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The polling commenced in Finsbury at nine o'clock on Monday morning; and at twelve Mr. Pownall, the Tory candidate, was more than three hundred votes ahead of MT. buncombe, who came next to him ; Mr. 1Vakley being nearly one hundred behind Mr. buncombe, and Mr. Babbage very low on the poll. At two o'clock, Mr. Pownall's majority had increased ; the other candidates keeping at about the same distance from each other, and polling few votes. During the last two hours, Mr. buncombe gained slowly on Mr. Pownall ; but when the poll closed, he was still almost three hundred votes behind ; the num- bers being—
For Mr. Pownall 1,020
Mr. Duncombe 737
111r. Wakley 540 11r. 11 thbage 024 These numbers made it evident that the contest lay between Mr. Pownall and Mr. buncombe, and also rendered it highly probable that
the former would he ieturned if both Mess's. buncombe and Babbage persisted in keeping up the contest. The Conservatives were in high glee, regarding the victory as won ; and heavy odds were laid against buncombe. The next day, however, it soon appeared that Mr. Bab- bage's supporters had transferred their votes to Mr. buncombe, and that the Tory strength was nearly exhausted. At twelve o'clock, Mr. Duncombe was at the head of the poll ; and his majority rapidly in- creased, notwithstanding some of Mr. Pownall's party resorted to the expedient of offering the bribery-oath to the voters for buncombe, in order to kill time. At the close of the poll the numbers were—
For Dunconffie 2,514 1,915 Pownall Wakley 6 Babbage 3r, The numbers were given out on Wednesday by the Returning- officer, and Mr. buncombe was declared duly elected. All the can- didates addressed the persons present. There was nothing remarkable in their speeches. Mr. Babbage complained, with justice, that of the six hundred voters who had signed the requisition to him, only two- thirds had voted for him. He also considered himself injured by the reports that be intended to resign, so industriously circulated against him. Mr. 1Vakley avowed his satisfaction at Mr. buncombe's return— although, during the contest, he had thought it politic to attack that gentleman.
[The result of this election demonstrates the weakness of both the Whig and Tory, and the strength of the Independent party in the borough of Finsbury--a borough considerably more populous than Liverpool or Manchester. The Courier, indeed (which since its self- proclaimed conversion tojesle-milicaistu, has been constantly representing occurrences of every description as favourable to its allies, and tending to moderation), affects to regard the Finsbury election as another proof of the fondness of the nation for the Do-as-little-as-possible system. On Tuesday evening, our contemporary said- " We can congratulate the moderate party on the altered state of the poll in the borough of Finsbury. Mr. Duncombe, it will be seen, has been through the day steadily gaining on his opponent. The defeat of both Mr. %Vakley and Mr. Pownall will be a proud triumph for the lovers of wise tend nouterote roan- sets, particularly as it has been achieved in spite of the olc.tinate vanity or treachery of those who have usurped the name of Liberals apparently to defeat their cause."
The same strain was taken up on Wednesday. The result was de- clared to be " highly gratifying to the friends of liberal and of moderate opinions." A gain, " As an evidence of the moderate and reasonohle, and at the same t hue re- forming disposition of the large body of electors, the Jesuit if this electioo is re- markable as well as gratifying It may console the defeated party to find so much moderation in those who have triumphed."
The Moderate 'rum buncombe !—surely the collocation is both new and strange. But let us see what are the opinions of the successful candidate, whose triumph is identified by the Omrier with the triumph of "reasonable," " moderate," and "wise " men. Ile is pledged to vote, as the True 'Sun correctly states,
" For the Ballot, " For Triennial Parliaments,
" For the repeal of the Itote.paping chases of the Reform " For the admission of all the claims put in by the Dissenters.
" Le has further engaged to resign his seat into the hands of his constituency whenever called upon."
We are certainly of opinion that Mr. Duncombe did not exceed the bounds of moderation in giving these pledges, and we consider the measures which he is engaged to support wise and reasonable. But bow long is it since the Courier took to this way of thinking ?— How- ever, in future we shall of course find in our contemporary a strenuous advocate for Triennial Parliaments, the Vote to Ballot, a democratic change in Lord Althorp's "final measure" of Reform, and the admis- sion of all the claims of the Dissenters, short of a separation of Church and State.]
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