The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-04-01 00:00:00

TAUNTON ZiECTION.

At the close of this arduous and protracted chn.
test the numbers, at three o'clock es Saturday,
were announced as follow :—•
tit r. Barlett
Mr. Wane
Mt. iryilletlf • • • •OP •• • 311
Illejraily kw Mr. Masse— e.
A scrutiny was intmedistely demanded an the
part of Mr. Seymour.
Mr. B• 111110 came forward. end said, that after
the fatigue which all the electors had undergone, he
could not leave the hustings without expressing his
cordial and hearty thanks for the great pains they
had taken, and the trouble to which they had ex-
posed themselves. With reference to the proceed-
ings which had taken place, he should say not one
word, except this—that in the course of those pro-
ceedings he had made such observations in his
mind, as the conduct of the persons who had
had the control and direction of them could not
fail to have produced. There wait one thing he
more particularly wished to recommend to the elec-
tors. If there had been tiny conflict of opinion with
respect to the manner of giving the votes. he trust-
ed that, the contest being over, the electors would
return to that peace, harmony. and good humour,
which, as men and Christians, became them. He
was quite sure, that with regard to the Candidates
who aspired to the high honour of representing
them, the contest having once terminated, no ani-
mosity remained between them, and that, however
angrily they might have frowned on each other,
all enmity had subsided. He trusted, it would
be the same with the electors, and that every man
who might have retained the least resentment to-
wards his neighbour. would shake him by the
hand, and discard every angry feeling. Undoubt-
edly he had heard that a further proceeding was in-
tended to be instituted for the purview of ascertain-
ing the real number of votes for each candidate;
it was a meaaore of which he mach disapproved—
hr should say no more open it. He again thanked
them for the honour they had conferred upon him
by electing him to rem theta in Perlirment. He
should certainly serve them with the same zeal,
rit!ehty, and diligence, he had hitherto done; and
he fluttered himself, that when he came to render
an account of his stewardship, he should meet with
the same reception he had uuformly experienced.—
(Cheers and acclamations.)
Mr. SEYMOUR moat cordially thanked the elec•
tors for the very great support they had given him
ever since he had arrived in the town of Tauu.
ton. Prier to his arrival, lie was perfectly un-
known to them; he had endeavoured, by hi. ac-
tions rod his conduct, to merit their favour and
epprubitian. When he first began this contest, he
thought that Mr. Warre and himself would have
th-to the only persons to have contended for the
honour of representing them; but he very soon
linnet himself deceived. He fouud that a coa-
luum
id taken place; nobody doubted of the
'Secret underatandisig between the candidate on his
right ',Aid and Mr. Warm. Although this was
a diehearteniug thing for a beginner at elections,
as lie w:o., yet be had endeavoured, in every re.
spect, to merit their confidence and favour.—
They :iait supported him as an independeut man;
and, although, perhaps, he was now returning to
his home, he certainly should retain the same
opiiiiutoi he had broached among them. lle begged
them pies fectly and distinctly to understand him.
lie a great difference betiVfell Mr. Baring
a- a g..htleman of high respect, and as • candidate
here ; lit thought he had been deceived; and that
the electors had been labouring under • great
error; fir conceived that the error might be the
loss of the independence of this Borough. He
'entreated them to weigh the matter deeply in
their minds. and to recollect. that when two can-
didates were together, it was difficult for a third
•caodulate is have the proper number of votes
to give him a fair chance. Such was the case
with him. He was obliged to demand a sciutity.
'and he trusted that scrutiny would give him the
rumber of votes .secessary to enable him to fere-
sei•t them in the House of Commons. He felt it,
rod lie really did believe that a coalition was the
•destruction of their independence in this borough.
He beheved that neither his opponents or his friends
had any reproach to make to him on account of
his public conduct. He had neither in words or
anonymous papers said any thing against those
who opposed him, because he thought nothing
• egotist them : he begged them to forget what
had been said against him and his cause. The
contest was now over till the scrutiny was ended;
be therefore recommended them to forget every
iiiffereoce, and he warmly supported Mr. Baring
in his entreaty on the same subject. He should
not further trouble them. Cordially and from his
heart he thanked them for their support.--(P/air.
dice.)—The Hon. Candidate. having concluded his
speech, offered Mr. Warre his hand, which the
latter Gentleman readily accepted.
Mr. Wages addressed himself the electors in
nearly these terms—" Gentlemen. as 1 most cur.
(holly and heartily concur in that part of Mr. Say.
• moues speech which recommends amity and geed-
will in future, with a perfect oblivion of any ditsi
like acrimony which might have arisen in the pro.
Kress of this contest. so do 1 most cheerfully meet
his gentleman-like proposition in offering me his
lisort—l take it cordially—it is not a mere form
of words, but in liberal ament, that I assure him
shall be glad to receive his offer of au improved
tiamilehip. There are other points on which I
sitalt make a few obvervatioies, sod if I should be
Ir ones to differ from him in (nation), I trust he will
take it as a difference arising solely un public
. grounds, and as not partaking of personal hostility
or feelings of general triumph. I experience some
difficulty from personal inability and want of words
to convey to you an adequate expression of my
thatit• and gratitude for the conclusion to which
you have brought your generous and friendly
exertions. The result of this protracted contest has
answered the expectations 1 had . formed of my
Hon. Friends. I never dui doubt that it would be
in my favour, though I was well aware we should
have to contend seljlicoosiderable difficulties and a
formidable opielaititie. I did not conceal these facts
Irmo ) as Of aaparlf; but I did perceive, that in pro.
. portion to thelteeseveriesice of OW sdarerlirieli, would
be-erur desermisstion so meet sod overesmeevety ob-
stacle opposed to us.—(oplesat.)—Mr. Seymour
has told you that his epitatrue oa public matters re.