rotten borough with only 17 voters [28 voters — 10 jurats and 18 freemen]. They had not yet got all they wanted, but they had seen the constituency increase from about 30 to 1100*. He therefore called on the electors to support Mr. Warre as a progressive reformer. Something had been said about a stranger. He would ask what Hastings would be without strangers? Without them, instead of it being the second town in the county it would relapse into its original condition of a mere fishing village. He thought it a great honour to propose Mr. Warre [Cheers].
Mr. Nelson Andrews, lodging-house keeper, in an excited speech, with much personality, seconded the nomination. His suggestions of bribery, and his statement that one Conservative candidate had tried to out-manoeuver the other by recommending the splitting of votes, provoked a demand to name the party, which he declined to do. Several other parts of his speech met with flat denials and contradictions. They also caused confusion, and some of the Liberals wished to their cause were in better hands.
Mr. R. Ranking, surgeon, next addressed the electors, and said that measures, not men, should be their watchword, but measures must be represented by men; and he had the honour of proposing a man of sterling principles [He has none!]. He would propose Peter Francis Robertson — he meant Patrick Francis Robertson [Mr. Cooper — “He is such a stranger that he doesn’t know his name!”]. That gentleman would not fail to support the dignity of the Crown, the rights of the people and the integrity of the Protestant faith [Uproar]. Then, as to the Free Trade question, he was sure that Mr. Robertson would not vote for the re-imposition of the duty on corn [Cheers and hisses]. Mr. Robertson wished to see the people fed, and with even better bread than the big loaf before him — with one, in fact, not made with chaff [Cheers and counter-cheers]. They had substantial evidence of the interest Mr. Robertson took in the borough by the handsome buildings that were being erected, which they could see from that spot.
Mr. Councillor Deudney, yeoman, stepped forward to second the nomination, but was met with such an uproar, that the Mayor had to appeal for a hearing. But even he could not be heard, and amidst the tumultuous din several of the Liberal roughs mounted the barriers and refused to get down. Mr. Deudney then leant forward on the bar, and announced his determination to be at his ease until he obtained a hearing. He afterwards said he would endeavour to express his views fairly whether they heard him or not. I am, he said “a public servant of the inhabitants in the Town Council, and as long as I remain in it, I will endeavour to do my duty faithfully. Mr. Robertson is a British merchant who knows the world, and has exerted himself to reduce the burden of taxation. He has been spoken of as a Scotchman. Well, a man never need be{ -
