The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-06-13 00:00:00

READING, Jusi i 2

The election Yoe this place commenced this morning, and, owing
to the nature of the contest and the extraotelinary exertiota of the
contending parties, was attended with more than ordinary bustle.
It will be in the muslin:ion of many of our readers that Reading
had been usually represented by Ministerial men up to the yet?
1802, when the opposite party made a vigorous effort to overturn
what they considered the undue influence of the Tories, and suc-
ceeded in electing the late Mr.Lefevre. Tills alteration in the re-
presentation of the town, although not quite in unison with the
feeling% of the losing party. was nevertheless acquiesced In with a
tolerably good grace, and the Tory and the Whig were returned
for several successive Parliaments without exciting any violent ani.
moeity. Upon the resignation, however, of Mr. Simeon, the Tory
candidate, in the year lain, the friends of Mr. Lefevre determined
to return, if possible, another Opposition man to act with him:
and, after a long and arduous contest, they effected their object,
by the eleetiot. of their late representative. Mr. Fyshe Palmer. In
the year late Mr. Lefevreterigned, and Mr. Monck was brought
forward by the same party to steptdv his place, 'Led was elected, after
a desperate straggle, jointly with Mr. Veliner. Since this perindthe
vauntingof the successful party, coupled with the chagrin of their op.
relents. who had thus been gradually deprived of the whole their
influence, have caused much 11l blood and personal hostility, and
the Tories have been collecting al! their strength to turn out rne or
other of the sitting :Members at thin election. They have started a
newspaper, which they term the " stepping stone," for thin pur-
pose, and a violent paper war has bean carried on during the last
twelvemonth. Unluckily, however, in their anxiety to effect their
object, they were either unwise of unfortunate in their choice of
the means. A public Meeting having been held on the Catholic
question, at which the friends of the sitting Members experienced
a signal defeat in their endeavours to introduce a petition to the
House of Commons In favour of Catholic Emancipation, this
wan considered a favourable opportunity to commence operations;
and Sir Frederick llennicker, of Donniow, Essex, and Mr. Wake-
fielei, surveyor, of Pslt.mall ; were introduced upon the No Popery
and Tory interest. It was not long, however, before Sir F. lien.
nicker discovered that he was by means so well satisfied with his
intended colleague as he weld hie wished, and there being no
alternative but to stand with Mr. AVakelield or to retire, he retired.
Coon inquiry respecting Mr. Wakefield, it was discovered that
he leas the author of the celebrated " Statistical Account of Ire-
land," than which no publication ever proceeded from the press
TOT(' rho-Weeny favourable to the Catholic cause. In this dilemma
Alt. Spence, a highly respectable Chancery Barrister, was fixed
upon to supply his rive. Mr. Spence lost no time in commencing
an act.ve novae', and find ne the town very favourably disposed
towards him, he determined fordirrith to proceed to *poll. The
contest is expected to be brtween Mr. Spence and Mr. Palmer;
Mr. Wakefield being generally to inidered as having but little
chance, and Mr. Alonek's family connexions and perannal influence
In the town rendering his return as almost a matter of certainty.
At the early hour of five this morning, the streets were thronged
with the different parties, arrayed in their various colour., pre-
parieg to attend their favourite cat d dates to the hustings ; and at a
little after seven, they wit marshalled under their respective
leaders, with bands of music playin e, and fl to flying, and in th:e
order they proceeded to the Town Hall, the doors of which were
thrown open to the public about eight o'clock, an I in a few tni-
flutes the place was filled .0 suffocation.
The 31avott opened the business in the usual form, and, in a
very neat and appropriate speech, requested the electors duly to
consider the very imparter t duty they had assembled to perform ;
he then very emphatically urge) the propriety of giving every
speaker an attentive and uinnterrupred hearing; and conclude.'
Ly assuring them that no effort of his should be wanting towards
the performance of the arduous duties of the office he had the
homor to hold, with the strictest impartiality to all partinzin doing
a h ch he called for the anistance and support of the numerous and
noneciaole meeting he then saw before him.
Ceptain HALL fell? to prop se 3lr. F. Palmer, an a I. person
to represent the Borenteh of Beading, in Psrlime t. :le regret el he
could not addeese the Meeting at the length he had intended to do,
inconsequence of hiving received a hurt in forcing his way into the
Hall, but it was fortunate for him, that he could rest satisfied that the
merits of Dlr. P. needed no eulngium from him,his conduct Lai
been before them for many years, and that conduct had spoken
stare effectually in his favour than he could hope to do, should
he dwell ever so long upon the subject.
The lorries, ition W 33 seconded by Mr. W. 1"...-113111PTON, sera.
Die. F. PALMER then addressed the Meeting. Ile observed that
' this was the third time he had come forward as a candidate for the
honour of repree-nting them in Parliament. He was ready to give
an account of the trust that had been repotted in him for the last seven
year,: he hail told them many Sean since that he was a friend to
reform and to the reduction of the national expenditure—that he was
an enemy to theldisgraceful traffic ia the human species—end he
role appealed to then whether his conduct hail not Berne hi n out
in the assertion. He had voted for the repeal of the taxes upon lea-
ther, coals, soap, and candles—he flattered himself Ire had been con-
sistent Watery part of his parliamentary conduct—he had, always
mein's to his entering the Hcuse, declared himself friendly to
civil and religious liberty—but he had not done whet he had been
charged with.; he had not given his vote to place the Catholics in
power, his object had been to conciliate many million,. of his fellow
subjects in Ireland, thereby to promote the tranquillity of that dill.
treated country, firmly convinced, that until the disabilities under
which the Catholics suffered were removed, the desired end could
not be attained. Respecting the core laws, he should say a few
words, as that was a very important subject—but first he would re-
mind them of the alteration which had taken place respecting the sale
of beer. 'They had been told that he was as chaff before the wind in
the House to which he hod been sent, and that he could not open
his lips in that august assembly, hut yet clean he was he had sue.
seeded in introducing a free trade in beer, for which he bad not only
received the thanks of the public, but of the Cheneellor of the Ex-
chequer, and the Board of i'.xcise. Ile should now speak of the
Coen Laws: he was not in the House when the Corn Laws were
Paned; the were passed by a Ministry with whom when lie was
placed in the House he had the mistortune constantly to differ.
The present Ministry were of a different order; they were the
most liberal Ministry he ever recollected.
Dr. Seanon next addressed the meeting, but the low tole in
which he spoke rendered it very difficult to catch the tenor of what
he said. eVe understood him to observe, respecting the duty that
they hail to perform, in electing a lit man to represent their, that
two things were essentially necessary—integrity and consistency;
and they must be assured that if a candidate thil not possess those
teguleites, he could rot by possibility be fit to discharge the duties
to which he would be called. He considered' Mr. 31onek as a man
potsessing the requisites alluded to—a man etenost uomiestioneble
slue in point of character—of undoubted integrity and ability ;
and concluded by recommending him as a fit person to represent
the borough.
Mr. HENRY 31313311 then rose and observed, that before he pro-
ceeded to the more immediate buninees of the day, he would tender
to the Mayor his thanks fur his impertiel conduct in the manage-
ment of the Meeting, lie had been called a man apt to change.
He pleaded guilty if he was accused of a desire to change those
treasures which had brought this country to its present state of
distress ; but while he had been anxious fur a change of measures,
he had never been found guilty of desiring a change of men. He
had many years ago seconded the nomination of Mr. alonck ; he
again came forward to perform that pleasing duty. lie had not
unfrequently been called a croaker—a man who for !boded in.
possible everits. lie now appealed to them whether the fact had
lint turned out to be exactly a. he had represented it ? The present
aerial and unparalleled distrait which now threatened tr. overwhelm
MY but too strong a proof or the reality of those forebodings !
stitch were at one time treated as equally gloomy and visionary.
Mr. .31ogoa, in rising, observed that it was now hie time to ad- ! dress a few words to the electors, and as he was &war t that many
gentlemen ware waiting for the same purenee, his observations
should cot detain them long. Great tn. teetuation 'saving taken

place in the proceedings, which was quelled by the Mayor, Mr.
31onck directed his observations to him. arul complimented him on
the disii44utshed intrepidity which he had displayed on the ores-
'hon. lie must congratulate the Meeting upon the four Candidates
who p-esemed themselves, as it was a proof of the openness
of the borough, and he did this the more readily as he could do
so without the least apprehension as to his own I, ueces4. The people
of Reading would never dismiss a faithful servant merely to sub-
stitute those who had nothing hut promises to off•r. His conduct
was the best explanation of his principles, but he would observe
that he was still a hearty friend to Reform, an advocate for Re-
trenchment, and supporter of Catholic Emancipation. He entered
into an examination of the Corn Laws, and observed that though it
might be true that the price proposed by the agriculturist is not
an available price for them to raise it at, it was, in his opinion, an
unfit price fur the people to pay. There was one way, however, in
which he was ready to go as great a length as any reasonable man
to relieve the agriculturist., by affording them a remuneration for
their labour, and that was by reducing the expenditure, and con-
sequently the taxation of the country. Ile then avowed his on.
alterable and firm opinion of the necessity of Catholic Emaacipa-
tion, and that his motive for desiring a seat in the (louse was, to
give these sentiments his humble support. True it was that he had
ever esteemed a seat in the House as a representative of the borough
of Reading as an honour of no ordinary nature; and he did PO
because the town of Reading had ever been esteemed one of the most
enlightened boroughs in the kingdom. Ile should not detain them
by any longer explanation of his principles; he had lived among
them many years; his life wax before them ; he had to thank them
for their attention, and to assure them that his best exertions were
ever at their service.

Mr. BLACKALL SIMONDS proposed Mr. Wakefield, and was
seconded by Mr. Quin, Editor of the Berkshire Chronicle.
Mr. WAKEFIELD observed, that after a grew deal of industry
snd perseverance spent amongst them, he had now the satisfaction
to meet them at the hour of trial. He bad been charged by Mr.
flay Marsh, the seconder of Mr. Monck, with ungentlemanly con-
duct, in canvassing the town a considerable period previous to the
usual time. In reply, he begged to state that he did not even begin
until Mr. Fysshe Palmer's address, expressive of a similar inten-
tion, hid been first published. Since that period he had, accord-
ing to their almost universal wish, pitched his tent among them,
and his life had been before them, to give the lie to the attacks of
his opponcits upon him. Ile had been charged with an unfair
line of conduct in breaking the promise which had been given by
him, respecting the Mechanics' Institute. What was the fact ? He
had exerted himself to the utmost to form a liberal institution, but
by the hostility of a few Individuals that institution had fallen into
the hands of a despicable party.
Alt. SPENCE confessed that it was under feelings of peculiar em-
barrassment that he rose to address the Electors, not on account of
any observation which had fallen from any one that day, but on
account of the circumstance of his being a. stranger, while the late
representatives were resident among them, and their private worth
and honour were known to all. It was upon public grounds, and upon
public grounds alone, that he presented himself to their notice; he
had been designated as a Tory, and a Tory had been defined a
place-hunter. NOW if this be the true definition of a Tory lie was
not a Tory, for he was not a place-hunter. He owned himself an
enemy to Catholic Emancipation ; he declared himself an advocate
for a Reform in Parliament, if it could be made without altering
the Constitution itself, but he was an enemy to such innovations as
would alter the Constitution.

At two o'clock the poll commenced with the greatest ardour, all
rarties confident. The crowd.was immense, and the various shouts
and cries were deafening. That of "No Popery" did not prevail
to eo ;pleat an extent as some expected.
At four o'clock only a few sere poled, owing to some disputed
votes.
Wakefield - 3 Ilona . a
Space 4

IPalmer .

SURREY ELECTION

Yesterday evening a highly-rispectable meeting of the freeholders
of this connty, leshling in the Eastern half of the Hundred of
Brixton, and Mena+ of William J. Denison, Esq. took place,
Pursuant to public advertisement, at the Hams Tsvetn, Kenning-
ton. On the motion of Charles Calvert, Esq. one of the candidates
for Southwark, Mr. COrfing was called to the Chair.
The CH AI R ataw, after pasting a high eulogium on the public
acts and private virtues of their fate respected representative, W. J.
Denison, Esq. called upon those assembled to deliver their semi-
ments on the brAiness for which they had been convened.
Mr. C. CALVERT rose, and stated that the first Resolution
having been placed tit his hands, he had but few words to address
to the meeting, in centequnnce of the shortness of the time allowed
him, being compelled to attend his own Committee, then sitting.
On the character of Mr. Denison he had only to remark, that •
more honourable individual, a more honest and straight-forward
man, as well as a mo"e flt representative for the county of Surrey,
could not exist. Feeling convinced that he was only speaking the
sentiments of that meeting, as well as the county at large, he felt
the greatest satisfaction in thus stating publicly his own opinion of
Mr. Denison's qualifications for theirsuffragea, and at the same
time moving for their adoption the first Resolution (for Resolutions
see Advertisement), which was seconded by Mr. Woolley.
Mr. SLAVE. jun. in a neat speech, complimentary of the par-
liamentary conduct of Mr. Denison, moved the second Resolution,
which was seconded by Mr. Grey, who trusted that every
person present wnuld express their high sense of Mr. Denison's
public acts, by not only securing to him his election, but by placing
him so high on the poll u to be far above the reach of any of

A Mi..lnwir. WILD ftei/d in looks, and wild in manner) here
rose, and addressing himself to Mr. Calvert, said, that as a free-
holder of the county, he had as touch right to deliver his senti-
ments, upon the occasion of the Meeting, as any one present.
t From the incoherent style of his delivery, he was here attempted
to be silenced by the Chairman, hut it was of nn avail.) He woad
speak, and nobody should stop him. (Cries of " Down, down !")
He was a liberal man, anti was always determined to live and die
for his country. (Bravo, Jonathan Wild !) He was a popular
man, bred and bora. He never lifted Mr. Sumner, and though no'
gternmarian, he meant to touch the nail home. The Meeting was
compteed of a solo( mixed medley. Did Mr. Sumner vote for
Parliamentary Reform ? No. How did Mr. Denison vote on that
question ? He knew, and every body body else who attended to
those matters knew, as well as he did. He knew how to bark as
well as bite, and he would give them a specimen of it by voting a
plomp,r for Mr. Denison. (Bravo.)
Dr. ANDREWS wished to ask the Chairman one question. Were
Mr. Denison's political sentiments in favour of the Catholic Eman-
cipation Bill ? (Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN replied that it was impossible for him to give
an &nitwit to the question. lie had only to refer the gentleman
who put the question to Mr. Dmison's Votes in the House during
the last Session on that subject.
tilr. CAL VERT said he telt convinced that if Mr. Denison were
then in the room, he would tell the Meeting, honestly and can.
didly, that he would pled* himself to vote for no specific Act
whatever, but that he would go to Parliament unbiassed and un-
shackled, and be left to the exercise of his own judgment, which
he would ever exert for the benefit and welfare of his constituents
to the best of his ability.
The Rev. Mr. VANE observed, that as Mr. Denison had always
been a friend to civil and religious liberty, in the most unlimited
sense of the term, why should they now turn round upon him, and
say, " We don't like you, we will have no more of you," because
he might happen to differ with some few of his constituents on one
point, and on oar point only ? (Hear, hear.) If a good landlord,
a kind neighbour, an excellent friend, a charitable man, and an
hontst &stetter of their righni, had any weight with them, he felt
assurtd that with such pretensions to their suffrages, he would be
returned as their Representative with an overwhelming majority.
The other Resolutions were then put and carried unanimously,
after which the thanks of the fleeting were voted to Mr. Curling
for h's able and impartial conduct in the Chair, and the freeholders
of the county of Surrey separated, with full assurances of support to
Mr. Denisou.