The Borough Election
I have witnessed a considerable number of Parliamentary elections and some of them of a burly character, especially the one in 1835, when the Rt. Hon. Joseph Planta, as a candidate, was roughly used and spat upon; but even that election hardly equalled in spleen and turbulence the one in 1852.
The Nomination. — The 7th of July it was one of the hottest days of an unusually hot summer, and that was the day previously selected for the nomination. The Liberal candidates, Messrs. Warre and Locke, with their supporters, were the first to arrive at the hustings in the Priory Meadow, and filed up into the north side of the same. Next came Patrick Mr. Robertson and his supporters, also in processional order, soon followed by a still gayer procession with Mr. Brisco, who located themselves in the south division of the hustings, which like the other faced what is now Queen’s road. In front, between a row of carriages and the Hustings, was an immense crowd, among which were to be seen big loaves, little loaves, and other exhibitions which pretty well indicated the kind of reception some of the candidates were likely to get. Cheering and hissing, clapping and yelling immediately commenced even before the returning officer had time to explain the object of the meeting. The Mayor (T. Hickes, Esq.) in addressing the several thousand persons before him remarked that if the parties hooted each other, neither party would be able to hear what the other had to say. The electors were not obliged to believe all that might be spoken, but they were bound, in common fairness, to hear all sides.
W. Crake, Esq. had the honour, he said, to propose his old friend, Musgrave Brisco, Esq., of Coghurst Hall [A Conservative! Gentlemen, shouted Mr. W. D. Cooper, a signal for another volley of hooting and hissing]. I am glad to see you all so cheerful, resumed Mr. Crake [Give up your brief; it’s no use!] Our duty to-day will be much prolonged if we have so many of these are amusing interruptions. One point I would like the candidates to remember, and that is the necessity for improved railway communications. It is a question of home politics, and I hope whoever comes off victorious in this contest, he will strive to advance our interests in that respect. In nominating Mr. Brisco, I can speak of him as a well tried friend [Cheers and groans].
Mr. F Smith, a banker, seconded the nomination, and remarked that he would not advocate the cause of Mr. Brisco if he did not feel convinced that he had given satisfaction to a majority of the constituents. If they returned Mr. Brisco, he was sure that gentleman would act honestly [Yes, sell the poor man!]. He was glad to see that large loaf before him, for Mr. Brisco was a man to favour that, and not the small loaf. [Confusion]. Mr. Brisco would never favour the reimposition of duty on corn [We won’t have it!]. They had four candidates, and he would treat them all with the utmost respect, whatever might be the result.
Mr. Alderman Emary, hotel-keeper, had the honour of proposing their old and tried friend, John Ashley Warre, Esq. [Cheers]. It was now 24 years since Mr. Warre came to open the borough and to extricate the constituency from their political thraldom. Hastings was at that time a close and -
