
in all its bearints. Mr. Wilke and Mr. Botch go to Sudbury, and,
on the Ste day preceding the day of election, Mr. Botch takes his
flight. There vies then no longer one obstacle in the way of Mr.
Wilke; for the candidates that stood the poll had already advanced
a portion of the expense, with a determinatioh to pay the remainder
as soon as the electors had polled. There was no longer any plea
for Mr. Wilke to deceive then', as it was never known that a return
had been petitioned against for the mere Payment of actual expen
us-
Such a petition would not for a moment be entertained. le conclu.
aim, the Chairman said, the members of the Committee were pre.
sent. and no doubt they were ready to give a candid explanation, or
to answer any question that the electors might feel disposed to put ;
so that, to use a homely expression, the saddle might be pat on the
right horse.
An ELLCTOR asked if any of the Committee knew that Mr.
W.'s plate wan in pledge at the time, for the purpose of defraying
the expense of coach-hire, &c.
elr. Joe ea 'one of the Committee) said that he did not. Mr.
W. knew nothing of it at the tine; but Mrs. W. might have
done so.
ELECT on—Do you believe that Mrs. W. would send a cheat of
plate from Mill Hill to Mr. Cross's, without the knowledge of her
husband ? Ido nut believe that she knew any thing of it.
leeecemit—Do you believe that Mr. Wilke intended to act ho-
nourably to all ?
Mr. ISAAC Duce (another member of the Committee) rose to
answer this question. It happened on the first Monday in June,
lie said. that he unfortunately became Mr. Wilke's liar; but he
declared to God he had never received a shilling of Mr. W.'s mo-
ney. Ile bad been accused and threatened in the streets; but he
hoped his character was still untouched. Previous to the election,
Mr. Jonet requested lent to call on Mr. %%like, and he did so, in
company with Mr. Arbut. Mr. %V. told him he had been advised
by Counsel that if he secured the coach-hire previously, he would
be unseated, and he was satisfied that no friend would wish him to
incur that rusk. He afterwards saw a 111 r. Score there, who had
since been Gazteted and lie said that if any man entering eud.
bury had received 2s. 6d. only, the election would be petitioned
against. Afterwards a letter was written to him ; and, in reply,
he offered to pay the expenses. But, in the mean time, a grand
eubterfuge had been found in Lord John Russell's motion. After
that, tiewever, he said lie put aside 6,500/. to pay the expenses. He
(Mr. Duce) would ask the Committee if those exeressions were not
used ? Under these circumstances, he submitted that the Committee
were justified its acting as they had done.
[Mr. Duce here real a note, informing the electors that carriages
were prepared for cheer conveyance to and from Sudbury, and maul
ing that any elector not preferring that mode of conveyance should,
on his return to town, he paid his expensee.l
In continuance, he said that die delusion had been kept up. They
were told that 2,1.100 f. had been sent down. When he and Mr.
Broderip went down on the Sunday. they found Mr. eVilks just
going to church. Mr. Score informed him of their mission ; but
he said he woald not enter upon the subject with the Londoner+
that day. Ale. Score afterwards infornied diem that their
bills must be made out and sworn to. That was done; but, atter
• delay of three days, .Me. Score told them lie had to attend a grand
trial in Yorkshire, in which seven Counsel were engaged, and he
could do nothing with them for three weeks. Being worn out by
Score, they went to Mr. Wilks, who said that if Score did not pay,
he would employ another. They again went to Mr. Score, who
told them that any man might have suilbury, and leave the bon.,
dooms to their .own cane elate. But-tre (Mr. Duce) appealedete
them as Englishmen. could any Member do so without their con.
sent? (No, no.) So, between Mr. Wilke and Mr. Score, the
business was settled.
Mr. Lawis said that, understanding a meeting was to be held,
he wrote to Mr. Wilke on the subject, and had received an answer
from him. (Cries of " Read, read.")
A warm discussion then ensued as lathe propriety of reading tide
correspondence. It was a: lengths put to the vote, and decided that
the letter should be read.
:Ir. Lev: is then read the following:—
"London. Sept. 17, 1826.
" Sin—Whatever may be your opinion, I consider it my duty to
/quaint you, that I attended a meeting of freemen last evening, at
which it was proposed aed adopted that a general meeting of free-
men should take place at IVhitechapel, on Monday, the 25th inst.
The freemen are so much disappointed that general dissatisfaction
prevails, and they are detemiined, if possible, to ascertain from you
at what titne they may depend on receiving their actual expenses.
It therefore rests with you to afford them that information: They
have been told by us, and that front your own instructions, that in
• week after the election every man should be satisfied ; and neat,
immediately after your return at the Crown Office ; anti we gave
three days attendance to receive front every voter his bill of actual
expenses Incurred. By us they were received; but they remain
where they were, locked up in our box at Whitechapel. The pro-
mines held forth arc therefore considered illusory ; and as at the
meeting it is determined upon to call your Committee to give a
just and true account for this unusual way of proceeding, it must
therefore appear to you that we stand in need of instructions from
you. It is needs-airy therefore to see you ;or by your putting us
in possession, in writing, of your real sentiments, that we may read
it to the whole, when assembled together.
(Signed)
In reply to this the following was received:—
Si ft—The style and tone of your letter are not such as either
please or satisfy me. It contains smtements which are incotrect,
and inferences which cannot be supported. I have nlwaye said,
and now. say again most distinctly, that whenever I mu apprized
of any legal claims against me, I ant ready and willing to meet
them. But, before tl:e meeting of Parliament, before 1 see what
course Mr. Ogilvy, or any other parties, may take as to the peti-
tion in the election, it would surely be madness in me to throw
sway any chances, or to supply, by imprudent payments, grounds
for a petition against tee, which, up to this time, do not exist.
After the sum of money 1 hare honourably and legally paid and
expended, amounting to several thousand pounds, I sin sure the
Committee and Freemen, on consideration, will believe me, when
I say that I will in the end take care that every thing shall be
seeded to the perfect satisfaction of all parties.
" I ant. Sir, &e.
" Jon e: Melts, junior,
" New Broad-street, Sept. lie 1826.
" To Mr. Lewis, 79, Whitechapel."
Mr. ISAAC Duce viewed Mr. Wilks's talk of legal claims as
a mere evasion. lie said that Mr. lawless was perfectly right,
when, in answer to Mr. O'Connell, who wished to call a meeting
for enlisting Mr. Wilke in their cause, he said ,Mr. %Vilks wee not
worth looking after. Mr. lawless was quite right: Mr. iViles,
however, had deceived persons in higher ranks of life, and he could
claim no great merit to having betrayed a poor Bethnal green
wearer like him (Duce). He had prepared a few resolutions, which
he would submit to the Meeting.
Mr. JUNES asked if it was not Duce himself who introduced
this /leer/ to them? Was he not represented as bearing the
trumpet. of Fame—throwing Timm-pudding in to Sudbury, and
leaving the lamp-posts covered with his addresses ? He thought
that every communication came through the Committee.
At this time Mr. Arbut entered the main, and was asked by
Mr. Hinuee, the lice-Chairman, whether or not he knew that
Mr. IVilks's plate had been pledged as security for the horses and
carriages ?
His answer was deemed evasive.
The CHAIRMAN repeated the question.
Mr. A NB ur---lhave answered it.
The CHAIRMAN requested a direct answer, eider affirmative or
"thee.

" LEWIS."

..";fir. XIMUT declined.
The Vic E-CtrAill HAN said lie was quite satisfied with the an-
swer given. (Applause).
It was then decided by vote (7 to 2) that the Committee had not
done their duty. It was sugge•ted, however, that five member,
out of the six had fairly answered the question respecting the plates
and it was hard that they should be censured for the other one.
The five were, therefore, unanimously exempted from the vote of
censure.
The VICE•CIIAIRMAN declared that it was not for the sake of
the 3/. due to them, but with the general conduct of Mr. Wilke,
that they felt dissatb.fietl. For his own part, if Mr. Il'illts came
into the room and offered him the 3!, he would, before he received
it, ask him how he became possessed alt.
Mr. WALDRON said Mr. Wilks had offered to sell himself for
7,4001. He said so in a chymist's shop, in the borough of Sud-
bury. Ile hoped the press would do its duty, and expose such
doings.
The propriety of introducing the subject of the Mining trans-
action now became the object of discussion. Some objected to it
as irregular; others thought it perfectly regular, and thought the
thanks of the tlectors were due to Mr. Clark.
The VICE•CIIAIR MAN asked if they were met solely to discuss
1 the qaetoton of the expense? was it not rather on the manner in'
which they hod been deceived by Mr. Wilk.' generally 1 What
was his cotalect when he bought Mines for 79,01)(0. and sold

them to the Company for 121,0001.? Many Memben had been
exnelled from Parliament for less breaches of confidence. Many a
girl who walked the town had been received Into a house of re.
lege on repenting of her conduct; 3nd he hoped the Electors Would
now lay aside the con.ideration of the 1/. and would petition the
House of Commons against the return of Mr. Wilke. He trusted
they would never receive his these sovereigns. (Cries of " No, no,
we never will.")
Mr. ISAAC Duce again protested against the general conduct of
Mr. Wilk*. and regretted that the elector' had been duped by him.
He then proceeded to read a string of resolutione; to the following
effect
:
That the payment by the candidate of the lawful expenses of
voters 'revelling to and from the place of election, is sanctioned by
universal custom, and recognised by the laws.
That the warm and efleetionate manner Mr. Wilks'a reception
by the electors of Sudbury. and the triumphant manner in which
he wan brought in at time head of the poll. ought to have excited in
his mind a deeire to fulfil Ilk promises and engagements.
The Meeting regretted that the expenses of London voters were
not discharged t that several drafts given at :•:utlbury had bL:n die.
honoured ; that many still remained Unpaid ; and that, several of
the Committee, in addition to their loss of time, are unable to pay
expenses out of their pockets on hie account.
That the Meeting deeply deplored, as a'stain upon the age and
the country, that Mr. Wilke should have been coumetosmel and
supported in many of his juint-stoc;i scheines by a 31i,.irder of
State, by several Member' of both Houses of Parliament, and by
eminent Bankers and 'Merchants of the City of London ; by ultich
means the elector% of Sudbury were induced to believe hi n to be a
gentleman of honour and independent fortune, and for that reaton
to give him their support. And they the more deeply rewei
in hitherto the borough of Sudbury has been represented by ho-
nourable and respecteble men.
The next Resolution was, that a petition should be presented to
the noose of Commons, praying that a rigorour inquiry should be
Instituted Into Mr. tWilkee qual.ficatione, and also into the
various joint-stock schemes devised by him, which appear to the
Meeting to have been of a more censtirable description than those
for which, in former times, several Members were expelled from
their seats in the House.
Mr. Beevartooe disclaimed all knowledge of the Resolutions
previous to the present reading, and he felt alarmed at their iniro-
ductioa.
Thz Resolutions were then put seriatim, and carried unani-
mously.
Mr. JOxES then moved the appointment of a Committee, for
carrying the Resolutions into effect, and that the present Chairman
be Chairman of the Committee also.
Carried unanimously.
Six persons :were then appointed as the Committee, and, thank)
having been voted to the Chairman, the Meeting separated.