The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-09 00:00:00

REPRESENTATION OF GREENWICIff.

MR. TONVNSEND AND HIS CONSTITUENTS

Last evening a crowded public meeting of the
electors of the borough of Greenwich was held at
the Duke of Sussex Tavern, Woolwich, in order to
hear an address from Mr. Townsend, M.P.
The chair was occupied by Mr. Eugene
Murray, who observed that the efforts of Mr.
Townsend's friends had removed all doubts as to a
vacancy in the representation of the borough. The
proceedings in bankruptcy had been annulled, and
it now only remained for the electors to persevere
and maintain Mr. Townsend in his position, as one
who had sprung from their own class, who under-
stand their local wants, and who had proved by his
votes that he was an honest and unflinching re-
former.

Mr. TOWNSEND, M. P. , was received with re-
peated cheers. e observed, a few weeks since he
could not have hoped for such a meeting as the pre-
sent. He had been plunged into difficulties
which appeared at first sight insurmountable ; but
he Amid never forget the night w hen six honest
working men, and others of his true friends from
Woolwich, called at his residence and asked him
what steps it was advisable to take for his benefit.
He placed himself entirely in their bands, and
nobly they had assisted him. The first step was
the holding of a large public meeting at the Wool-
wich Literary Institution, and this meeting cln-
vinced him that, in the hour of adversity, his friends
would not forsake him. At that meeting he told
them that he would resign his seat if they required
him to do so, but that he would never quit the
House of Commons at the dictation of the agents
and supporters of Mr. Montagu Chambers. Their
reply had been of a practical nature. At Wool-
wich, Greenwich, and Daptford committees were
formed to raise subscriptions, and at present he
stood before them a free man. (Cheers.) When
Parliament again met, he should take his seat, and
nothing should be wanting on his part to represent
them in a faithful manner. More especially did he
intend to watch over the interest of the working
classes, for it was those classes who had ever proved
his most honest and zealous friends, and he had
himself been a hard working man during his whole
life. He pledged himself that he would strain
every nerve to prove that he was not unworthy of
their confidenc., and he hoped, by the utmost in-
dustry and apt cation to business, to be enabled

to satisfy every- demand of a pecuniary nature. As
it was, he had not been driven from his seat. They
had enabled hire to keep it, and he would do so until
they asked him to i%sign it. (Cheers.)
Mr. GEORGE (who acted as solicitor to Mr.
Townsend in the Court of Bankruptcy) entered
into detail with regard to the claims of various cre-
di ors, and expressed his opinion that Mr.. Towns-
end had been persecuted by one or two persons.
When he informed Mr. Bagley, the bArrister, that
the bankruptcy was to be annulled, that gentleman
was surprised, as he stated that he never witnessed
a more fierce opposition than was offered at the
first hearing of the case.
Several electors addressed the meeting, and
strongly advoca'ed the necessity of the formation
of a Reform Association, in order to effect a co-
operation among the friends of Mr. Townsend in
each part of the borough, and it was resolved to
con vene a future meeting for this object.