THE MEMBER FOR PETERSFIELD.
Sir William George Hylton Joliffe, Bart., M.P. for Petersfield, and lately appointed Secretary to the Treasury, has long been known in the House of Commons as a leading Conservative of the old type. He was born in Little Argyle street, in the year 1800, and is therefore fifty-eight years old. He is the son of the Rev. William Joliffe, by the daughter and co-heir of Sir A. Pytcher, of Streatham, Surrey. He was created a baronet in 1820; and married, in 1825, the daughter of the Hon. B. Paget. The hon. baronet lives at Meath House, Petersfield, and his family has always had considerable influence in this small borough. His influence, however, has not been allowed to remain undisputed, as the following succinct account of his election struggles will show. Sir William first sat for Peterstield in 1830. In 1832, at a general election, he contested the borough with Mr. John Shawe Lefevre, brother to the late Speaker, and now Clerk of Parliament, and lost by one vote—the numbers being Lefevre 101; Joliffe, 100; but on petition he succeeded in ousting his opponent, and took his seat. In 1835 he was opposed by Mr. Hector Cornthwaite, and was defeated by a considerable majority. Mr. Cornthwaite was a resident banker and brewer, and had gained considerable influence in the town, which, though he had been formerly steward to the Joliffe family, he did not scruple to use against his former patron. In 1837, Sir William beat Mr. Cornthwaite by one, but was unfortunately unseated on petition. But in 1841, he recovered his seat, and seems to have thoroughly established his influence, for he has been Member for Petersfield without interruption ever since. Petersfield is a small borough in Hampshire, with a population of about 6,000 inhebitants. From an early period of our history it used to return two members, but in 1832 the framers of the Reform Bill thought that it would be sufficiently represented by one. It is famous in Parliamentary annals for having sent to Parliament ‟single-speech Hamilton” and George Canning. There are two Secretaries of the Treasury*one to manage the patronage, and the other to take charge of the financial department. Sir William Joliffe succeeds Mr. Hayter as Patronage Secretary, and Mr. George Alexander Hamilton follows Mr. Wilson as Financial. As Patronage Secretary Sir William will be chief ‟whip” to the Government. This honorary office is generally attached to the paid office of Patronage Secretary to the Treasury—for obvious reasons. The Patronage Secretary does not of course dispense all the patronage of the Government —all the higher offices he does not meddle with, and with a great many of the smaller ones he has nothing to do; still he has the uncontrolled appointment of a vast number of officials, such as clerks, excise-officers, tide-waiters, inspectors, provincial post-masters, &c., &c., and derives enormous influence in the House from the judicious distribution of these good thing. Sir William as chief ‟whip” is not comparable to Mr. Hayter in activity, nor has he had a tithe of the experience of his predecessor, but he is deservedly a great favourite with his party, and indeed with all the House; he is so perfect a gentleman, so suave and courteous in his manners. What family Sir William has we do not know, but he has a son in the House—Colonel Hedworth Hylton Joliffe, M.P. for Wells, who, though he should never rise to any important position in the State, will always be a noted man, for he was at Alma and Inkerman, and in the Light Cavalry charge at Balaclava. Sir William Joliffe is a tall, erect man, and bears his years well. He does not pretend to be an orator, but addresses the House with ease and perspicuity when he has anything to say.—Illustrated Times.