The Sun.
London, England, 1835-01-15 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY, JAlSTiji.ir 15, 1835.

DORSETSHIRE ELECTION.

(Abridged from the Sherborne Journal.)

_
Dorchester, Jan. 13.
The election for the County of Dorset took place in Dor-
chester on Tuesday; and there being only three candidates
proposed, Lord Ashley, the Hon. W. F. Ponsonby, and C.
Sturt, Esq., were duly returned. The Hon. Members are all
closely connected with the Earl of Shaftesbury by marriage
and descent, and bear the affinity of cousins. Notwithstanding
this, however, the people of Dorsetshire gained a memorable
triumph on Tuesday. There were, perhaps, three thousand
persons present, who had congregated, not by any previous
understanding, but by the mere desire to gain political infor-
mation ; and we will venture to affirm, that at the very least
two-thirds of the hearers cheered every closing sentence that
fell from the liberal speakers. Another great point was also
achieved ; the voice of the people was heard on the hustings
of the county. The aristocracy of Dorsetshire, who have
always taken these election matters into their own hands,
found those by their sides who belonged to, and who had
sprung from the people—asking them what were their preten-
sions to the honours which they sought? Henceforward
may the people of Dorsetshire maintain their position of
Tuesday. On adjourning to the Hall, another victory on
the popular side, most flattering to ourselves, occurred.
The Hall was crowded : the Magistrates' Bench was lined
with the old gentry. The " pomp and circumstance of war"
was never more stiff. A vote of thanks was as deservedly
as it was generously and eloquently given to the Sheriff by
Lord Ashley, seconded by Mr. Sturt, and received with gene-
ral applause. Some gentleman, who has our most sincere
thanks and warmest gratitude, rose and proposed three cheers
then for the Sherborne Journal; and no sooner was it given
than it was taken up at every end ; and only conceive, readers,
the walls of the Magistrates' Hall, in the midst of the Tory
town of Dorchester, re-echoed with the flattering cheers offered
for a distant Paper, which, for six years, had been fighting the
cause of the People against the very men who stood in array
along the Bench in celebration, as they would persuade them-
selves, of the triumph of the day, in having returned two Tories
against one Whig.
Mr. FARQUHARSON proposed the Right Hon. Lord Ashley.
Sir EDWARD BAKER seconded Mr. Farquharson's proposition.
Sir WILLIAM OGLANDER nominated the Hon. William Fran-
cis Ponsonby.
G. T. JACOB, Esq. seconded the nomination.
Mr. CALcaArr proposed Henry Sturt, Esq.
- FYLER, Esq., seconded the nomination.
Mr. JOHN PENNY then presented himself to the notice of the
freeholders, and said he should desire to know whether the
candidates were of the old or the new school, whether they
were the Reformers who had been striving for the rights and
liberties of the people, or whether they were of that genus and
description which Sir Robert Peel had so recently brought
into active life—( Laughter and cheers.) Perhaps on this ap-
propriate occasion, in face of the county, and in the presence
of their constituents, they would state explicitly what were
their notions of Reform as respecting our great national in-
stitution, the Church. Again, they would perhaps state what
were their notions as to the exclusive privilege of the universi-
ties, and also, as to the interminable and unsettled question
of commuting the tithes. Would they favour us with their
opinions on these topics, or were they so enamoured of
reform as to fall within the embracing arms of Sir Ro-
bert, and declare themselves ready to introduce a care-
ful review over all our institutions, Civil and Ecclesias-
tical !—( Assent from Mr. Start.) He expected all this
from the hon. candidate, who expressed a willingness to lend
Sir Robert his powerful aid in this vast undertaking. He
stood there advocating the cause, and defending the rights of
the people, and to no man would he give place, whatever
may have been the usages of the county ; to no man, however
rich, would he move back from lending his aid in this great
and prosperous cause.—( Considerable applause.)
Mr. BROWN rose and said : We are this day met to elect
proper representatives. I have a few questions to put to two
of the candidates. lam not afraid to declare that, as a Pro-
testant Dissenter, I have grievances, for which in the name of
justice, I demand a remedy, taking for my authority the Head
of the Church, and on the ground of inspired truth. I ask
the Noble Lord what he means to do with the Right Rev.
Bishops, four-and-twenty, all in a row, making laws for ye ?
—( Off, off.) I won't be off yet, I can tell you. I mean to
to ask him what he intends to do with the Church rates ?
whether he means to make me pay for the wine and bread
with which he celebrates the Lord's Supper ?—( Groans,
hisses, and cheers)—for the candle-light of their sacred edi-
fices ?—whether I am to pay for washing their clergymen's
surplices ?—( Laughter and hisses.) I mean to ask him whe-
ther our offspring are to be debarred from the privileges of
the Universities because they will not swear to the Thirty-
nine Articles, which a certain Bisnop has declared there is
no occasion for understanding ?—whether he will deny me the
privilege of interring my own friend after the dictates of my
belief?—whether he will interfere with the joys of a bridal
morning ?—what is his opinion respecting Dissenters' bap-
tismal registration ?—and whether he will give us what it
will not be in the power of any one much longer to resist?—
(Continued uproar. )
The Members then returned thanks, but said not one word
in answer to the question which had been put.

ELGIN DISTRICT OF BURGHS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR—We understand that Colonel Sir Alexander Ander-
son, of Palrfiers-cross, near Elgin, has started for the repre-
sentation of the Elgin District of Burghs. The Colonel's
well known political integrity and extensive information upon
public affairs, well qualify him for the honour he aspires to,
and give him a strong claim to the support of every elector
haying the good of his country at heart, particularly at this
time, when the proceedings of a misguided faction threaten
our country with destruction. Though late in the field the
gallant Colonel, we learn, has every chance of success ; he is
to be proposed by Mr. Cormie, of Elgin, a gentleman• of the
greatest influence, and universally respected in that quarter.