The Sun.
London, England, 1819-02-15 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER ELECTION.

We mentioned on Saturday the preliminary
measures which had been taken on that day, pre-
paratory to the new Election. The turbulence of
the crowd prevented our bearing the speeches o:
the respective Candidates. The first speech was
ftom Sir FRANCIS BURDETT, who nominated Mr,
Hoerrouse, and be was seconded by Mr. Kiri-
NAI HD. Mr. 110EHOUSE followed, and as he de-
livered from a written paper his Political Creed,
we deem it our impartial duty to submit it to-the
Public. It was as follows :
a. I have been queitiolied, or rather (to use the right word)
tortured upon the great question of Parliamentary Reform.
Those who have been busy to lid ure the mid your cause, have
represented, or rather misrepreseuted me, as having given a
pledge to support Annual Parliaments and Universal Suffrage.
I gave no such pledge. I was asked for no such pledge. The
Gentleman who nominated me, proposed me as a man fit to ad-
vance the just claims of the people to Parliaments of a short
duration, ant to a full, free, and equal share in the choice of
representatives.' It way be necessary; however, to explain
myself still further ; and, to be more precise. I have put my
words upon paper. Annual Parliaments and Universal Suf-
frage twee been mixed together for the sake of confonuding
the question: but they are two distinct and separate subjects,
upon each of which I solicit your separate attrotion. Upon
the latter of the two, I think it right to say, that I consider
the extension of suffrage to be not only of secondary, but
even of third rate importance. The first object for the
people of England to obtain, is equality of right of suf-
frage. In other words, that there be one and the sante
qualification, he that what it may, for every Elector
in the commonwealth. The second object is, that equa-
lity of numbers elect each Representative. These objects
attained, then, if I am asked whether security from mis-
government by a real, representation may be attained by
an extension of suffrage, short of universal, I answer yes—
by an extension far short of universal. How far short, is.a
question for fair discussion, and honest difference of opinion;
in such a discussion the course of my judg',leut would be to-
wards the largest extrusion. I have not hitherto been able
to feel alarm at the notion of a free people bein„ the chasers
of their representatives ; but I should think myself unfit
to claim the character of a man of sense, or your sup-
port, if I denied that with equality of right of suffrage,
and equality of numbers of constituents, there might
he various limits not inconsistent with our object.—
With regard to Annual Parliaments, I should thiuk my-
self the greatest coxcomb that ever pretended to r finical
knowledge, were I to say that twelve months is the precise
golden time within which elections must periodically recur,
in order to secure your liberties. Were elections to take place
every 13, 14,20, or 24 months, the object of keeping
presentatives properly identified with heir constituents,
might, perhaps, he sufficiently seemed. But it is toy opi-
nion that every Parliament is too long that can be usefully
made shorter. I own that I see no well-founded cbjection
to Annual Parliaments, but I a.a eery willing to admit that
with Parliaments of a longer duration you may be both great
and free."
We will not say that thi' is sh/iitig speech,
but we will say that it is Jesuitical, and indeed, as
Mr. NtcHoLon, who foliowed, truly said, it is
certainly unintelligible; and we may add, that if it
had any Ineauln.: or purpose, time p,trpoite was to
leave Mr. HonHousa the future opportunity of ex-
plaining it as he thong:it proper, or as alight be most
subservient to Irs interest. But as it was really in-
comprehensible in par,and the rest common-place
d clamation, like all that lie had betore uttered, the
Electors would be ideots if they were to choose a
Candidate who thinks to deceive them by such a
hoax and humbug Mt „ NICHOLSON nominated
Major CartT,v NIGHT in a manly spA:c;i, and was
seconded by Mr. Bowls. Mr. JAMES MACDONALD
proposed Mr. GEORGE LAMB, and was seconded
by Mr. Evan s. They both made able speeches.
Mt. LAMB then chute forward, and delivered his
sentiments in the following•nianner :
" GENTLEMEN,...-No man can be -more truly .sensible
than I am of the importance of the purpose for which
you are here assembled this day, and none can more highly
appreciate and sincerely admire the splendid talents and
spotless integrity of him whom you so lately returned, and
who has, abo: ! been so quickly snatched away. It is re-
markable, that he is the.hrst man of eminence who has died
a Member of the House of Commons, in modern times, on
whom no rulogium has been prouounCed in Parliament.—
This practice, from its having become common, it was thought
expedient to• discontinue. There m ght have been another
reason found for unfitting this form in the case of Sir
Samuel Romilly, as you had so recently pronounced au
eulogioni, on his merits. with a voice which could not be
controverted; that it was wholly unnecessary. You, alas !
little knew alien, how. well and how soon your panegyric
would serve for his. funeral 'oration •In suffering my-
self to he proposed .to succeed Sir Samuel Romilly, if
any comparison-were to he made between 'me' and him, it
would require stronger nerves than I can boast of, and a hun-
dred times the talent to appear before you. But he is lost to
you for ever, and:such comparisons can lead to no satisfac-
tory result, but on the contrary will only serve to protract
vain repiniogs and unavailing regret. I wish not to be com-
pared with those who have gone before me, hut with those
who now come forward with me. I have hitherto filled a pri-
vate station, but, Gentlemen, I could refer you to those who
might prove that my opinions teti-e ever been favourable to
the liberties of the people, and that I have laboured to pro.
mote the cause to the full extent of my very limited means,
I therefore think, that without arrogance, I may presume;
that my claims 'on the Electors of Westminster are no.
thins inferior to thoie of Mr. Hobhouse. I i% ill now pro-
ceed to notice the objections which I understand have bee

urged to my being put in nor-illation. It is said, that this
is improper, because Mr. Hohhouse was pia in nomination
three months ago, at a meeting in a room which was not
capable of receiving one-third of the Electors of this City,
but which nevertheless took upon itself to designate the
course which ought to he pursued in order to fill up the
vacancy which had occurred. I have hung back till the very
last moment, in the hope that some one nearer to him ire
merit, whose loss we have to supply, than myself, would
Lave been offered to your notice. Had such a person ap-
peared, I would much rather have solicited your suffrages
in his behalf than in my own. This is the cause of my
coming forward su late; and the difference between the
Honourable Baronet anti myself simply is this—that he
and Mr. Hohhouse think that the election ought to have
been decided three months ago, while I am of opinion
that it ought now to be decided. here. But thew the
.._

nourahle 'Baronet has stated that I an; a Whig candidate.—
There be dues me honour. That title was borne by Mr.
Fox and Sir S. Romilly, when those great and good men were
returneerto Parlialment by your uishought suffrages. I hope
I shall prove worthy of the title which has thus been bestowed.
The result of my nomination the Hun. Baronet tells you will
be, that between this and Monday a Court candidate wutCd
start. 1 thank him for that remark. At least then he admits
that I am nut a Cow t candidate—that I have no connexion
with the Ministers of the present day—that my principles as
to them are as independent as his own. But it has been
said that I am a Whig candidate, and must therefore be hos-
tile to reform. I deny the consequence. Reform, sensible
reform, or, to use the words of Mr. Hubhouse,
reform, has ever found its hest friends among those who have
been denominated Whigs. Mr. liiibhouse has read to you
an essay or dissertation on the subject of reform, which from
the character of it I can hardly help thinking has been handed
over to him from the other Candidate, Major Cartwright., as
it is more like some of his publications than the plaits and
simple declaration which might have been expected from Mr.
Hobbouse. That there are abuses its the representation of
the people is beyond'all doubt. I, however, have not written
down on paper illy sentiments on this subject, as Mr. Hob-
house has done, but I will refer you to what is written on
your minds—to the declaration made by Sir Samuel Romillh
from these hustings, which was like every thing that cam,
from him, short, simple, and distinct ; and 1, in his words, de-
clare myself a friend to a more equal representation of the
people in the House of Consulting, and to the shorter duration
of Parliaments. lam not placed its that happy situation in
which to be able to refer to my past life (having never yet been
in Parliament), as a test by which you may form ajodgment on
my future conduct. Mr. Hobhouse has spokencontemptuously
of extravagant professions. But when he took credit to
himself for not being one of those who would promise than
she Is. loaf should in future be sold for 6d. he paid the Eke-
tors of Westminster an ill compliment, in sopposiug
they could for a tuament listen to any proposition halt so li-
dieolons. I believe Mr. Iluishonse did not perceive ;:t
time what an unfortunate allusion he had made. Nn

/set tbs.-. I kuuw sf hai CYGI used Itificr Pat,. at all lAA .01

but ;lads Cade, rho at wised that the,
pint of sir hcp
1,1"1
future be el quart. have tuought it right' taatr6;
~ccasion, not to pass over the topic of ParlialuenujotV4
form, which I know is iYh the people of IS.rell
an object of great importance, On any lit„
I may be questioned, I shall be ready and ofit,
the roost explicit answers, and if returned, on ever"' tcrencer'
I shall be found in favour of public economy and, Af;ed bi`;
meta. Mr. Hubhouse in one of his h•ttris has Pie""„cel
self not to support any Bill fur lessening the "Pt' 00'1
elections, but for my part'l cannot see why rconolill stll
not be carried into every department of the State. 1), 0
now take my leave. Though Mr. Hohhouse had tottip
fore you for three months, I foui,d a large ,133%ndids
ob tt
Electors of Westminster not satisfied with atlY
I hat had been named ; I thought it would and
cowardice not to obey the call made upon 0)°,
consequence of that teeling• I am now before Vu.,rrag';
return me, I shall be ever active tend Zealous Y"b 11'"4
and if I should not be the successful candidate, I 10P: pg,'
choice will fall 011 one who will serve von with the s!it2ljdiisv
zeal, which I can confidently say for myself, %your"
other topic
me as your Representative.
ace.'ccie T (4 hHighe names of the Candidatt • Were then
The Bailiff decided the choice of thelslet"6
fallen on yr. Hubliuuse.
Mr. HounousE returned thanks. b t"
The business of the day then terminated,
COOO
Citizens HUNT, THELIVALL, and GALE J'"Jgs otpt;
R ,e 0
not subdue their itch for speechifying, and 61t-01"
ed to harangue the crowd. Our
eadeo bacP
hardly forgive us if we were to inset t the
ueyed trash of these Jacobinical zigitators.