The Sun.
London, England, 1835-01-26 00:00:00

even of importance, to remain in abeyance rather than run the
risk of entailing permanently on the country an illiberal course
of policy. With respect to the Duke of Wellington's Admi-
nistration, I, with Mr. Huskisson and others of his friends,
for three'or four months, formed a part of it ; and why did we
resign? It was on the transfer of the franchise of East Ret-
ford to some one of the great towns of England—a measure
which was opposed precisely on the ground that it was the first
step to Parliamentary Reform. On that occasion I resigned office,
—a resignation entirely voluntary on my part. In the follow-
ing year, 1830, it was at my option, with Lord Palmerston
and the friends with whom we acted, to enter into the Go-
vernment of the Duke of Wellington if we chose to waive
the question of Parliamentary Reform, but we declined
to accept office on such conditions. I maintain, there-
fore, that I have always supported measures of liberal improve-
ment. In reference to these principles, I voluntarily retired
from a Government, of which the stability seemed permanent,
and I declined to resume official station. This, gentlemen, is
my answer to these personal charges. If those who impeach
my motives can prove that they have made similar sacrifices, I
will allow them to be good judges of my conduct.__( Cheers. )
But it seems the late Government was tending to revolution.
Nothing is more easy than to pronounce the word revolution.
It has constantly been used as a watchword to retard the pro-
gress of improvement. But who are the real revolutionists—
those who desire timely improvement, or those who resist it
till it be too late ? Who were the authors of the French Re-
volution ? Not the Robespierres and Marats ; those mise-
rable monsters were but the spawn of that convulsion. It was
those who might have averted it by caution, but failed to do
so. The real authors were the nobility, the aristocracy, the
ministers, who for thirty, forty, or fifty years disregarded the
prognostics gathering around them ; who, thdugh warned
and advised, and urged to the correction of abuses, took
their stand on the Conservative pi inciple, and rejected
the smallest concession to the wants and the growing in-
telligence of the people. With many who use the word
revolution, the real fear is the correction of abuses. I
acquit the Hon. Gentleman (Chisholm) of this motive ; I
believe he is suffering under the dread of a revolution ; but
as to some others, their fear arises from the conviction that
the late Government was prepared to do its duty to the
public. With respect to the charge of leading to a revo-
lution in the Church. it is equally unfounded. As to the
Scottish Church, though not a member of it, I have always
been taught to regard it with veneration, for the purity of
its doctrines and the exemplary conduct of its members. I
am not aware of any accusation brought against that Church
in its present state, except in relation to the question of
Patronage, a question of which the General Assembly very
wisely took upon itself the management. My sentiments to-
wards the Scottish Church are sufficiently established by the
fact, that I first gave to it a legal existence in India. Till the
passing of the last East India Act it existed there only by suf-
ferance, without any recognised character by law. For the
Church of England I also entertain the highest respect ; but
is it inconsistent with a real affection for that Church
to desire to see it purified of those abuses which mar its
beauty and impair its efficiency ? Among its most sincere ad-
mirers, of whom I profess myself one, I have not met with
any candid person who did not in his cooler moments admit the
necessity of removing those blemishes. Need I mention the
subject of pluralities, or the mode of the collection of tithes ?
I make a distinction between the English and the Irish Church.
It by no means follows that measures of Reform required by
the latter should in reason be applied to the former. The late
Government applied itself to the Reform of the Irish Church,
with a view to rescue it from the invidiousness of the position
which it now occupies. Why is it that the pure Protestant
faith has made so slow progress in Ireland ? Why, but because
the Church has been smothered under the weight of its own
possessions—secularized by its great wealth. A better distri-
bution of its revenues would render it more available for the
purposes of religion. We had no desire to destroy the
establishment ; but there arc those who cannot distinguish be-
tween the essential spirit of the Church, and the adventitious
appendages which, though miscalled ornaments, are in truth
encumbrances, and tend to injure what they appear to sup-
port and strengthen. They fix the attention rather on
that which is accidental or accessary, than on that which is in-
herent and permanent—rather on the lights which are kindled
round the altar, than on the illumination which dwells within
it.—(Cheers.) Mr. Grant then adverted to some absurd per-
sonal rumours which It was scarcely worth while to notice. It
was said, for example, that the late Government used to give
Cabinet dinners on Sunday, to which he gave a positive contra-
diction : there never was a Cabinet dinner, in the time of the
late government, on a Sunday. Again, it was asserted, that
his last act in the Cabinet was to recommend to the govern-
ment to send out Popish Missionaries to convert the Hindoos.
This was perhaps too ludicrous to require such a serious con-
tradiction, but he certainly never made such a recommenda-
tion. The right hon. gentleman then said that he could not
pretend to have much confidence in the present government ;
he should watch them with strictness, and even with jealousy.
He should consider fairly the measures they introduced ; those
' that appeared to be just and advisable he should support ;
those of a contrary character he should resist and denounce.
Mr. Grant thanked the meeting for the patient hearing they
had given him, and concluded amidst great cheering.
The CHISIIOLM said there appeared to be some miscon-
ception as to what he lad said relative to the Right Hon.
Gentleman joining different governments. He meant to ex-
press nothing but the highest respect for the personal and pri-
vate character of Mr. Grant; but he questioned the prudence
of his mixing up himself with so many governments of different
principles, at the same time kofessing himself to be an uncom-
promising Reformer. With regard to the retirement of the
Right Hon. Gentleman, he should be delighted if he selected
a retreat near him. He hoped, however, that he would not
banish himself to the heights of Strathglass or the mountains of
Affrick, but take his place at his ( Chisholm's);fireside, that he
might derive the benefit and delight of his instructions. Much
a; they had been carried away by the Right Hon. Gentleman's
eloquence, he (Chisholm) did not perceive that there was a
sufficient distinction drawn between the late and the
late late government. Excepting the Poor Law Bill, Mr.
Grant had adverted to none of the measures of the
Melbourne Ministry. Nov this was an untried measure,
and if credit was claimed for good intentions, he would
ask who supported that measure ? Sir Robert Peel and the
Duke of Wellington. The Emancipation of the Slaves was
brought forward by the Administration of Earl Grey, which
was the true Reform Government, and was introduced by
Lord Stanley, who had found himself compelled to withdraw
from the succeeding Administration. With respect to the Irish
Church, he asked if it was consistent with a desire to support
it to withdraw forty per cent. from the incomes of the clergy ?
As to Law Reform, he would ask who had made great amend-
ments in the law ? Was it not Sir Robert Peel ? Chisholm
concluded by congratulating the meeting on Mr. Grant avow-
ing himself to be a firm unflinching friend of the Protestant
faith and church, and concluded by stating that the Conser:d..
tive candidate was determined not to accept a farthing of the
public money, but would be an independent member of an in-
dependent Parliament.
Mr. GRANT replied—The Hon. Gentleman, he said, sought
to draw a distinction between Lord Grey's and Lord Mel-
bourne's Administration : but it was substantially the same.
After the secession of Lord Stanley, Lord Grey continued in
the Government, and left it, not on any question connected
with the Church, but in reference to certain clauses in the
Coercion Bill. When did the late Government become revo-
lutionary ? Was it when Lord Stanley or when Lord Grey
left it ? Could it be called revolutionary when Lord Althorp,
Lord Lansdowne, Lord Melbourne, and others whom he might
cite, continued in it ? If Lord Stanley's judgment be the
standard, what becomes of the present Government ? Why
did he refuse to join it ? Simply because he had no confidence
in it. Mr. Grant said "I am afraid I cannot have more con-
fidence in it than Lord Stanley."-_.(A laugh.) With respect
to Law Reform, Mr. G. said if we went back to the origina-
tion of those reforms, we would find that they were first pro-
posed by the late Sir Samuel Romilly, followed up by Sir
James Mackintosh, and subsequently adopted, highly to his
honour, by Sir Robert Peel.

The Sheriff called fora show of hands, and declared that
the election had fallen on Mr. Grant, but that a poll was de-
manded for Macleod. The Chisholm asked, " How many
hands of electors had been held up for Macleod ?" Many per-
sons in the Crowd called out—" None, none." He then asked
—" How many electors were present ?" but the qbestion was
drowned amidst the shouts and cries of the meeting. The bu-
siness of the nomination here terminated:
Mr. GRANT was chaired to the Caledonian Hotel, when he
shortly addressed the people from one of the windows, thanking
them for the flattering reception they had given him, The
crowd then separated. The day was intensely cold, and the
ground covered with snow, yet the proceedings were regarded
with deep interest by a large assembled multitude. The
claration of the state of the poll will be made to the Shr,riff on
Friday next,

THE .
The polling commenced herePOLL yesterday for the Inverness
district, and terminated to-day. The nu mbers were for Mr.
Grant, 173 for Macleod, 93. Accounts from Fort William
give Mr. Grant a majority of 31, up to 12 o'clock yesterday.
The snow-storm has prevented any intelligence as to the state
of the poll in Kingussie. No returns from Skye. Majority
for Mr. Grant, according to present accounts, 111.

[By the accounts received to-day from the North, we are
glad tg find that Mr. Grant is returned by a majority of 6.]

INVERNESS BURGH ELECTION.

DECLARATION OF THE VOTES.

On Monday last the declaration of the return for a Mem-
ber to represent the Inverness district of burghs in Parlia-
ment took place here. Mr. Sheriff Tytler, having opened
the poll-pooks in the Town Hall, proceeded to the hustings,
when a protest was taken by Mr. Ellice against the return
to be made by the Sheriff on the following grounds :—First,
that the Sheriff had, contrary to law, appointed two polling
places. Second—That a Sheriff Substitute was appointed
to receive and register votes at one of these stations.
Third—That many persons not qualified to vote, or le-
gally disqualified, were permitted to vote for Major Cumming
Bruce. Fourth—That by gross intimidation and other cor-
rupt and illegal practices, a number of voters were prevented
from coming forward to vote for Mr. Ellice. Fifth—That by
bribery, intimidation, and other illegal practices, many voters
were concussed, and induced to tender their votes in favour of
Major Cumming Bruce ; and that others were placed under
restraint, and prevented from giving their votes for Mr. Ellice.
And for these and other reasons, Mr. Ellice protested that he
was the legally elected representative for the district.
It was answered on the part of Major Cumming Bruce that
the whole statement of facts contained in the Protest was un-
true and unfounded, and that all the votes given in his favour
were legal. And that, ou the other hand, a great proportion
of those votes given to Mr, Ellice, were given by pol•sons in
some instances net bolding the necessary qualifications.