The Welshman

I BRECON BOROUGH ELECTION.—CHARGE OF BRIBERY. On Friday, before the Mayor, T. Bright, Esq. J. Joseph, Esq. J. Williams, Esq. D. Hughes, Esq. John Williams, Esq., and J. Protheroe, Esq., James Morgan, landlord of the Farmers' Arms, Brecon, was charged with promising to procure, and afterwards procuring, money to induce John New to vote for Mr Gwyn at the recent election for the borough. Mr James appeared for the psosecution, and Mr Morgan, of Cardiff, for the prisoner. John New, who deposed that he was an engine fitter in the employ of the Brecon and Merthyr Railway Company, and had been so far nearly four years. He had been as Red by Mr Felix Golden to vote for Mr Gwyn, and he should have some money after the election. The money was to be for voting for Mr Gwyn. Golden said he would get him as much as he could if he would vote for Mr Gwyn. Nothing was said as to the amount. The witness further deposed as follows I saw Golden several times upon the same subject. I ob- jected to wait till after the election. I was introduced to defendant, Morgan, by Farrington, at the railway station, at about five o'clock on the evening of the nomination day. Farrington said, in introducing him to me, You are on the wrong scent, Golden had nothing whatever to do with it, this is the man (mean- ing defendant Morgan) who will do the business for you." This was said in defendant's presence. I had a conversation with defendant as we walked up and down the platform. He said to me that he would, and for 100 down, provided he got all together, that is the rail- way men he thought he had seventeen or eighteen. I understood him to mean £100, but he did not say 100 what. He then went off the platform to make ar- rangements. I went to fetch Farrington, and he went through the booking office outside the station on to the road. We were:all there there, that is defendant and Farrington and I together. Arrangements were then made. He was to meet defendant at the station at 9.30 that night, and to have the other men with us. I met Farrington going down the Watton between eight and nine o'clock. We walked together as far as Charles- street. There was no one with us. I went home. Got there about half-past eight. I came out at nine ex- actly. On again coming out I met Farrington. He called me to him and said- Mr Morgan objected to the remainder of the sen- tence. Examination continued From information I received I went to the Military Arms, had a glass, and stayed five minutes. Then went towards the station, and acting upon the information I received, I went almost to the spot where the money was to be had. I went over the gate on the loop line near the station, and was tapped on the shoulder by defendant, who was behind the post. It was a dark spot where he stood, but there was a lamp lit near the turntable, which threw light up the line, and reflected on one of the carriages. When I was tapped on the shoulder defendant asked me where the other fellows were. I swear it was the defendant Morgan. I replied he was nearly half an hour before time. He said, Never mind, go up there. You will see a gentleman who wishes to speak with you." I went, and in walking up I saw a man get up who was lying on the side of the bank. I went up to him. He said, "are you a railway man." I said, "yes." He said, "here," and dropped a parcel into my hand. He was within three or four yards of the carriage. Nothing more took place between us. I looked into his face, and he smiled. He was dressed in a pilot jacket; what is called a monkey, muffler round the neck, short thick beard. His beard was fair, but looked as if it had been tampered with—as if it was covered with lather—other- wise he seemed to be a dark man. After I got the parcel I went back to make myself scarce. In getting over the gate I found defendant there still; he wished to go after the other men because," he said, he had a deal more business to do." (Laughter.) I went straight down the Watton and was going home, when I was met by a party who wanted me to go and have something to drink. I refused. I left defendant at the gate and went home. Got there about 9.20. I looked at the contents of the parcel at the first light near the corner, and found I had five sovereigns, which were afterwards marked in my: presence by Mr Wilson, the station-master, and given up to him to be produced if necessary. In my conversations with defendant he said that the money was to be for my vote for Mr Gwyn so as to keep the old boy" in. The witness was subjected to a long cross-examina- tion. Mr Morgan, in commencing his address, was asked if he had any witnesses, upon which he said he should call Farrington. A long discussion ensued, and some recrimination between the legal gentlemen in conse- quence of Farrington having been in the hall during New's examination, and it having been understood that all witnesses were to be kept out of court. It was ultimately agreed in a vote of five to two of the magis- trates that he should be examined. In reply to Mr Morgan, he said his name was Robert Farrington. Was foreman porter on the Dock Railway, but his evidence was so confirmatory excepting in minor particulars of that given by New, that he could hardly be said to have helped the case for defendant. He was, however, so loquacious, yet apparently showing such an extreme decision to be correct, as to frequently excite roars of laughter and much disturbance, which the Mayor promptly added should be as much as possible prevented. In his cross- examination by Mr. Games, the full extent of which it would be tedious to give, he stated that he had had frequent conversation with defendant about election matters, that there always was some talk going on every hour of the day about pigs and blankets and other things—[laughter]—but nothing about the man in the moon," but a good deal of empty baskets-rabbit baskets. Latterly his statement assumed this form :—When I met New in the Watton he took hold of my arm and said, "Come along, Bob, there is sure to be .some stuff flying about, and let us get our fellows together." He said you had better look them up, you know them better than I do, look up some chaps to be ready to vote for Gwyn." New then turned to go home, and I went to the station. I had heard every day for the last six weeks of the money coming it was the common talk of the station. If I knew of any persons who were not fools enough to refuse, 1 was to find them, as there were pigs, blankets, and money about all over the town. I was led to understand by New, that we were all to go together somewhere to receive the money. New told me he was going to have some. I said he was a fool if he did not. I did not say that I would be a fool if I re- fused the money. I did not see any pigs on the way. I saw Meredith Evans about a quarter past nine, I told him he was if he did not go. He went and came back, and said he would have nothing to do with it. I thought I would be a fool if I did not try, and I went, but could not find any one, and so did not get anything. Re-examined The money was for voting for Mr Gwyn. Did not hear any arrangement made between New and Morgan for that night. The magistrates unanimously agreed that the case must go to the assizes, and they determined to commit defendant for trial, agreeing that bail should be ac- cepted in the amount of £600. The defendant was then remanded to Monday, to answer the charge pre- ferred against him by William Adams. George Thomas, of Tavarnaubach, near Tredegar, was then charged with having given John New a sum of money, to wit £5, to induce the said John New to vote for Mr. Howel Gwyn, &c. On Monday the bench consisted of the Mayor, Ex- Mayor, Messrs. J. Davies, J. Joseph, James Williams, and John Protheroe. The prisoner George Thomas being represented by Mr. Chuse, of Hay, assisted by Mr. M. Morgan, of Cardiff. After a long discussion as to the mode of procedure, the case of New v. George Thomas was called. New was sworn, and after some demur the evidence of New, taken on Friday last, was read, and upon pro- ceeding to a further examination of the witness it was elicited, in consequence of a conversation he had with Morgan (the defendant in previous case) he went into the Railway Cutting, near the station, and, using his own words, said as follows I saw Morgan first, and afterwards I saw a man lying down it was the prisoner. I swear it. He said, Are you a railway man." I said, "Yes." He said, "Here," and dropped a parcel into my hand, in which was £ 5. I opened the parcel on the turn of the omnibus drive. Morgan kept a public-house in Llanfair, called the Farmers' Arms. He is the same man that was committed on Friday for trial. Nothing was said by prisoner as to what the JE5 was for, but I went into the Cutting, in consequence of something that was said by Morgan. Mr Chuse cross-examined the witness at some length, and after a long discussion between the legal represen- tatives on both sides, entirely on technical points, it was suggested by Mr Bodinham, of Henfael, who by this time had arrived to conduct the case on the part of the prosecution, to adjourn the whole matter to Monday next. Bail in amount of A600 was taken for the pro- f duction of the prisoners to answer the charge.

The Rev. J. M. Bellew, who lately left the Church of England for the communion of the Church of Rome, has disavowed his Angelicau orders, and in the advertise- ments of his Readings" describes himself as "Mr. J. M. Bellew." There is to be some change in reference to the canonries which have become vacant in St. Paul's Ca- thedral and Westminster Abbey. Dr. Leighton, warden of All Souls College, takes the canonry in Westminster Abbey, which became vacant by the death of the Rev Ernest Hawkins, B.D.; and the Rev George Prothero, rector of Whippingham, will take that which becomes va- cant by the'preferment of Dr. Wordsworth, Archdeacon of Westminster, to the bishopric of Lincoln, instead, as before arranged, of that in St Paul's Cathedral, vacant by the preferment of Mr Champneys to the deanery of Lichfield. The Rev Robert Gregory, incumbent of St. Mary the Less, Lambeth, takes the canonry at St. Paul's. The new canon will, in all probability, in due time take the vicarage of St. Pancras, which Dean Champneys must, under the Act of Parliament, resign within six months.

I CARDIGANSHIRE ELECTION. The nomination took place at the Town Hall, Cardigan, on Monday, before A. T. Davies, Esq., of Tyglyn, the High Sheriff. The supporters of Mr Vaughan and Mr Richards were in large numbers, and the town, during the early part of the morning, presented a bustling appearance. The public were admitted to the hall about 10 o'clock, and the place was soon densely crowded. The ladies had been previously admitted, the "reds" occupying the right and the blues" the left side of the Hall. IVIr Richards, who on entering was loudly cheered by his party, took his seat on the left of the High Sheriff. Mr Vaughan soon after entered, and took his seat on the right of the Sheriff,—the cheering on his side being vigorously led by the ladies. Mr R. D. Jenkins, the Under Sheriff, read the writ and the Durham Act, and administered the oath to the High Sheriff, who said-Electors and freeholders of the County of Cardigan, ladies and gentlemen, we are assembled here upon a most important occasion, to elect a Knight of the Shire to represent this county in the coming Parliament. I have nothing to say, except to make one request before I sit down. I hope that everyone will give the speakers on both sides a fair and impartial hearing (hear, hear). I am now prepared to hear any person propose a candidate. Mr Parry, of Llidiarde, who on rising was loudly cheered, said: Mr High Sheriff, electors of Car- diganshire,— Y ou have just been informed that you are assembled here to-day to discharge a most important duty-to exercise the most important privilege which as Englishmen we enjoy-to elect a Member to represent us in Parliament (cheers). Her most gracious Majesty has thought proper to dissolve Parliament and her Ministers appeal to the constitu- encies-the greatly enlarged eonstituencies-and in- vite your attention to a most important subject, the state of the Irish Protestant Church (cheers). Sir, it has been to our sorrow that we have witnessed tumults, dissentions, and disaffec- tion to a large extent in Ireland; but, happily, by the firm administration of the law, the Fenian ris- ing, as it has been called, has been put down (hear, hear). Now, with the object of pacifying Ireland, it is proposed to disendow and disestablish the Irish Protestant Church. I beg to observe that in the year 1801 that branch of the Church was made one with the Church of England; and now the proposal to separate them, after they have been united for a period approaching seventy years is, I think, a violation of the Protestant faith, and is attended with danger to the constitution (cheers and uproar, which was quelled on the Under-Sheriff appealing to the people to keep silence). Now, sir, it is proposed to disendow that church-the Irish Protestant Church, which has been in possession of its revenues for a period of three hundred years. Those revenues have been dedicated to the service of Almighty God, and the attempt to do away with them would be attended with danger to the constitution and a breach of faith, and no good would result from such a course [hear, hear]. It is a matter of satisfaction to me, and to those I address, and must be approved by the majority of the electors, that a gentleman has come forward to oppose the disendowment and disestablishment of the Irish Church, should he be the candidate of your choice. That gentleman is Mr Edmund Malet Vaughan [loud cheers]. He is a gentleman whose acquaintance I have enjoyed for a number of years. He has lived here for many years, he is associated with the county, is well known to us all in the northern end of the county, and is not unknown to you here. [Hear, hear.] He has claims upon your consideration, because he comes amongst us not as a stranger [" Quite a stranger," and great uproar]. Gentlemen, if he should be the object of your choice, he is prepared to oppose the disendow- ment and disestablishment of the Protestant Church in Ireland [cheers]. He is prepared to uphold the insti- tutions of the country under which you enjoy an amount of liberty not found in any other country in the world-institutions under which you have pros- pered and been blest [loud cheers]. He will exercise vigilance in looking after the expenditure of the country, and in advocating its reduction consistent with the efficiency of the State [cheers]. Before he leaves this hall he will give you his opinions and views upon the leading questions of the day, and I hope you will think them sound and consistent with the safety of the country, and that on Thursday next you will place him in the position of Member for your County [cheers, counter-cheers, and great uproar]. Gentlemen, I will not trespass upon your attention, but will conclude by proposing Edmund Malet Vaughan as a fit and proper person to represent this county in Parliament [loud- cheers]. Mr. T. E. Lloyd, of Coedmore, who was loudly cheered on rising, said Electors of Cardiganshire, Ladies and Gentlemen-I have much pleasure in seconding Mr. Vaughan's nomination. It has been said that he is too young to represent this county in Parliament (" Quite true," and uproar.) I think his opponents ara some- what hard up if that is the only objection they have to urge against him: Why, the best work of a man's life is done in his youth (hear, hear.) Mr. Pitt was a member of Parliament at the age of twenty-one, and at twenty-four or twenty-five he was thought fit to be Prime Minister of England (cheers.) Waive, therefore, all those objections as to his youth. I think Mr. Vaughan is as qualified to represent the county as any gentleman in this hall (cheers.) Two gentlemen have come forward to seek the representation of this county One is well-known to this county, is the farmer s friend a friend of agriculture, a man of moderate politicai views, a man whose family have lived in this county for many years and spent their money in this part of the country (loud cheers.) On the other hand, you have as a candidate a man who is an entire stranger to you, is unknown to this county, a man of extreme opinions, and a man who thought fit the other day to fetch two or three gentlemen from another county to speak to his character (much laughter.) It is one of the character. istics of Welshmen that a man's character is considered unblemished until the contrary is shown; therefore this speaking to character is rarely resorted to except in courts of justice (laughter and great uproar.) entle- men, the present is a very important moment in the history of our constitution (hear, hear.) One grave question which the constituencies of this country will have to decide is, shall the Irish Protestant Church be dis-established and dis-endowed, or not P Shall a system of spoliation commence, the end of which no man can foresee ? (Cheers and uproar.) Ever since England has been a country, the Church has been in union with the State, and who present can tell how much of our greatness as a country is due to our Protestant institutions (loud cheers.) The present government, gentlemen, deserves well of its country. It deserves the support of you all. It has brought to a successful termination the Abyssinian war, and by bringing that war to a speedy and successful conclusion it has raised the character of England's name amongst foreign nations [hear, hear. ] Look at the policy of the late government. Our relations with America were in a most precarious state when they left office. There were two or three questions in dispute between the two countries which might have resulted in a war at any moment [hear, hear]. These were the claims of the Alabama, and other questions, and they have all, through the efforts of Lord Stanley, who has been highly complimented by Mr Johnson the representative of the United State, been satisfactorily settled [cheers]. Mr Vaughan has told you that he will give his support to all measures that would be useful to this country, and I hope that on Thursday next you will give him your votes [loud cheers and uproar]. Mr J. P. V. Pryse, of Bwlchbychan, who was re- ceived with loud and continued cheers, mingled with some hisses, said Mr High Sheriff, Brother Electors, Ladies and Gentlemen,—I rise, perhaps, under some difficulty on this occasion, because I rise in opposition to an old friend, Mr Edmund Vaughan but I assure you, were my own brother to change his politics, I would rise up in this place and propose a candidate of Liberal politics [loud cheers]. Friendship should have no place in politics (cheers). Every man should vote as he thinks proper [cheers and counter cheers]. I will not detain you long, but as the gentlemen who have preceded me have entered into the merits of the two candidates, I may just say a few words in reply [cheers]. You have been told that Mr Vaughan is a man of posi- tion and well known in the county, and then they contrasted Mr Vaughan's merits with those of his oppo- nent. Now, in the first place, let me ask what are the connections of Mr Vaughan here? [Cheers.] What has Mr Vaughan himself done in the interests of this coun- ty ? I have known him from his infancy, and I can say that a better fellow never breathed [hear, hear] but he has never been brought up to habits of business in any way, nor have any of his relations, except one or two perhaps, ever occupied any place of confidence in an official capacity in this county [hear, hear]. Gen- tlemen, we know what are the requisites of a Member of Parliament. A man might be a good sort of fellow, and a jolly companion, and all that, down here amongst us, but when a man goes to Parliament, he is not simply to go to London for the purpose of lounging about the clubs smoking cigars [laughter], waiting quietly and unconcernedly until his friend the whipper-in comes and taps him ou the shoulder, and says, "We are ready come along to vote." [Much laughter.] That is not the sort of man we require. We want a man of intelligence-a man accustomed to business habits-a man who all through his life has been accustomed to financial matters such as frequently come under the consideration of Parliament-and last, though not least, we want a man of address, who will make the county heard in the House of Commons [loud cheers]. Gen- tlemen, in rising to propose my friend on my right, Mr Evan Matthew Richards, I rise to propose a man with all the requisites I have named [cheers]. You may rest assured that if I did not think so-sincerely and heartily think so, I should not be here to-day [hear, hear]. As Mr Vaughan's seconder remarked, Mr Richards has not been long known to the electors in this county, but I appeal to you all whether that know- ledge has been against him or for him [cheers] —whether the longer you know him and the more you see of him you are not the more convinced that he is a fit and proper person to represent you in Parliament [loud cheers]. I think he is [renewed cheering]. Well, then, with reference to the policy of this county. No doubt —and other gentlemen will tell you the same thing- no doubt the policy of the county of Cardigan is a Liberal policy [tremendous cheering]. Three to one, gentlemen [continued cheering]. If our voters are allowed to go to the poll and vote according to their wishes and consciences, I should like to know how many votes would be recorded in favour of Mr Vaughan [cheers and laughter]. But, gentlemen, I am sorry, and grieved to say, that is not allowed. I know from my own personal knowledge that the screw has been applied [" Look at home," and laughter] and been applied with double vigilance. [" Look at home," great up- roar, and cries of Turn him out." At length the Under-Sheriff succeeded in restoring order.] Gen- tlemen, at first the screw was applied mildly. At the commencement dinners were given (laughter, and cries of Where ?" and Name.") I will tell you presently (laughter and cheers.) Next, a few mild letters were written, in which the writer said he would be much obliged if Mr So-and-so would vote for Mr Vaughan (cheers and uproar.) But they found that Mr Richards, by his eloquent speeches had such an influence upon the constituency that the electors were all going over to him and then not only did they send a second letter, but many of the landlords went themselves and saw the tenants (" Shame," and hisses.) I need not tell you in what sense I compare this country to America before the abolition of slavery in that country (hear, hear.) Gentlemen, there has been a large traffic in human blood in this country within the past few weeks. (" Shame" and hisses.) The voters in this country are considered less than slaves. In America the slaves were considered of great value and were taken care of in their old age—well fed, and properly cared for in all respects but mark the difference in the treatment of the tenants in this county. Many of those tenants have been on the estates all their lifetime and their fathers and grandfathers before them, and many of them are now old enough to be the grandfather of their landlord (hear, hear.) These tenants have been Libe- ral in politics from the day of their birth, and would vote, if left alone, for Mr Richards (hear, hear.) These men are driven to the poll like a flock of sheep (" Shame" and uproar.) I am not afraid to say it, and no one on that side (the Conservative side) can deny it (cheers.) I think it is a disgrace that in this country, in this enlightened age, such things should be allowed to take place (loud cheers.) As true as I stand here, further legislation must take place in order that the voter might be protected-(cheers)-and who is the most likely to get further legislation, Mr Vaughan or Mr Richards ? (cheers and great uproar.) I will not detain you much longer, because Mr Richards can explain his policy much better than I can and Mr Vaughan's policy we shall hear presently, I suppose, but up to the present time I have heard nothing except what he has issued in his addresses (cheers and uproar). Gentlemen, I be- lieve that if his supporters had allowed him to issue a third address, we Liberals should have been supporting him to-day (much laughter, uproar, and cries of Go on "). Well, then, I will go on by telling you all that I do not wish you to do anything to disgrace yourselves even to please your landlords. The franchise wasnot given you by your landlords, but by Parliament and your gracious Queen—(cheers) —under the impression that you would exercise that franchise as you wish (cheers). Do not go singly to the poll on Thursday next, but go united in a body, as a hive of bees, and vote for Evan Matthew Richards (cheers). [Mr Pryse here addressed a few words in Welsh to the electors, and concluded by proposing Mr Evan Matthew Richards as a fit and proper person to represent the county of Cardigan in Parliament]: Mr W. Jones, of Llwynygroes, whose rising was the signal for loud cheers on the Liberal side, said Mr High Sheriff, electors of Cardiganshire,—I have much pleasure in seconding the nomination of Mr Evan Matthew Richards. I thmk it is important that we should return a Liberal member, inasmuch as the majority of the electors are Liberal (cheers). I think, too, that we should have a good man of business as our Member, for this is not a purely agricultural county (hear, hear). It has a seaboard, with several ports, and large com- mercial interests, and those interests Mr Richards is well acquainted with (hear, hear). It is a mineral county, and no one has more cause to rejoice in that than Mr Vaughan and his family (hear, hear). I think that mining in this county is only in its in- fancy, for a great many blende and other oars are wholly untouched and many branches of industry remain to be developed (hear, hear). I therefore think it very important that we should have as our member a person who could in a short time do us some good [hear, hear]. Now it happens that Mr Richards is very closely connected with a large smelting firm in a neighbouring county (ironical cheers and laughter), and who has therefore a direct interest in our prosperity [hear, hear]. That is what I meant to say. I believe mining is closely bound up with the best interests of this county, and I have no doubt that if Mr Richards is elected—as I sincerely trust he will be —he will look after our interests [cheers]. I beg to second his nomination, for I believe that from his busi- ness habits and his great ability as a public speaker, we should, by electing him, be sending into Parliament a fit and proper person to represent us [loud cheers]. The High Sheriff having asked if any person had any other candidate to propose, and receiving no reply, Mr. E. M. Vaughan rose, and was loudly cheered, the cheers being mingled with groans and hisses. He said Mr. High Sheriff, independent electors of this county, ladies and gentlemen,—I come here to-day to solicit the suffrages of this great county [cheers.) I hardly know whether I should have ventured to have done so, if I had not some time back received a requisition from a large number of the influential electors of this county, asking me to become a candidate. I could not refuse this flattering request. I felt it at the time a very great honour, and finding that no other candidate more worthy than myself was in the field, I felt it my duty to come forward to support the Conservative interest in this county, as it had long been supported (loud cheers). Several things have occurred since the commencement of this contest, and much has been written and said, and not a little against myself [laughter]. Everything has been urged against me that could be urged [hear, hear.] It has been said that I am very young and inexperienced [laughter]—and that I am a stranger to the county. All I have to say to that is, that if I am a stranger to you-which I doubt—I am certainly not a stranger to the county [cheers]. I was born in this county and brought up in it—[cheers]—and have spent the greater part of my life in it [cheers and great uproar. ] And to show you that I have a connection with this county, and an interest in it, I may mention that my uncle and grandfather, and many other members of my family, have had the distinguished honour of representing this county in Parliament [cheers]. They fulfilled the trust you reposed in them with honour to themselves and credit to the county, and I trust I may do the same. [« Not likely," laughter, and cheers.] Since the last election in this hall, a new Reform Bill has been carried, which has gaeatly increased the constituency in this county [hear, hear.] I trust that you all appreciate that en- largement of the constituency, and will show by your votes and conduct that the increased trust that has been reposed in you has not been mis-placed [ironical cheers, laughter, and counter chcering.] There are several questions of great importance to come before the new Par- liament. First and foremost is the Irish Church question. Everybody has read and heard so much of that question, that probably, like myself, you are all tired of hearing anything further about it. My views upon that question are very few and simple. I will, if returned, oppose to the best of my ability the dis- endowment and disestablishment of the Protestant Church in Ireland, as proposed by Mr Gladstone. (" Then you won't do for us," cheers from the "reds," hisses from the blues," and great uproar.) You ask why I am opposed to that measure. My reason is this In the first place I think it is unfair to the Church of the country and in the next place, the money for the support of that Church was given by the landlords, and you have no right to take money subscribed by an in- dividual and dispose of it when and in any way you think proper (loud cheers.) Moreover, I do not believe that the passing of that measure would conduce to the peace of Ireland, but the contrary-(hear, hear)—be- cause by disendowing and disestablishing the Protes- tant Church you will not gratify one single Roman Catholic, and you would disaffect a million and a half of true and loyal people in the country (cheers.) Shortly after the assembling of the new Parliament the question of education will be brought forward (hear, hear.) It would have been brought forward long ago, had it not been for the length of time occupied in dis- cussing the Reform Bill. I should like to see every person in every class educated according to the sphere he lives in. (" Oh, oh," groans, hisses, and great uproar.) I wish to see every man in this country re- ceiving a good education. ("A second address," laughter, and cheers ) We must begin gradually, and spread it abroad by degrees, so that every man in time might be really well educated throughout the whole Kingdom (cheers). To every question brought forward for the good of the country I shall give my best attention, should I be returned to Parliament. (" Aye, that's the question," laughter, and great up- roar continued for some time). Gentlemen, a great deal has been written about the financial expenditure of the country. That is a question which should be fully con- sidered. Everybody is anxious that it should be kept within the bounds of moderation but at the same time I think it would be false economy to reduce the expendi- ture too low. It is useless to reduce the Army and Navy to too low an ebb, because when the time of trouble comes-and no one knows when it might come—we may be called upon to go to war unarmed and unpre- pared (hear, hear). In the Crimean war the great loss was inflicted upon this country, partly through the neglect of the Liberal party, and partly through cir- cumstances over which that party had no control (hear, hear). The expenditure of the country has been in- creased of late because great changes have taken place n our armaments. We have been obliged, at great i expense, to provide new weapons for the Army, new floats, and other offensive and defensive war machinery; and all these things are necessary to compete with other countries, otherwise, should war unfortunately break out, we should find ourselves in a difficulty (hear, bear). I may also mention that it has always been a source of pleasure to me to take an interest in the agri- culture of this country (cheers). I have known the farmers of this county for many years, and am proud to find them adopting improvements in the system of agriculture (hear, hear). I hope that improvement will go on (hear, hear). For many years the farmer has been taxed and rated—(" and screwed," laughter). No, taxed and rated, not screwed (laughter, and cheers). I hope that the farmer will be relieved of a great portion of the burdens that have been inflicted upon him (hear, hear). I will not detain you (hear hear, laughter and cheers). I will merely tell you that if elected your Member, I will give a sincere and firm support to the Conservative party, because I believe they have the best interests of this great nation at heart (cheers). They have brought forward, and will again bring forward measures of great benefit to this country. They will continue to act as a check upon the wild aspirations of those wild and misguided men, who would propose mea- sures that would drag down England into the mire. The party I support have upheld her institutions, and made her the great country that she is (loud cheers). I thank you, gentlemen, for the patience with which you havo heard me (cheers). Mr E. M. Richards (who on rising was tremendously cheered, the cheering being kept up for some time, mingled occasionally with hisses from the opposite party), said: Mr High Sheriff, electors of the county of Cardigan, ladies and gentlemen,—I think the question might very well be asked to-day, why is it that a stranger comes into the county of Cardigan to offer himself as a candidate to represent you in Parliament ? and I think, gentlemen, that when that question is asked, you may direct it to the party we see opposite [loud cheers]. Gentlemen, you are charged, and I am charged, with disturbing the peace of the county [" So you have," and great uproar]. I am charged with coming amongst you as a stranger, and you are blamed for supporting a stranger. Gentlemen, why is it that a stranger has come here ? Why is it that Sir Thomas Lloyd is not still the representative for Cardiganshire ? [loud cheers]. What was his great fault ? To my mind his great fault was that he moved from an atmos- phere cloudy and small, and placed himself amongst those who are enlightened and have larger views— [" oh, oh," and cheers]—and did what an honest man ought to do—he gave his vote in support of those prin- ciples of religious freedom he professed when you elected him [loud cheers]. I say, therefore, that the blame, if blame there be, for a stranger coming into this county, lies at the door of the party opposite (cheers). It lies at the door—I don't hesitate to say it—not of the great party of this county, but at the door of a few country squires (cheers) So much for the reasons of my coming here. I say it boldly, and 1 have said it before, that I did not thrust myself upon Cardiganshire (hear, hear). Far from it. I came here because I believed—(great uproar)—I say I came here because I believed at the time I came, that I was called for, not only by the great masses of the people, the non- electors, but by the great mass who had a claim to vote in the representation of Cardiganshire [cheers]. And it is with great satisfaction that I stand here to-day and tell you in all sincerity and truth, that I never felt more satisfied at the course of events than I do this morning (cheers). I came here as a stranger, and I think, Mr High Sheriff, that I may say, without being charged with egotisim, that after being in the county some two months, holding meetings in various parts of the county, and having addressed some thousands of the electors, nothing has been said against me of which my friends or myself need be ashamed (hear, hear). Well, sir, before I go to general politics, let me say a word or two on what was said by the learned gentlemen who proposed my opponent. He said Mr Vaughan had claims upon the constituency, and that he was not unknown in the northern part of the county. Gentlemen, I do not wish to say one word here, neither have I said, during my passage through the county, one word of disrespect towards Mr Vaughan (hear, hear). I have heard that he is a thorough good fellow, and a most excellent neighbour. But, as the gentleman who proposed me has very well put it, that is not the question for the electors of Cardiganshire to consider. The question for them is this: are Mr Vaughan's antecedents such as to justify you in sending him to Parliament (hear, hear). The learned gentle- man who proposed Mr Vaughan referred to the fact that he was not unknown in the northern part of the county. Now, I venture to ask the electors whether Mr Vaughan is known to have acted in one single public capacity either in the northern or southern part of the county (cheers). Has he done a single thing in connection with the public business of the county (" What have you done?" laughter, and uproar). Has he done one single thing to justify you in sending him to represent you in Parliament ? (cheers). I pass on for a moment to what has been referred to by the learned gentleman who seconded Mr Vaughan's nomination. I believe I am correct in referring to him as a learned gentleman (hear, hear). It seems to be a topic of very great annoyance to the other side that three gentlemen of very great eminence—one a right hon. gentleman, who I am sorry to say does not represent Merthyr to- day—(hear, hear) —I say it seems to be a topio of very great annoyance that those three gentlemen, who have known me as man and boy, should venture into Cardi- ganshire to say a good word for me (laughter). I am first charged with being an unknown man—that I am nobody—and then when gentlemen, whose character cannot be impeached, whose purity cannot be questioned, come forward and tell the people of Cardiganshire that they have known me for twenty-five or thirty years, and that my antecedents are such as would justify the people of Cardiganshire in choosing me as their repre- sentative, then, forsooth it is gall and wormwood to them (laughter and cheers). They say that those three gentlemen have no right to come and tell the people of Cardiganshire that I am the right man for you (laugh- ter). And now for general politics. I believe the only question put before you to-day is the Irish Church question. The learned gentleman who proposed Mr Vaughan, spoke of the Irish Church, and spoke of it in the usual stereotye form—(laughter)—that is, that if there be any improvement, any reform at all, the whole constitution of England will come to an end (laughter). Why, gentlemen, there never has any improve- ment taken place in this country, within your memory or mine, that gentlemen on the other side have not predicted that the sun of England was going to set for ever (laughter). I do not intend this morning to go into any elaborate discussion of the Irish Church question. I will state here, as I have said before, that the whole of England and Wales have spoken upon that question,—have spoken out with a long, loud, and unmistakable voice, that the day is come when some attempt at least at doing justice to Ireland was necessary (cheers). And I am sure it is not for Liberal Cardiganshire, it is not for the people of a county, three- fourths of whom claim to be Nonconformists and friends of religious liberty, to say nay" to the question which Mr Gladstone has brought forward (cheers). I say that the question of the Irish Church is in fact settled. It is dead, and only wants the new Parliament to meet and for Mr Disraeli and Mr Gladstone to change sides, that it might be buried decently (laughter and cheers). The learned gentleman also spoke of the institutions of the country (laughter). Well, we say the same of those institutions of the country, which Mr Vaughan speaks of in his addresses. My friend Mr Vaughan tells you there, and you have heard him say so this morning, that he is going to uphold these institutions of the country. Who wants to destroy them ? We wish to let the insti- tutions of the country, so far as they are in harmony with progress, stand, but not stand still, and satisfy our- selves with the thought that we have not interfered with the institutions of the country. We are in favour of progress, and if the institutions are not in harmony with the views of the constituencies, then we say, make the institutions in harmony with those views. Don't talk of the institutions of the country, and of civil and reli- gious liberty. Are we to look to that side for any. Are we to look to the Conservatives for any religious liberty ? During the whole of their administrations, can the Con- servatives point to any one single act, and say, We have desired to give freedom and religious liberty" (cheers). There has never been any attempt made by the party who now calls attention to the subject, to give freedom upon the question of civil and religious liberty (hear, hear). If there be any people who feel more warmly than others upon this question, they are the men of Cardiganshire (loud cheers). You men of Cardiganshire, three-fourths of whom are Liberals, three-fourths of whom are Nonconfor- mists—(eight-ninths)—are you to be satisfied that a gentleman should be sent to represent you in Parliament, whose votes, if sent there, would be directly opposed to all that you have said and desired for years past (cheers.) I say that Mr Vaughan could not repre- sent the people of Cardiganshire (cheers.) He would only represent a small portion—the county squires— and could not and would not represent the people of Cardiganshire (cheers.) And that I say is the great reason why the people of Cardiganshire should be asked to give their votes to the Liberals and not to the Con- servatives (hear, hear.) Well, gentlemen, Mr Vaughan's proposer stood godfather for him, when he said that Mr Vaughan was going in for a reduction of the taxes (laughter) He pledges Mr Vaughan to go in for a reduction of the taxation. Mr Vaughan himself says it would be very unwise indeed to have too great a re- duction of the expenditure (laughter.) Now, there must be one thing or the other, you know. Mr Vaughan's proposer says that Mr Vaughan will go in for a great reduction of taxes. Mr Vaughan himself considers that it would be very unwise indeed to reduce the expendi- ture (laughter.) Now, gentleman, I say that if it be your pleasure to send me to represent you in Parlia- ment, I should go in for a reduction of expenditure, for a reduction of the taxes (hear, hear.) I would do so by supporting the man who not only said he would reduce the taxes, but who did reduce the taxes (hear, hear.) Mr Gladstone and those associated with him in power not only said it was desirable to reduce the taxes, but you and I, and all the people of this country, know that he did reduce the taxes (hear, hear.) And what has been the result of the policy of Mr Disraeli and his party. No sooner do they get into power than there is an increased expenditure, year by year, nntil at last it is four millions a year more than when Mr Glad. stone held the reins (I. Shame ") No doubt it will be said by the other side that the increased expenditure has been caused by things being left undone by the late Government. There was the expenditure on the Army and the expenditure on the Navy, the Abyssinian war, and I do not know what besides (laughter.) Bat did you ever know an extravagant man in your life who had not an excuse for his expenditure [laughter. J What satisfaction is it to you or me to know that our money is gone ? We want-and I hope you will have it-we want this country governed economically (hear, hear.) I do not hesitate to say that the safety of the institu- tions and the honour of the country was held as safely, firmly, in the hands of Mr Gladstone as in the bands of Mr Disraeli (cheers.) But, gentlemen, the whole policy of the two men have been totally different through life. Mr Gladstone has always advocated economy,—" Live within your means" (cheers.) He has done what all thrifty, honest men in Cardiganshire would like to do, live within their means (hear, hear.) The Liberal party with whom he was connected continued to reduce the expenditure of the country until the Crimean war. Mr. Gladstone then said that this generation should pay the expenses of the war, because the people were never so likely to stop an increased expenditure as when they have to spend money [hear, hear.] An ex. travagant woman who has to pay down money for extra. vagant dresses is likely to look twice before she spends her money [laughter.] When Mr. Gladstone held the reins we lived within our means, and that is the man I shall support if it be your pleasure to send me to Par- liament [cheers.] And I do not fear at all that the course Mr. Gladstone will point out upon financial matters will prove not only safe for the honour of England, but for the advantage of the great masses of the people [cheers.] The gentlemen who were associated with Mr. Gladstone in the late government, and those who are likely to be with him in the next government, are men whose aim in public life has been to give com- forts to the great masses of the people (cheers). He has always felt it was the duty of the government, to a great extent, to afford the greatest happiness to the greatest numbers (hear, hear.) He carried that out, not only as his motto, but in practice (cheers). I appeal to everyone in this room whether the course of government pursued by Air. Gladstone has not given us comforts, unknown to our forefathers-comforts which go to the houses of working men (cheers.) He had in that work Richard Cobden, John Bright, and that great phalanx with him, but in every great measure of progress they were opposed by the party on my right [cheers.) In all legislation during the last twenty-five or thirty years every measure of progress has been carried by the Liberals, who have succeeded in reducing the expenditure of the country to a considerable extent; while the policy of the Conser- vatives has been to stand still. Their cry has been, II Retrogression if possible if not, then stand still." (cheers.] The gentleman who proposed Mr. Vaughan said we are indebted to some extent to the late Government for the enlarged constituencies. No doubt a Reform Bill was brought in and passed by Mr Disraeli, giving an increased franchise; but is that increased franchise a reality or not ? (cheers.) If a reality, then let the men to whom the votes are given be free to exercise their votes (loud cheers.) Let them be free to exe those votes in accordance with their conscience (cheers.) I say here in this room to-day what I have said before at scores of meetings in Cardiganshire, that the Liberal side only want that the men should have an opportunity of recording their votes in the way their consciences tells them they ought to record them (cheers.) We want no screw we want nothing but freedom (cheers.) We want that men who have been Liberals all their lifetime-we want men who have been professing themselves in favour of civil and religious liberty, publicly and privately-we want that those men shall not be harassed, shall not be bullied, shall not be coerced, first by the landlord, next by the agent, and lower down still,' by the agents bach bach (Tremendous cheering, which continued for some time.) Gentlemen, one gentleman on my right teemed very indignant when my honourable propoeer alluded to the screw. He seemed quite taken aback (laughter.) It was all quite new to him, this question of the screw [laughter]. Why, my friends, since I have come to Cardigan town I have seen a placard, referring I believe to my honourable proposer* [" Quite right"]. No doubt it is quite right (laughter). Until within a month ago the party on my right, in season and out of season, have maintained, and propa- gated it in every possible form, that although nominally the Gogerddan family was with me, in their heart they did not wish me to be returned. It was said by can- vassers on the other side, It is all nonsense; Mr Richards is not wanted" ("Very true," and uproar). Well, gentlemen, when they see the Gogerddan family where they ought to be, at the head of the Liberal party-when they find that one member of the Goger- ddan family sought to protect his tenants against the screw of the Tory gentlemen—when they stood up for the liberty of their tenants,—the party opposite said, you have no right to say anything to your tenants; but we can say anything we like to them (laughter). We can send our agents to every farm," they say, but that great Liberal house shall not take one step to see how this election goes [laughter]. Why not the people on my right do as Sir Pryse Pryse did 1 Why not say manfully that every tenant may vote as he likes (cheers) ? Electors of Cardiganshire, if that had been said,—if they had said it trnthfnlly, I do not hesitate to assert that this contest for Cardiganshire would have been over a month ago [loud cheers]. How could it be otherwise? Will any of them dare stand up publicly and say that three- fourths of the whole county of Cardigan are not Libe- ral ? Will any man who knows anything of Cardigan- shire affirm that three out of every four of the electors are not men who profess a desire for civil and religious liberty ? [Cheers ] Well, if that be so, then, except for the influence unfairly brought by the opposite party to bear upon people on this side, the contest for Cardigan- shire would have been settled a month ago [cheers]. And now, these are the people who charge my honourable friend on my left with doing his duty to me. I am rejoiced to know that his conduct has proved the assertions made in the early part of the election to be untrue and unfounded [cheers]. They are now satisfied the House of Gogerddan and the Pryses are Liberal as they have always professed to be [cheers]. I think it is desirable for me to mention one subject. It has been charged against me on several oc- casions, that I have a great desire' to pull down the church. It has been said of me by gentlemen who ought to know better—it has been said by gentlemen who, when tLey were saying it knew better-it has been said that I want to level down all churches. Why, gentlemen, publicly and privately, I have distinctly stated, by writing and from public platforms, that I have no desire to disestablish and disendow the Church in England and Wales [cheers]. Therefore, to say it, when they have my written authority and public state- ment in denial-was not only to say what they knew to be untrue, but to say that, which as gentlemen they ought to have avoided saying [loud cheers]. I want nothing of the sort. What I want and what you want is this—that we may stand shoulder to shoulder--Churchmen and Dissenters-that so long as a man performs his duties as a loyal citizen he shall be put upon a footing of civil and religious equality, whether he be a Churchman or Dissenter (cheers). What I desire, and what nineteen out of twenty of the people of Cardiganshire desire, is this, that no man shall suffer on account of his religious belief [cheers]. These doc- trines I venture to put before you, as the views I hold upon civil and religious liberty [hear, hear], and when Mr Vaughan can stand here publicly and say as I do- when he can say so, then I admit that he would have a claim upon the consideration of the electors; but until he can say that, until he is prepared to say that he is in favour of opening the doors of the Universities to Churchmen and Dissenters alike, and to say, Let no man suffer on account of his religious belief,' -when he can say that, then he will have taken one great step to- wards representing Cardiganshire (cheer). But, gentle- men, he has a great lesson to learn before he can re- present you. He has a great deal to unlearn, and I venture to say, more to learn (cheers and laughter). He has referred to the fact that some of his ancestors re- presented Cardiganshire. They never represented Car- diganshire, gentlemen (loud cheers). They were sent to Parliament; but I do not hesitate to say that until three years ago—until Sir Thomas Lloyd was sent to repieeent Cardiganshire (cheers) Give three more cheen for Sir Thomas Lloyd, gentlemen. (There was a ready response, the cheering being continued for some time.) I bay, my friends, that until the last three years, when Sir Thomas Lloyd was sent from Cardiganshire, for two hundred years the County of Cardigan has not been represented in Parliament (loud cheers). A people, a large majority of whom have always been Liberals- a large majority of whom have always professed them- selves in favour of oivil and religious liberty-have long

The following is the placard referred to: —" To the Electors of Cardiganshire. Sir Pryse Pryse, when the contest for this County commenced, very handsomely sent a Circular to his Tenantry, telling them they were at liberty to vote as they pleased. The effect of this was, that vast numbers determined to support the Con- servative candidate, Mr Vaughan, a gentleman well known, and much respected in Cardiganshire. Latterly, however, the aspect of affairs has changed. A mar relative of the Baronet, has commenced canvassing the Tenants for Mr Richards, the Radical, and has taken with him, to assist in the canvass, one of the principal Tenants, a Churchman, who promised and wishes to support Mr Vaughan. This leads one to the following conclusion :—Either Sir Pryse Pryse was not ataoere in his first profession, or, he is not his own master, and must himself be under a Screw" of some kind. Other Landlords, who have made no well-sounding professions of so-called Liberality, but who simply canvass their Tenants for their friend, Mr Vaughan, meet with coarss abuse in the Welsh Newspapers, receive Threatening Letters, and are held up as tyrants and oppressors. Which of these courses is the most straightforward and honourable? Their tenants and the public can answer this Question."

hear]. I for one frankly admit that I think the present state of things has been brought about by the action and reaction of parties. It has been brought about by the action of that course of political principles-that course which may be described as the wish of doing something and settling the question [hear, hear]. It does not seem a very logical way of dealing with ques- tions, but it is a fact that a great many questions are settled by both parties using the familiar words, "For God's sake, settle the question" [much laughter]. Lord Melbourne said that he never believed the country to be in a state of alarm until he heard the words, Something must be done [laugh- ter]. And this Reform Bill was concluded by the action of parties in the House, and the words, For God's sake, settle it" [hear, hear, and laughter]. It has been settled. I do not mean to say that I admire the system by which any one carries a measure of which he was not the original author. However, that system has been introduced into England of late with very good effect, for we have seen parties on both sides carrying measures to which they were originally op- posed (hear, hear.) I prefer that when a measure is introduced into Parliament it should be carried by the persons who originally proposed it (hear, hear.) I feel that the House of Commons is then in its natural posi- tion and that its mechanism goes properly (cheers ) [Mr Scourfield here gave two or three examples, show- ing that in past times there have been measures pro- posed and carried by parties who were originally opposed to them. He continued :] I am sorry to say that even in the present time we have seen something of the same sort. I regret very much that Mr Gladstone, for whose abilities I have great respect—(hear, hear)—should have introduced the question of the Irish Church, to which in all his writings he has been opposed (hear, hear.) I regret it; but whatever happens, whatever changes and distribution of political power in the coun- try takes place, I avow my confidence in the good sense, the moderation and the justice of the people of Eng- land (loud cheers.) I have greater confidence in the good to be derived from the position of those it includes than from the exact words of the clause of any acts of Parliament (cheers.) I cannot help recalling to my mind the words which were written nearly two hun- dred years ago, by our greatest poet of that time- Dryden. In his poem called The Medal," he applies the word "temperate" to our island, and his words used then, if applicable at that time, are more applic- able now. He says :— Our temperate isle will no extremes sustain Of popular sway, or arbitrary reign But slides between them both into the best; Secure in Freedom, in a monarch blest." [Cheerd.] The concluding lines, if applicable then are doubly applicable now [hear, hear]. No one has any ap- prehension as to freedom in this country, and no one who has watched the career of that illustrious lady who presides over this country can say that we are not blest in having such a monarch. [Loud cheers]. I trust that the word moderate will still continue to be applicable to the character and general feeling of the people of England [cheers]. I will express my hope that the current of progress will not he checked in this country—that it might run between order and justice, and thus be prevented from becoming a torrent [cheers]. I also feel convinced that the people of England will in the exercise of those views of moderation and justice, not be disposed to be led away by any false or imagi- nary standard of perfection, but by comparison between their own and other countries consider their reasonable chance of getting anything better than they now enjoy [hear. hear]. These are my hopes, and I have never proposed any violent changes, feeling that they are not applicable to this country. I believe that moderation and justice are best for this country and in the exercise of this feeling of moderation and justice I hope the people will show their sympathy with the present repre- sentation of the country. [Loud cheers.] The return having been signed, a vote of thanks to the High Sheriff was proposed by Mr Scourfield, se- conded by Mr Colby, and warmly accorded. The Sheriff briefly acknowledged the vote. Three cheers having been given for Mr Bowen, of Llwyngwair, Mr Bowen acknowledged the compliment. He said no one in the county of Pembroke was more highly pleased with what had taken place this day. He hoped that for many and many years they would con- tinue to return Mr Scourfield, that he viould live long, and that to the last of his life he would continue to re- present the county of Pembroke. [Loud cheers.] The proceedings then terminated, and Mr Scourfield, accompanied by Mr Saurin and Mr Colby, rode through several streets of the town, preceded by a brass band, and followed by a large concourse of persons, who cheered lustily.