The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-01 00:00:00

CHESTER ELECTION.
0n Saturday morning the constituency of Chester elected
Lupus, -Earl Gr..svenor, to represent the borough in
t lainent, in the room of Lord Robert Grosvenor. d
S. stand for Middlesex. The attendance at the hustings in
the Town-hall was unusually large, and the proceedings
throughout
se ofwerspirited character.
a very
The 11EllIF., having conducted the usual preliminary
Proceedings.
Mayor of Chester, D. PHILLIPS JONES, in rising to
.._1)(1se Earl Grosvenor as a fit and proper person to repre-
:Tt.the city in Parliament, felt -that however much they
;,,ht regret the loss they had sustained by the resignation
72.11eir, late worthy and honourable member, Lord Robert
nsvenor, their sorrow was in some degree lessened by the
''°Byeet of having his honourable nephew as his successor.
li(utteess.) Should the constituency be now pleased to
e
eet Earl Grosvenor as their representative, he felt assured
That the trial they would thus be enabled to mak of his fit-
Otis for the trust would be such as to induce them to prefer
"Its on succeeding occasions. Earl Grosvenor possessed more
rtlifications than he would venture to name in his pre-
,pasacee. closely
might state, however, that the house of Eaton
identified with the interests of the city of Chester.
wOre Was an association too in the name of Hugh Lupus,
Ea
the constituency of Chester must ever feel an interest
Ilugh Lupus, a Norman name, was the name of the first
40.1 Grosvenor, who was in many respects an eminent man,
ng had devoted himself most zealously to promote the pros
tidtY of the city. They had a Hugh Lupus before them now,
r let them hope that history would record his annals to
be read with equal pleasure as those of his Norman tore-
tatfiera.—(Cheers ) The mayor proposed Earl Grosvenor for
their suffrages. •
Tuostas Discos, Esq., reconded the nomination. He con-
gratulated the city on the union of interests they had met
With in the course of the present canvass. The committee
['ad waited personally on 1,400 electors, and out of that num-
there was not more than two dozen who refused to give
4arl Grosvenor their hearty support.
There being no other candidate, the sheriff declared Earl
arovesnor duly elected, amid long continued applause.
Earl GROSVENOR, on standing forward to return thanks,
Was received with much applause. Ile said—Electors and
brother freemen, it is with the sincerest pride and satisfac•
tion I now address you by that title—a title wbich my
ancestors have borne for many generations—a title to
Which I have long aspired, and a title which I had the
honour of receiving from you on Monday last. The
eon of a freeman, and the grandson of a freeman of Chester,
I need not tell you how much gratification I feel in being per-
flitted to address you by that title, which is the only tie,
II any additional tie were wanting, to cement the union which
has so long subsisted between this city and the house with
Which lam connected. It has been my utmost endeavour
during the short time that has elapsed between the resipena-
iion of your late Member, my relative, and the period fixed
for holding this election, to make acquaintance with you all,
Wl. Should I have omitted calling upon any, I trust you
pnot impute it to neglect or disrespect; but that you will
attribute it to the only circumstance from which it could have
!rift; the short time that has been permitted me to see you
Individually before the nomination. —(Cheers.) I have the
authority of my uncle to say that it was his most earnest
riu tO have paid his peonal regards to you to-day, and to
live taken a farewell orsf those with whom he has been so
°llg Connected by ties political as well as personal, and whose
interests lie has been ever most anxious to promote ; but
runistances have prevented his intended visit to Chester.
aware that it is usual for candidates on such occasions
ite these to make a declaration of their political opinions ; but
4! Present my youth and inexperience must be accepted as
tire excuse for not making pledges. I may, however, say,
t it i 8 my desire to promote the extension of commerce
NM support every measure calculated to improve the moral
al4Beeial condition of the people.—(Cheers.) I have again
thank you for the honour you have done me on this oc-
L Land be assured that, to obtain your confidence, and
er it. a
it your esteem b 3 my future conduct shall be my most
us 'desire.—(Applause.)
he TROXAS DIXON, Esq., had a resolution to sumit, which
Was sure would meet with the hearty concurrence of
hold person present ; and if the room was large enough to
the city, he should not anticipate a dissentient voice.
b begged to move that a vote of thanks be given to Lord
Interests of the city, and for his unceasing exertions to pro-
n°te itz prosperity ; and that the vote of thanks b 3 signed by
-441 sheriff, and transmitted to his Lordship; on behalf of the
keeting.—(Great cheering.)
2,Vm. Buowst, Esq., begged to second the resolution, and
7e, I am convinced that there is not a man in the city who
have
not feel the deepest regret that the Noble Lord should
:tve been compelled by any circumstances to sever the con-
ilaL, ion which has so long subsisted between him and the
tc'y of Chester. It has been a great advantage to the city
I:Velless suck a representative as Lord Robert Grosvenor,
for,„. hie high talents, his unbending honesty of purpose, his
"Zverying support of those Liberal principles which lie at the
zr,t et. all social improvement, have always been most cheer-
ZLY and cordially rendered, both for the advantage of the
L'ull.try in general and the city which he represented.—
,0,-1/I•l3plause.) He is shortly to be placed in a situation
ere he will have a wider sphere for the exercise of his
talents.. and industry, and while our best wishes go with him,
"0 hope we shall have no reason to regret the unanimous
Noble
which has this day been so cordially tendered to the
Lord, his successor.
A vote of thanks was passed to the sheriff, three cheers
Were given for the newly-elected Member, and the meeting
attParated.

WASTE LANDS IN IRELAND.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Jan. 30, 1847.
81R,—You who were the first to recognise the general
soundness of the views set forth in my letter to Lord John
/Itlasell, upon the subject of the reclamation of the waste
'ands in Ireland,would. I am sure, be much pleased that
the Government plan does not vary in one single instance;
aern that which I proposed.
In the postscript to a new edition, which will be published
la the course of the week, I have discussed two most im-
Portant
Hied from
on the same subject, and which I purposely
difference
the letter, be cause I knew there would be a great
fferenee of opinion respecting them, and I did not wish to
r
ert the attention of my readers from the main object I had
in view. Those two questions are,—" What shall be the
maximum and the minimum size of the farms, and what
-„at be the tenure." I have entered fully into those two
ruestions, and shall feel obliged by your insertion of so much
as relates to the Government proposal, not less than twenty-
five or more than fifty acres.—l am, Sir, your most obedient
Servant, RIGBY WASON.
My TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD JOHN RUSSELL.
Lord,—The Government plan, it appears, is to
',Vat) the unclaimed land into small possessions, not less
411111 twenty-five acres, or more than fifty acres. For the
easons already given, I think these figures far too low. No
Z▪
übt the change from a five-acre possession to one of twenty-
blne, acres is a great and salutary improvement, for it corn-
'e:Y obviates one objection to the cottar system, by
the benefit ding permanent employment for the
present wretch state
tnte condition of the agricultural labourer. It is impossible
that the possessor of 25 acres can give permanent employ-
Ves_ltt to a single labourer at adequate wages, and what is to
I,,°,;erne of the next generation? Are the 25 acres to be di-
d among the family of the present possessor? or is it in-
(led to introduce the principle of primogeniture? Is it
Lill! evident that, under such a system, the population will
wil-rease with the utmost rapidity.? A joint-stock company,
use first duty is to make a respectable dividend, takes no
consideration of these matters; but are they not of the utmost
43,portance, deserving the careful attention of statesmen?
• taint there is another element which I think proves the
trsPelicy of further extending in Ireland the system of such
small
possessions. Look at the following table, showing that
°v ,
636,997 at of 685,309 farms, into which Ireland is at present di-
ided are under 30 acres, and only 48,812 above that
Ilutaber

Number of From 1 to From 5 to From 15 to Above 30
Farms. 5 acres_ 15 acres. 30 acres. acres.
Miter ••• • .. 234,499 190,817 98,992 25,099 9,591
:twister • ... 162,386 57,028 61,320 27,481 16,557
.... 133,220 49,152 45,595 20,584 17,889
Connaught .. 155,204 99,918 45,221 5,790 4,275

----685,38T130615 251,128 78,954 I 48,312
I would seriously ask, Has this system produced so much
happiness or contentment that a statesman should desire to
extend it? Would it not be far more wise, now there is an
.?pportun it y. which if lost can never be regained, to try the
4acglish and Scotch system of dividing the land into farms
different sizes, cultivated by agricultural labourers ?
But then your Lordship says, "You do not think that the
small holdings of the country have been injurious." I sin-
rely feel that the expression of any opinion by your Lord-
p, given without any reason, would have great weight'
ell; but when you state a reason for that opinion, and
".•,11 reason embraces a fallacy, I am confident that your
Lordship would be the first to alter your opinion when the
lacy Was clearly pointed out. The reason you gave for
1.1.ae opinion was this : " I have arrived at that conclusion from
tie fact that the most prosperous and best cultivated county
Ireland is Armagh, a county in which the greatest divi-
'llo.! of land exists."
th4lcm, unless this fact can be most satisfactorily explained
is no doubt that it fully justifies your Lordship's
that it ceases to support the opinion—it is that Armagh is
the centre of the linen trade. Now it has always been ad-
!pitted that small possessions in the neighbourhood of large
togas or manufactones have no injurious quality, because
the occupiers are certain of employment other than that of
their strip of land, and in cases of failure of crop, can rely
lIIIP°II the sympathy and support of their wealthy neigh-
ours. Surround Liverpool, or Manchester, or Dublin, or
Belfast, with five-acre possessions, and would not the occu-
ntier be in totally different circumstances from the bolder of
nye acres in the wilds of Connemara or the Highlands of
Scotland?
But a careful examination of your Lordship's reason estab-
lishes not only the opinion, but positively establishes beyorn,
a doubt its converse. I take Munster because it was put b's
your Lordship in junta-position with Ulster, and not because
have any reason to believe that it is the least prosperous or
worse cultivated province in Ireland. Now, by the above
table, I find the relative sizes of the farms in Ulster and
Munster to be

I have the honour to remain,
Your Lordship's most obedient servant,
RIGBY WASON.

Number of 1 From 1 to I From 15 to
farms. I 5 acres. 30 acres.
Ulster ~. 1 234,499 1 100,817 25,099
Munster... ... 162,385 1 57,028 27,481
Thus, with only one-third more farms, Ulster has nearly
double the number of cotter holdings from 1 to 5 acres, and
not so many farms of from 15 to 30 acres as Munster. If,
therefore, the prosperity of Ulster is not entirely owing to
another cause—that of the linen trade—surely your Lordship's
duty would be to assimilate the rest of Ireland with that of
Ulster, and increase as much as possible the number of cot-
ter holdings from I to 5 acres; and it Munster, with so large
a relative proportion of farms from 15 to 30 acres, be the least
Prosperous and worst cultivated province in Ireland, what
earl justify dividing the waste lands into a minimum of 25
&cres and a maximum of 50 acres ?
nave the Government calculated the enormous extra ex-
penses necessarily attendant upon a division of land into
small possessions as that of 25 and 50 acres. The in-
eased number of barns and offices of every description—
the e
"
enormous expense of making roads for such properties
11 the boundary fences would amount to a large sum.

TUE ITALIAN OPERA.—We are informed that an
A-arlY night after the opening of her Majesty's Theatre will be
.evoted, with the whole resources of the establishment, to
the relief of the deAitute Scotch and Irish.
ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY.— On Saturday the an-
foal report of this society was issued. 174 persons have
en restored by the means adopted for restoring suspended
animation by the society's officers; 26 were beyond recovery.
Fourteen silver and thirty-one bronze medals and pecuniary
rewards have been given to 162 individuals for courageous
aonduct in saving human life: and 79 persons were rescued
omring the recent skating season by the society's men, only
ne terminating fatally.
We understand that a bazaar is to be held at Clifton
in Easter week, for the relief of the distress la Ireland and
wltlancl...-,Bristol Journal.