The Sun.
London, England, 1835-04-23 00:00:00

SOUTH DEVON ELECTION.

If there is one public man who has stronger claims upon
the friends of civil and religious liberty than another, it
is Lord John Russell. To him, more than to any other
Parliamentary advocate of their claims, the Dissentore
are indebted for the repeal of the Test and Corporation
Acts, extorted from the Wellington Administration ; and.
if he was not the author of the Reform Bill, he has the
double merit of having been the steady champion of the
cause of Parliamentary Reform under circumstances of an
inauspicious and discouraging nature, and of having promptly
and cordially adopted the somewhat startling, because de-
cisive and effective, measure of reform, when originated by
a Noble Colleague. But his recent conduct, as Leader
of the Opposition, has raised him higher than ever in,
the estimation of his countrymen ; and the manner in
which his talents have been elicited, has shown him equal
to the great occasion which has called for his exertions,
and given decision to his purposes. Let him but shake
off the indolence and the coldness of the aristocrat, and
he will secure the popularity which his exemplary con-
sistency and blameless conduct amply merit.
Lord John's return for the division of South Devon is
to be opposed by the utmost strength of the Tories and
their ecclesiastical janissaries. Bishop Phillpots and Jabez
Bunting will, no doubt, move heaven and earth against
him. A sort of edict has been issued, intimating a wish
that the Wesleyan Methodists of Devonshire should not
support his Majesty's Secretary of State ; no doubt, out
of sympathy with that excellent Methodist, Lord Lynd-
hurst, who has been so cruelly displaced by the recent ar-
rangements. The pious Record invokes the curse of heaven
upon all who shall vote for Lord John. The clergy, who
never meddle in politics—oh no ! it is only wicked Dis-
senters who are political—are betaking themselves to their
prayers. All this would be laughable, if it were not too
-floalonlisipAi_laughter: Could a higher compliment, how-
ever, be paid to a-public man, than is involved in the stupid
calumnies to which, for lack of any fair ground of reproach,
the enemies of Lord John Russell are having recourse, in
order to gull the worthy church-going yeomanry, and
frighten the old women of Devonshire ? " Lord John has
turned Papist—has married a Papist." What ! can they
hit upon no more plausible falsehood than this ? These
desperate efforts must, however, be met by corresponding
exertions. In Devonshire, as in Essex, Northamptonshire,
and other counties, the inattention paid to the registration
by the friends of Reform has wrought most miscl7ievously.
To this circumstance the Tories owe the only shadow of a
chance which they have of returning the young gentleman
whom they have set up as their No-Popery candidate. The
Tories of Devonshire have subscribed prodigally in support
of their candidate. It is not asking too much, assuredly, of
the Reformers of the empire, to emulate this activity and
liberality in their own cause.—Patriot.

M. DE LA MARTINE'S TRAVELS IN THE EAST.
Just ready, in small Bvo., with a Portrait of the Author,
A PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND,
SYRIA, &c.
By M. DE LA MARTINE.
The occasional Poetry will be metrically rendered by
MISS LANDON.
Richard Bentley, 8, New Burlington-street,
Publisher in Ordinary to His Majesty.