The Sun.
London, England, 1833-05-03 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER ELECTION.

Yesterday a meeting was held at the Crown and Anchor
of the gentlemen who had formed the committees for the

late re-election of Sir J. Hobhouse, for the purpose of
adopting measures to return him again as their represen-
tative. There were from 50 to 60 gentlemen present.
Mr. PAscoE GRENFELL haring been called to the chair,
Mr. DE \TEAR stated that he had called the meeting in
consequence of numerous applications on the part of
several electors of Westminster to do so, feeling, as they
did, that Sir J. Hobhouse had nobly discharged his duty
tawards them.

The CHAIRMAN said that they had two matters for their
consideration : first, whether it was fit and expedient that
Sir John Hobhouse should be re-elected for Westminster ;
and, secondly, in case they determined, as he was certain
they would, that it was so fit and expedient, what
measures should be taken to serve that object.
Sir E. CouRINGTow, in proposing the first resolution—
" That in the resignatio❑ of *ir John Hobhouse, both of
his seat Parliament, and of his place in the Administra-
tion, this meeting recognises that spirit of honour, inte-
grity, and independence which has ever obtained for him
the confidence and esteem of the electors of Westminster,"
—said he was sure that Sir J. Hobbouse's noble and inde-
pendent conduct would meet with the universal admira-
tion of his constituents. In his (Sir E. Codringeon's)
opinion, that Right lion. Baronet's leaving office was a
great loss to the public-, for he had always endeavoured,
and would endeavour, to promote the interests of the
country. He thought it would be most important for the
country to get him into office again, and for his (Sir E.
Codrington's) part, he would say that he wished they had
a dozen like him in office.—(Hear.)
An ELECTOR, in seconding the resolution, said he con-
sidereal the Right Hon. Baronet's conduct as entitling
him more than ever to the confidence of the electors of
Westminster.

An ELECTOR said that before the resolution passes he
thought it should be explained why the Right Hon. Ba-
ronet had n a retained his seat, and voted for the repeal of
the house and window tax, as he had promised and pledged
himself to his constituents to do.

Sir E. CODRINGTON wished to say a few words in reply
to what hail fallen from the worthy elector who had just
addressed them. He would just state, as an illustration
of the embarrassing situation in which Sir John Hobbouse
was placed by the amendment proposed by Lord Althorp
on Tuesday night, the grounds upon which he (Sir E.
Codrington) gave his vote on that occasion. He had
previously presented a petition from his constituents, pray-
ing fur a repeal ef the house and window tax, which
pressed peculiarly hard upon them, and lie was determined
to vote for its repeal. At the same time, however, when
he came to consider on Tuesday last the consequences of
his so voting for the repeal of that tax, mixed up as it
then was with the repeal of the malt tax, and the impo-
sition of a property tax, he had not the smallest hesitation
in considering it better to vote with Ilinisters, and lie
never gave a vote since he had a seat in Parliament that
he was more satisfied with.—(Hear.)
The resolution was then put and carried, with only one
dissentient.

Mr. FEARON, in moving the second resolution, "That
this meeting, in the present posture of public affairs, deeply
deplore the necessity which has occasioned a secession
which they deem equally injurious to the efficiency of the
Government and the security of the people," observed,
that what had fallen from the two gentlemen who had just
preceded him, only showed that in the present complicated
state of public affairs, individuals with precisely the seine
objects in view differed greatly as to the means of attaining
them. Had he been a Member of Parliament, and had
Sir John Key's motion come on last week, he should have
voted in favour of it, as the Gallant Admiral, whom he
was happy to see among.t them, had told them he would
have done; hut on Tuesday night, after the vote of Friday
night had been carried for the reduction of the malt tax,
he should have felt himself In the same state of difficulty
that the Gallant Admiril had experienced, for Ire should
then be aware that if Sir John Key's motion should also
be carried, the Government would be forced, in order to
meet the great deficiency thus occasioned in the revenue,
to provide a substitute tax in the place of those repealed,
and the wisest might doubt whether the operation of that
substitute would be better for the great mass of the people.
—(Hear.) He trusted that, notwithstanding Sir John
Hobhouse's secession from the Government, he would yet
form part of it again.
Mr. GREEN said that in acting as he had done Sir John
Hobhouse had redeemed the pledge which he gave to him
shortly before his last election—namely, that in case he
voted against the wishes of his constituents, or in case he
was prevented by his connexion with the Government from
carrying their wishes into effect, he would resign his seat.
Mr. WILD said he had great pleasure in supporting the
resolution. Though Sir J. Hobhouse stood high in their
estimation at the last election, he conceived that be had
raised himself still higher by many degrees by his recent
conduct.—(Hear, hear.) He trusted that the electors of
Westminster would evince a proper sense of the conduct
of Sir John Hobheuse, by triumphantly returning him at
the ensuing election.
The resolution was then put, and carried unanimously.
Mr. METHUEN, in proposing the next resolution, which,
he said, had just been put into his hands, " That this
meeting, possessing full confidence in the honesty of Sir
J. Hobhouse, and a deep sense of the zeal and intelligence
with which he has long served them, and in the belief
that if spontaneously re-elected lie would be willing again
to undertake the arduous duties of an independent Mem-
ber of Parliament, do hereby resolve to place him again in
nomination, and to use the most strenuous exertions in
promoting his return ;" said, that as a friend of Sir J.
Hobhouse, he felt it but justice to him, in answer to what
had fallen from a worthy elector opposite, to make a few
observations on this occasion on the subject of the charge
which was preferred against his Right Hon. Friend for
not having remained in his seat, and voted, on Tues-
lay last. He was sorry that in defending his Right
Hon. Friend he should he obliged to throw the blame
insult and individual so respectable tut the Noble Lord the ,

Chancellor of the Exchequer, for whom he entertained the
highest respect. Not only his Right Hon. Friend, but he
(Mr. Methuen), and many other Members of Parliament,
had been placed in a most awkward predicament in con-
sequence of the motion brought forward by that Noble
Lord on Tuesday last. He would nct say that the con.
duct of Lord Althorp, in the manner in which he brought
that motion forward, and in the observations which he
made upon it, was cunningly contrived, but it certainly
had the appearance of being so. Those gentlemen who
were anxious for the repeal of the malt duty, had the
question of the house and window tax repeal mixed up
with it ; and, vice versa, those who were desirous of
voting for the repeal of the house and window tax,
could not do so without voting for the reduction of the
malt duty. The Noble Lord had so contrived his motion
that it was calculated to deter many Members from being
present at the division, as it was impossible for them to
vote so as to satisfy their constituents. His Right Hon.
Friend especially was placed in a most awkward situation
by the manner in which the motion was shaped. He was
well aware that if his Right Hon. Friend were now present
he would be annoyed at his (Mr. Methuen's) defending
him at the expense of a man whom be so much respected
48 Lord Althorp ; bitt be could not move this resolution
if he did not take the opportunity to entirely exculpate
Sir J. flubhouse, and place the blame where it ought to
rest—upon the shoulders of Lord Abhor!). It appeared
to him, however, that the situation of the country was
such, and the weight of taxation was so great, that it
would be impossible for the country any longer to bear it.
ar, hear.) He would not disclaim a wish to embarrass
the Government ; lie had heard gee tlemen do so in the House
of Commons, and their disclaimers were met with shouts
of laughter. He did wish to embarrass the Government,
in order to drive them to adopt those measures that the
real situation of the country called for. The patching up
of the finances would no longer do ; the Ministers must
meet the difficulties of the country in the face. The dis.
tress that generally existed could not be denied, and the
refusal of inquiry was not the fair way to meet such a
case, whether the Government was Whig or Tory. If
such a species of policy had been hitherto borne, it would
he borne no longer.—(Hear, hear.) He was satisfied that
the weight of taxes was such that this country would no
longer endure it. At present the taxes were very generally
paid out of the capital of the tax payers, and he therefore
firmly believed that it would be for the advantage of the
country to put the Government in such a state of embar-
rassment as would prove to it that we were standing upon
the brink of a precipice, and that there was no remedy
for the dangers which threatened the country, from the
overwhelming pressure of taxation, but a full and
thorough inquiry and investigation, with a view to a
complete change in eur present system.—(Cheers.)
Mr. E. BULWER, in seconding the resolution, eulogised
the conduct of Sir John Hobhouse, whom, now that pub-
lic virtue was so scarce a commodity, lie considered the
electors of Westminster were bound to reward by returning
him again as their representative.
An ELECTOR said, if they were to go to work honestly,
and like men, he should like to have two questions an-
swered. He should wish to know, in the first instance,
whether, if Sir John Hobhouse should be returned by
them, he would pledge himself never again to take office,
but remain an independent Member. According to his
own showing, he bad been hampered by being in office.
His other question was an important one to the public
character of Sir John Hobhouse. Was it true, as he had
been told, that Sir John went out of office with a retiring
pension ?
Mr. BYNC ehe Member for Middlesex) said that was
impossible, for Sir John Hobhouse had not been long
enough in office to entitle him to a pension.
The CHAIRMAN said, if the worthy elector addressed
himself to hian, he could not answer the question as to
the intentions of Sir John Hobhouse with regard to
taking office hereafter, as he had been unexpectedly called
to fill this chair.
Mr. H. EULWER said that if the principle insisted upon
by the gentleman who had put the question—namely, that
every honest Member of Parliament should repudiate
office, should he enforced—their only alternative would be
to commit the administration of the state to rogues and
vagabonds.—(Hear.)

Mr. BYNG;aid there was no one there able to answer

the worthy elector's first question, but if it was put dis-
tinctly to the Right Hon. Baronet he would, no doubt, at
once satisfactorily answer it. As to the suspicion about
a retiring pension, it was altogether groundless, for he had
not been long enough in office to have the option of taking
one, and he was sure if he had such an option he would
not take it.

Mr. MeTuuErr, in explanation, said that it was on the
Government, and not on Loid Althorp individually, that
he had thrown blame. He believed that Lord Althorp
was greatly retarded and obstructed in the objects which
he had in view by some members of the Government, who
were like a log upon him.—(Hear, bear.)
An ELECTOR was glad to hear the excellent speech of
the Hon. Member for Middlesex ; but he had much rather
that it had been delivered in the House of Commons on

Tuesday night.—( Hear.) He was surprised to see, from
the list in the division in that mornin4's Times, that the
Hon. Member had voted on that night with Ministers. In
his opinion Sir J. Hoblmuss deserved the support of the elec-
tors of Westminster for the manner in which "he had acted ;
not like certain Members of the House of Commons, who
had forfeited the confidence of their constituents, by first
promising they would vote for Sir J. Key's motion, and
then, when it came to a division, not doing so.—(Several
voices—" They did not promise to vote for an income
tax.") Sir J. Hobbouse had given up a place of 5,000/.
a year in order to redeem his pledge to his constituents.
He had exhibited a noble example of integrity and honesty
in a House of Commons where there had been a deplor-
able falling off in that invaluable ingredient—honesty.
—(Cries of " No, no ;" " Yes, yes.") He would repeat
the expression, and he would add that they were bound
to reward the man who had shown himself their honest re-
presentative in that assembly.—(Cheers.) He hoped there
would not be a Government candidate on this occasion, for
he, for one, was determined no longer to give his humble
support to the Administration. The people of London and
Westminster did not complain of being taxed, but they
complained of being taxed too much : they complained of
paying double what the people in the country paid of the
house and window tax. He was sorry to see Lord Al-
thorp make use of a goading expression on this subject,
that was worthy of Lord Castlere,igh ; he said there were
no petitions from the country for the repeal of this tax.
Why did London and the large towns only complain of it?
Because they paid the principal portion of it. The far-
mers knew not the blessing of such a tax. Of the
2,500,0001. that this tax amounted to, the metropolis
and the large towns paid 2,000,000/. They therefore did
not want to shift taxation off their own shoulders ; they
only wanted to have it more equally distributed. Ninty-
nine men out of 100 of the class to which be belonged—
that of industrious tradesmen—if asked the question,
would be found, as be was, ready to pay their last farthing
to maintain the public credit—(Hear, hear)—but let the
burden of taxation be fairly divided.

Mr. Bytic said, he had voted for the repeal of the
house and window tax—(Hear, hear)—he had voted
against the reduction of the malt duty, and yet he was
represented in the published lists as having voted the other
way.

Sir E. ComtismTON wt,uld repeat, in reference to the
question that had been put as to Sir J. Hobhouse's again
raking office, that he wished to Qod they had many such
men as he in uffiee. He (Sir E. Codrington) had the
other night, in voting, chosen what he considered the
lesser of two evils.

Mr. Tour), M.P., expressed his full approval of the
conduct of Sir J. Hobhouse, and his determination to give
all his aid towards promoting his re-election.
An ELECTOR stated that he formed one of the deputa-
tion that waited upon Sir J. Hobhouse on Monday night,
and that Sir John then stated that he would go into the
House of Commons the next night to vote against Go-
vernment. lie was, therefore, surprised when he heard
of his resignation of his seat on Tuesday; but the muter
was satisfactorily explained in his address. He could
not vote for the repeal of the malt tax as well as of the
house and window tax, and for the imposition of a property
tax, and he had no other course to pursue but that which
he had so nobly adopted.
An ELECTOR conceived that Sir J. Ilobliouse, having
promised to vote for the repeal of the house and window
tax, should have done so. He should have done as the
Honourable 31ember for Wiltshire did. The electors of
Westminster wanted a representative that would lead, and
that would not require to be driven. He thought Sir J.
Hobhouse had falsified the pledge given to his constituents.
Mr. METtiu art was sure his Hight Hon. Friendijwould
be able to give the fullest and most satisfactory explana-
tion of every part of his conduct to the electors of West-
minster, from the moment he had accepted office to the
present moment.
The resolution was then put and carried unanimously.
On the motion of Mr. FEARON, a committee was ap-
pointed to take measures to secure the return of the Right
Hon. Baronet.
Mr. CHAMBERS, in seconding the motion for that pur-
pose, eulogized in high terms the recent conduct of Sir J.
Hobhouse. It would be absurd, ht contended, to ask their
representative not to take office again, for it would be
establishing
a principle for excluding honest men altogether
from the government of the country.
Oa the 1110a011 of Mr, VgAIWIT it was resolved that

measures should be taken for the purpose of returning Sir
J. Hobhouse free of expense.
Thanks were then returned to the Chairman, and tse
meeting dissolved.