The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-07-04 00:00:00

STATE. OP THE POLL.

--- -1438 Beaumont . 1201
801 l - - 13131 Howick . 932
. _
ALWWICL,
JULY 1.
. .

This town has been thrown into the utmost anxiety and alarm, in
consequence of what transpired on the hustings last night. In the
course of the proceedings yesterday afternoon, Mr. Beaumont ob-
served that Mr. Lamhton was promp'ing my Lord Howick. Mr.
Lambton said, "It is not the &et." Mr. Beaumont retorted,
" That is false !" and immediately left the hustings. Mr. Lamb-
ton remained behind, and observed, that he should reply privately,
in a suitable manner, to Mr. Beanmont, and then continued to
speak on the subject of a coalition between Mr. Liddell and Mr.
Beaumont. A challenge was immediately after sent by Mr. Lamb.
ton to Mr. Beaumont. and accepted. The Magistrates and police
were on the alert. tiir David W. Smith, Bart. called at the lodg.
legs of Captain Plunkett. Mr. Beaumont's friend. Alr. Beaumont
was concealed in a bedchamber, and escaped observation. A
meeting had been appointed to take place at nine o'clock at night,
on the Alnwick Moor, three or four mites front here. Constables
having been stationed in front of Captain Plunkett's lodgings, that
gentleman and Mr. Beaumont effected their escape at the back
part of the house, by chinbing, in their way, over a high wall.
An express had been despatched to Fallowden for (lrmeral Grey,
on the pan of Mr. Lambton. Mr. b. and a friend left the town
privately, but ns General Grey and others got into a carriage and
four, in the street, the attention of the people was excited, and it
was found impossible for the parties to meet without interruption.
A second attempt was made this morning, about three o'clock, on
the Moor, but this also was frustrated. Sir 1). W. Smith was
on the ground at the time appointed, in his capacity of 3lagistrate,
and Mr. Lambton and Mr. Beaumont, who both appeared, with
some difficulty escaped. Captain Plunkett, Mr. B. 's second, who
whited the meeting to take place in Scotlar.d, has been taken into
custody.
It is not yet certainly known where the gentlemen are gone, but
it is supposed somewhere in the neighbourhood of Belford. Ale.
Beaumont is not exhorted to take his place on the hustings this
afternoon as a Candidate, as usual. Sonic friend will return thanks
for him.

P. S. Fier oT roc it, P. Nt.—l open my letter to say, the state
of the poll this day is-
31r. Liddell - - 1453 1, Mr. liniment .. - 1201
Mr. Bell - - 1;1131 fiord Ilowiek . - 952
The other Ciirditlatel Tel th1:11:4, but 31r. llt•auniont did
not appear ; hi‘ friends, the Rev. C. Bird and Joseph Lamb, Esq.
spoke on his behalf.

.1111. II C.ll

31ONTROSE, Tlit:R9l3lY.

On Monday sennight, Mr. Hume met the Trades in their Hall,
for the purpose of giving an account to them of the conduct
pursued by him in Parliament, that they might be enabled to
judge bow far his labours coincided with their expectations. He
then met with the Guildry in their Hall; there, also, to render a
like account ; the substance of which we shall attempt to give,
After the subject of the meeting was announced by the Dean of
Guild, Mr. Hume stood up; and began by alluding to leis elec. 1
tion when tint he presented himself to them. Then, Mr. Bar.
clay, who was Provost, iii a speech which Mr. Hume eompli.
mented, demanded of lihn, whether he was detemined to pursue a
purely independent, and, to the country, strictly useful course,
as they had come to the resolution, and which was recorded in
their minute book, that none but such a Member should have
their countenance and support. That pledge he then gave t but
the time between his first election and the first dissauttou of par.
Lament was so short, that their confidence in him could not be
supposed to be properly established—but as he had been again
returned, and had "erred for seven sessions, the period of last
Parliament, they had had sufficient opportunity of watching his
conduct, and consequently of determining how far he had dia..
charged his duty. It had been his constant endeavour to expose
the prodigal expenditure of the Government at home ; and al.
though many, many motions, made by him had been lost. neglect-
ed, and despised, yet he now bad the pleasure of seeing Ministers
come round, acd adopt those very measures formerly proposed
by him, which before, by their overwhelming majorities, had been
lost. But although be had often seen himself beat at all hands,
yet he never shrunk from his determination, but still held on. in
the course which he saw was to benefit the country. The same
course lie had also pursued with respect to our Colonies abroad ;
and the same result was the consequence. An improvement had
also taken place in almost every thing that concerned them. He
could nut understand shy the
country had adopted the plan of
ranking every one. who took any part in politics, under the title
of either Whig or Tory—hn. his part he belonged to neither sect
—he was either NVhig or Tory ' just as the interests of Mecum.
try required. Ile certainly had for the most part opposed Mi-
nisters, but he had also voted with them in every measure that
had the appearance of being serviceable to the people. He was
desirous of seeing a Reform in Parliament. At one period he
was friendly to Annual Parliaments, but experience had taught
hint to change his mind. So various and complicated were the
forms of doing business in the House, that it would require one
Session at least to be made acquainted with these forms. Seven
years were so huge a portion of a mares life-time, that when once
a gentleman obtained a seat, the idea of meeting his constituents
at a remote period rendered him often indifferent; the best me.
shod, he thought, would be to return to the good old system of
triennial Parliaments, as being the most convenient, the best
adapted to our constitution, and, in every respect, the surest
barrier against the inroads of corruption. He would like to see
the elective franchise extended—he would like to see every house.
holder possessed of a vote, and for that reason it was that he
voted against the forty shilling freeholders in Ireland being de-
prived of their right of voting—he was for enlarging the privi-
lege% of the people, not for circumscribing them. In prosecut-
ing these measures, when lie first commenced his Parliamentary
career. possessed of no family pretensions, and consequently no
friends, lie was obliged to stand alone, without support from
any; but, nevertheless, ho persevered, and row he had the sa-
tisfaction of bring listened to, and his proposed measures met
with proper attention. It was rather strange that those, who, for
the most part, had been his early associates, were those who had
principally obstructed his course; he now stood before them,
and now was the time for them to come tearlessly and boldly for-
ward and state ttie abjection' they entertained against him ; and
while he requested them to do so, lie was conscious within him-
self that there was not a single act of his public life which would
not bear the strictest scrutiny. As there were some before him
who were connected with the shipping interest, he would mention
that he made a motion, which was carried through, to reduce the
consular duties on ships going to certain foreign ports. In sonic
instances so heavy were these, that they often exceeded the
amount of the freight; but they bad now been done away with,
and in that respect a heathen of- no common magnitude had been ,
removed. With respect to his conduct towards Carlile, he had
been much misrepresented. Even in this town he had endured
much obloquy and reproach on that account ; it was not
with the view of supporting any religious opinions held by that
man, or that he acquiesced with these, that he had given hint
any countenance; but it was because he entertained the opinion
that every man ought to be left to worship God in the way which
was most agreeable to his own mind. It was for that reason that
he had turned his attention so much to the corrupted condition
of the Church of Ireland. In that country he would like to
see the burthens taken off those who were not benefited by the
religious services of the Church ; and also the huge salaries of
the higher clergy reduced, and a portion of it given to those who
sustained all the labour. For entertaining such opinions as these,
he had been held up as an infidel—as an enemy to all religion :
that charge he de:tied. He had much more to say to them, but
time would not allow him. Now that he had the certain prospect
of being again returned by his constituents, he pledged himself
to follow the sante line of conduct which he had hitherto pursued,
and advised them, if he ever broke faith with them, to drive him,
the next time he appeared to solicit their support, from his seat, by
the same manly and spirited independence with which they had all
along countenanced him.
During his speech the Honourable Gentleman was frequently and
enthusiastically applauded. We were rather disappointed that he
did not state his views respecting the Corn Bill, Catholic Question,
and Banking System. With respect to Slave Emancipation, we
have been informed that lie stated to the Trades that he wits a
friend to abolition, but that the slaves must first be prepared for it
by dissipating their ignorance. and instructing them how to enjoy
the litissings of civilized society.
The Election takes place on Monday first, at Arbroath, and
Provost Jamesou lies been appointed delegate from this town.
A HIIIIOATII.—Mr. Hume arrived here yesterday, and was
received by the Magistrates, Guildry, and Incorporated Trades.
The standard was displayed cn the Town-house, and in all the dif-
ferent parts of the town ; the Trades' and Friendly Societies*
flags were exhibited on the occasion.

A robbery by artifice, but not exactly new, took place
on Sunday, at the house of a gentleman of the name of Lawler,
Nottingham-terrace, Marylebone. A well-dressed man, on horse.
back, inquired for Mrs. Lawler and her niece, who were from,
home. The impostor tamed that he had left 3lrs. L. at Brighton,
and that he had obtained 701. for a cheque which he was to leave at
the house inclosed for Mrs. Lawler to set.d to him. lie called for
pen, ink, and paper, pulling a note, or something like one, nut of
his pocket, and the servant showed him into a parlour, and after
remaining there about ten minutes, he rang the bell and left the
house. tin the return of Mrs. Lawler, she felt some alarm, and
on opening a secretary, she discovered that the lock had been picked,
and twelve severeigns, a gold catch, and some plate, had been
stolen.