The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-29 00:00:00

THE MIDDLESEX ELECTION.
The following correspondence has taken place between Lord
Robert Grosvenor and Mr. Henry Hoare
" New-street, Spring-gardens, Jan. 21, 1847.
"My Lord,—l have been requested by several of the electors
of Middlesex, who have met together this day to consider
the course to be taken with reference to the present vacancy
in the representation, to bring under your Lordship's notice
one very important topic, to which they find no allusion in
the address published in this morning's papers.
alive
" We cannot doubt that your Lordship is fully
to the
importance of a free communication of sentiment between a
candidate and the constituency he seeks to represent. The
connexion between
.your Lordship and the county of Middle-
sex, when formed, is one which may be expected to endure
for many years to come ; but it would be disappointing to
both parties if there were afterwards discovered to exist dif-
ferences of opinion on important subjects, such as to render a
dissolution of the connexion inevitable.
" The point to which we desire to draw your Lordship's
attention is that of the contemplated endowment of the Ro-
mish priests in-Ireland. We speak of it as contemplated,'
not meaning thereby to imply that it is likely to be imme-
diately proposed to Parliament; but rather, that being re-
garded with favour by some of the leading men in all
the great parties into which the nation is divided, it is not
probable that the next Parliament will expire without hav-
ing had some such proposition urged upon its acceptance.
" Regarding it, then, as a subject of the deepest importance,
and as one which is likely to be brought before the House
of Commons in the course of a comparatively short time, we
earnestly desire a candid explanation of your Lordship's
views and intentions respecting it.
" Allow us to add, that our inquiry has no reference to the
possible details of such a measure. It is not as a question of
finance, or unjust taxation, that we regard it. If it could be
shown that the Irish priests could be endowed by means of
Crown lands, church leases, land-tax, or any other purely
Irish resources, that circumstance would not in the slightest
degree lessen our repugnance to the measure. Our oppo-
sition to it rests wholly on religious grounds, and would not
be in any degree affected by a variation in the financial
arrangements.

"Entertaining these views, and believing them to be par-
ticipated in by many of the electors of Middlesex, we request
at your Lordship's hands a statement of your views and in-
tentions with regard to this important subject.—l have' the
honour to be, my Lord, your Lordship's obedient and very
humble servant, "HENRY HOARE.
" The Lord Robert Grosvenor, &c., &c."

" Moor Park, Jan. 23, 1847.
" Sir,—l beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of
the 21st, which should have had an earlier reply, had it been
delivered at my house in town before Friday evening, but as
Igen London in the afternoon of that day, it did not reach
me till this morning.
"Permit me, in the first place, to thank you for the cour-
teous terms in which you are good enough to put to me the
question it contains, an act which could not require the
smallest apology on your part. Though I have no difficulty
in replying to it, I regret being compelled to do so, because
I find myself under the necessity of avowing an opinion not
in unison with your own and that of those gentlemen in
whose name you speak.
"Having for so many years represented a constituency
identified in political feelings with the friends and supporters
of the late Mr. Byng, the vacancy caused by whose lamentd
death lam now called upon to fill, I thought it would not
be inconsistent with the respect which I entertain towards
them, to abstain from entering into a detail of opinions
which I conceived would be already known to
them ; and, in regard to the particular point upon
which you d'sire explanation, I might mention two
reasons for not having made it an exception to the rule :
first, because I concur with you in thinking that, after the
declarations of the Prime Minister, and also of the Irish Ro-
manist hierarchy, made only last year, it is very unlikely
that the subject will be brought forward at present ; and,
secondly (though I am far from expecting that every one
will be acquainted with the political acts of so humble an
individual as myself), because I have, upon two occasions,
indicated with tolerable distinctness my views upon the point
at issue.

" The occasions to which I allude are, my votes upon the
motion of Lord Ellesmere, then Lord Francis Egerton, made,
I believe, in 1827, for the endowment of the Irish Romanist
clergy, and upon the additional grant to Maynooth College,
proposed at a recent period. I made no objection to the ad-
ditional grant, but voted with Mr. Ward, in order to record
my opinion, that the present Protestant Establishment in Ire-
land is more than commensurate with the requirements of
its members ; in 1827 I voted with Lord Ellesmere. Now, I
do not attach any exaggerated merit to political consistency;
one may be as obstinate in a failing as in a virtue, and
could I bring myself to the conviction that I had erred
in these votes, I trust I should at once confess it.
Having, however, attentively and seriously reconsidered
the subject, in its religious not less than its political aspect,
I am bound to declare, that—abstaining from any pledge as
to detail—holding myself at liberty, should I then have a
seat in Parliament, either to acquiesce in, or to oppose, upon
Its own merits, any measure that may be laid before the ,1
House having for its object the endowment of the Romish
clergy in Ireland. There may be again, as there were be-
fore, propositions to that effect submitted to the Legislature,
at a time, and under circumstances, which will ensure my
concurrence.

" I must apologise for the length to which, owing to the
nature of the question you have put to me, I have been com-
pelled to extend my reply; but with one more observation I
will conclude, namely, to express a hope that in this, almost
zmy first public communication with any considerable portion
of the electors of Middlesex, I have manifested a desire to
keep up a free intercourse with them, and to give to whatever
question they shall think proper to address to me a candid,
straightforward, and respectful answer.
" I must again repeat my unfeigned regret, that I find
myself differing with yourself, and those friends in whose
name you write, upon an important subject; and I beg to
subscribe myself, with great deference, sir, your most obedient
and very humble servant, " ROBERT GROSVENOR.
4tH. Hoare, Esq., New•street, Spring-gardens."