The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-26 00:00:00

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.

WEST GLOUCESTERSHIRE
The nomination for the vacancy in the western
division of the county of !Gloucester, occasioned by
the appointment of Sir J. Rolt as one of the Judges
of Appeal, was held yesterday, at the quaint and
picturesque little town of Dursley, in the Vale of
Gloucester. The rarity of a contested election pro-
duced extraordinary excitement, and the contrast
between the present and last election (when Sir J.
Rolt was re-elected on his appointment as Attorney-
General) was very striking. The formal proceed-
ings took place at hustings, in the middle of the
town, but the open space around was not nearly
sufficient to accommodate the crowd of electors who
had arrived by road and rail, and there was conse-
quently considerable confusion. The two parties had
erected hustings for the accommodation of their
own friends, and these were occupied chiefly by
ladies, the one gallery being filled with blue dresses
and ribands (Col. Somerset's colour) and the other
with yellow and green, so that the effect was quite
picturesque, and would have been more so had the
Liberal gallery been better filled. The Hon.
Grantley Berkeley was on the Sheriff's hustings.
The Sheriff, Mr. SamPsoN,lin opening the pro-
ceedings, referred to the elevation of Sir J. Rolt to
the judicial bench as an instance of the results of
talent combined with industry and perseverance.
Mr. PRICE, M.P. for Gloucester, nominated the
Hon. C. P. F. Berkeley to fill the vacancy, and
took credit to the Liberal party tfor abstaining so
long from contesting the division. He believed the
Liberal party were in so large a majority that they
had a claim to the two seatsin the division—(cheers,
and " No, no")—and that was the question which
they had to try. The Conservative party now re-
pudiated the doctrine that minorities should be re-
presented, and, therefore, he claimed that the Libe-
ral majority in the Western Division shouldbe fully
represented. He recommended Mr. Berkeley, first,
as a a faithful representative of their principles ;
secondly, as a well tried man of business and
possessing all the energies and aptitude which
befitted him to represent the county ; thirdly, he
recommended him as a scion of that house which
had been for so many centuries connected with the
county. The records of his brief Parliamentary
career were his credentials. (A Voice—Member
for the rotten city of Gloucester.) As to the Re-
form Bill, he accepted it ; but as a party manoeuvre
it was disgraceful. He protested against the mode
in which it had been carried. In this country the
honour of political parties deeply concerned every
one. If principles were to be assumed and flung
away to suit the purpose of the hour, then the pres-
tige of party was gone, and they were approaching
American principles. He was glad, however, to see
that some of the greatest men of the Conservative
party refused to be dragged with their leaders, and
to stoop to such meanness. In conclusion he pro-
posed the Hon. C. P. F. Berkeley as the successor
to Sir J. Rolt.

Major CASTLE seconded the nomination, and
denied that the Hon. C. P. F. Berkeley was the
nominee of the House of Berkeley. his candidature
was the result of a meeting held at Gloucester last
spring, when a requisition was got up calling upon
Mr. Berkeley to stand for the division at the next
vacancy, and the result was that the requisition had
been signed by nearly 3,000 electors.
Colonel BLATIIWAYT proposed Colonel Edward
Arthur Somerset as a fit and proper person to re-
present the division. (Vehement cheering and
waving of hats.) He was a gallant officer, had
served in the Crimea, and was an excellent man of
business. He would support the present Govern-
ment, which had successfully grappled with the
question of Reform, under which every man would
have a fair share in the representation.
Mr. R. F. ONSLOW seconded the nomination. He
looked with confidence to the result of the poll on
Monday.
Mr. ROBINSON, Mayor of Bristol, here came for-
ward to support Mr. Berkeley, but the Sheriff in-
formed him that he was out of order, nevertheless
he persisted in spite of the Sheriff, but the crowd
would not listen to him.
No other candidates being nominated,

The lion. C. P. F. BERKELEY came forward amid
loud cheers, and was very patiently listened to. He
said he had not been proposed on any ambitious or
personal grounds, but as they bad been told by the
gentlemaß who seconded his nomination, he came
forward in compliance with a requisition that had
been presented to him some months ago by a body
of nearly 3,000 electors of the division, men of all
classes, some representing the landed, some the agri-
cultural, others the mining and commercial interests
of the country ; and under these circumstances he
felt it to be his bounden duty to accept that requi-
sition. (Cheers.) But whoever they elected they
would have to return their trust into the hands of
the electors very shortly, for a general election must
follow the passing the Reform Bill. That bill, or
rather a bill, was put forward by the present Go-
vernment, as they had been told, at ten minutes'
notice, ani it had been kicked out of the House of
Commons at two minutes' notice. (Laughter.)
Then the Government introduced another bill and
a set of resolutions, a great many of which had fol-
lowed the original bill. But the House of Com-
mons ha'l now so reformed that Reform Bill that he
believed it now gave general satisfaction. (" No,"
and cheers.) There was one part of it he knew
would soon have to be discussed again—that was
the part relating to the redistribution of seats.
(Cheers.) That arrangement as it at present stood
was not considered satisfactory by either party,:ancl
no doubt in the new House of Commons it would
have to be redressed. Among the questions which
would have to be discussed in the new Parliament
was what their opponents called the question of
Church and State. It had been often said that his
party were for the destruction of the Church, but
he (Mr. Berkeley) thought that was a mistaken
notion. They were as desirous of upholding the
Church as any of them, but they thought that it
was neither just nor expedient that church rates
should be extracted from the pockets of
those who supported their own places of worship.
(Loud cheers.) There was one other question of vast
importance which would have to b 3 discussed in the
new Parliamant—that was the discontent in Ire-
laud. (Hear, hear.) Living as they did in a
peaceful country they could hardly realize the viru-
lence of party spirit on the other side of the
Channel. Ile had seen an instance of it being
brought into a committee-room in the House of ,
Commons, when an Irish Attorney-General who
had been talking for a fortnight had to be removed
by five policemen. (Laughter.) He referred to
his conduct in Parliament during the short time
that he sat for the neighbouring city of Gloucester,
as proving that he had not been idle, and said that
if they returned him to Parliament again, as he
believed they would do next Monday, he would
assiduously attend to their local interests, and up-
hold and support the Liberal party. (Cheers.) A
dissolution of Parliament would take place proba-
bly in a year, when he trusted he should be stand-
ing side by side (as he was at that moment) with
his gallant friend Colonel Kiugscote (cheers),
asking for a renewal of their confidence ; but if
their choice shourl fall on his gallant opponent, he
must leave it to him to explain who would be
standing in his shoes. (A laugh.) He thanked
them for listening so patiently, and hoped the elec-
tion would be conducted in that orderly manner that
lie and his friend Colonel Somerset wished it should
be. (Loud cheers.)

Au Elector in the crowd—Will you support the

baflot ?

Mr. BERKELEY---I don't turn my coat; I have
supported the ballot.
Colonel SO3IERSET said he stood before them,
believing that he represented the feelings of a vast
number of the electors of West Gloucestershire,
and before he proceeded further he would remark
that he had one advantage over his hon. opponent
in having the ladies in his favour. (The gallant
colonel alluded to a gallery of " ladies in blue "
immediately facing him.) He should not in his
ONVII
person have come forward had he not been
asked to do so a by large and influential plrty
resident in
it would notthbee d.'vis-ion,
and he considered that
fair or right that the opinions
of the Conservative party should not be represented.

He came before them as a supporter of the present
Government. (Cheers.) That Government had
passed through the House of Commons with great
tact, great energy, and great ability a bill for the
better representation of the people. That bill, he
believed, would shortly become law, and it would
confer on many of them the privilege of the franchise
which they did not now enjoy, but which they richly
deserved by their reputation and their habits of in-
dustry. He believed that bill was founded on sound
and Constitutional principles. (Hear, hear, from
Mr. Price, M.P.) That bill, in spite of all that
might be said by the Liberal party, had been most
violently opposed by the Whigs in the House of
Commons, and it was entirely through the energy
and exertions of a Conservative Government that
these benefits would be conferred on them, and not
through the influence or exertions of the Liberal
party. For thi., among other reasons, he thought
he was justified in asking them to support a Govern-
ment that had proved itself so worthy of their con-
fidence. Having explained the circumstances at-
tending the election for 'Monmouthshire which had
been referred to by the proposer of Mr. Berkeley,
the gallant colonel said he had served that county
honestly and faithfully for 11 years, and could get a
good character " from his last place." (Laughter.)
The Government had recently increased consider-
ably the pay of the soldier ; he believed that step
was a wise one, as it would add to the efficiency of
the army and the comfort of the soldier, and would
act advantageously on the general masses of the
people. He admitted that a deplorable state of
things existed in Ireland, and he hoped Lord Derby's
Government would devise some remedy for it. (A
Voice—" He'll do anything to keep office ;
even give universal suffrage I") If, however, Mr.
Berkeley confined his observations on the state of
Ireland to a committee-room of the House of Com-
mons he could know little about the matter. His
(Col. Somerset's) residence in Ireland in high offi-
cial positions for the last two years had given him
some knowledge of the people, with whom he had
deep sympathy ; but it was the greatest mis-
take in the world to suppose that the great
mass of the people of Ireland were not loyal and
warm-hearted. The people of Ireland were easily
led either for good or evil, and a small portion of
them had been excited to discontent by conspirators
from America, who had been endeavouring to ex-
tract every farthing of money from them for their
own purposes. (Hear.) He thanked them for their
attention, and anticipated that on Monday next
they would place him in a proud position at the
head of the poll. (Loud cheers.)
The show of hands was then taken, and declared
to be in favour of Mr. Berkeley, amid loud cheers
and waving of hats.
A poll was demanded for Colonel Somerset, and
fixed to be taken on Monday next at certain places
named. The declaration of the poll is to be made
on Wednesday.
Thanks were then voted to the High Sheriff, and
cheers given for the ladies, after which the electors
retired to luncheon at the different inns in the town.

The contest is expected to be a close one, and
both parties are equally sanguine.

MR. SAMUEL MORLEY AND 771 E NEW
BOROUGH OF HACKNEY.

Last night a meeting was held in the old Town-
hall, Hackney, of requisitionists and other friends
desirous of securing the services of Mr. Samuel
Morley, as ono of the members for the new borough
of Hackney, and to adopt such measures as might
be deemed expedient for that purpose.
G. GOWLAND, Esq., who was called to the chair,
said they were met to ascertain whether Mr. Morley
would stand for the borough of Hackney, and per-
haps the question might be asked why he had not
been the very first gentleman asked to take that posi-
tion. The reason was he believed to be found in an
erroneousimpression that Mr. Morley had declared he
would not becomea candidate. That, however, had re-
' fcrence solely to a declaration of Mr. Morley's some
time since; that he would not stand for the borough of
the Tower Hamlets. But he understood that it was a
mistake to suppose Mr. Morley would not stand for
Hackney, and the only reason why he had not been ,
placed before them as a candidate was that he had
not been asked. (Hear.) 'I here could be no doubt
that of all men in existence Mr. Morley was pre-
eminently entitled to be the representative of the
newly-created borough, and if be consented to be-
come a candidate, it would have a beneficial effect on
other candidates already in the field, or who might
contemplate taking that position. He understood that
one of the candidates (Mr. Reed) had stated that if
Mr. Morley came forward he would himself retire,
and be glad to take the position of chairman of his
election committee. It was known that Mr. Morley
had been asked to stand for the city of London, and
it might be supposed that the town of Nottingham
would be glad, for its own sake, to return him with-
out cost. (" They will not do it.") The more shame
to them, but all the better for the electors of the new
borough if they could secure a man so thoroughly
conversant with their local interests, so liberal to
their charities, so perfectly independent in position
and means, and so advanced a Liberal as Mr. Mor-
ley. (Cheers.) In fact, it would be well for other
intending candidates to think well before taking the
position of the responsibilities they would incur under
the new act if passed. They would have between
40,000 and 50,000 electors in that borough. The at-
tention, expenditure, and complete devotion of time
and energy which the position of the representative
of such a constituency involved were of such mag-
i nitude that few men could be found adequately to
sustain it. He believed that Mr. Morley, by his great
wealth, his perfect freedom from business engage-
ments, and his high feeling of honour in political mat-
' ters, was especially qualified for the position. (Hear.)
If they agreed with him, he thought the best course
they could take was to wait upon Mr. Morley at
once—strike the iron while it was hot—and ask him,
in a straightforward question, to which he would no
doubt give them a straightforward answer. (near.)
J. J. TANNER, Esq., J.P., briefly stated that he
had placed his name on the requisition, to which
many hundreds had since been appended, because
he understood that Mr. alorley had only refrained
from stating his views and wishes on the subject iu
consequence of no formal application having been
made to him. He quite concurred with the chair-
man in thinking that a deputation should forthwith
wait upon Mr. Morley.

After some remarks from a former elector of Not-
tingham, now resident in Bethnal-green, in favour
of the candidature of Mr. Morley, who he believed
would be returned by a majority of at least 20,000
over any other gentleman who might present
himself,
F. CLARKE, Esq.,
said he would like to know
what number of names had been appended to the
been signed to that presented to
requisition, because they knew thatan 1,200 names
othergentlem had.
It It would be wrong, he thought, to act upon the
suggestion of the chairman, and wait upon Mr.
Morley at once. They ought to be able to present
to him a requisition signed by such a number of
names as would induce him to come forward.
The CHAIRMAN said they were prepared to have
presented a requisition signed by 12,000 instead of
1,200 names, but Mr. Morley himself had said that
it was altogether unnecessary to put themselves to
that expense or trouble. What was simply required
was a proof that he was wanted as a candidate.
R. ADDIOTT, Esq., concurred with Mr. Clarke
in thinking that it would be better not to invite
Mr. Morley forward until they could, after a
week's quiet labour, present such a requisition
as would be honourable to themselves, and
justify Mr. Morley in assuming the position to
which, of all men in England, he was pre-eminently
entitled.

Mr. KNIGHT said the only difficulty in the way
of getting the requisition numerously signed was the
fact that there was a general impression that Mr.
Morley would not stand.

Mr. TANNER corroborated that view, and refer-
red to the fact that Mr. Morley had himself signed
the requisition to Mr. Reed. If they adopted the
suggestion of the chairman, and waited at once upon
Mr. Morley to ascertain whether he would stand, it
would very much facilitate future procedure.
After some discussion, in which Mr. Serle, Dr.
Tripe, Air, Fllis, Dr. l'ye Smith, and other gentle-

men took part, it was resolved on the motion of Dr.
Tripe, seconded by J. Ford, Esq., that a communi.
cation be made to Mr. Morley asking whether at an
earily day he would receive a deputation to solicit
him to become a candidate.

In anticipation of a favourable reply to that com-
munication, a deputation which included the names
of nearly every gentleman present, was appointed
on the motion of Mr. Tanner.

The proceedings terminated with the usual com
pliment to the chairman.

THE 111EJIBERS FOR MARYLEBONE AND
THEIR CO NS7 IT UEN TS.

Yesterday Mr. H. Lewis, M.P., and Mr. Thomas
Chambers, M.P., presented themselves before the
Marylebone vestry to make a statement relative to
their votes and action in the house during the pre-
sent session on matters more particularly affecting
the ideal interests of the parish.
Mr. 11. LEWIS, after referring to the annual cus-
tom of the representatives of Marylebone of waiting
upon the vestry to explain their action in Parlia-
mentary matters, and to the confidence which had
hitherto on such occasions been expressed in them,
said the first bill introduced into the house to which
he would refer was the bill for subverting the
whole of the arrangements and machinery of
the poor law. His colleague and himself, aided
by deputations from Marylebone and :St.
Pancras, resisted that bill as much as possible,
but to no effect, and a bill was passed which he
believed struck a great blow at local self-govern-
ment. The Poor Law Board, &c., Bill was a mea-
sure to which that and most other vestries were
opposed, and he was happy to say they had been
successful in eliminating the objectionable clauses,
which were very similar to those which his late col-
league and himself had defeated two years ago. The
clause, however, relating to the permanence of the
board was persisted in, and a division would be
taken upon it. They bad, agreeably with the wish
of the vestry, opposed the Artisans and Labourers'
Dwellings Bill, on the ground that the subject was
one to be dealt with by private enterprise, and not
to be made a means of increasing the already heavy
taxation of the metropolis. (Hear, hear.) The re-
quiem of the compound householder had been sung
with great delight by the House of Commons, and
although the greatest efforts had been made to
obtain the adoption of some scheme for obviating
the loss of rates to the parishes expected to result
the attempt had failed. If, however, the inconve-
nience was found to be very great something might
be done next session. In conclusion, Mr. Lewis
referred to the arduous nature of the Parliamentary
duties during the session, but added that he hoped
his attention to the interests of the borough had
been such as to merit the approbation of the vestry
and the ratepayers at large. (Cheers.)
Mr. Tiros. CHAMBERS, M.P., endorsed the state-
ment of Mr. Lewis, and, in remarking upon the
Artisans and Labourers' Dwellings Bill, said he
thought its adoption would, by taking away from
the people the necessity of facing and conquering
their own difficulties, lower their social and political
character. (Hear, hear.)
Upon the motion of the Rev. C. J. P. EYRE
(rector), seconded by Mr. KYNASTON, a vote of
thanks was passed to the members for their cour-
tesy, diligence, and zeal in attending to the business
of the parish during the past session.

MIDDLE CLASS SCHOOLS CORPORATION,

The first public distribution of prizes in connec-
tion with this corporation took place yesterday on
the school playground, Bath-street, City-road.
The parents and friends of the scholars assembled
in immense numbers, and as the yard and platform
at the end were gaily decorated with flags, the nar-
row street outside was crowded with the general
public. The achool house iu Bath-street is tempo-
rary, and although it was opened only in October
last, there are now over 700 pupils, with 300 more
waiting for the completion of the new building on
the Finsbury estate. The general character of the
school and its success may be learnt from the follow-
ing extract from a report of Professor Hirst, the
examiner, which is particularly valuable as being
the first recorded testimony of the success of the ex-
periment :—" In judging of the efficiency of a school
it is necessary, of course, to bear in mind its professed
objects. These objects, in the case of the Bath-
street school, I find described in the following terms :
---' To provide for boys who are destined for com-
mercial life such liberal course of instruction as shall
be most useful to them hereafter, as well as to edu-
cate them in those habits of thought and discipline
which will best ensure their future success.' After
due consideration and inquiry, I have no hesitation
in saying that the general arrangements of your
school are well adapted to the end in view. The
curriculum appears to me to have been well and
carefully chosen ; lessons on the natural and expe-
rimental sciences, the importance of which is now
fullymliils
whilst
eoctohgner i
ss
tedud,
ilei as vleesbs eaedna
pjutedcditioouthsley
minatirnodu
objectsced
of the school have, just as judiciously, been omitted.
In the junior part of the school the boys are well
in exercisedthe
higher in s pfeolrlminsg,drueea da itnt
egn,
twi
orni t iins g,
paidand t
od
sr
ua
such as geography, history, and the naturabwiesnccis-;
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ux
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sfe
gtehnee rn la
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and culture, whilst due prominence is given through-
out to those severest studies which tend more di-
rectly to strengthen the reasoning powers and to
engender habits of accurate thought—I allude more
especially to mathematics, including arithmetic, and
to physics. Exercise of a more healthful and re-
creative character, too, are not forgotten. All the
saeshmo'nelll
oaesevupocaatilo,
nese. nsltitiultaed athgeoopdleafseuratueroef
boys are taught drilling ; and music, instrumental
i sne e it nh ge
the whole school drawn up in columns, march very
spirited past their head master, to the music of their
own little band. Such exercises are not only
healthy, they likewise generate an esprit de corps,
which is well worth fostering. In the general tone
and discipline of the school the personal influ-
ence of the masters is all-important ; they cannot
merely teach their respective subjects; the way in
which they do so—in short, every act of theirs in
the classroom—has its moral effect upon their pupils.
With respect to the relations between masters and
boys, I can only say that the boys appeared to me to
be happy, and exceedingly well-behaved. Their
head master evidently governs with firmness and
great kindness. His sympathy with the boys—in
their games, as well as in their studies—cannot fail
to win their affection and esteem. I had, indeed,
occasion to notice more than once that the enjoy-
ment derived from their sports was heightened by
his presence, and I could not but feel convinced that
the moral effect of such government must be invalu-
able. The average proficiency of the boys in the
several forms would, I believe, have been higher,
but for the fact that the classes have, from week to
week, been increased, and to some extent inter-
rupted by the constant introduction of new boys
during the half year. The premises in Bath-street
are in many respects inconvenient for the accommo-
dation of 700, the present number of pupils, but in
the new building, which, I have been told, is to ac-
commodate 1,000 boys, of course the defect to which
I have alluded need not exist. It will also be found
desirable to have a lecture theatre, so constructed
that 500 boys may witness the experiments of the
classes of the
teacher of physics. The drawing ,
order. Every pupil, I
school appear to be in good
believe, learns this useful accomplishment. They
draw from copies, from models, and from memory ;
and some of the specimens I saw were very promis-
ing ones indeed. In conclusion, I wish to draw at-
tention to one or two changes in the course of studies
which might, perhaps, be made with advantage. It
is generally admitted that elementary geometry, by
which I mean the systematic study and demonstra-
tion of the properties of the simpler geometrical figures
is one of the best subjects for training the mind gra-
dually to habits of thought and accurate reasoning.
It is not generally known, however, or if known, not
admitted, that this training might commence at a
much earlier period. This is due in a great measure
to the fact that the one text-book to which we still
adhere is ill adapted to young students ; having, in
fact, been written by Euclid more than 2,000 years
ap, and that for A very different object, The French,