The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-08 00:00:00

SOUTHWARK ELECTION.

MEETING OF SIR WILLI 11 MOLESWORTH'S
FRIENDS.

A meeting of the electors of the parish of Bermondsey
was held on Friday at the Leather Market Tavern, Wes-
ton- street, Borough, to promote the election of Sir W.
Molesworth, Bart. The large assembly-room was
crowded, about 400 persons being present.
The chair was taken at seven o'clock by Mr. Thomas
Chadwick, who introduced Sir W. Molesworth to the
meeting.
Sir W. MOLESWORTH, on presenting himself, was
greeted with loud and prolonged applause. He said that
his committee had completed their canvass, which he was
happy to state had been most successful.—(Cheers.)
The contest was now between the Tory candidate and
himself. Mr. Filcher, who was not very fond of speak-
ing, had obtained the assistance of a Mr. Shaw as his
mouthpiece; and this Mr. Shaw was one of the strangest
persons he (Sir William Molesworth) had ever heard
of, both with regard to his oratory and his arguments.
Mr. Shaw had lavished much personal abuse upon
him (Sir William Molesworth), but to that abuse
he would not reply. He did not think it worth his
while to crush every gnat that might attempt to
sting him; but he could not help laughing at the reasons
urged by Mr. Shaw against a repeal of the corn-laws.
It appeared from his speech last night that Mr. Shaw
had found, in some story book or another, that, a long
time ago, a great people existed called the Romans—
(A laugh)—and that they imported their corn from a
country called Egypt; and he found that, after the lapse
of ages, that great and powerful nation fell into ruin and
decay. Mr. Shaw inferred that the decline and fall of
the mighty Roman empire was attributable to the fact
that they did not establish a corn-law.—(Laughter.)
Then Mr. Shaw told the wiseacres who were gaping
around him, that they were very like ancient Romans—
(A laugh)—and that if they consented to a repeal of the
corn-laws the decline and eventual ruin of the British
empire would be the result. He thought Mr. Shaw must
have learned logic from his grandmother—(A laugh)—
and that he was one of those men who would gravely
tell them that the Tenterden steeple had caused the
Goodwin Sands.—(Laughter.) Sir Wm. Molesworth
then proceeded to explain in detail his opinions on the
corn-laws and other political questions, declaring his
firm adherence to Liberal principles, and concluded by
expressing his readiness to answer any questions that
might be pat to him.
As no person in the meeting evinced any disposition
to catechise the Hon. Baronet,
Mr. VOUSLEY came forward to move a resolution, ex-
pressing the satisfaction of the meeting with Sir W.
Molesworth's statement, and pledging themselves to use
every possible exertion to secure his return. He ob-
served that Mr. Shaw, who had taken such a prominent
part at Mr. Pitcher's meetings, was not an elector for the
borough, but he had certainly done great service to Mr.
Filcher, for, like Balaam's ass, he had spoken for him.—
(Loud laughter.)
Mr. HARRIS seconded the resolution, which was car-
ried unanimously.
Sir W. MOLESWORTH briefly thanked the meeting for '
the confidence they reposed in him, and expressed his
conviction that he would be the successful candidate.
He then moved a vote of thanks to the chairman, which
was carried by acclamation, and the meeting broke up.