Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-05-13
MISCELLANY A N Y.
A Frenchman's Account of an English Eie c.

MIS- ILL A N Y.
A Frenchman's Account of an English Ele c.
La Presse, of Paris, made Alexander Dumas,
the celebrated novelist, its reporter OF the elec-
tions going on in England. The London Star
saws that it must be confessed that Dumas has
done his task we'll, as far as the satisfaction
of his public in the boulevard coffee-houses is
concerned; for they like to chuckle over John
Bull's oddities, so different from the French
The spirit of these descriptions (says the Starr is
shown at the very beginning, where NJ. Dumas
seems to complain that he has not to report
more turbulance than the law for the preven-
tion of bribery and treating will now allow to
take place. He is astonshed at the silence ana
order of the crowd before GuilGhall. THAT Is
on account of their new law" says he; "for IT ls
not even any longer allowed to make the elec-
tors drunk" They now must be worked upon
exclusively by eloquence, which, he says, is not
much less laborious process. AS the city e.
lection did not provide him with enough OF ex-
traordnary incident, he went afterwards to
Southwark. For this purpose, NJ. Dumas says
that he was handed over by NJ. Sewell in the
employ of the City Chamberlain, to Mr.. Cor
ner friend of Mr. Sewell, who took him to the
Southwark hustings where he was promised TO
have what he wanted. 1t is now NJ. Dumas
who speaks:
Already from distance we heard something
like the rolling of thunder, which became the
more majestic the more we advanced. Indeed
through the windows of our carriage we saw
the street filled with some three or four thous-
and persons. These persons it was. these artl-
sans, these gentlemen, as they were called by
the candidates, who produced the noise, shout
ing with all the powers of their lungs.
We were obliged to pass at some distance
from the hustngs, large construction OF tim
ber. We therefore stopped and alighted; and
our hands in our pockets rs some figures among
this honorable society inspired US with but little
confidence, we penetrated at last to the en-
trance. Arrived up stairs, Mr.. Corner passed
his card to DR.. Challis. DIR. Cballis member OF
the committee of Mr.. Locke, came to US, and
very courteously took me by the hand and call
ing out my name loudly, he led me to the three
candidates, who in the midst of their occupa-
tions, still found time to shake hands with me
and nav me their compliments. The Admiral
Napier added that he paid me his compliments
with all the more pleasure as had been his
companion in some of his expeditions; which
was all the more kind on his part as l had no
vote to give to him.
Mr.. Pelat is man of from 45 to so; meagre,
small, nervous head; beard and eyes, everything
dark. He was seated and took breath.
The Admiral Napier is an old man from TO TO
TO- fat, short, of robust build with gray hair and
black eyes, and hairs all over the face; Scotch
head and Scotch dialect.
Mr.. Locke is a man of 4s, the face covered
with pock- holes, vigorous, broad chest, mace
for the struggles of the bar, and ready Tor The
,cfrnr ryrlQ Nf
for, to all probability, Mr.. Locke Will be elect
ed.
We had lust arrived when the audience was
iudeed sufficiently large, and Mr.. Pelatt was
called upon to show himself. He advanced to-
ward the railing OF the hustings.
| would feel sorry at rendering myself dlsa'
preeable to,a gentleman who so cordially and so
warmly shook hands with me, but l owe it
truth to say that his apparition was greeted by
groans which were far from tatterng. The
crowd seemed to owe grudge to Mr.. Pellatt
for having voted against the Chinese war, and
reminded him of the affairs of the British Bank
which must not be cOntounded with the Bank
of England. He intended to speak, but the
thunder of heaven would have struggled in vain
against the human thunder from below. A
mong the cries that were Ihurled against him
could distinguish this; ''You will be smashed
next Wednesday, old fellow!"
Indeed next Wednesday the affair of the
bank of Mr.. Pellatt will come before the court
of bankruptcy. Not less than ten times Mr.
Pellatt attempted to speak. Each time the
sound of his voice was rendered inaudible by
the cries of the gentlemen in the street. Mr..
Pellat unable to speak, and having exhausted
three-quarters of his power, made use of the re-
naming quarter, and turning his back on the
ungrateful public he addressed himself to the
short hand writers, to whom he explained the
reasons of the vote which rendered him unpop-
ular and his moral position in relation to the
British bank. He spoke nearly quarter of an
hour, during which time the groans from out
side were never interrupted.
| When this speech to the shorthand writers
was finished Admiral Napier advanced. His
reception was just as favorable as that of Mr..
Pellatt had been hostile. Hurrahs went FORTH
the hats were thrown into the air, the arms
described circles which in England is sign of
the greatest sympathy.
Though in plain clothes the admiral was COW
cred with decorations. After some seconds had
been spent in acclamations silence was restored,
and the Admiral began speech which lasted
nearly half an hour.
He began by raising complaint against his
printer. This is what he had to complain Of
The Admiral had ordered of his printer $4,000
to Is 900 cards, and the printer had undertaken
for the price Of twenty pounds not merely to
print, but also to distribute them to the houses
Unfortunately for the worthy admiral, his print
er was. at the same time that of Mr.. Peatt-
He distributed the cards of both together, so
that it appeared as if the two enemies had form