The Sun.
London, England, 1833-05-14 00:00:00

ing on the part of the executive ; and whe-
ther it had been issued or not, the common
law would authorize the dispersion of a mob,
having in view the subversion of order.

We understand that some communications
have been received at the Home-office, in-
sinuating that the meeting yesterday in Cold-
bath-fields was got up at the instigation of two
or three persons, whose object was to serve the
Government by creating an impression of danger
among the timid, and enabling the police to
strike a blow which might enhance their im-
portance in the eye of the public. However
unfounded this charge may be, the Secretary of
State for the Home Department will do well to
institute an inquiry on the subject, particularly
as there are circumstances connected with it of a
suspicious nature, independently of the insinua-
tions made in anonymous communications to
the Government.

It will be remembered that some days ago we
stated that some persons, describing themselves
as a deputation from the National Union of
the Working Classes, waited on a Member of
Parliament, much looked up to by the Political
Unions, and requested him to preside at
a meeting in the open air. That gentle-
man not only refused to do so, but, we un-
derstand, also gave the parties some good
counsel as to the proper course to be pursued
by the industrious classes. Having failed in
their attempt to induce him to give his
sanction to their silly and illegal projects, these
persons waited on several gentlemen of political
note, among whom was a recently elected Mem •
ber of Parliament for a large constituency.
They requested him to preside at a meeting in
the open air in favour of universal suffrage and
some other violent and silly schemes, but
they received from him the most unqualified
refusal, and similar advice to that which they had
received from the gentleman to whom they
first applied. This was not all. The Po-
litical Union, hearing of the intention enter-
tained by the National Union as it is
called, signified in various ways their disappro-
bation of such a proceeding, and individuals
connected with the Political Union took the
pains of remonstrating with the persons
who had projected the meeting. Still these
persons, acting either under the influence
of insanity, or upon some secret instigation,
persisted in the attempt, and the result has been
just what any reasonable man would have pre-
dicted. We hear that Lord MELBOURNE was
not a direct party to the police arrangements.
These, it seems, were left to the Commissioners.
Lord MELBOURNE would probably, if he could
have witnessed the contemptible character of the
assemblage, have preferred a less violent mode
of dispersion ; and there is no doubt that the
whole affair will undergo immediate and impar-
tial investigation.

An elector of Westminster has shown us
a canvassing card, left by the friends of Sir
JOHN HOBHOUSE, during one of their nu-
merous attempts to obtain his " vote and

interest," at the late election, on the back of
which are written the names of seven titled and
influential persons connected with the Govern-
ment. He asks whether that system of obtain-
ing votes, which exposes the elector to injury
by his refusing to vote for a candidate,_ thus re-
commended, can be considered a fair one.
Among some of these titled persons was one of
his best customers, and it was evidently intended
that he should be led to expect the favours of
the others if he would vote for their candidate.
The temptation to do wrong was a weighty
one, but the honesty of the man prevailed over
the interest of the tradesman, and they were dis-
appointed. There cannot, we imagine, be two
opinions among reflecting men as to this mode
of applying for votes. It is shameful. The
remedy, however, is easy. Let every elector at
the next general election insist upcn a pledge
from the candidate that he will support Mr.
GROTE in his attempt to obtain vote by ballot,
and we shall hear no more of this mode of
canvassing.

What a lesson does not the election just con-
cluded teach the two great factions, which have
for so many years divided the people of Eng-

land ! In what a serious situation does it not
place, not only the present, but every future
Government. If the supporters of Whiggism
have been defeated in the person of their candi-
date, Sir JOIIN CAM HOBHOUSE, the Tory
clique is not only ruined, but disgraced, by the
miserable support afforded to their puppet, Mr.
BICKHAM ESCOTT—for what more was he
than a mere puppet, brought forward by the
Rump of a party which has too long most woe-
fully misgoverned these realms, and brought
the nation to that state of misery and wretched-
ness, which is too public and notorious to ad-
mit of a question?

Perhaps on no occasion has a constituency
done itself more honour than that of West-
minster on this election. Many, very many,
electors, stanch friends to Sir JOHN CAM
HowrousE, could not, and would not, on
principle, vote for him. To vote for a Tory
Representative never, for one moment, entered
into their imagination—at the same time recol-
lecting the many years of honourable service of
their late Member—they declined voting for the
successful candidate, and remained neuter; thus
only about 4,000 electors appeared out of upwards
of 9,000, the registered number nil° have the
right of voting for this city. COI. EVANS has car-
ried the day, and we sincerely rejoice at it, but
not with such a majority on the poll, nor, in-
deed, has his election brought forward so many
men of strong liberal opinions, as we anticipated.
This will serve as a lesson to him as to the line of
conduct he ought to :pursue after he shall have
taken his seat, which, we conclude, he will do
this afternoon. He must be firm and uncom-
promising in Es support of measures tending
to reduce the expenditure of the country, but he
must not permit his opposition to be of a lac-
, tious character.

There is a general rumour in circulation that
Sir FRANCIS BURDETT is to be speedily called