The Sun.
London, England, 1835-01-03 00:00:00

TOWER HAMLETS.

MEETING OF CAPTAIN BURTON'S FRIENDS.
Yesterday, the electors of the Tower Hamlets in the in-
terest of Captain Burton, met at the City of London Ta-
vern. . 4 great number attended; and it was soon obvious

that some of Dr. Lushington's, as well as Capt. Burton's,
friends, were present.
Mr. Prime then, having taken thie chair, proceeded to
express the hope that all would be allowed a fair hearing.
He attended as the friend of Captain Burton, and he should
be grieved if his attendance at this meeting were construed
into any opposition towards his neighbour, Mr. Clay. He
had no political enmity towards that gentleman,—it was
31sewhere. He hesitated not to state, that when he read
in the papers what had been said by Dr. Lushington—a
thing he would not again read for worlds—(Laughter)—it
was not his wish to say anything offensive—(Oh, no)—but
the most offensive things had been uttered by others, if re-
ports were true—(Cheers)—and what, he would add, was most
unbecoming ip a loyal subject.—(Huzzas.) Aye, he
would repeat his words, and he hoped they would reach Dr.
Lushington : that gentleman's language had been most unbe-
coming in a loyal subject, and still more so in an ecclesiastical
Judge.--( Great uproar, with loud cheers and laughter.)
Captain Burton was now before them. He had fought nobly
in his country's service. During the time he commanded the
Chameleon frigate, he had gallantly cut out an Algerine cor-
vette—( A laugh)—during the attack made on Algiers in 1816.
Pledges had been demanded. Captain Burton could only
offer one pledge, which was, that he would serve his consti-
tuents and the constitution as galyintly and as fearlessly as he
had before served his country. -
The CHAIRMAN again rose. He said he had just had aletter
handed to him, inquiring whether those electors who advo-
cated reform principles would be intruding, if they entered the
room ?

Captain BURTON. By no means; J want to bpar all par-
ties. I am delighted they attend. I belieue some of the
Doctor's friends are here: lam glad they are.—(Loud
laughter.) lam ready to meet them face to face. The
Chairman of this meeting has just received a letter from the
Doctor himself, and it was something in his style.—(Tre-
mendous uproar.) _ _ _

The CHAIRMAN eventually read it. It was to the following
effect :

" Sir—An advertisement has appeared in the public papers, at-
tacking me by name, convening this meeting ; it is without a sig-
nature. I request to know whether you will suffer me to be attacked
behind my back 1 If not, I beg leave to be present, &c.
(Signed) " S. LUSHINGTON."
It was immediately proposed that he should be admitted,
and the resolution was carried.

Dr. Lushington soon after entered the room, and his en-
trance was attended by loud plaudits, followed by great up-
roar. After appearing upon the table, and bowing to the
assembly, he sat at the table near Captain Burton and his
friends.

The CAPTAIN then rose to address the meeting. He could
declare that he was ready to pass the remainder of his life, and
to sacrifice his existence, in the service of the electors of the
Tower Hamlets.—( Huzzas and loud laughter.) Having de-
clared so much, he must say that he presented himself to the
electors with the greatest diffidence.--(Loud laughter.) Hav-
ing been exposed to the swords of the enemies of our country,
he had retired into private life ; but when he saw language
used that was as traitorous (we think he used this word) as it
was cowardly, he could not avoid coming forward to endea-
vour to prevent the infamy that would be attached to them,
if the person who could use such language were again to
become their representative in Parliament.—( Loud uproar.)
Doctor Lushington had given pledges, and had broken
them. He ( Captain Burton) had got hold of the rope, and he
would pull it (suiting the action to the word, by motions as if
he were pulling at a rope, and to the great amusement of the
meeting.) However, the show of votes at the election would
prove who had the best end of the rope.—(Laughter and
great uproar, during which time one end of the table fell to
the ground, casting the friends and supporters of the Captain
in different directions, and in somewhat fantastic disorder :
but, besides the momentary disarrangement caused by the fall,
ao serious accident occurred. That portion of the table on
which the Captain stood, remained as firm, and he on it, as he
is stated to have been on the deck of changeful " Chameleon."
After order had been comparatively restored, the Captain
proceeded.) He went on to state, that he condemned the
Poor-Law Bill ; it made poverty a crime ; but that was a
measure the Doctor voted for.—( Confusion.) He was neither
Whig nor Tory ; and he was as independent in fortune as he
was in principles and manliness. He was not an advocate
for the partial free-trade system ; but Dr. Lushington
voted for that also. There was a feeling about that
system which would be felt by them more intensely in
their stomachs, as it enacted a short and miserable exist-
ence. Their Liberal Member, however, had voted for
what was termed free-trade.--( Great uproar, and cries of
"Lushington for ever !") The first time he put foot
in the Tower Hamlets was in 1816, on which occasion
he opened several public-houses on Tower-hill, for the pur-
pose of getting men for the expedition against Algiers, in
consequence of which expedition many Christian slaves had
been released, besides many other great benefits. And he
was again ready to fight the battles of his country.—
( Laughter.) He had been asked his opinion about the ballot.
Were they 'English, and had they not characteristic frankness
of Englishmen ? Would they wish to vote in a mean and se-
cret manner ? Oh no ! If they returned him, what would be
thought of him if he were to propose a bill to allow Members
to vote by ballot ? As to pledges, he would give but one—to
do his duty zealously and efficiently ; and if he did not, in the
opinion of a public meeting, he would instantly resign.—
( Some laughter.) He was asked about the pension list. He
would resist pensions, except to those faithful servants--( A
laugh)—who had lost limbs--(" And their lives .a laugh)—
or suffered in the service of their country. He would not, like
the Doctor, make pledges and break them.—( Cries of " Keep
cool !" and " What do you think of Mrs. Arbuthnot's pen-
sion ?") The doctor had talked of swindlers and prostitutes,
to the electors, and as if he had been connected with such cha-
racters, so well did he appear to know about them.—(Much
uproar.) As to swindling, he would prove Dr. Lushington
to be a swindler if they would afford him a fair hearing, or he
would forfeit his life.--( Great and long-continued uproar.)
The CHAIRMAN begged for order, and hoped that hard
names would not be used on either side.—( Much cheering.)
Captain BURTON resumed. He would prove what he said,
if he had the opportunity. The Doctor had pledged himself
on various subjects, and he had violated them all in the most
atrocious manner.—( Continued uproar.) As to the Dissent-
ers, his opinion was that all ought to be placed on an equality ;
that they ought to be allowed to have Universities of their
own; that they ought to have the means of graduating for
their professions, so as to experience no obstruct;ons to their
views in life.—( Cry of " Mind what you are about, or Sir
Robert Peel will give it you," accompanied by great laughter.)
It would remove that hostile feeling of the Dissenters which
they had against the Government of the country.—(Loud
cries of " No.") The late Lord Chancellor had told them,
that if little had been done, less would follow ; in fact, that
had been promised which could not be realized, and so their
patriotic King had sent them to the right about.—(A voice
" Cheers for Lord Brougham," which were ac-
quiesced in, and about six distinct rounds were given.) He
then returned to the subject of the Poor-law Bill, and made
comments on it. He added that he was the friend of reform
in the Church, and an enemy of pluralities. He was also for
a commutation of tithes. As to church-rates, he was sure
there would be measures on the subject to secure their pay-
ment out of a separate fund taken from the funds of the coun-
try.—( A cry of " That won't do.")
A paper was here handed up to Captain Burton, who upon
reading it, replied that his answer was the same as that given
by the Doctor to Sir R. Peel, " that he spoke of him politi-
cally."
Dr. LUSHINGTON then ascended the table, and several times
essayed to speak, but without success, notwithstanding that
both Captain Burton and the Chairman endeavoured to pro-
cure him a hearing, the latter threatening to leave the room if
the tumult continued.

The scene of confusion which followed is utterly indescrib-
able. After various attempts on the part of Dr. Lushington
to speak, and on the part of the Chairman to procure him a
hearing, the latter as he had previously threatened, left the
room, and was immediately followed by the Learned Doctor.