The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-15 00:00:00

SOUTH (WEST RIDING) YORKSHIRE.

The petition against Mr. Beaumont, of the South
(West Riding) of Yorkshire, is being conducted to the
end. It is now attempted to be shewn that Mr.
Stanhope, who claims Mr. Beaumont's seat, has vitiated
his chance by illegality. Evidence of the screw being
put on by a rate-collector and a land agent was given, and
a case of alleged bottling was investigated. William
Gledhill, a small farmer, of West Scarr, Scammonden, had
never voted before, he said, but at the last election, he
meant voting for the "yellows," though he did'nt know that
meant Milton and Beaumont. The night before the polling.
day he slept at his son-in-law's. At two o'clock in the
morning a lot of men called him up and took him in a cart
to a "blue" inn. Something to drink was given him, and he
fell asleep, for when an old man is " wakkened" out of his
sleep he'll soon sleep again. In passing a policeman he
called out that they were taking him like a prisoner.
After he had been asleep at the " bluer' inn he was put
into a carriage and taken to Huddersfield. He never
got to the poll. He could not remember the name of the
betel to which he was taken at Huddersfield. They must
excuse him ;he was not very sober. It was also Blies% n
that railway fares were paid by the " Blues." In
reply to this, however, Mr. Maule, who appeared for the
petitioner, said it would cost the voters 2s. each to return
from Sheffield to Penistone by an afternoon train in time
to vote, so that, in fact, it could only be said that they
had been provided gratuitously with a penny each. To
contend that that was something illegal would be a
reductio ad ab3urdum. The voters were all pledged before.
hand, and strictly as to language no money was given,
but only some convenience. Nobody had given any money
to these people to vote ; they got no money. Nothing
passed in the ordinary sense of giving. They got a ticket
each, which franked them to Sheffield, and it cost them
2s. each to get back, so that absolutely only a penny each
were they in pocket, but nothing was given—no money,
at all events. It would be straining the statute to say
that they received money for the purpose of voting, they
having previously pledged themselves to vote. His
lordship would not decide the point.

NORTHALLERTON.
When the court rose on Wednesday the result of the
day's scrutiny was that six votes were taken off Mr.
Button's majority, and that two were taken off the number
polled by Mr. Johns, and one added. Three votes were at
the same time declared doubtful. One of the doubtful
votes had been refused for Mr. Johns. Mr. Hutton's
aajority at the election was 14.

Dr. Crum Brown has been appointed Professor
of Chemistry in Edinburgh 'University.

TILE SIZE OF "SANDWICH " BOARDS.—The Chief
Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has consented to
modify the order regulating the size of the boards to be
carried through the streets by those who are known as
" sandwich " men. Colonel Henderson has granted per-
mission for the use of the size asked for by the advertising
agents, who promise that every care shall be taken to
avoid the slightest infringement of the regulations. The
summonses against several of the agents for having broken
the rule previously in force have therefore been with-
drawn.

MASONIC CELEBRATION AT FREEMASONS' HALL.
—The metropolitan building dedicated to the Freemasons
has very lately been rebuilt. The dedication service of
the new building was given on Wednesday. The cere-
mony was performed by the Right Hon. the Earl of
Zetland, M.W. Grand Master of England. The attend-
ance of brethren, not only belonging to London lodges
but the provinces also, was very large, and there has not
been so brilliant an assemblage of craftsmen for many
years past. The Grand Master, preceded by the
grand officers, attired in the garter, blue and
gold collars, and jewels, of their high rank, entered
the great hall of the building soon after• half-
past four o'clock, followed by a great number of
" craftsmen," in the conventional light blue and silver.
The Grand Master, having taken his seat on the throne,
the lodge was opened in solemn form, aftor which prayer
was offered up by the Grand Chaplain. The Grand
Superintendent of Works handed to the Grand Master the
plan of the buildings, which was followed by an explana-
tion and statement in reference to the progress and com-
pletion of the buildings by the Chairman of the Building
Committee. An anthem was then sung. The Grand
Master went through the formal ceremony of dedication,
assisted by his officers, and, having resumed his seat,
declared the building dedicated to pure ancient masonry,
universal charity, and benevolence. Afterwards the Rev.
H. J. Simpson, Grand Chaplain, delivered an oration.
Another anthem was sung, at the conclusion of which the
Grand Lodge was closed.