Borough Elections - Return of Hollond and Brisco
A committee for the purpose was then formed. Later on, when Parliament assembled, a grant of ten millions of money was voted for the distressed Irish an addition to the funds voluntarily raised throughout the country. Irishmen, to the number of 750,000 were set to work at road-making, for which employment they received regular wages. On the 6th of March, Daniel O'Connell, the agitator for the repeal of the union, arrived at Hastings for the benefit of his health, his intention being to travel by easy stages to France and Italy, In appearance, he was quite a different man to what he was when he first visited Hastings, and addressed a number of persons from the balcony of the Marine Hotel. He was now greatly debilitated and dejected, and his attendants believed he could never return to public life. He was accompanied by his sons and a Roman-Catholic priest, who had not the gratification of bringing the invalid back alive. His death took place at Genoa on the 15th of May, after he had pathetically bequeathed his soul to Christ, his heart to Rome, and his body to Ireland.
One of the secular festivals of 1847 was the anniversary celebration of the benefit clubs, which took place, as usual, on Whit-Monday. It was as gay as ever, with its imposing procession, its several bands of music and its glittering regalia. Previous to dining at their respective club-houses, the members assembled at St. Clement’s church, where a special sermon was preached to them by the Rev. J. G. Foyster.
Rock Fair was also held on the regularly appointed days, namely, July 26th and 27th. The days of the week were Monday and. Tuesday, and. the keepers of the stalls, booths, shows, &c., sought to obtain permission of the Mayor to continue the fair during Wednesday. A third day, however, was not granted, in consequence of such day having been appointed for the nomination of candidates for the Borough Election. It had been rumoured that Mr. Downing Bruce would offer himself for the representation of Hastings, and that the second Conservative candidate would be Mr. Serjeant Byles. The following brief account of the proceedings will show that the real candidates were Messrs. Hollond and Warre in the Liberal interest, and Messrs, Brisco and Robertson in the Conservative.
When the 28th of July came, Mr. Brisco was met at Coghurst Hall by his friends and supporters on horseback, and after forming themselves into an’ imposing cavalcade, they came into Hastings and assembled at the hustings. Mr. Hollond was nominated by Mr. George Scrivens as an old and tried friend who had represented the borough for ten years, and Mr. Stephen Putland seconded the nomination. Mr. Brisco was proposed by Mr. A. W. Crake, as also one of the tried and esteemed representatives for three years previous to the Dissolution. The proposal was seconded by Mr. C. Burfield. A new man in the person of Mr. Robertson was then brought forward by the Conservatives and nominated by Mr. Shadwell, who admitted that the gentleman thus proposed was a stranger, but that fact, he said, was no disparagement to his merits. He (Mr Shadwell) preferred a stranger whom he could trust to one who had already represented them and could not be trusted. Mr. N. Williams seconded, and expressed an opinion that the Conservatives would win two seats. The fourth candidate was Mr. J. A. Warre. a gentleman who, with Mr. North, represented Hastings in 1832. I do not remember who were his proposer and seconder on this occasion, but I have a notion that one of them was Mr. B. Smith, an active Liberal politician and the owner of property in Pelham crescent. If so, there were no fewer than four persons taking part in the nominations who were property owners in Pelham place or Pelham crescent, namely, Messrs. Crake, Shadwell, Scrivens and Smith.
Two of the gentlemen above named (Mr. G. Scrivens and Mr. H. N. Willams) I rejoice to say are were still among us and enjoying the esteem of their fellow townsmen, albeit the four decades that has had passed since the Election of 1847 have had made sad gaps in the ranks of those who took part therein, including the whole of the four candidates.
One of the active participators in that election has just paid the inevitable debt of nature whilst I am writing. Mr. George Carly, who had been a Liberal politician almost from his youth up, and was proud of having his name on the “ Golden Roll” of those who voted for Robert Ross Rowan Moore in 1844, expired at his residence, 5 Alexandra terrace, on Tuesday of this week (May 18, 1886) in the eightieth year of his age. Mr. Carly at the time of this Election had been in business as a baker and confectioner at 49 All Saints’ Street for about twenty years, and a near neighbour of his was a pawnbroker of the name of Houghton. The said pawnbroker was out of health on the morning of the Election and felt unable to rise from his bed. On hearing of this, Mr. Carly went to see Houghton, and to endeavour to rouse him from what he thought might be partially a fit of lethargy. “Come,” said Carly, ”rouse thee, man, and accompany me to a capital breakfast, which, I am sure, will do you good.” The invitation was at length accepted, and after the refreshment it required but a little further application of the persuasive art to get Houghton into a carriage en route to the hustings to vote for Holland and Warre. At a little later period Mr. Anthony Harvey, a Conservative agent, was seen to go to Houghton’s door, when he was accosted by Mr. Carly in words to this effect “You needn’t trouble yourself, Harvey; I have already taken Houghton to the poll, and so you may score one to me this time.” My readers will understand that in those days of electioneering arrangements there was a fictitious virtue attached to those who could prove themselves the sharpest. Hence, as Harvey was looked upon as a sort of King of All Saints in consequence of his parochial as well as his political zeal both at the Council Board and in other ways, the exultation of Carly in having foiled his purpose in that one instance was naturally great. In my next instalment of this History I purpose quoting a political handbill circulated on the day of nomination by “The Compounder of the Blue Pill.” And now I will confine myself to some reminiscences and other matters connected with the respected townsman who has just made his exit from this mundane stage. George Carly was a native of Hastings, he being the youngest member of a somewhat numerous family, His father’s name was Adams Carly, and his mother’s maiden name was Ann Phillips. She was a sister of Mr. John Phillips, sen., of High street, who died in 1844, aged 90, and an aunt of John Phillips, jun., a highly respected solicitor and many years vestry-clerk of St. Leonards and one or two other parishes. Mr. and Mrs. Adams Carly, I find, were married at All Saints Church on the 14th of January, 1792, and among their offspring, as shown by the baptisms at the said church were
| Mary Ann, | baptised | 1792, | died 1806. |
| Elizabeth, | Nov. 2, 1794. | ||
| Maria, | Aug. 3, 1797, | ||
| Richard Adams | Oct. 2, 1799, | died, 1820, | |
| Henry Phillips, | Sept. 4, 1803. | ||
| George, | April 29, 1807. |
Thus it is seen that the subject of this notice was born in April, 1807; and, as his death occurred on the 18th of the present month of May, he had consequently entered on his 80th year. One of his sisters, whose baptism I have not found, but whose husband’s name was Clarke, lived many years in Ireland, and died in her 87th year, whilst another sister (Mrs. Elizabeth Elphick), well known in St. Leonards, died in her 73rd year, and was buried at Hollington. Mr. Carly was born in a house in All Saints street, not far from the reputed birth-place of Sir Cloudesley Shovell, and the site of what is now the National Schools. It was there, I believe, that his mother died, in the month of August, 1838, at the age of 74, whilst his father survived until the month of May, 1840, when he died in the parish of Ore, at the age of 86, and was buried in the All Saints’ ground. There was another Ann Carly (presumably George’s grandmother) who at the age of 77, died in September, 1811.
The subject of my sketch was over thirty years in business at Hastings and nearly the same period at St. Leonards, he having retired therefrom as recently as 1885 in favour of Mr. Newberry, Apart from his business pursuits Mr. Carly was ingenious as a modeller in cork and other materials; and I remember being amused as long back as 1828 or 9 with seeing in his shop window some figures moving by mechanical means on what I now suppose was an artificial plum-cake. In his late painful illness Mr. Carly exhibited great patience and thankfulness, whilst his intellectual faculties served him to the last. He died peacefully and hopefully like as one conscious of having done his duty in that state of life unto which it had pleased God to call him. His remains were interred at Hollington, beside those of his sister, Mrs. Elphick.
After speeches by Messrs. Hollond, Brisco, Warre and Robertson on the day of nomination, a show of hands was declared to be in favour of the former two. A poll was then demanded by Mr. Warre. On the next day, July 29th, the election was energetically proceeded with by all parties, yet with a quietness that had never been equalled since the passing of the Reform Bill. It was an almost foregone conclusion that the two wealthy candidates, Hollond and Brisco, would be returned, although the Liberals — or as they more generally called themselves, Reformers — were hopeful that Hollond’s influence would secure a seat for Warre as against Brisco. It was between these two gentlemen that the contest was keenest, there being but one or two votes difference between them all through the period of polling until just before the close, when a score of electors walked in together and gave Brisco a majority of 18 over his opponent. On the following day (Friday) the returning officer announced the numbers as follows :—
| Hollond | (L.) | 423 |
| Brisco | (C.) | 407 |
| Warre | (L.) | 389 |
| Robertson | (C.) | 349 |
The chairing procession was of a gorgeous character, the day being observed as a holiday, and the spirit of all parties being such as to impel a conduct of sobriety and good humour throughout.
The Conservative Member thus returned, with a Liberal for his colleague, was familiarly spoken of as “The Squire of Coghurst Hall,“ he having built the mansion of that name, and surrounded it with beautiful lakes, lawns and plantations. His father died in the year 1834, and then, as the eldest son, Mr. Musgrave Brisco (a descendant, by the bye, of the Norman De Birkskeugh) came into possession of the farms and estates of Coghurst and Lankhurst. For the ornamentation of those grounds a large number of trees were purchased from Thomas Barton, a nurseryman at Heathfield, and at about the same time (1837) a supply was also obtained from the same source for Bohemia, Mr. Wastel Brisco, the brother of the re-elected Member, having purchased that estate and removed thither from his previous residence at Rose green. (See the interesting history of Thomas Barton, Bodle Holmes and others other long-lived members of the family in Bretts Historico-Biographies.)
I now quote an electioneering placard professed to have been written by The Compounder of the Blue pills. I had hoped to have accompanied it with another literary effusion made public by a writer on the other side of politics who appeared to be more than a match for his antagonist, both in style and substance, but as I have not recovered this lost or mislaid document, the Radical writer's composition must stand
alone. It may serve at any rate to open up a partial view of the political conditions of 1847, It is headed, in bold type, “The Violent Effects of the Blue Pill,” the “Compounder” of which says—
”After the lapse of several days, my ‘Blue Pill’ has called forth some very vituperative remarks from ‘A Churchman,’ I feel astonished at the blackness of this dose of Tory compounds, and can only commiserate the state of mind of the unfortunate individual who so wildly ‘discharges his calumnious missiles on one whose person is unknown to him, and whose character cannot suffer from such reproach as his. Reply, on my part, I frankly own to be impossible. I have nothing given me to reply to. My facts are yet unanswered, and my sentiments untouched by even the shadow of an argument! ‘A Churchman’ vomits nothing but black abuse of the most unworthy kind — which I should consider it a degradation to notice, further than by simply adverting to it as the invariable resort of men who lose their temper, in default of finding arguments. It is obvious that the disgraceful
war-whoop of ‘No Popery’ has recoiled upon its Tory originators. With their own rod they have been well whipped; and hence the unpalateableness of my wholesome ‘pill.’ It is enough for me that the truth of my unanswered statements has been thus openly acknowledged and that my belief of the haughty intolerance of some Churchmen has been so lamentably confirmed. The paper of ‘A Wesleyan Elector’ I have read; and, in common with most acquainted with the respected author, I sincerely deplore the weakness which has induced him to lend his influence to a party which has uniformly despised and wronged the community he belongs to. The assertion, that ‘every truly enlightened Dissenter’ would repudiate my sentiments, might well have been spared. Why, the Hastings Wesleyans and Dissenters — almost to a man! — have cordially approved of the sentiments of my placard, and will evince that approval at the poll! They can distinguish between historical facts and personal venom; and this distinction I am proud to feel they will ell make between my ‘Blue Pill’ and the very ‘Black Dose’ of ‘A Churchman,’ I triumphantly appeal to the respective placards, and confidently leave the subject to the common sense and piety of Christian readers: giving my opponent the doubtful honour of being the first to introduce into this controversy the bitterness of personal acrimony and ‘unprovoked abuse,’
Electors of Hastings! Tomorrow at the Poll shew that you are not to be blinded by the foolish party-cries ‘of the Tory faction. Two years ago, these ’No-Popery’ men were full of prophetical fallacies about Free-Trade. They termed its advocates ‘ mountebanks,’ and ‘the whole measure a ‘juggling scheme.’ Silenced by experience on that subject, they have another cry equally senseless and fallacious. England is to be overran with Popery as of old when Tories ruled! Electors! Judge of the value of their prophecies by the lessons of the past; and believe me, these violent. exertions to awaken 2 re-action in the public mind towards themselves, arise from their settled opposition to all political improvement and intellectual progression. We say of Toryism, as Tories say of Popery — It is unchanged. It has always been, and still is, at enmity with the poor man’s dearest interests. By a vigorous effort, then, disenthral the Borough from Tory bondage for ever! Vote for the People’s Friends,—the men who give you Free Trade, Political Reforms and Religious Rights,
— Messrs, HOLLOND and WARRE.”
While still on political matters, it may not be out of place to refer to the retirement of Sir Howard Elphinstone from the representation of Lewes. This gentleman (illegible text) was an unsuccessful candidate for the representation of Hastings in 1881 and ’32, but was elected in 1835 along with Mr. North, the votes obtained by the Liberal and the Radical being on that occasion 665, as against 316 that were recorded for the losing Conservatives, Planta and-.Brisco. In i841 Sir Howard declined to be re-nominated for Hastings on account of what he described as a ruinous expense. Mr, Hollond, therefore, took his place at Hastings, whilst Sir Howard obtained a seat for Lewes. ‘That seat was, however, obtained at a cruel cost, the electors of that borough being even more exacting than Hastings. In the month of March, 1847, after six years’ service in the cause of Liberalism for Lewes, Sir Howard Elphinstone accepted the office of the Chiltern Hundreds, and addressed his constituents as follows :—
“I regret that circumstances will prevent my attending with regularity to my duties during the remainder of the present Parliament. I therefore feel it necessary to resign into your hands the trust which you have confided to me. I shall always look back with grateful satisfaction to my connection with your borough, during which period I have been able to assist by my votes in those great social improvements which have now become settled by the laws of the land. I hope that at some future day it will be in my power to solicit at your hands a renewal of the confidence with which I have been honoured the last six years.”
The death, in 1847, of Sir Joseph Planta, who at one time was Sir Howard’s political rival, has already been referred to, with added memoirs of that estimable parliamentarian.
