The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-17 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER ELECTION.

MEETING OF TUE FRIENDS AND SUPPORT.
ERS OF CAP rAIN ItOUS.

Last evening a meeting was held in the British Coffee-house,
Cockspur-street,. Piccadilly, of the friends and supporters of Captain
Rous, for the purpose of making the necessary preparations for the
contest which commences this day ; but very soon after the ap-
pointed hour for opening the business of the evening had arrived, it
was announced that the meeting would be held in 'Willis's Room, and
thither the assembled crowd rushed, and in a very few minutes the
room was crowded to excess. At about eight o'clock the platform
became filled with the supporters and friends of Captain Rens, who
arrived about the same time, and was loudly cheered on making his
appearance.
Upon the motion of Mr. C. J. WOOD, M.P., seconded by Lord E.
BRUCE,
Lerd Femecis EGERTON, M.P., was called to the chair, amidst
loud and general cheering. He commenced his address to
the meeting by assuring his auditors that he had no
wish to occupy their time •by making a lengthened speech.
Neither did he wish it to be understood that he stood there
with any view of exercising any influence he might possess as a
Member of Parliament. He merely presented himself now in the
capacity of an elector of the borough of Westminster, to call upon his
brother electors to return to Parliament his friend Captain Roue,
whom he could recommend to them as a representative worthy of
their choice, though he had not the ability or the desire either to bribe
or to bully.—(Cheers.) His Hon. Friend belonged to a profession of
which he was an ornament ; a profession in which he had proved him-
self as 'mend to his country as any man belonging to any of the learned
professions; and the fact of his now having been called into the sec-
. vice of the Crown in a new capacity, was an additional recommenda-
tion in his favour before an EngliSh constituency.—(Cheers) He
(Lord F. Egerton) would state his opinions frankly and fairly upon
those measures of the Government of which Captain Rous was a sup-
porter ; cad here let hint say that he was not in any
way connected with the Government, and did not hold any office
whatever under the Crown, and therefore it was a matter of perfect
indifference to him whether the Government measures should suc-
ceed or not, except in so far as he regarded them as beneficial to the
best interests of the country ; but this he would say for his Hon.
Friend Captain Rous, that he was perfectly confident that no ap-
pointment could be made whichwas more desirable, and would prove
more useful, than that of his Hon. Friend to that department of the
Admiralty to which he had been appointed.—(Loud cheers.) He
(Lord F. Egerton) would not detain the meeting by making a speech
relative to his own opinions upon the great questions which now agi-
tated the country, because his sentiments upon these questions were
already well known.—(Cheers.) He would, therefore, conclude by
calling upon the gentlemen around him to propose the resolutions en-
trusted to them for that purpose.
Mr. C. W. HALLETT then came forward and proposed the first re-
solution. In doing so he said, that in taking upon himself the task
of proposing a resolution at a public meeting, he felt the embarrass-
met of his position; but how much more had his difficulty been
enhancedvace on the present occasion, when he remembered that he was
Placed In the unenviable position of being compelled to follow their
',,.eharir..mal,asvvilnio had so ably and eloquently addressed them.—(Hear,
Roos done
stituents?—(
ask, although g been
selected
to
had changed his opinions propose this resolution, he would
jipaiehumble individual, what had his Hon. Friend Capt.
neldoral inlidowneasrersepuedcyt
nearttat moment to forfeit the confidence of his con-
,toauar,
this
was
sat
oCnaepto.fßotbues
charges made against him •
had been insinuated , but he would say, that when it
this change in his against his Ilon. Friend that he had made
present Ministry and to procure in order to find favour with the
a base and unfounded calumny e,
and unworthy
would say that such was
General De Lacy Evans was suppodrtuerrthy of the party by whom
fact that Captain Rous delis.—(Cheers.) It was a well-
knownParliament upon this question, in a speech last session in
which he
stated
his sentiments were ; but had not many etbesrttan very fairly what
Roes had reason to qualify their Opinions
since gienas well as Captain
upon
ques-
tion ? (Hear.) Though he (Mr. Hallett) was butu this
individual, and therefore his opinions were not of much importance, humble
still he would say that he had always honestly given ex.prssiontZ,
them, and was as much opposed as any man to restrictive duties,
while at the same time he was equally an enemy to radical and
deStructive doctrines.—(Cheers and groans.) Ile was decidedly a
supporter of free trade in all its branches, and it was as the advocate
of free trade he now addressed this meeting.--(Cheers.) There was
only one other topic to which he would allude, and It appeared to be
which his Gallant Friend Captain Eons appeared to have
one on on qituents and that was, that he had
felled the good opinion of his eon..
Government.—(Great uproar and
accepted office under the present
clamour, amidst which the speaker read the resolution entrusted to
him to propose.)
RAMIE CoeftßAsE,
M.P., said, in rising to address the meeting,
he did not mean to trespass very,much on their attention. But he
her had stood on a
begged to rectal to them the fact that his fat

former occasion for Westminster, and that his (Mr. Cochran's) name
was not unknown to the city of Westminster.—(Cheers.) That name
was a naval name, and as such it was independent of private consi-
derations or private friendship, and thereby they might understand
what had interested him in Captain Rous.—(Cheers and noise.) He
believed that a more able and a more honurable officer was not to be

found than the Gallant Captain.—(Hear, hear.) Tie needed not to
recal to them the circumstances under which he brought his ship

across the Atlantic.—(Noise and cheers.) It had been very truly I
remarked that a man gallant in one thing was gallant in everything;
he did not believe the gallant Captain to be the man who could stoop
to meanness in any one thing.—(Noise, and three cheers for Evans.)
Mr. Cochran proceeded—The Gallant Officer told them that he had
confidence in her ➢fajesty's Government.—(Confusion.) He (Mr.
Cochran) would prophecy that days would come —days of darlc,ness
and trouble—when many of those who spoke against Sir Robert Reel
would regret that they had ever adopted that course.—(Sonie delay
was here caused by the gesticulations of a ragged youth, exalted
agairkst the opposite wall, and evidently haranguing in favour of
General Evans.) As free traders, they asked always for fair play.
He was sorry he did not see an instance of it there. He hoped they

would but give him so much as they would claim in other instances
themselves. But ashe had nothing more to say, he would sit down,
atter seconding the resolution, trusting they would give the Gallant
Gentleman their aid on the day of election.
The CHAIRMAN then put the following resolution to the meeting,
when it was carried by a large majority :—" That this meeting are of
opinion that the conduct of Captain Eons in Parliament, and his at-
tention to the local interests of the city, entitle him to the confidence
of the constituency at large."
Mr. FREEMAN rose, amid much confusion, and said he did
not imagine that in any one of the gentlemen there could
be any indisposition to hear the remarks of a man like
themselves. He saw many other gentlemen in the meeting who
were advocates of free trade ; but, though advocating these princi-
ples, they refused to hear those who held the same sentiments.
There could be no doubt whatever in the mind of a thoughtful man
that at the present time he could not speak on any question so as to
meet the views of a large assembls ; but he thought the least they
could do was to give him a patient haring • and he, as an English-
man, demanded it. He did not mean to detain the meeting, but he
would have his say, whether the meeting would hear, or whether
they would disturb. A resolution had already been put to the meets
ing, and a show of hands taken upon it, and it had been carried by
a large majority. He thought, therefore, that it best became the mi-
nority to conduct themselves quietly. There was no doubt but that
the movement which had taken place had disturbed the parties
of this country, and these Were fast tending to annihilation. What
were they then to do? Two parties had offered themselves candi-
dates for the city of Westminster —(Cries of " Roes "—" Evans".)
He said it was no triumph which they sought; for the object which
they (the friends of Captain Rous) had in view, was the country's
good, and if no other object were attained by that great movement,
notwithstanding that it would cause the dissolution of parties, and
perhaps division between old friends, he was certain that that would
be attained with incalculable advantage. Be did not calculate
whether a man was of one party or of another, but whether the
man was a faithful representative of the princip'es. The question
ought not to be who was the man of the largest purse, or who was
the man who could expend most words, but who was the man who
would expend his best efforts in behalf of his country ; that was the
question,—(Cries of " Rous," and confusion.) Mr. Freeman then
moved the following resolution :—" That this meeeting pledges itself
to use every exertion to secure the return of Captain Rens."
Colonel Wools, M.P., rose to second the resolution. He said he
cheerully came forward to discharge the task that had been imposed
on him. It was not because he honoured the Gallant Captain's powers
or his private worth, but because he was a supporter of the Minister
of the Sovereign in the undertaking in which he had engaged,—
' (Cheers.) Into that undertaking the Right Hon. Baronet had not
been driven by necessity ; his Sovereign had imposed it upon him
It was a question which concerned the interests of the
country ; it was one that ought to be attained by all parties
uniting together for the common prosperity of the nation. It was a
measure which considered all interests, and would benefit all; it
gave scope for a fuller development of the powers of the nation ; it
gave employment to an increasing population ; it unshackled their
industry from the fetters which had bound it down. Yet those
bonds had been the protection which some had talked
of, and given to labour. They all knew what competition
they had to contend with from the foreigner. That
measure which Sir Robert had brought in, and his gallant friend in-
tended to support, gave them free scope for the use of their energies
to the best advantage against that competition. It gave them, also,
unrestricted trade in the food of the people, and he (Colonel Wood)
heartily wished they might have plenty of it. Ile knew the agricul-
turists had nothing to say in their own behalf, except a repetition
of their antiquated notions, for they could not see when a measure was
really for their advantage. The gentlemen who had addressed them
before him had told them under what circumstances the Gallant
Captain had brought his slip across from the St. Lawrence without
a rudder.—(Cheers.) He hoisted the union jack, spread the sail on
the bdom, and set the ship's head for the British Channel.—(Cheers,
and confusion.) Such was it at that moment with Sir Robert Peel.
Left without a friend, he looked to the Gallant Captain, Captain
Rous, and said—" I know you are the friend of my country,
I will back you at the risk of anything.--(Great cheering.)
(The Colonel, pointing to Captain Bons, continued) —lt is the same
spirit; it is the very man.—(Great cheering.) Won't you take on
with him ? Come to the aid of the Minister ; come to the aid of the
gallant Captain, who, to support the Minister and his measures,
says—" lam prepared to forfeit anything." He (Col. Wood) had
seen that Minister listening that evening with patience to the pithless,
uninteresting, dry, and musty arguments of the agriculturists, and
hearing their taunts. He wished only that Ire heard their cheers.—
(Cheers.) As that Minister was the Minister of the people—the
Minister who wished to reconcile all interests in one common
prosperity—agriculturists, manufacturers, merchants—he asked their
aid to the Minister by giving their aid to his friend.—(Cheers.) He
hoped they would give him their hearty support—(We will)—then
the election would be won —(Checrs)—he knew it would, and that by
the independent votes of the electors of Westminster. He seconded
the resolution, and sat down.
Captain Roos then came forward, and was received with deafening
and prolonged applause, and it was with difficulty he was heard at all.
He said he hoped the meeting would have the kindness to listen to
him for a few moments, in order that he might explain the position
in which he stood at present before his constituents. Much had been
said against him, and therefore he was anxious to avail himself of this
opportunity of explaining to the electors of Westminster the real
position in which he stood in regard to them.—(Hear.) He had
heard it insinuated that he had accepted office under the present
Government from selfish motives. Now, it would be recollected,
that last year, when there was a very strong opposition to some of
the measures of Sir Robert Peel, he (Captain Rom)
stood up in his place in Parliament, and voted in
favour of the admission of Australian corn into this country
upon the same terms as those upon which it was proposed to admit
Canadian corn.—(Cheers.) The reason he did so was, that he
recollected that the population of this country received an
increase annually to the amount of 400,000, and . therefore it
would be impossible for this country to provide food for so enormous
a mass of human beings from its own resources, and consequently
it would be necessary to look to other countries to supply the
deficiency.—(Hear, hear.) This he had told to the Suffolk farmers,
though they were not willing to listen to him ; but he convinced
them that they could not quietly rest their heads on their pillows at
night, so long as they continued to support a law which prevented
this country receiving a sufficiency of food for its people.—
(hear, hear, and cheers.) He also told the Suffolk farmers,
long since, that it was his opinion then that the duty
on foreign cons should be lowered, and therefore his constituents
would recollect that his opinions upon this subject were not so new
as they had been represented. How, then, could any man say that
ha had changed his opinions, and voted with Sir Robert Peel upon
this question merely because he wanted to get into office?—(hear,
hear.) He could not be said to have come round to
the views of Sir Robert Peel, though the old Tory
papers had abused him for having dons so, and he certainly
had fallen in for a large share of abuse in the Post, and the Herald,
and the Standard.—(Cheers and clamour.) Now, with regard to his
acceptance of office, he had but this explanation to offer. Four years
ago, when the prasent Government brought in certain measures, be
attacked them as unsuited to the wants of the Country. Was that
the way to procure office?—(Loud cheers, and cries of "No,
no.") He had invariably voted against the measures of Sir Robert
Peel when he thought those measures were not calculated to be of
service to the country, and one of those to which lie and his friend
Col. Wood had given their most determined opposition, was a Bill
which proposed to abolish vestries as they then existed.—(Cheers.)
He had also given his most strenuous opposition to the con-
tinuance of the window-tax—(Cheers)—and surely there was
nothing base in his having done that..—(Loud cheers.) In reference
to the Church, also, he had taken a prominent part.— (Cheers.)
There were no such things in the army or navy as sinecure situa-
tions, and he could not see why they should exist in the Church, and
therofore he was opposed to them.—(Cheers.) No man had a greater
respect for Sir Robert Peel as a statesman than he had.—(Cheers.)
Ile admired him for the useful measures he had brought forward
for the country, and on that account he would stand by him.—
(Loud cheering,) That statesman had lost many of his Tory sup-
porters in consequence of his having brought forward these measures,
and therefore it was that he (Capt. Rous) would support him, and not
because of the miserable office he had accepted.—(Cheers.) Surely
it could not be supposed that it was for the sake of this office he lead
accepted it ; this must be quite apparent when it was recollected
that in a few months there would be a general election.(Elear, hear.)
He was therefore, then, warranted in saying that he Bad made this
sacrifice for the public good.—(Cheers and confusion.) If in the
year 1812 he had seen it necessary to give his support to the agricul-
turists, he had, within the last three years, seen so many chances
take place in the prosperity of the country and the condition of
the people, that he also, like many others, Oad changed his opinion.
—(Cheers.) When he saw those changes passing before his
eyes he was compelled to admit the utility of the measures intro-
duced to meet them, and therefore he could not be so lost to all
feeling for the good of his country as not to support those measures.
(Cheers.) Now, then, the question came to this : —Where was the
man to be found who could carry out these measures ? Lord
John Russell had attempted it and failed ; there was, then, ne other
man in England who could do so but Sir le. reel.—(Cheers.) If, then,
the electors of Westminster had received to support Sir Robert
Peel, how could they better do so than by supporting him (Captain
Roue) ?—(Loud cheering )-Ile had now been fbur years connected
with the electors or Westminster, and he would like to know
what measures .s Bring that time. he had lent his aid to which
had ever; erdved detrimental to the country ?—(Cheers.) Well,
then, wnether victorious or beaten in this contest (and victorious he
eeeav he should be) he had the pleasure of be ing able to say that
while he had the honour to represent the city of Westminster, he had
endeavoured to the fullest extent of his humble ability to be as useful
to them as it was possible for a representative to be.—(Cheers.) The
fate of the forthcoming battle depended upon themselves.— (Cheers.)
In 1841 he . was supported by a proud aristocracy; but he
now looked forward to the support of tic independent men
of Westminster.—(Cheering.) He had found amongst the lower
classes men of fine and noble hearts, and upon that he now relied,
and if they returned him, they would find him always at his post, and
discharging his duty to them to the best of his ability.—Great cheering.)
Mr. CARTERWOOD hoped that the supporter's of General Evans
would learn, from the manner in which the speakers there that eve-
ning had conducted themselves towards the opposing candidate, to go
nod do likewise. He added a few observations in favour of the
gallant Captain amid great confusion and uproar, and moved a vote
of thanks to Lord Francis Egerton for his kindness in consenting to
occupy the chair. With three cheers for Captain Rous, the meeting
separated.