assured that these opinions would be favourable, or he should not have troubled the electors. His lordship referred to his acquaintance with Mr. Robertson and to the respect that he entertained towards him; but he agreed with Mr. North on the impropriety of the present Dissolution. The Government took up a subject with which they were not qualified to deal, and sent it back in a fit of ill-temper upon the country. He condemned the Dissolution at a time when foreign affairs were most gloomy and urged the propriety of keeping an armed front to add moral force to England’s persuasions. He thought that which was fitting on the present occasion was that his honourable friend should be at the top of the poll and that he should be his colleague [Cheers]. When asked if he would vote for the ballot, his lordship said “No!” nor would he vote for Household Suffrage, but he would vote for extension of the suffrage.
W. D. Lucas-Shadwell, Esq. being received with cheers and hisses, said he thought they would listen to him when they knew the peculiar circumstances under which he stood before them . Until half-past ten that morning he had not the slightest idea that he was to be a candidate; but when he heard that there was opposition, he acceded to the solicitation of his friends. He had heard occasionally that certain parties had been going through the length and breadth of the land to seek some gentleman who would contest the borough. He hoped the noble Lord who had just spoken would not feel uncomfortable at what he had been told – and it came from the other side – that he was the 28th who had been sought for as a candidate. The speaker then referred to the announcement of his principles when he introduced Lord Pevensey as a candidate for East Sussex, and to which principles he still adhered, while he was disposed to go even further. He was for no finality measure, for he believed there should be none in politics. He believed they owed their positions to liberal institutions, and these he would advocate to the best of his power. He would widen the franchise to include the men of intelligence who did not now possess the power of voting, and he would not oppose the reduction of the borough franchise; but he condemned the introduction of Lord Russell’s resolution. He justified Lord Derby’s course in appealing to the country, and advocated non-intervention in foreign affairs. He would not oppose measures simply because they were measures. “Measures, not men” would be his motto. He would advocate progressive reform and improvements of Church and State. He desired to throw open all such offices, as could be done, to public competition, -
