The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-03-08 00:00:00

ed iiritti petitions for a new Corn Bill ; with thehe
he sod his Hon. Colleague grasped, end pat an end
to the contemplated measure. Did they think that
the agricultandists had dropped the Corn Bill ? He
mild assure them they had not, for he held in his
hand a letter addressed to him from one of the
grind agricultural bodies soliciting his support to
each a measare. as reply was, that he believed
greet agrirolttiral distress prevailed, bat they hid
mistaken their remedy, which, in his oliinion, could
only be.found in a diminution of rent. and currei-
poisding reduction of taxes.—(applaase.) —The
next measure, while he was nt l'arhimenr, was the
Foreign Enlistment Bill. fiJd their Members
uppo r ed such an Act, they would have assisted
in the rrestiblishment of the most odious tyranny

that ever degraded mankind. They had, hOwever,
grappled with it, and iii some respects rendered It
nugatory, so that not only had the sacred cruse
of liberty extended over the wide regions Of
the Western Hemisphere, but Spain herself be.
came sensible of its influetice.-1--(opp/surse.)--
The next measure was the Bill for the three mit-
lions of taxes. Had their Members supported that,
the Borough would have incurred the guilt of
draining from the impoverished pockets of the peo-
ple, at • moment when thousands of them were
petitiouitig to be transported from their native soil,
in the hope of tindiug that relief in other climes
which they vainly sought at home.— (Hear.) —The
next, and by far the most important public ques-
tion, was that of Reform. It was the most para-
mount of all questions; indeed, every other only
received its value as it promoted What said
the anti-reforiners ? They fifilellitft the notion
that Reform would work the miracles assigned to
it by the people. Rut would there be nothing in
having a House of Commons so constituted as to
he the organ of the people's will, and of their in-
telligence mod integrity ? That House would then
have their ccinfidence.—(Hear.)—How did it stand
now; they knew that out of 658 Members. 487
were elected by the borough putton;—not the pa-
trons of such n borough as Southwark—world to
heaven 811 the boroughs were like that !--fGreat
applarse.)—Out of the 487, there were 71i who
went into the House of Commons to receive
among themselves and their connexious 156,0001. a
year of the public money.— (Cries of 'a Shame !")
They were hacks in the Parliamentary stable,
always ready to answer to the Miniiter's whip.—
Latighter.)—No wonder that a House so consti-
tuted should have lost its character with the peo-
ple. The Acts of the last Parliament attempted,

Not to make the people unlearn what they had ac-
quired, fur that *sag impossible, but to prevent
their childreu from learning, in fact to brnielizr
them altogether. The Acts to which lie alluded
effected even horn-books, even the gingerbread
A. B. C.'s could luirdry escape.—(Laughter.)—
They were to be considered as seditious publica-
tions. Such a course of legislatiii,c was a violation
of the great principle of nature, which commanded
education, to ttachthem to be just and free, that they
should he moral and happy.—(applause.)—A poet
had said— •

" Where igeorsece is bliss, 'tie folly to be wise;"
but he' never meant to convey the notion, that to
be a blockhead was to be in the road to lieppiness.
He (Sir Robert) whew he *vowed himself the ad-
vocate of Reform, meant no Reform which could
alarm the most timid, but which would embrace
the great bulk of sOciety, and make them better
and happy—a Reform which would give • liberal
extension of the right of suffruge to ell who pay
direct times, and which would abolish rotten be.
rough., end shorten the durstion of Parliameuts.
—(app/nave )—The efficacy of the last was ehewn
by Ministers themselves, who though they had so
compliant a Parliament as the last, were afraid to
develop, their new measures to it ou the eve of a
dissolution, but reserved them for a Parliament of
seven years growth. Notwithstanding all that had
been said, the cause of Reform had made great
progress, even during the last Parliament. When
he brought forward his motion to transfer the right
of election from Barnstaple to Leeds. he had only
15 to vote with him. Since that they saw Lord
John Russell's motion, which included the trans-
ler of three other borough., pane the House of
Commons, though in another place they were lost
in what war celled the Hospital of Incurable...-
11e hoped, however, that those incurables would he
soon brought to their reason. The next question
was the Manchester one, in which, in unison with
the feeling that pervaded the country from one cud
to the other, inquiry was called fur into that atro-
cious proceeding. Blood had been shed, and in-
quiry was called for. The opponents of that in-
quiry were enemies of the law, which said, that
44 whomsoever sherldeth Tale/ blood, by man shall
his blood be shed." Was it to be tolerated, that
420 Objects of this country should be killed,
woui4d, and maimed, and no inquiry he had into
such a trunsectronl—(Hear. hear.)—The worthy
candidate here read a paragraph from the report of
the persons sent down to administer relief to the
sufferers, from which it appeered, thst of the 420,
118 were womeu—(Cries of " Shams P') —of the
whole number 130 had sabre cut., and of there
14 were females.—("" Shaw !")—Noiliing but a
regular inquiry into that horrid affair could ever
blot it out trona the anode of this country's history.
A public writer had said that he would publish the
list of subscribers to the Manchester fund, to hold
them up to infamy. Let him do so ; for so far from
his (Sir Robert) thinking it an act of infamy, he glo-
ried in his name being upon that list—it was to him a
roll of honour, though a melancholy one as it affect-
ed the country.—(Great applause.)—The worthy •
Candidate then referred to the part he took against
the Acts which authorised the nocturnal invasion of
an Englishman's house. and related the atrocities
to whiJi such a measure led ins Ireland. He repeat-
ed that lie persons should forcibly enter hie house
at the dead of might, or expose any of his family to
dishonour. Such thiage, which charecterised Mi-
nisters ns a government of destruction, rather than
of protection. touted not go on long. With re.
spect to a late proceeding, and he would 'peek
with caution of it, es the men were yet to
undergo trial, he thought it ought not to be
ascribed to 'rational vice or national depravity.
It should miller be considered as a despe-
rile spirit which-was store the result of intsgo.

comment. Violent acts of arbitrary power, marlr
der similar violence in other quarters. .It was slot
We King, nor his Ministers, that had led to this

state of things, hot the love servility of Parliainent,
which had quitted its trust and unlimited the frame
of civil society, which made the pfollr usau look with
distrust at the rich, and cite versa. Let them
hope that the new relicts would prove the era of a
new spitem—(Hear hear)—and that they should
live to see Old England mice more the land of hap.
piness, of cbrerfulae•s, and presperite. His ambition
was nut so much to he milt to Parliament, as to be seat
there by iodepetoleat men, orb„ hail no other object than the
public good. He repeated hi■ thanks to the electors, sad
swim, them that the moment it was ever bus inisfortnee
to differ v ith them no any great piddle rpostion, be %boil.'
instantly risign ties aeat 11140 their hands, dirtilit he bare t►e
honour of being re-elected as one of their repremoistives ire
Parliament.—{Great applause,'
Mr. SURER came forward so propose Sir Thomas Tor.
ton, and had at lint some di:Scotty in oblaiaing a hearing.
He warmly praised the polder col duct of Sir Thomas.
which was always dictated by a pure mind, untrammelled
by party connexisios. He hoped .that the elector* womb'
not now suffer themselves to be dictated to by a junta, but
woahl elect a maw who claimed their suffrages oo Ire broad
basis of his attoeliment to she Constioutioa. He assured
them that Sir Thomas had met with the utmost success in
his canvass, and he had uu doubt would be eventually the
watt of their choice.

Mr. INEOHHIS seconded this pi oposition, and said that if
they elected Sir I'. Torten, they would bare • Member who
would *either be resented by a aoheervicary to Ministers,
or a blind attachment to Opposition.
Sir THOMAS TORTONI then came forward, but was for a
short time unable to obtain a-bearing; when he at last suc-
ceeded is procuring silence. he said, that be sever in his life
set • better humoured set of men before • huatiap, or ease
which be should so oitirb like to hove the honour of repre-
senting in Psrliameot. They had in the course of the day
been told of many faults which he hod, and which he had
not. For the two other candidates be had ou other sou.
allocate than those of great respect. Owe of them (Mr.
Calvert) had used a witticism la represeuting blew to hare
said eight years ago, that he was broken down in their ser.
vice; not coateuted with being a wit, be bad also became •
prophet. Now they knew that prophets were as often wrong
as right, and he believed that Mr. Cslvert would prove •
false prophet ; for blood as he was, he assured him be should
give him a hard ran before he gave op the chase. Of Sir R.
Wilson he could nut speak hut with great respect; if he
bad any fault, perhaps it was that in his career of inde-
pendence he souseuipses overstepped the leiunds of pru-
dence. With respect to the speech which bad been quoted
as his (Sir Thomas Turtun's), thirteen years ago, he
would say that that report of it was false. If Mr. Whit-
bread were alive, he would bear him out in this contradic.
Lion of it. The Bill then alluded to had two clauses; use
of which was, that every ass, whether he were willing or
not willing, whether he could spare his child or not spars
him, should send him to a parochial school. He objected to
this clause as an invasion of the right which a parent ought
to hold of educating his family just as he thought proper.
The second clause was to *Rix a rate of Is. in the pound fur
this education. This he also thought too arbitrary. As to
the story of the Admiral, it was pare fiction, sad the only
part of the Report which bore any resembleuce to what he
did say, was, where he was described as stating that he
thought the instructioa in decimal fractious, and perhaps in
the higher rules of arithmetic, not quite suited to the lower
classes. But he utterly denied his ever having avowed him-
self au enemy to their education ; he was, on the contrary,
a Vice.Presideot of their Auxiliary Bible Society. He hoped
they would have the discerumeut to vote fur him. If the
allusion of the Devil and long role were intended for him,
lie could assure the gallant Caadidate that it did sot apply,
for loony years bad elapsed since be moved as a member of
that body. As to his being the Devil, he thought it afforded
the gallant gentleman au opportunity of getting nut of the
scrape of this contest, for notwithstanding hie devoted and
heroic courage, and his exercise of 11, so as to unite the
sympathies of all hearts, be might still say with safety, he
had not the boldness to encounter the Devil.—(Lead
laughter.)—lt was not too late fur him to retire, sod the
Devil was in it if he would sot render it necessary fur him
to do se. The Hos. Iliseusset them referred to his public life,
aud said that be bad once had the support of many of the gee-
slimes who were sow orisoug his oppuueots. It had bleu said,
that be bad avowed his spprohatios of the late Act, puma
by the Legislature. He was indeed afraid that scaseerftlasee
Bills were rendered necessary by the state of the coentry, hat
he bed declared_ lie 'irons disapprobstioe of the measure
which authorized anocturnal entry into as Euglisbeaaa's
boon—that Bill should never hose had hie assent. He
would dare assert that he was the friend to the fullest eater.
vise of the elective franchise, which had bens the noble birth-
right of Englishmen for nearly ten centuries. After several
further obeervatioas which were cv•stsully isiterrapteel by the
people, the Hon. Barourt made souse humorous allusions
to • dinner which had been prepared by his opponents •t •
neighbouring timers, at • time lilies they thought they
should walk over the course. He again thanked them for
their support, and assured them, that whether suet:reseal
or not, he would sever desert their interests.
Being sow three o'clock, • 'hew of hands was called for.
Oa being takes, the High Bailiff decided, that the majority
was for Sir R. Wilson and Mr. Calvert. A poll was de-
manded on behalf of Sir T. Tertian. It was immediately
entered on, and carried us till four o'clock, when the esna-
ben were declared as follow
Charles Calvert, Esq.
Sir R. Wilson
Sir T. Tortes, Bari.

While the poll was preparing a Mr. Btret..a addressed
the meeting, stud offered a series of Resolutioos oa the
subject of Parliamentary Reform, which, however, were not
put. After the numbers were announced,
Mr. CALVTIZt came forward to return thanks. He said
that the state of the poll was a proof that he had not been
so false a prophet as the Hon. Baronet would bare bad them
believe. Their own arithmetic fillfilleJ his preritetios. Elat-
ed with this success, he would turn prophet again fur to-
morrow, and foretel, that if is one hour's poll he hail ob.
tained a majority of forty-eight, to-morrow, when there
would be a seven hours' poll, his majority would be seven
times as great. He disdained any pretensions to the char
racier of a wit. He thought he had said that the witticism
was the Hun. Baronet's, who Mid said that be (Mr. Calvert)
was blood, and himself an old stayer. Speoilang still ou the
spirit of prophecy, he would say, that where the Hon Baru.
net, on a former occasion, ►ad obtained twenty promotes,
be would not now get cue.—tAppforre.)
Sir R. WlLson thee came forward and was loudly cheered.
He again expressed his thanks to them for their kindled., and
said, that if a Allele hand were held up seitist hint he
should feel himself humiliated. Their opponent, Sir T.
Tairtou had a winuiug way; but he hoped they were too well
educated not to distinguish between words and principles.
They were not to be caught by such meat's.—
" Women, like moths, are even caught by glare,
And mansinos gaias where angels might despair."
They hind belied the Baroaet's disavowal of the speech im-
puted to him. It was, however, a pity that be bed not taken
an earlier opportunity of correcting it in the House of
Commun.. 't'hat was the course lie took alien he had beeis
misrepresented on a late occasion. A Representative ought
to bean jealous of his fame as be should be of his wife's re-
putation. Fur he abash, recollect Sisal the cheradere of his
conmitueuts were involved in his own. The Hon. Baronet,
in disavowing any approbation to the Seizure of Arms Bill,
said not one word about the nieasuie to restrain the
liberty of the press. The Hmtnurable Baronet talked loudly
of his iidepeodenee, though brought forward by a party de•
cidedly aristocratical. Not one word had be and about Re-
.

form, Ur abiding by the instructions of bts constituents. He
(Sir K. W ) was always a had joker. Bel he could not on
the present occasion refrain Crum making one. They had
&likened of Mir Arehlas Stevie*, and knew that in Ike
of Mabwallet there were as many seem so is that of
ch,i.t. There were in it sectarians of many kinds, and
others that might be called Auy-Thing-arians. how they
knew that though Parailim had many roads, it bad only one
gate. At this gore, aecordiog to the Arabian story, Maim-
met was posted to espertaiend the &dawdling. . Owe Mains-
ant fur adamants said he followed the sort of Ali...
Go in, and take your Ogee at the right," said Ha-
Wesel. Another was of the sect of Qatar, and had