The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-06-29 00:00:00

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spoke to the following effect Mr. Chairman and Gentle.
men, Tam too well'aware of the'present circumstances of this
borough, to think of intruding on you with a long speech.
I did, in fact, understand the arrangement to be, that I should
comedown here this morning to meet such of my friends and
constituents as I have now the honour of seeing around me,
and to forward those necessary arrangements with a view to
that contest for the county which is appointed to take place
so soon as you are discharged from that important struggle—
none more important in the kingdom—in which you are en-
gaged. (Hear.) I understand, however, on consideration
with some of my friends that we should carry the proceedings
further, and that it would not be inconvenient to the meeting
if we were to imitate the example of other gentlemen who
have made their appearance in the Exchange. (Hear, hear,
and renewed cheers.) I am come here for the purpose of
placing myself entirely at the orders of my friends and con-
stituents with a view to the accomplishment of that which I
believe every gentleman present has sincerely at heart.
(Hear.) I shall. therefore, without further comment, or
without any useless expression of my opinions, or without
detaining you from your important avocations, content my-
self with expressing my desire and readiness to act on that
advice, and to do to-day whatever may be thought best by
the wise heads and good management of those of my friends
who conduct the affairs of the election in Liverpool—(loud
cries of "hear, hear")—in order to promote what we all
have in view. (Hear.) I have had experience on former
occasions of the zeal and energy with which I have been
received, and it is a great satisfaction to me to perceive,
by the aspect of this room, that there is no prospect what-
ever of that being diminished. (Vehement cheering.) I
have now to thank you for your attendance, and in some
measure certainly to apologise to you for being the cause of
distracting you from the contest you are now so busily en-
gaged in, and also to thank you very cordially for the re-
ception you have honoured me with upon this occasion.
Lord Francis resumed his seat amidst the most enthusiastic
appluse.
The Honourable RICHARD BOOTLE WILBRAHAM then
rose to address the meeting, and was most warmly received.
He could assure those present that he felt the greatest grati-
tude to them for having, in the midst of business in which
they were so ardently engaged, given his noble colleague and
himself this opportunity of meeting them It was not his
intention, as it was not that of his noble friend, to detain
them by any observations at present; therefore he would
content himself with simply saying, as be felt himself bound
to do, that he felt most grateful for the confidence which had
been reposed in him, and he would assure his supporters that
the sentiments which he had ever entertained towards them,
and the principles he had ever held since he had the honour
of being one of their representatives, remained perfectly the
same. (Loud cheers.) He would not detain them any longer,
but he hoped that this day they might perchance meet with
as good a reception in the Exchange as those gentlemen had
who opposed them. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. IRELAND BLACKBURN inquired at what hour the noble
lord proposed to visit the Exchange ?
The CHAIRMAN replied, three o'clock.
Lord F. EGERTON said he would here take the liberty of
making one observation which had been suggested to him by
one of his excellent friends below. He had taken measures
for acquainting his committees in the various places in the
county that an endeavour was being made by their opponents
to split votes in favour of Mr. Towneley and himself. (Hear.)
It was possible gentlemen might not have seen his sentiments;
but he would state that he had communicated to them, that
in his neighbourhood and elsewhere such endeavours were
making for that purpose, and that in some instances it might
happen, apart from other considerations, and out of personal
regard for himself, gentlemen might think they would meet
his wishes, and serve themselves with his respected antagonist,
Mr. Towneley, by voting for both. He would venture to call
the attention of electors to the circumstances under which
his honourable colleague had come forward—that he had
come forward not for the purpose of being a candidate, but
to secure the triumphs of conservative principles by securing
his (Lord F. Egerton's.) His honourable friend was present,
and it was impossible for him, therefore, to call the atten-
tion of the electors to the manner in which his duties had
been performed since he embarked in the undertaking. He
was returned then by a triumphant majority ; and he (Lord
F. Egerton) ventured to suggest that it was impossible for
him, with a view to these circumstances, to consider Mr.
Wilbraham's case as otherwise than absolutely identified with
his own. (Loud cheers.) He could only say that he was
not here for his own return only ; but ready to make any and
as much exertion for his excellent colleague as for him-
self. (Cheers.)
The meeting then adjourned till three o'clock, when the
candidates and their friends proceeded to the Exchange.

About half-past three Lord Francis Egerton and Mr. Wil-
braham, accompanied by Mr. John Moss, Mr. Sands, Mr.
Robinson, and many other distinguished conservatives pro-
ceed to the Exchange. Rooms. They were there received
with a most hearty welcome, which strongly contrasted
with the melancholy greeting which awaited Mr. Townley on
his visit to the same spot on Thursday last. Though the
weather was by no means favourable, the immense multitude
patiently braved the pelting of the pitiless storm, and ever
and anon gave utterance to the most enthusiastic bursts of
applause, in testimony of their concurrence with the senti-
meats of the hon. candidates' addresses. Nothing could
exceed the ardour and devotion of the gentlemen present to the
conservative cause, which must have been as gratifying to his
lordship and his noble colleague as they were honourable to
to those who evinced them. The candidates afterwards pro-
ceeded into Messrs. Sandbach, Tinne, and Co.'s office,
which overlooks the area of the Exchange, from which
it was at ranged they should address the assembled multitude.
Lord FRANCIS EGERTON, having been introduced, was
received with indescribable enthusiasm, which, having in
some degree subsided, he spoke to the following effect :
Gentlemen, I feel that I owe you some apology for bringing
you here together on the present occasion, for I am well
aware that you, or the greater part of you at least,—the
voters for the borough of Liverpool—are engaged, and have
your energies occupied, in a contest which, in importance,
is second to none that can take place. lam sensible that all
your energies are devoted to the task you have undertaken,
and I feel I have to apologise for interrupting you for one
moment from that task. (No, no, and applause.) But it
may be necessary to state to you the fact, that when I came
here this morning I felt that truth so much that I was un-
willing to bring you together. That was my view, and so
also was it the view of those who more particularly have in-
terested themselves on my committee, but it did appear to
those, to whose advice I always defer, that I should on this
occasion endeavour to see some of my friends on the Ex-
change, and particularly those who have supported our con-
stitutional cause in the county election. (Loud cries of
" hear," and much cheering.) I have, therefore, to ask you,
knowing that your steam is up for another purpose, that
when your vessel has arrived, as I firmly trust and believe
she will arrive, safely in port—l say, I have to ask these who
concur with me in the political views which have hitherto
brought me into parliament, not to let their fire entirely go
out, but to reserve some of its energies for the subsequent
contest, which I am told awaits us in the county as well as
the borough. (Renewed cheers.) Gentlemen, I need
scarcely observe that this is a most important crisis, for rea-
sons of which you are already aware. (Hear, hear.) I have
endeavoured to communicate to the county at large, briefly
but fairly, candidly, and I trust temperately, such opinions
as the county electors may have been in doubt as to my en-
tertaining upon subjects which partake anything of the charac-
ter of novelty since the last election. Of my general prin-
ciples which I confess have dictated my untiring but not
factious opposition to her Majesty's ministers, and upon
general subjects I have frequently explained. I have told the
electors that they remained unchanged ; and if on these
principles I cannot cemmand the same support I before ob-
tained, all I can say is, that it is not I who have changed,
but the majority of the electors who have thought fit, for
reasons honest and good in themselves, no doubt, to change.
(Hear, hear.) If I could have at any time entertained Suspi-
cions that such a change had taken place in this quarter of
the county. I confess that the reception I have experienced
this day is not likely to confirm me in that opinion, or to
increase my apprehensions. (Loud and protracted cheering.)
Gentlemen, with regard to the other topics more particu-
larly brought under the notice of the constituency of this
county at the present time, I have, as I have stated, informed
those who may take an interest in them, what my views are.
I do not think that this is an occasion, or that under present
circumstances, I can enter at length into a vindication of my
views upon subjects which involve a wide range of political
economy. (Hear, hear, and great cheering.) It is some
consolation to me to think, that however wrong I may be in
the opinions I have professed, or however mistaken I may be,
that lam at least mistaken in good company ; and it is also
some consolation to me to think, that if on the present occa-
sion I lack time, power, and opportunity to explain, to vin-
dicate, or to express those opinions, there are others, at pre-
sent in this town, who have not been at all slow or languid
in the execution of that task. (Hear, hear.) It is true that
I have not been able to anticipate the canvass which has been
carried on, but I have paid some attention to the speeches
which have been made, and I think I may briefly express
myself in this way, that in the opinions expressed by my
noble friend (Lord Sandon) and his colleague in this town,
on subjects of a financial description, I do most heartily and
entirely concur, so far as I have seen them. (Hear, hear,
and cheers.) It would have been a matter of satisfaction to
me to dwell in some respects on the subjects in question, but
when I consider the circumstances of the present moment,
it is impossible, standing sheltered as I do, to detain you who
are standing under umbrellas, on topics of corn and sugar.
There is one circumstance, however, on which I have not
length in my printed address. (Hear, hear,
I did thinkopinionstha t the occasion a
subjectss io cal called
leading
imn
ge foradt
hnwedefreelcheers.)
a ta
I.ly
expression of
in-
terest, and I did believe that the constituency did me the
credit of supposing that I still entertained towards her ma-
jesty's ministers those feelings of unmitigated opposition,
which I always expressed. (Hear, hear, and renewed cheers.)
There are various and multifarious subjects of interest in the
present crisis ; and the question naturally arises whether I
am right or wrong on the subjects of commercial policy.
(Hear, hear, and long-continued cheering.) But that is not
the only question. Another question is, whether the go-
vernment ought to be allowed to remain in office as 'a go-
vernment. It is a question whether their principles have
been such as to justify the opposition I have endeavoured to
carry out so far as my principles have allowed me. It is
another question whether their more recent proceedings, and
the mode in which they have introduced their measures,
have been such as to warrant that retention of office to which
they have so tenaciously adhered. It is my deliberate
opinion that the ministry, in the course they pursued, have
lost sight of the interest of the measures they professed to
promote—that they have lost sight of their duty to their
country and their duty to their sovereign. (Vehement ap-
plause, followed by a few faint cries of No," which were
speedily drowned in a great burst of loud and indignant cheer-
ing.) All this opposition I am ready for at the proper time and
opportunity. I am not so presumptuous as to say I can
prove to your satisfaction, but I am ready to explain the
reason on which I entertain those opinions. (Renewed
cheers.) I think, and briefly I shall state, that with respect
to the measures they have brought forward—that looking to
the interest of advancement of those measures, they have
brought them forward at a time when they were least likely
to be discussed with that temper and moderation which could
insure a satisfactory settlement. (Loud cheers.) I think
with respect to the removal of the duties on corn, for in-
stance, that if their principles could be maintained, and that
if they were so certain of the beneficial effects of such repeal,
I connot tell why one, two, three, four, five, and six years
ago they did not bring those measures forward, not in an
obscure corner of the budget, but in a conspicuous place in
a speech from the crown at the opening of the parliament.
I cannot see how or upon what principles they have failed
in this respect up to the present moment, or why they should
introduce measures now, the advocacy of which they pro-
claimed heretofore to be nothing short of madness and cri-
minality. (Cheers.) With respect to the country, I think
they have lost sight of its best interests in promoting those
measures in a shape that was likely to agitate and convulse
the country from one end to the other, without at the same
moment being able to carry those measures to a satisfactory
conclusion. They did not bring them forward in the hour
of their presumed and boasted authority, when they had a
majority in the House of Commons—(hear, hear)—when
they could boast of their power and insult the weaker party
with exhibitions of their power ; but in the hour of their
weakness, and in the last stage of their decrepitude, they
throw their firebrands among the people, in the hope that
the tide of agitation might float them along the stream of
office and emolument. (Cheers.) It is upon these grounds
that I think they have been false to the interests of the coun-
try. (Cheers.) I think they have been false to the interests
of the crown. (A cry of " No, no," was here raised, but it
was quickly drowned in an universal cheer.) And, though
it rains, I call upon you for a moment to hear me why I
think so. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) I think the best in-
terests of the crown are promoted by its union with the
people, and I call upon sou to judge between two parties in
this respect. There are honest hearts and clear understand-