The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-06 00:00:00

RESIGNATION OF LORD ASHLEY.
We yesterday announced the Noble Lord's intention to
resign his seat as one of tha Members for Dorsetshire, and
we now subjoin his Lordship's address to his constituents on
retiring from Parliament :

" London, Jan. 31.

" The First Minister of the Crown has propounded to the
Parliament a measure for the total abolition of all protec-
tive duties on the importation of foreign corn.
" The Bill seems so well adapted to meet thepresent and
future exigencies of the country, that I shall think.it a point
of duty to do all in my power towards rendering it the law
cf the land. _

" I ventured, in the month of October last, to direct your
attention to the pressing necessity of an immediate settle-
ment of this long-agitated question. That necessity is now
increased tenfold by the act of the Government ; and a re-
sistance to it, which could not postpone the measure beyond
the interval of a few months, would mitigate none of the ap-
prehended evils, and would raise up others of a more formi-
dable kind.
" I state these arguments for your serious reflection, but
they are not the sole grounds on which I rest my determi-
nation to support the measure.
" I shall accept it, not only without alarm, but in the full
and confident hope that it will prove conducive to the wel-
fare of all classes of the community.
"But there is a preliminary consideration; the appeal to
the country in 1841 was in fact, whatever the ostensible
purpose, an appeal to the question of the corn-laws. I main-
tained at that time that protection was indispensable, though
I reserved a discretion on all details, and obtained your sup-
port accordingly.
"I am now of opinion that it is no longer expedient to
maintain such protection.
" Although no pledges were asked or given, I should be
acting in contravention of an honourable understanding
between myself and the electors on this special matter were
I to retain my seat, and vote for the Ministeral measure.
" I have, therefore, requested the grant of the Chiltern
Hundreds, that you may have the opportunity of proceeding
to another election.
" You will readily believe that I conteinplate such an
event with exceeding pain. It would sever a connexion
which I have enjoyed with honour and pleasure for fourteen
years; one that I greatly prefer to any that could be of-
fered. It would shut me out, perhaps for ever, from public
occupations, and stop the progress of various measures to
which I have devoted the best years of my political life, and
surrendered many hopes of personal advantage. I mention
these things to prove to you how deep and how sincere are
my convictions.

--'7,.-f;T:iaZted to your kindness and confidence for the
opportunities I have enjoyed of public service, and which, I
trust, I have not misused. I shall ever retain towards you a
lively sense of gratitude and esteem, with an ardent and un-
ceasing prayer for your general and individual welfare.
" I shall appear on the hustings on the day of nomination,
and call for a show of hands, to ascertain, beyond a doubt,
the sentiments of the constituency.

" I am, gentlemen, with much respect and esteem, our
faithful fiend and servant, " ASHLEY."

LORD ASHLEY AND THE TEN