The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-02 00:00:00

MR. SCOVELL.

Yesterday evening Mr. Scovell met a very large number
of tile electors of Southwark at the Bridge-house Hotel,
14, aid on-bridge.
Dr. CHALLICE was called to the chair, and reviewed at
length the comparative merits of the two candidates ; and
while dealing very fairly with Sir Charles Napier's per-
sonal qualifications, denied that they were such as to en-
title him to represent Southwafk, his claim appearing to
rest pi iocipally on the fact of his baying been ill-used by
Sir James Graham ; and he suggosted that Sir Charles's
best course was to oppose Sir James the first time that
right hon. gentleman offered himself to any constituency,

:Id of the result of such an election there could be n o
ionht.

Mr. SCOVELL, who was received with every possible de-
eonstration of respect, and was lousily applauded, after
;nee preliminary observations, said that he would disdain
;0 go into Parliament on the mere clamour of his wannest
'riends. (Hear.) His wish was to present his opinions can-
;idly and honestly before the electors, and to answer any
pie:tion that might be put to him s‘ith perfect honesty ;
.nd unless he did that, and could give reasons for any
pinions he held, he was not fit to represent them in the
louse of Commons. (Hear.) He wished to advert, in
,he first place, to a statement which had been made by the
•hairman of one of Sir Charles Napier's meetings, who
sad thrown on him (Mt. Scovell) and his committee the
'ens of proving that they had not resorted with indecent
mate to preparations for a new election after the death of
Sir W. Molesworth. (Hear, hear.) A very few words he
bought would show that it. was not with his side that such
fault rested. Sir W. Molesworth died on Monday, Oct.
and he was credibly informed that Sir C. Napier, be-
ween two gentlemen supporters of his, was seen 24 hours
.fter the death of Sir William in the lower parts of the
°rough, engaged in a personal canvass. (Hear, hear.)
iir C. Napier's address svas dated the 23rd, the day after
sir William's death, end his first meeting was on the 25th.
its (Mr. Scovell's) address was dated the 24th, and his
:rat public meeting was in the evening of the day on which
Sir W. Molesworth's funeral took place. (Hear, hear.)
fe would not have referred to the subject but for the strong
Atack which had been made on himself and his friends.
Hear.) He had endeavoured in all his speeches to avoid
ny allusion to Sir C. Napier. It was true in one of his
aldresses he had spoken of that gallant gentleman's age,
i.nd in that he had no intention of giving offence, but he
bought he was justified in pointing out to the electors the
espective ages of the candidates. (Hear, hear.) He re-
liected age, especially when it was accompanied by that
nosleration, control of the passions, courtesy and decorum
shich were its best ornament. If, however, his allusion
o the gallant gentleman's age had given him any offence
;se humbly begged his pardon. (Cheers.) With reference
o his political opinions, he begged to state that his send-
uents were now the same as those which he declared when
in 1852 he asked their suffrages. He had seen no cause to
lter them, or to waver in the opinions he then held. The
ion. gentleman then, in terms similar to those in which he
las previously spoken, stated himself to I.e in favour of the
•xtension of the suffrage and the ballot, for religious
equality, and the non-endowment of any religious sect by
ho state. He had been asked if he was prepared, under this
latter profession, to separate Church and State, and he had
answered "No !" (" Hear," and hisses.) Such a step weals'
oe unpractical, and amount to revolution But he would
ay that of all of our institutions the Established Church
the most required reform. (Hear.) He did not pretend to
ay that in reforming that institution he would t inch it
.vith an unfriendly hand, fer by doing so he ghoul I be a
traitor to his church ; but he would vote for any meaeare
.vhich was calculated to direct the great revenues of the
church into channels most beneficial to the people—(hear)
—and he would extend to the poor curate and vicar, to
the working clergy, a fair proportion of the revenues of
he church. (Cheers.) With regard to the endowment
of religious sects, he was not for disendowing, and he was
said in this to be consistent with his profession of religions
equality; but ho would go to Parliament to assist in car.
eying out practical measures; and all he could say was
bat he would not consent to any fresh endowments.
,Hear.) He was not prepared to disendow Maynooth.
(Cheers and counter-cheers.) He knew the storm he might
oring on himself by that opinion, but he would rather not
sit in Parliament at all than attempt to do such an act of
Injustice as the withdrawal of that which was an educa-
tional grant. (Cheers.) The hon. gentleman then briefly
stated that he was in favour of the emancipation of the
Jews, for the abolition of church rates, and for the vigor-
ous prosecution of the war; and if any Governmert
shrunk from pursuing that course he was ready to oppose
it, and to seek for another to supply its place. He con-
cluded amidst loud cheers by declaring himself ready to
answer any question which might be put to him.
No questions were put, and
Mr. Corderoy moved, Mr. Dare seconded, and Mr. Lane
supported a resolution approving of Mr. Scovell's senti-
ments, and pledging the meeting to his support, which was
carried with every manifestation of earnestness and una-
nimity.

Mr: SCOVELL, in returning thanks and moving a vote of
thanks to the chairman, took the opportunity of stating
that he was much pained to have heard it stated that some
too zealous supporters of his had been instrumental in
interrupting the proceedings at the meeting of Sir Chas.
Napier's friends on the previous evening. He never wished
such a step to be taken, and he disavowed any desire of
unfairly treating the gallant admiral. He had too much
confidence in his own pretensions to the support of the
electors to descend to such a course. (Hear.)