The Sun.
London, England, 1841-06-21 00:00:00

DUNCOMBE FOR FINSBURY.

- - -
A numerous and highly respectable meeting of the
electors of Finsbury took place on Friday evening,- at
the Belvidere Tavern, Pentonville, for the purpose or
enrolling themselves as committeemen, and forming dis-
trict committees to co-operate throughout the borough ins
the re-election of T. S. Dun-combe, sq.; W. Nicholson„
Esq., in the chair. The names ea number of influentic
inhabitants from the various parishes having been rea I
over, they responded to the call, and consented to b c
placed on the committee, and so great was the number 4 )f
volunteers, that the list was speedily filled.
Mr. HEWITT then rose, and congratulated the meeting
on the efficient committee they had just formed,
only required the selection of an appropriate and in-
fluential chairman to direct its energies with success. On
former occasions Mr. Duncombe and the, electors of
Finsbury had been so fortunate as to secure the able avid
zealous services of Mr. Armstrong., an independent M a-
gibtrate of the county of Middlesex, in that capacity, a-, id
in the hope that gentleman would again preside over tlu it
future meetings. lie begged to propose him to the electc rs
of Fiii.,bury as chairman of the Central Committee ; id
the proposition being seconded, was carried by accla-
mation.

Mr. ARMSTRONG then addressed the electors, by sa, y-
ing, that, arduous as were the duties of the office whit
they had just invited him to fill, yet, in looking rouin
the room, lie recognized so many coadjutors in his forms
labours, and was surrounded by so considerable a portioi
of the influential electors of this great metropolitan ho -
rough, that he would not shrink from it.—(Cheers.)
was now beaten ground to many of them, as well as hi m.-
self ; yet he had hoped that the faithful services di w-
ing the three _Reform Parliaments, of their talented
presentative—(Loud cheers)—would have protec/ ;ed
them fiona the necessity of traversing it again. I
consistent support of civil and religious liberty to its
fullest extent,—his untiring efforts in the cause of l iu-
rnanity,—his- munificent support of the charities of the
borough,--and his unwearied attention to its local ilzte-
rests, and even. the individual wishes of his constitue ots,
and the confidence they had reposed in him,—had in-
duced him to hope that any mere pretender to their suf-
frages would have been deterred from a futile atte aipt
to disturb the harmony and confidence which prevailed
between the represented and their representative
(Loud cheers.) He was, however, sorry to Say sucl i a
pretender was in the field—(Loud cries of No Took e")
—a pretender without hope, unmasked by the z.
energy, and honest integrity of Mr. Duncombi 3
(Hear, hear)—in an attempt to use the influence of one of
his many secretaryships and treasurerships to buy the
suffrages of the electors with, with a view, perhaps, at so me
future time, to sell them, and now in conseque. ice
deprived of the respect of the honoura ble
and high-minded, he hopes in a spirit of petty revel ige
to annoy and put to expense a representative he cam 3ot
displace. If Mr. Tooke was a Reformer at heart, he
would not thus throw the apple of discord, with a vie n.'
to catch the falling fruit, or by attempting to divide t;6R.
Liberal interest, connive at letting in an opponent. -
(Hear, hear.) Those cheers assure me you will grie-
vously disappoint him, and that if he appears on the
hustings at all, he will retire from it defeated, ant 1
still more disgraced. Your honourable representative e
has stood nine contested elections, and succeeded
ii i
seven, and were you to examine his recorded vote s
and speeches, though doubtless they are as well know] I
to you as to myself, you will find him the uniform sup-
porter of every enlightened measure having for its 01:P-
-eet the political, civil, or religious civilization of man—
kind. I feel certain you will assure to this borough a
continuance of those services, and put the pretender to
flight, and, to effectually do so, will use your influence
in your respective parishes, and with your friends and
neighbours, to return your honourable representative,
for the fourth time, to Parliament for this borough.

Mr. RICHARD TAYLOR said he rose to propose a inkr-

tion,;;- which he would give his hearty assent,
" That this meeting pledges itself to give its most
hearty, honest, and zealous support to T. S. Duncombe,
Esq., at the forthcoming election," and took occasion
to remark he entirely coincided in the character givan of
that Hon. Gentleman by his friend Mr. Armstrong, but
he thought his friend had placed that of Mr. Tooke in a
too favourable light ; surely Mr. Armstrong, as a for mer
inhabitant of St. Andrews, Holborn, must remember Mr.
Tooke the most violent of Tories, and so he remained,
until, by changing his politics, he was able to cajole the
constituency of Truro to elect him their represen;ative.
Mr. Tooke was no Reformer. He was an impostor in po-
litics; if he professed himself one, it was to serve some
similar purpose; he felt certain the electors ot.FinsburY
would have nothing to do with him, and that the; would
support the motion he now submitted.
Mr. BROWN, in a few words, seconded the moi:son,
which was, like the former, enthusiastically carried.
Mr. DuiccomnE, on rising to return thanks for thei,
confidence reposed is him, and the promised support of
the meeting, was asked by an elector, if, in the event of
Sir R. Peel becoming Prime Minister, he (Mr. D.) would
support him, to which the Hon. Member replied by an
emphatic " No ;" but to that other question asked by
the same gentleman, Mr. Duncombe said he would more
fully reply before he sat down. The Hon. Member then
proceeded to express his obligation to so large and re-
spectable a body of his constituents for appearing there on
the present occasion, and congratulated them on having
secured the zealous and valuable assistance of his
friend Mr. Armstrong as their chairman ; they
were under no ordinary obligation to that gentle-
man ; on former occasions, and on the present., he
had left his family to come among them to assist in
securing a victory, not to him, Mr. Duncombe merely,
kit to the cause they all had at heart. He, Mr. D. re-
gretted the constituency should be put to this trouble,
for he ventured to prophecy his adversary, Mr. Tooke,
dare not face the honourable and independent electors o
Finsbury, on Islington-green. The lion. Gentleman then
denounced Mr. Tooke as the grossest impostor, both in
politics and religion, that had ever appeared in public life.
—(Cries of "True, true.") It is true, said Mr. D., and he
was happy to find his character was so well known by the
large and respectable assemblage before him.—(Cheers.)
An honourable elector had 'asked him if he would sup-
, port Sir Robert Peel ; was it likely he would support
one he had uniformly opposed for fifteen years, from the
commencement of his Parliamentary career ? not unless
Sir Robert Peel reversed his polities, and supported mea-
sures to which be had hitherto been an enemy.—(Cheers.)
The same elector also asked him whether he would
support the Ministerial measures respecting corn, sugar,
and timber?—Surely the Hon. Elector had- not watched
his Parliamentary conduct, nor scrutinized his recorded
votes and speeches on this important measure. He (Mr.
Duncombe) had been always the determined enemy of
monopoly in every form, and more particularly against
any, monopoly that interfered with the privileges of the
people, or the comforts of the poor.—(Loud cheers.)
The Hon. Member concluded his animated, satis
Fac-
tory, and eloquent address, amidst the enthusiastic cheers
of the whole meeting.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman, for
,his able aibd
impartial conduct in the chair, being unanimously car -
ried, the meeting separated, giving three hearty cheers
for Duncombe, with one cheer more.

POST-OFFICE EXPENDITURE.
NEW SYSTEM.
The cost of management has increased from about
750,000/. in 1839, to about 850,000/. in 1840.4 Here of
course the question arises whether this increase is attri-
butable to the increase 'in the number of letters. Th at
this is the case to some extent is undoubtedly the fact,
but as the Whole difference is as much as 100,0001., it be -
comes an important question, what fraction of the in.-
crease is attributable to that cause ? or in other words,
how much of this increased expense would have been in-
curred had the postage remained on its old footing ? The
most important item in the increase is in the transit of
the mails, the cost of which, for Great Britain alone,
was greater in 1839 by about 34,000/. than in 1838 ; and
has again adF•anced by about 33,0001.. in 1840. The cause
of this increased expense of nearly 70,0001. in two years
is in some measure explained by a reference to the se-
cond column of the same return, where it appears that
the payment for railway conveyance has increased in tla
period from about 10,000/. to 51,000/. ; while a reference
to the first column of the same Return shows that the ex-
pense of conveyance by mail-coaches, instead of diminish-
ing as the railway charge increased, actually increased
with it. The explanation of this apparent anomaly is to
be found, partly in establishment of the day mails, but
chiefly in the fact that the opening of the railways, by
diminishing competition on parallel lines, has produced
donaille conveyance,
amounting, anw.
oauu augmentation
some
eu the
instances, chargeseven
cost.

From these statements it will appear that the causes
which increased the expenditure of 1839 over 1838, were
in full operation, so far at least as one important de-
partment is concerned, for producing a similar increase
in 1840 over 1839. How far the increase in other depart-
ments had an independent tendency to continue, it is not
easy to determine ; but that some increase would have oc-
curred, may fairly be inferred from the actual increase in
1839. Indeed, I may observe, that the increase in the transit
postage paid toforeign countries (about 13,0001.) has no
relation to Penny. Postage, and that the charge for con-
veying the letters of the office itself (about 10,0001.) is a
mere matter of account, and no real increase of expense ;
though of course it is needful to remember that both
these items have their effect on the gross receipts. De-
ducting, therefore, these two sums, together with the
33,0001. mentioned above, we have a remainder of 44,0001.
which is probably about the amount of increased expen-
diture fairly chargeable on Penny Postage. This in-
creased: expenditure is about six per cent. on the previous
amount.
It must here be observed, that of the whole increase of
70,0001. in the expense of transmitting the mails, no
ap-
preciable part is referable to the reduced rate of poshteargco;.
though of course so far as the increase in the num.
letters is concerned, the new day-mails, however
in
number, must have their just credit assigned
that
most manifest
of an increased rate of expenditure is not
and as more-
overlt is also important to remark here, hatast the effect
in the year in which the increase
rapidly
the number of railways is
irlasp
idea of the pro-
bable foufrtthrearnsamugitmtienngtattihoen. 1 increasing, the
item may be derived
mails must be expected to
bable future magnitude of this
from the fact, that the p
rate of payment from the
ways alone, is as high as 47,
This shows that the public
Post-office to the Birminteg.ltonnoitola.npderGarnanntundJ.unction Rail-
[From Mr. papienr.
paystransmaisscioonnsihdyerraabillievasas.3 for the increased celerity of
t Under the head " Great Britain" it
the United Kingdom,
1 bmuust be deducted from this amount.
• The Return gives 903 6771. as the cost of management for
is shown that 45,000 .

CONTEST FOR EAST CUMBERLAND —A. t
length the Tories have screwed their courage to the
sticking place; and brought forward an unfortunate gen-
tleman to abide the pelting. of the pitiless storm from
which, four years ago, Sir James Graham was obliged
to flee for shelter to Pembroke harbour.

EVENING EDIT

N.