PETERSFIELD ELECTION.
PETERSFIELD, JUNE 26.—The Election of a Representative in Parliament for this borough, in the room of Lord Hotham, who sits for Leominster, took place this day before the Rev. J. Whicher, the Mayor of the Borough. Great anxiety had been manifested for several days previous to know who was the intended Candidate, Mr. Atcheson having addressed the Electors, stating it to be his intention not to offer himself at the present moment, and it being generally understood that Colonel Camac also declined offering himself; and it was not till the evening of yesterday that it was whispered that Sir P. Musgrave, the unsuccessful Candidate for Carlisle, was to be proposed on Mr. Jolliffe’s influence for the Borough.
The Mayor proceeded to the Town Hall at 11 o’clock, attended by his Assessor, S. Twyford, jun. Esq. whither he was soon followed by H. Jolliffe, Esq. and Sir P. Musgrave, with their Counsel, Mr. Merewether; Col. Camac, and a large body of Freeholders and inhabitants, having already assembled. After the usual formalities had been gone through, and proclamation made for the nomination of Candidates, Mr. J. Meeres, an ancient Freeholder, came forward and proposed Hylton Jolliffe, Esq. and Sir Philip Musgrave, as Candidates for the vacant seat; but, on its being intimated to him that Mr. Jolliffe was already one of the Members for the Borough, he withdrew his nomination, and Mr. Jolliffe then proposed his friend, Sir Philip Musgrave, assuring the Meeting, that when he had last the honour of seeing them in the Hall, he had not the most distant idea that it would so soon be necessary to call them together; that he should not revert to what had passed in the Committee of the House of Commons, except to say, that he had used every exertion to repel the attempt made to encroach upon the rights and franchises of the ancient Freeholders, by extending the right of voting to the inhabitants, and that he would again stand forward to protect them, if any appeal was made, as he understood was intended, to another Committee, on the subject; and he concluded by entreating their support in favour of Sir P. Musgrave.
The Rev. Mr. Cookson, of Colemore, seconded the nomination, stating that he was sure the Electors would find the worthy Gentleman an honest and a loyal man, and in every way entitled to their countenance.
Sir P. Musgrave then addressed the Meeting, expressing his pleasure in appearing before a Meeting of enlightened Electors, who could appreciate the loyalty and independence of his principles, and pledging himself to support, if he should have the honour of being returned one of the Representatives in Parliament for the Borough.
Col. Camac was afterwards proposed by a Freeholder, but, upon being requested to offer himself as a Candidate, he rose and stated, that on the part of his colleague, Mr. Atcheson, and for himself, he declined offering any present opposition to the Gentleman proposed by Mr. Jolliffe to be the Representative of the Borough. That he did not hesitate to own his hopes were greatly disappointed by the decision of the late Committee against the rights of the Burgesses, who were anciently the legal Electors in the Borough; but that he was happy in assuring the Meeting, that though he felt the highest respect for the Committee, which he knew was for the most part composed of some of the ablest and most independent Members of the House of Commons, he entertained sanguine, and, he trusted, well-founded hopes, that their decision would be reversed, on the appeal which it was intended to prosecute on the part of the real and independent Electors of the Borough, under the sanction of the highest legal opinions. That Mr. Atcheson and himself, though it was impossible for them to enjoy the high honour of representing Petersfield in Parliament at present, were determined steadily and firmly to adhere to the cause of the Burgesses and Freeholders in general, and to omit nothing which might be necessary to enable them to establish their claims to that influence in the Elections which they once enjoyed, and that it would be the highest gratification they (Mr. Atcheson and himself) could feel, to see their efforts crowned with success. That he thought it right thus publicly to state the intentions of the Electors, who were disfranchised by the late decision on their rights, to appeal, that no party might have the opportunity of alleging that he was taken by surprise, or that he was not in so good a situation to defend the right established by the late Committee as he might have been. That for the support with which he had been honoured he felt truly grateful; that he had entered the town a few months since a stranger, but that he had been favoured instantly with the countenance of many most respectable persons, whom he hoped he might now call truly valued friends; and that, animated by the recollection of that support, he should ever adhere to their cause, and feel the deepest interest in their welfare.
Col. Camac then left the Hall, attended by the greater part of the Meeting, and Sir Philip Musgrave was returned without further opposition; and a dinner was given in the afternoon to the voters, who had been collected from “the neighbouring counties” to support his Election.