Inuit ELECTIONS: Shiel seems secure of a scat for Lowth.
Mr. Dawson has relinquished Derry. O'Connell, it appears, will stand for Waterford County The Beresfords, it will be recollected, were ousted at last election chiefly by his agency.
Sin R. C. FERGITSSON.—General Fergusson, it appears from the Scotch newspapers, is about to quit Parliament, and we are heartily sorry for it. He has sat for the boroughs of Dysart, Kirkaldy, Kinghorn, and Burntisland, for many years, with singular advantage to his constituents and to the country at large, and with great honour to himself. He has long been known and esteemed, from the constancy of his attendance, his indefatigable habits of business, his minute attention to details, and from the perfect integrity and manliness of his character, as one of the best as well as the most useful members that the North of the Tweed ever sent forth. The retirement of General Ferguson is another strik- ing example of the working of " the system." When he first came into Parliament, many years ago, the interest of his family in the four bo- roughs was greatly less than his conduct has since rendered it ; and the assistance of the St. Clairs was necessary to his election. This led to a promise on his part, that when the Earl of Rosslyn's son, Lord Lough- borough, came of age, he would resign in favour of that young noble- man. There was a report that lie intended to resign at last election. But while Lord Rosslyn and General Fergusson continued to entertain the same independent principles, the former wisely thought that the sup- port of an able and universally respected man was rather better than that of a raw inexperienced boy. The case was altered when the Earl of Rosslyn joined the Administration, and when his former friend—for we believe we may say they are no longer friends—could not on many occasions conscientiously support him. A - regiment was given some time ago to Sir Ronald ; and we recollect the Ministerial jour- nals of the day took praise for the act, as one of mighty generosity in the donors ;—it' was meant as a retaining fee, but failed. Sir Ronald has not spoken so often of late, partly because there has been less occasion for his voice, but his votes have gone as they always did. This was what the Premier could not be expected to brook ; an i it may be reasonably inferred, that Lord Rosslyn would be made to und Tstand, that if he wished to keep his sinecure, he must find for the boroughs which were presumed to be his, a more practicable member. The old promise was insisted on ; General Fergusson resigned; and Lord Loughborough set up for the Fife boroughs. Now, mark the very cavalier way in which the Lord Privy Seal treats, not General Ferguson, but the four boroughs for which General Fergusson sat. They are as inde- pendent of the St. Clairs as the City of London is. They owe the family no- thing. It never did one act to compel their gratitude ; and in point of fact, with the exception of Dysart, where Lord Rossiya resides, there is not one of them cares a twopence about him. Mr. Fergnsson of Raith has Burn- tisland, his influence in Kirkaldy is great, and Kinghorn is decidedly opposed to Lord Rosslyn's interest. Yet, under these circumstances, the four boroughs are coolly asked, as a mere matter of course, to exchange a long-tried and faithful representative, and one who, without being fac- tiously opposed to any Ministry, has pursued, on all questions, great and small, an honourable and independent career,—fur an unknown boy, who comes into the House to support the Cabinet through right and wrong, to eat his beefsteak at Bellamy's, puff his cigar in the smoking- room, wait on the Speaker's bell when the division is called, and allow the nation and his constituents to sink or swim as it shall please Pro- vidence.
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