The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-02-16 00:00:00

Zi`.

COLCHESTER ELECTION.

Saturday Erasing. Niat o'Cletk.

The feeling *lsieh exists in thh Borough at the
present moment is without precedent, in all the, se.
tees abd ruinous contests of which it has, at differ.
eat periods, been the scene. The manner and time
Mr. DAVIS has chosen to resign ; the introduction of

Mr. WILDMAN, an entire stranger to the Town and
County, through the medium of a Treasury letter to
a polities! Parboil ; his utter destitution of talent ;
bis unequivocal approbation of all the worst measures
of the present Ministers, concurring with an almost
universal respect for the greet exertions, sacrifices,
end acknowledged talent of Mr. llsavey, have
roused the sentiments and feelings of the Burgesses
to the highest pitch of courage and manly iedigna.
tion. Mr. HARVEY was met this morning, four
miles from the town, by upwards of 4000 persons,
of all ages, 'conditions, and sex : the horses were re.
leased frees his carriage, and he was drawn through

ell the leading sirens, preceded by upwards of 300
torches, while the air rung with the shouts of" Han-
weir for Ever," " HARVEY and Liberty," " No

Wsumems," " No Suspension," " No Indemnity
111111." On Monday the Election commences ; and
iss it is Mr. HARVEY'S determination to keep the Poll
open as long as ■ Burgess chooses to tender his vote,
we shall not fail to record the progress of this inte-
resting struggle; not because it is supposed that Gen.
tteman will now succeed, for he has wisely resolved
not to @spend a &Ingle shilling; bat as it powerfolly
displays the feelings of the People towards the men
end their measures, to whom the affairs of the coon-
.try are confided. The general opinion is, that no
.power or expedition can prevail against the popular
-interest at the approaching Election : while the death
'of a leading individual in the town promises a
re-maid,' of the Friends of Freedom (who have
been unhappily divided ever since Mr. Tree-
szt's celebrated contest, and whose interest ■nd
*unions are supposed sofficiently powerful to return
Mr. HAIVILT and Sir W. BURROUGHS), and thus
emancipate this populous end respectable Borough
from the controol which a few leaders of a distracted

Corporation now unhappily exercise.

MR. EDITOR.

,y

The following irregular Lines, though devoid of
any distinguished merit, being an eaternporancous
fusion of the Author, it is to be hoped will not be
deemed airworthy of a corner in your Pablication :
TO 11—T
Were those sweet accents Which aow'd from her tongue,
And beguiled each lia,,ering hour;
Which thrill'd through my soul, and to memory clung,
And constrained me s' acknoo ledge her power;
Were they coos ningled silts fabehood and wiles,
Were thou, vows and her heart insincere,
Did 11 --1 *Yeti seek In deceive wish her smiles,
That heart is i,ich could bold her so dear ?

Ale, me 1

While delighted I press'd thee, whh rapture earned thee,
Far was the thourN which suspicion could cherish ;
. While entwining around me the fetters that bound me,
Far was the wish that our love e'er should perish.
To leave thee, sweet girl, and to bid thee adiew !
bid my fond heart from thee sever,
la death unto me—is it pleasure to you
Nn I Ah, no I—then live fur me ever.
Itriddle Temple.

R. W.-I I.

LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFEICE, FEB. 14.—Notice
is hereby given, that her Majesty will hold a Draw-
bog-room, at the Queen's Palace, on Thursday, the
R6th inst, at two o'clock.—(Gazctic.)
Yesterday, the Duke and Duchess of GLOUCESTER,
the Dukes of Yoke, CL4RENCC, and SUSSEX, visited
their Royal Mother and Sisters" at the Queen's
Palace.
The LORD CHANCELLOR, Eirl BATHURST, and
the Porteguese Ambassador, had audience of the
PRINCE BeGENT at Carlton-house.

• AkIIITRARY IMPUISONME4T.—We have received
detailed statement for publication of the case of John
Lancaster, of Almorlbury, near Huddersfield, one
•f the persons detained under the late Suspension of
the Habeas Corpus Act, one charge of High Trra
This rose, in its leading features, resembles those of
John Johnstone and Wm. Cliff. I,sitraster, it ap-
pears, was one of the victims of Dewitirst, the Spy,
mentioned by Mr. Phillips, who had, on the 28th of
March last, decoyed him end a number of other per-
sons. to a Meeting at Ardwick-bridge, neer Men.
cheater, for the purpose of fabricating a sham plot.
While they were a►sembled, the Police Officers of
Manchester rushed in and haled them to the New
Halley Prison, from whence Lancaster was taken in
chains to London, and after undergoing repeated ex.
atnivations before the Secretary of State, who told
him that he was charged with the crime of High
Treason, sent with a fellow-sufferer to. Chelmsford
jail. In the repeated eliminations before the Privy
Council, Lancaster steadily protested his innocence,
but to no purpose. Ile was consigned to solitary
confinement in a distant prison, and as ao man could
prove him to be guilty of any crime, be was liberated
at the end of six months without trial and without
compensation. In the mean time his wife and child
were obliged to seek a shelter under the roof of
charity, and all this happened in a country vaunting
itself of its liberty, and under the administration of
a Secretary of State, whose humanity sod love of
justice the country was told, formed a sufficient
guarantee against the tyrannical exercise of the ex-
traordinary powers with which a confiding Patna-
ment saw proper to invest the meek and merciful Ad-
ministration, of which his Lordship forte. part.
The ships fitting out for discoveries i• the northern
regions, are to be ballasted with coals, and to carry
eat every necessary for the construction of temporary
barracks, should any unfortunate circemstaace ren-
der the stay of the Olicors sod mite an Owl for any
kugth of time unavoidable.