The Sun.
London, England, 1835-01-16 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FEIDAY, JANUARY 16, 1835.

could have been no doubt of the contest ; but they hesi-
tated so long in deciding who was to be their champion,
that the Conservatives had the advantage of a general
canvass, which Mr. Branfill had not ; and thus they ob-
tained promises from a great number of electors, under the
impression that no other candidate would come forward.
Many of those who have thus promised, deeply regret it
but, for fear of being pointed at by their Conservative
neighbours, have not courage to obey the dictates of con-
science.

As some of the polling places in this county are thirty
or forty miles asunder, the general state of the poll, proba-
bly, will not be declared till to-morrow morning ; or, at all
events, at such a late hour to-night that it will be impossi-
ble to reach you in time ; but, according to accounts
which I have just heard, the Conservatives ha-ire a majority.
The Reformers talk of doubling their exertions to-morrow.

KENT (WEST).—NOMINATION.
The nomination of the candidates for the representation
of the Western Division of the county of Kent, took place
yesterday morning at Penenden-heath. The three candi-
dates, Mr. Hodges, Mr. Rider, and Sir William Geary,
numerously attended by their friends and supporters, left
Maidstone in procession, soon after ten o'clock, and ar-
rived on the heath shortly before eleven. Many thousands
assembled ; and although the contest is expected to be an
extremely severe one, the greatest order and good humour
prevailed between the friends of the rival parties.
The writ and the Bribery Act having been read, and
the other usual formalities gone through,
The High Sheriff (GEORGE STONE, Esq.) shortly ad-
dressed the meeting, requesting a fair and impartial hearing
for all parties.
Mr. WELLS then came forward to propose Thomas
Law Hodges, Esq., as a fit and proper person to represent
that division of the county in Parliament. Mr. Hodges
had long been a tried friend of the people, and for thirty
or forty years (in days when reform was not so fastionable
or so popular as at the present moment) he had been a
steady and uniform opponent to the abuses which had crept
into the institutions of the country. A firm and consistent
friend to the constitution itself, he had ever been a stanch,
vigilant, and anxious reformer of its abuses ; and the same
observation might apply to his view of the established Church.
To the indefensible enormities of pluralities, sinecures, and
non-residence, Mr. Hodges was a determined enemy ; but
whilst he would do everything in his power to cleanse the
establishment from those abuses, he would be careful to do
nothing that should endanger its permanent stability. There
was not in the kingdom a man who had more fully discharged
his duties in Parliament.—(No, no, and cheers.) There was
not in the kingdom a man more firmly attached to the con-
stitution as settled in its original purity in 1688. He had
therefore, great pleasure in nominating such a gentleman
as a candidate for the representation of that division of the
county.—(Cheers.)
Mr. JACOBSON seconded the nomination. The question
was, whether the electors would take the originators of re-
form—those who had taken the labour oar—those who had
struggled to urge forward the great cause of reform against
all the adverse currents, seen and unseen, which were op-
posed to its progress—or whether they would prefer the
supporters of a political party whose utmost claim to the
title of reformers was that, sometimes submitting to occa-
sional expediency, they had now and then yielded, what
they found it was impossible for them to hold.—(Cheers.)
Mr. RICE then came forward to propose Thomas Rider,
Esq. ; and in recommending that gentleman to the notice
of the electors, he only felt it necessary to refer to his votes
in the House of Commons during the last two sessions of
Parliament.—( Hear, hear.) All whom he was address.
sing knew the motto of the Men of Kent," Brave men and
true."—(Cheers.) He would only exhort them to stick by
their motto at that critical time. Let them be brave
enough to resist intimidation.—(Cheers.) Let them be
brave enough to resist brjbery.—(Cheers.) Let them be
brave and constant to those who had been true and con-
stant to them. If they did their duty, the Hon. Baronet
who then appeared to contest the election with their two
late representatives, would never again present himself
upon that heath, as a candidate for the representation of
that part of the county.—(Cheers from the Blues.)
Mr. HENRY NORMAN had great pride and satisfaction
in seconding the nomination of so honest, so zealous, and
so consistent a Reformer as Mr. Rider had always
proved himself to be. Should Mr. Rider again obtain a
seat in Parliament—and he (Mr. Norman) had not the
slightest doubt that he would—he would recommend him,
looking at the past policy of the party now in power, and
also at the faint and vague promises which they had re-
cently put forth to take his seat upon the opposition benches.
But if the Government of Sir Robert Peel should bring
forward any proposition for the institution of the vote by
ballot—any proposition for the reform of the Church—any
proposition for the commutation of tithes, they might ex-
pect, upon such measures, to find in Mr. Rider a firm and
consistent supporter.(Cheers.) But he (Mr. N.) con-
fessedthat he had no confidence in the professions of reform
which the present Cabinet had been so industrious to pub-
lish. When he looked at the materials of which the Ca-
binet was formed—when he found amongst its members
such men as Lord Stormont—(hisses and cheers)—when
he found amongst its members such men as Sir Edward
Knatchbull--(At the mention of that Right Hon. Baronet's
name the Purple party proposed and gave three hearty
cheers. These were answered by groans and hisses from
tne Blues, and the general confusion became so great as to
prevent the speaker from concluding the sentence. After
some delay he was enabled to proceed.) He looked upon
the appointment of Sir Edward Knatchbull to a seat in the
Cabinet as most interesting to the electors then assembled,
because, knowing what that Right Honourable Baronet's
political principles had always been, his appointment as a
Minister of the Crown might be taken as an indication of
the feelings and intentions of the Government. If they
returned Tories to Parliament to support a party, whom
he could only regard as pretended Reformers, the Reform
Bill itself would not be safe—(Cheers)—and their de-
scendants, in after generations, would have to cry shame
upon them—(Oh, oh.) He would tell them why. He
firmly believed that no human power could now permanently
arrest the march of good government in this country ; but
if the people once forsook, though but for ever so brief a
period, the vantage ground they had attained under the
Reform Bill—if, for instance, they should now return men
to support those who, during .a long political existence, had
always opposed the progress of reform and improvement,
their children or their grand children might have to pur-
chase with their dearest blood the repossession of that bold
and desirable position which. the people of England then
occupied—(Cheers.)
Sir P. H. DISE then came forward amidst mingled
cheers and hisses, to propose Sir W. Geary. In nominating
that young and Honourable Baronet he was directing the
attention of the electors to the son of one who had repre-
sented them in several parliaments—(Cries of " He was a
Reformer"), and whose honest and manly conduct had
gained for him the cognomen of " Independence"—
(Cheers.) He (Sir P. H. Dike) was satisfied that if
the present Sir William Geary should in that instance be
the object of their choice, they would find that the true
Kentish spirit of independence had not evaporated from
his veins—(Cheers.) If they elected Sir William Geary,
he woulil go to parliament as the unfettered representa-
tive, not the delegate, of his constituents—(Cheers.) If he
(Sir P. H. Dike) did not believe "measures not men"
would be Sir William Geary's motive of action when he
got into parliament, he assured the meeting upon his
honour that he would not stand there as the humble sup-
porter of his cause.—(Cheers.) As regarded the institu-
tions of the country, Sir William Geary's object would be
to improve, correct, and amend, not to break down or de-
stroy.—(Cheers.) With respect to agriculture, the par-
ties attached to that depressed and suffering interest might
rest assured that they would find in Sir William Geary a
firm and determined supporter. Upon these grounds he
had the greatest pleasure in proposing Sir William Geary
as a fit, a very fit person to represent that division of the
county in Parliament.—.(Great cheering from the Purple
party.)
Mr. BERINGS seconded the nomination. In Sir W.
Geary the electors would find an active and independent
representative, a ready remover of all abuses, a ready
adopter of every measure calculated to give freedom to the
people, and stability to the Government ; a friend to agri-
culture, and not less a friend to the tradesman, whose inte-
rests, in fact, could not be separated from those of the agri-
culturist.—(Cheers.) Not to trespass unnecessarily upon
the time and patience of the meeting, he would simply add,
that in recommending Sir William Geary to their choice,
he was recommending one who would support all those
real independent principles which were most conducive to
the general welfare and prosperity of the country—one
whose motto would be, " My God, my country and my
King."—(Cheers and hisses.)
No other candidate being proposed, _ .

Mr. HODGES came forward amidst great cheering.
Having then for the fourth time in little more than four
years stood before the electors of Kent, as a candidate for
their suffrages, it could hardly be supposed that he should
consider it necessary to enter at all on any declarations of
what were his political principles. He would only say, that
what those principles had been through life, they continued
still to be, and would certainly remain to the termination of
his existence.—(Cheers.) For the reason he had stated,
he should not consider it necessary to trespass upon the pa-
tience of the meeting for more than a very short time, more
especially as he was informed that before the proceedings of
the day terminated, he was to be subjected to a very severe
catechisation by a gentleman who was present. It had been
said that he (Mr. Hodges) was a pledged man. He could
only say, that hitherto no pledge had been demanded from
him, and no pledge had he ever given. So much for pledges.
The Hon. Gentleman then proceeded to defend himself at
some length, against a statement that had been published

with respect to him in the Maidstone Journal and the
Kentish Observer. He knew not whether the writer of that
statement were present on that occasion ; but if he were,
he begged to tell him to his face, that a more complete tissue
of misrepresentation and falsehood he had never read in his
life. He (Mr. Hodges) had written an answer to the
statement, and had sent it to the editor of the Kentish Ob-
server, and if that gentleman conducted his newspaper ac-
cording to the spirit of his own motto, he would not refuse
to print and publish it that day. He should not have al-
luded to the circumstance at all, except that, upon such an
occasion es the present, misrepresentation and falsehood, if
not contradicted, were too frequently believed.—(Cheers.)
He came next to the distress of the agricultural interest.
They had been told that the Hon. Baronet (whom he hoped
alviays to be able to call his Hon. Friend) was to be consi-
dered as exclusively the friend of the agricultural interests.
Sir Wm. GEARY—I never said so.

Mr. HODGES—No, no ; but it has been said for you.—
(Laughter and cheers.) He (Mr. HodgeS) had long been
of opinion that the time was- arrived when some substantial
remedy should be afforded to that suffering interest. En-
tertainihg that opinion, he had always voted for the repeal
of the Malt Tax, and should always continue to vote for
the repeal of it.—(Cheers.) He had been accused of op-
posing the motion made by Lord Chandos at the end of
the last session ; and it was perfectly true that he did op-
pose it, but his reason for so doing was because it was per-
fectly well known that sufficient time did not remain to go
into the inquiry that was purposed. Besides the subject
had been most amply, most fully gone into in the preceding
session. He confessed that he for one was anxious not
for further inquiry, but for something in the shape of a
substantial remedy.—(Loud cheers.) But when he op-
posed the motion made by Lord Chandos, he distinctly
stated to Lord Althorp that the distress of the agricul-
tural interest was of a nature so urgent as to render it
imperatively necessary that another session of Parliament
should not be allowed to pass over without its being deeply
considered by the Government.—( near, hear.) He came
next to the subject of tithes.—( Hear, hear.) Kent en-
joyed the enviable distinction—the proud pre-eminence
of being the greatest tithe county in the kingdom.—
(Laughter and cheers.) If it could be supposed possible
that any man could enter Parliament without wishing to
see the system of tithes completely altered, and the burden
of them considerably reduced, he (Mr. Hodges) would at
once declare that that man was not a fit person to go
into the House of Commons as a representative of the
county of Kent. He (Mr. Hodges) was a tithe-owner
himself, but God forbid that he should suffer any private
interest of his own to stand in the way of what he knew to
be a national blessing.—(Great cheering.) Another sub-
ject to which he wished for a moment to advert, related to
the claims of the Dissenters. He should be glad to learn
from the present Government what substantial relief they
proposed to give to the Dissenters—how far they intended
to remove the grievances and disabilities under which that
intelligent and valuable class of the community was now
labouring.—(Cheers.) He was himself a Member of the
Established Church, but he lived in the same neighbourhood
with a great body of his Dissenting fellow-subjects, and he
was strongly and decidedly of opinion that they ought to be
placed upon an equal footing with their other countrymen.
—(Cheers.) There remained but one other subject upon
which he was anxious to make any observation, and that
was the subject of influence. He had been told that he was
to be severely catechised that day for having exerted undue
influence amongt some of the electors.—(No, no.) Upon
that point he would only repeat what he had said two years
ago, namely, that if there were one single elector who had
been improperly persuaded by any agent of his, he hoped
and trusted that that elector would not give him his vote.
—(Great cheering.) He should consider it not an honour,
but a deep and indelible disgrace, if he were to obtain a seat
in Parliament by such means. The Hon. Gentleman hav-
ing concluded his address,
The Hon. Captain KING appeared in front of one of the
waggons occupied by the friends of Sir William Geary, and
expressed a wish to put a few questions to the Hon. Can-
didate who had just spoken.

The HIGH SHERIFF observed that it would be more con-
venient that the meeting should hear the addresses of all
the candidates before any questions were put.
Mr. RIDER then came forward, and was very cordially
received. He stated that the sentiments which he pro-
fessed to the electors when they first did him the honour
(,f making him their representative, remained unchanged,
and would continue to Guide his conduct in Parliament, if
he should again have the honour of being seated there.—
(Hear, hear.) He was still a zealous Reformer of every
abuse, both in Church and State ; still anxious to give to
every Englishman' those civil and religious liberties which
he prized most highly himself, and which he believed it
would be to the advantage of all, that all should possess.—
(Cheers.) He would not detain the meeting by alluding to
those electioneering reports, chiefly anonymous, and thre-
fore unworthy of notice, which had been industriously cir-
culated within the last few months ; but one or two observa-
tions had been made, to which he could not help referring.
It was very well known that there had been of late
many dinners which were called Conservative dinners—
(Laughter)—in different parts of the country. At one of
those dinners, which took place at Maidstone, the Ho-
nourable Baronet who now appeared as a candidate for
the representation of that part of the county, and for whom
he (Mr. Rider) had the very highest esteem, declared (so
said the report in the newspaper, at least, and it was very
well known that he, Mr. Rider, could have no other source
of informatioa) that society was divided into two classes—
Destructices and Conservatives.—(Cries of " Oh! oh !")
He (Mr. Rider) did not in general quarrel with hard terms;
and he could always make great allowances for after-dinner
speeches ; but in the instance to which he had just referred,
he must leave it to those whom he had the honour to ad-
dress, to settle the application of two words—" Destruc-
tives" and " Conservatives." He declared that his wish
was not to destroy the institutions of the couutry—his
efforts were directed no further than to remove the abuses
by which, in the lapse of years, those institutions had been
surrounded. In a second speech, delivered at Tonbridge,
the Hon. Baronet triumphantly asked who was the first
Reformer ; and he answered himself by saying,—" Sir
Robert Peel.—(Oh, oh !)
Sir WILLIAM GEARY.—I asked who was the first Re-
former of the law ?

Mr. RIDER thought that he had correctly stated the
substance of what was reported to have fallen from the
Honourable Baronet ; however, to remove all doubt, he
would refer to the newspaper in which the report was
published. The words attributed to the Honourable
Baronet were these —" Who began to reform where reform
was most wanted ?"—( Here the Honourable Gentleman
paused for a moment, but immediately afterwards con-
tinued)—" namely, in the law"—(Great cheering from the
friends of Sir Wm. Geary.) He (Mr. Rider) really did
not understand the triumphant tone of that cheer, be-
cause the words.he had just read involved no contradiction
of what he had just stated ; because, if reform began
where it was most wanted, namely, in the law, and Sir R.
Peel was the author of that reform, then, of course, he
was the first Reformer. But the fact was, that the Hon.
Baronet was mistaken when he supposed that Law Re-
form began with Sir Robert Peel. Sir Samuel Romilly
was the originator of Law Reform ; but every one of his
propositions upon the subject was defeated and thrown over-
board. Why ? Because Sir S. Romilly was not a Tory.
—(Cheers.) Sir Robert Peel afterwards adopted the very
suggestions that he had formerly helped to defeat, and
brought them forward as his own progeny.—(Cheers.)
After some further observations upon the speech of Sir
Wm.'Geary, and also upon a speech made by Lord Mahon
upon the same occasion ; and after expressing great doubts
as to the sincerity of any professions of reform that might
come from the present Government, the Hon. Gent. took a
rapid review of the measures carried by the last Adminis-
tration, and then came to the subject of the Church. The
present tithe system was one of the great abuses which he
was most particularly anxious to see redressed ; and he
trusted that the time was not far distant, when some bene-
ficial change would be adopted.—(Hear, hear.) He could
not believe it to be necessary, either for the stability of the
Church, or the advancement of religion, that a clergyman
should endeavour to become the leading political partisan
in his parish.—(Cheers.) He did not believe that the
clergyman would render his religion more respected, by
lending the sanction of his name to public meetings, and by
raising dissensions amongst his parishioners, to whom he was
bound by his duty to teach the doctrines and practice of
peace.—(Cheers.) He did not believe that the pluralities,
which formed a prominent feature in our Church Establish-
ment, could be any assistance to the cause of religion—.
(Cheers)—nor could he think that those labourers who
stood idle in the market-place all day, should have benefits
showered upon them in excess, whilst the labourer in the
vineyard was allowed but a scanty pittance.—(Great cheer-
ing.) Such were his opinions upon the subject of religious
reform. The Hon. Baronet had declared that he would
give no pledges. He (Mr. R.) never gave a pledge in his
life.—(oh, oh !) He begged that he might be heard to
the end of his sentence : he never gave a pledge in his life
which he had not thoroughly considered before hand, and
the fulfilment of which he was not convinced would be most
advantageous to the country.—(Hear, hear, hear.) He
defied any man to say that the pledges he had given, he
had not performed.—(Cheers.) Having said this much, he
left his cause in the hands of the electors. If it should be
their pleasure again to elect him as their Representative,
he should consider it the highest honour they could confer
upon him, and he should cheerfully engage in the labours
attendant upon it ; if, on the contrary, they should think
proper to withdraw the confidence that they had hitherto
reposed in him, he should quit their service, if not without
regret, at least without reluctance, and should again retire
into that private life from which he had only come forward
with the view of serving his country.—(Loud cheers.)

Sir WILLIAM GEARY then came forward, and was re-
ceived by his own party with the most enthusiastic cheers.
Two years had...elapsed since he last stood before the elec-
tors of that division of the county as a candidate for their
suffrages ; but during that period he had found no reason
to induce him to change his political opinions.—(Cheers
and hisses.) He feared at that time that all the fair pro-
mises that were held out to them were not sincere, and he
regretted that his anticipations had proved correct.—(Cheers.)
He defied any one to say that the nation generally was now
in as prosperous a state as it was then ; and would ask
whether they, the agriculturists in particular, were not in
an infinitely worse situation ? The broad principles upon
which he meant to regulate his political conduct, should he
attain the high hononr to which he was then aspiring,
would be these--to steer clear of party and factious vio-
lence—to weigh well the merits of every question that
might be brought forward, and on all occasions to give a
free and independent vote, according to the best of his
abilities.—(Cheers.) With respect to the local interests of
the county, whenever -any question arose in any degree
affecting them, he should deem it his duty to consult with
those who, from being resident on the spot, might be en-
Shied to give him the best information ; and according to
their suggestions and advice he should regulate his con-
duct.—(Hear, hear.) Upon all great public questions he
claimed the privilege of exercising his own judgment—
(Cheers.) He would not go into the House of Commons
prejudiced or predetermined to take one side of par-
ticular questions. He would hear fairly the arguments
to be adduced on either side ; and on all occasions he
would give a conscientious vote, according to what should
appear to him best calculated to promote the general
prosperity of the country.—(Loud cheers.) Something had
been said about the Reform of the Church ; and as his
views upon that subject had been very much misrepre-
sented, be would take the opportunity of declaring them
openly and fairly before that assembly—(Hear, hear.) He
would co-operate most cordially with those who would
carefully and diligently set about the reformation of
the abuses which existed in the national Church Es-
tablishment ; and he would do so for this reason—to
strengthen the Establishment, and to cement the bond
which ought ever to connect the civil and religious polity of
this country.—(Cheers.) He would only add, that he dif-
fered diametrically in opinion with a gentleman who lately
presided at a meeting of the friends of his two honourable
opponents.—(" Name, name.") Well; he had no hesitation
in naming the gentleman—Mr. James—who gave it as his
opinion, that if every bishop and clergyman was in his
grave, we should be every whit as moral a people as we
were at present.—(" So we should.") With respect to
tithes, he might say that he disapproved most completely
of the present mode of collecting the ecclesiastical revenues.
—(Hear, hear.) It was a system most prejudicial to the
interests of the agriculturist, by checking the outlay of ca-
pital in the improvement of land, and equally injurious to
religion by promoting quarrels amongst those between whom
there ought never to exist a shade of difference.—(Cheers.)
He left it to all present, after what he had stated, to judge
whether he was, as he had been represented to be, a deter-
mined opponent to the reform of any abuses.—(Cheers.)
With respeet to the agricultural interest, be would assert,
without the fear of contradiction from any human being,
that they had not a heartier well-wisher than lie was. He
conceived the malt-tax to be a most obnoxious and preju-
dicial impost, particularly to the interests of that county.—
(Loud cheers.) A great deal had been said about the
present Ministers, their past measures, and what their
future policy was likely to be. Upon that point he
would only say that he was determined to give them a
fair trial—(Confusion)—and if he found them proposing
good measures, correcting old abuses, in short, if he found
them acting in the spirit of the address put forth by the
Prime Minister, he should support them.—(Cheers and
hisses.) However the election might terminate, it would
be with the best feeling in his mind towards his two
honourable opponents ; and he trusted that the same kindly
feelinc, would prevail amongst all whom he saw before him.
—( Loud cheers.) He did not come there to abuse those
who were opposed to him—(Hear, hear)—he gave them
all credit for good intentions ; but differing materially from
them in political opinions, he felt it to be his duty to come
forward to oppose
,them at the present crisis.—(Cheers.)
Whether returned or not, continued the Hon. Baronet, I
trust I shall ever continue to be upon those good and
friendly terms with you all that I have always hitherto been.
Before I retire, I must say that I do not know one single
instance in which intimidation has been used on my part.—
(" Oh, oh !" from the Blues.) Then I will only say that
if any man has been so influeneed, I here absolve him from
his promise ; but I do not believe there is an instance in
the county.—(Loud cheers.)
Captain KING then come forward to put his questions to
Mr. Hodges. After some dispute as to the manner in
which they should be put, they turned out to be these :-
Ist. Will you give an unqualified resistance to any en-
dowment:3f the Roman Catholic priesthood in Ireland ?

2d. Will you oppose all measures tending to sever public
education from the free use of the Holy Scriptures and re-
ligious instruction, whether in Great Britain or Ireland ?
Mr. HODGES—My answer to the first question is this,
—that I always lamented, and have ever since regretted,
that at the time when the Roman Catholic Bill was passed,
that which I considered an act of justice and of the
soundest policy,—an act calculated, in the highest and
most eminent degree, to advance the progress of the true
Protestant religion, was not performed,—l regret, and
always shall regret, that a decent provision was not made
for the Roman Catholic clergy of Ireland. With respect
to the second question, I presume that, by public educa-
tion, my Gallant Friend means a system of education that
has for its
,object the benefitting of all classes of our fellow-
subjects. Now, undoubtedly, if there be any class of our
fellow-subjects objecting to the whole use of our Bible, I
can only say that it would be a perfect delusion to imagine
that they would embrace any opportunity of public in-
struction, if they were forced to read the Bible which we
profess.

The same questions were then put to Mr. Rider, and
the same answers returned.

A person here came forward to put questions to Sir
William Geary ; but, after some delay, it turned out that
he was not a qualified voter ; and, consequently, the High
Sheriff would not allow him to proceed.
Mr. WHITE, speaking from one of the side-waggons,
said, " Sir William Geary, you know me ?"
Sir W. GEARY—Yes, Mr. White ; and I will answer any
question you may please to put to me.—(Cheers.)
Mr. WHITE—WiII you do your utmost to strike off all
useless pensions ?
Sir W. GEARY—If that question should be brought for-
ward in the next Parliament, and should I be there to ex-
press an opinion upon the subject, I shall pursue the same
line of conduct as your two late representatives did.
Mr. HODGES and Mr. RIDER explained that they had
not resisted the first motion brought forward by Mr. D. W.
Harvey, upon the subject of pensions.
Mr. WHITE—WiII you do the utmost in your power to
remove the Bishops from the House of Lords ?—(Groans.)
Sir Wm. GEARY—No.—(Cheers.)
Mr. WHITE—WiII you do the utmost in your power to
remove the disabilities of the Dissenters ?
Sir WILLIAM GEARY—Yes.
Mr. WHITE—WiII you vote for their admission to the
Universities ?

Sir WILLIAM GEARY—I have told you already that I
am a true friend to civil and religious liberty ; and when
the subject to which you refer comes under-the considera-
tion of the House of Commons, if I should be there to
attend to it, I will bestow upon it my best consideration.
The Hiun SHERIFF then proceeded to take the show of
hands.

The show was decidedly in favour of Sir William Geary ;
but between Messrs. Hodges and Rider it was difficult to
judge. After going through the ceremony a second time,
the High Sheriff declared the show to be in favour of Sir
William Geary and Mr. Rider.
Mr. HODGES immediately demanded a poll, at the same
time expressing himself perfectly satisfied with the fairness
of the Sheriff's decision.
Thanks having been returned to the Sheriff for his fair
and impartial conduct upon the occasion, the vast concourse
dispersed in the most orderly and quiet manner.

LINCOLNSHIRE.
ANOTHER TRIUMPH OF REFORM.

SOUTHERN DIVISION.—LINCOLN, JAN. 14.—Yesterday
the nomination of the candidates for South Lincoln took
place at Sleaford. Although it was known that there
would be no opposition to the Reformers (the Lord Lieu-
tenant, Earl Brownlovv, not daring to bring forward a
Tory, as was once threatened), the town was as crowded
with the hearty yeomanry of the county, as if there had
been a contest. After the usual preliminaries, the Hon.
Mr. Clifford proposed Gilbert John Heathcote, Esq., one
of the late members, in an excellent and most patriotic
speech ; Mr. Calcraft seconded the proposition. Major
Allis, after enumerating the great benefits the country had
derived from the Whig Government, proposed Henry
Handley, Esq., the other late member, which was seconded
by J. A. Peacock, Esq., an eminent banker. No other
candidate being proposed, the Sheriff, amid the shouts
of the multitude, declared the gentlemen duly elected.
Mr. Clifford, who proposed Mr. Heathcote, belongs
to a noble Catholic family, and, as the colour worn by
his friends was orange, which streamed along with the
blue and white of Mr. Handley, it was observed by a wag
present that it was a rare and most felicitous occur-
rence, that so good a Catholic should be so determined an
Orangeman. Both the members addressed the people,
pledging themselves to maintain the same steady support
of liberal principles which they had heretofore done. Af-
ter being chaired, they proceeded to their respective hotels,
where 250 individuals dined with Mr. Heathcote, and an
immense number with Mr. Handley. As the latter gen-

tleman is one of the chief leaders of the agricultural party
in the House of Commons, he was earnestly requested by
the assembled yeomanry to bring forward the repeal of the
malt-tax in the ensuing session. Gentlemen from every
village and district in this division of the county pledged
themselves to get up petitions for that purpose. The
utmost enthusiasm prevailed. Whatever Conservatism
may effect, by virtue of the Marquis of Chandos's clause, in
other counties, it can have no effect in this important agri-
cultural district.

NORTHERN DISTRICT.—The nomination takes place to-
morrow. Mr. Corbett has been brought forward by the
Conservatives, on the retirement of Mr. Heneage. He
will, I apprehend, have not the smallest chance. Mr.
Pelham, who has been a strenuous supporter of the late
Administration, of the great principles of reform, of the
claims of the Dissenters, and of every other measure of
civil and religious liberty that was brought forward bona
fide, is impregnable. He was at the head of the poll last
election by many thousands ; and the other candidate, Sir
William Ingilby, is only objected to on the ground of the
extreme Radicalism of his politics, and the singular speech
he delivered on the malt-tax.

WARWICKSHIRE ( SOUTHERN) DIVISION.
WARWICK, WEDNESDAY, JAN. 14.—The town has been
alive to-day. At about ten this morning a very considerable
number of freeholders had, arrived, among whom were many
of our most opulent and influential agriculturists, with a
good show of electors and non-electors of every class. The
County-hall was nearly filled. Up to this morning, indeed,
there was a general expectation of a contest. Three days
ago it was reported that John Halcomb would have been
pushed forward as he was' for the borough ; and even last
night a story became current that brother George, from
Devonport, would pounce upon us this morning. These
tales, however, were disbelieved by the best informed ; but
it was seriously expected that Sir Gray Skipwith, a mo-
derate Reformer, and a man universally respected in the
county by all political parties, would again have stood
forward.

The business opened at eleven o'clock, and Sir John
Mordaunt was proposed by the Hon. C. Percy, of Guy's
Cliff, and seconded by W. Dickin, Esq. E. C. Sheldon,
Esq., was proposed by Bolton King, Esq., M.P., and se-
conded by J. R. West, Esq.
There being no other candidate, the Sheriff declared
them duly elected.

Sir John and his colleague addressed the electors ; the
worthy young Baronet declaring himself a " reforming
Tory," not bound to any party, and willing either to sup-
port or oppose Ministers, as they may bring forward mea-
sures calculated to benefit the country or otherwise. He
may be called a moderate Tory perhaps, but we do not
admire him the more for his admiration of the Ministerial
manifesto. Mr. Sheldon is a thick-and-thin Reformer in
Church and State, for repeal of malt-duty, equalization of
Church revenues, abolition of pensions and sinecures, &c.
The two new Members (new in Parliament) were cheered
and loudly hailed by their respective friends.

WILTS ( SOUTH.)—NOMINATION.
SALISBURY, JAN. 14.—The election for Solith Wilts
took place this day, when John Benett, Esq., of Pythouse,
was proposed by W. Wyndham, jun., Esq., of Dinton, and
seconded by Henry King, Esq., of Chilmark ; and the
Hon. Sidney Herbert was proposed by Thomas Grove, jun.,
Esq., of Fern House, and seconded by Alexander Powell,
Esq., of Hurdcott House. There being no other candi-
date proposed, the High Sheriff, Thomas Bolton, Esq., de-
clared the above gentlemen duly elected, on which they
returned thanks. The assemblage was very numerous, and
much disapprobation was expressed by the populace at the
circumstance of Mr. Herbert having joined the Adminis-
tration of Sir Robert Peel.