I have the honour to be,

Gentlemen,

learning my opinions. And I have only been evinced towards him, by those who further to add, that should I be fortu- solicited him to come forward as a cannate enough to obtain a majority of didate, by a strict and undeviating atyour suffrages, you may rely on my un- tention to the furtherance of the im ceasing endeavours being employed in portant and various interests of the dithe advancement of the true interests vision, could have induced him to acof the country, more particularly of cept their invitation. (Cheers.) He was Greenock. a friend to every interest, in short, to be found within the circumference of the district. He had nothing further to recommend him to their notice. He had no high birth or connexions to boast of he could not take out his purse and say, if the electors would not take him for love they should for money -he would not say he would take their farms from them if they would not vote for him; but if they had farms he would endeavour to make them prosper on them. (Cheers.) He trusted, however, that it would be deemed no reproach to

Your very humble servant, (Signed) JOHN FAIRRIE. Greenock, 2. July, 1832.

SPEECH OF MR. PEASE,

AT A RECENT MEETING OF THE

·

ONE OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS; ELECTORS OF THE SOUTHERN DIVISION OF THE COUNTY OF DURHAM. MR. PEASE (after having been intro-him that he had not birth, rank, or duced by Mr. Mewburn), addressed the high associations, to encourage him in assemblage to the following effect:- aspiring to what he regarded as a most If he had listened to the feelings of his honourable distinction. (Cheers.) They own breast,-if he had consulted only must recollect that all men were not the dictates of his own judgment, -as born in castles or palaces-it was not to whether he ought to stand forward as the lot of every person to spend huna candidate for the representation of the dreds and thousands of pounds, just as county of Durham, he should soou have if money was to be picked up in the got a plain and decisive answer. But streets: he knew how difficult it was to when it came to this point,-would he, get money-how hard a task to fill a or would he not, obey the call, not of purse, and how easy a one to empty it 4 or 5 but of 800 or 1,000 of his fellow-(cheers and laughter); and it was precountrymen, who entertained a convic- cisely on these grounds that he was detion that he would protect their rights, sirous of having a seat in the legisla guard their privileges, and watch over ture; it was on these grounds that the their interests, the question arose whe- wishes of his constituents would be his ther or not he was ready and willing to wishes-their interests his interests; and serve them with zeal, honour, integrity, to promote the former and protect the and the greatest application and indus- latter would be the great and leading try he could bring to the task? These objects of all his exertions if, by their were the feelings which prompted him favour, he should be elected one of their to accept their flattering and honourable representatives. (Cheers.) He should invitation. (Cheers.) This, he appre- feel for their difficulties, he would dehended, would effectualiy rid him of any light in their prosperity, he would be a imputation of presumption on his part. sharer in their joys, and would partici(Cheers.) If it were asked what were pate in their sorrows-he would know the purposes he proposed to effect the burdens that pressed upon them ; by being returned as one of their and would ever cherish those feelings representatives to Parliament, he would which a representative ought constantly give the question an explicit answer. to have in his bosom, lest, when he got That nothing but a sense of duty to into the House of Commons, and no his country, and his desire to justify longer saw the faces of his constituents, the partial and kindly feelings that had he should forget their wishes and neces

sities, and think only of attending to his | looking only to the advancement of own wants instead of benefiting them. one interest, and that interest their own, It was for these reasons he was not they might expect to secure that best ashamed to own his rank in life. With of all results-the general prosperity regard to the agricultural and commercial and happiness of the whole country. interests of the country, he did not know (Loud cheers.) He exhorted them to which to mention first; he was quite consider this subject maturely and seripositive they were one and the same. ously; for the duty which the people He knew that commerce could not of England had now to perform was flourish unless agriculture flourished one which did not relate merely to the also; and he was alike confident that affairs of a month or a year-it did not agriculture must go down if commerce involve considerations important only forsook the country. (Cheers.) He to themselves, but matters of the mighmust ever consider their interests inse- tiest consequence to their children, and parable, and if he should be sent to Par- to generations yet unborn; for, accordliament, he would go there as a man ing to the example shown at the apbound to hear both sides of the ques-proaching election, he firmly believed, tion, and after having done so, to decide not only the fate of this country, but as became an honest and enlightened the destinies of the empire, for ages yet legislator, upon the evidence and the to come, would be affected. He was arguments that had been adduced, and anxious, therefore, that the electors of upon these alone. (Cheers.) Further this district should show that they were than this he did not wish to go, and not instruments or slaves in the hands would not. (Cheers.) He was well of any man or party, but that they aware of the cant and slang which were would exercise their votes as they should generally adopted by candidates at elec- think best for the common interest of tions; but he would neither say nor do all classes, and would neither be tricked any thing to please any particular party, nor intimidated on this the most imor to elevate one class of the commu- portant point of public duty. (Cheers.) nity at the expense or by the depression Many bright examples were recorded, of another. (Cheers.) In making this of instances in which, as regarded the remark, he begged to be understood as present crisis, neither threats nor cajoindulging in no reflection upon either of lery could induce electors to swerve his brother candidates. Referring to from the path of independence and inthe present state of public affairs, he tegrity,-to betray the interests of their might, in agricultural phrase, say that country, or to sacrifice the rights of though England had had a grand plough- their children and posterity. (Cheers.) ing-day-though she had ploughed With respect to the agricultural interest, down fields that were over-grown with he was astonished that any individuals, weeds and corruption-though she had calling themselves men of honour, cut down those weeds, and uprooted that corruption-the future fertility of the land would depend upon the sort of seed that should hereafter be sown; for if it were sown with the same seeds as before, however well the ground might be fallowed, the crop would still be the same. (Cheers.) But if they would look at home-if they were to act as though they considered that Reform had to begin at their own doors, and would elect only such men as were qualified to serve their country, by fairly promoting the interests of every branch of the national industry, instead of

should go from place to place, accusing him of designs which, if he entertained them, would be calculated to destroy his own property. This was one of the most ungenerous and unfounded statements that could be uttered; for he would avow here, as he had done in every other quarter of the district, that he considered the agriculture of the country to be the prop and support of our national greatness. (Loud cheers.) He felt perfectly convinced that it was the first and greatest interest of the country, and that if we wished to build a superstructure of commerce or manu

He would not advert at much length to
the state of things as they existed under
the old system.
But he would say,

factures, it must be based upon agriculture. (Cheers.) If he were asked whether he would give to any class peculiar or exclusive privileges, he would that if the people of England had known say "No." He could not wish to see the way in which their money was farmers reduced lower in the scale of squandered, they would have been still prosperity than they were at present. more discontented with their situation (Cheers.) Having his eyes open, and than they actually were. There were such knowing the burdens which the far-lists of " Extraordinaries!" Aye, extramers of this country had to bear-that ordinaries indeed. (A laugh.) Things they had to pay tithes, church-rates, could never be right till the representahighway-cess, and poor-rates-he would tives knew, months before the estimates ask whether any man could, for a mo- were introduced, what these were for. ment, hold it to be either just or expe- It was too much for them to be called dient to bring in foreign corn, grown by upon to vote 5,000l. to this person, for those who had no such imposts to sus- doing nothing, 10,000l. to that for doing tain, and produced by the labour of men very little, and other vast sums, for nofed upon stuff which he should blush to body knew what. How, he begged to offer to an Englishman's lips. (Cheers.) ask, could a seaman stop a leak if he For those reasons, he was an advocate did not know where it was? But the for giving full and adequate protection mode heretofore adopted was, to bring to agriculture. (Renewed cheers.) He forward the estimates when very few would not, now, enter any further into members were in the House, and most the consideration of this question; but of them asleep. In this manner, thouhe should be ready to state, to any gen-sands and millions of the public treatleman who might ask him to do so, sure had been voted away, sub silentio. his opinion upon the rate of duties, and He considered it most necessary to the period for which these duties should watch the tap; and if any of the old be enforced, upon the importation of leaven men were sent back to Parliaforeign grain into this country. He ment, it would be necessary to watch thought it was impossible for the farm-the bung-hole as well as the tap. (A ers to be placed in a worse condition laugh.) He was satisfied the money of than they were at this time; and he the nation could not have gone out of would quit the subject, for the present, the spigot-hole only; or we should not with this observation,-that he felt have been 800 millions in debt. (Cheers.) deeply for the difficulties of the culti- If the people had had such representavators of the soil; and if he had not tives as Joseph Hume-who, longhitherto paid the same attention to headed Scotsman as he was, was yet a agriculture as to commerce and manu- true-hearted friend of the English peofactures, he was not too old to learn, and ple,—so far from having incurred this was willing to receive instruction. (Rei- lavish waste, they would always have terated cheering and loud laughter.) He had a shilling's worth for their shilling declared again he would never go to nye, and it would have hard if, gone Parliament as the advocate of one inter- in driving a bargain, they did not get est. He knew that many persons whom thirteen-pence for their shilling. (Cheers he was addressing were not electors-it and laughter.) If England had been made no difference with him. He knew governed in this spirit for the last it was by the favour of the electors only forty years, instead of going about the be must stand or fall; but if he were world, tinkering the vessels of every returned to Parliament, he should con- other state, regardless of the leak in her sider himself as the representative of own, we should have had occasion to every man, woman and child, in the dis- look into the dictionary to find the trict, and more than that, it would be meaning of the word oppression.' his constant study, wish, and endeavour, (Continued cheering.) But he had heard to represent them effectively. (Cheers.) that sundry colonels and captains, and a

as well as equal taxation. If he saw a couple of poor men settling their differ e.ces by a fight, he could perceive no justice in sending them to the tread

gentlemen who fought duels were admi.ed as bold fellows, and had their bravery recorded in the newspapers. (A laugh.)

certain noble marquis, had been much out paying two guineas a year on acshocked by his observations on this count of the war. If a man looked into point. "What a vagabond," said they, a newspaper to see the price of stocks, "that Mr. Pease must be, to go about he was taxed for the information-if he "the country, in such a way, protesting bought an almanac for 2s., to number "against war!" It was well for such the days of the year, he was taxed fifmen to praise the bridge that carried teen-pence of the price. Even a bunch them well over, it was well for them of matches was deemed a fit subject of and for noble lords to extol a system taxation-it was even trebly taxed-the which gave them honours and rewards. brimstone, the wood, and the string that It was not for them to complain of war, tied them up, each were taxed. In or of the cost it entailed upon the coun-short, every thing, whether consumed try; but it was for him (Mr. Pease) and by the high or the low,—whether it for the people, upon whom the burden was ate, drank, worn or read, was taxof supporting it alighted, to condemned; and all to pay the cost of the late and prevent it-for though others had war. (Cheers.) He was an advocate obtained honours and glory, the only for equal laws for the poor and the rich, honour and glory which the people of England had enjoyed was that of paying the piper. (Cheers and laughter.) The late war had chained a millstone around our necks which, while other nations mill, for a breach of the peace, while were fast rising into eminence, would bow us to the earth for many a long year. But he did not despair. If the reformed parliament would make ecoNeither did he think it nomy the order of the day, be careful of right that a poor man who took a hack the public money, commit no waste, horse for twenty days, should be taxed and pay men only as they deserved, the 1s. 6d. per day, thus paying 30s., while time would come when the national re- a man who could afford to keep a horse sources would be fully adequate to our of his own, in his own stable, was taxed wants, and a great reduction of taxation only 24s. for three hundred and sixtywould take place. (Cheers.) But to five days. He complained, too, of the look a little further into this subject. oppressive operation of the heavy proIf we had not spent our millions in bate duties on personal property, while manning ships and equipping armies, to real and entailed estates were left unbolster up tyranny and oppression in touched. (Cheers.) The existence of different parts of Europe, we might have slavery he had ever considered a blot on had the same quantity of tea for 2d. or our national character. We had heard 3d. for which we now paid 5d. or 6d., from year to year, that it would be done -good drink for 1d. instead of 3d.-away. If it were asked, when? it was tobacco for 2d. instead of 4d.-and so answered, as soon as possible. So it on through the various articles con- had gone on from time to time; and sumed by the poorer classes. (Cheers.) he was afraid, if we had to rely upon The gentleman who rode in his car- the disposition of the planters, or of riage, supported on springs, paid 67. 10s. some ministers of the Government,per annum towards the expenses of the he did not say all of them, we should last war; it was for nothing else-and be no nearer to the attainment of our the poor labourer could not wash his wishes than we were at first. (Cheers.) face, or put on a clean shirt, without There was yet the same want of reading contributing something to the same ob- and instruction; but we could not be ject. A man who had six windows in surprised that those who deprived the his house could not add another, to im- negro of his liberty, shall endeavour to prove his prospect, or add to the health keep him in ignorance of his God, and and comforts of himself or family, with- to rob him of his Sabbath. But if the

Reformed Parliament did not abolish of the establishment'; and he was one this abominable system, he, for one, of those who would not refuse the right should be much mistaken. (Cheers.) hand of fellowship to the minister who He did not mean to speak with severity made the object of his care the cure of of all slave-owners; for many had inhe- souls and that alone-but with the man rited their estates from their forefathers; who spent his time in imitating the but knowing how prone was the heart follies of the day, and who looked not of man to the infliction of wrong, he even after the bodies, much less the thought the power to torment our fel- souls, of his flock, with such a man he low-creatures ought to be taken away, would have no communion. (Cheers.) that the temptation to use it might cease He would not destroy the church for to exist. (Cheers.) After alluding to mere love of change; nor would he the evils resulting from the East India consent to pull down (as we understood Company's monopoly, the injustice done him to say) one stone of the edifice, to the millions of our fellow-subjects in unless he could replace it with a better. India by the Government of the Com- He would not deprive the church of its pany, reprobating the boast of the latter, ornaments and beauties; but he would that they derived a large revenue by wish to see it distinguished by that alone encouraging the debasing superstitions which was really beautiful and enduring. of the country, and expressing his ardent (Cheers.) Mr. Pease concluded an hope that he should shortly see the day eloquent and impressive speech by saywhen the searching hand of reforming, that without meaning anything in would redress the grievances existing in the shape of reproach to either of his the Eastern world, as well as in our brother candidates, he must declare that Colonial possessions in the West Indies. he would never attempt to win the favour Mr. Pease proceeded to say that he of any part of the county by a course of knew the question of reform in the personal conduct which was foreign to church establishment of this country was his habits and principles. He could not one on which the people felt deeply and attend races, or dinners, or balls; he keenly at the present moment. He could not engage in fox-hunting, or the thought it was "too bad" that a farmer pursuit of the pleasures and amusein casting up his accounts at a year's ments of society. He had between 4 end, could not do so without seeing and 500 man in his employment, who, such a desperate blotch on the debtor for their interests and for his, required side of his book, in the shape of out- to be looked after with a watchful and goings for tithes. (Cheers and laughter.) an attentive eye. He could not, he said, He knew the difficulties of the subject, do these things, unless he wished to and felt them acutely. He was anxious, throw his workmen out of employment, above all things, for the spread of god-to ruin his wife and family, and to send liness: but he could not shut his eyes himself into the Gazette. (Cheers and to the abuses of the establishment. laughter.) But he could make arrange(Cheers.) He could not but say that ments which, at a definite period of the there was something very wrong in it; year, would enable him to serve the and that it was time there was a reform division in Parliament; and as he had there. (Loud cheers.) There was a hitherto worked industriously to serve wide difference betweeen the honey-bees himself, he was now ready to devote his and the drones. (A laugh.) And he was time and his industry to serve his also of opinion, that as tithes and all country. (Cheers.) All that he could other offerings were given as a means promise was, that if the Almighty to an end, Parliament and the Govern- should bless him with life and health, ment would do right if, while they paid and inspire him with the same sense of every attention to justice and religion, duty, what honesty, morality, and relithey were to consider how far the means gion required of him, he would continue contributed to that end. (Cheers.) He faithfully, zealously, and conscientiously would not shut his eyes to the benefits to discharge, as a representative of free