The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-04-09 00:00:00

ELECTION FOR ST. ANNE'S WARD

Yesterday the election took place of a member of the
Common Council, in the room of the late Mr. Coglan. The
polling place was at the private house of Mr. Eyes, fruit
seller, in Christian-street, near the corner of Springfield-
street.

From the period of the demise of Mr. Coglan, up to the
day of the contest, the antagonist parties were silently but
earnestly active in canvassing the ward in behalf of their re-
spective candidates—who were, on the conservative side, Mr.
James Parker, brewer, of Rose-hill, and on the whig-radical
side, Mr. Thomas Chalmers, surgeon, of Mansfield-street.

From a pretty early hour Christian-street became ani-
mated and bustling. Mr. Parker's committee-room was at
" Pontack's," and Mr. Chalmers's at Mr. Bickerstaff's, the
Queen's Theatre Tavern—in friendly proximity. Flags were
displayed from both houses, cabs and coaches became in im-
mediate requsition, the morning being drizzly and cold, and
the scene gave indication of a struggle of no ordinary severity.
The vehicles engaged by the conservative party bore neat
blue flags, fringed with white, and inscribed, in gilt letters,
" Parker for ever." There were upwards of thirty police-
officers in attendance, but their services were happily not re-
quired, the proceedings being marked by the greatest order
and good humour. Before nine o'clock a considerable num-
ber of persons had collected at the polling place, anxious to
embrace the earliest opportunity of giving their votes, and
repairing to their respective places of avocation. The hour
at length struck, and all was expectancy that the window
would be opened and the voting papers forthwith received.
But alas ! the alderman of the ward, Mr. Benn, (erewhile
celebrated for his punctuality!) was no where to be found.
He was exquired for at the polling house by hundreds, whose
time was valuable, but (to use a Scotch phrase) Mr. Benn
was not to be found either " but or ben." The alderman
opened the book at sixteen minutes past the legal hour of
opening.

The polling then commenced with considerable spirit. In
the first half hour Mr. Parker got 8 a-head of his antagonist.
At 10 o'clock the numbers were—
Chalmers
Parker
At 11 o'clock the numbers were—
Chalmers
Parker
Amongst the voters for Mr. Parker, in the early part of
the day, were a Mr. Parker and his son, the former a venera-
ble but infirm patriot of 93 years of age, the latter about 60,
and as grey as his sire, whom he supported by the arm,
though himself apparently in need of a staff. Towards noon
the voting became brisker ; but it was difficult to ascertain
the real condition of the " State of Denmark ;"—in other
words, both parties put out statements at the entrances to
their committee-rooms which were not quite in accordance
with the truth. This was merely a good-humoured dodge,
which was pretty well understood by the knowing ones.
At 12 o'clock the respective numbers were—
Chalmers
Parker
The former having still the majority. The general feeling,
was still in favour of Parker, who is considered "a good one '
though both were spoken of as likely men, without the slight-
est animosity on either side. The circumstance of one of
the party having to sit upon this "commission " until No-
vember only, had, doubtless, a tendency to diminish the en-
thusiasm that would otherwise have been demonstrated,
though it appeared to be conjectured that the successful in-
dividual would have the best chance in the next general
contest.

Shortly after 12 o'clock the conservatives put forth their
strength,—bringing up eighteen men to the poll at a time.
At half-past one o'clock the numbers stood—

Parker...
Chalmers,

The weakness of the radicals was now manifested by their
withholding their statements of the poll, to which, while they
were winning, they had previously given frequent and vaunt-
ing publication.
The afternoon turned out fine and sunny, and the ardour
of the parties proportionately rose. The voters, however,
wanted coaxing to be brought to " the scratch," and the
electioneering machinery of both parties was put upon full
steam. As an instance of the great re-action in the public
mind, in may be remarked that, but a few years ago, not a
tory flag could be shown without danger of a row ;—yesterday,
however, there was scarcely a colour to be seen but of the
trne blue. The radicals, indeed, were completely at a dis-
count in the market.

Towards two o'clock the whole street became exceedingly
thronged, and for a considerable distance at and near the
polling-house, filled from side to side with an anxious and
enquiring multitude. At two the poll stood—
Parker
__ Chalmers 126

Here was a gain of twelve for Mr. Parker. The doctor at
this time managed to drug a few noodles, and the consequence
was that at the end of the next hour he had redeemed his
loss by five, the numbers being—

Parker . v.
142
Chalmers
the majority for the former being only 7.
Were are about 480 voters, we believe, in the ward, and of
these it was generally supposed throughout the day that not
above 350 to 360 would vote.
At 3 o'clock the numbers were—
Parker l5B
Chalmers 153
leaving a majority for the former of only five. The contest
from the first was a close one, and it now became evident
that the tug would be like Greekl meeting Greek.
Mr. Parker was active during the day in looking after his
friends, as was the other candidate ; and, if personal exertion
in the heat of an election be a principal ingredient in a can-
didate, both deserved to succeed.

The radicals had a bill out to the effect, that at past 2,
the candidates were abreast-127 each. This, however, it
soon afterwards became apparent, was but " a weak inven-
tion of the enemy."

Between 3 and 4 o'clock the contest became warm, and
we may add, portentous. Returns were anxiously sought
for, and expected every five minutes ; but the clerks and
others were too busy in despatching messengers for the last
available voters to supply them.
At half-past three—the expected voters being then nearly
exhausted—the numbers were—
For Mr. Parker
Mr. Chalmers
A sort of " cessation of hostilities" appeared to take place
from this date, each party having nearly exhausted his mate-
riel of warfare. The few stragglers who were yet to be
brought up were, however, sent for in all directions by cab
and car, and the `• ssuttering" amongst canvassers, drivers,
and others, was animated and amusing. Each party, appa-
rently uncertain of the official result, awaited the announce-
ment in almost breathless anxiety ; and watches were ever
and anon referred to, with much learned argument as to the
precise tune by St. Peter's clock. Mr. Parker, however,
being upheld by the very backbone of the ward—the true,
honest, and sensible portion of the constituency—was almost
as soon as the clock struck four announced to be the con-
queror. The opposite party, who were nearer to the polling
place, had previously set up a cheer or two so loud and long
as to convey to the mass of the byestanders almost an as-
surance of their success ; but this was only the forced and
expiring effort of the discomfitted faction.
At about two minutes past four the news reached Mr.
Parker's committee-room that he was the victor by 11 votes,
and many were the hands held out to Mr. P. in congratu-
lation. This was, however, a mistake, so far as regarded the
numbers, the real majority being only 7—a small number it
is true, but considering that the radicals have strained every
nerve, and have employed foul as well as fair means to gain
their point, must be considered as a decided triumph of the
good old cause of conservatism.
Immediately after the close of the poll, Mr. ISAAC HOLMES
spoke to the electors from one of the windows of the inn.
He congratulated them on the result of the contest, and
made strong and effective allusion to the political tergi-
versation of Mr. Chalmers, who in his ambition to shine as
a councilman had not scrupled to " jump Jim Crow."
(Great laughter.)

Ml'. PARKER 'then shewed his wholesome manly face to
his constituents, and was received with deafening shouts of
applause. He thanked them for having, by their unbiassed
votes, placed him in the proud position of being their repre-
sentative in the council. He attributed his success not to
any personal feeling towards him, but to the legitimate opera-
tion of sound principle. He felt assured that the principles
which he espoused, and which they approved, would ere long
be triumphant, and that in acting upon them, the radicals
would speedily be expelled from the council. (Cheers.) He
considered the result of the present election as the forerun-
ner of further success in the next November contest. He
trusted that that day's proceedings would have a happy effect,
not only in St. Anne's Ward, but in every ward in the town.
He had always been ofopinion that the hostile feeling that natu-
rally arose at a contested election should cease when the strug-
gle was over ; and he hoped thatany little irritation that might
have existed would now he entirely dissipated. For himself he
could assure even those who had opposed him, that he had
that day held out the hand of friendship to many of
his political antagonists, and that he should as carefully
watch and protect their interests as those of the party who
had placed him in his present pre-eminence. (Loud cheers.)
He concluded a very appropriate and truly " liberal" ad-
dress—of which our reporter could not take notes, owing to
the density of the crowd—by announcing the final state of
the poll, as follows :
For Mr. Parker
Mr. Chalmers

Majority for Mr. Parker.... 7
I No speech was made from the radical side. The party
were, indeed, quite " chop fallen."
A strong poss 6 of constables came on the ground just
before the close, to " look out for squalls," but not the
slightest disturbance took place, and the dense assemblage
dispersed in the best possible humour.

CROWN JEWEI.S.-It is said that the dispute between the
King of Hanover and her 'Majesty, respecting the crown
jewels, has produced a good deal of discussion and difference
of opinion in the Royal Family, and that some portion of the
correspondence between the illustrious parties on this subject
has been anything but pleasant. Whatever the differences
may be, and whatever disputes may arise, the public will not
be much the wiser; for though there is nominally a suit in
Chancery, and Sir Henry Wheatley is the defendant, yet
both parties are agreed in keeping the matter as private as
possible, and treating it strictly as a family unatter.—Chelvi-
ham Looker-on.

CURIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE.—A hive of bees, the property
of Mr. Robert Marshall, of Brapxton. near Coldstream, left
the hive a few days ago, and whilst Mr. Andrew Rankin was
observing their proceedings, they lighted upon his back, when
an attempt was made to sweep them off, which did not suc-
ceed. Mr. Rankin was then obliged to strip off his coat,
i
and being well skilled n the inanagernent of bees, he imme-
diately dived amongst them with his fingers, and caught the
queen bee, which he returned back to the hive, and in an
instant the whole swarm were quiet, and he did not receive
a single sting.