THE ELECTION CANVAS - S.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.
London, 34 September 1832.
Sue—I was glad to see that you noticed the appearance of Mr. JOSEPH PEASE as a candidate for the county of Durham. As you "know nothing" of hirn except that he is a member of the Society of Friends, allow me to say that your good wishes for his success would have been increased by his personal acquaintance. His father and uncle have long been opulent manufacturers at Darlington. Of their character and rank as men of business and members of society, a confidential connexion with them of no very short standing will enable me to speak. My friend JOSEPH inherits the strong good sense of his father and uncle, with the 'activity of a man Of business, the zeal and principle of a patriot, and the refinement of a scholar. He is every Way qualified for a legislator; and I was delighted to see, as the first Quaker candidate, so honourable and choice a specimen of his sect. Some years since, I was spending -a week at Darlington; and any landlord echoed what I found to be the general, and, I believe, just opinion of his neighbours, in saying that the family in question was a blessing to the town. Representatives such as Mr. JOSEPH PEASE are the natural fruits of a Reform Bill—a blessed exchange findandy lordlings and fashionabk,fops. Lord CLETELA.ND ought to feel himself honoured by giving his support to such a man, While I have pen in hand, allow me to notice an extract from the Devonport Telegraph, copied into last week's Spectator. It states that "the electors of Tavistock, on the recommendation of Lord Joux RUSSELL, have invited Colonel Fox to be a candidate ;" and (the Colonel being a stranger to them) expresses a hope that "he would vouchsafe them some information respecting his political creed." Now, Sir (pardon my stupidity), how is this reconcileable s. with Lord Jour's declaration in Parliament, "that the Duke of Bedford would, henceforth, exercise no influence in the borough of Tavistock ?" Here are the electors inviting (or pretending to invite) a man of whom they kuow nothing, -on the recommendation of Lord JOHN RUSSELL : that is--in plain English. theDuke of BEDFORD orders them to return Colonel Fox, and they will return him. But the electors of Tavistock have another member to return. Who is he to be ? Have they not yet received Lord Join's second " recommendation ?" This paragraph has an ugly look. As a Reformer, I am jealous of Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S good name ; and would fain have the doubts and fears which it suggests, removed. Perhaps some of your Devonshire readers will do me and (what Is more to the purpose) do the noble Lord this favour.
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