The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-10-14 00:00:00

ELECTIONS.

KENT Corr/rt.—Yesterday morning, pursuant
to a Requisition from John Wells, Esq. High Sheriff,
a meeting was holden of the Freeholders of Kent,
for the purpose of electingtwo Knights for the Shire,
to serve in tl►e ensuing Parliament. The Act against
Bribery having been read, and the other formulae
disposed of;
Sir JOHN llosTwoon proposed 'Sir Edward
Knatchbull, Barr. and pronounced an high eaogium
on his ability and integrity. The nomination was
seconded by Mr. AUSTIN, who paid an eloquent and
just tribute to the pnt►iotic conduct of Mr. llony-
wood, the late Member, who, from ill-health was
unable longer to discharge the important trust of a
Member of Parliament.
Sir EDWARD KNATCRDULL then addressed the
tneeting, stating, that he had already served the
county honourably and faithfully for eighteen years,
and he hoped still to merit the confidence of the
Electors.
Mr. IloDacs put Sir William Geary in nomina-
tion, and very ably expatiated on the obligations
under which the county lay to the Honourable Baro-
Pet, who, at the sacrifice of his own fortune, had
twice freed the County of Kent from Ministerial
shackles. This motion was seconded by Mr. Ryder.
Sir WlLErast GEARY, in a very animated manlier,
pledged himself to his brother Freeholders to mai►►-
tain to the last the same principles which had hitherto
guided his conduct. Those principles, particularly
respecting Parliamentary Reform, were well known,
since he had already twice represented the County.
It was true that his private fortune in former con-
tests had been much injured. He had Spent more
than 22,0001. in 1796 and 1802, but in expending it
' be had merely discharged his duty. Should he be
returned on the present occasion, he could not at-
tend in Parliament in consequence of his pecuniary
embarrassments, without much inconvenience. The
Electors, however, notwithstanding, should always
find him at his post.
Mr. FOOTE put several questions. to Sir Edward
• Knatchbull, with a view to obtain a pledge from him
on the grand questions of Parliamentary Reform and
Catholic Emancipation, but the Hon. Baronet did
not give any answer ; all he pledged himself to was,
that when infirmity should render him incapable of
discharging the arduous task of a Member of Parlia-
ment, he would readily retire from a station for
which he was no longer qualified.
After a few words from Mr. Jarvis, relative to
the majority of the frie►►ds of the Candidates pre-
sent, the Sheriff desired a show of hands, and as no
other Candidate offered himself, Sir Edward Knatch.
bull and Sir William Geary were declared duly
elected.

Essex.--Ftast Day.—Monday being the day ap-
pointed for holding the Election for the county of
Essex, at Chelmsford, the following Gentlemen were
put in nomination :—J. A. Houblon, Esq. by Mr.
Conyers, seconded by Admiral Harvey ; C. C. West-
ern, Esq. proposed by Mr. Baker, and seconded by
the son of Sir T. Leonard ; and M. Burgoyue, Esq.
proposed by the Rev. Mr. Gee, and seconded by Mr.
Osborne.
Mr. Hotrstow, in a neat speech, returned thanks
to his friends for the extended assurances of sup-
port which be had received in the course of his canvass.
.---Professions from him were unnecessary—his prin-
ciples were well known, and he trusted was such as,
during the time he had had the honour of represent-
ing them; had met their approbation ; and should
they again return him, he trusted his conduct would
be such as to merit a continuance of their approba-
tion:—[Applauses.]
Mr. WESTERN said, he was fully aware of the im-
portance of the duties attached to the situation to
which he now aspired, and hew great was the re-
sponsibility which he courted, in seeking to become
a Representative of a great and wealthy county at
this momentous crisis. He had, however, been en-
couraged to undertake the task, by the wide as-
surances of support which he had received ; and
should he be so fortunate as to prove the object of
their choice, he trusted that, aided by their advice
and assistance, to which he would at all times refer,
lie should be enabled to discharge those duties, how.
ever important they might be, to their satisfaction.
[Applause.]—lie wished, however, now publicly to
declare, that although, if he were elected their Re-
presentative, he should, on all occasions bemost happy
to profit by their advice, yet he would never receive
instructions from an, body, however respectable ;
but should, on all occasions, be determined in the dis-
charge of his duties by the dictates of his own con-
science.—[Applause.]
Mr. BURGO.YNE then came forward, and was re-
ceived with mingled marks of disapprobation and ap.
plause. Ile entered at length into a statement of his
political principles and the efforts which he had
made in support of Parliamentary Reform and the
Independence of the County of Essex: in the latter
great cause he now stood forward, and called on the
Whig interest of the County to stand forward and,
suppprt him in a cause which was in fact their own.
He called on them to declare, whether they would
have Banquo's Ghost, lame of one leg and blind of
one eye, to represent them, or whether they would
have Britannia, with Magna Charta in on hand and
the Bill of Rights in the other; if the latter, they
would return two independent Members ' • if the
former, they would choose a Whig and a Tory.—
[dpplaute.)—He called on the friends of Mr. Wes-
tern to give him their second votes, and he would

recommend his friends to pursue the same course to.
wards that gentleman. It might, perhaps, be said,
that he, the advocate against sinecures, was himself
the holder of a sinecure. He was so • but he pledged

himself, if he was elected, immediately to relinquish
it, and to call on all others to follow his example.

The Hum &mum then put the question, and de-
clared it was carried by a great majority in favour of
Mr. lioublon and Mr. Western, not more than a
dozen hands being held up in favour of Mr. But.
goyne. Upon that gentleman coming forward, aasf
with an intention of addressing the Meeting, ther
was a general cry of—" Retire, Mire!"
Mr. BcftGosruz, however, declared he stood tot.
ward for the Independence of the County of FAsesd;
ho had done his duty, and he called on the Meters
• to do theirs.--The cry of retire still catistuings'