The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-18 00:00:00

NORTH WILTS.

The political affairs of this division are in a pecu-
liar state. On the retirement of Mr. Sotheron-Est-
court, who for many years represented the division,
and earned the respect of all parties, Lord Charles
Bruce, a Liberal, was returned, under an arrange-
ment made between the leaders of both parties, Mr.
Merewether, Q.C., representing the Conservative,
and Mr. Bouverie the Liberal. This arrangement
was that the representation should be divided be-
tween the two parties, and that neither should in
any way aid the starting or election of a third party.
The compact did not give satisfaction to the electors,
and efforts were made to procure a Conservative
candidate, but the short time before the election pre-
vented this effort being successful. After the elec-
tion a meeting was held at Chippenham, when Mr.
Merewether explained the arrangement which had
been made, and stated that the chief reasons which
had led to this course were that 50,000 acres of
land in the division had passed from Conservative
to Liberal owners, and that the registration had not
been efficiently attended to. This explanation was
not deemed satisfactory, and a resolution approving
the compact was negatived, it not even obtaining a
seconder. Mr. Walter Long, who would have again
offered himself had there been no probability of a
contest, publicly announced his intended retirement.
Sir George Jenkinson, of Eastwood-park, Berkeley,
Gloucestershire, then issued an address, announcing
himself as a Conservative candidate. He was not,
however, accepted by the leaders of the party, and
a few days afterwards Mr. Richard Long, one of the
members for Chippenham, and a son of Mr. Walter
Long, issued his address, soliciting the support of
the electors to return him for the seat now held by
his father. Mr. Long has addressed the electors at
several places, as also has Sir George Jenkinson, but
each gentleman acts independently. Sir George
attended the Swindon market this week, and was
well received by a large number of farmers. He
addressed them at the Bell Hotel, and argued that
as he was before the constituency previous to Mr.R.
Long issuing his address he was entitled to support
under the very terms of the compact which it was
was said was influencing the party. He (Sir George)
did not act factiously. He did not come forward
until after Mr. W. Long had announced his retire-
ment, and he was then the only candidate in the
field. Having been invited to stand, and having
received promises of support, he could not be ex-
pected to take off his'hat and make room for Mr.
Long: Indeed, to do so without the consent of those
who supported him would be to break his word. He
was ready to fight if the tenant farmers would sup-
port him, and he argued that the success of the
Herefordshire farmers would stimulate those of
North Wilts to united exertion. He complained
of the manner in which he had been attacked by his
own side, and said he was ready to work with Mr.
Long, canvas with him, and pay with him ; but he
would not accept that. In concluding his speech,
Sir George said—l will further observe that the
spirit displayed against me is not likely to
conduce to harmony. I attended a meeting at
Chippenham, at which Mr. R. Long and his
supporters were present. Mr. Long spoke after
me, and dwelt upon his social position, upon his
father having represented the division, and upon his
having been born among them. I must confess these
are great advantages, and, in speaking afterwards,
I said Mr. Long had advantages which I did not
possess, but that I had this advantage that I was
heir to the second Earl of Liverpool, a Conservative
statesman, and possessed estates in the county. Mr.
Long then got up and said I was bragging about my
high descent. I said, " Stop, stop, you are putting
words into my mouth." Mr. Long said, " I did not
interrupt the last speaker, and he ought not to in-
terrupt me." He further said—and I hope this will
be reported—" I have as much plate on my side table
as he has." (Hisses.) I wish to say nothing but
honour of Mr. Long, but I maintain that the plate on
a man's sideboard has nothing to do with your suf-
frages. I did not ask about his plate. My butler
knows how much plate I have, and I suppose Mr.
Long's butler is in the same position with regard to
his employer. If plate is a qualification for a can-
didate, you can, any of you, go to a silversmith and
buy or hire as much as you please, and get rid of it
again after the election. The hon. baronet pro-
ceeded to say that it was no light thing for him to be
in opposition to men of his own class, but he did not
seek the position. It was thrust upon him, and he
asked the electors to give him their unanimous and
earnest support.
Resolutions were passed at the meeting inviting
Sir George to become a candidate, and pledging
those present to subscribe towards hie election ex-
penses, on the ground that he would have to fight
two parties. ✓

The general opinion in the division is that the
compact will be adhered to by the leaders of the two
parties, who will use their influence to promote the
re-election of Lord Charles Bruce and the return of
Mr. Richard Long.