The Sun.
London, England, 1832-12-25 00:00:00

SOUTH DEVON:-EXETEII, DEC. 22.

The election terminated last night in favour of Lord
John Rmsell and Mr. Bulteel.

It is rather singular that the parties who have taken an
active share i❑ the Conservative cause are all young men.
The unsuccessful candidate (Mr. Yarde Buller) is only
28, or thereabouts ; the mover and seconder (Mr. Parker
and Sir John Duckworth) are not far from that age ;
whilst a very active partisan, Mr. Balwin Fulford, can-
not have counted many summers since he arrived at years
of discretion. The singularity of the affair is this (and
it was a general subject of laughter at the last contested
election), that the " young gentlemen" rallied round the
banner of the Tory candidate, and have done so in the
present instance, whilst the older supporters of the "good
old Constitution" have been quietly stealing over the
enemy, as if they had had enough of it. I repeat that I
think this will be the last contest between the Conserva-
tives and the Whigs. Each party is approximating nearer
to the other, and a general disposition to amalgamate is
the natural consequence.

NORTH WILTS.
(Abridged from the Devizes Gazette.)
The nomination of representatives for the northern divi-
sion of this county took place in Devizes on Saturday last.
Mr. WALTER LONG proposed, and Mr. W. E. WAL-
DRON seconded, the nomination of Sir J. Astley.
Mr. T. L. PHIPPS and Mr. T. H. SAUNDERS nomi-
nated and seconded Mr. Methuen.

Mr. GouLD, tanner, of Ct'n.shatn, proposed, and Mr.
Wit.xuss, of the Seven Stars, Bradford, seconded the ❑o-
mination of Mr. Edridge. The latter believed it was thu
first time in the history of elections that the nomination of
a county Member had been proposed and seconded by
tradesmen.

Sir J. D. ASTLEV on presenting himself was received
with loud and continued bursts of applause. A great deal
(said the Hon. Baronet) has been said about retrenchment
and economy. To any and every measure which can
safely efi'ec' those objects I am particularly wedded. I
will vigilantly watch and protest the public purse, and beg
to assure you that not one farthing from that purse shall
ever find its way into my pocket.,-(Cheers.) My most
strenuous endeavour; shall also be directed to alleviate the
burdens of the lower c►asses ; and I can truly say that I am
most anxious to he the poor man's friend.
Mr. METHUEN next came forward, and after the loud
cheering had somewhat subsided, delivered an able speech,
in the course of which he said—As I have seen accounts

in the daily papers revolting to the feelings of Englishmen.
and which, if true, are degrading and disgraceful to the
aristocracy, I made a point not long ago of meeting my
tenants at the audit, and telling them I came to canvass
them as a candidate, not as a landlord, and that we would
have none of these proceedings at Corsham. There has
been a good deal to-day said about pledges, and I now
hear a voice calling for my opinion on the subject. Well,
my opinion is, if a candidate is to be valued on his being
rich in such articles, a pawnbroker will be the best man
to represent us—(Loud laughter)—and that if many such
c indidatea are returned the House of Commons will be
like a pawnbroker's shop—full of unredeemed pledges.—
(Continued laughter.) I cannot decide for the ballot,
though I do not see the same objections as are generally
opposed to it.—(Cheers.) I know Lord Grey's Govern-
ment is opposed to its introduction; and I think, after the
great boon we have so very lately received at his hands,
we ought ❑ot at present to press a question which might
be the means of harassing or even of overturning that Go-
vernment, were there a party (which I am convinced
there will not be) able to divide strongly in favour of it
(for we must recollect Lord Grey only holds the Pre-
miership at the pleasure of his Majesty). The King
might not be disposed to sanction their continuance
in office after Ministers were palpably at variance
on so material a subject with a Reformed Parliament.
Owing to the distress of the poorer classes (including the
little shopkeepers) a link of the social chain is so weak
and disordered, that if not speedily restored, it will pro-
duce consequences as prejudicial to the stability of the
British empire as the evil itself is disgraceful to us as a
Christian country.—(Here some one in the crowd cried
out, " What do you say to the Bishops?") I hear
somebody in front of the hustings asking my opinion of
the Bishops. Why, I believe, taking them and the clergy
on the whole, a more exemplary body of men does not
exist. I rather think my friend questions me in conse-
quence of some stupid joke I cut at a Reform meeting
about their Lordships' wigs. Now, it is rather a singu-
lar fact—but a fact it is, and belongs to history,—that
since those observations of mine the Bishops have left off
their wigs—(Much laughter)--though I will not posi-
tively assert that they have done so out of compliment to
me.—(Continued laughter, in which some of the clergy
on the hustings heartily joined.) To be serious, how-
ever, every body now believes reform to be necessary for
the Church. I feel it necessary to say a few words on the
subject of the corn laws. Those who know me know
that all I have in the world arises from land. No
man in his senses can give a pledge on this subject, inti-
mately connected as it is with that of our finances, taxa-
tion, currency, and flee trade; but when the details con-
nected with this important and vital question are laid be-
fore the House of Commons, it will be the duty of every
Member to come to his decision with due regard to the
interests of all parties.—(Loud cheers.) With regard to
shortening the duration of Parliaments, I consider triennial
Parliaments would be for the advantage of the country,
though I should prefer four years to three, because Par-
liaments on an average never run their natural life, and by
such a measure the advocates of triennial Parliaments
would virtually obtain their object. As a candidate,
I shall never be ashamed of showing my face, and I now
stand forward to be questioned; you may question me—
row me—do anything but pelt me—(A laugh)—but if
you should feel it your duty to pelt rne, either with"tur-
nips or potatoes, I shall feel much obliged to you if you
will take care to have them boiled first.—(Loud laughter,
and cheers.)
Mr. EDRIDGE then came forward, but his reception
presented a striking contrast to that of the other candi-
dates, marks of disapprobation having been evinced the
moment he presented himself, and continued with but
little intermission throughout his address. There has
been no sympathy between the Government and the people ;
and who supported the Government through their ini-
quitous course ? Why, the nobility and country gentle-
men—the great landlords of England.—(" No, no ; no
such thing.") They did ; and the great landed proprie-
tors have monopolized all the advantages of society.—
(" No, no.") There are working men at this moment in
Wilts who have not touched their wages from the farmer
for 55 weeks.—(The scene that here arose beggars descrip-
tion. The farmers (and a very large number were present)
it is well known, pride themselves on the punctuality of
their-payments, particularly towards their servants; they
therefore considered Mr. Edridge had made a most gross
attack on the whole body. " Name, name," exclaimed a
thousand voices at once, " don't let him say another word
unless he names ;" " Turn him off; off with him," cried
others. These cries at length gave way to general hisses ;
at it was a long time before silence could be obtained.

EtdbreidgndYirrion''tia"wrl'rciliv
many this
of themw iota
ruendtti oc
enade,pllai lonrrd.e
still contend that they do
not pay the wagesof their labourers when due._(" We do,
we do.") Tithes, he said, had nothing to do with religion,
and should he abolished. He then alluded to pledges, and
said he would pledge himself, if returned, to vote for trien-
nial Parliaments, for the ballot, for the abolition of tithes,
and for the removal of the qualifications now necessary for
Members of Parliament —(Laughter.)
The SHERIFF c died for a show of hands, which, as
may be supposed, was decided in favour of Sir J. D.
Astley and Mr. Methuen. Mr. Edridge demanded a poll,
which the Sheriff fixed to commence on Tuesday morning,
at 9 o'clock.