MEETING OF SURREY FREEHOLDERS.
Thursday a numerous meeting of the freeholders of Surrey took place at the Elephant and Castle Tavern, relative to the election of Mr Briscoe, who has declared his intention of starting as a candidate for the representation of the county in opposition to Colonel Joliffe, the present member for the borough of Petersfield. Mr Briscoe is a magistrate of Surrey, and has distinguished himself on several occasions by the strong and zealous exertions he has made in order to abolish the practice of placing female prisoners on the treadmill, a species of punishment which he has always maintained destroys the health and undermines the constitution of those who are condemned to labour at the wheel.
The Chairman (Mr. Pallmer) regretted that the chair was not filled by some individual better qualified than himself to perform the duties of the situation; but so far as regarded his zealous efforts in promoting so desirable an end as that for which they had met—namely, to give their support to a deserving and independent man at the ensuing election—he would not succumb to any man in the county. He was present, he said, at a recent meeting, held by the friends of Colonel Joliffe, and he (Mr Pallmer) was that freeholder who put the questions to Mr Barclay, then in the chair, as to the political principles of Colonel Jolliffe. The answers which were given to his questions on that occasion were very unsatisfactory indeed: added to which, a previous knowledge of the jobbing the propensities of the colonel rendered that hon. gentleman, in his estimation, one of the last men who should receive the support of the free and independent electors of the county of Surrey. (Hear.) He had advocated the cause of Mr Denison, than whom there could not be selected, either in or out the name of that gentleman should not be ???? with that of Mr Denison, and both returned ???? free and independent representatives of the ???? (Hear.)
Mr Briscoe said, that he had come forward as a candidate for Surrey, owing to the invitation and encouragement he had received from a large body of the freeholders of the county, who attended a meeting, a few evenings ago, at Rotherhithe, at which he was also present. He there publicly declared his political principles, as he had since communicated them through the medium of the public press. He was glad now to have an opportunity of again making a declaration of those principles which he should advocate were he placed in the honourable situation to which he had aspired. He was of course in favour of retrenchment in the various offices of public expenditure, and a friend of religious toleration, and that a reciprocal feeling should exist between the electors and their representatives, without which very little service could be rendered by the latter in parliament. He candidly declared that he should not be at the expense of conveying the voters to the poll; there were, of course, unavoidable expenses, independent of this, which he should defray himself. He well knew the arduous duties that a representative had to perform, and nothing should be wanting on his part to entitle himself to the good opinion of those who honoured him with their interest at the ensuing election. The freeholders of the county of Surrey would now have the opportunity of following the example set by Westminster, Southwark, and Middlesex; the freeholders of which latter county were determined on returning Mr Hume, without putting him to the expense of the contest, which in most cases amounted to a large sum of money. The hon. gentleman concluded by saying, that should he receive the sanction of the meeting, he should not fail to be at his post on the hustings, where, with their support, he would not fear the exertions made in favour of the gallant member for Petersfield.
Mr Hall said, that the people of Middlesex were about setting a great example, and why should the freeholders of Surrey be backward in following the same course with respect to Mr Briscoe, whose political as well as private conduct merited the good opinion of his brother freemen?
Mr Hunt eulogized the public conduct of Mr Briscoe.
Resolutions were then unanimously agreed on, expressive of the sense of the meeting as to the qualifications and fitness of Mr Briscoe to become one of the representatives in the ensuing Parliament, and for the formation of a committee to receive subscriptions to carry on that gentleman's election.