The Sun.
London, England, 1851-06-25 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY

THE BATH ELECTION.

BATH, TIIESDAY.—The polling for the respective can-
didates to supply the vacancy in the representation of
this city occasioned by the elevation of Lord Ashley to
the peerage, commenced with spirit at eight o'clock this
morning, and was continued with the same determina-
tion to the close of the poll at four o'clock. The con-
test, however, though somewhat close, was conducted
with the greatest good feeling, and the proceedings
throughout the city were almost entirely devoid of the
noise and disturbance usually found at contested elections.
As will be seen by the statement below, the contest has
terminated in the election of Captain Scobell, the Liberal
candidate, by a very respectable majority. The state of
the poll was declared every half-hour from the Liberal
committee-room, and, as will be seen by the return be-
low, showed that Captain Scobell, who took the lead,
kept it throughout the day. Some excitement was
created, however, by the appearance outside Mr. Sutcliffe's
committee-room of several delusive returns, the first of
which stated the numbers at half-past 11, to be Sutcliffe,
773; Scobell, 744. At half-past 12, another return ap-
peared,
Sutcliffe, 855; Scobell, 845; at 1, Sutcliffe, 895;
Scobell, 880 At half-past 1, when Captain Scobell had
really a majority of 36, the Conservative return, which
was the last they put out, represented both candidates on
a level-928 each. The following were the returns is-
sued by the Liberal committee, and which we have good
reason to believe show the correct state of the poll:
Scobell. Sutcliffe.
165

half-past eight

Nine 'o'clock 288
Ten
Eleven
Twelve 785
One
Two
Three
Close of the poll 1,163
At the close of the poll several thousand persons hav-
ing asssmbled in front of Capt. Scobell's central com-
mittee-room, Westgate-buildings, the gallant captain
and his committee, in obedience to the calls and cheers
of the multitude, appeared upon a platform erected in
front of the building, and were received with several
rounds of applause.
Captain SCOBELL, in addressing those assembled, said
the victory was gained, and the Liberals had obtained a
good majority over the Tories of Bath.—(Loud cheers.)
But whilst they rejoiced in their own success, they
would not exult over the fallen.—(Hear.) The victory
was not his (Captain Scobell's), but theirs—the Liberals
of Bath; and they had won it in an independent,
straightforward way, that he believed would set an ex-
ample to all England.—(Cheers.) Captain Scobell, in
conclusion, proposed three cheers for -the independent
representation of Bath, which were given with the
greatest zeal.
W. Hunt, Esq., G. Norman, Esq., T. W. Saunders,
Esq., and Sir John Hare, having also congratulated the
Liberals upon their success, the meeting broke up.
The official declaration of the poll will be made at the
hustings to-morrow (this day).

TO THE SECRETARY OF THE BRADFORD
REFORM ASSOCIATION.
(EVERY MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY.)
Sir,—On Monday the 26th, the Ecclesiastical Titles
Assumption Bill was proceeded with in Committee.
Mr. Walpole's proposed amendments, directed against
" a certain Brief, Rescript, or Letters Apostolical pur-
porting to have been given at Rome" which " hath re-
cently pretended to constitute within this Realm, &c.,"
and " purporting to constitute within this Realm, con-
trary to the laws and custom! thereof, a hierarchy of
Bishops named from sees, and with titles derived from
places within this Realm," were negatived by 140 to 131,
and 141 to 117. The Primo Minister urged that there
was no necessity for introducing matter grating to the
Catholic Members of the House, by which no absolute
effect or change in the law was to be produced. One
result, however, of these closely-run divisions, is to show
it is not for want of power the Government restricts its
measures.

The Oath of Abjuration (Jews) Bill was then con-
sidered in Committee, and reported without amendment;
to be read a third time on Friday. It was impossible to
avoid the impression, that the opponents of the Bill took
a bated tone. The Bill is of only one clause; which
dispenses with the words "on the true faith of a
Christian." Considering that the House has allowed,
and directed, that into the hands of a declared Jew pre-
senting himself as elected there shall be put a copy of
the Old Testament, it is difficult to conceal a regret that
the Bill did not take advantage of this notable circum-
stance, to enact that the candidate should swear "on the
true faith of a believer in the book put into my hand."
There is something so immeasurably stultifying, in first
putting a book into a man's hand because it is the book
ho believes in, and then telling him he must swear upon
his true faith in something else, that it is to be hoped the
good sense of ten-pound voters and Operative consti-
tuents will pass such comments on it at the next election,
as will put an end to such a folly.
An election is at this moment pending, in which a
Jew of high standing and reputation, who has already
filled eminent City offices, is a candidate. It is needless
to add, that the general Liberal cause would be greatly
aided by his being returned to Parliament, on the simple
principle which makes a smith hit a new blow on the
same place.

On Tuesday the House met at twelve for the purpose
of passing the Smithfield Market Removal Bill. So that
you may hope to be able to come up from Bradford
without being compassed with fat bulls of Basan in the
streets. It is only a day or two since I found myself
unexpectedly encompassed by three at the corner of
Parliament-street, and felt particular obligation to one
of them, with a forehead like an elephant's and a ring
like a kedge anchor's in his nose, for his gentlemanlike
behaviour when he found me stopping the way between
his horns.

On the same evening the question of the Savings' Banks
defalcations was brought before the House, and lost
only by a majority of 63 to 56. The questiou is simply
one of agency. Did the contributors or did they not,
pay their money over the Government's counter? The
Government plead that it was stolen between the
counter and their strong box. The question therefore is,
not whether the Government say so, but whether the
counter was not by all the rules of business theirs.
I am, Sir, yours very sincerely,
AN OLD REFORMER.
London, Jane 25, 1851.