The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-29 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EV_ENI NG, MARCH 29, 1844.

HASTINGS ELECTION.

THURSDAY EVENING.—This being the day appointed for
the nomination, the parties proceeded to the hustings, which
were erected in the Priory Courts. Mr. Moore, attended by
B. Smith, Esq., M.P., and H. Elphinstone, Esq., M.P., and
his friends ; Air. Briscoe, attended by his friends, in a gay
equipage. There were no banners of any description to be
seen, and but very few colours of either party. Never was
seen such a revolution in election proceedings in Hastings ;
yet we find it approved by all classes.
The Mayor (Dr. M.Cabe) having arrived, and the usual
preliminaries having been gone through,
Major JEFFRIES presented himself to propose Musgrave
Briscoe, of Coghurst-hall, Esq., as representative for this bo-
rough. He said Mr. Briscoe was a gentleman well known to
them, lived among them, had family connexions living in the
town, was a Conservative in politics, at the same time not
opposed to the reform of all proved abuses.
Mr. F. SMITH seconded the nomination.

Mr. B. SMITH, M.P., said he had heard a great deal from
the proposer and seconder of Mr. Briscoe, with respect to cer •
tam mansions, but he did not understand distinctly what
they meant. He had not one word to say against Mr. Briscoe
as a private gentleman—he was honourable, kind, charitable,
and humane ; but he did not understand that they were come
here to elect a gentleman for such qualities to represent them
in Parliament.—(Hear, hear.) They required a man who
would take a large and extensive view of the capabilities of
this great country, and apply his energies to develope them.
The broad acres of Mr. Briscoe could avail him but little with
all his benevolence in relieving the great distresses which
existed in this country, crippled as it was by bad legislation,
the result of the government of the landed aristocracy, to the
detriment of the labouring classes. The Hon. Gentleman
concluded by proposing R. R. R. Moore, Esq.
Mr. J. THWAITES seconded the nomination.
Mr. HARVEY, amid great uproar, proposed Mr. Sliegh, who
was seconded by Mr. H. PENFOLD.
Mr. M. BRISCOE said he attended before them, in con-
sequence of a requisition numerously signed, most unex-
pectedly brought to him, and, wishing to the towns of
Hastings and St. Leonard's every prosperity, he had not
hesitated to come forward to offer himself as a candidate.
His sentiments were well known to them. He was deter-
mined to support the present Government—(Disapprobation)
—which, he believed, would promote the prosperity of the
kingdom. He should support the corn-laws, for he felt that
protection must be given to the agriculturists. He was not
for high prices, further than to protect the farmer, so as to
enable him to give to his labourer proper and fair wages.
He thoaght that the labourer should be paid 2s. a day. Free
trade was only another name for free competition. His motto
was, " Live and let live," for the interests of the landlord,
tenant, and labourer. As a member .of the Established
Church he should support that Establishment, feeling that, if
it was put down or dissevered from the State, the liberty of
all our institutions would be ridden over by the Roman Ca-
tholics of this country.—(Disapprobation.)
Mr. MOORE was received with great applause. He said he
had been accused of being a stranger. He was so. It was
said he was an Irishman, and it was true, and he gloried in
it.—(Cheers.) But lie could not understand that either of
those facts had anything to do Ntith the question of the prin-
ciple of free trode. His opinion was men should think for
themselves and act for themselves ; and no matter where a
man was born, or chanced to live. He was for free trade,
that we might obtain from other countries what we
wanted most, and they take from us what we could spare.
For 29 years we had had a corn-law, and during that time
we had brought in a thousand millions pounds' worth of
goods, which had been paid.for by the labour of this country.
During the same period we had purchased fifty millions'
worth of foreign corn, and that corn had been paid feiv in
gold. It was not to be wondered at that a dread of a drain of
gold should exist, and it would, it must at times exisunder
the present laws, because the demand was not regular ; and
when corn was required, the demand for goods did not arise
in an equal degree ; or, from the supply not being anticipated,
the goods were not at hand ; but if the demand was regular,
that would not occur. In the year 1836 the effect was most
severely felt. The spring of that year was promising, but
after July the prospect changed, and speculation set to work
to purchase all the corn in other parts. It came in, and the
consequence was, to reduce the bullion in the coffers of the
Bank of England below two millions. The Learned Gen-
tleman next contrasted the state of our exports to that
country now as compared with what it was in proportion
when their population was only one-fifth of the
present. Had it gone on, or borne an equal proportion
we ought to have been sending thirty-six million pounds'
worth instead of three. He contended that that country was
not altogether to be blamed for the debts owing to this coun-
try, for it was well known that the people of Sheffield were
great creditors, and they had presented a petition to be al-
lowed to import wheat, which their customers in America
had, and were willing to give in payment of their debts.
Mr. SLIEGH next addressed, or rather attempted to address
the multitude, but was assailed by hisses, uproar, and groans
in every part, and at last, finding it impossible to obtain a
hearing, he addressed himself to the people on the hustings
for some time.

On the show of hands being taken, the Mayor declared it
to be in favour of Mr. Briscoe ; but our honest conviction is,
that Mr. Moore had it three to one.

A poll was then demanded on the part of Mr. Moore.
Mr Sliegh declined going to the -poll, and the proceedings
closed with a vote of thanks to the Mayor, at a quarter past
four o'clock.

The polling commences at eight o'clock to-morrow, and
closes at four.

CANADA COMPANY.

On Wednesday the Half-yearly Meeting of the Proprietors
of shares in this corporation was held, at the Company's
House, St. Helen's-place, pursuant to the terms of the
charter. The Governor, Mr. Charles Franks, in the chair.
The minutes of the last Court were read by the Secretary,
Mr. Perry, and confirmed.
The first business of the day, the CHAIRMAN said, was the
election of a Governor for three years, and ofthree Directors,
and one Auditor.

It was resolved unanimously that Mr. Charles Franks
should be elected as Governer, and that Sir John Easthope,
Mr. A. Humphreys, and Mr. Stokes, should be re-appointed
as Directors. _ _ .

Mr. Wilson was again appointed as Auditor.
The GOVERNOR then proceeded to state the operations for
the past year. The sales of land in the Crown reserves had
been 12,838 acres, at an average of 13s. 7d. per acre, and in
the Huron tract there had been disposed of 8,705 acres, at an
average of 12s. Id. per acre, making a total of 21,543 acres,
the produce of which had been 13,8041. currency. This was
independently of the town lots that had been purchased.
There had been leased of Crown reserves 88,805 acres, pro-
ducing• an annual rental of 2,7691., or equal to 10s. sd. per
acre, and the leases granted in the Huron tract, for the
Fear ending on the 31st of December last, were 63,9071 acres.
The leases were granted for twelve years, at a rental by
which, if regularly paid, the land would become the pro-
perty of the occupier, and consequently alienated from the
Company, The total quantity of land leased and sold was
194,255 acres. The Governor then read a statement of the
receipts and expenditure of the Corporation from its com-
mencement, which was considered satisfactory. The Com-
pany had 1,378,189 acres of land paid for, but still unsold.
The quantity purchased from the Government was 2,484,413
acres ; of this there had been 982,941 acres sold, and 123,313
acres had yet to be paid for, the Company having the option
of taking the latter. Since the commencement of the year
there had been sold in the Crown reserves 1,500 acres, and
in the Huron tract 800 acres. There had been leased in the
former 3,800 acres, and in the latter 7,290 acres, an increase
over the operations of the same period of 1842 of 3,753 acres.
In the receipts there had been an increase this year of
2,8421. The plan of leasing the land had been most bene-
ficial, and the rents hitherto had been punctually paid. The
passing of the Canadian Corn Bill, which had come into
operation ,in October last, had been Productive already
of the most beneficial effects, and no doubt could be en-
tertained, that it would continue to be so. Through the
exertions of the Company's Commissioners, Mr. Jones and
Mr. Widder, the sales of the Company's lands had been
greatly increased, while those on the part of the Government
had been but few. The Governor read extracts from the
correspondence received from the Commissioners, in which
the rising prosperity of the settlers was spoken most highly
of. Markets for their produce were easily found, and for cash.
They believed that emigration this year would be consider-
ably increased, as many from Scotland, as well as Protestant
families from Ireland, were coming to join their relatives who
had already settled in Upper Canada. An extensive ship-
ment of flour was expected to take place from Montreal.
The colonists on the Company's lands were improving, as was
shown by the remittances made to their poorer relatives in
the United Kingdom, which, upon an average, had in the
last year been 91. for each individual who had sent home
money to fathers, mothers, &c., through the Company's
agency, and which was done gratuitously. The total amount
so remitted from Canada to the Company last year was 2,990/. ;
and by the last letters 600/. in addition, similarly destined,
were advised. This showed that the settlers upon the Com-
pany's lands were prosperous, and that the position in which
the colony was placed was improving.
The accounts were ordered to be printed, thanks were re-
turned to the Directors, and the meeting adjourned.

On the motion of Mr. ➢tocnrrn, thanks were voted to the
Chairman and Directors.
. The CHAIRMAN briefly acknowledged the compliment, after
which the Court adjourned.

BRITISH-AMERICAN LAND
COMPANY.

Yesterday the Annual Meeting of the Proprietors of shares
in this Corporation was held at the London Tavern, for the
purpose of receiving a Report from the Directors relative to
the state of the Company's affairs, and on other business.
The Governor (Mr. G. R. Robinson) took the chair.
The minutes of the last general Court and of the special
Court having been read and confirmed, Mr. A. T. Galt, the
Chief Clerk, then read the following Report :
"At a special meeting of the Proprietors,' held on the
30th of November, 1843, a statement of the operations of
the Company at that date was submitted, and the Directors
have not at present any further changes of importance to
report.
"The sales during the last year have amounted to 34,8594
acres, for 17,0311. 19s. 4d. sterling. :This amount is secured
on the land sold, and bears six per cent. interest, being an
increase over the sales of 1842, of 25,547 acres, and 11,2421.
10s. 4d. sterling.
" In their last Report the Directors mentioned their having
sent their Chief Clerk, Mr. Galt, to Canada, to co-operate
with the Commissioner, Mr. Fraser, during the session of the
Canadian Legislature, in guarding, as far as possible, the in-
terests of the Corporation. Mr. Galt has since returned, and
reports that from the political difficulties that have arisen
between the Governor-General and his late executive coun-
sel, the session terminated abruptly, without legislating in
respect to the municipal institutions of Canada East. The
Directors can therefore only express their confident hope
that the longer period thus afforded the authorities for con-
sideration will enable them to an-.'-'7;l a just decision on this
important question, with which the interests of the Company
are so intimately connected.

" In accordance with the wish expressed at the last annual
Court of Proprietors, the Directors caused the solicitors of
the Company to apply:to the Shareholders then in default for
payment, and they now submit a statement of the shares re-
maining unpaid, in order that the present Court may preeeed
by forfeiture or otherwise, in collection of the same.
"go give the Proprietors a general .view of the past opera-
tions and present position of the Company, the Directors
have caused to be prepared and appended to this Report a
detailed statement to the 31st December, 1843, embodying
this information, in order that, for the future, the annual
Report may contain the transactions of the.surrent year only.
" The four following Directors and one Auditor retire on
the Bth April next, viz.:—Thomas Poynder, Esq., William
Petrie Craufurd, Esq., Russell Ellice, Esq., Edward Wheler
Mills, Esq., Directors; and Robert Carter, Esq., Auditor;
who, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election."
The balance-sheet was then read, giving a general state-
ment of the accounts of the Company up to the 31st of De-
cember last. Taking the value of the land possessed by the
Corporation at 10s. an acre, it was urged by Mr. Clarke that
their property was worth at least, when realised, upwards of
32,0001. The details of the balance-sheet were given with
the utmost minuteness.

The Report was adopted, and on the question that holders
of shares upon which the deposits had been in arrear should
forfeit their interest in the Company; thirty days' notice
having been given them, a vote-to -that effect was passed,
subject in special cases to the future discretion of the Court
of Directors.

The GOVERNOR, in reply to several questions, stated that
additional time would be given to holders in default resident
in Canada. It was intended by the Directors to dispatch Mr.
Galt, who was intimately acquainted .with the affairs of the
Corporation and with Canada, as Chief Commissioner, and
the Deputy-Governor, Mr. Cummins, should take the ar-
rangements of the home department. Thus would the well-
working of the Corporation be secured, and the Directors
hoped the prospects of the Company improved.
Mr. CLARKE most cordially approved of the measures of the
Directors.

After some discussion relative to the Company's affairs, a
vote of thanks was passed to the Court of Directors for their
gratuitous but valuable services.
The GOVERNOR, in expressing his acknowledgments, re-
marked that there was every reason to suppose that Sir
Charles Metcalfe was favourable to the operations of the
Company. The new Governor had visited the eastern town-
ships (where the Company possessed, by purchase from the
Crown, 653,500 acres of land), and expressed himself in
favour of the eligibility of that part of Canada for emigrants
to settle.

An election having taken place to fill up vacancies in the
direction, &c., the Court, on the question, adjourned.

ATTEMPT TO INTERRUPT THE
MEETING OF Mx O'CONNELL'S FRIENDS
AT LIVERPOOL.

LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY MORNING.—A most unfair and
improper attempt to disturb the meeting of Mr. O'Connell's
friends, to be held in the Amphitheatre this evening, has been
made by the ultra-Tories of this town, by circulating exten-
sively, and posting on the walls a placard signed " A Car-
penter," stating that it was the intention of that enemy to
the Queen, and ally of the Pope, Daniel O'Connell, to be
present at the meeting, and calling upon the carpenters to at-
tend also, and do their duty. This placard was extensively
circulated yesterday. In the afternoon a requisition to the
Mayor was got up, and placed in the room adjoining the Ex-
change News-room, calling upon that worthy functionary to
put a stop to the meeting, because the excitement created
in the minds of the loyal inhabitants would not permit the
meeting to take place without interruption and great danger
to the public peace. It did not, however, meet with very
great success, having received only fifty-seven signatures.
It will be presented this morning; but we can hardly sup-
pose that our Chief Magistrate will think it necessary, to
bestow attention on it. The meeting will be held, and we
have no doubt will be peaceable and orderly in itself, though
it may perhaps require the assistance of the police to keep
in order the turbulent Orange faction who may come there to
interrupt.
The following is a copy of the requisition to the Mayor :
" Liverpool, Wednesday, March 27, 1844.
" Sir, "*Ye, the undersigned, having noticed that a meet-
ing has been called, by placard, to take place to-morrow
(Thursday) evening at the Amphitheatre, for the purpose of
sympathising with 'convicted conspirators,' impugning the
justice of the administration of British laws on the occasion
of the recent State Trials in Ireland, and interfering with the
judgment still pending, cannot refrain from expressing to
your Worship our sense of the indecency of such meeting,
and our firm conviction, that such is the excitement which it
is creating in the minds of the loyal people of this borough,
that it will not be permitted to take place without interrup-
tion and great danger to the peace of the town. We, there-
fore, respectfully request, that your -Worship will use the
functions of your magisterial office to prevent such meeting
being held as proposed."

LITERATURE.
CONFESSIONS OF A WHITEFOOT.
Bentley, London, 1844. _ _

These " Confessions," which are dedicated to the
Earl of Devon and the other members of the Irish
Landlord and Tenant Commission, purport to be
the revelations of a convict who has escaped
from his thraldom, and who here relates
all the circumstances that induced him to
connect himself with one of the Captain Rock con-
spiracies in Ireland, together with the atrocities the
witnessed during the period of )tis association with
these lawless men. The volume is ushered into the
world, under the auspices of a gentleman who de•
scribes himself ,as being a barrister, and who, in his
Introductory notice, intimates pretty plainly that the
r Confessions " may justly be regarded as
.genuine.

tt is by no means unlikely— that they are
founded in fact, and that several of the occurrences
related actually took place ; but they are much
too highly coloured, the language, too, is exagge-
rated and stilted throughout, and there is an utter
want of that simplicity and unaffected earnestness
which is usually the language of truth. Were
the " Confessions" of a Whitefoot to be written down
just as they were made by him, the style, • though
coarse and homely, as a matter of course, would
be terribly impressive, and the work would possess a
most enchaining interest ;' but it is otherwise
when all the foppery and finery of language
is had recourse to, and exaggeration, both as
regards description and incident, are substi-
tuted Air the simple, forcible, utterances of
nature. Who could suppose for an instant that
a rude, untaught Irish Whitefoot would express
himself in this inflated, metaphorical style ? " chat
distortion which had obliterated the very impress of
humanity from his brow, denoted how truly in that
moment's agony, memory had fulfilled her task,
marshalling her spectre forms, and compelling heart-
stricken Guilt tb scan the future by her lurid light."
The volume abounds in similar specimens of tawdry,
tinsel elOquence.