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

SOUTHIV A RK ELEC I lON.

Yesterday evening, the Friends of Sir Robert Wilson met at the
Quevt's Wad, for the purpose of considering what measures would
be most effectual to secure his return at the approaching election
for the borough of Southwark. The time appointed was six
o'clock, but Sir Robert Wilson did not arrive till near seven. His
appearance was hailed with loud cheers by his friends, who had
been compelled, by want of accommodation, to adjourn from the
committee room to the yard of the inn.
WeArttEnwrow having been called to the chair, briefly
addressed the meeting on the merits of Sir Robert Wilson.
Mr. BLACKLTT read two Ilesolittions, which were to he sub-
mitted to the consideration of the meeting. The first was in appro.
bation of Sir Robert Wilson's Parliamentary conduct; and the
second censured the attempt which hail been made to raise the
malignant anti incendiary cry of " No Popery !" in the Borough,
to his prejudice.
Sir RonEnx Wit.sow then presented himself to the meeting.
arid was received with plaudits, which were frequently renested
during his speech ; and at its conclusion, having apologized for the
delay occanioned by the necessity of his personal canvass in an-
other quarter, he adverted to the subject of the two Resolutions.
The one was proposed for form's sake, and of course did not admit
of any comment ; but the other point was one of serious import-
ance, and required due deliberation. Though he addressed the
meeting in the first person, he perfectly identified himself with his
late colleague, Mr. Calvert, and did not desire a seat in Parliament
if the Roroogh was not Independent enough to avoid the henna-
phrodite condition of returning two Members of adverse principles.
Ile had, since his entrance into Parliament, supported Reform,
Free Representation, Reduction of Taxes, and had opposed mono-
poly of all kinds, anti particularly that worst (species—the Corn
Laws.. He wax the enemy of glittery in all pars of the world, and
the friend of civil anti religious liberty. He was always willirg to
adopt the expressed • wish of the borough of Southwark, and
if lie clamed from the electors on any important 'petition,
he was ready every month or every week to resign the trust reposed
in his hands. He wax told that he had been named a turncoat, in
some squib. Ile agreed with Fox that no man but a fool would
determine to continue of the same opinion right or wrong. If a
man altered his sentiments to the prejudice of his fortune, lie was
entitled to respect. Ile would ask them, Was he under suspicion
(No) on account of his private Interests, (No) or from vanity? (No.)
What, then, was the danger ? because at one time he was, is fact,
the personal friend or many of the sovereigns of Europe, and
was row proscribed, because he opposed the principles and practice
of the Holy, or rather, of the' infernal. Alliance. But when he
was adverse to the torture system in Irehttid—when he contended
in favour of the now wretched Ferdinand—when he fought in
Russia—and when he co-operated with the Cortes, lie was always
'consistent, and adhered to the same principle which contemplated
the overthrow of bigotry and of superstition. (Some violence hav-
ing been manifested during his address by some friends of Mr.
Pollhill, the opposing candidate,) Sir R. WILSON txmtinued—and
honed that those who favoured him would refrain from violence.
What had occurred %hewed the danger of the "No Popery" cry.
But what dil it mean ? Would they call him the friend of the
Pope? (A laugh.) Would the Pope consider him an ally? or
would the Committee receive any contribution from the Pope in
support of his (Sir It's) election? That cry was attempted to be
raised, because he had concurred on a particular point with 141C11
men as Canning, the liberator of America, with Sir Francis Bur.
den, the friend and favourite of the people,—with a Brougham, the
eloquent advocate of all righni, and a Buxom, the zealous champion
of the negro slave. If the elector' renewed the honour which they
before conferred on bin), he would adhere to the same line of con-
ductwhich he was proud to say had already obtained their approba-
tion. (Loud cheers.).

Mr. BLACK ETT then adverted to the topics en which Sir Robert
Wilson had sp,ken, and eulogised his corvine' on all occasions,
where it came before the notice of the public. One of the best
Generals of Bonaparte 11.. d highly praised him In s late work, con.
cerning the campaigns in Rutile. He should like to hear Mr.
Polhill declare on the Hustings the reason of his dissent from the
liberal conduct of Sir Robert Wilson, which corrclponded with the
enlightened views of the most talented and excellent men that
ever adorned the country. Sir Robert Wilson was not only able
to Auht the battle of public liberty on the Continent, but, as a le-
gialamr, he was highly competent to contend tor their rights in the
House of Commons. It. it was intended by the partitarift of bigotry
to try the merits of the" No Popery" cry In the first instance in
Southwark, he dared them to the attempt, and the failure would be
the prelude to numerous defeats in other places. (Applause.)
Mr. WHITING read the two original Resolutions, and also a
third, recommending the return of Sir Robert Wilson, as a tit anti
proper person to represent them ; a fourth, that to preserve the
purity of election, the return should be free of any expense to him;
and a fifth, advising the electors to give their attendance at an early
hour at the Poll on Wednesday next.
All the Resolutions having been moved by Mr. Blacketh, and
seconded by Mr. Arpthorpe, who complimented Sir Robert Wilson
on the public spirit and propriety which distinguished his career,
were passed tmanimously. Thanks were then voted to the Chair•
Man, and aßer some explanation from Sir Robert Wilson, mimed
by an observation of Mr. Arpthorpe, regarding the treatment of
Str Hobert by Ministers, but which Sir Robert now extenuated,
with an expression of his opinion in favour of the privatn cha-
racter of Ministers, with ma-y many of whose recent measures
of improvement he agreed, the Meeting separated.

We understand that Mr. Stevenson, the proprietor and
editor of the Demerara paper, the Guiana Chrouick, which was
suppressed by Sir D. D'Urban, Governor of that colony, has ob-
tained a complete triumph. The whole of the proceedings have
been for some time befneo the Colonial Department, and we hear
the decision in completely in his favour ; the Governor having had
no right to interfere with, much leas, at his absolute will, to sup-
press a newspaper. Mr. Stevenson proceeds, we understand, to
Demerars. to rc-establisli his paper —a circumstance that will give
the most lively satisfaction to the colonists. as we art informed a
liberal subscription wan rained to defray all the expenses of the pro-
ceedings against his Excellency Sir B. D''.Yrban.
Nsw ORLEANft, April 6.—We have conversed with a
gentleman who left Vera Crus ten days ago. lie represents every
thing as quiet in Mexico. The mines were worked at, but hither:*
had scarcely paid the expenses. The German mining compen♦ is
the only one that has been tolerably successful. The city of Vera
Cruz was healthy, but had by on means attained its former splen.
dot. IThe intercourse with the interior, and psrticularlv the
capital, was pest. It was said that the _expedition against Cuba
*an on the eve of 'ailing. The Mexican navyl squadron at Vera
Cruz consisted of a frigate and five brig*. Smuggling was lens
barefaced than formerly; and striver regulations-were in force at
the Custom Houses.

DIA OLI C E.—Chambersburg, May 2.—We are in-
formed that Mr. William fluncan, of Cumberland county, (who
lately offered a reward for the apprehension of James Taylor, who
stole • horse from him) has had the horse which T. stole stabbed to
death in his stable ! and that on the same night his ^on-in-law, and
two other of Mr. Dunce. 'a neighbours, had each a Isom killed In
their stables by some villain or villains. Such high-handed and
' Millais wickedness, loudly calls upon every member of the com.
I munity, to use their utmost exertions to ferret out and drag to
speedy punishment the inhuman wretches capital of the commis.
' won of such a crime, fur no one can be safe iu his person or pro-
petty whilst they are at large.
STEAM -BOAT A c E N T.—We And the subjoined parti-
culars of a melancholy steam-boat accident, in the Dentarratic Press
(American paper):— It gives us much concern to have to record
the following melancholy and disastrous ambient :—.A gentleman
who boarded the steam-boat Susquehanna, a few minute., after the
horrible expl we. n, gives ns the following particulars :—Thc Engi.
neer assured the owners there was as much steam on as the boiler
would bear, but they insisted on MOOS being raised. This was
done, at.d the explosion was instantaneous. The unfortunate and
too obedient engineer was literally completely skinned. He is not
expected to survive. lie has a wife and seven children. While
they were carrying hint tip into the town of Berwick, nearly oppo-
site to which in attempting to ascend die Nesenpeek Falls, in the
river Susquehanna, where tine explosion took place, he said lie bad
done his duty, and hoped the public would do theirs to his
Mr. Bmbst, of Catawissa, a -ensible anti a worthy man, a member
of the Genre( Assembly, is so dreadfully scalded that he is not ex-
pected to live. One other person, whose name we have not yet
learned, is supposed to be too shockingly scalded to recover. Nine
other persons were severely scalded, and three were missing will
are supposed to have been killed. This frightful accident took
place on Wednesday last, between four and five o'clock in the
afternoon: Immediately after the explosion the boat took fire, but
it was soon extinguished."
DA 'tl NG ft o F, Y.—On Thursday evening last a daring
robbery was committed, at the house of Mr. Cltter, the Crown, ,a
Westminster-road. The thieves broke open the door of an tipper
room, and, in their search after and other valuables, forced
every lock in the room, and finally escaped -aoletected with the
following articles, viz. :—Two silver watches. and one metal ditto
(one of the watches, name Pitt); a pearl snuff-bog, octagon shape,
silver-mounted, and engraved " J. M. C.:" silver Wale and ma
spoons, and sugar-tongs, ciphered " J. M. I)." and "J. M. C. ;" a
silver cream.jug. three punch-ladles, several mourning rings,
names, " Chater " and " Bassett ;" a diamond brooch, engraved
" Cluster ;" a purple silk scarf, nnd various oilier articles. A re-
ward has been offered for the apprehension of two men who are
suspected of the robbery.
A new smelling bottle, upon an excellent principle, has
just come out, for which we are indebted to Mr. Berry,
who has obtained a patent for this and other descripiions of
bottles, whereby the stoppers cat, never become. fast ; and
which we hop:: he will extend to wine-decanters for the
gentlemen, as well as smelling-hot tles for the ladies.
Extract of a letter from an Officer on board the Owen
Glendower, dated from the C tpe of Goal !lope, March 14:
se." On Friday the 10th of March, between Ave and six,
p.m. as our pinnace (the best boat, we had in the ship)
was returning with part of our men, to the number of 35,
who had been employed on shore, inclutting our first Lieu-
tenant and two Midshipmen, it blowing very fresh, she
,shipped several seas, and when within only 100 or
150 yards of the ship, a sea struck her on the weather bow,
and a sudden gust of wind springing up, caused her to
give a heavy lurch to the leeward, when she immediately
Heil, and wasfseen by myself and others to capsize; slid
notwithstanding an immediate alarm was given, and every
exertion used to save the crew, I lament to say, that out of
35, 20 brave fellows were consigned to a watery grave.

THE B