The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-22 00:00:00

Sectarian Electioneering..

The subjoined correspondence exemplifies a
curious piece of modern electioneering :

Protestant Electoral Union of Scotland, 17, George
the Fourth Bridge, Edinburgh, Juno 17.

Dear Sir,—We are instructed by the Protestant Electo-
ral Union of Scotland to request the favour of your reply
to the following questions as a candidate for the represen-
tation in Parliament of Haddingtonshire, viz. :-
1. Will you support a motion for the withdrawal of the
Maynooth grant and all other Parliamentary grants for the
support of Romanism ?

2. Will you support or oppose any proposal in Parliament
for the endowment of the Roman Catholic priesthood in
Ireland out of the Consolidated Fund or otherwise ?—We
are, dear Sir, yours truly,

Jous H. SKINNER, President.
W. G. CASSELS, Hon. Soc.

The Lord. Elcho, M.P.

St. James's-place, June 17.

Gentlemen,-,-I have to acknowledge the receipt of a

lithographic circular letter, dated "Protestant Electoral
Union of Scotland," commencing with " Dear Sir," and
signed "J. H. Skinner, President; W. G. Cassels, Hon.
Sec." -

By this circular I am requested to reply to the following
questions :

1. Will you support a motion for the withdrawal of the
Maynooth grant and_of all other grants for the support of
Romanism ?

2. Will you support or oppose any proposal in Parlia-
ment for the endowment of the Roman Catholic priesthood
in Ireland out of the Consolidated Fund or otherwise ?

In reply, I have to state that, personally, I have not the
honour of your acquaintance; that, publicly, I have no
knowledge of the existence of the " Protestant Electoral
Union of Scotland ;" and that, politically, I do not recog-
nise the jurisdiction of any such self-constituted body.
I deny the right of this or of any other self-constituted
political association to attempt to usurp the functions of the
constituencies, and thus to interfere between candidates and
electors.

It is a direct interference with the freedom of election and
an unconstitutional attempt to lower the representative of
a constituency to the level of a delegate of a sectarian poli-
tical association.

I have now for 18 years had the honour of representing
the county of Haddington in Parliament. I have in-variably
declined, as regards my constituents, to limit my freedom
and discretion in the exercise of my Parliamentary duties
by any pledge. To that course I intend to adhere.
Hitherto I have enjoyed the confidence of my constituents.
That confidence I hope to retain, and I do not believe it
will be forfeited or diminished by my denying, on their
part as well as on my own, your right to interfere between
them and me.—l remain, yours, &c. ELCUO.

Literary Night-Birds.
(From the Owl.)

The Hon. Mrs. Arthur Hardinge has been appointed to
the household of her Royal Highness the Princess of
Wales.

Major Teesdale, C. 8., V.C., Equerry to the Prince of
Wales, has returned from attending the funeral of the late
Czarewitch at St. Petersburg, where he represented his
Royal Highness.
We understand that Major Charles Mansfield, late 33d
Regiment, brother of the Commander-in-Chief in India,
will succeed Colonel Staunton, C.B , Royal Engineer; as
Consul-General at Warsaw.