The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-07-10 00:00:00

PPP'

LANARKSIIIRE ELECTION.

The enthusiasm excited by thii contest was di..
played by the people of Lana►k, on Thurday,
e lir day of election, in a variety of forms, and to a
degree of intensenrst, of which an adequate idea
c..uld only be formed by an eye.witneis to the im-
p %tient crowds which awaited Lord Archibald Fla.
'stilton's arrival, and applauded his entry by shouts
%Inch made the welkin ring. It would be indrli.
cite to the one Candidate, mid invidious to tl,e
etlivr, to repeat the emphatic acclamations of the
i..lluptt ions claws., while they recounted the various
coots of their illustrious favourite, as they drew his
t.aliage into the county town, preceded by their
owes Wooers and music. _ _ _

Soon after mid-day, the Sheriff opened the bossi-
ness its the Sheriff Court House, and adjourned to
the County Hall, where a protest was taken against
the regularity of publishing the writ. It being evi-
dent that the Hall was utterly incapable of admit-
ting the people who pressed to witness the proceed-
ings, an siljnarnment took place to the Church,
after precautions taken to secure the middle area
fur the use of the freeholders. The front of the
gAlleries exlsibittel a placard in these words," Wel-
come, illustrious Hamilton !—Hail ! protector of
the civil and religious liberties of your country !"
No words can discribe the fervour of his receptiun
on entering the Church.
On proceeding to call the roll, the third person
no it, the Hots. William Elphinstone, was, after
he hid voted, asked by Mr. Dickson, Advocate,
to t..ke the trust oath; and after stating that he
had held his vote for forty-five years without ever
being asked to do so, he yet declared his readiness
to oblige the proposer, although not bound in
these ciictinistancev. The trust oath was also put

1.) Mr. C. Hamilton, and to Mr. James Wingate,
and Mr. Archibald Millar. Much time was con-
mimed by discussions excited during the calling of
the roll ; and it was settled and acted on, that only
freeholders should be permitted to address the
Meeting.
Sir John Maxwell, of Pollok, Bart. as Preset;
and Mr. William Bennet, W.S. as Clerk, were
chosen by a majority ; and the Meeting proceeded
to purge the roll.
It stolid be impossible to abridge, and too te-
dious to &tail, the minutiae by which the proceed-
g. were protracted till long after midnight.
Some pond', however, occurred of more prominent
i Arrest.
A claim of enrolment for Mr. Robert Brown,
factor for the Duke of Hamilton, was oppimed by
a long hut of intetrogatories. implying that be
was dependant on the Duke'. family, and not in
• condition to vote freely, without hazording the
loss of his offire. _ _

After the most prompt and satisfactory answers
bad been made I.y Mr. Brown,
Lord ARCHIBALD HAMILTON stated, that he
had, from motives of delicacy, abstained from tak-
ing any part in the discussion ; but since it was
terminated, he deemed it due to the family, to Mr.
Brown, and the Meeting, to observe, that if Mr.
Brown ►1 11l crape to hold his present employ-
tueist, it would be a loss not to himself, but to the
family of the Duke.
A very interesting and spirited discussion a►ose
on the claim far admitting as a freeholder the new
CARlidate. Sir Attainder Inglis Cochrane. It
was objected that his conveyance was null and void,
fiom expressing untruly the price of his vote at
,2.00/. his than he actually paid for it, and from
tn.t Inswing, the stamp required for the actual
price. Nit explanation of the fact was offered for
the clainsaut, and in the issue his claim was
refused.

HOBERT LOCHART, Esq. of Castlehill, in a
manly speech, proposed Lord Archibald Hamilton,
as a most conscieinious, attentive, and independent
Member of ['ornament; sod, from his excellent
t Intruder, high rank, respectability, slid eonnexions,
as thy fittest person to be again returned as the Re-
premaitative of the county.
JAMES Joiyeu HOPE VERE, Esq. of Blackwood,
in a speech of great eloquence and feeling, seconded
the nomination of the late representative, whose con-
duct hail on all occasions exhibited a most honour.
ulile, independent, and perfectly disiuterested system
of pnliti ~l principles. He had defended the Con-
stitution on a very occasion, and maintained the
liberties of the people, and the integrity of the laws,
and in every view of his public life was the fittest
person to represent this important county.
Lord A RUDD D HAMILTON then stated, that
after the long and fatiguing sitting, it would be un-
becoming to take up much time in thanking them
for their support, or in professions of future service.
" I um not unaware," said the Noble Lord, " that
the line of politics that I have uniformly adopted
hog exposed ins occasionally to censure from some
if my constituents ; but I feel coufident, that if my
character and conduct are to be fairly estimated,
not by the accounts of my enemies or adversaries, I
say it without meaning any offence, but from the
impartial opinion of the public at large, I trust I
shall he found on no occasion to have acted from
any selfi-lt or interested motives. I not only love
nay Sovereign, sod profess to admire our political
Coostitutiou, but I really value it, have ever strug-
gled to maintain its legal forms and free spirit, and
have omitted no opportunity of withstanding
mph to suspend, impair, or infringe it. I may
take the liberty to add, that the interests of this
comity, and even the wishes of the individuals which
c root its population. have been always attended
me •itli impartiality, seal, and assiduity. I
hope I may he permitted to say, that iu the dis-
charge of soy various public ditties I have never
In-en influeocell by either subserviency to a Minis-
try. or even the fear of any party in Opposition.
If I have nut had the good fortune always to conci-
liate the good opinion of all my constituents, 1 fear
I could nut hold out any different line of future
!stabile conduct to recommeud me to their favour.
This address, as well as those of the mover and
seconder, was received with great applause.
The Honourable CHARM DOUGLAS then spoke
n-ally dm. : —" The Noble Lord has told us that
he has acted on his own lodgment (and I am sure
tootle can be boles), and we are now met to act
opine ours. I propose as our Representative the
I lonouroble a.ol gallant Admiral Sir Alexander
Inglis Cochran'', who has earned abroad a cleanse-
ter which I sin sure he will not disparage by his
sir.% to us at home."
'Flit Right Honourable the Logo CLEas Rs-

GISTER seconded this ibuniustion, a d stated, ss
neoehe. cou'd he call-reed during the noise in
church, that he dsd vot doubt the r•jection of the
dim, of ow spinout Manual, and of Pollic of his
piends, would be corrected by proceedings
*here.
Votes for toed Arrb;bol.l Mt
Vette fur Alezauder Inglis Cochrane 4S
Majority for Lord A Hansiltoo . 11
The result of the election ova% hailed by vehement
sod prolonged cheering from the people.