The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-06-29 00:00:00

PRESTON ELECTION.

—..........-.
TIJTSDAY, JAN. 27.
After the alovoit hail declared Mr. Stanley and Mr. Wood
elected—
Mr. See:etre advanced. amid general acclamation., and spoke
to the following edict :—Gentletnen, at the close of an election
unparalleled in beth its duration and the number of voters who
have polled, I cannot but find it difficult to give expression to my
gratitude for the kind, cordial, and unanimous support which I
have received from the inhabitents of this town. Some years have
passed since I hest became known to you ; I feel grateful and gra-
tified that your experience of me in that time has been such as to
induce you to place Inc nut only at the head of the poll, but to ivy
me a majority of one thousand votes more than ever were polled
by any former successful Candidate, and nearly one thousand votes
above the next Candidate to me on the present occasion ; and that
many more of my kind friends stand here ready to eta port me with
additienal votes. To all my friends, polled and unpoUed, 1 return
thenks from the bottom of a warm and glowing heart. I trust my
gratitude will be as cordially accepted as tt is cordially given. But,
gentlemen; ineltis moment of success, it is impossible for me to lee-
get the delicacy of my situation. The language of triumph cannot
but be disagreeable to the ears of the unsuccessful Candidate.
Far be it from me, even in the glowing moment of victory, to
utter a sentiment that could hurt the feelings of any man, and
' least of all, the feelings of my Hon. and Dollant Friend, Capt.
Barrie. (Hissing from the crewel--applause from the hustings.)
I say my friend, Captain Barrie, than whom a more honourable
man does not breathe. I have received from my Gallant Friend,
in the course of this election, many proofs of the kindest regard.
I feel grateful to him for the support he gave me ; and closely
connected as I am with him, I cannot but express my esteem of
' his honourable conduct through the contest, and my regret of its
issue. Of that issue I must speak with more delicacy, as the
sense of all the electors hail not been taken, and as I may beat,.
cuscd of giving my support to the side of one of the other Cat di.
dates, a circumstance which I most cautiously have avoided. I
particularly regret that there has not been time to poll all the
votes, inasmuch as there are doubts. in the minds of many as to
who would be the second successful Candidate, if every elector
, had had an opportunity of voting. But for myself, you all know,
Gentlemen, that I wished all along all the votes to be polled--
I challenge any man to say whether there was on my aide the
shadow or delay. ( Applause.) Captain Barrie will have the as-
, defection of remembering, that though he cause latest to the can-
vass, he also remained to the last moment at the poll—that though
' his ship was shettered, she never struck—end even when she sank,
she had her colours flying. (Applause.) I will not now detain
r you by stating my political opinions—l have stated them to you
before ; they leave not been changed since, they will ever remain
' the same.—such as they were I plainly avowed them, reckless of
the consequences of that avowal. I was told I s'iould feel the con-
sequences. I do feel them, but what are they ?—they are seen in
my proud station, by a triumphant majority at the head of the
poll : fur that honourable distinction you have my heartfelt thanks.
I promise you, that in the situation in which your kindness has
placed toe, I shall sem you zealously, truly, and faithfully." (4- '
pleuse.)
Mr. Woos next addressed them.—There are moments in a
man's life when lie finds it difficult to give utterance to the feel-
ings that swell his heart; so it is at prevent will me. The first,
the only feeling I can express, is gratitude to you, men of Preston,
for electing me to the proud situation of your Representative in
Parliament. You have nobly performed the promise which you
made nie : it will henceforward become my ditty to perform toy
promise to you. lam fully aware of the awful responsibility you
have placed on me. I came forward as the humble instrument of
the people, and at the people's call ; my triumph is the triumph of
the people. I will not prove my gratitude to you by my words,
but my votes in Parliament. I cannot, like slr. Stanley, appeal
to past public ;services, but I hare honestly stated to you my opi-
nions at the outset: and the best reason you can have fur expeoirg
a man's faithful adnereree to hie opinions is hie prompt and manly
avowal of them. It is just eight years since I vas first known
to your town—at the election contested by my friend Dr. Cromr.
ton. I little thought then that the events of to-day would ever
occur—l little thought then 1 should become the instrument of
the people's rights—l did not dare aspire to the lionoureble am.
bitiun whica I !lane since felt, and which you have this day
rewardeJ. I shad, like Mr. Stanley, abstain from any sentiment
which may be hurtful to the unsuccessful Candidates. I can•
didly told you I thought their politics erroneous. I may be
mistaken in my own. I only hope that they will judge of
me es charitably as 1 judge of them. You, Gentlemen, hare
triumphed—use your victory with moderation; do not, I
entreat you, sully it with harsh treatment toward+ any man. I.is.
ten with attentio3 to every Candidate who addresses you. They
(Mane a respectful hearing. I was moat anxious that all the votes
should be polled out. If the po:ling could have continued, I could
have brought up as many votes as would have lasted for a
fortnight's pooling. I would still have a majority. I had no
occasion for deity. I regret that all have not been polled, as Ido
not wish to go into Parliament its the Representative of a part of
you, but of the whole constituency. I well know that no single
Metnber can produce an extraordinary sensatioa in the House of
Commons. I acknowledge that I will not be able to work wonders
there, but I hope that by a constant and dill& nt attention to my
Parliamentary duties, I may make myve If useful to your interests.
it'hile I am there I shall ever vote according to my conscience. I
trust my votes will be such as shall bear the strictest scrutiny from ,
every man in Preston. I hope you will judge the with lenity.
You nifty be disappointed in your opinion of my ability, but never
of my honesty. (Shouts of applause.)
Mr. Wood having concluded his sptcch, was about to retire,
when Captain Pollleill, who was dressed in a blue frock, standing
in the Mayor's box, celled to ben.
Captain Poen' ni.—Mr. Wood, will you have the goodness to
allude now to the circurnstalice to which I called your notice ?
Captain Polhill's Interrupt:on arose from the following circum-
stance:—As Captain Polhill, of the King's Dragoon Ousres, was
on his way from this town to Walton. on the box of his carriage,
in which were sonic of his children, he drove past a procession of
fellows with Mr. Wood's band and colours, when they hissed and
hooted him, but not contint with that, some miscreant, more daring
than the rest, hurled a stone at the gallant officer, and which fell
with considerable
note
upon his arm. Captain Polhill immedi-
ately addressed a note th..3lr. Wood, requesting he would mention
the cireumetance intuit next speech. Mr. Woad complied, and noticed
the afficir, but without hitimaiing that it was an officer who had
been the subject of attack. Captain Polhill felt constrained to
insist that a full and complete notice should be taken.
3lr. Woon—l intended to speak of it Holm the inn, but as you
please. Captain. (Turning to Cie crowd.) .1 was informed that on
Saturday last some men, wearing my colours, insulted a gentleman
riding in a elution% I instantly L.:torn:teed my disapprobation of
such conduct. I was not then aware that the gentleman wore, at the
time he received the insult, the uniform of the Dragoon Guards.
I nave since learned that he was dressed in his military habit.
When you knew that this gentleman had been sent for by the au.
thorities to preserve the public peace, you ought nut to have in-
milted hits in the slightest manner; you ought rather to have paid
him rare'. Ugly man weal ing my colours offered violence or i .
stilt to any gentleman, I say that the man so acting did not follow
the exampleef moderation which I act before him. Ido not shun
argument; lam net affected by reviling ; I deprecate violence. I
am ashamed that nny man wearing my colour, should have been
guilty of such conduct. lam sorry lie voted for me. Ile is a dis.
grace to my colours, to the town, and to the good came in which
we are all Jolene, and which has this day triumphed. (Applause.)
C3pta n Bennie then roe amid hisses from the crowd, and ap-
plause from the hustings. Gentlemen—l'll not detain you long.
The station whteli I hold on the poll I ascribe not t 3 the want of
voter+, but to the obstruction—the violent obstruction thrown in ,
t`.e way of my voters when coming to poll : but for that foul play
I would be this moment wand on the poll, and next to my Ho- ,
nourable Friend \lr. Stanley; yet, as in is, I have a must re- ,
spectable minority. I have protested agairot those proceedings,
and my promst is in the hands of my legal advisers ; what will I
be the reeuh I know not, but I know I shall be sadly ilium ointed
if we do not Aeon meet again to try our strength in another
contest. My Bun. Friend hae truly said, that though my ship
last uttered. ate has nut struck to the enemy, but has gone to the
:I bottom with her odours flying—yt s, they are still flying, and
they will Ay triumphant in March next. To those triode who,
at the h.. mist them lives, came to support not I can never ex-
' press euffi•i a. groutude. To slr. Smoky also lam indebted for
his pito Itutelnem; bat to the other candidates 1 cannot pay the
"me 0111.0 Meat. 6,, from their party I have met with nothing
but mno. jo me hope that time and reflection will soften your
mrsiun sod &Wit yutur hostility to me—(ro the crowd)-1 bid
you sineerely hersiodl. IA pplanee and dieopprithationo
The Candidates the heft the limiting* with their several proses.
next-, and proceeded to then respective hotels.
teptaita BAkarz Ipiefly returned thank% to his frintde, for their
powerful support thaipei• this laborious struggle. The Gallant
Captain rims rmlicteamtlaidly visaed by a most numerous and most
pepeetabk beefy el horn 'a.
, (.40sisr I ‘,1.4,411 SY treeing bon roiled for by the crowd, as usual,
• 1411011 d bee fevourite stet ginitl.hunietirol rtusittehant e Hitt of the
i 1.444014 sod addreend the aciltolrere of bits quartet -deck elu-
sions's:a..

lisorlsweesi.,--144seitieed Ilia you ere nll only loyal Church roil
K 1 s the*, 1 flea 104 wk you us tall to re.xollectitut the xcriptural
Wiese—. Thy teke Is not elvreys ar dic %watt nth the brittle to the
Emery." lb., ism at tonv memoir? the:nu-ht. bt,tlf the swift
.nwi the ststooot: loott. 1 trust, whew the ileelsitro of the Molise of
Verirorme is oloarrool on the aware of my Gallant lorientrx petition,
that 1.• 1,111 whet to he the eueeeseful einsipetitor. I retpiestrd to
horny non Mr. Vs heel (I:ohlrett'm lertAin Solichor)how the tilit
risoileioan hsooktool in lois rniAn, whets ho...ary rpreil-neturcilly leisured
ewe thirst he Insole • tory lereittiftal cusp*, and that he expected we
elweilrl hear of hie too leg to lit, ugmu, when the proper lime
should strive. ofpililaomnk the Commune %proud the proceed-
Mgt, of the eh emu,. Now. In ntlemen on Air. 'ohlo•tt dove not
hspyen ifs he hforirsne of what he undertakes, I think It likely
that some of the meth" at hat p • ' to may otrengthin lily noble
friends, rid thus s double thence will bt aNurded, of haying