The Sun.
London, England, 1826-05-27 00:00:00

TO THE FREEHOLDERS OF NORTHUMBERLAND.
GENTGEMZN, St. James's-place, May 15, 1826.
ANewspaper has just reached me with a report of
Lord Howick's. speech at Alnwiek, on Wednesday. Ai
feelings are there imputed to me which I should be ashamed of
*entertaining, and conduct has been erroneously ascribed to me by
his Lordship which must have been misrepresented to him, hut
'which, if consistent with the fact, would derogate from my public
'eharacter, I think myself called' upon to lay before you a statement
And'explanation, which I Ana sure will be satisfactory to every
vreadid mind, and must carry conviction even to my enemies. It
as my intention to invert the order of his Lordship's remarks, and.
to answer them point by point. -
Lord Howick has been misinformed of the manner in which I
canvassed, or he would not have accuaed me of preferring either of the
other two candidates to himself. 'lt is well known to those gentle-
men to whom I have unreservedly declared my views, that at the
titee of the late contest, and during the greater part of my canvass,
V hoped that the two anti-ministerial candidates might succeed,
and that, as far as eircumstaneee would allow me, I endeavoured
to effect this object. It was only lately that I have entirely !than
-
'finned this purpose, and I must add, that I was in ionic measure
induced to give it up by hearing, upon authority which I could
not doubt, that Lord Howick frequently expressed himself con-
'ern* me, in a way that my conduct towards his Lordship was
liar from deserving. There cannot be one freeholder in the coun-
ty whom I requested not to vote for Lord Howick, and there are
many who asked me, if I considered his Lordship as my opponent,
'to whom I answered, " I believe be looks upon me in that light,
but I do not consider him so." •
.1 will tell Lord ,Howick and yourselves why I applied for the
Chiltern Hundreds, and can assure him and you, that private
talmosity had no part whatever in the sudden change of my in-
tention, when I determined to maintain my seat against all oppo-
sition. Does his Lordship suppose that I changed my intention,
!becalm I understood that he was prepared to offer himself for the
'County if I had retired? My friends know that it was immate-
rial to me who sacceeded me in the representation of the,County,
provided he were one who would vote with the Opposition.
But as that circumstance has been brought publicly forward, I
441 enter into a short account of it. In the spring of 1823, I
Vas so disgusted with the conduct of some persons whom I had
'considered my friends, and saw so little prospect of my ever find-
ing happiness in England, that 1 resolved to quit a country where
painful recollections were constantly springing up. With this
view I made application for the Chiltern Hundreds, when two
friends called upon me, and after much entreaty, persuaded me to
relinquish this intention ; and one in particular pressed upon me,
that time would not fail to heal any wound, however sorely it
might be felt at that time. I changed my determination. I have
found his opinion as correct as his advice was friendly ; and the
tonduct of my Constituents during the last few weeks has given
me the greatest reason to be satisfied with the resolution which I
then took, to use his Lordship's words, " of maintaining my wait
against all opposition."
I never accused Lord Howick of having been induced to come
forward by any other motive than that of an honourable ambi-
tion, and his Lordship only can know whether he is more anxious
to turn out myself or the Tory Member. That the greater part of
my speech was an attack on many of his Lordship's supporters, is
quite true; and as I can prove by the returns of the canvassing
books, that wherever the influence of certain Whig Gentlemen is
known to be paramount, all the splits are upon Lord Howick and
Mr. Bell; I must continue to call their conduct unprincipled and
disgraceful. Having neither included, nor intended to include his
lordship in my reproaches against the Whigs, and having no
:reason to suppose that his Lordship was satisfied with their con-
duct towards himself, I.must own that I have read the speech of
his Lordship with the greatest surprise. The absence of the lead-
ing Gentlemen of the Whig party from the dinner that his poli-
tical friends lately gave to him, left au impression upon my mind
that he had not received from them that cordiality of support to
which he appeared entitled. However, I leave this question be-
tween them to be settled by his Lordship and themselves, and I
inn confident that they must feel much gratitude to him for the
manly way in which he has stood forward in their defence.
Before 1 conclude thie address, I cannot refrain from expressing
my astonishroent,that his Lordship should have listened for a mo-
ment to the report of my being hostile to hint, for he must be
aware that it WAS my intention to have promoted his return at the
last election by every means in my power, and that I did not pro-
mise any assistance to Mr. Liddell until his Lordship had declined
a contest. If he were more cautious in believing reports which
are brought to him, he would undoubtedly fall into fewer errors ;
but when I was of his age I had not seen enough of the world to
know that there are men
,in it who, in gratification of private
hatred, will stoop to any falsehood : and experience shows that the
most honourable minds are the slowest to entertain such suapi-
lions. I have no feeling of anger on account of any thing which
has fallen from him ; and I shall take my leave of you with offer-
ing to you nay warmest thanks for your great kindness towards
me, and repeating my assurance that, at the day of election, I
shall come forward totally unconnected with any other candidate ;
when I trust that the majority by which I shall be retuned will
secure your independence for ever.
I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your grateful and devoted servant,
T. W. BEAUMONT.