The Sun.
London, England, 1862-12-29 00:00:00

REIGATE.

The Surrey limes of Saturday says :—Matters
concerning the election are rather in an unsettled
state in this borough, neither parly having yet de-
terminedly fixed upon their candidate. Of course
a great many names are mentioned, and as it is not
very likely that the election will take place until
February, it is not at all improbable that others
will yet be added to the list. Amongst the liberals
whose names have been put forward are Mr. W.
A Wilkinson, Mr. G. L. Gower, and Mr. Thomas
Dacn. The last-named gentleman, who is a mem-
ber of the Society of Friends, carries on business as
a coal-merchant in the borough. He is well known
as an active social and political reformer ; but it is
not yet certain whether he will allow himself to
be put in nomination. The Conservatives speak of
bringing forward Mr. Stuart Wortley, and that
gentleman has already issued an address. In
the event of a division in the Liberal camp, he
might possibly obtain a majority notwithstanding
the decidedly liberal tendencies of the borough at
large. Mr. Dann, after being waited upon, for-
warded a letter, of which the following is a copy,
to the members of the Reigate Liberal Registra-
tion Society. It will be seen that Mr, Dann
does not positively decline to stand, but that he
makes that proceeding dependent on certain contin-
gencies. "Gentlemen,—Upon your waiting on me
on Saturday last, you were kind enough to allow
me a few days to reply to your inquiry concerning
the important matter you submitted to me. Hav-
ing now maturely considered it, I wish to state that,
however gratifying to me your inquiry may be
(and nothing could be more so than the evidence
of confidence and esteem afforded by your asking
me to become your representative), other considera-
tions present themselves to my mind, which are to
me of higher importance than my own gratifica-
tion. Among the first of these is the possibility of
my standing in the place of some other candidate,
who might he more fit to represent you than my-
self. Another is, that consistency with my prin-
ciples, and previous activity in public matters,
namely, that candidates should not be permitted to
incur profuse and needless expense, might possibly,
by conflicting with the views of many of the elec-
tors, make my return doubtful, or even furnish the
occasion for a Tory triumph, which might have
been averted, had the Liberal forces been devoted
exclusively in favour of some candidate more ready
than I should be to comply with the common prac-
tice. Could these obstacles, however, be removed,
my acceptance of your proposal wuuld be facili-
tated. My long residence among you, and the in-
terest I have ever felt in every public movement
touching the welfare of the locality has, I doubt
not, prompted you to the step you have so kindly

taken ; but you may rest assured that, whether or
not it may ever he my experience to promote your
interests by representing you in Parliament, I shall
ever feel grateful for this testimony of your appro-
val and regard.—l am, &c.,

" THOMAS J)ANN."

TOTNES ANT) EXETER.

The Western Morniny News of Saturday says :
—The Conservatives of Totnes are seeking to in-
duce Mr. Dent to contest the representation on
purity principles. A memorial to that gentlemen is
in circulation, and about 120 signatures had been
attached to it. , The number of electors is 345. The
Liberal party have taken no further public mea-
sures respecting the election. Mr. Alfred Seymour
has issued a farewell address to the electors of Exe-
ter. It is dated one day later than his address to
the electors of Totnes ; and that gentleman, there-
fore, does not approve of the principle of being off
with the old love before being on with the new. In
the Exeter address he tells the electors, " Totnes,
is your neighbouring borough." We had always
thought that the only person who claimed the
borough of Totnes as private property was the Duke
of Somerset. There is, we believe, a fair chance that
this election will be conducted fairly and decently
so far as the electors are concerned. At present
there seems no chance of bribery, and the only im-
proper influence will be territorial influence. Mr.
Seymour having retired from the position which he
lately occupied at Exeter, has now left the room
clear for Mr_ J. D. Coleridge, QC. That gentle-
man will, it is understood, now issue his address,
and he is expected to hold a public meeting in the
city very shortly. Sir Henry Young has, it is
stated, ceased to be a candidate for Totnes. On
hearing that the ground had been preoccupied by
Mr. Alfred Seymour he at once decided on not
dividing the Liberal majority, and withdrew from
the contest.