The Sun.
London, England, 1837-05-17 00:00:00

Majority
AT ONE O'CLOCK.

87

Broadvvood
Sheridan
Alajority
AT TWO O'CLOCK.

Broadwood
Sheridan
Majority
AT TIIRLE O'CLGCK.

Broad wood
Sheridan ..

279
213

Majority
AT THE CLOSE OF THE POLL.
Broadwood
Sheridan
Majority

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
The polling for this borough commenced this morn-
ing, the numbers, 11 o'clock, for Sheridan are 144,
and for Broadwood 226. If ever there was a case of gross
bribery and corruption that required the interference of a
reformed House of Commons, this is one of the most fla-
thoTant. Votes openly bought and sold in the streets, and
e large party who dined yesterday at Mr. Sheridan's ex-
pense, supped in the evening with Mr. Broadwood ! The
notorious Billy Holmes, who has fallen from his high estate as
whipper-in to rotten boroughs, made his appearance on
Monday, and has been busily employed in his calling. I
saw him yesterday in a smock frock with a drunken coun-
tryman under each arm ; for Billy, like his employers the
Tories, can, when there is a point to be gained, conde-
scend to mix with the mob, although in his heart he de-
spises them. Should the Tory succeed, there will be of
course an outcry of reaction, but I assure you the only
reaction is in the money market. Two or three more elec-
tions such as this, and we must have the ballot.
I open my letter to inform• you that Billy has, with his
usual tact, made a good bargain, pays 101. down, with a
promise of 201. more in three months—this is anticipating
a dissolution.

'PP (FRONI ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.)
LIRIDGEWATER, TUESDAY, APRIL 16. -- The election
I for this borough was fixed for yesterday. At twelve o'clock
I the different parties assembled in the Market-house, and
after the usual oaths had been administered and proclama-
tions read, Mr. Allen proposed Mr. Broadwood as a fit
and proper person to represent the borough in Parliament,
and Mr. Sealy seconded him. Mr. Inman proposed, and
Mr. Boys seconded, Mr. Sheridan. Mr. Broadwood made
a short and very inefficient speech ; but Mr. Sheridan, in
a most able, animated, and eloquent address, proved his
right to the name he bears, and that he is a worthy de-
scendant of the Sheridan of days gone by. The show of
hands was declared to be in favour of Mr. Broadwood, and
a poll being demanded on behalf of Mr. Sheridan, it was
fixed to take place at eight o'clock this day.
It had been decided by the Liberal party to fight this battle
upon pure principle, and not to continue the practice of
bribery, digraceful to every party, which has for years pre-
vailed in this borough. At the last election in 1834 this
practice reached its height—many voters received 1001.,
and the average value of a vote was 50/. Upon such
terms, and at such prices Mr. Leader gained his election ;
the total number of voters was 418, and of these nearly
300 received the wages of iniquity. Urged on by the pro-
fit of thus selling a 101. franchise, the registration since 1834
has been greatly increased. Houses have been taken by
parties little better than paupers, and votes obtained for
the mere purpose of sale. At this moment the register
contains .528 names ; of these more than 350 are what
are called balance votes, or persons who give their votes
to the highest bidder. The great majority of pro-
mises had been given to Mr. Sheridan, but on Sa-
turday night last the Tories began their old system
of bribery. The price at once offered was 301., namely 10/.
down, and 201. after the election. The Liberal party re-
fusing to buy, the price remained stationary, and the Tories
bought at least a hundred and eighty votes at these terms.
It cannot, therefore, be matter of surprise that the show
of hands should be in favour of Mr. Broadwood, or that the
poll this day should return him us the representative of the
most corrupt, the most debased, and most unworthy ma-
jority of any constituency in England. There are among
the other portion of that constituency many upright, highly
honourable men ; but to such an extent has the corruption
at Bridgewater spread, that men, themselves unwilling and
perfectly unable to do a dishonourable act, esteem it no
shame to be accessary to the bribint, of others, in order to
obtain an advocate in Parliament for' the principles they
espouse. The one think needful is the Ballot ; without
that the total disfranchisement of the borough cannot be
avoided.

At this present election, the bribery department had the
benefit of Mr. Holmes's (the ex-Tory whipper-in) as-
sistance, and of his son, one of the Duke of Wellington's
State pensioners to the tune of 5001. per annum. The
most open and bare-faced bribery prevailed, and the de-
graded hirelings of party corruption showed their total
want of all principle. The great majority of the voters
would have willingly supported Sheridan, and offered them-
selves for a consideration, but having determined to fight
a pure battle, his advisers would not for a moment give
way, and they preferred polling 221 honest voters to ob-
taining a majority by such means as Mr. Broadwood and
his party resorted td.

ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.

The anniversary meeting was held yesterday at its rooms,
in Regent-street ; Sir JOHN BARROW, Bart., F.R.S., in
the chair.

The PRESIDENT read the report of the Council, which
congratulated the Society on the steady increase in the
number of its members, the flourishing state of its finances,
and the interest felt by the public in the promotion and
encouragement of geographical research. Thirty-nine new
members had been elected during the past year, and the
Society now consists of 545, exclusive of foreign, honorary,
and corresponding members. lt had, however, to lament
the loss of many valuable members, and especially one
whose melancholy death in Northern Africa must be fresh
in the remembrance of every member in the Society :
young, zealous, and ,enterprising, this traveller had sur-
mounted all the difficulties opposed to him in Morocco,
Suez, Wadnoon, and had even traversed half the desert
which 'separated him froth Timbuctoo, when lie fell a vic-
tim to the treachery of the faithless Arabs ; and the name
of Davidson must now be added to those of Hornemann,
Park, Ledyard, Burckhardt, I3elzoni, Laing, Clapperton,
and Lander, as the most eminent of those who have sacri-
ficed their lives in the cause of African discovery. (Sir
John Barrow, who was evidently much .affected whilst
pronouncing this eulogium on the deceased, pointed to the
busts of the illustrious traveller and his native companion,
Abin Beker, which were placed on the table.) Amongst
other losses, were William Marsden, Esq., a liberal donor
to the Society, Captain James Horsburgh, Hydrographer
to the East India Company, to whom this nation is also
deeply indebted for its present knowledge of the maritime
nations of the Eastern world, and two distinguished foreign
members, Professor Hoffman, known for his great map of
North-western Germany, and Don Ignacio iberri, a Ge-
neral of Engineers in the Mexican service. The state of
the Society's finances was satisfactory, although the ex-
penditure for the past year had 'been considerable, viz.,
2,2601., of which 4901. had been paid towards the expedi-
tion in British Guiana ; 350/. towards that in Southern
Africa, &c. ; and it was gratifying to add, that no necessity
had existed for touching the capital stock invested in the
funds. In addition to the journals, the Society had also
published, at its own expense, and for the members, a
translation of " Graah'a Danish Discoveries on the
East Coast of Greenland," arid a " Grammar of the Cree
Language." The Royal gold medal for 1836, presented
by his Majesty, had been awarded by the Council to Cap-
tain R. Fitzroy, R.N., for his recent survey of the coast of
South America, the information acquired having, 'perhaps,
not been exceeded by any circumnavigator or expedition since
the time of Cook and Flinders. Other travellers were
alluded to who bad distinguished themselves, amongst
whom were, Lieutenant Willstead, Dr. Andrew Smith,
Major Mitchell, and Colonel Chesney. The expeditions
under Captain Back, Schoinburgh, and Captain Alexander,
and Lieutenant Lushington, were partially noticed. The
usual ballot for Officers and Council having taken place,
W. R. Hamilton, Esq., was elected President. A vote
of thanks having been passed to Sir J. Barrow, and other
ordinary business transacted, the meeting adjourned.

A singular incident, we are informed, took place on
Monday night at a gaming-house recently opened in St.
James's street. The younger brother of a Noble Marquis, who
is an energetic and not unsuccessful aspirant to notoriety, was
stripped in a short time of the sum of 3,5001., which had just
been given to him by his friends for the purchase of a commis-
sion. When reduced to the low water mark of :31., fortune,
however, took a turn in his favour, and by means of a succession
of, lucky throws he suddenly found himself in possession not
. .

1,,