The Sun.
London, England, 1837-08-04 00:00:00

BRADFORD-WILTS.

(From the Wiltshire Independent.)
A public meeting of the electors of North Wilts was
held at the Swan Inn, Bradford, on Monday, the 31st ult.,
to adopt measures for securing the return of Paul Methuen,
Esq , as their representative in Par:iament, at which Sir
John Hobliouse, and many other influential gentlemen, were
present. The largo Assembly-room being found insufficient
to contain the numbers present, the meeting was adjourned
to the Market-place.
THOMAS H. SAUNDERS, Esq., having been called to the
Chair, said that he felt great pleasure in seeing so numerous
and respectable a body of his brother electors, met to aid,
by heart and hand, the return of so valued and tried a
friend as their late representative, Paul Methuen, Esq.—
(Cheers)—and he trusted that they would record by their
votes, on the day of election, their approval of his past ser-
vices, and afford encouragement for future exertions.—
(Hear.) He would not delay the business of the meeting,
but would call on some gentleman to move the first resolu-
tion.—(Cheers.)
ROBERT HARRIS, Esq., then moved the first resolution.
EZEKIEL EDMONDS, jun., said that he gladly seconded
that resolution, and in so doing he would bog a few mo-
ments to impress on the minds of the electors of North
Wilts the importance of the occasion on which they were
assembled, and the necessity for using every exertion
in their power to ensure the return of Mr. Methuen.—
(Hear.) They were about to join in combat with the
antiquated doctrine of Toryism, and they had to choose
between that on the one hand and the Liberal policy of
her Majesty's Ministers on the other.—(Cheers.) He
would ask them, would they have the Tory faction, with a
Cumberland at their head, riding rough-shod over the peo-
ple ? He would ask them, what would be the consequence,
if the present Ministry were not supported by a respectable
majority in the House of Commons ? Would they yield
to the degrading dominion of the Tories and the Hano-
verian despot, who would seek to abolish the Catholic
Emancipation and Reform Acts, and would again impose
the Test and Corporation Act on the Dissenters ? That
man must be an enemy to his country who would check
the present Ministry in their noble and generous efforts te
improve the institutions of our country, and to ameliorate
the /condition of the human race generally. Have they
not given us the Reform Bill and Municipal Corporation
Reform, measures fraught with the most beneficial results
to this country in its moral character ?

,‘ Have they not given peace and rest
To the bruised and weary slave?
And sent a brighter gift than gold
Across the Indian wave ?"
Have they not endeavoured to answer the groans which
have ascended up on high from injured, persecuted Ireland,
for the last six centuries ; and did that country ever pre-
sent so interesting or promising an aspect as at the present
period ? Have they not moreover deserved, and obtained,
the confidence of a Sovereign, whose youth, whose sex,
whose early virtues, demanded the protection, and whose
rights command the fealty of every Briton ?—(Cheers.)
She has not been compelled, like her predecessor, by the
murmuring of an angry people, but of her own free will, and
in the generous confidence of a noble spirit, to commit the
Government of this country to men approved by the nation ;
and, in justice to ourselves, in a spirit of philanthropy to
mankind, and of loyalty to our Sovereign, we arc called
upon to send men to Parliament, whose support will be
freely given to our Queen and her Ministers.—(Cheers.) Gen-
tlemen, one of those Ministers now stands among you, he is
connected with us by the tics of birth and clanship, if I
may be allowed the expression, as he also commands our
respect by those virtues and talents which have ever been
devoted to the welfare of the State ; posterity will ever
regard him as one of the champions who led the victory
in tile glorious case of Reform—and we, as his contem-
poraries, give him our thanks and gratitude. lam proud,
Gentlemen, to name the Right Hon. Sir John Hobhouse,
who has kindly visited us in the absence of Mr. Me-
thuen, whose cause you will hear ably advocated by such a
friend.,-(Loud cheers.)
Sir J. HomousE then presented himself to the meeting,
and was received by repeated and long continued acclama-
tions of applause. Brother Electors, said the Right Hon.
Baronet, and 1 will add, Brother Townsmen, I feel the
greatest pleasure in appearing among you, and in visiting
this my native place, where not only did I spend the hap-
piest days of my infancy, in the immediate vicinity of which
I passed some of those years of my manhood to which ray
memory reverts with pleasure, but where I also imbibed
of
m y sentimentsactions and
throughprinciples
re whichc haveeers.) beenl t
It has
the
stan-
dardstatedbeenthose
to you, with great force and propriety by the Hon.
Gentleman who preceded me, that we are engaged in a
mighty contest ; and it will remain with you, gentlemen,
to prove by your votes, in the ensuing election, which
party is to be victorious. I stand before you as the
friend of Mr. Methuen, and to give him my humble
support, as one who has ever advocated the cause of
civil and religious liberty—who has ever fulfilled his
duty to his constituents and to his country.—(Hear,
I stand before you, gentlemen, in another ca-
hpeaacirt.)
Y—as one of the confidential advisers of her Ma-
jesty ; as such, it has always been my object to advance the
great cause of human improvement, believing, that on the
policy which her Majesty's servants have adopted depend
the welfare of the people, and the permanency of the Con-
stitution.—(Loud cheers.) Do not, gentlemen, in the
struggle, under-rate your opponent ; the power of the
party by whom he is supported renders him a for-
midable antagonist, and it is only by strenuous exer-
tions on your part that you can ensure his defeat ;
and I would beg of you to retire, as soon as the
proceedings of this meeting are ended, and to per-
suade and exhort your friends, and those with whom
you are connected, to unite with you in securing the
election of your long-tried and valuable representative.—
(Cheers.) I would beg of you more particularly to evince
your attachment at the poll, on Monday and Tuesday next ;
and remember that he that is foremost on the occasion not
only does a good action for himself but sets a good exam-
ple to others--(Hear)—and I trust you will prove that you
are sensible of the merits and past services of Mr. Methuen
not only by returning him as your Member, but by placing
his name where it ought and deserves to be, at the head of
the poll by a numerous majority.—(Loud cheers.)
A vote of thanks was then given to the Chairman, and
the meeting was dissolved.