Star.
London, England, 1831-05-07 00:00:00

GENERAL ELECTION.
deville could not consent to go the length proposed by the
reform bill, he was not an enemy to a just and equitable
reform.

S. Newton, Esq. seconded the nomination, from :t strong
comiction of the fitness of his lordship to become their Ri--
presentative.

T. Lindsell, Esq. proposed Lord Strathaven.
Capt. Edwards. R.N. seconded the nomination. He said
that Mr. Hooper and his friends some time since declared,
that when they had got a refcrmed I louse of COllllllOllB, if
it was found the Ministers' plan did not go fir enough,
they would then have a measure that did ; this he thought .t
fearful tie, laration.

Capt. Duberlev said, the fl ieni's of itidependei ce
thought they might have done without a contest on the
present occasion ; but at they could obtain no positive pledge
frc,m Lord Strathaven to support the whole of the reform
bill, they again presented themselves before the treehalders.
Ile then put Mr. Hooper in nomination, and called upon
the freeholders to remember that his cat:se wit.: that of the
King, the People, and the Constitution.
G. G. Day, Esq. seconded Mr. Roper's n,tnination.•—
Himself and friends had been called a factious set, but ho
denied that their proceedings were any other than a fight
of principle. it was not their wish or object to keep the
county in continual warfare, but they would never be at
peace if it was to be obtained by sleeping on the rights and
liberties of the people. Upon its being found that Lord
Strftthaven voted for the reform, bill as far as it had gone, it
was intended that no opposition should be made ; and if be
had continued Erm, himself and frknils wonid have rallied
round him ; but, after reading the Jesuitical addre..6 which
his lordship issued, an opposition W• 18 determined upon.
Lord MANDEVILLE observed, that although be was op-
posed to the Reform measuie, it was nut because lie wished
to perpetuate a system of corruption, but he could not think
that House of Commons very corrupt which had out-voted
two different Administrations ; and believing that the pre-
sent distress did not arise from mis-representation, but from
taxation, lie conceived that reform was not a proi:er came
for the measure: it was not a renovation but a revoViuti of
the Constitution.

Lord STRATHAVEN admitted the principle of the Bill,
believing that from the lapse of years and change of events
much improvement might be made. He was attached to
the Constitution in church and state, and would not consent
to any vital change in either, and therefore he could nut
pledge himself to support all the details.
J. B. Roortot, Esq. observed, that in consequence of a
requisition from 200 freeholders, ha stood before them for
their suffrages. In ordinary times he should not have as-
pired to a scat in Parliament ; but when so important a mea-
sure was brouirl►t forward by Ministers and supported by the
Crown, he thought it would have been improper in him if
he had not given the freeholders an opportunity of express-
ing their sentiments upon it. One of their late nable repre-
sentatives had voted against the bill, and, he believed, con-
scientiously ; the other had hitherto been in favour of it,
arid if he would have given a pledge to have continued the
same independent line of conduct, he (Mr. R.) would not have
opposed him, but given him his best support. For himself, he
asked their suffrages upon " the bill, the whole bill, and
nothing but the bill ;" and if returned, and he found the
proposed measure did not go far enough, he would vote for
one that did.

A show of hands was then taken by the Sheriff. A re-
spectable number was held up fur Lord Mandeville, but a
very few for Lord Strathaven. On the mention of Mr.
Rouper's name, an immense and apparently almost unani-
mous show appeared for that gentleman. A poll was then
demanded for Lord Strathaven, and at the close of the day
the numbers were—

Rooper, 270 I Mandeville, 178 I Sarathaven, 126.
ESSEX.

CHELMSFORD, FRIDAY.—This being market-dsy, the
polling has gone on with great activity, as,indeed, it did yes-
terday. when it is remembered that upwardsof 700 votes were
polled in the course of five hours. But though the voters
come to the poll in much greater numbers than they did dur-
ing the last general election, there does not appear to be so
much bustle and excitement. Mr. Wellesley's perseverance
in keeping the poll open the whole 15 days at the last gene-
ral election, drained the stock purse of the Tories, that was
raised for the purpose of backing their protégé, the
Colonel ; and their only hope this time was, that Mr. Wel-
lesley's own resources were so diminished that he would be
unable to make head against the enormous expenditure of a
county election. The unexpected determination, therefore,
of the electors themselves came upon them like a thunder-
stroke; and bad it not been (as rumour asserts) for the lucky
intervention of a portion of the Newcastle fund, the courage, id
est, the money, would never have been forthcoming for pursu-
ing the question to a poll. Essex, however, ever has been one
of the strong holds of the high Tory party ; the immense
number of parishes into which the county is divided more
than makes up its want of a Cathedral, with the customary
addenda of Bishops and Canons, Dean and Chapter, Arch-
deacon and Priests, and gives the Clergy what has hitherto
been a most preponderating influence at all county ejec-
tions ; hence the failure of Mr. Long Wellesley at the last
election. It now, however, remains to be seen which is
the more powerful cry, Church' or' Reform ;' and it is fully
expected that a very few days will sufficiently prove the su-
periority of the latter ; though, at the same time, t must be
remembered, that as yet scarcely more than one-fourth of
the freeholders have come to the poll. The polling this day
lusted from tea o'clock to five ; and shortly after tl.e latter
hour, the sheriff declared the numbers to Le
miters, 907 I Wellesley, 869 Tyrrell, 824.
The announcement was received with loud cheering.