The Sun.
London, England, 1839-09-02 00:00:00

THE UNITED SERVICE JOURNAL.

In this periodical we always find abundance of
valuable professional information, blended and
softened with the richest stores of professional
anecdote. It is in all respects admirably adapted to
suit the tastes of the readers to whom it is more
immediately addressed. As the contributors are for
the most part distinguished military and naval offi-
cers they are at home when describing the shock of
armies, and the deadly strife of contending fleets.
Among the most generally interesting articles in
this number, we may particularly refer to " Notes
on the Constitution and System of Education of
the Prussian Army," by Lieutenant Nelson ;
" Working of the Coast Blockade, with Anecdotes
of Smuggling," and " St. Helena in 1838," by
by Lieut. Robert Stuart.

ELECTION PROCEEDINGS IN

MANCHESTER.

(From the Manchester Guardian of Saturday.)

On Wednesday last, the arrival of the London even-
ing papers of the preceding day brought the intelligence
that a writ had been moved for; in the House of Com-
mons, on Tuesday evening, for the election of a Mem-
ber for this borough, in the stead of the Hon. C. Poe-
lett Thomson, who had resigned his office of President
of the Board of Trade, and had vacated his seat, by
accepting the appointment of Governor-General of the
Canadas.

This appointment had been known a few days pre-
viously to some of the Right Hon. Gentleman's friends
here ; and on Friday evening a deputation proceeded
to London, for the purpose of waitingupon Mr. Samuel
Jones Loyd, the banker, to request him to offer himself
as a candidate for the vacant seat in the representation
of this borough. On the arrival of the deputation in
town, they found that Mr. Loyd was at Ramsgate, and
they accordingly proceeded thither without loss of time,
and had an interview with him, d uring which they
urged, in the strongest manner, the desireableness of
his allowing himself to become a candidate. We regret
to say, however, that Mr. Loyd's determination not
to conic forward was expressed so decisively as
to leave no hopes of inducing him to change it.
We say we regret this ; for we have every reason for
believing that had Mr. Loyd offered himself for the
suffrages of the electors, he would have been returned
without a contest. There was a very general feeling
in his favour amongst all classes of the electors, and
we may say, that many of those who were amongst
the most active in opposing him, when a candidate at
the first election for this borough, in December, 18:3•?,
were most desirous that he should now come forward.
Indeed, even the Tories, we have some reason for be-
lieving, would not have dreamed of putting any one in
nomination, in opposition to a gentleman standing so
high in the general estimation, as Mr. Loyd. However,
the deputation, finding that his determination was taken,
decided to return home.

On Wednesday evening a numerous meeting was
held, at which the steps already taken were stated ;
and it was the general opinion of those present that,
not having succeeded at a distance some gentleman of
the neighbourhood should be put in nomination ; and it
was unanimously resolved that Mr. Robert Hyde Greg,
of this town, should be the candidate. Mr. Greg is now
absent from home ; being, we believe, at Geneva with
his family. An Election Committee was forthwith or-
ganized ; and canvassing was actively commenced.
Meanwhile, the announcement of Mr. 'Thomson's
having vacated his seat, appeared to have taken the
Tories by surprise. However, they convened a meeting,
which was held on Thursday morning at twelve o'clock,
in the room of " the Borough Conservative Associa-
tion," Spring-gardens. Of course we had no access to
their deliberation, but we believe that the proceedings
were of a somewhat stormy character. Various indi-
viduals were named as suitable persons to put in nomi-
nation ; but we believe the conflict of opinion raged
highest in regard to the rival claims of Sir George Mur-
ray and Mr. Oswald Milne. After a very animated dis-
cussion, on their respective merits and relative chances of
success, the meeting being unable to come to any conclu-
sion, it was agreed to adjourn to three o'clock, at By-
water's room—" over the stables" as our Tory Contempo-
raries would say—in Peter-street. There Mr. Birley moved
that a deputation be appointed to wait on Sir George,
and enlarged upon his qualification for their represen-
tation. All had gone on very well up to this time.
When the Chairman was about to put the resolution of
Mr. Birley, up started Mr. Read, and said that the
loss of all the elections was to be attributed to the ab•
sence of the candidate. Had Mr. Gladstone been pre-
sent on the former election, there was no doubt
but that he would have been returned. He had no
objection to Sir George Murray, but unless they could
ensure his presence, they would most certainly be
beaten, and laughed at by their opponents. He (Mr.
Read) was as good a Conservative as any man present,
but he wished them to be more guarded in their con-
duct in future. Their past defeat ought to read them
a useful lesson in future. [The Chairman here inter-
! rupted the speaker, and impressed upon the meeting
the necessity of unanimity among them.] Mr. Read
continued. He was one of that sort of men who
wished to see a clear course before him—he did not
wish for them to be lead into dilemma. If Sir George
Murray were in the town, he should have no objection to
give him his vote and support.
The CHAIRMAN and Mr. BIRLEY both interrupted
the speaker, by saying that if he persisted in that kind
of conduct, the Conservative cause would materially
suffer.

Mr. REID—WeII, all that I have to say is, that I do
not wish my brother Conservatives to be led into a
dilemma. Are there not, I would inquire, men of
talent, of business habits, and commercial knowledge,
in the town of Manchester, worthy of being its repre-
sentative ? Then if such be the case, why should we
be looking after Sir George Murray, who is a stranger
to us, and by doing so perhaps sacrifice our cause ?
A Gentleman here inquired of the Chairman where
Sir George Murray eras to be found ?

The CHAIRMAN said he did not know exactly.
Mr. BIRLEY stated that he was in Perthshire, and
another Gentleman on his right said that he was in
Dover.
Some Gentleman here rose and addressed the Chair at
great length. He said that it was of no use for the
Conservatives to stand unless they could bring forward
their man to address the electors. All their previous
defects arose from this. Why could they not nominate
a fellow-townsman, and not trust to the uncertainty of
a stranger, particularly when, to the recollection of
all, their last defeat was owing to Mr. Gladstone's
absence.

Mr. READ then again addressed the meeting, and
iruisted upon having a townsman nominated. It was
a degradation and a disgrace to the town of Man-
chester not to be able to bring forward a man.
The CHAIRMAN—I am sure that Mr. Read wishes
well to our cause ; but if he will allow me, I must
say that if he continues in this way he will injure it.
We are not contending for any man, it is the cause we
are looking or ought to look to.
Mr. READ at length consented to fall in with the
suggestion of the chair.

The CHAIRMAN—Very well, I thought you would
not introduce discord among us.
After some observations the resolution was carried,
and it was arranged that two deputations should be
sent, one north and the other south, to search for Sir
George.

Without waiting the return of these deputations, the
Tories set about forming an Election Committee, and
their canvassers were speedily engaged in various parts
of the borough, soliciting the votes and promises of the
electors for Sir George Murray.
Those who know anything of the late election con-
tests in various quarters of the kingdom, will learn
with more indignation than surprise, that that gallant
Marplot, Colonel Thompson, the ex-Member for Hull,
is in the field as a third candidate,—again doing his
best, or worst, to divide the Liberal interest, that
the Tories may, if it be possible, snatch the victory.
We have been told that the ex-Member for Hull was
invited hither by Messrs. Wroe Nightingale, and one
or two others. It has also been stated to us, on what
we consider good authority, that any expenses which
the Colonel may incur in his going to the poll, are
guaranteed by a well-known manufacturer of Ultra-
Radical politics. Yesterday, placards appeared on the
walls, addressed to the electors, stating that Colonel
Thompson had arrived, and would prepare [propose ?)
himself for their suffrages, and that he would address
the elector's in Stevenson's-squaro, at seven o'clock in
the evening. Accordingly last evening, a waggon was
drawn into the square ; and at seven o'clock, the ap-
pointed time, there was an assemblage of not more than
200 persons around it ; and many expressed their opi-
nion that the Colonel would not come on account of
the smallness of the crowd assembled to hear him, about
a quarter past seven, when the Colonel arrived, the
number had increased to 300 or 400, and subsequently
there might be from 700 to 900 persons present. The
Colonel was escorted to the waggon by Mr. G. Candy,
editor of the Manchester and Salford Advertiser, the
Rev. James Schofield, of Every-street Chapel, and
several others. Besides these there were, on the wag-
gon, Mr. William Willis, bookseller ; Mr. P. Gendall,
of Salford ; Mr. James Wroe, &c. &c.
Colonel TitceursoN, on presenting himself, was re-
ceived with some faint cheers. He said he should have
some misgiving in presenting himself before the consti-
tuency of this large manufacturing town—the glory of
our country—if he did not feel that he had laboured in
her service, and perhaps not altogether in vain. A
printer had made a mistake in the bills, when he said
that he (the Colonel) would " prepare" himself for
their suffrages. If he had to prepare now, he should
be a day behind the fair ; he meant that he should
" propose" himself. He was one of the oldest and most
persevering opponents to restrictions on their trade.
A cruel Act had been passed by men who convicted
themselves of being a dishonest Government, saying
that the people should have no more food except what
suited the interest of those who provided them with
it. This, and all other mischievous laws, came from
the people having next to no share in making them.
After some further remarks, in illustration of the mis-
chef and folly of restrictions upon trade, he said he had
seen with pain the conduct of some of their friends,
who said they would have the suffrage and nothing else,
and that they would get it with force of arms. It was
net he that led them on ; but shame upon those that
oppressed them He could have told them, first, that
they had no chance ; and, secondly, that it was ab-
stractedly, not right to get their rights by force of arms.
That plan bad failed. He had advised no violence, no
riots, no attack upon property; though he had stood
up, as stoutly as he was able, for the right of keeping
their own. They were suffering under the present sys-
tem ; and be prayed them to send him to Parliament,
that he might have an opportunity of mending it.—(A
voice : " Why did you not mend it when you was
there ?" Did he ever miss an opportunity ? What
was one man and one town to do against a house,
every Member of which had taken a solemn oath that
they had an interest opposite to that of the people.
Was there any man who worked harder than he did ?
'nine were two points he wished to mention. He
voted with Mr. Walter for an inquiry into the new
Poor-laws and he was the man who brought down the
Ministerial majority to two on the Factory Act. O'Con-
nell ought to have voted on the same side, which would
have made a tic ; but Ministers wisely abandoned the
measure. He then stated that he was ready to answer
any questions that might be put to him.
Mr. JOHN BROADIE, who was on the platform, asked
him if he was for the total and unconditional repeal of
the Poor-law ?

Colonel THOMPSON—Certainly I am, and shall be
ready to act in any way that may be required of me.
A voice—Will you vote for the Ballot ?
_ .

Colonel THONIFSON'—The Ballot I consider one of
the most likely roads to Universal Suffrage. In answer
to other questions he said, as to annual Parliaments he
would support triennial Parliaments, one-third retiring
annually. Annual Parliaments would be a reasonable
ant proper thing, and he only hoped they should have
the power to obtain them.
The Rev. JAMES SCHOLEFIELD then addressed the
meeting, stating the opinions of the candidate, and
called for a show of hands in his favour. Most of the
persons present then held up their hands, and of course
no one held up his hand against him. Mr. Scholefield
then announced that the Committee met at the Mitre,
and they would be glad to have more persons to join it.
Mr. I'. GENDALL asked Colonel Thompson to state
his views on the Rural Police question ; and the
Colonel replied that though he supported the Metropo-
litan Police, as 1),, thought it necessary there, he should
like to see the English custom of their ancestors, when
men ruled and policed themselves. He also expressed
himself in favour of national education.
A person in the crowd asked if he would vote for
suppressing the beer-houses; and the Colonel replied
that he was opposed to it altogether. He then an•
nounced that he would meet them again the following
day at five o'clock.
The meeting then separated.

--
Thus far we have noticed the proceedings here as to
the three candidates, who, we suppose, must now be
considered as before the electors. We understand
that the writ was received in the Sheriff's office,
Preston, on Wednesday ; and on the evening of that
day, the Sheriff's precept was served on the borough-
reeve and constables at the Town Hall, and they made
proclamation of the same on Thursday noon, from the
piazza of the Town-Hall, appointing Wednesday next
for the nomination, and Thursday for the poll. Last
evening, another precept was served on Thomas Potter,
Esq., Mayor of the Borough, but too late to make pro-
clamation yesterday within the required hours.
Will make proclamation this day, at twelve
o'clock ; but as there must he four clear days
between such proclamation and the day of nomination,
it will be impossible for the Mayor to fix the election
for the same day as the boroughrcevc has announced,
and we believe the nomination will be appointed by the
Mayor for Thursday and the poll for Friday next.
The commencement of the canvass Las been too
recent to warrant us in stating any thing as to its suc-
cess or results, so far as it has gone, in reference to any
of the candidates.

Since writing the above, we have seen a placard,
dated " Friday evening," announcing that " Sir Geo.
Murray has arrived." We have heard that the Hon.
13.1ronet did not come from Dover, where the deputation
expected to find him, but from Perth.