The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-06-19 00:00:00

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LONDON, MONDAY, JUNE 19, 1826.

SURREY ELECTION.

(FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.)

FIFTH DAY.

OuILDFORD, SATIJIIDAT NIGHT.
The result of the last two days' polling has considerably damped
the ardour of Mr. Sumner's friends. Their confidence hitherto ap-
peared unabated, and was supported by the powerful phalanx of
landed proprietors, which have given him their decided support. I
have been shewn a list of gentlemen who contributed to bear the
expenses of his election, and of course gave him their votes and
influence, and it certainly comprehends. a vast majority of the
wealthiest and most influential of the gentry of the county. To
those who are acquainted with the local interests of the county of
Surrey, I need only mention the names of Bonito', Strjnger, Hankey,
Frankland, Currie, H Won. Sparking, Itt"ightwielt, Delap, and Bar-
clay, all of whom are supporters of Mr. Sumner. Besides these
Mr. Sumner is unquestionably supported by a great proportion of
the Magistrates of the county, and • still larger proportion of the
Clergy. Notwithstanding all this appearance of strength, however,
he has lost considerably on the poll, and his popularity seents by
no means on the increase. The state of the poll this day at two
o'clock was as follows :
Mr. Denison 2.230
Mr. Pallmer . 2,018
Mr. Sumner 1,357
This left a majority of 1561 for Mr. Pallmer at this hour, and he
continued slowly but gradually rising, until the close of the poll at
four o'clock. In the meantime the town continues u tranquil as
can be wished. Crowds continue all day collected round the Com-
mittee-rooms of the several' Candidates; but there does not aunt
the slightest tendency to riot, nor any intention to give offence
to any one. Indeed it Is a fact no less pleasing than remarkable,
that the heat and asperity, which is the natural attendant upon a
contatt of such a description, has in this instance been sensibly di-
minished as the election proceeds towards a close. Upon the first
day of the election, when he stood at the head of the poll, Mr.
Sumner's conduct was characterized by • certain degree of warmth,
which I feared would have infused itself into the subsequent pro.
ceedings, and have given rise to much acerbity and bad feeling
amongst all parties. I was agreeably disappointed, however, by
observing that Mr. Sumner's good temper seemed to increase with
his ill fortune. and that he very judiciously endeavoured to conci-
liate the populace rather than aggravate the dislike evidently enter-
tained towards him. This circumstance, combined with the success of
the popular Candidates, and the preeeationary measures adopted
by the High Sheriff, have preserved Guildford from the scenes of
outrage anti violence which have disgraced the elections in other
parts of the kingdom. The regularity with which the polling goes
on here is quite worthy of notice. Fifteen booths were erected for
the several hundreds of the county, and placed at convenient dig.
tancat from each other. In each of these were stationed a sworn
poll-clerk. and above him sat three check-clerks' one appointed by
each Candidate. Constables with staffs were placed at either end of
the booth, and the freeholders found no difficulty, and met
with no delay, in coming to the poll. By these arrangements
all the confusion anti inconvenience which is stated to have arisen
elsewhere was avoided, and the election advantageously facilitated
by measures equally impartial and judicious. As I noticed
yesterday, the spirit of placarding seems greatly on the de-
cline. Since then I have noticed only a few new epecitnene.
One emanated from the Sumner party, and was but a repetition of
the old system of attack. The words were, "No den-Catholic,
no Slave-owner." Another, on the same side, ran thus—" One
Member voting for the Catholic Question is quite enough for
Surrey ;" then followed, in large capitals, " Sumner was never a
friend to the Inquisition." The only new placard I remember to
have seen exhibited at the other side, was—' Remember the poor
Candidate. The smallest donations will be thankfully received at
Mr. Sumner's Committee-room." This, of course, alluded to the
subscription made by Mr. Sumner's friends towards defraying his
expenses in the contest, which is said already to have amounted to
about 7.0001. To make up for the loss of the amusement derived
from the publication of squibs and placards, a number of ladies
have arrived in town, who appear to have been attracted hither by
the hustle of the election, and whose presence contributed much to
the gaiety of the scene. I understand that the animation which
this contest has given birth to, is not confined to Guildford, but
that it extends through all the villages and towns in this populous
county. Kingston-upon-Thames, which is adjacent to the resi-
dence of Mr. Pallmer, presents nearly as lively an appearance as
the immediate scene of the contest. The most intense anxiety is
manifested by the inhabitants to learn the state of the poll, and all
that occurs at Guildford. Coaches and vehicles of every deserip.
tion are passing and repassing to that town at every hour of the day
and night, and the passengers bearing the favours of either of the
popular Candidates are loudly cheered as they pass the streets,
which in several places are decorated with arches formed by
branches of trees cnwreathed with flowers, and suspended from
opposite windows, high enough to admit the coaches to pass under
them. I may remark toles, mat a great numbs' s( Mr. Denisen's
friends wear his colours with Mr. Pallmer's, and almost all tho
partisans of the last gentleman wear Mr. Denison's favours as well
as Mr. Pallmer's. It was this circumstance probably that induced
the former to advert, at the close of the poll this day, to the un-
founded report of a coalition, nothing approaching to which appears
to have taken place between any of the Candidates. The circum-
stance just stated, therefore, of the general union of the colours of
Mr. P. and Mr. U. seems to have been adopted voluntarily by the
partisans of both Candidates, and is evidently in accordance with
the popular feelings which prevail. Before the Sheriff proceeded
to the Town Hall to-day, he thought it necessary to use the pre-
caution of pelting an additional number of constables and javelin
men in the Court and about its avenues, to restrain those ebullitions
of popular feeling which interrupted the public business so much
on the preceding days. For the first two hours of the polling this
day very few freeholders appeared to tender their votes. In the
afternoon, however, a great number of voters arrived from different
parts of the county, and the polling went forward with more brisk.
ness. The Town Hall was crowded as ague!, but uncommonly
quiet and orderly, and continued so to the adjournment of the
Court, which took place sooner than on any preceding day. Mr.
Sumner was prevented from speaking by a very bad cold, and his
son returned thanks on his behalf. The other two Candidates, as
you will perftive, briefly returned thanks, and no other freeholder
addressed the Court, nor was any thing adverted to salculated to
excite discussion.