The National Register.
London, England, 1819-02-14 00:00:00

t

TUM NATIONAL BIIGIsTrr.

ELEL'I'IUv.

The butnnem for the election of a Iturgess to serve in
Parlionient the City of Westminster began this
rsorniog. The erection of the hustings having only
commencel et c late hrrar last night, a temporary stage
vas fixel for the c,:ccrlmislation of the Cati3idates and
theii and r. r.r.rcerons body of constables were
stationed to preserve order. The High kiailitY read
the Speaker's Warrmt, and the Act relative to Elec-
tions After which Mr. Hobhouse cane forward, sup-
ported by Sir Francis Burdett and the Hon. Douglas

4 Sir L. Burdett said, that, in compliance with the
general wishes. el the Electors of W'estiainster, he pre-
sented himself to discharge his duty towards them. It
wee not hie intention to treeepess upon their time e bet
should wait till he heard what other Candilates ( fur
they were to expect several ) mig t advance.. For his
own part, his principles and proleseions had long ken
known to them, and hail met with their alipport. Afro-
the urinous struggle in which they had lately tri-
umphed, when so 'many aeoific,:s had been put in force
to promote schion among the friends of freedom, he had
entertained the hope, that when a meeting. was pro-
' posed to consult upon. the measures accessary to secure
the end for which they laboured, no person would have
inteffered to etrbarree the cause so worthy of their gables
Radical Reform. That object embraced their ithts ;
and it hail been generally admitted that Mr. flebliouse
was, beyond all others, the most efficient man to-
labour for their interests, and to him their votes had
been, he- might say, almost universally pledged. (Con-
fused shouts.) Every measure that prudence could
dictate, and energy pursue, had met with their co-
operation to secure his return. The Electors of West.
minater had had every opportunity of knowing his
character and his principles. It was now too late to
risk the independence of their city upon any precarious
grounds, or to encourage delay in securing the cause
they had in view ; already a Whig Candidate had
gaited up ; he supposed he was inimical to the estab-
lishment of what alone would rescue them from thral-
dom, Radical Reform ; it might he expected, that on
Monday a Court Candidate would be declared, Now
was the Vnie for them to slate the rea'eepirit by which
they were animated ; for he could not but admit, that
they lied suffered their fir:nuns to be shaken during
the late contest. He fully anticipated a completo
victory in the steuggle they were on the eve of core-.
niencirg; and that they would evince how dear their
liberties were to them, by returning tke man who knew
hew to guard them, and whom he had the honour to
propose to their eutfrages.
The Hon. Douglas Kinnaird said, he came forward
agreeably to lone eetablished form ; for a Candidate
must be seconded as well as nominated, and h,: had
been requested by a numerous body of the Electors of
Westminster to second Mr. fiehhouse. In ho-
nouribsing hirnwith their wishes hewas coovincel they
were aware that he could advance nohing which vould
add strength to their animation in the great cause of
freedom ; but tliey knew that he (the Hon. D. Kin-
naird) would be gratified and proud to have his services
enlisted in the contest. He would say, that its a firm
friend to Radical Reform, he would vote for Mr. Hob-
house ; for he was a Radical and intelligible Refer:ller ;
nod • --1. ..• e, his entire confidence in his principles,
that ha would uuheeitatingly subscribe his name to the
paitneiplesup in which he knew he would net. He
uunciu,,cd by seconding the nomination of J. C Hob.
house, Esq,
Mr. Hobhouse next addressed the assemblage. He
had come, he sail, to tedeem a pledge made three
months ago to the Electors of Westminster. He had
then declared to theel, that he would be found at th:
post which had so often witnessed their triumphs ; there
he was, and he knew it would never he sullied by his
presence. Sir Murray. Maxwell had also redeemed his
pledge ; he had told them he would not again appear
there, and he (Mr. IL) understood that he was neither
there perenally nor repeeented by prory. Many,
who bad been. misled at the late straggle, would per-
hapv congratulate themselves upon his aisenee, and he
took roroe credit to himself that his own exertions had
Len ieqrumented ia iraluzing him to relinquish the
field.' The a:co:nplishment of this; victory, he was
aware, belonged to then ; it had been venially cum •
mcnce'i, and their free and manly efforts would triu:e.ph
es heretofore. Adverting to his mover and. excel:de:.
Mr. H. observed, that he Was proud of his essozietes :
their aid was powerful, and their plinciples teed and
known to all: with the blesslng of Provideaze upen
their exertions, they could.not fell. He trested :t was
no arrogance in him to say, that he had been -liosen by
the people, was one of the people, and stood scare to
the work of tin: people. The cause cf liberty was above
the horizon, and every thing predicted success. lie had
said, that when he op-peered upon the hustings, he
would enquire of them whether they thought him
competent.—(Cheers, mixed with cries of No ! No !)
—On Tuesday last, he had asked the same question ;
there were then present upwardc of 1300—and, with
the exception of about 12, they unanimously declared
favcon Was it then presumption. in him to

FT:I3. 14

peae before then ? (some interruption) there he would
onnein, and remain firm: to the last moment.. If dis-
union prevailed, it was not imputable to him—the fault
was not his—if so, be should think himself a trailer to
their liberties; he was incapable Of sacrificing the in.
terest of those friends who should place him in the
proud situation of their representative. He entertained
no unworthy wish to be popular; he would do his duty.
It as to be lamented that leuis had been fostered,
and were now to be brought intreaction. e he again
declared it was not his fault. Another (andidate, he
understood, would be immediately proposed ; and per-
haps utter his example, several ethers ; the cry with aq
of them will doobtleas be—no eorrur t ion !no bribery
His own int :Ain!) was, to lahour in the cause of tiatli_
cal kethrin.il person iiirptircti what he meant by
ell Reform ? lie thanked his friend for looking that
inquiry; he calleel him friend, for he would carrn to
answer an enemy. Ile thought the question of Sof-.
'vs the seeend consideration f.T the people to look
to; i:isees) it me: his ilea, that an eeteusion might hie
mile of the right of r.titlillya, without making it uni-
yersel ; um: it watald be henelleiut to the people in the
prc.:ervation of their ri;lits, and that wuulJ lead. to-
Reform. lie was 11;4 so absurd as to entertain the
idea of Annual Parliaments; Lot he let:hired lie saw
no utility in long Parliaments ; an:: in his view they
might be shoetetted with adv.thrsge. He belonged to
to party ivharever ; (cheers) but he hoped he should
merit their fismr, as lie would labour earnestly to
restore to them the share they had lost in the direction
of their own affhirs.

On Mr. Hobhouse retiring. Hunt abruptly jumped
upon the hustings. He was gre,:ned with general
ses and cries of—oll ! off! you have desarted your
colours ! The Deputy Bailiff inquired if he was there
as a Candidate, or if he intended to move for, or secord,
the nomination of any Cantlidtee ? On hi; reto.y,
which we did not hear, the Deputy Bailiff signified to
him that he .nutst quit the stage ; which the Orator
complied with.

Mr. Nicholson came forward and proposA Major
Cartwright—and was secouded by a Mr. Bowie,
Mr. Lamb then came forward, supported by Mr.
MtDonald and, Mr. Evans. They were received. wiih
crics of No Whigs! and some applause. Mr. M‘Donald
in addressng the meeting said, they would find in the
man he bad the honour to propose (Mr. Lamb) one
who was in every respect worthy of their suffrages.
Mr. Evans, after the manner in which Mr. Larnb
had been proposed by his Fluaourable Friend, felt tl.at
he had but little to do. Every one fet that ‘Vestrein.
ster, in the death of Sir S. gomillv, had sustained a
loss which it was impossible to remedy, but which they
were now to do their best to diminish. Three Candi-
dates had this day been put in nomination—and he
had expected a fourth to present himself in the person
of Mr. Hunt—and had this happened, the Electors
would not have failed to prove tc.that worthy person
in what estimation his merits were hAd. Major Cart-
wright was not there. One of his friends had liven
him credit fora new qualification for a M.P. They had
been told that the Major could walk .'2O miles in a day
(Laughter)—but though he .eould perform this task,
he had not been able to walk to those hustingl. lle
wished the Electors of Westminster to look at tue situa-
tion in which this country would, have ben pix•ed, if
the ideas of that Gentleman had ken acted upon. They
would then see what delusions he had laboured tnder,
andof what serious importance it. would Nava been to
the people of En,gland.had he been attended to. The,
all knew how much the country had suffered from tl!at
most grinding;impost, the Property fax. When a m cet-
ing was called in Palace-yard, to petition agains:. :t,
Major Cartwright, instead of ceneurring with the ge-
neral voice, held it useless tc tal:e the course proposed,
and exclaimed " -stuff and nonsense—pay your taxes,
mid seek relief in.a Ittihad Reforat of the House of
Commons." Had his opinion keen uetel upon, fifty-one
millions of money would have been drawn tram the
hard earnings ei'his countrymen, and they woul '. have
been mulcted at their weekly pay-tables to satisfy that
old and silly politician.
They had been told of Mr. Hoblicuse's splerdia ta-
lcnts.Ent, how, he would ask, had those talents been
exercised? Fie had used them but t' detract frail the
glory of his countrymen. Nothing would :lave 1;:oottl.t.,
him (Mr. Evans) feeward this day but the Frene':.—

the Lwolalionary prlncipkv, 0: which It. (Mr.
1:::n) had appeared the talvoelt,. Ail these whe:h
he hau the heuonr alirest, as :di Eneishtucti mos:,
ashr.ired the -Non !:y the battle of Waterlea. Al.
the nations of the Continent, even die French them-
selves, admired the etnainet of the Dalt, of Wellin;-;tch
on that great day ; and the lutiaaaity with whit a ti.e
victors: treir.ed the woatried :visa Irl in'l3 their hat.es,
had bccu the subject c,* goneral praise; yet fu: ti.,ot
brilliant tiumph, Mr, liobhouse had been able to flott
no Letter nettle than " the car;:ogo.
Mr. liebbouse denied the troth of this staterner.t.

,t)b-

Mr. Lambe said, no man coaid be mute ftwible
of the iuvrtanee of those duties which eltctc.s
were now assembled to perform; and none cnuil Tn.-re
higkiy appreciate the rplonlii.talents and r.potic: , in-
logrity of their late Reprostatativo. It tsar