The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-01-09 00:00:00

SIR PIIILIP EGERTON AT CONGLETON.

Ou Wednesday Sir Philip Egerton met the inhabitants of
Congleton and its' neighbourhood, in the Assembiv Room of
the Town-ball. lie was accompanied by Randle Wilbraham,
sen., Esq., and Randle Wilbraham, jun., Esq., John Bateman,
sen., Esq., and John Batem,►n, jun., Esq., of littypersiey, and
a considerable number of other influential gentlemen of the
town•and neighbourhood. His reception on entering tee room
was very gratifying, but before the close of the proceedings he
received many strong marks of disapprobation, from a great
number of individuals who had every appearance of uon-electors.
Mr. Charles Pediey took the chair in the absence of the
mayor.

Mr. Randle Wilbraham introduced Sir Philip to the meeting
and appealed to the kindly feeling which lout long subsisted
between tne freemen of the borough and his (Mr. W.'s) family,
with full assurance that they would give the worthy baronet a
proper and becoming reception. He then described Sir Philip
as a gentlemen of high and independent character, of large
property, and in every respect well qualified to represent this
div►sion of the county in the House of Commons. His senti-
ments corresponded with those declared by the t,ri►ne minister,
Sir Robert Peel, to the electors of Tainwoith; he was a warm
supporter of the institutions in church and state, but at the same
time ready to remove all corrupt►ons, and promote to the utmost
of Ins power every beneficial reform. In his opinion they had
arrived at that crisis when it. was necessary to say whether they
would have a government or no government,—whether they
would be content with the mild sway of a tory government,
such as was p►omised to them in the address to which he had
alluded, or woollier they were ready again to embark themselves
in that sea of ag►tation in which they had been plunged for the
last four years. He believed that tie estimated properly the
feelings of the inhabitants of Congleton, when he said they were
not prepared to throw themselves into the arms of the destruc-
lives. Mr. Wilbraham coucluded a long and ab!e speech w►th
thanking the meeting for the indulgence with which they had
listened to him.

Mr. John Bateman next addressed the meeting, and after
exposing the policy of the late whig ministry, asked what bene-
fit the country hal derived from it. " Were we happier, or
richer, or move contented than we were ? Weld the agricul-
tural or manufacturing interests improved ? Had we found
better markets? Was labour more abundant, or money more
plentiful? To all these questions he was afraid he must answer
for them—no. However, it was some satisfaction to remember,
that the authors of all these disappointed expectations had ob-
tained that which they richly deserved; that they had gone down
from office amidst the scorn and execration of the country."
Having tried the Whigs, he would caution them not to fall into
the hands of the radicals, as they would expose the country to
revolution; their only alternative was to support a regular cud
goad government, ruck Ad the preiieut miutatry prOleirotli. lie

N Y 9, .143:5.

Concluded a very animated and sensible address by cordially
seconding the introduction of Sir Philip.
Sir Plniip Egerton next presented himself, and was received
with mingled cheers and hisses. As soon as order was restored,
he said that when he last had the honour of being present in
this hall, he had felt it necessary not only to go into details of
.his sentiments on certain public questions, hut had also felt it
his duty to address them at some length on some of the measures
intended to be brought forward by the then parliament. Owing
to recent changes it would ate be possible for him now to eater
into any remarks on the iutilinded measures of the present go-
vernment, for they were not fully made known;—he should
therefore content himself with making a few remarks ou general
public affairs, and then throw himself on their kindness.—
(Cheers.) Looking at the political aspect of the times he must
first remark that the gloomy forebodings as to the meditated
attacks on the established church to which he bad given expres-
sion when he last addressed them were not exaggerated. His
predictions that before the next dissolution of parliament attempts
upon the established church, kith as the mutilation of her doe,
trines, and the spoliation of Or revenues would be made, 'had
been fully verified. As respected the state of the church iu the
sister kingdom, Ireland, he would refer them to the eloquent
speeches made by the Rev. Messrs. Boyton and O'Sullivan, at
Liverpool, Bath, and Bristol ;—he would refer them to the
every-day journals for an account of the dreadful massacres and
rapine that prevailed in that unhapi.y cianitry. It had seen
calculated that the number of murders ilerpetrated in Ireland
averaged 21 each day. (No, no.) of caarse the siittatho of
Ireland must necessarily occupy the attention of parliament in
the ensuing session, but wh4 the legislature could do in a
country where murder was daily committed,—where every at,
tempt to give evidence against the murderer marked the witness
out as the next victim,--and where the sanctity of an oath was
totally disregarded, he knew not. It would become the duty of
the government to give the matter earnest consideration, and if
he hul the honour to be returned as their representative, Ire
should certainly give the circumstances of Ireland the tastiest
consideration that he could bestow upon them. As respected
his pretensions to represent them, he felt that he should but be
insulin;; their good sense if he detained them with ful-
some adulation or animadversions ou this or that administra-
tion, or by enumerating the faults or singing the praises of
this or that candidate, but as his principles were known he
should leave himself in their hands. ( Loud cheering.)—
He had observed that he did not intend to animadvert spun the
late ministry, but having referred to the church in Ireland, he
would just ask the meeting whether they thought that the acts
of the late ministry, such as the sale of the Irish bishoprics, or
the drawing of a line as to what amount of population should
or should not have a church, were such as ware likely to tend
towards the amelioration of that country. Ile (Sir Philip) had
found it as an objection to him that he had opposed the Reform
Bill. He had opposed it, on these grounds,—that it interfered
with vested rights and anciebt privileges; (hisses) those were
his sentiments still; (renewed hissing) that bill had given ex-
tensive ri,.hts and privileges, and the very grotrod of his oppo-
sition to that bill would be found the surest guarantee that
those rights and privileges, having been granted should never
be mutilated by him. (Gre cheering) The noble and-manly
address put forth by Sir Helof en Peel contained sentiments in
which he (Sir Philip) fully concurred, and so long as he found
the administration acting up to those sentiments they should
have his support, bat no longer. (Cheers.) He was not one
of those who comae I a speech fur one corner of the county, and
another to suit the feelings of another part of the county for the
purpose of gaining votes ;—no, ha addressing the inhabitants of
Cnngleton, he through them addressed the whole inhabitants of
this division (tithe county, and to them he wished to say that
he considered the manufacturing and agricultural interests se
linked together, that the prosperity of one must be the prosy
perity of the other. It was true that they were at the present
time depressed, and, if in parliament, he should do his best to
put them on a footing with the rest of the community. It only
remained now for him to thank them for the patience with which
they hail heard him, and to express his acknowledgments to
Mr. Wilbraham and Mr. Bateman for the handsome manner
in which they had spoken of him. He would conclude by as-
suring them that, if by their kindness he was sent to pasha,
merit as their representative, he would devote all the talent,
time, and services he was possessed of to the interests of the
county, n'.t only by a diligent attention to his duties in the
house, but in committees, if he should be there placed, and lie
would give his Inmost attention to any business which the in-
terests of his constituents might cause to be placed in his hands.
The honourable baronet then retired amidst mingled cheers and
hisses.

A Mr. Thomas Johnson now stepped forward, and proceeded
to ask a number of questions which-he wished Sir Philip to re-
ply to. They related to municipal reform, choosing inagistratos,
the revision of the pension list, church revenues, the clergy
tithes, corn laws, free trade, &c. &c., and were propounded in a
tone at once both disrespectful and insulting. Ile also com-
plained that two hundred special constables had been sworn in
by Mr. Wilbraham to preserve the peaee.
Sir Philip Egerten replied that as he had ou a former occa-
sion been most grossly insulted by the speaker, he had deter-
mined never again to notice anything he might say.
Mr. Johnson then resumed his speech iu the same insulting
strain, and talked a great deal of nonsense in a most pompous
and dictatorial tone, which the rabble around him roost heartily
cheered.

Mr. Wilbraham. jun., made an attempt to speak, but the con-
fusion that prevailed rendered him for some time inaudible. At
last he said—He would not believe that the insults given to Sir
Philip Egerton proceeded from any of the respectable inhabi-
tants of Congleton, and if Mr. Johnson put himself forward as
the organ of the radicals, for whom, as a body, he (Mr. Wilbra-
ham) felt great respect, still he could not believe that they
countenanced such insults (we understood these to be Mr.
Wilbraham's expressions, but the uproar was so great we can-
not say that they realty, were.) As to the long list of questions
put forth by Mr. Johnson, it was impossible for Sir Phiiip to 'se
into them, but he would refer the meeting to the address of sir
Robert Peel, which contained sentiments in which he fully con-
curred. He hoped thew would give those principles a fair trial.
(Tremendous hisses.) 'He would say one word more as to the
appointment of special constables, to which Mr. Johnson had
alluded. It must be in the recollection of those who were
present when Sir Philip last put himself in the hands of his
committee, that he was most grossly insulted and attacked in
the streets. Having again requested Sir Philip to come forfor--
ward, it was the duty of his committee to protect him, and not
allow him to be subjected to the ill usage he experienced at his
last visit. it vas, with this view only that he had applied to
"the magistrates of tFrgborough to have special constables sworn
in, and, in taking these steps, if he had offended any individual
he here begged his pardon. (Loud cheers )
Mr. Johnson hoped and.trusted that the meeting would pro-
tect these gentlemen, and conduct them safely out of town.
Mr. Wilbraham said they did not need protection. He knew
well they were safe iu the hands of the respectable inhabitants
of Congleton. And why should they not be safe Mr. John-
son told them that he seldom came out from his corner monist
the inhabitants of Congleton—but was it so with his (Mr: 'W il-
brahp's) family and friends? Was there ever any public oc-
casion when the interest of the borough of Congleton was con-
cerned, that they absented themselves ? (Cheers.) Whether the
object was for the building of a church, the establishment of a
savings' bank, or, in fact, anything of invorta.nce to the inter-
ests of the borough, they had always been ready to come forward
and ever should be. They needed nut, therefore, Mr: Johnson's
protection.
A scene of boisterous confusion immediately ensued. After
awhile,_._

.......____,
Mr John Batetna- n, sen. said he had looked in vain through
the long list of grie -ances produced by Mr. Johnson for one
much greater than an f the—one whicii came home to the
irli
feelings and pockets o every one of those present ; he alluded
to that monstrous misnomer called free trade (cheers) ; a sub-
ject which, for the last six years, and under six different admi-
nistrations, had been working with disastrous effects. H. would
appeal to every landowner present, whether during that period
ii,s rents had nut been gradually lowering—to the manufacturer
whether his profits had out been diminishing—to the tanner
whether he had nut been paying his rent out of his sloe k—
to the workman whether he could scarcely get bread for his
wages. If, instead of going into abstract and unlenportant mi.
cu;ations, Mr. Johnson did not take up this momentous sub-
ject, he was not doing justice to the cause he espoused. (Cheers.)
Ile (Mr. Bateman) thought it was their duty to impress upon
their representatives to do all in their power to eradicate this
monstrous and destructive system ; fur unless they could sue-
ceed in throwing off this vampire that was preying upou the
vitals of the country, tliete win, no hope for peace or prosperity
within it. (Cheers.)

Thanks having been voted to the chairman, three cheers were
then given for Mr. Jo4nson and three otl.eri fur Buglawton.

Tue meeting then disperse 1. and as Sir Philip and his friends
pursued their way to their colninittee-room, at the Lion and
Swan, a great ramble accompanied him, hooting and gloaming,
and crying out "No Tories."

SHREWSBURY.
(Abridge 4 from the Salupiun Journal.)

The nomination for this borough took place on Tuesday: The
candidates are Mr. R. A. Slaney, Sir John Hautuer (the old
members(, and Mr. Creasett Pelham.
Sir John Hanmer in his speech to the electors said, when he
first had the honour of addressing the electors of Shrewsbury in a
political character, he entered at considerable length into a
statement of his views and opinions; and on various occasions
since he had further explained his political intentions. He
now, fur the second time, asked fur their confidence; arid in
doing so, he stood there to defy any man to say that he had de-
viated one jot or tittle from the principles which lie had at first
avowed. (Cheers.) - lie should not now detain them by a po-
litical discuseion-, he would refer. them, to his votes in i;arlia-
meet. and to those explanations which be had'inarie and pub-
lished during his canvass; vial as he could safely appeal to his
public and private conduct while he had hail the honour of be-
ing their representative, so he coufideutly relied upon their re-
newed support. He bad been a member of one parliament,
and-that parliament had, by some persons, been characterised
as "The Talking Parliament;" in that parliament he had, on
various occasions, found that votes were of more importance
than speeches; and as he iiid not wish to trespass on their tini•
unnecessarily, he would now say that he should go to the poll
with a firm conviction that his late constituents would, as be-
fore, place him at the head of that poll, and thus elect him again
to represent their interests in parliament, and there to assist by
every means in his power, in maintaining their rights and the
Constitution iu Church and State as by law established.—
( C heers.)
John Cressett Pelham, Esq., offered himself amid the cheeira
of the assembly, and said that although upon this as upon all
other occasions he was inclined to admire the good humour of
his fellow-townsmen, and always disposed to indulge it, he must
now beg them to consider the importance of the subject for which
they had been convened, and he would detain them but for a
short time. This was net tie first Lime he had appeared in the
character of a candidate, and he might be pardoned if he felt
called upon to speak in iome degree of the humble merits to
which he could lay claim. The constitution of 'his country had
been very appropriately c pared by the best writers to a py:.
ramid, of which the base was formed by the middle and lower
clauses, while the higher &meses formed the upper portions and
point thereof. It always been his study to pieserve to
every part of that pyramid its just proportion, so that the a lime
should continue well- cemented and united together. He
claimed the privilege of. being well Items') to many that he ads
dressed; and as his friends Mr. Burton, in addressing them, had
done so as brother burgesses, he might venture to observe, that
a body which bad been referred to, and which consisted, for the
most part, of respectable tradesmen of the town existed as a
body for the good of that town, ann had, iu their sphere and de-
gree, the care of watching over this more limited commuuity
as king, lords, and commons had fir the nation at large. He
was not one of those that, had asserted the old House of com-
mons to be incorrupt ; al if they had not divided the eonnty
into two, he should not hate stood there to-day to solicit their
votes; but there he was, an-I he certainly did hope they would
send him to parliament. While he hid the honour of a seat
theme he had ever upheld the great charter of their liberties, one
of the principal maxims of which was that every man should be
tried fairly by a jury of his neighbours; that was what he hies,
self wanted now. (Cheers.)

The show of hands was then taken and declared to be in fa,
sour of Mr. Cressett Pelham mid Mr. Slaney.

John Eaton, jun., Esc... then, in bolialf of Sir John Hanrnora
demanded a. poll, wition.;eouluteueed yesterday Si oririug at
uitat o'oiock.

BRISTOL.
WHIG TREACHRRY.-It would be in vain to attempt to de-
scribe the excitement prevalent in the city of Bristol owing to
a sullen announcement at the nomination this morning of a
third cantidate in the person of John Cam Hobbouse, and the
simultaneous issuing of placards and cards announcing a coali-
tion between him and Baillie. The conservatives who brought
in Baillie at the last election against Protheroe, and would have
dune the same now, were astounded, and of course totally un-
prepared. The whole business was over at nalf-past eleven,
jolt the conservative committee have since unaniinow=lv decided
to put Philip John Mites, Esq., in nomination on Winesday,
previous to the commencement of the polling. Every con-
servative is now canvassing for Vyvyan and Miles, awl the
radicals are already aghast the storm they have raised They
thought they were safe in the three-cornered election, and little
dreamed that a second conservative, especially one so iutluential
as Niiles, would come forward. Such is the disgust at the
treachery of Baillie, who has, however, doubtless through fear,
abstained from :naking his appearance, that a-tory would rather
give a second vote to flobhouse than to him.

EETER.
The candidates for this ancient city are Sir Win. Follett, the
Solicitor-General, Mr. I. W. Batter, and Mr. Divett. Mr.
Boller is, we believe. a moderate whig; Divett is a radical.
The nornivation took' place on 'Monday.
Se. Win. Follett a 'dressed the electors in the following
terms:—Gentlemen, although my reception must be a subject
et great personal gratificetion, and .will increase my gratifica-
tion if I succeed in my hiehest-object of ambition, still there are
higher considerations and deeper objects involved in the present
contest, for I believe that on the result of the elections at
the present time depend the very existence of the British Con-
stitutieu. the freedom and happiness of the people, the continu-
ation of that limited minarchy under which this kingdom has
become happy and glorious. (Loud cheering.) eltly learned
friend (Mr. Tyrrell) has adverted to what he calls a (dissolution
of the ministry six months ago, and of another two months since.
If 1 understood him, he considered one to be an exercise of the
undoubted prerogative of the crown. Bet I ask Mr. Tyrrell
and the party whose political opinions he. represents what was it
that dissolved the iniuistry six months ago? -I ask him what it
was that induced Earl Grey to abandon his own administration ?
What was it that induced Lord Stanley, Lord Ripon, and Sir
James Graham to leave it? (Cheers.) What was itel ask,
that dissolved that administration? Was it the wish .Of the
King ? Was it any nndue exercise of the royal prerogative ?
Was it the meddling and officious interference of what has
been called in the country the tore faction? (Loud cheers.)
I ask if Earl Grey, the Earl of Ripon, Lord Stanley, awl Sir
James Graham did not qpit the government because they saw
that they could not resist the spirit of destruction which called
aloud for ehe overthrow of all our institutions? (Cheers• and
uproar.) Why, gentlemen, was it that they separated them-
selves from their colleagues, from the vete men with whom they
hat brought forward and carried the reform bill ? And what
was the questien on which they felt compelled to have them?
To what cause he (Mr. Tsirrell) did- not advert, but 1 will say it
was one which concernedL the very existence of the established
religion of the church of England =(cheers)—it was on a ques-
tion—one concerning which Mr. Divett says he will uphold—
the conaexion of church and state. (Renewed cheering.) That
"cession, gentlemen, was on the question whether we should
have an established religion at all, or whether the property
which the piety of our predecessors had given to the church
should be taken hum it an applied to objects for which it was
not designed by its original donors. He has adverted to the
dissolution of the ministry six months since; and, if I under-
staufl his argitramt rightly, it is, that though that was fit and
eleeer the last was Girt called for. Why, geutle.men, has not the
wg ettempted to go on with what remained of that ministry ?
Tile 'King has attempted to do so, and has gone on with them
neat he found it impossible to go on any longer. (Cheers.)
And if they could not carry on the government of the country
any longer to whom was the King to go? Were the remains of
that government prepared to carry on further negociations with
the great demagogues of Ireland? Would they recommend the
King to take into hie councils a party who were opposed to the
c"finexisin of that country with England? Would they recom-
mend him to take ministers whose measures would end in the dis-
memberment of the empire and the destruction of the monarchy ?
If, then, they would not advise such a course, I ask why they
are not willing to give the King's present ministers a fair trial?
My friend says that they are opposed to reform. I deny that
they are so; and I ant ready to take the particular incidents to
which be has alluded, and tell him that the government is wil-
ling and prepared to carry those reforms which he has adverted
to. But, gentlemen, do not suppose that this government, nor,
I hope any other, will proceed to make any violent or extreme
changes in the constitution; and I will say to my hon. friend
that if he has properly read the history of the constitution he
will see that it has been one continued series of reform ; he will
see that it has been, from time to time, altered and reformed,
adapted according to the changing spirit and intelligence of the
age. and keeping equal pace with its wants and necessities.
'I hat is the history of the constitution of this country, and sure
I am that if the spirit of reform is ministered to with the same
careful hand, the constitution will still stand as it has stood,
firm and erect amid the crumbling absolute monarchies and un-
stable democratic governments which surround us.—(The ex-
cessive interruption which prevailed from the body of the hall
prevented our catching the whole of the above sentence; we
believe, however, we give the sentiment.)—The hon. gentleman
then commented at some length on the alleged grievances of
dissenters, the subject of church Tates, corporation reform, &c.
Sir William Follett thus concluded his admirable address :—I
am not aware that uty hon. friend has touched on any specific
matter of reform which is necessary to the well-being of the
community. I have told him iu what I agree and in what I
dissent from him • but wheu he imputes the flourishing state of
the country to the'late ministers I cannot agree with hiin, and I
do not think dire had been speaking to a body of agriculturists
he would have told them of their flourishing state. (Cheers.)
They, however, if they had been so told, wodid not have thought
so • nor can I, in the flee of the petitions and statements which
they have made. Nor do I believe the country is in that flou-
rishing condition which he supposes, and still less do I believe
that it can be owing to the Demisters who have left office. Sir
William apologised for detaining them so long, and urged on
his friends to come early to the poll. The cause in which they
were embarked was of the highest importance, and he sincerely
believed if Exeter set the example, as he trusted she would, of
attachment to the constitution and good order of society—(A
voice inehe batty of the hall cried out, " She has always done
it.") I hear someoae iiy she lies always done it, and I hope
she always will. Sir William concluded by. earnestly urging
an early attendance g the pull, and expressing his conviction
that they would be successful.
A show of hands was then taken. For Mr. Buller the show
was certainly stall. Mr. Divett, ou being put was loudly
cheered try his friends, and Sir Wm. Follett was loudly and
enthusiastically greeted. The show of hands was declared by
the sheriff to in favour of Mr. Divett and Sir W. Follett,
an I the announcement was received by loud bursts of cheering.
A. poll was then demanded for Mr. Boller. The business of
the nomination concluded a few minutes before two o'clock.
The pulling commenced at nine o'clock on Tuesday last.