The Sun.
London, England, 1835-05-20 00:00:00

THE DINNER.

About 400 persons sat down to a cold dinner at the Sub-
scription-room at four o'clock; DONALD MACLEAN, Esq., in
the Chair, supported on his right by Lord John ussell and
Lord Segrave, and on his left by Lord Ducie. Among the
company we noticed the Hon. Henry Moreton, Robert Can-
ning, Henry Wyett, W. Stanton, N. Marling, P. H. Fisher,
and T. Barnard, Esqrs.
On the cloth being removed, the CHAIRMAN gave " The
King"—three times three. " The Queen"—three times three.
(This toast on this occasion was certainly drunk with every
sentiment of respect, and has retrieved the character of the
Stroud people, whose gallantry at a former dinner was called
in question.) " The Duchess of Kent and the Princess Vic-
toria," " The Duke of Sussex." (Immense applause, which
continued for a length of time.)
The CHAIRMAN then gave, " The institutions of the country,
and where abuses exist, may they be promptly and judiciously
re m oved."—( Cheers. )
The CHAIRMAN then proposed, " The health of the Right
Hon. Lord John Russell, the representative of the borough of
Stroud.----(lmmense cheering, the whole company rising three
distinct times.)

Lord J. RUSSELL returned thanks, recapitulating the dif-
ferent opinions he had expressed in the morning, again advert-
ing to the principles he had professed at the hustings, and as-
suring the electors that it was his wish, and the wish of those
connected with him, to reform and amend the abuses, but at
the same time to preserve and uphold the ancient institutions,
of the country. The Noble Lord's speech was received
throughout with the most enthusiastic plaudits.
The CHAIRMAN then gave " Lady Russell."
Lord RUSSELL returned thanks, and proposed the health of
the " Ladies of Stroud." Shortly after which the party
broke up.

SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE ELEC-

TION.

(FROM A MORNING CONTEMPORARY.

Lichfield, May 19.
The placard which I transmitted to you in my last commu-
nication relative to the improper use made of the name of his
Grace the Duke of Sutherland, has called forth the following
answer from Colonel Anson, which was extensively circulated
yesterday :
'TO THE ELECTORS OF THE SOUTHERN DIVISION

OF THE COUNTY OF STAFFORD.
" Shugborough, May 18, 1835.
" Gentlemen—l have just seen a handbill, signed by the Chair.
man and Deputy-Chairman of Sir F. L. 11. Goodricke's Com-
mittee, stating that they have authority to state, that in whatever
instances the Duke of Sutherland's interest has been used to bias
voters against Sir F. L. H. Goodricke's election, it has been done
without his sanction, or that of any person, authorised to act
for him.

I beg to assure the Electors of this division of the county, that
I do not wish to use the influence of any Peer to bias voters either
for myself or against my opponent; but it will be a sufficient an-
swer to that hand-bill, and a satisfaction to the independent and
liberal-minded Electors of this county to know, that I have the best
wishes of the Duke of Sutherland for my success, and for the truth
of this I pledge myself.—l have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
" Your faithful and obliged servant,
" GEORGE ANSON."
Colonel Anson completed his canvass on Saturday, and his
friends appear to be rejoiced at the result.
The following Address—or rather second Address—put
forth by Colonel Anson, would appear to set the matter at rest
altogether :

" TO THE ELECTORS OF THE SOUTHERN DIVISION
OF THE COUNTY OF STAFFORD.
" Shugborough, May 18, 1835.
" Gentlemen,—Although time has not sufficed to enable me to
pay my respects to many individual voters, yet having now com-
pleted a circuit through this division of the county, I cannot refrain
from offering you my heartfelt thanks, for the cordial and flattering
reception I have every where experienced.
I have observed the industry with which the supporters of my
competitor have laboured to create an impression of the success
that has attended their canvass.

" I listened to these reports without concern, for, from the com-
mencement of my own canvass, I perceived that the popular feeling
was with me, and I knew that it would triumph over all the advan-
tages of earlier and more complete organisation on the part of my
opponents.

Gentlemen,—l rejoice now to be enabled to announce to you
that our cause will undoubtedly triumph—nothing should induce me
to mislead you by an exaggerated statement ; but I owe to you the
early declaration of my firm conviction, that I shall have the ho-
nour of being your Representative.
" I earnestly entreat, however, the continuance of your stre-
nuous exertions, to make our victory as complete as possible.
"I have the honour to be. Gentlemen, your faithful and obliged
servant, "GEORGE' ANSON."
The candidates are still indefatigable in traversing the
county. Sir F. L. H. Goodricke has not yet finished his
canvass.

Colonel Anson met a number of the freeholders yesterday
at Brood, and addressed them in explanation of his principles.
He was very well received.

CORPORATION JOBBERY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sia—lt is not always practicable to watch a " put-up" af-
fair from the beginning. The knaves usually concert their
" plant " so secretly as to lull suspicion until the strong box
is rifled, and the property far away from the true owners. A
lucky opportunity of seeing the process of one of these inge-
nious methods of " doing" John Bull, from its very commence-
ment, has been presented by that ancient and distinguished
city which boasts of Col. Sibthorp as its representative ; and
if this last illustration should be completed, it is presumed
that no one will dispute the merits of that Corporation influ-
ence which chooses so appropriate a representative. It will
be noticed by the readers of the summary published by the
Comtilissioners for Inquiry into Corporations, that Lincoln
stands celebrated as having leased away a public navigation
for a term of 999 years, to the uncle of Sibthorp I The rent
is 751. a year—the tolls 7,0001. a year ; and for such a nomi-
nal annual value, this great public water thoroughfare
(formed in the time of the Romans) was, in fact, converted
into private property; although Callis, in his " Treatise on
Sewers," specially denotes this river as a most aotient public
water-way. The Commissioners could not embody in their
Report every one of such enormities,_ but it is surmised that
they took a leading instance or two, characteristic of the cardi-
nal sin of each town. They could not have taken a more
shrewd example for Lincoln than this iniquitous lease, and
doubtless have included in their evidence the numerous similar
cases of other property, to a vast amount, which in Lincoln
has been systematically leased by the Corporation, to its own
members, at a nominal rent, and a nominal renewal fine I This
property is so extensive, that if put at a fair rent, would produce
many thousands per annum!
During late years a sense of shame has led some of the
Corporation to propose a modest advance of some 10 per cent.
on the renewal fine ; and at one Common Council the votes
were equal for amending the manner of letting the leasehold
property. Since this event, nearly all the subsequent admis-
sions into this self-elected Corporation, have been of such per-
sons only as have supported the leases. Consequently, every
proposal to increase the rental—to aid the improvements of the
town, or lessen the burthens of highways, police, &c., or even
to pay the enormous debt of the Corporation—has been nega-
tived by a compact body of leaseholding corporators, who now
reckon amongst them 14 or 16 individuals connected by
family alliances! Every effort to correct the non-appropria-
tion of this property has been resisted. Proposals were made
to pay a price to make certain plots freehold, but except in one
instance—that of a piece of swampy waste made freehold to the
Gas Company for about 150 L—these proposals were nega-
tived on the plea that the Corporation could not disseize their
successors ; but the real motive, it is believed, was, that it
would open the public eyes too much to the conduct of Wor-
shipful Aldermen, Sheriffs, Coroners, Common Councilmen,
&c., as holders of public property at a peppercorn rent. Thus
has the subject continued to the time of the Commissioners of
Inquiry, and the publication of their report,—when lo " a
change came o'er the spirit of their dream !" Alarmed at the
prospect of Corporation Reform, and that the Legislature might
make sad havoc with the fiction of City leases, the party began
to stir, and the following paragraph appeared in the county
paper of May 1 :
" A Plot ! a Plot !—Now that it is pretty certain the all-power-
ful force of public opinion will triumph over the corrupt Corpora-
tions which in so many instances have defeated the trusts that had
been reposed in their care for the benefit of the community, and
not for themselves, it is rumoured that a certain body who have
granted leases on nominal rents of a mass of property of immense,
amount, and have always refused to raise those rents to anything
like a fair proportion, because every individual of the whole held
some of this ppoperty,—a plan is said to be hatching which is to
convert the whole into freehold by payment of a sum as nominal,
probably; as the rent has been !—And thus this large amount of
public property, the rents of which ought to have been devoted to
the rates, local charges, law establishments, and improvements of
the town, may be swallowed up, by wholesale, and the public again
further defrauded ! Quere,—ls it likely that such a scheme of
wholesale plunder will escape future interference from Parliament,
when the right shall overcome the might? Let those beware wno
venture on any unjust dealings with their public trusts, for a day of
reckoning may arrive sooner than is expected."—Stalliford Mer-
cury, May 1, 1835.
Notwithstanding this early and emphatical warning, the co'n-
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