The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-10 00:00:00

views were in strict conformity with the interests
of the country, he was prepared to support them,
and to hope he should be placed at the head of the
poll, because he wished those principles to triumph.

A show of hands was then called for from those
who were in favour of Air. Laird, when an immense
sea of upturned palms were displayed, and held up
for some seconds amid tremendous cheers. The
effect of the white hands was most peculiar. A show
was next called for from those who favoured Mr.
Brassey. This was responded to by a much larger
number than had answered to the previous call, and
was also accompanied by the most deafening cheers.
Mr. Bryans, the returning officer, declared the
show of hands to be in favour of Mr. Brassey. Oa
behalf of. Mr. Laird a poll was demanded, and this
was fixed to commence this (Tuesday) morning.
Notwithstanding the crowd and clamour, it is

pleasing to state that the whole of the proceedings
were conducted with great good humour, and the
crowd dispersed without anything occurring which
could call for the interference of the

FINSBURY.
Yesterday afternoon a private meeting of the Con-
servative party was held in Gray's-inn Coffee-house.
It was convened by circular, signed by Mr. Henry
Smith, the Secretary of the Finsbury Conservative

Association, and was numerously attended. Mr.
Monckton, who was called to the chair, stated that
in consequence the split in the Liberal camp,
there was every reason to believe that, if a suit-

able candidate professing Conservative principles

could be induced to come forward, ho would sue

ceed in securing the seat. An application, he
added, had been made to Mr. Huggins, the
brewer; but that gentleman had declined to

declare himself a candidate at the present time,
because of the probability of an early dis-

solution of Parliament. The names of several

other gentlemen were mentioned and their merits
discussed, but we believe the meeting separated
without fixing upon any person as a likely eandi-

date. It is understood, however, that another effort

will be made to-day in the same direction, and

meanwhile the electors are to be requested not to
pledge themselves to either of the two candidates
now in the field, as an opportunity will be afforded

hem to record their votes for a Conservative. The

prospects of a Conservative candidate, should the

- -
dissensions in the Liberal ranks continue, are con

sidered by competent authorities to be very encou

- -
raging; but much will depend, of course, upon the

kind of man selected to represent the party. An
old-fashioned Tory would not have the smallest
chance, but it is thought not improbable that a

Conservative of the modern school, or, still better, a

Liberal-Conservative, stepping in between Mr.
Mills and Mr. Cox, would carry off the prize from

both. We do not suppose that any serious meaning
is to be attached to an amusing address which has
just been issued by Mr. Sergeant Payne. However,
it has the rare merit of originality, and if it have
no other effvet, will give the electors good reason
for a hearty laugh.

Last night Mr. Cox addressed the Islington
electors iu Myddleton-hall. The meeting was a
large oue, and the hon. candidate was honoured with
an enthusiastic reception, Mr. Connell, a Common
Councilman, occupied the chair.
Mr. Col. said he believed that during the
past fortnight the directors had been asking them-
selves two questions—" Who is Mills ? " and
" Where is Cox ?" (Cheers and laughter.) To the
first question he was not able, any more than
themselves, to give a satisfactory answer. He
understand that Mr. Mills was a highly respectable
gentleman, between 00 and 70 years of age, who, at
that advanced period of life, was seeking for the first
time to enter upon public life and assume the duties
of a member of Parliament ; but there his informa-

tion ended. (Hear, hear.) The second question Cox
was present to answer for himself. (Cheers.) Some
surprise had been expressed that he had delayed so
long in entering the field, but that matter might be
easily explained. The fact was that, remembering
the services ho had formerly rendered the borough
in Parliament—feeling proudly conscious that he
had done his duty to his constitttents—he thought
he ought to be asked to stand on the present occa-
sion. (Hear, hear.) He had been asked, asked re-
peatedly, asked by influential electors in all parts
of the borough, and there he was. (Cheers.) His
nbiont - ••
been made upon him was to give the people of Fins-
bury an opportunity of vindicating themselves
through him from the false and odious aspersion
which had been cast upon them during the last few
days by numerous public writers and speakers, viz.,
that no person could hope to represent them in Par-
liament unless he was prepared to spend between
£3,000 and £5,000 among them. (Hear.) At a pri-
vate meeting of his friends on Friday night he de
dared that he would not pay one farthing beyond the

legal expenses of the election, and he intended to
abide by that statement. Of course, however, there
were numerous other small items of expenditure which
would require to be provided for, and he suggested
to his friends on Friday that they should enter into
a subscription for that purpose. The 'limes of that
morning stated that £4OO were so subscribed, and
that such a sum would not go far in so extensive a
borough as Finsbury. He was,not aware that £4OO
were subscribed, but he could tell the Times that
such a sum would go a very long way in Finsbury.
(Hear.) The hon, gentleman then proceeded for the
information of the new electors, to explain his poli-
tical principles, which ho said remained precisely
what they were in 1857, when he first solicited their
suffrages. He was still an advocate for progressive
and complete reform in every department of the
State, and, having no dread of innovation if well
directed, he would entirely abolish all laws and
customs which had become imperative or mischie-
vous from lapse of time, change of circumstances, or
in some cases, by their own inherent vice. (Cheers.)
lie still believed that the House of Commons as at
present constituted did not represent the people,
and every measure which had for its object to make
it more completely the Commons' House would re-
ceive his cordial support. (Cheers.) So important a
reform could not be effected by any single measure.
We must have the ballot—(cheers)—a shortening
of the duratiou of Parliament—(cheers)—and a large
extension of the suffrage. (Cheers.) Here he might
appropriately refer to another statement in the
.7imes. The limes told them that, while he was
prepared to go at least as far as their late member
with respect to the suffrage, Mr. Mills would be
content with a £6 franchise in boroughs and a
£lO franchise in counties. It followed from that
statement either that they had been mis-
represented by Mr. Duncombe or that they
would be misrepresented by Mr. Mills if they
returned him to Parliament. (Cheers.) He was also
in favour of a rdistribution of seats. In financial
matters he would insist upon the strictest economy
compatible with efficiency, and he would narrowly
scrutinize every new measure, with the view of
making the burden of taxation fall equally on all
classes. (Cheers.) He was prepared, as in 1857,
to do his utmost to reduce the income-tax, which,
in addition to the injustice in its mode of assess-
ment, was levied upon incomes too small to bear it,
and bore severely upon the middle classes by charg-
ing precarious incomes in the same proportion as
incomes derived from realized property. (Hear.)
He remembered having a long conversation with
the Chancellor of the Exchequer upon the inequality
of the income-tax, and he could assure them that,
in his opinion, Mr. Gladstone was an honest, candid
straightforward man, with a mind mathematically
just. (Cheers.) Mr. Gladstone admitted that his
objections to the income-tax in its present shape
was well founded, but said he was utterly unable to
devise a remedy, and asked him to offer a
suggestion of his own. Thereupon he told the right
hon. gentleman—and a good deal would be heard
yet of his proposal—that when an auctioneer in the
city wanted to sell an ordinary business he asked for
two years' purchase ; for a short lease he demanded
10 years purchase ; for a long lease, 15 years; for
a copyhold, 22 years, and for a freehold from 27 to
30 years. Let incomes derived from these sources
be taxed in the same proportion, and—as he as-
sured Mr. Gladstone—nothing more would bo said
of the inequality of the income-tax. (Cheers.)
The hon. candidate then stated that he was for the
entire abolition of compulsory ' church-rates,
and should always be found advocating the