– and it was only that morning that he became aware of it – he hoped they would go strait to battle, without bribery and without trickery. He hoped tomorrow they would find Mr. North at the top of the poll.
Mr. T. Ross would not inflict on the assembly a long speech, and would merely say that for the last seven years there had been a cry in Hastings “Oh, don’t disturb the peace of the borough! Let Mr. Robertson and Mr. North walk over the course.” Since the last contested election 400 electors had been added to the list, and he thought they ought to have an opportunity of expressing their political sentiments. He proposed Lord Harry Vane as a candidate to represent Hastings in Parliament. Mr. J. Howell thought it was a good day for Hastings when Lord Harry Vane came to Battle Abbey, and who had come over that morning as a Reformer. He (Mr. H.) thought that the work the next parliament had to do was to make a great reform bill. He did not like turmoil, but if they had it they must thanks the Conservatives for it. He appealed to the electors to do their duty as they had already done in the Council elections. He had the authority of Mr. North to say that he fully supported Lord Harry Vane and he hoped their XXXX would be “Two Liberals for Hastings”.
Mr. R. Deudney, in a short speech, introduced to them an old and respected inhabitant, W. D. Lucas Shadwell, Esq., as a candidate for representing them in Parliament. This was seconded by T. Hicks, Esq., also in a brief, but appropriate speech.
P. F. Robertson, Esq., said it was the fourth time he had solicited election, and he had come down without the remotest notion that he would have anything to do other than thank them for again returning him [You are taken in old fellow]. It had been said that Mr. North and himself had arranged to avoid a contest, but both himself and his colleague were perfectly clear of such an improtation. As to the 400 new voters being disenfranchised by a walk over, as stated, he would like to know what was the difference of their position to that of the old ones. He had been told that £20,000 had been subscribed to aid in the elections. He knew nothing of it, but if any of it had come here, he thought they were fortunate. As to the Reform Bill, it was not much to flog a dead horse, but they never had the bill fairly discussed on its merits. One objected to it because it was too long, and another said it was too short; one that it was too fat, and another that it was too lean. So they all objected together, and threw it out. And what was their position now? Lord John Russell had brought forward a bill – which, by the bye, Lord Palmerston said he would oppose – that would disenfranchise 63 boroughs. Then we had Mr. Bright. He was going to give half a member -
