The Sun.
London, England, 1869-10-04 00:00:00

TIIE MEMBERS FOR MIDDLESEX.

The annual meeting of the Middlesex Agricultural
Society has given the members of the metropolitan
county an opportunity of expressing their views on
the land question. Lord Enfield, after paying a high
compliment to his Conservative colleague, Lord
George Hamilton went on to speak of the duty of
the Government in the coming session. He thought
they should " stand or fall " on the land measure they
are about to introduce, for they ought to rely upon
the greatest amount of support they could
obtain, and not to allow their proposition to be
nibbled at here and amended there, and
spoilt upon the whole. But ho looked forward
with far greater misgiving to the education question
than he did to the land. The subject, however, was
in very good hands, for ho agreed with Sir John
Palline•ton that there was no one more competent to
deal with the question on the Liberal side of the House
than Mr. Forster. Being so closely associated with
Ireland, the remarks of Lord George Hamilton will
be read with interest. He would not for a moment
deny that there were landlords who behaved badly
towards their tenants ; but all the statements
made by the newspapers must not be believed.
The relations between landlord and tenant appeared
to be more satisfactory in Ulster than in the
South, owing to the existence of tenant-right,
which allowed the tenant to make a contract with
another person in the event of his being unable to
pair the rent, or was forced to leave. The sum paid
generally amounted to from ten to fifteen years' pur-
chase
and unless there was some serious objection,
accepted the arrangement.
would be very glad to accept
areriow at the mercy of their land-
ITeha the
se e landlordmleases,
fonrint
htehye usually
N
o
land-
lords, who can eject them at six months' notice.
Even if the. Government brought in a
measure 61'0,14114 ".fixity of tenure;" he did
not imagine that the people in the South and
West of Ireland would be satisfied. In proof of this
he quoted a remark made by the Irishman, that they
;uthat it might satisfy them for a
upon fixity of tenure as an instal-
wmoeuintd
year or two, but they would ultimately want the land
oofn only u
sl
toiocke
entirely. He hoped the demands made would be
moderated ; in that cane he thought an Act might
pass which would render Ireland as nature intended
her to be—the home of a loyal, happy, and contented
people.
THE BRIDGWATER ELECTION.

A good deal of curiosity was felt on the resump-
tion of the Bridgwater inquiry respecting the evi-
dence of Mr. Spofforth, the (‘ Sir William Drake " 01
his party. Some
c l interest was lent to the
testimony death of Mr. Patton, whose
name
w a by the
mixed trayp
in it. Mr. Spofforth said he
had no connection with the late election, nor with
su:
the election of 1800. Tll
-- 1805 he introduced Mr.
Patton to Mr. Smith, who came to town for a candi-
date in place of Mr. Westropp, unseated on petition
He advised Mr. Patton to take some confidential
fiiend with him to Bridgwater, to restrain
any importunity. He admitted having a
good idea of the character of the borough
from public rumour. lie had the conduct
of the petition. Mr. Patton had no assistance
from the Conservative party, and Mr. Spofforth pro-
fessed entire ignorance of the man who spent the
money, and of the amount which he spent. Being
told by the chairman that the two elections of 180 e
cost Mr. Patton £4,500, the witness suggested that
some of the money might have gone to the expense!!
of the petition. The Chairman answered this by the
remark that £1,900 had been spent in sums of £IC
at the first election. Mr. Spofforth stated that he
knew nothing about Mr. Patton's disgust at having
to pay the MU for illegal expenses, but declared
that £1,200 could be spent legitimately, 8,2
it would be necessary to pay the lawyers
for neglecting their ordinary business. lie reiterated
his statement that he had nothing to do with the
money transactions, his partner,. Mr. Rose, having
cautioned him never to soil his hands by corrupt
practices. When a suitable candidate was found with
no money of his own his firm advanced money, for
legitimate expenses only. We have seen, however,
that Mr. Spofforth's estimate for legal and necessary
expenses is somewhat elastic.