WESTMINSTER ELECTION.

and bad the oath to act impartially adminis tered to him. After that was done, the elect(From the Morning Chronicle.) ors would nominate the candidates, and the The High Bailiff of Westminster having candidates would afterwards have an opportuappointed yesterday for the election of a mem nity of making a declaration of their political ber to serve in Parliament in the room of Sir sentiments; and he had to ask for both proJohn Hobhouse, who had accepted the Chil- posers and candidates an impartial, orderly, tern Hundreds, several thousands of persons and good-humoured hearing. (Cheers). It assembled at an early hour in the neighbour-was only by a patient hearing that proper exhood of Covent-garden, where, as usual, theplanations could be given, or reasons assigned hustings were erected. The usual accompa- by, or on behalf of, the candidates. The niments of a contested election were in plenty electors of Westminster had stood pre-eminent about the hustings. Lots of placards were in the country for their good conduct on such exhibited, setting forth the merits of the dif- occasions, and he exhorted them to do nothing ferent candidates; coalheavers hired for the by which they might endanger their good chaday were in attendance, to emulate with their racter at the present election. sweet voices the voices of those who might oppose their hirers; cabbages and turnip-ministered in the usual form. tops, which a Westminster elector would consider it a breach of the liberty of the subject not to be allowed to use, were abundant, and none of the other noise, bustle, and confusion, incident to such a scene was wanted.

The precept was then read, and the oath ad

Mr. DEVEAR then presented himself for the purpose of nominating Sir John Cam Hobhouse, but not a word could be heard from that gentleman. He was received with the strongest marks of disapprobation, and pelted with stale cabbages and other refuse of the market.

During the above ceremony, a coalheaver mounted one of the upright posts at the end of the hustings nearest to Colonel Evans and his Committee, and waved one of the gallant Colonel's placard boards in a triumphant manAt half-past twelve o'clock Colonel Evans, ner; he was instantly assailed with all descripaccompanied by Mr. D. W. Harvey, M.P.,tions of vegetables, by a set of fellows on Mr. Mr. Gillon, M.P., and several other gentle- Escott's side, but he bore it all quietly, until men, appeared on the hustings, and were re- he was removed by order of the presiding ofceived with shouts of applause. Shortly after-ficer. wards Mr. Escott, accompanied by Mr. R. A. Dundas (formerly M.P. for Edinburgh), and other gentlemen, arrived. Their reception was very different from that of the gallant Colonel. They were assailed from all sides with groans and yells, and when these failed in driving them from the hustings, cabbages, and the other vegetable missiles, which the market Mr. T. DUNCOMBE attempted to address the liberally provided, were showered down upon meeting, but was received with equal expresthe devoted heads of the Tories with radical sions of disapprobation. In seconding the noenthusiasm. All this was taken in good part mination, he felt considerable pride since the by the candidate and his friends, and the recent nomination of the hon. Baronet. They roughness of their reception was much miti-had before them a Conservative, whose pringated, until Captain Dundas unadvisedly stuck one of Mr. Escott's canvassing cards in his hat, when the pelting was recommenced with renewed force; nor was it abated until he took the card from his hat and flung it among the crowd. Sir John Hobhouse and his party arrived soon afterwards; but, as they kept in the back part of the hustings, their arrival was scarcely noticed.

A large party of half-drunken ruffians, who exhibited Mr. Escott's cards in their hats, and who, Colonel Evans said, were in Tory pay, endeavoured several times during the day to get up boxing matches, but without success. The rest of the immense assemblage were comparatively peaceable, excepting sometimes when the Tories tempted them to make displays of their archery.

At one o'clock Mr. Smedley appeared on the hustings as Deputy for Mr. Morris, the High Bailiff and Returning-officer.

Mr. SMEDLEY stated, that in consequence of the unfortunate and unavoidable absence of the High Bailiff of Westminster, the duty devolved upon him of presiding over the election, and he begged the patience of the meeting while he read the precept and the Bribery Act,

ciples he did not exactly understand, but who he knew to be the rejected candidate for Worcestershire. That gentleman came before them with the repeal of the house and window taxes in his mouth, but did any one suppose that anything like retrenchment was to be expected from a Tory? The other candidate was his hon, and gallant friend, Col. Evans, who had been before them on a former occasion; and it was for the electors to decide between two reformers, the right hon. Baronet and the gallant Colonel. (A cry of "We'll have the Colonel"). For his (Mr. Duncombe's) part, he had seen nothing in the right hon. Baronet's conduct which could induce him to say he deserved a forfeiture of their confidence. (Loud groans). They already knew his past conduct, and he (Mr. Duncombe) was confident that they would ever find the right hon. Baronet, as he had always been, the friend of retrenchment, and of a cheap and liberal Government. (Groans and cheering).

Dr. BAINBRIDGE, in coming forward to nominate Colonel Evans, said the march of events had again brought together the electors of Westminster, for the purpose of choosing a

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11TH MAY, 1833.

358

(Loud cheers, and cries of "Yes, yes"). With regard to that question he was at first rather disposed to render the right honourable Baronet his meed of approbation for consis

he could not support his colleagues; but when he found the right hon. Baronet again introduced to the electors in order to be carried on their shou'ders back to office (cries of "No!" and yes!")-the miserable and contemptible ruse was apparent to the most obtuse mind, not blinded by prejudices. (Cheers). They could now account for the refusal of their two representatives to give pledges on the hustings, when they found how their promises had been forfeited. (Cheers). He (Dr. Bainbridge) had great pleasure in proposing to the electors a gentleman of tried principles and of sterling talent; one whom he had had the honour of proposing on a former occasion, and in whose behalf he was most happy to appear again. He was sure that he would sedulously perform his duty to them-would carry into the House of Commons their opinions-and convey to the Government, in a powerful manner, their inability to pay so large an amount of fiscal exaction; and, above all, their determination house and window taxes. (Great cheering; not to pay the abominable and infamous and a cry of, "Nor any other tax"). If they wished the return of the Tories to power, they would vote for Lawyer Escott; if they meant to remain as they were (cries of "We won't'), they would vote for Sir J. C. Hobhouse; but if they wished to have their rights and liberties protected, they would vote for the gallant Colonel. (Great cheering). He concluded by nominating Lieutenant-Colonel Evans, amidst loud applause.

man who had not only the ability, but the moral courage and political integrity to speak the sentiments and the wishes, and defend the interests of that mighty and intellectual constituency in the Commons House of Parlia-tency in resigning his office when he found that ment; and according to the manner in which they discharged that important duty, they would show to other constituencies, to the country at large, and to the Crown, whether they would, or they would not, henceforward be the contemptible tools of a party. (Cheers). When the Reform Bill was passed, and the representatives had been chosen under it were to speak the opinions of the people, their expectations were raised high-their hopes were most sanguine that there would be an immediate and sensible reduction of that load of taxation which cramped the energies of the country, and that wise and salutary laws, which should bring back happiness and pros perity to the people, should be passed. (Hear, hear). But what was their disappointment and vexation when they found their expectations answered by the atrocious Irish Coercive Bill only (great cheering), and the recent beautiful Budget. (Laughter, and cries of "Shame"). If they returned the right hon Baronet again (cries of "No"), who had so recently refused or neglected to perform his duty to them, never let them again complain of taxation, for their inconsistency would be so disgraceful that they would merit all the burdens of taxation that could be devised. ("We won't, we won't"). There are many reasons which should weigh against the return of the right hon. Baronet. (A cry, "He has no honour"). Did they think that the army ought to be reduced? (Cries of "Yes"). Yet the right honourable Baronet brought forward his estimates for ten thousand more meo than composed the army when the Duke of nomination of Colonal Evans. Upon the last Mr. SIMPSON then came forward to second the Wellington was at the head of the Government occasion he had had the honour of addressing (Cries of Shame, shame"). Did any of them the electors of Westminster from those hustthink that the Constitution ought to be sus- ings, he then stated that no servant could serve pended in Ireland? (No, no). Yet the pre- two masters. (Hear, hear). He remembered seat Government, with whoin the right hon. that, upon that occasion, a little knot of perBaronet was identified, proposed a bill for that sons on the hustings took the liberty of depurpose, and dragoou officers now took the nying that fact. Now, he would put it to the place of enlightened and constitutional judges electors whether Sir J. C. Hobhouse had shown and juries. The right honourable Baronet himself capable of serving two masters? did not raise his voice against that encroach- (Cries of No, no! nor one properly). Upon ment of our liberties, but he supported it. Did the last occasion there were only two canthey think that siuecures of any kind ought to didates; on the present there were three. exist? (No, no). Yet, on Mr. Hume's motion One a Tory (loud hisses), of whom we need for the abolition of military sinecures, the not say more, than that the Tory party right honourable Baronet voted against it, had created that debt of eight hundred mil and thereby declared that military sinecures lions which the labouring classes had at the should continue. What had been his conduct present moment to work like slaves to pay on the motion of Mr. Grote for Vote by Bal-the interest of. (Hisses and cheers). lot? He (Dr. Bainbridge) had heard the right honourable Baronet over and over again, at various public meetings, declare that bribery and intimidation at elections could only be destroyed by that species of voting, yet he found the right honourable Baronet in the majority against Mr. Grote's motion. (Cheers and groans). Did the electors think that the edious assessed taxes ought to be repealed?

The

right hon. Baronet who had been proposed
was a Whig; and if the meeting wished to
know the opinion which that oracle (Sir F.
Burdett) held concerning Whigs and Tories,
he would tell them. He had stated that the
two factions of Whigs and Tories were
thieves, between which the constitution had
been crucified. (Cheers and hisses).
agreed with the hon. Baronet in that state-

He

Baronet. He said the object of their being there at that time was to hear why it was that the present vacancy had arisen. For God's sake, then, let them show themselves reasonable beings! It was most important that their late representative should be allowed to explain the cause of his late dereliction of duty.

Sir JOHN HOBHOUSE again attempted to speak, but he was again received with as much uproar as before. The only two sentences he was allowed to say, were-Is it your pleasure to hear me? If so, I will address you. It is not me you disgrace, but yourselves.

ment, and thought no person would deny that
between those factions the constitution had
been crucified. There was another candidate,
Colonel Evans, who was neither of the Whig
nor Tory faction. (Loud cheering). He was
the friend of the people; had no interest
separate from that of the people (loud cheer-
ing); had no connexion with families re-
ceiving pensions, but was a man determined
to abolish them (cheers); and to meet Minis-
ters face to face, and tell them that his con-
stituents were determined, not only to ob-
tain the repeal of the house taxes, but the
whole of the house and window duties, and
that however glad he should be to see an in-
come tax proposed, he should consider it
necessary to have the army reduced for the
purpose of alleviating the burdens of the
people. What had the hon. Baronet done
with that immense establishment while it was
in his hands? Why, he had had the liberality
to reduce 100 men and 59 horses. (A loud
laugh). He (Mr. S.) should consider the
electors no better than 59 asses if they put up
with such conduct. Of the merits of Colonel
Evans it was not requisite for him to say
more. He would, however, before concluding,
thank the Tory candidate for drawing off
those votes which bad placed the gallant Colo-
nel at the bottom of the poll at the last elec-efforts.
tion, and would conclude by seconding the
nomination.

Mr. WAKLEY said, he attended there to oppose the hon. Baronet, but he was anxious to do so by fair means, not by foul. He required Sir John to answer questions which he intended to propose to him, which would be lost if they would not hear him. They had shown their great good judgment in execrating what they conceived to be his treachery or trickery, but they ought not to pass a final sentence upon him without hearing him. If they would not hear him, he for one would not attack a man who had been so ill used.

Sir JouN HOBHOUSE again said-Is it your pleasure to hear me? If not, you disgrace yourselves, not me; I will make no more

The cabbages here came very thick upon him, when he said, he would not stand such treatment from persons who were not electors, any longer, and retired amidst much uproar.

Dr. GOLDING came forward to nominate Mr. Escott. The shouts, hisses, groans, and uproar, which resounded from all parts of the Colonel EVANS then addressed the meeting. meeting, defy de cription. It was utterly im- He said he was almost ashamed to ask a hearpossible to catch one whole sentence of what ing from them, as they had refused to hear he said. As far as we could understand, he his oppouent. He lamented, on account of said that he hoped that for the future the the country, that they had done so, for he vulgar distinction between Whig and Tory thought that the election did not involve the would cease. Mr. Escott belonged to the ex-interests of the electors of Westminster alone, treme of neither party. but also those of the whole country. Sir J. Mr. R. A. DUNDAS, in seconding the nomi- Hobhouse had come there to give some exnation, met with a similarly boisterous recep-planations which were important, and he retion. He hoped they would do him the gretted that the electors would not hear him. honour to hear him with patience, while he He (Col. Evans) had been on those hustings addressed a few words to them, in favour of only a few months back, and had then troubled his hon. friend. (Groans). The electors of them with a very long speech, but he prothat city had met for the purpose of choosing mised them, that on the present occasion, he their representative in Parliament, and there would make but a very short one. Though, no never was a period when they were more doubt, the conduct of Sir J. Hobhouse had called upon to exercise that privilege with brought them together, still the one thing of discretion than the present. He could assure paramount importance which really led to them, that Mr. Escott was a gentleman of high their meeting was the repeal of the house and principle (groans), who was ready to under window duties. Now on those questions an take the office (yells), and was well worthy of interview had been had with the Chancellor of their confidence. (A quantity of various the Exchequer only a few hours ago; he kinds of vegetables having assailed the person could not do better than comment a little of the hon. Gentleman at this period, he was upon the answers given to the deputation, who forced to retire).

Sir JOHN HOBHOUSE then came forward in front of the hustings, and an immediate attack with cabbages and mud commenced, which, with a continued uproar, continued almost all the time the hon. Baronet continued on the hustings.

Colonel EVANS, after a short time, was allowed to beg a fair hearing for the honourable

hal asked whether a certain number of tradesmen, such as licensed victuallers, tailors, &c., were to have the advantage of the very small relief given to the tradesmen in these odious duties. The answer was, that neither of the trades or professions mentioned were to have the slightest exemption. What could be thought of that answer, when it was taken into consideration that the persons engaged in

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11TH MAY, 1833.

the resignation of Sir J. C. Hobhouse had
been accepted, and that by chance he might
still be the secretary for Ireland. He (Čol.
Evans) did not deny that the right hon. Baro-
net had resigned, and he hoped, for the honour
; but he
of public men, that it might be so
would ask, had there been any statement from
Sir J. C. Hobhouse denying that his resigna-
tion was not yet accepted? (Hear). The ad-
vertisement in question said, that the paper
contained a falsehood, as Sir John Hobhouse
had distinctly stated that his resignation had
been accepted. But he (Colonel Evans) would
ask where? Why did not he remove all doubt,
by declaring the real state of the fact? He
knew something of Richardson's Hotel, and
he thought that the words so often applied to
a celebrated pillar in the city were equally
applicable to it :-

"Where London's column, pointing to the
skies,

Like a tall bully, lifts its head-and lies."

those trades and employments in Westminster stated that there had been as yet no proof that were more numerous than the inhabitants of a very large country town? (Cheers and groans). The Chancellor of the Exchequer reminded him of the tyrant Ferdinand of Spain, who once on a time published an amnesty to all the Radicals of that country, with the single exception of all those who had been opposed to his government. (Laughter). The noble Lord seemed to have copied him very closely in his plan of relief to the tradesmen. He might be considered as a very ignorant person, but he must acknowledge that he could comprehend neither the budgets of the Chancellor of the Exchequer nor the resigna tion of their late representative. (Hear and a laugh). They had then three candidates before them-he had a great respect for principle of any sort, and might be allowed to say, that his respect extended itself to those professed by his other opponent, Mr. Escott, who he believed relied upon his high Toryism -that was all open, but he must say, he (Hear). could not find anything approaching to principle in the conduct of Sir John Hobhouse. The pretensions of the candidates had been No fact was more notorious than that no such characterized in a very respectable paper, statement had been made. If there had been which differed much from the principles which a name to the advertisement, he would have applied the epithet "knave" to the person; guided him, in the following manner :"The electors had to choose between Hub- but, as cowardice and knavery were generally house and meanness and treachery-Evans, allied, so it was in this case; for the writer aul insane radicali,m-and Escott, and en- had not dared to put his name to it. (Hear, lightened philanthropy." He should like to hear). He would now come to a more imknow what motion bad he made, or measure portant document. But he must first say he had supported, that entitled him to be that he was met, at six o'clock on Monday considered as having acted from insane vic- evening last,and told by a friend that Sir J.Hob. lence. What was there in his then conduct house had resigned his situation and seat. But that made him look like a maniac? The only he thought his friend was trifling with bim; for reason for such an imputation was, that on a he could scarcely credit that such a circumlate occasion, while the present Ministry were stance should have occurred, until many other nearly out, and the Reform Bill of course almost friends brought him the same version of the lost, he had used very strong language in story; for, although he had heard of resignatheir favour, thiuking it was the only way to tions of office by members, that they might do meet such a crisis, as there then was, for be their duty to their constituents, he had never was firmly of opinion that had things not taken before heard of a resignation to avoid the perthe turn they did, revolution would have been formance of a duty. (Cheers). Next mornthe consequence. The meeting might resting, however, came forth that to which he assured, that he would never again use strong wished to direct the attention of the meeting -a short and pithy address, and a language in favour of the same men. defied them to state one principle which he farewell from the honourable Baronet to his "Then," said the gallant now advocated, which had not been advocated constituents. formerly by Lord Althorp, Sir Francis Bur- Colonel," I thought there was a chance for dett, Sir John Hobhouse, and many other me (a laugh): but, lo! within twenty-four friends of the present Whig Administration. hours the illustrious Mr. De Vear and other To be sure some of them had gone further in fast friends of Sir John set themselves hastily their principles than he had ventured to do,but to work, in order to bring him in again, as if He coincided no tender farewell had been taken." (Cheers). further he knew no difference. in opinion also with Mr. Grote, who at the A meeting then took place, which was stated last election had polled the highest number to be a meeting of the electors of Westmin(9,000) of voters of all the candidates, for the ster, but which was not a meeting of electors, representatives of the city of London; he but was composed partly of some of the lead. also agreed with those of Sir H. Parnell. In ing members of the Whig aristocracy, and fact, he held the very same opinions as most reminded him of a recent attempt at Maryof the present Ministry before they were in bonne to put down the feeling of the people by An annonymous advertisement had the force of great names. It was stated at this been published that day, dated Richardson's meeting, that, if the electors of Westminster Hotel, which referred to a paper that had would come forward spontaneously, and reemanated from his committee. This paper store Sir John to his seat, he would then, for

office.

He

tender