The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-03 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX ELECTION

(THIS DAY.)

This being the day appointed for the election of a Member
for the county of Middlesex, in the room of the late George
Byng, Esq., who had represented the county for upwards of
half a century, a considerable degree of excitement pre-
vailed in the " lengthy town" of Brentford and its neigh-
bourhood. Old banners, which had figured in the eventful
days of the Reform agitation, again flaunted in the breeze,
and groups of electo-rs and non-electors, the one party equally
interested with the other, disported themselves with favours
of buff and blue (the old Whig colours). The better-class
farmers of the district bestrode horses which, judging from
their spirit, had erewh ile figured in the ranks oft he yeomanry,
while numerous carriages, containing the aristocracy of She
country, followed the open chariot in which Lard
Robert Grosvenor, with the Chairman of his Committee
and other friends were seated. Some short time before his
Lordship arrived at " the Butts" (the. name reminds one of
a former day, when the peasantry of England had their fre-
quent and appointed holidays), lady Grosvenor and family
drove up to the hustings, and were accommodated with
places, whence they could see and hear everything that
Passed. Among the more distinguished personages present,
we observed the Hon. Philip Pleydell Bouverie ; Sir Edward
North Buxton, Bart.; Samuel Charles Whitbread, Esq.
(chairman of the committee); the Hon. Frederic Byng; Sir
Walter Stirling t Sir William Clay, M.P.; Sir De Lacy
Evans, bI.P. ; Mn Armstrong; Mr. Rota ; Mr. Riches, of
Uxbridge; Mr. Sherburn, &c. &c.
Although the day was by uo means favourable to out-door
exhibitions, the enthusiasm of the electors had so far over-
come their repugnance to a wetting, that not less
than five hundred were assembled iti the open
apace (the Butts) behind the Three Pigeons Tavern.
'rinse were backed up by the banners already alluded to, on
which were inscribed certain weighty and not to be contro-
verted apothegms, such as " The Queen and the People,"
" A fair day's wages for a fair day's work," " Liberty and
.FreeStTrade:' &c. Several associations exhibited their pecu-
liar andards,
tion fiThe gure
pre-eminently.
among whom the Brentford Reform Associa-
Kennard, w.ifftehefth Londonulde andnsh
erffMiddlesex,bies
srs Messrs.BaylisChallisan and
Baunrd_
chell, appeared at the front of the hustings, while the sum-
moning officer of the district read the proclamation.
The candidate then retired, and the usual oaths were ad-
ministered to him.
On his return to the hustma.s•
Mr. BAYLIS, the Under-Sheriff,
read the writ of election
and the oaths against bribery and corruption.
Mr. Sheriff CHALLIS then came forward and said—Gentle-
, men, we have now introduced to your notice, with the usual
legal forms, the important business which has brought us
together. It is impossible 'for us to be assembled on any
matter more connected with the interests and happiness of a
people who are guided b, wisdom and experience, than on
the present occasion.—((;beers.) It is impossible for us to
attach too much importance to the opportunity now given
of electing our representative, and in the proportion that we
seek integrity and propriety of principle in the man we
elect so shall our interests be cared for and attended to—
(cheers)—by expecting and exacting the same honour, the
same industry, the same integrity, from him.—(Cheers.) I
feel that on such an occasion it would ill'btcome me, in the
character of your presiding officer, to detain you with any ob-
servations of my own. lam anxious that we should proceed
to business, and that while you moderate any feeling of your
own—that while you express your approbation or disap-
probation-.-that you should, at the same time give all parties
a fair hearing, so as to do justice to all parties who may be
anxious to make any observations to you. We should not
be doing our duty to ourselves. we should not be honouring
the memory of our late lamented representative
—Mr. Byng—who, with so much honour to himself
and advantage to his constituents for half a century, spoke
our sentiments in Parliament. When we recollect that
during the time he represented this county almost every
question of pressing moment, and of gravest importance,
occupied the Legislature—when we recollect that when our
late representative held a seat in that House it
was difficult for any man to hold by the test of con-
scientiousness, through which he had been elected.—
(Rear, hear.) The public, after examiniug the career of such
a man, might exclaim with justice, that he was " the pilot
that weathered the storm."— (Cheers.) And now we should
see that the person whom we elect should preserve these
principles in their utmost rectitude.—(Cheers.) In conclu-
sion, we must always, however, admit thus much, that
however we may differ from the politics of the Noble
Candidate, in no measure which involved the be-
nefit of the country has he ever been the last
to lend the sanction of his name or influence.
--(Cheers.) My duty now is merely to call upon any
gentleman here to propose any one as a candidate, and it is
for you, gentlemen, to consider whether he is worthy to
succeed your late representative.—(Cheers.)
The lion. E. P. BOUVERIE then came forward to propose
Lord Robert Grosvenor. He said,—Friends and brother
electors of this county—gentlemen, the proposal I am about
to submit to you, the name of a gentlemen to represent
you in Parliament, is so likely to be received with general and
unanimous approbation that I don't consider it necessary to
detain you at any length. The gentleman who has preceeded
me, and who has presided over this meeting, has brought
under your consideration the importance of the object of
your meeting on this occasion, and he has also alluded to
your choosing a fit and proper successor to the gentlemen
who had formerly represented this county, and who had
some fourteen or fifteen times been adopted as your
representative. During the whole course of Mr. Byng's
political life he had proved himself the friend of civil and
religious liberty, and he thought that the duty of the '
Government was to legislate for the welfare of the people.
If this principle actuates us, then are we bound
,to find
another person who entertains these views, and who will
endeavour to carry them out in the Parliament of the
country.—( Hear, hear.) The whole political life of the
Noble Lord will prove that he is pre-eminently that
person.—(Cheers.) For twenty years he has shown himself
the friend of civil and religious liberty, lie has shown himself
the friend of the civil and the practical reforms which have
agitated the country—(Cheers)—and he has been found
always enlisted on the side of the people.—(Cheers.) I
entirely agree with the sentiments of the Noble Lord from
the many years' experience of his past life, and I have now,
therefore, no hesitation in recommending him to your
choice—(Cheers) —as your rapresentative.—(Continued
cheering.) But I cannot close without in some degree re-
ferring to a correspondence which has been extensively cir-
culated within these few days. I may refer to the Noble
Lord's truly noble conduct, to his straightforward answer
to the insidious question. The person who has written that
letter is a particular friend of mine, but I repiuliate all
the sentiments contained in it.—(Loud cheers.) The
Noble Lord, I repeat, has answered that letter in a
;straightforward manner, and we may conclude from thence
that_
sort his is the very of honesty we want in our represen-
tative (Cheers.) Ido not know that it is necessary for me
to enter farther into this subject, but I think that it is rather
"fair to ask a question on any subject without at the same
time reciting the contingencies which might materially affect
tt. If you choose the man the rectitude of whose political
life you acknowledge, then I think you will do well, and you
Ought to leave it to him to carry out his principles in the
Way
most consonant to his own feelings. The man you re-
quire is Lord Robert Grosvenor, and it is with great pleasure
that I propose him as a fit person to represent you in Par-
llareent.—(Cheers.
Sir E. N. Bstxxorr said—l have a great deal of pleasure in
:co Wing the nomination of Lord Robert Grosvenor as a
add Person to rearesent you in Parliament. I cannot, however,
ress the electors Of this great county without expressing
L''Y feeling respecting your late representative
character. lam sure
that no one was acquainted with his and virtues
who entertained not the highest respect for Mr Byng, and I
em, convinced that no man whatever could throughout such
tlengthened political life—a life extending over 56 years—
e,ye preserved such a cordial feeling with his constituents,
„
',4ntess he had been actuated by the highest,
the best, • and purest motives. (Loud cheers.)
era aware that during this period questions of vital im-
portance to the world were discussed—(Cheers)—but you
are also aware, that whatever might be the inducements to
overlook your interests, you had an honest and honourable
gentleman to see to your interests. I feel that we are met
this day on a solemn occasion. If we consider the state of
this country and of Ireland, we cannot send a
man to Parliament without being conscious that
We have a great and solemn duty to perform;
and I confess that when I heard of Mr. Byng's death 1
thought it would be a difficult matter for the electors of this
county so find another man to supply his place—( Hear,
hear)—with equal satisfaction to yourselves and to the coon-
try
sry- Ido think, however, that you cannot find a man better
Itialified to fill the place of your late representative than the
o_b 1 e Lord who now offers himself to your suffrages.—
(Cheers.) We know Lord Robert Grosvenor to be the friend
of the poor.—(Cheers.) We know him to be a man who
will not sanction any measure which lie thinks inimical to
'sue People or their constitution.—(Continued cheering.)
Although I do not concur in every sentiment of Lord Ro-
bert Grosvenor, still I am of opinion that there is no man
better qualified to represent us; and it is, therefore,
With great pleasure that I second the nomination
of :Lord Robert Grosvenor to represent us in Parliament.
The sheriffs having requested any person who had any other
candidate to propose to come forward and do so, and no per-
son responding, proceeded to take the show of hands. A
forest of hands was held up in favour of the proposed candi-
dme, and only two against it. The sheriff declared Lord
Robert
Grosvenor to be duly elected as a member to serve in
arliament for the county of Middlesex, in the present session
of Parliament.
Lord ROBERT GROSVENOR then came forward, and
was received in the most enthusiastic manner. When silence
was somewhat restored, the Noble Lord said, Mr. Sheriff and
n gentlemen,te electors of the county of Middlesex, I must beg.
first place, to thank you most kindly for the kind and
warm
reception which you have been pleased to accord to me
upon the present occasion. I
am standing the unfavourable; ess happy also, that, notwith-
aeeeday,youhave all preserved
such Perfect good hurnour.—as
11
in one.)
they
are not in good humour I will keep themre
i)ematllcrn cannot
propose at present singing a duet with
crowd.--(Cheers.) Gentlemen, it is notatthe first time that
I have appeared upon the hustings.—(A voice--It
won't a
the last.) I hope not. But, gentlemen, this is the fir time
be
that i have ever had the honour of appearing before you in a
public character, and, gentlemen, when I think of the mag-
nitude of the constituency—(Hear, hear)—and of the vast
importance of that county for which I am now a candidate—
(A voice—A Member)—l thank that gentleman for his cor-
rection—l must say that lam nearly overwhelmed with a
'reuse of my own insufficiency.—(A voice—Keep your spirits
UP-) Gentlemen, lam but a plain and simple man, having
no pretence to oratorical talents, and I must therefore en-
deavour to obtain your kind and indulgent attention
during the address which it will now be my duty to
make to you.—(Cheers.) Gentlemen, nothing, I do assure
Y°l4 would have induced me to have obtruded myself upon
Your notice upon the present occasion, had I not been
allured that I was called upon to do so by the whole united
strength of the late lamented Mr. Byng's supporters, and the
assurance conveyed to um by my Hon. Friend behind me,
1 Charles Whitbread, the chairman of the committee of
Which be was the originator and supporter—than whom no
Person could be more capable of appreciating the sentiments
• ;hall feelings of the electors of Middlesex—nothing less than
iIoY3P appearances would have induced me to sever that con-
retort with my attached friends—the city of Chester—
isoyeere)s—who, during a period of more than twenty years
e honoured me with such unwavering kindness, and such
"19licit confidence—nothing less than the assurance that
you would give me the same kindly co-operation and assist-
,7.n
I._ceitt the performance of the arduous duties now imposed
me, would have ,induced me to undertake the serious
duties attaching to the representation of the county of Mid-
allex•—(A voice, "You are worthy of it.") Before I pro-
ceed to
_ say another word about myself, you must permit me
feeliontscharge a duty I owe, and also to consult my own
spotted
saying something with reference to my late re-
_ lend, Mr. Byng, the late Member for the county of
(shFkugleae,.w, whose memory is so justly dear to us
eers.) Ido not know how, in a few words, I can better
of tbsitAp. my feelings than by using the words o thin riends
lamented gentleman, who would inscribe proud