The Sun.
London, England, 1860-03-21 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 21, 1860.

ELECTION INTELLICiENCE.

NORWICH, TUESDAY.
After negotiations extending over several days,
two candidates have at last been secured, in the
persons of Mr. W. D. Lewis, Q.C., and Mr. W.
Forlonge, a we lthy gentleman from Australia.
These gentlemen arrived in Norwich last evening,
and at about 10 p.m. commenced expounding their
sentiments to a very noisy and tumultuous meet-
ing. Mr. J. G. Johnson wes called to the chair ;
but before his arrival Sir Samuel Bignold, who has
contested four elections for Norwich in the Conser-
vative interest, addr-ssed the m-eting at consider.
able length, amid confusion and some applause.
He assured the meeting that the candidates se-
lected--Mr. Lewis and Mr. Forlonge—would not
support a 10d. income tax merely to " pander to a
Manchester clique." (Cheers and uproar.) The
Chairman then introduced
Mr. LEWIS, who avowed himself a Protestant,
and expressed his conviction that Protestantism
was one of the great interests of the country. He
wes for a free Bible, free churches, for free spe7ch,
for free platforms, and for families free from the
confessional. (Cheers.) He should vote against the
grant to lVfaynooth, and he deprecated the course
adopted by Lord Derby in coquetting with the
Irish Romanists making beds to them and nibbling
at our Protestant safeguards, when the Govern-
ment were hard pressed for votes. (Hear, hear.)
With regard to church-rates, he believed the State
should make provision for the worship of God, and
he considered that most delusive arguments were
used on the subject, but he did not object to Dis-
senters being exempted from church-rates on con-
dition that they abstained from all interference in
church matters. With regard to reform, he asked
why should a constitution under which England
had risen to be one of the first nations of the world
be changed recklessly and upon speculative
grounds ? He protested against the Radicals arro- ,
gating to themselves the right of spc.-.king of the
working classes as if they only sympathised with
them, and against any change in the constitution
which would have the effect of making the votes of
the working classes numerically superior to the
combined opinions and votes of all other classes.
With regard to foreign affairs, he sympathised with
the Italians in the noble struggle they had made
for liberty, but he counselled an attitude of watch-
fulness towards our powerful neighbour across the
Channel. Mre Lewis, who spoke with considerable
eloquence, was warmly cheered on resuming his
seat.

Mr. FORLONGE said 11;s conservatism was the
conservatism of experience, as he had scen the
working of the democratic constitutions of America,
the republi"s of South America, and the colonies of
Australia. The proposed Reform Bill would throw
the whole political power of the country into the
hands of one class, while the principle of the glorious
constitution of Great Britain Was a judicious balance
of various interests. The doctrine of annexation
propounded by the Emperor Napoleon would, he
feared, be found subversive of the liberties of
Europe, if pushed to its full development—(cheers)
—and already there was apparently a feeling
of general uneasiness. As regards our policy in the
East, he believed—speaking from his personal know-
ledge of the Asiatic character—that we must make
our arms respected, and we could then do an im-
mense trade with China. Of the ballot he could
speak with confidence, for he had seen its working
in Australia and America, where every well-edu-
cated man and lover of his country regarded it as
an immense evil. The proposed abolition of church
rates he looked upon as an absolute " confiscation"
of Church property. (No, no, and cheers.)
A resolution, pledging the party to support Mr.
Forlonge and Mr. Lewis was adopted, on the mo-
tion of Sir S. Bignold, and the meeting then broke
up in some confusion. A second " midnight meet-
ine was afterwards held in one of the wards.
The Liberals are displaying corresponding acti-
vity, and the same train which brought down the
Conservative candidates carried also their oppo-
nents. The contest will be an exciting one.

EXETER.-Mr. Alfred Seymour, the candidate
for this city, in the room of Mr. Divett, has just
issued his address, in which he expresses himself
firmly attached to those liberal opinions which so
triumphantly carried the Reform Act o: 1832, and
more lately carried the free trade measures. Though
' firmly attached to the MAtablished Church, he is
most anxious to see church rates abolished. He
would desire to see a measure introduced to put a
stop to such scandals as those which have occurred
at St. George's-in-the-East. With regard to reform,
he expre-ses approval of Lord J. Russell's bill, but
would desire a clause by which that portion of the
industrial population who live in lodgings should
likewise have the benefit of the franchise. In refe-
rence to the ballot, he should have wished to see
the working of the new Reform Bill and the Cor-
rupt Practices Bill before deciding, but he has
come to the determination to support that measure
at once.

EAST SOMERSET.—Sir Henry. Ainslie Hoare,
Bart., of Stourhead House, will, it is said, contest
the astern Division of Somersetshire in the Libe-
ral interest at the next general electior.
THE IRISII ELECTIONS.—The writ for the Ros-
common election has been received by the High
Sheriff. The dayinamed by him for the nomination
of candidates is Monday, the 26th of March, in the
courthouse of Roscommon. Capt. Goff, accompanied
by the Hon. R. E. King and others, canvassed the
electors of Boyle on Tuesday last, when, we are
assured (says the Roscommon Journal), the Liberals
to a man refused to support him. Mr. Thomas
M'Dermot and Mr. J. D. APDermot, on behalf of
the O'conor Don, canvassed the people of Boyle on
Monday last, and were everywhere received with
enthusiasm, and with cordial and sincere pro-
mises of support. In every part of the county,
we have reason to believe, the canvass for the Don
has been actually successful. He arrived in Dublin
on Sunday from Rome, and has proceeded to Ros-
common. In Clare, Captain Charles White, a near
relation of the unseated member, will oppose Mr.
Calcutt. A sharp contest is expected.