The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-06-24 00:00:00

SOMERSET ELECTION.

!LC:WESTER. Ttlustanalr, JuNE 22.
The'polling is going on very languidly with all the Candidates.
Sir Thomas Lethbridge did not appear in the Court-house, nor in
the town, during the day ; nor was his son, who accompanied him
through the former part of the contest to the hustings each day, to
be seen. Mr. Dickinson was at his post, and was in constant con.
verststion with some one or other of his humble friends during rhc
seven hours of polling. 111 r. hunt was in and out of the Court.
house and the polling booths very frequently ; sometimes inquiring
into the qualifications of the voters for the other Candidates, and
sometimes giving directions to those who have undertaken to bring
up his troops, as to the future operations with respect to the grand
effort he has promised to make at the latter end of next week.
At five o'clock the Poll Clerks exhibited their honks to the High
Sheriff, who stated that the nunthers polled that day were—.
Dickinson . 2521 Hunt -
Lethbridge . . 29111
And that the aggregate polling was—
Dickinson - 12241 Hunt . 236
Lethbridge . 19113

Mr. Dice 'neon said he was extremely unwilling to break
through the established rule of leaving it to the poll to exhibit the
grateful feelings of the Candidates for the favours of the freeholders.
He was as little disposed as any. man could be to return thanks for
the lake of speaking; he was in the habit of kiting the poll speak i
for itself; but there WAS something so extraordinary in the occur-
rences of this coolest, tluo lie could not help addressing the worthy
•(freehokillfs who had gathered together to slaw their respect fi r
him. (Cheers.) Ile telt truly grateful for tie "-honour they had
done him that day.
Mr. HUNT—With your permission, Mr. High Alteriff, I'll ask
Mt. Dickinson a question before I thank my freeholders. You
to Mr. Dickinson) said. yesterday, Sir, that you were in revises-
Mon of some particulars of my private history, which particulars
you threatened that you would use upon whatever occasion you
thought it expedient. Now I call upon you to mention all those
particulars publicly, and not to keep them to yourself until my
back is turned. (Cheers and hisses.) I ant prepared to answer
any charge. whatever it may be, this moment ; and I shall expect
that you will have more candour than to depend upon newspaper
paragraphs for your proof. I shall expect that you will prove what
you may assert, and you may rely upon my immediate answer.
Mr. DICKINSON-31r. High Shull]; I did say that I was in
possession of some information relative to the public and private
character of Mr. Hunt; and I said also that I should reserve that
information for any occasion on which I might be attacked as I had
been attacked at Bridgwater. I think I may say that I sin in
possession of the whole history of that gentleman's public and
private character; but I wish him most distinctly to understand
that I shall, in usi,lg those documents. exercise my own discretion.
(Cheers and hisses.) I Isbell use them where and when I please,
without being influenced by him. At the same time I distinctly
deny that I contemplated charging him behind his back. (Cheers.)
Mr. II uNT —Freeholders and ladies who do us the honour of
coming amongst us ! I am heartily sorry that our friend, Mr.
Dickinson, has nothing better to do—no more useful labour to oc-
cupy him—than to pry into the private transactions of any man.
(Cheers and groans.) I very much regret that he has not been so
much occupied in attending to your business. or his own, as to
render it inconvenient for him to employ himself in the unworthy
occupation of listening to the dirty tales of those creatures who sur-
rounded him. (Loud applause and hisses.) Of all the characters in
the world, the only one that is worse than the tale-bearer is the man
who hate., to tales. (Cheers and tumult.) I lament to see a man
who holds a high situation in this county employ himself in so dis.
graceful a manner. I dare him to produce anything against me.
He knows my history, he says. He may know it; it has been
loeg before the public-1 have written it myself. ['atwitter, and
applause and hisses.) To br Sure, I may have given it a little co-
louring. (Loud laughter.) But, (rentleinen, I wrote it under
circumstances which may be alluded to for my apology. I had
the honour of being confined in the gaol of this county for two
years and six months, and the wormy County Magistrates, of
whom Mr. Dickinson is one, did me the ndditlonal honour of ag-
gravating the sentence, by giving me forty days' solitary confine.
ment. (Loud cheers, and erit, of `"That's an old more.") It is
' an old story ; I shall never forget it ; nor shall the worthy Maws-
' trates of this county ever forget it, and Mr. Dickinson was at
their head when they aggravated my physical affliction. But they
did not succeed in •their object, which was to break down 'my
spirit ; for although I suffered bodily infirmity, I never hail less
pain of mind than I had during that solitary confinement. (Loud
cheers.) I again dare Mr. Dickinson to bring forward his charges.
It is unmanly, it is ungentlemanly, to use threats. Let us hear
what lie has raked up in his respectable search after private frail-
ties ; let him do this at once, or sit down with the Imputation
upon him, that he is himself the fabricator of the his miry of which
he speaks. (Loud cheering, and hissing intermixed.) iVith the
exception of that pitiful threat, Mr. Dickinson conducted himself
in a most unexceptionable manner ; and he now repeats the
threat.

A FREEHOLDER—V.OU called for it, Ilunt ; you deg. you called
for it.

.a.
Mr II tt NT-1 called for the charges. not for the thrett. (Cheers
and tumult). lam ready to hear what he has to say. Here I am,
and here I Khali be with you, Gar.tleman, for a fortnight. (Loud
laughter and discordant noises). lam glad to perceive that t!:e
effect of this information upon you is different from that which it
produced upon Sir T. Lethbridge, whose lip quivered the moment
it broke upon his car. (Tumult, and cries of "he is absent !")
I know he is, although it is his duty to he here. It is not respect-
ful in him to chew " the white feather," and run away. (bond
laughter, applause and hisses). I told Sir Thomas Lethbridge
that I owed him and his brother magistrates something which I
would pay off to them some day or oilier, for their kindness to me
in the gaol. (Laughter). And I assure them, that bet for that '
kind consideration of theirs, it is more than probable that I should
not be a Candidate for this county, which I hope, with the blessing
of God, to represent in the ensuing Parliament. (Boars of
laughter). Aye ; the day of reckoning is come. Sir Thomas ap-
. pealed to my humanity last night for nut continuing the poll ; but
I hope my ears may be cut off and nailed to the gates of that prison
in which I was incarcerated so long, if ever I move front this place
while the law allows me to remain here. (Laughter, and cheers
and hisses). The freeholders are allowed 15 days every seven years
to express their opinions. There is dot a freeholder in the county
who shall not have the opportunity; and I only regret that they
have not 40 days, the limit of my solitary imprisonment, to give
vent to those opinions and feelings. (Loud cheers and hisses ; the
former greatly predominant). Sir Thomas told you that I was
giving the people trouble. I certainly give trouble to the Sheriff
and his assistants ; but I am sure they do not regret their attention
to duties which they perform so much to their own honour.
(Loud cheers). I shall give them no unnecessary trouble. As fot
all the rest of the county, they may go about their business if they
please. They need not trouble themselves if they did not like it,
in coining to the poll. (Laughter). I think it will be a difficult
thing for my worthy antagonist, the Baronet, to gather together his
scattered forces ; and I am glad that Mr. Dickinson is satisfied with
his 257 votes, although the number is not a third of what he polled '
at the last election.

Mr. MT caEY —Aye, but then he had to contend with a gentle-
man.

111 r. HUNT maid there had been no more than 1,300 votes polled
between the Whig and the Tory.
A FREEIIOI.DER—Why do you not poll the rest yourself?
Mr. Hunt maid, bec.tuse he kid not the power of exercising
me atom of unjust influence ov_r the freeholders : 230 honest men
had done him the honour to come up for him. Ile felt greatly
flattered by their votes, and he fluter, d himself that in the middle
of next week his party would sre,te a dill-acne face. Otis free-
holders knew that they had IL days to come up, and thzr: was not
one of them who thott3lit he would be capable of running.
(Laughter, cheers, and hisses.) At all events, whether they would
them e

should not upon this occasion sutcosd, an event I by no meant SW.
ticioate (laogittert, (shalt make the exparirnent until I do. (Goers
and violent disap;.robition.)
Mr. STUCCEY gave threat cheers for the two old Members, mad
three cheers for the Sheriff.
Mr. WARKEN, the Solicitor, gave three cheers fur Mr. Smash
and three groans for Mr. Dont.

The Critirt then adjourned.
The moment Mr. Hunt went entaide. he addresse 1 the crowd.
and !maw:m.ll three groins I,r Mr. Warren and the rest of the &ti-
tmice. The groan* were land and long.

COVENTRY ELECTION.

COVENTRY, JUNE 21.
THE CHAIRING OF THE CANDIDATES.

The ceremony of chairing the new Representatives of this qty
took place to-day. The morning was'ushered in by the ringing .1
bells. People from the neighbouring villages began to enter the
city at an early hour, and the voters of the several wards assembled
in great numbers, with their streamers flying and music playas'', so
that, by eleven o'clock, dim were at leas( three thousand Fences
in and surrounding the Ititing's Head Inn, which was the head-
quarters of the successful Candidates. About thia Lour the prod s-
cion began (o and presented, certainly, a plc:l:sing sight.
The hand of the 4th lhagona ((cards attended, and there were two
other bands, besides drums and fifes. Each of the 3lembers wore a
light-blis silk scarf over his right shoulder, across his brmat, termi-
nating in a knot at his left side. The silk was elogantly Mika
met ted with silver fringe, aid studded with silver spanglint. The
chairs were cotered with light-blue silk. formed into a canopy.
surmounted by a plume of blue ostrich feathers. sad dear.
pea-ance was altogether truly elegar.t. The procession halite/ been
arranged, it started from the Inn in Hertford-street, and proceeded
through High-street, Dosford-street, Much Park-street, St. John's-
street, I tile Park-street, Cros..chear ing, Bishcp.street. Well-meet,
West-otchsril, Spon-street, and then returned to the Mines Read.
where the two Members addressed the people. Throughout the ',bole
of the proceedings, which occupied nearly fly: lours, there was not
one instance of disturbance. Indeed, the line of conduct pur-
sued by the supporters of Messrs. Moore and Ellice was such se
to preclude ail riotous behaviour, for those cf then, who are trades-
men shut up their shops and left the city, and the more humble.
class of them either remained at home, or quietly !nuked on without
any demonstration of their disappointment, either by word or deed:
The closing of the shops by the losing party had a curious effect,
and certainly in a great degree took from the joyousness of the
pageant; for instead of the windows being lined by females deers-
rated w;th ribantls, and waving their handkerchiefs, those of almost
every other house had the blinds (lowa, and presented as melran.
elioly an aspect an if it were a day of national eslsmity. The
light Blocs, however, were not without the smiles of many ladies
to greet :::c s.
THE DINNER.

At six o'clock the two Members, with about eighty Gentlemen,
proceed.xl to Sr.llitry's Hall, a 1110 PI handsome a:ructure of the 1616-
century. It stands at a short distance to the southward of St.
Mary's Church, and ire architectural beauty has attracted tile notice
of many eminent antiquaries. It is W.well calculated to convey to
the observer a just ilea of the importance of Coventry, when the.
City was the resort of devotees and the favourite chamber of
Princes. It was raised in the early part of licory VI., to :he mutt
prosperous days of Coventry, and is still used for the nativists tei
civic dignity and festivity, by the Mayor and Corporation. (Jo tl:i•
occasion a most elegant dinner was pros tletl by Mr. Carter, of the
King's Head. The dessert was a splendid ore, aid the wines were
excellent.

When the cloth had been retriever!, and the King, and otter
toted' usual on these exertions, had been given_
The Marow of COVENTRY proposed •' the health of the new
Members of the City," which was drank with great entliuniasna.
Mt. HEATIICOTE begged the company to accept hin beat thanks
for the very kind manner in which they bad drank his health. He
(Mr. Heatlicote) came arnotipt them a perfect stranger, but tba:r
kindness had made him feel quite at home, and he should tarry away
with him the most agreeable and grateful sense of that conneitiud
which had hetn so happily commenced between the.n, and whictt
he hoped would lone continue. (Cheers.) His forntre professions
of devotion to their interests needed, he hoped, no adeition ; he feat
that at any rate they must now be confirmed by something inv.,
substantial than words. It ',multi perhaps be a little out of place
there.

to him to talk of ragged elbews but he ensured his !Woest
friends ottt of doors that he would never forget ditin or their ante.
rears. He was proud of the holoue which had fallen to hie let of
being the Represontative of so large and useful a portion of ke
countrymen ; and he considered himself to be one of the first add
most constitutionally-elected Representatives in Great Britain; and
by that feeling he should govern his future conduct. To 1.110.C101)0
had exerted themselves with an much s.ial in his behalf, he begged.
to return his most sincere and heartfelt acknowledgments. To
those who had with no less zeal (sad he dared nay they acted most
conscientiously in doing so) opposed his cause, he could wish it to
be distinctly conveyed that he should part from them with no-ea.,
kind feeling. (Great cheering.) He now should shortly take his
leave or them fur a time, and he did so with eishing them and she
people of Coventry every possible prosperity end happiness. tThe
Hun. Gentleman sat down amid loud cheers.)
Mr. FY LE It said that no language of his was adequate to con-
vey in them his sentiments of gratitude for the high honour with,
which they had invested him. %Viten he considered that no longer
than eleven days ago he entered this city unknown and unfriendee.
and when he now foand himself their Repreaentative, his feeling.
quite oveapowered him. If anything could take away from the
unclouded happiness he felt this day, it was the apprehension, he,
had of his inability sufficiently to ter), them the heavy debt be
owed them. He wished not to talk himself, but he would say that
hismind had ever been an active elm For some years past he heal
been mostly unemployed ; his great object wu to have all &two-
pation' and what could be a more honourable one than that upon
which he had now just entered? He was quite sure that whatever
shades of variance them might be in !useful their political opinioste,
they were all actuated by the same good motives and high pric •
civics I and if he should, as he pledged himself he would, re-
gulate his future conduct by those principles alone, he was quite
satisfied that he should have the pride and pleasure of meeting
them all again. On his entering into this arduous evillest,
unused as he was to public life. his first resolution was, so
avoid all personality. If he latd been led into it, he meta
say it arose from a feeling of indignation which he justly lets
and justly resented, in finding those persona who discharged their
arttuous duties conscientiously, most foully and most dishonestly
abused. Those who had been prominent in this shameful conduzl
must notwithstanding tech compelled to admit that there was tweet
more loyalty, and more good humour. than had marked Milieus-
test, and that every man had discharged his duties most fairly end
impartially. (Cheers). Ile was about to sand on his. tri 11, and
if he fulfilled his duty to them—if, as he trusted he should,
turn to them agdin, he hoped he should nave no oceasion• to
solicit their votes, but that they would come forward unaaked•to
testify their ipprobaticn of his conduct. (Cheete.) He hid not
only the pleasure of drinking their gaud healths, bin also theta'
proposing to them '4 the glorious majority of 1,531" (Cheers. )Me. Ildivritcord then proposed " the health of th impelled
freemen, who load not had an oppoitunity to subscribe their ANN*
to the serail of independence."
Mr. Ti. tsr shortly returned thanks, aeill proposed • The health
of the Sheriff's of the City of Coventry, and thanks for their coo-
duet at the Election."
Mr. II datritecerd next gave " the Ladies of Coventry." Ris
opponents had said that the ladies were nut with but if dame
gentlemen had been present to-day, they would have had auspin
proof* that the memorable lady to whom tins cite was indebeed•for
many of its valuable privileges. had left behind her hearts hi WiSrJl
in the cause of freedom as her own.

Mr. FY LER then prdposed " The hal It of the Mayor and Cur.
',oration of Coventry."
The 31avort, in a very few wants, returned O&M's, and gave
" The health of Mr. Pea:man "
Mr. Pr.- - fat that whatev.

come up or no, he would not go until they had all of them an Mr. Pratt SIAM frit that whatever his exertions might hair* been,
I
opportunity of coming. (baud cheering and groaning.) he was not entitled to the honour they had just conferred upoabim.
Mr. STUCKEY said, he cons•thred that those persona who had If he had in any degree assinted in rescuing the city of Clown',
voted for air. Hunt disgraced themselves. Ile had seen some who from the degraded *haw ion in which it had been phiced for a letigth
admitted that they had been &hided, and expressed their Tepee of time. the gratification that circumstance would give hr® was an
at having been deceived. (Cheers and hisses, and loud cries of ample reward for all his exertions. He thought lie might say that
" Hunt form r ! He'll teach you all to ni)iul what you are 'boat.") they had now a very fair chance for raising this city in die eaftma.
Ile (Mr. Stuckey) was sorry to see Mr. Dickinson where he sat; than of the whole kingdom. In his efforts to attain that tad, ha
that place should be left to the honest freelioldcra, who would had been slandered, vilified, and attempted to be put urger the
chew the strength of his claim by coming up in multitudes. It table. But those things had no effect on hit mind. (hi thus ma-
ims disgraceful for hint to attend where such a Candidate was to Rioll he had acted conscientiously, and according to what a sense of
be seen. (Cries of " Hunt for ever 1" and groans and cheers.) his own duty prescribed to him ; and if bit conduct had met wick -
"The man," said Mr. Stuckey, "has abilities, I admit; but the approbation of his fellow-citizens, no greater tribute dal be-de-
the idea of his representing this county -good Goal! how could sire. (Cheers.)
Aiiihl
such a thing enter his head ? What 1 this county ? lam Mr. IlEayncoyE, wlslassit making any observation, pro; :sed
ashamed to think of it. Ile. might creep into Parliament for a " The Protestant ascendatilly," *Wei was drank with ileitzh sta.
rotten borough, but to repreaent this great county-good God! thusiasm. -
it is the greatest of absurdities." Mr. FYI-Ea WO Imalleirite-Presidents," and them gentleman
111 r. Ht7wr—l'll try it, my jockey, however. (Loud laughter.) tru-ned thmks. ' ' , • .
Mr. STUCKEY—The longer you go on, the further you'll be "The Father 0 the Nrporulors, Mr. Alderman %nitwit', '
behind. Every man will bring ilis:ltace upon himself who votes waiSttirti proposer).
for you. : 411 r: Alderman WiatTWFtl. resnrvicd thank,. It had beets Ms
Mr. HUNT—One word. Mr. Sheaf,: Re fri-md, Mr., iiiippiness,
.he *WWI; fire* pub rii;sey years to meet his toilow
Stuckey, says he is ashamed. hook at him. Why he has no 'tetttweis Mader thwt hellos/MI loaf the had been a party to man,
more shame in his cniinteoance than one of his own coal barges.— Ststial *nth hap", ftleetivrgstleare ; but taxday'he felt more real jar
(Loud laughter.)—What an orator lie is. too! The Lord blew .0111 belly!' mr exfterienteA err lbe former ocraaien. The cause
us ! Why lee that tells the freeholder, that there !$ no necessity If' bete, had been agYin letup 'Ur the city of Coventry. an 4 it bad
for any further exertions, and then he rays to them, "do all you .' ' trhlyestablislleff. ThW.eiretsmstance must fill thesa with
can." Now if they do not do something extra 4rrtinafy very' soon,: ndedpiessitre. This ',WSB the Heat .blest whieb thwyJwal at.
ti 4
Sir Thome. will be in a queer way. It is expected that I shall bd • . .M. The next :Fitly meow twhith had been doge * she
,
driven out of the county; that I shall never chew my head in it '
mtin.--(Cries of "No you newer shall,''. end " Hunt for eret..l--- ~ g . -°*•"6"ntirr . -....llkilliCag°lll2l7::ii4na corprinti4 b"ntilleealudirliVidieso-
rery weft; I au** ydu, -most sakmity; that Irby any thyme 1 .- 'Sri lir Admit, thof luck slant -41 NI tible
•