Chapter XV: Part 15

A very numerously attended public meeting was held on December 29th, 1858, under the presidency of Elliott Hollier, Esq., Mayor, to take into consideration and determine as to the propriety of carrying into effect, or of memorialising the Poor Law Board to rescind, an order under their hand and seal of office, made and published by them, and dated the 7th day of December, 1858, such order applying to and putting in force forthwith within the said Parish the whole of a certain Act (13th & 14th Victoria, chapter 57), entitled, "An Act to prevent the holding of Vestry or other meetings in Churches, and for regulating the appointment of Vestry Clerks," and under which order the annual salary of the Vestry Clerk for the time being has been fixed at £120, payable out of the Poor Rates. This meeting was very boisterous, severely censuring the action of the Poor Law Board, but it was no use, as the law had to take its unpalatable course.

THE DUDLEY NEW UNION WORKHOUSE.

1859. This long wanted and extensive Poor Law Establishment, was occupied early this year. The cost of the New Union House and Land, was upwards of £26,000; which had to be provided for by the four large Parishes, Dudley, Sedgley, Tipton, and Rowley Regis. The population of these four Parishes was estimated to be 130,000 souls; and the in-door paupers connected with each Parish had, up to this very necessary change, been confined in four wretched habitations, called Poor Houses, which were a thorough disgrace to the Union. The absence of all sanitary provisions and the immorality attending the benighted system of management and control, became a burning shame, and a stain upon our then local authorities. This was all happily removed when the old dens were pulled down, and a modern and more enlightened system of management was inaugurated at the New Union Workhouse. The Poor Rate at that date was two shillings in the pound; now we have to luxuriate on paying four shillings and sixpence in the pound, with our rateable assessment value increased upwards of £50,000. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for they shall see the Workhouse." The New House was built to contain six hundred inmates, but it has been enlarged since then, and now contains seven hundred and sixty-eight souls. Mr. Thomas Shorthouse was then the Clerk to the Dudley Union, and Mr. and Mrs. Stillard were elected the first Master and Matron in the New House.

TO THE INDEPENDENT ELECTORS OF THE EASTERN DIVISION OF THE
COUNTY OF WORCESTER.

GENTLEMEN,

A vacancy having occurred in your Parliamentary Representation,
I have acceded to the request of many influential friends that
I would allow myself to be placed in Nomination.

I cannot but share, as a Worcestershire man, the feelings that
have been expressed to me on all sides, that the successor of
Colonel Rushout ought to be, not only connected with, but a
resident in the County.

Whatever my private principles may be, I cannot, under the
circumstances of the moment, resist this appeal. I therefore
venture to ask your confidence and your support.

To many of you I am personally known, and I shall take the
earliest opportunity of endeavouring to become acquainted with
you all.

While my Political Principles are Conservative, no man can be
more sincerely desirous than myself to promote Progressive
Improvement, both Social and Political; and as I believe these
to be the sentiments of the present Ministry, I should, as your
Representative, give to the Government of Lord Derby a general
but independent support.

I am firmly attached to the Protestant Church of England, and
anxious for the proper maintenance of her venerable fabrics,
but, at the same time I am opposed to the compulsory exaction
of Church Rates from those who conscientiously object to them,
and I would support this principle in any measure which may be
brought forward with the hope of settling this long-disputed
question.

In the same spirit I would be willing to give my support to any
measure which, having for its object the Improvement of our
Representative system, will combine a just desire to extend
popular rights with due regard to the maintenance of the
Constitution.

I also attach great importance to the amendment of our Laws,
and would promote any well considered attempt to effect that
purpose.

I shall be ready to avail myself of every occasion to give you
that explanation of my opinions upon the leading questions of
the day, to which you are entitled from a Candidate for your
Suffrages; and in the meantime I confidently anticipate a
successful issue to the struggle in which I feel myself thus
compelled to engage.

I have the honor to be, Gentlemen,
Your faithful friend and obedient servant,
JOHN SLANEY PAKINGTON.

_Westwood Park, Droitwich, January 28th, 1859._
Committee Room at Dudley, Swan Hotel.

* * * * *

TO THE ELECTORS OF THE EASTERN DIVISION OF THE COUNTY OF
WORCESTER.

GENTLEMEN,

During a most successful canvass, I have so frequently been
requested to express my views upon the leading Topics of the
day, that I believe it will be satisfactory to state more fully
my opinions, which it is impossible to do personally to each
Elector of so extensive a Constituency.

I unhesitatingly pledge myself to Vote for the Total Abolition
of Church Rates, the only practical solution of this irritating
Question.

I attach great importance to the Amendment of our Laws, but
do not hesitate to say, that "Consolidation must precede
Amendment."

I am disposed to Vote for a thorough Reform in the Assessment
of the Income Tax, believing it to press severely upon
Industry, and to be unjust in its mode of application.

As a friend of Education, I am most anxious that every facility
should be given for its more general advancement, and most
assuredly will vote for the Repeal of the Duty on Paper, a Duty
most obnoxious, and the greatest impediment to the diffusion of
learning.

Unshackled by Party ties, _and entirely independent of any
individual influence_, I earnestly solicit your Suffrages, and
though confident of the result of this Contest, I trust the
friends of the Liberal cause will not relax their exertions.

I shall continue my endeavours to become personally acquainted
with each of you.

I have the honor to remain,
Your obedient Servant,
FREDERICK H. W. G. CALTHORPE.

_Perry Hall, January 31st, 1859._

* * * * *

EAST WORCESTERSHIRE ELECTION.

MR. PAKINGTON AND PUSEYISM.

The father of Joey Grimaldi, the famous clown, was an Italian,
who bore the name Delpini and followed the avocation of a
dentist, in London, where it was his lot to reside in 1780, the
year of Lord George Gordon's "No Popery" riots. All foreigners
then fell under suspicion as Papists and cut-throats, and the
harmless tooth-drawer, when the infuriated mob were firing
the dwellings of known or suspected Romanists on all sides of
him, followed a custom which obtained in those days of terror,
of labelling your house with an inscription signifying either
devotion to Protestantism or hatred of Popery. So Delpini
chalked upon his door, in the best English he could command,
"Good people all take notice, dis house is a true Protestant."

Mr. Pakington hoists the same signal, and makes proclamation,
"Good people all, Electors of East Worcestershire, take
notice, dis house"--_videlicet_, the Pakington house--"is a
true Protestant, and don't believe any insinuations to the
contrary." Delpini's label, it is related, saved his premises
from conflagration; Mr. Pakington's will not, I imagine
save him from defeat. I propose to offer a few remarks in
illustration of what Mr. Pakington's true Protestantism means,
and what it has led to in his instance.

Mr. Pakington says, "Having reason to esteem the excellent
private character and charitable exertions of Mr. Liddell,
and consequently disapproving the abuse of which he has been
the object, I could not do otherwise than vote against Mr.
Westerton's election." I esteem the excellent private character
and the charitable exertions of Mr. Pakington for the promotion
of education and morality, but I shall certainly do otherwise
than vote for him at the coming Election. The Pope of Rome
bears an excellent private character, and is well reputed for
charitable exertions. He has also been, I dare say, improperly
and undeservedly abused. Recognising all this, does it furnish
any reason why I should tender my adhesion to the Pope, or any
excuse for my adhering to him, or favouring his religion? Mr.
Westerton was put forward as Churchwarden by the party in the
Church who were adverse to Mr. Liddell's Romanising practices.
As a candidate he represented the true and wholesome Protestant
element in religion, as opposed to the representative of the
doctrines of Auricular Confession and a Semi-Popish form of
worship, just as Mr. Calthorpe represents the Liberal element
in politics--the principle of progress; and Mr. Pakington the
Conservative, or rather the Tory element--the principle of
keeping in office by being the "humble servants to command" of
the House of Commons. The contest between Mr. Westerton and Mr.
Davidson was a contest between Protestantism and the Romanistic
party. It was watched throughout Great Britain with the deepest
interest, for it was felt that the result would be to ensure
the victory of religious truth, or give a disastrous triumph to
the defiled and adulterated pseudo-Protestantism--the "mongrel
church," as the Hon. and Rev. F. Baring truly called it--of
Mr. Liddell and his backers. At that election the fate of the
Protestant Church in England was weighed in the scales against
the false doctrine, heresy, and schism of the Tractarians. Most
happily for the country, most fortunately for the interests of
mankind, the good cause preponderated. Tractarians kicked the
beam, and all of us felt that a great mercy had been vouchsafed
to the afflicted Church. But no thanks to Mr. Pakington.
He flung his weight into the scale along with auricular
confession, crosses, flowers, candles, images, and other
play-things of Puseyism, and so far as by his voice he could,
comforted and favoured the partisans of Romish observance as
opposed to the purity and simplicity of Protestant Worship.

In that day--the day when Mr. Westerton was doing battle for
Protestant interests with spirit and resolution worthy of a
martyr--where was Mr. Pakington? Every one felt that a great
crisis was impending in the history of the Church, and never
was the Scriptural adage, "He that is not with me is against
me," brought more closely home to Protestant breasts than at
that moment. But where was Mr. Pakington? Not merely was he not
with us; he was arrayed openly against us, and it might have
been his vote, for aught he knew,--for the numerical difference
between the candidates was trifling--that would have given a
heavy blow and serious discouragement to Protestantism, by
placing in the ascendent that party in the Church, whose sole
end and aim is to bring back England to the bosom of the Roman
fold, from which, as they conceive, she has ignorantly and
perversely strayed.

And what is the excuse Mr. Packington offers--for he feels
bound to make some apology--for having thus turned his back
upon Protestantism? By alleging Mr. Liddell's excellent private
character, his charitable exertions, and the abuse of which he
has been the object. In the same way any good and charitable
and abused individual, though of Red Republican principles,
might obtain Mr. Pakington's vote, the consideration with
him being, not whether he agrees or differs with a man's
principles, but that a man--to entitle him to support--should
be of excellent private character, and equally distinguished
for charitable exertions and immense obloquy. When the vital
interests of Protestantism are at stake, it is not the time
to allow minor considerations to influence the mind and to
sacrifice them to the private character of any individual,
however excellent or however improperly abused. When the enemy
is in front and the battle joined, it would be base to slink
out of the ranks from consideration for a private friend
engaged with the opposite party.

The vote for or against Mr. Westerton I am disposed to
make a touchstone of sincerity, as regards attachment to
Protestantism, or the reverse. Mr. Pakington may write up
and call out as much as he pleases, "Good people all, take
notice dis house is a true Protestant;" but he must excuse
my saying that, after his vote against Mr. Westerton for
the churchwardenship of Knightsbridge, I can attach no
confidence to his professions. True Protestantism may have
his lip-service, but false Protestantism, with its depraved
doctrines and soul-sinking mummeries, had his countenance and
his vote.

On the other hand, Lord Calthorpe--the father of the Liberal
candidate--has uniformly and signally distinguished himself
by his zeal on behalf of evangelical religion, and his
steadfast resistance to the insidious aggressions of the
Tractarian faction. His son--early trained in the same
principles--is animated with the same feelings and convictions,
which will produce the same fruit; and, when such a man
invites my suffrage, as a candidate for the Legislature, I
cannot doubt--even without regard to politics--that I ought
unhesitatingly to prefer him to Mr. Pakington, or I feel that I
should have small claim to subscribe myself

A PROTESTANT.

_February 4th, 1859._

* * * * *

EAST WORCESTERSHIRE ELECTION!

Mr. CALTHORPE has much pleasure in tendering his best thanks to
the Electors of Dudley for their very decided and flattering
support. He regrets the impossibility of personally canvassing
all the Electors, and respectfully invites them to meet him at
the LANCASTERIAN SCHOOL ROOM, DUDLEY, on MONDAY Evening next,
the 7th day of February, at seven o'clock.

_Mr. Calthorpe's Committee Room, Old Bush Inn, 5th February,
1859._

* * * * *

EAST WORCESTERSHIRE ELECTION.

BROTHER ELECTORS,

Mr. PAKINGTON asks who is Mr. CALTHORPE, and how dare
he presume to intrude himself upon the Electors of East
Worcestershire? I would reply by asking what claims of
pre-eminence Mr. PAKINGTON possesses in thus questioning your
right to select for yourselves that person you consider most
fitted to represent you, and upon what ground does he base his
expectations of obtaining your support? Certainly not upon
the exhibition he made at the Lancasterian School on Monday
Evening, when he either had no principles to explain, or they
were so antiquated that he lacked the power or ability to
make them understandable to his audience! Can it be upon his
desire to _dole_ out to you the very smallest modicum of Reform
which may be possible, or that you must be pleased to wait
a little longer, until you are more capable of appreciating
it? I am quite willing to give Mr. PAKINGTON all the credit
he so eloquently pleaded for on Monday Evening, to which his
efforts on behalf of education fairly entitle him; but I
cannot understand how it is that he should deny to the people
a fair participation in those rights and privileges which that
education so properly qualifies them to exercise. Is it that
he would continue that animosity and those heart-burnings
which the exaction of Church Rates has so long occasioned,
or does he still desire the dominance of an Ecclesiastical
authority which, since the reformation, the Protestant spirit
of the people of England has declared shall not exist in this
country? Does he think that you will support him on account of
the resistance of himself and his party to the establishment
of those great commercial principles which have tended so
largely to develop the prosperity of this Country, and so
materially to increase your own happiness and comforts? How
dare Mr. PAKINGTON sneer at Staffordshire men representing
you, when all so well recollect the insidious attempt of Sir
John to transfer you to that County, and which, had not your
timely and generally expressed indignation prevented, Mr.
PAKINGTON would not now have had the honour of soliciting
your suffrages; Mr. CALTHORPE is a progressive, consistent
Liberal--one whose principles are adapted to the spirit of
the times in which we live; he comes fairly before this great
County constituency with stated opinions, and soliciting from
it a Seat in Parliament. He does not attempt to get there by
the exercise of an influence Mr. PAKINGTON so magniloquently
talked about, and which we all know is so kindly exercised in a
Borough with which he is connected. Is it not that Mr. JUNIOR
PAKINGTON is put forth as a feeler against the time when, very
probably, that Borough may find itself in Schedule A of a New
Reform Bill, and your votes may then be asked for a Senior
member of the family? I will venture to answer that as Free and
Independent Electors of East Worcestershire you will not thus
be dictated to, but will return Mr. CALTHORPE TRIUMPHANTLY AT
THE HEAD OF THE POLL!

I am,
Yours respectfully,
A FREEHOLDER.

* * * * *

ELECTORS BEWARE OF TORY TRICKS!

MR. CALTHORPE is against opening the Crystal Palace, Theatres,
and such other Places of Amusement on Sunday.

* * * * *

EAST WORCESTERSHIRE ELECTION.

TO THE ELECTORS AND NON-ELECTORS OF EAST WORCESTER.

GENTLEMEN,

I regret that the friends of Mr. Pakington have thought it to
their interest to resort to open misrepresentation, and in the
vain hope of injuring me in your good opinion are industriously
circulating a report that I am "in favor of opening the Crystal
Palace and Theatres on Sunday."

This is wholly untrue. I never made or approved of such a
statement.

I am not in favor of opening the Crystal Palace, or Theatres,
or any such places of Amusement on Sunday.

I am Gentlemen,
Your faithful Servant,
FREDERICK H. W. G. CALTHORPE.

_Central Committee Room, February 11th, 1859._

* * * * *

MR. PAKINGTON'S LAST.

"Nothing extenuate, nor
Aught set down in malice."--_Shakespeare._

Brother Electors and Friends of the eastern division of the
county of Worcester, _my_ kind friend Lord Ingestre could not
do _me_ a greater kindness than that which he has now done
_me_, namely, that of addressing you in his usual eloquent,
terse, and pointed style, to introduce to you _my_ humble self,
the present candidate on the Conservative interest, and of
expressing as he has so forcibly done the political views which
_I_ entertain in common with him. _I_ am engaged, gentlemen,
as you are all of you well aware, in a most vigorous, a most
determined, and, from what _I_ hear on all sides of the county,
anything but a desperate contest. _I_ am carrying it through
with vigour, and _I_ will win if _I_ can. Gentlemen, as you
must be well aware, labour of all kinds, whether of the body
or the mind, involves considerable fatigue. That is the case
in regard to every kind of labour, but when you find a crisis
like the present at a time when from accidental circumstances
_I_ had to undergo on other grounds and for other purposes a
most severe week of mental labour, and when at the end of
that week _I_ had to commence this battle, which, from certain
reasons to which _I_ will not now further allude, required
in _my_ particular instance a tremendously oppressive amount
of energy and exertion both of body and of mind, under these
circumstances it is a great kindness on the part of _my_ friend
Lord Ingestre that he should take one half _my_ duties himself,
in stating as he has done what are _my_ personal qualifications
and _my_ political views. You all know what _my_ father's
political views are, and if you want to know _mine_, gentlemen,
they are contained in _my_ address, which has been circulated
throughout the county. But _I_ tell you that, important as _I_
consider political matters to be, at this present crisis and
in this present battle, politics with _me_ are as nothing.
_I_, however, know all electioneering dodges very well; _I_
know where _I_ am and whom _I_ am now addressing; _I_ am going
to win. But politics, as _I_ said, are now second with _me_.
_I_ am not fighting a political battle so much as one of
high-minded independence as a Worcestershire country gentleman.
God forbid that _I_ should boast of anything like an ancient
family. The _Pakington_ family have been for three hundred
years residing near here, and in the very centre of the county.
_They_ have been Worcestershire people to the backbone. _I_
am now residing near Worcester, where _I_ am endeavouring to
do _my_ duty in that station of life to which _I_ am called.
_I_ am trying in various ways to exert around _me_ that kind
of homely influence which kind and homely thoughts and actions
will always produce by whomsoever exercised. _I_, for _my_ own
part, have no ambition for Parliamentary life. If _I_ wanted a
seat in Parliament for its own sake _I_ know where to get one.
_I_ have been asked over and over again, by gentlemen of the
highest influence, to stand for this or that place, to go here
and to go there, in different parts of the country, and have
been regarded as a likely candidate for a seat in Parliament.
But _I_ have said "No, _I_ don't want to be a Parliament man,
_I_ have no desire to go to Parliament myself, but if ever
_I_ represent a place it shall be, not a town in the north or
south of England, but some town or division of a county that
has some claim upon _me_, and where _I_ have as a country
gentleman some kindly feeling entertained towards _me_ and _my_
family." These, gentlemen, are _my_ private feelings. You will
see that in the address _I_ have published _I_ have made use
of the expression "Whatever _my_ private preferences may be."
These are the circumstances to which _I_ allude. But now _I_
am ready to state briefly what are _my_ principles. _I_ need
hardly repeat that _I_ am a true Conservative, because _I_
believe true Conservatism to consist in aiding social progress
and the reparation, when necessary, of those institutions of
our country to which England owes its present greatness. As
your representative, it will be _my_ duty to support that
Government which is to give the greatest stability to the
nation at large, and the greatest amount of happiness to the
community. So far as _I_ am able to judge, the Government of
Lord Derby fulfils these requirements, and _I_ believe they
will not waver. _I_ am fighting in three different capacities.
Firstly, as the son of a Worcestershire man, _I_ won't have
two Staffordshire members; secondly, _I_ am a Conservative,
not one of the stiff old Tories of the old school. _I_ am a
Conservative of the present day, of this very hour. _I_ am
unpledged by any past political measures. As a Conservative and
as a politician _I_ should object to having another gentleman
of strong Liberal opinions to represent the agriculturists
of the Eastern Division of the county of Worcester, the
majority of whom are, _I_ believe, eminently Conservative. _I_
must, therefore, as a Conservative, strongly object to Mr.
Calthorpe. Thirdly, _I_ object to Mr. Calthorpe, and this is
_my_ strongest point of all, casting aside politics, that which
is the strongest objection _I_ feel, and which is now the key
to _my_ actions, is that _I_ am an independent man, and _I_
will not see _my_ county represented by a comparative stranger
without offering _my_ services to the electors. That is the
keystone to _my_ movements. _I_ know whom _I_ have got to deal
with. _I_ know where Mr. Calthorpe comes from. It is a matter
to _me_ of no consequence who wrote the letter requesting him
to come forward as a Candidate, but _I_ know his supporters
right and left, every one of them. Gentlemen, _I_ object to
Mr. Calthorpe coming here. He may be a Staffordshire man, or a
Warwickshire man, but he certainly is not Worcestershire. His
father, Lord Calthorpe, is a man whom all persons must respect
and justly respect. He is a friend of _my own_ father, and _I_
know him well. Mr. Calthorpe himself was a school-fellow of
_mine_, but, as he tells you himself, he has since been almost
round the globe, and _I_ have not seen so much of him as _I_
could have wished. _I_ like him personally very much, but he
appears to have picked up some very funny notions. The last
time that _I_ spoke to him he was an out-an-out no end of a
hog man, and no mistake about it; but he was then just about
starting for Timbuctoo, China, or some other distant place,
and _I_ have not seen him since. (Laughter). His property is
just of that kind that might occasion a mistake. It is situate
near the confines of Worcestershire. The bulk of it is away
from this county, and neither Lord Calthorpe nor his son have,
_I_ verily believe, so much land in the county as you can
stick your hat on. (Renewed laughter). Where does he date his
address from? Perry Hall. Where is Perry Hall? (A voice, "It is
a garden down at the bottom of the town," and great laughter).
_I_ am very glad to hear it, and if the hon. gentleman who
gave _me_ the information can tell _me_ of his own knowledge
that Mr. Calthorpe was there when he wrote his address, _my_
argument is at an end. We know where Westwood Park is, and
we know where Witley Court is, but where is Perry Hall? (A
voice, "It is Mr. Calthorpe's _villa_.") But, gentlemen, Mr.
Calthorpe's first address is a puff of smoke; it's a blind,
and he finds it is so. (A voice, "Not he.") He does. Why does
he not attend public meetings? (A voice, "He's a-coming.")
Let him come; _I_ am ready to meet him anywhere he pleases.
_I_ say that Mr. Calthorpe's first address is a sham; that he
finds it so himself, and therefore he is obliged to publish a
second, which _I_ now hold in _my_ hand. (A voice, "There's a
third coming out.") _I_ am glad to hear it; let it come. (Great
confusion.) As _I_ was saying, Mr. Calthorpe's address is all
moonshine. His friends got frightened; the views he expressed
were not satisfactory, and therefore he has published another,
stating stronger views. _I_ am a man of business, and when
_I_ write _my_ views in one letter _I_ don't write a second,
still less a third for that purpose. _My_ occupation now as
a candidate is a matter of business, and _I_ am not going to
write a second address; _I_ don't need it. Here (pointing to
his first address) are _my_ views, _my_ opinions, and all about
_myself_; _I_ don't require a second address. As _I_ said, _I_
don't enter now on political differences at all but there is
one question to which _I_ must allude. As _I_ have told you,
_I_ am playing a deep game; and with _me_ it is a determined
one. Those who know _me_ privately, and _I_ am surrounded by
kind friends, know that when _I_ make up _my_ mind as _I_
have done in this contest, _I_ carry _my_ object through if
possible, so _I_ am going on determined to fight this battle.
_I_ am fighting a good fight, and when a move is made in this
game of political chess between _me_ and _my_ adversary, be
he who he may, _I_ will meet it if _I_ can by a good move of
_my_ own. Mr. Pakington then referred to the following attack
upon him in the _Morning Advertiser_:--"Mr. Pakington, his (Mr.
Calthorpe's) opponent, is, on the contrary, a bigoted Puseyite,
and one of the most prominent partisans of the Hon. and Rev.
Mr. Liddell, in the parish of Knightsbridge." On which Mr.
Pakington, among other things, said--_I_ wish to explain that
_I_ merely resided in that parish, subscribing to the schools
and attending divine service at the church; but having now
ceased to reside there, _I_ have nothing further to do with
it, and _I_ indignantly deny the charge made. He concluded by
saying--_I_ see that some of you are getting a little fatigued,
and _I_ am tired myself. _I_ am very glad to have had this
opportunity of meeting you, and _I_ hope to do so many more
times. We cannot do so too often. As _I_ said before, _I_ will
come again if _I_ am wanted; but _I_ have duties of a like kind
elsewhere, for which duties _I_ now go to prepare. _I_ am very
much obliged to you for your kind reception.

_Note_,--The "Printer's Devil" has exhausted his stock of _I_'s.

QUERY--Why is Mr. PAKINGTON like a Peacock?--Because his _tale_
is full of I's.

* * * * *

EAST WORCESTERSHIRE ELECTION.

TO THE ELECTORS AND NON-ELECTORS OF THE EASTERN DIVISION OF THE
COUNTY OF WORCESTER.

GENTLEMEN,

The friends of Mr. Pakington having failed to injure Mr.
Calthorpe, by the false statement that he is the Nominee of
Lord Ward, have resorted to another falsehood which has led to
the following correspondence.

"EAST WORCESTERSHIRE ELECTION."

"_Teddesley, February 13th, 1859._

"MY DEAR INGESTRE--

"I take the liberty, to which I am sure you will not
object, to publish my letter to you, and your answer.

"I remain yours sincerely, "HATHERTON.

"The Viscount Ingestre, M.P., &c."

* * * * *

"_Teddesley, February 11th, 1859._

"MY DEAR INGESTRE--

"My attention has been called to a paragraph in the _Daily
News_ to the following effect:--

"'Lord Ingestre, and Mr. Lygon, and Mr. Dowdeswell,
formerly M.P. for Tewkesbury, addressed an assembly
of farmers from a window opposite the Corn Exchange,
Worcester, on Saturday afternoon. In the course of Lord
Ingestre's observations, he said the idea of bringing
forward Mr. Calthorpe as a representative for the Eastern
Division of Worcestershire was hatched by Lord Hatherton,
at his seat at Teddesley, and then communicated to Lord
Ward, who gave a ready acquiescence to the suggestion.'"

"What purely accidental conversation I may have had with
Lord Ward about East Worcestershire Election, at a visit he
paid here--just after Lord Northwick's death--in pursuance
of an engagement made a fortnight before, it is unnecessary
for me to relate. But the statement that 'the idea of
bringing forward Mr. Calthorpe as a representative of
East Worcestershire was hatched by me at this place,' or
anywhere else, is without a shadow of foundation.

I never was consulted or likely to be about the choice
of a candidate: and except one letter from a customary
correspondent conveying to me the information that Mr.
Calthorpe's friends had resolved to bring him forward, of
which I then heard for the first time, I never had with any
one any kind of communication respecting his election.

"I am sure that after this statement, you will pardon my
enquiry whether you have been correctly reported in the
above paragraph--and if so--on what authority you have made
such a statement?

"I remain yours sincerely,
"HATHERTON.

"The Viscount Ingestre, M.P."

* * * * *

"_Ingestre, Stafford, February 12th, 1859._

"DEAR LORD HATHERTON,

"The report of what I said at Worcester is substantially
correct with this exception:--

"What I said was 'the scheme was hatched _at_ Lord
Hatherton's, at Teddesley,' &c. Not _by_ Lord Hatherton.
You ask me on what ground I made that statement.

"I reply, I knew Lord Ward had been at Teddesley, I
believed that Mr. Calthorpe met him there, and knowing the
interest you take in political matters as evinced during
the last Stafford election, I thought it probable that the
idea of starting Mr. Calthorpe for East Worcestershire was
hatched at your house. If I have made any mis-statement
in this matter, I much regret it, but I believe the
probabilities were sufficient to bear me out in the
assertion that I made at Worcester.

"Believe me, dear Lord Hatherton, sincerely yours,
"INGESTRE."

The reply of Lord Ingestre reduced to plain language, says a
writer in the _Daily Post_, amounts to this, "I knew that Lord
Ward had been at Teddesley, therefore I imagined the rest, and
what were suspicions only I affirmed as facts."

Notwithstanding Mr. Calthorpe's repeated denial of his ever
having expressed a wish that Theatres, the Crystal Palace, and
such like places of amusement should be opened on Sundays, Mr.
Pakington's friends have repeated the calumny,--Mr. Calthorpe's
Central Committee beg to inform the Electors of the Public
Meeting held at Stourbridge, on Monday last, that Mr. Calthorpe
not only contradicted this false and calumnious statement, but
emphatically declared that he is OPPOSED to the opening of
Places of Amusement of any kind on Sundays.

_Central Committee Rooms, Stourbridge, February 15th, 1859._

* * * * *

EAST WORCESTERSHIRE ELECTION!

THE INCOME TAX!

At PERSHORE, on Monday last (see _Times_ report), Mr. CALTHORPE
stated, "that he would not pledge himself to vote for a repeal
of the INCOME TAX!"

After this, what do you think of the would-be _Liberal_
Candidate?

Is Liberal or Illiberal the proper term for such a Candidate?

Think, and judge for yourselves!

DOWN WITH THE INCOME TAX!

* * * * *

EAST WORCESTERSHIRE ELECTION.

Mr. CALTHORPE'S COMMITTEE earnestly request all their friends
to refrain from any allusion, much less retort, to the
scandalous and malicious production issued by the other side.
The party who can thus, for electioneering purposes, malign
and insult their neighbours and fellow-townsmen, and what is
infinitely worse, their townsmen's wives and daughters, may
be safely left to the contempt of all right-minded men of all
parties, which cannot fail to be their natural reward.

_Mr. Calthorpe's Committee Room, Old Bush Inn, Dudley, 17th
February, 1859._

EAST WORCESTERSHIRE ELECTION.

February 22nd, 1859. This was considered to be the most severe contest, for a single seat, which had ever taken place in this division of the county. There had not been a contest at all during the last 22 years in this division; and it had become a matter of doubtful speculation as to which party, Tory or Liberal, could carry the day. The Tories had from almost time immemorial held possession of Worcestershire, both East and West, and it required a stout heart and a willing hand to engage in this political strife. The new coming Reform Bill was selected as the battle ground for the Liberals, and the Tories stuck to their old traditions, and relied upon their usual coercion, and their alleged doings for the county in the past. So far as Dudley was concerned, we had to fight under manifold and peculiar conditions, for the "head and front" of the old Tory party had but recently forsaken their old love and "gone over into the camp of the rabble herd," to help the Radicals in the two last Borough Elections to defeat the hated and intolerable territorial influence; so that the county electors in Dudley, both Liberals and Tories, were all sailing in the same boat against the Tory county influence. Men had to decide upon voting for the pocket or the conscience; and singular indeed was this mixed medley of Tories, Liberals, Conservatives, old Whigs, hot-heated Radicals, and seditious Chartists, hurrying with bated breath to the same Poll. There was much satisfaction felt on this occasion that we had two highly respectable gentlemen as our candidates; the Honourable F. H. W. G. Calthorpe coming forward as the Liberal candidate, whilst the Tory interest was endorsed by the candidature of Mr. John Slaney Pakington, son of Sir John Pakington, a Worcestershire man. The freeholders in Dudley were placed on the horns of a dilemma, by the fact that the Tory, or Badger party as it was called, on this occasion adhered to the traditions of their party, although at two recent Borough elections they had renounced their political opinions, and joined hand and glove with Mr. Sheridan, and the Radicals and Chartists.

The Liberals, the Whigs, and the Liberal Conservatives, energetically espoused the cause of Mr. Calthorpe, and were successful, with the county, in placing him at the head of the poll by a majority of 321 votes.

As to the fitness and mental qualifications of the two candidates, there could not be one moment's doubt of the superiority of the Liberal candidate's claims upon the electors, for Mr. Calthorpe was a clear-headed business man, whereas Mr. Pakington was a young, docile gentleman, little acquainted with the rough usages of political life, and was feared to be a mere passive instrument in the hands of an unscrupulous political faction; and what made matters worse for his success, was his utter inability to talk and deliver himself of the political opinions he was credited to possess.

On February 22nd, 1859, this election came off, with the following results at all the polling places:--

CALTHORPE. PAKINGTON.
Dudley 343 176
Stourbridge 553 244
Halesowen 326 131
Kings Norton 329 289
Bromsgrove 248 228
Droitwich 163 220
Evesham 118 251
Pershore 137 310
Shipton 67 114
---- ----
2284 1963
---- ----

Majority for Mr. Calthorpe, Liberal, 321.

This was considered a great victory against the then Tory Government and the Lygon interest, which had always ruled this division of the county.

There was more political fun, chaffing, and coat turning on this occasion than had ever occurred in this Borough since the excitable days of the first Reform Bill, and the plentiful crop of political squibs plainly shewed that both parties were made sensibly alive to the importance of the contest. We had the straightforward Saxon practice of open voting in those days, so that it was well-known to what political opinion a voter gave his allegiance.

TO THE ELECTORS OF THE EASTERN DIVISION OF WORCESTERSHIRE.

GENTLEMEN,

After so severe and protracted a contest, allow me to
congratulate you on the great and glorious triumph you have
obtained for the Liberal cause.

The victory is yours. I am the representative of it. I feel
deeply the proud position in which you have placed me, and
I hope to prove my gratitude by a zealous attention to your
interests and by a faithful service in that cause which you
have sent me to the House of Commons to maintain.

I would fain hope that many of those who have in this contest
been opposed to me, will on future occasions be numbered among
my friends, and I trust that now the battle is over, all
unpleasant feeling may cease.

Gentlemen,
I remain, with heartfelt thanks,
Your obedient Servant,
FREDERICK H. W. G. CALTHORPE.

_Central Committee Rooms, Stourbridge, February 23rd, 1859._

The vote on the New Reform Bill having caused a dissolution, the following addresses were issued:--

TO THE ELECTORS OF THE EASTERN DIVISION OF THE COUNTY OF
WORCESTER.

GENTLEMEN,

Six weeks have not elapsed since you did me the honour to elect
me as one of your Representatives. Grateful for the favour
conferred, I am again a Candidate for your suffrages.

The Government has announced a dissolution on the question
of Reform, and in my opinion they were quite right, first,
in accepting the vote of Thursday, March 31st, as a vote of
want of confidence, and secondly, in referring the question of
Reform to the Constituencies and to public opinion at large.

I feel confident the result will be a good and durable measure
of Reform, calculated to satisfy those classes who are as
yet unrepresented, and to allay those feelings of discontent
excited by the feeble, unjust, and insufficient Reform Bill
recently introduced by the Government.

During the brief period I have been your Representative, I have
neglected no opportunity of recording my vote in favour of the
principles you sent me to Parliament to maintain, and which I
shall ever feel it my duty to support.

I have, I believe invariably agreed with my colleague, and I
trust that all those who intend to record their votes in my
favour, will extend to him the same support and influence.

I hope that I have proved attentive to your interests, and have
shewn every courtesy to those of my constituents who have done
me the honour to correspond with me.

I am, Gentlemen,
Your faithful and obedient Servant,
FREDERICK H. W. G. CALTHORPE.

_33, Grosvenor Square, London, April 7th, 1859._

* * * * *

TO THE ELECTORS OF THE EASTERN DIVISION OF THE COUNTY OF
WORCESTER.

GENTLEMEN,

A dissolution of Parliament having been announced, I beg to
declare my intention of offering myself as a Candidate for the
honour of being one of your representatives for the fourth time.

I trust that you have found me acting consistently with the
principles of civil and religious liberty, which I have
always professed, and I hope that my earnest endeavours to be
attentive to your interests may have met with your approval.

I am well aware of the great inconvenience, and interruption to
business, caused by frequent dissolutions of Parliament, and I
would gladly have supported any moderate measure of progressive
Reform, brought forward by Lord Derby's Government, rather
than have incurred such a result, could I have done so without
depriving a number of my Constituents of their ancient right
of voting, which the bill introduced would have unjustly taken
from them.

On referring to the Division Lists, I am happy to see that my
Colleague, and I, have on all occasions supported the same
measures, so that the votes of your Members are no longer
neutralised by being given in opposition to each other; under
these circumstances, may I venture to hope that all those who
do me the honour of supporting me, and to whom I may have been
longer known, will kindly extend the same to my friend, Mr.
Calthorpe.

I have the honour to remain, Gentlemen,
Your faithful and obliged Servant,
J. H. HODGETTS FOLEY.

_Prestwood, April, 1859._

* * * * *

The Ratepayers are respectfully requested to attend early
to-morrow (Friday) and record their Votes for Mr. MAURICE.

DUDLEY VESTRY CLERKSHIP.

Close of the first day's Poll:--

For Mr. Maurice 135
For Mr. Brooke 73
For Mr. Dingley 39
For Mr. Coulton 17

Majority for Mr. Maurice over the highest Candidate, 62.
Majority for Mr. Maurice over ALL the 3 Candidates, 7.

_April 15th, 1859._

March, 1859. The new Reform Bill, introduced by the Conservative Government,--Earl Derby's--was discussed for eight nights in the House of Commons, and defeated by a large majority, which caused the Tories to dissolve Parliament, and appeal to the electors.

Singular Winter. March 29th, 1859. A heavy fall of snow took place this day and night, it being _the first snow_ we had had during all the winter, 1858-9.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHARLES STANLEY MONCK, VISCOUNT MONCK.

MY LORD,

We, the undersigned, Electors of the Borough of Dudley,
respectfully invite your Lordship to become a Candidate for the
Representation of the Borough, at the next vacancy, and pledge
ourselves to use every legitimate means to secure your return.

We have the honour to be,

My Lord,

Your Lordship's obedient Servants,

George Stevenson
Hy. P. Skidmore
A. B. Cochrane
Edwd. Bowen
Robert Houghton
J. E. Swindell
Thomas Morris
J. H. Smith
John Williscroft
Thomas Stevenson
J. F. Watkins
Chas. Russell
John Finch
John Whitehouse
James Cartwright
C. F. G. Clark
Chas. E. Swindell
Frank Evers
W. H. Brooke
Fras. Sanders
John Cochrane
Sam. C. Davison, B.A.
Thomas Oakes
Edward Wood
W. C. Wood
Geo. Thompson
Solomon Woodall
Danl. Jordan
Thomas Roberts
Henry Cartwright
Joseph Russell
Samuel Golding
David Round
William Cooper
Saml. Woodall
Solomon Higgs
David Pearson
James Griffiths
William Coley
Jos. Griffiths
Jos. Willetts
Abner Smith
Matthew Troman
James Smart
Joseph Brownhill
William Stagg
Benjn. Horton
Charles Hill
John Dawson
Thomas Sheppard
Henry Wood
David Lloyd
John Meese
Joseph Pitt
John Smithyman
Henry Skidmore
James Miles
Joseph Rowley
Charles Stamps
Charles Nicholls
Robert Matthews
Ferdinando Rollason
John Dutton Phillips
Joseph Hingley
John Hingley
Thomas Round
&c., &c.

_March 30th, 1859._

BOROUGH ELECTION.

April, 1859. No sooner had our political elements settled down, after the severe county contest of the preceding February, but we were called into agitation again by the sudden dissolution of the Conservative Parliament, and Dudley was taxed to its utmost to so trim its political sails, and put square men into round holes, in order that its former political triumphs might not have been won in vain. Mr. H. B. Sheridan, the sitting member, sought re-election again, backed by the Radicals and Chartists, and supplemented by a contingent of sturdy old Tories, who felt they had not a shadow of a chance of carrying a man of their own liking; so they determined to keep alive the resentment against the influence which had so recently assailed their cherished dignities, and swept from under their feet all the political power their party was ever again destined to weald, both in the Borough of Dudley and County of Worcester. These offended old townsmen convened a sort of meeting at the Hotel, which was designated "a meeting of Conservative electors," and after some tall talk, with closed doors, it was decided to throw their Tory interest into the Radical Camp, and support the sitting member, Mr. Sheridan; for their political chief publicly asserted his determination to vote for "hog, dog, or devil, in order to spite Lord Ward." Nothing could have ended more suicidically than this repetition to thwart the castle influence. They must have known that as a political party they were impotent; for the recent county election unmistakeably pronounced Dudley to be Liberal; and the Tory interest, with Lord Ward at its back, could not turn the tide of Liberalism in the Borough, so that again to support a trimming, wary candidate, who first came amongst us as a Conservative, and now declared himself to be an Independent candidate, sitting below the gangway in the House, was to entirely abrogate their long-life cherished Tory opinions and support Mr. Sheridan, because they could not bring forward a candidate of their own choice.

Whilst these manœuvres were in hand, the Liberal party were in negotiation with the Reform Club in London to send us down a candidate, and the Honourable Viscount Monck, an Irish gentleman of good family and undoubted administrative qualifications, came down to the Bush Hotel, and after a lengthened interview, he was selected to be run against the Radical-Tory party as a Liberal-Conservative.

A perusal of the Requisition to Lord Monck and the names of those who formed his committee, shews that the thinking portion of the electors were desirous, if possible, of removing a political stigma from the Borough, and throwing over that dubious "incubus" which had sat too long upon purity of motive and action, which Dudley electors had ever been wont to endorse. Mr. Sheridan complained that he had all along one lord to fight against, and now he had two lords in the field; that the charges alleged against him in the Albert, European, and other shady speculations, were matters of mere business, and did not concern the electors of Dudley, and that his promises at the last election had been literally fulfilled. Lord Monck, on the other hand, came amongst us as a stranger, not only to our locality, but he had also enjoyed a seat in the last Parliament where his votes were recorded.

Great efforts were made on this occasion to defeat the old member, Mr. Sheridan, and the narrow majority of 71 votes, aided by all the Tory influence that could be brought to bear in his support, clearly showed that if the Badger element had not been severely pressed into the cause Lord Monck would have been elected.

TO THE ELECTORS OF THE BOROUGH OF DUDLEY.

GENTLEMEN,

Her Majesty's Ministers have announced an immediate dissolution
of Parliament, and the duty of choosing a Representative in the
House of Commons has therefore devolved upon you. Encouraged
by the very flattering requisition I have received from an
influential portion of your body, I venture to solicit your
suffrages at the approaching election.

Having sat in the House of Commons during the entire of the
last Parliament, my opinions on most of the questions of the
day stand recorded in the votes.

During the last thirty years great improvements have been
effected in reference to our Parliamentary Franchises,
our Municipal Institutions, and our commercial and fiscal
condition. I have been long connected both by official and
personal ties with those who, for the greater part of the
period referred to, have been the leaders of the great Liberal
party by whose exertions these changes have been effected. The
principles by which they have been dictated, I desire to see
extended in their application.

The question upon which the country will have to decide at
the approaching election is that of Parliamentary Reform. I
am in favour of a bona-fide extension of the Franchise, both
in Counties and Boroughs, which would, by a lowering of the
present qualification for the suffrage, admit within the pale
of the Constitution an adequate representation of the labouring
classes; and I desire to see a portion of their present
representation transferred from the smaller and less important
Constituencies, to those larger communities which the growth of
trade and wealth has produced.

I am opposed to the proposition for taking Votes at Elections
for Members of Parliament by Ballot, because I think under its
operation corruption could not be detected, and I do not wish
to destroy the influence of the Non-Electors, which would be
the case under a system of secret voting.

In reference to Taxation, I am desirous of taking off, as the
necessities of the State will permit, all those taxes which
press upon trade, or impede the springs of industry, and I
desire to see judicious economy and retrenchment carried into
every branch of the public service.

I consider the Income Tax in its present form presses unjustly
upon incomes derived from trade and industry.

I have always in Parliament voted for the abolition of Church
Rates, because, as a member of the Church of England, I think
the pecuniary gain to the Establishment is not a compensation
for the ill will and odium which the enforcement of the claim
produces.

I am in favour of the most complete freedom of trade, and have
always voted for every measure which tended in that direction.

I desire to see Government aid to Education extended to all
classes of my fellow subjects, without distinction of sect, or
creed.

Should I have the honour of becoming your Representative, the
local interests of your important Borough shall always command
my best attention.

I hope before the Election to have the pleasure of calling upon
each of you, and shall be happy to explain my opinions more in
detail.

I have the honour to be, gentlemen,
Your most obedient Servant,
MONCK.

_Bush Inn, Dudley, April 5th, 1859._

* * * * *

TO THE INDEPENDENT ELECTORS OF THE BOROUGH OF DUDLEY.

GENTLEMEN,

Her Majesty's Ministers having decided on appealing to the
country, a dissolution of the present House of Commons may be
expected in about fifteen days.

I hasten to inform you that it is my intention to present
myself as a Candidate for the honour of again representing your
Borough in the important Parliament about to be assembled.

Unconnected with, and influenced by, any party considerations
whatever, I have watched with much anxiety the recent struggle,
having in view the redemption of my pledge to support any
Government which would give to the Country such a measure of
Reform, as would secure to the people an increased share in the
representation, believing that the Educational progress of the
Working Classes entitles them to be dealt with in a fair and
liberal spirit.

In all other matters connected with the interests of this great
Country, I confidently refer to the Votes I have given, as
your Member; and I shall immediately ask you, both by public
Meeting and by personal Canvass, whether I am not entitled to a
continuance of that confidence which so triumphantly returned
me at the last Election.

Your faithful Servant,
H. B. SHERIDAN.

_House of Commons, April 6th, 1859._

* * * * *

TO THE ELECTORS OF DUDLEY.

Mr. H B. SHERIDAN will arrive in Dudley this evening, to meet
the electors!

Reserve your promises for the man who has won your political
independence, and served you, as your representative,
consistently.

_Dudley, April 6th, 1859._

* * * * *

DUDLEY ELECTION.

Copy of Letters from CAPTAIN BENTON to H. B. SHERIDAN, Esq.,
M.P.:--

Dudley, April 7th, 1859.

DEAR SIR,

The words made use of to Mr. LOCOCK by Mr. SMITH, when in
London, are as follows:--

That LORD WARD paid Five Thousand Pounds away in Dudley per
week for wages, and that, unless the Electors of Dudley and its
neighbourhood voted which way he pleased, he would shut up his
Pits for two years,--therefore, stop those wages. Moreover,
that many of the Tradesmen were under obligation to the Bank,
and their circumstances should be exposed, and that they should
have no further accommodation.

Yours obediently,
JOHN BENTON.

To H. B. Sheridan, Esq.

* * * * *

3, Charles Street, Oxford Road, Islington,
April 8th, 1859.

DEAR SIR,

Having received a letter after I had the pleasure of meeting
you and your friends at Dudley, from Mr. LOCOCK, requesting
me to return to town, I was unable to see you prior to my
departure, and regret it is not in my power to meet you this
evening. I have made you acquainted with certain facts,
relative to the influence of the Priory, and the threats made
use of relative to the Electors of Dudley. I assert such has
been the fact, and beg to say, I will on any occasion publicly
declare that the contents of my former note to you are most
strictly true.