The Sun.
London, England, 1837-07-28 00:00:00

BERWICK-UPON-TWEED, JULY 26.

I regret to inform you this borough has again disgraced
itself—Sir Rufane Donkin has been defeated, and Billy
Holmes and a brainless blockhead, named Mr. Richard
Hodgson, have been elected to misrepresent us in Parlia-
ment. The following is the state of the poll at the close :
Mr. Hodgson
Mr. Holmes
Sir R. S. Donkin 326
You will naturally ask how this happened ? lam sorry
to say the old freemen, and—to their eternal disgrace be it
spoken—some of the new constituency accepted bribes.
Billy Holmes and Hodgson cannot have spent less than
8,0001. Young Holmes (he of the pension of 5001.) said
to a respectable professional man here yesterday, " Sir
Rufane Donkin has all the respectable part of the consti-
tuency, and we have the majority of the poor class, as cor-
rupt a set as ever existed."
Sir Rufane Donkin polled 194 plumpers, Holmes 3, and
Hodgson 2.

NOTTINGHAM, JULY 27.
TRIUMPH OF REFORM PRINCIPLES.
The return of General Fergusson and Sir John Hob-
house, to represent this populous town in Parliament, I
communicated in my last ; but unfortunately, on account of
some of the pages being pocketted by the poll•clerks, the
state of the poll at the close was incorrect. The numbers
actually being—
Fergusson
Hobhouse
Plowden
Twiss

Majority for Ferguson... 659—For Hobhouse 6sb
This was announced on Wednesday by the Returning
Officer ; and that day having been appointed for the pre-
sentation of a splendid service of plate to Thomas Wake-
field, Esq., by the Reformers of the town, a large booth
was erected in one of the fields, and upwards of 1,200
highly respectable gentlemen sat down to dinner. The tout
ensemble was perhaps one of the most complete that was
ever witnessed. Lord Rancliffe took the chair, having on
his right hand Mr. Wakefield, General Ferguson, and
Colonel Wildman, of Newstead ; and on his left Sir John
Hobhouse, Bart., and G. S. Foljambe, Esq., the Reform
candidate for the Northern Division of the county. After
dinner the usual loyal and patriotic toasts were given, and
the great enthusiasm with which the health of the Queen
was drunk, exceeded anything of the kind I (an old hand)
can remember. The Duke of Sussex, and the rest of the
Royal Family, were received with long, loud, and reiterated
cheers, that evidently came from the heart. His Lordship
made an excellent address on the presentation of the plate,
to which Mr. Wakefield responded with much energy and
grateful feeling. The healths of her Majesty's Ministers,
drew forth from Sir John Hobhouse one of his brilliant dis-
plays of oratory, which excited rapturous applause. The
healths of the Members brought up General Ferguson, who
responded in his usual manly and energetic way. Mr. Fol-
ifirebe's health- and +— roep;b.3
and in returning thanks that gentleman observed, that he
had been induced to come forward from a sense of duty.
and his strong attachment to constitutional Reform, as well
as an earnest desire to give stability to the liberal and re-
forming Government of her Majesty. The health of Col.
Wildman was greeted with all the warmth of kindly senti-
ment which had ever welcomed the Gallant Colonel since his
residence at Newstead, and his reply was loudly cheered
by those who honour him for his steady adherence to the
principles of Reform. During the latter part of the even-
: ing, Mr. M. D. Hill delivered a very spirited and beautiful
speech.
The whole went off with great satisfaction. There was
" the feast of reason, and the flow of soul ;" and the day
will long be remembered in the annals of the town.
The inscription on the plate is as follows :—" Presented
to Thomas Wakefield, Esq., by the Reformers of Notting-
ham, as a testimony of esteem and respect for his unwearied
exertions to promote the welfare and prosperity of the town
—his steady and consistent advocacy of the principles of
civil andreligious liberty—and his conduct as the first elected
Mayor of this borough under the Municipal Reform Act."