The Sun.
London, England, 1836-01-04 00:00:00

RICHMOND.

The cause of Reform has triumphed here most gloriously ;
every member of the old Corporation has been driven from
office by a large majority. A few weeks ago the Reformers,
at a public meeting in the Town-hall, formed an association
to promote the election of twelve real Corporation Reformers,
The Tories, on the other hand; shortly afterwards met at the
King's Head Inn, and being joined by a few persons who had
previously been considered as supporters of the Liberal cause,
appointed a Committee, and proceeded publicly to canvass the

electors. Sometimes nearly the whole body of Aldermen, with
the Town-clerk, were seen calling upon the electors, at their
. houses, to support them, but in vain. The inhabitants were evi-
dently as disgusted with the men, as well as with the vile sys-
tem of corporate government which they had so loug sup-
ported. The inhabitants, at public meetings, had petitioned
for corporate reform, whilst the Mayor and Aldermen bad
petitioned for a continuance of the system of self-election for
life. There was no identity of feeling or interest between the
people and their mis-called representatives. The Mayor, only
a few months ago, when a requisition numerously signed was
presented to him, absolutely refused to nail a public meeting
to petition the Lords to pass the Bill. The inhabitants, how-
ever, petitioned in spite of his efforts to prevent them. On
the present occasion they were determined that this great act
of reform should be carried into effect by its friends, and not
left to the tender mercies of its enemies. The Reform Asso-
ciation, headed by J. Hutton and W. Lawson, Esqrs., with an
active committee, and Mr. Croft for the chairman, continued
gradually to increase, whilst the Tories, finding their cause
desperate, adopted the most violent means of securing votes.
Agents from the country applied to tenants to vote at their
bidding, persons owing money were threatened with immediate
arrest if they did not at once pay, tradesmen were threatened
with loss of business, and servants with dismissal from their
employment, but all without effect. The cause of corporate
reform had become invincible and vain were the efforts to
arrest its progress. This borough, as altered by the Lords,
has not its parliamentary boundaries, but is confined to its
old limits ; consequently there were only 288 electors, of
which 265 voted at the present election. The following is
the result. The Mayor did
_not publish the numbers for the
Tory candidates, but their votes are given as near the truth as
possible.

TORIES AND ANTI-REFORMERS.
Smurthwaite 112
Bradley 102
El. Wood 101
Rolling 99
- Bowe 99
W. Gill 91
Young 85
E. Mason 76
Robson 70
W. R. Robinson 64
C. Dalton 61

REFORMERS.
L. Cooke 198
G. Croft 181
R. Atkinson 178
0. Leefe 176
C. Croft 173
J. Ward 173
J. Miller 170
H. Cooke 167,
J. Hutton 1671
Layfield 157,
Pearson 155
Fawcett.. 151
The names of the Aldermen removed from office are Messrs.
Goodburne, Brunton, Brackenbury, Terry;- G. Smurthwaite,
R. Gill, W. Gill, Bradley, E. Mason, J. Metcalfe, G. Allison,
and R. Thompson. The last-named Is a Reformer, and would
have been re-elected, but having been a householder only two
years, was ineligible. The result of the election will materially
strengthen the Liberal interest in the Parliamentary elections.
At a meeting of the Town Council of the borough on Thurs-
day, the following gentlemen were chosen Aldermen :—John
Hutton, of Marks Hall, Esquire; William Lawson, of Brough
Hall, Esquire ; Mr. 0. Leefe, and Mr. George Croft ; all
Reformers.—Leeds Mercury.