The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-06-21 00:00:00

TAUNTON ELECTION.

On the Prat day of the elect ion, it was declared that dints
coalition between Mr. Seymour and General Netherr
each stood on his own bottom ; aril it was teasonible to expect thnl
there would be no eoalitiol, because one of the parties, Mr. Sey):l
motor, it known to be g modern. Whig, and to be friellitly td
liberal
,principles; is such, he and his present opeoesist, Mr:
Creswell, exerted their i dluence together in favour of Alr.efilett.
who is a Whig, against the Tory candidate, at the las.. Wiltshire
election. Genertl Peethey, on the contrary, is what is ended
Church and kingcanclid3te, and grounds his claims tonnage on
these principles, and especially on hi. determinaion not to eels any,
thing to the Cotholies. %Viten, therefore, they publicly declered that
there was no coalition between them, die electors and Mr. Cres-
well gave them credit. (in the that day's polling, however,
it was found, whilst all Mr. Creawelt's voters were plu misers.
their votea were all split, anti ad but one split; in Wow of
Penctsey and Seymour. They come eta to the pall here by tallies of
ten each, anti the effect el the coalition whit}} has now been Et
plainly proved to exist 1., that the coalition Cariaidatea must be at
the head of the poll until towards the law; because each Candidate
calling for a tally, the two who divide their totem retold bring 20
voters to the poll to the other's ten ; so that if Mr. Creswell has u'
final majority ever so great, his opponents most be placed at the
head of the poll for several days. This plan, hoMerer, has been
frustrated by the unexpected appearance of a fourth Candidate, in
Mr. Creswell'a brother, on Thursday evening; and on Friday,
morning two other Candidates were pat in nomination. via.. Franco
ttTlaiiiialinieiesliptlritgi.arnEneds9Toocepidrseioleniridnaolf
lAwyc:leinlitcedtlahtofhnaesededrieibru.narlfiidoltnoirr.ooiecfnaotegh:Eencsiegai
n.reciv4saidtwnsilide;driM:
ofrw.ThshoMirodosildwalicalecnabyuy,
iptronbaotbblyeenhi apvreembaeteunrelayt up°elnicebefor sornee night,el hall
which arose nom nom: man's prompting a witness . •Tho
Counsel on est Is side left the poll-booths, and Ur. Bloke, a weethy
magistrate of Taunton, appeared at,d quelled the tumult. The
Bev. henry Creswell thea mamma, in the name of his brother,
upon the recommencement of the polling. This, however, was not
seceded to, and after putting in his protest against the closing of
the poll, he returned (at. the suggestion of Mr. haloes Counsel
for his brother; to the White Bart. Subsequently Mr. (ferry
Creswell and Mr. Edmund Crustiell addressed a numinous as-
semblage of the electors and people from the window, and declared,
their conviction that the present plan, which had been adopted by
the Ass snr, won!! nn Monday bring Mt Creswell at the heal a
the poll. and that ultims:ely the 4:4 lidC of independence in the ha..
rough of Taunton would triumph, notwithstanding all the trickery
Ira! underhanded lionise of their or ronents, who, although more
I kin a match for the Buffs, in mattes of craft and chicanery, would
be roomd wantinz in perseverance and manly courage before the
poll finally closed. Ile expressed, at the sante time, his determi-
nation to stand by the electors under ail circumstances, and to keep
the poll open till all the voters hail polled.
This morning, Monday, Mr. :fanning and Mr. Williams ad-
dressed the Assessor, antl.clattned to have the plan altered, as tie-
, favourable to the interests of their client.

LAWE s replied, and declared that there was rot the slightest
legal ground for declaring that all the Candidates were not real.,sad
that having been put in nomination by the electors, no one had a
right to presume that they would not, if elected, go to Parliantert
as the representatives of the people. He also stated, that if VI,
mode of receiving votes were to be altered from day to day, to suit
the purposes of a party, it was useless for him to continue these; for
no skills nu integrity, no influence on the part of one candidate or
his counsel, could stand against such continued shillings in favour
of one party against the other; anti that the only course his client
enulilladopt would be, that to which he would certainly retort, viz.
to petition the House of Commcins against the return. If the plate
was therefore altered in such a manner, he should certainly with.
draw from the scene, as would 31r.Cresweirs friends, and leave
the Blue Candidates to enjoy their short-lived triumph. They
knew well that if the mode of toting which the Assessor Ita4
adopted was persevered in, one Yellow client would not suffice, fur
the independent electors would return two men.
The Assessor detettnined, that although he had advised the
course which had been adopted on Saturday, he could not insist
upon it, since any voter who presented himself to poll must be re-
ceived. 31r.Isawes must, therefore, if he pleased, withdraw, for
lie could not refuse voters.

11t. Law Es protested against any alteration in the mode of vot-
ing. if the course pursued befote was illegal, then that would c!
itself make the election void ; if legal, the altering it against the
wishes of the Candidates, to ;he prejudice or either, would product:
the same effect.

Mr. Ilti:frix CRESIVE r. t. then rose and ssid, that he appeared
there for his brother, -who.e stcte of health 'would not allow him to
sit in so tontine(' a place as the hustings, And who, on aticetatt
this circumstance, as well as the extraordinary mode of proceedirg.
adopted during the election, hsd resolved rot to :ippear again or
the hustings iii person. /felted given him his proxy, however, anti
he, on his vart, would accede to the advice of Mr. bastes, provide,:t
the electors would come forward and vote for dr. Raring and M.
Minimal, The poll would then be closed, and the business sett!t•ti
by a pennon to the House of Commons.
Dlr. 3lttituisx, an elector, then rose and said, he protesuNt
against the volt being closed; and several totem were polled ois
each Bide.

A number of certificates were then put in, and it was finally
agreed to take a rote on each side.
Mr. LAWES said he would not suffer any alteration to be mJda
in the mode of pulling adopted on Saturday.
Mr. HENRY' CRESWELL asked, if the Assessor would allay, a
vote for Mr. Baring and Mr. Mildmav ? (Much confusion. Two
voters were presented and taken for Mr. Creswell an 4 Mr.
and for Mr. Creswell and Mr. Mildmay, and the votes were pro-
ceeding as they offered themsel►es.
Mr. Lavers asked if the Assessor had caused his protest to b
entered on the book against nny alteration in the mode of polltng.
Mr. CRESWELL said, that in all probability Mr. Baring and •
Mr. Nadiney would, if the poll was immediately eloped, become
the efficient Members. He should bow to the advice of Mr. haves.
unless a large shew of hands should be made egoinst it by the doc-
tors. If they did rot object to it, lie would withdraw, and the -
matter should be setded by petition. (Several vricea cried out
" No. no.") Mr. Creswell said his brother had placed him in a
most responsible situation : he had pledged himself to stand thu
poll to the last hour ; and lie would do su for hint, if (he electuro
should demand it.
_ _

A large number of hands were held up. and Mr. 011w:tar.
said, that if the opposing party had not known that they coud no:
beat their adversaries by fair means, they would not have resorted
to any others. It showed their weakness. If the poor voters wished
the battle to be fought out, it should be done to the list moment.
The committee had acted honourably under all the circumstances, .
and the voters should be furnished with an opportunity of polling
to the very last man. The election had taken is new compler.to
since Thursday; for atthough the Blue chairs had been actual:y
brought out on the evening of the day when his brother did not
come into the hustings, and the Blue ladies had dressed themselves
out to go and see General Peaches chaired (cries of 'd No, no."
from the Blues, and laughter front the Buff.), they now found then:-
selves in a dill'erent situation. He would go on with the poll.
Mr. LAWES said that he had seen Mr. R. Creswell only yester-
day, and that they had agreed upon the co::rse to be adopted in the
event which had taken place. Ile had acted on his beat judgmerd ;
but that, notwithstanding a hat had been said, so long as the poll
lasted, he would stand by the electors of Taunton and Mr. Cres. .
well. No man should ever say that Mr. Iswes had deserted his
client, or abandoned in any respect those Interests which had- been
entrusted to him. (Cheers.)
The voters then came up ; ore of the Buff side and one of ti.e
Blue; and there can be nu doubt. if there had been no ad-
vantages as to polling given to the Blues, by the coalition in the
onset, Mr. Creswell would have been at the head, or at alt
events, the middle of the poll, from the first. Whether in
consequence of the coalition, and the advantages of tuiTioz
two tallies, his opponent will be able to keep a head of hin-.
throughcto, will of course depend on the strength of each party
both say they arc confident of winning. Sir T. Isethblidoe's
agent, son, and friends, are taking a lively interest in ti.. ;
election, and nave been seen on the Misting* ; and this ele: -
don will probably show whether Sir Thomas has or has nit
the power of returning Members to Parhament for this borouah.
It it should turf out that he has. he *ill probably vim trod
a cuaterner for his property; and it is reported that General '
Peachey and Mr. Seymour will, in such case, become buyer>.
The borough will then become a pr,vaie property, and ti,. . .
spirit of the inhabitants gradually fritter itself away. Tne
struggle, in fact, is between tonne who wish to preserve thr
borough open, and those who would convert tt, like most of the
corporation boroughs have been converted, into the means
of returning particular men to Parliament, who will divide
money at each returning Sessions between a handful of thew •
dependents, or pay them by pines for their families. Many of
the people do not scent to have that determined love of freedcm,
and that sense of personal importance, which they have iti the
town of Bridgwater and in some other towns.' If they had, thy '
would spurn all dictation, and, at all hazard', get rid of borovah.
mongering influence. Mr. Creswell is not id Tatimmi, but Tiaa.
left his cause to rite management of his eldest son, • foe spirited '
young man, his brother, and Mr. Lewes, his Counsel. Al proem
there luss been no want of votes in his interest, and, as they nay. hr
has more plumpers than ever Baring polled, and is much admire.
hy the poor voters; he has certainly a fair chance of success. If hal .
should fail, it will be the result of Sir T. Irethbrielge's having
number of votes under his control. who may make up a majority ;
but the independent party entertain great hopes of success.
The fullowing protest has been just read by the poll-cleat, Sir.
Beadon.
" We, the undersigned inhabitants, electors of the borough of
Taunton, do protest against the condnet of the Aswan' and iteturt:'
ing Officer, In altering the manner of polling laid down by the said
Assessor on Friday last, being calculated only to Ore an undue;
advantage to the two Blue Candidates, General Peachey and Mr.
Seymour. •
(Signed) " JAM ES Al I UISA.
(Signed) " WILLIAM FOX."
The bribery oath is administered to evcry voter:
A voter has just now been rejected, who sweats that he received
ss. on General Peachey's canvas:, to pass an examination at Church.
in osier to lie quslifiel to vote f..r Heneral Peachey. The Asse
asked if he had nut taken the Bribery Oath. and it being Bound
lie had. his Volt was rejected.
Another voter, on being offered the book, said. " what :
was told, in take the Bribery Oath, and aniwereil, " I can-or
t!,3t oath, for I have beer. bribed Ly General feachey."

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