Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

2 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

'F MERIONETHSHIRE ELECTION.\

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

'F MERIONETHSHIRE ELECTION. LIBERAL MEETING AT CORRIS. On Saturday Mr Holland met with a most enthusiastic Teception at Corns. Notwithstanding the unfavourable weather which prevailed, numbers of the villagers went out to welcome him to Corris, and when nearly half a Mile from the village, the horses were taken from the carriage, and ropes being attached hundreds of willing hands lent their assistance to drag him to the place of meeting. The procession was headed by the Corris brass band, and en route to the Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, in which the meeting was held, several flags and banners were displayed, bearing the mottoes—"Croesaw i Corria," Succesi to Holland," "Holland for ever," and other sentiments suitable to the occasion. In the unavoidable ttbsence of Captain Pryce, the chair was taken by Mr Hughes, agent of the Aberllyfeni slate quarries, and he delivered a stirring opening speech, which was heartily cheered. Addresses having been delivered by the Rev. IE van Jones and Mr Morgan Lloyd, the chairman intro- duced Mr Holland, who met with a very cordial recep- tion. Mr Holland spoke in Welsh, addressing himself to those subjects which have formed the gist of his speeches elsewhere, and which have been fully reported. Referring to the Bill which is to be introduced by Mr Osborne Morgan, M. P., respecting the granting of sites for chapels, he stated that the measure had his cordial support, and that he hoped to see such a Bill carried. ^Referring to the state of the party, he said that, of the 2mccess of the liberal cause in the present election no fear nee.l be entertained, if all stood true to their promises, and were not led away by the false statements and asser- -tions which were being put forward by the tory agents -with the view of propping up a lost cause, and damaging the success of his own candidature. The latest returns, according to statements which had that day been sent in to the Central Committee at Dolgelley, gave the liberals a clear majority of over 300, after giving the con- servatives the benefit of the doubtful and neutral voters. In concluding he called upon them to lend him their sup- part, to be either for or against him, not to be neutral, and to show the conservatives by an overwhelming ma- jority that their sun had for ever sunk in Merionethshire. Mr David Owens, Mr Davitl Jones, the Rev. Air Williams (Independent minister), and Mr Humphrey Davies, who was one of the supporters of Sir W. Wynne, the first liberal candidate for the county, also addressed the meeting, and a resolution in favour of the candidature of Mr Holland was unanimously adopted. CONSERVATIVE MEETING AT CORWEN. On Friday afternoon a meeting of the conservative eleo- tors in the polling district of Corwen was held at the Owen Glyndwr Arms Hotel, at Corwen. The principal influential conservatives of the district attended. The district canvassers respectively submitted the result of their canvass, which showed a majority in the polling district of sixty-two in favour of Lieut.-CoL Tottenham, the conservative candidate. Lieut.-Col. TOTTENHAM, on rising to address the electors, was received with general applause. The gallant colonel said-Gentlemen, I was in hopes that the Hon. Charles Wynn would have come here to-day; I have, however, received a letter from him this morning, to say that he is detained with his father, and is sorry that he cannot come here; but will leave Carnarvon for Corwen on Tuesday, and will not move from the neighbourhood until the election is over. It is Mr Wynn's wish that his tenants shall vote for the conservative candidate, and I can assure you that he is not idle at the other end of the county. (Applause.) In his letter Mr Wynn goes on to say that we must make up our minds to win. (Cheers J I mentioned at the meeting we bad this day week that Mr Whalley, with whom I had had some differ- ences on railway matters, had come up to me on the previous Tuesday, and regetted much that he had no vote for the county, but assured me that as a magis- trate of this county he would be most happy to give me every assistance-that he would attend meetings or do anything I wished to assist me. (Ap- plause.) Mr Whalley sent me a letter yesterday to say that I am called to Peterborough on Friday, and therefore cannot attend at Corwen or Bala but have no hesitation in repeating what I stated in conversation with you at Llangollen, viz., that if a Conservative is to be re- turned for Merionethshire, no one could, in my opinion, render greater service to the county at the present juncture, than yourself." He also states that Mr Holland's address is not satisfactory to him as evi- dencing his claim to represent a Welsh county as a liberal. I have no doubt, from what Mr Whalley has stated, and agreeing with me as he does upon the sub- ject of Papal aggression, that he will come forward and give me all the support in his power, notwithstanding that ie is a well-known liberal and represents a liberal con- stituency. (Hear, hear.) On the last occasion that I had the pleasure of meeting you here I stated my opinions upon the different matters before us, and if it is the wish of this meeting I will go into them again as shortly as I can. I have not had much communication with different £ arts ot the county as yet, because the returns have not een sent in, and we cannot calculate with any degree of accuracy as to the manner in which things are going on but I hear very favourable reports, and it is quite clear that Mr Whalley is not the only liberal who is changing his opinions. (Applause.) Mr Whalley dis- likes Mr Gladstone, and considers him a dangerous man. (Hear, hear.) The result of the canvass as far as I know is, that great numbers are of Mr Whalley's opinion, and have ceased to place confidence in him. (Applause.) The Rev. Mr Evans, I learn by a letter from Pwllheli, is happy to hear very encouraging accounts of our prospects in his neighbourhood. I may briefly, if you will allow me, state the grounds upon which I ask for your suffrages. I was requested to become a candidate, and I came for- ward most unwillingly to ask for the honour of being elected a representative of this county in Parliament, as I have already my time fully occupied, as I dare say most gentlemen here know, in my own private affairs; but I could not resist the strong pressure put upon me by the conservatives of this county, by whom I have been in- duced to come forward, though at very great incon- venience. I am a conservative, and I will tell you what a true conservative is, in my opinion. We have a con- stitution which has long been the envy of the world, and which other countries have in vain attempted to imitate; we enjoy the benefits of this constitution, under which this country has become free and prosperous; and there is no liberty in the world equal to that which we enjoy in this country, where every man has a perfect right to do as he likes so long as he obeys the law of the land. There are men who have risen from being merely artificers until they have amassed large fortunes. There is, for instance, my neighbour Mr Byers, who came to this country from Sweden as an artizan, and is now in receipt of about 220,000 a year. (Applause.) We respect the constitution of this country, and its institutions but, at the same time, we are quite awake to any alterations which the progress of events and the development of civilization and education require. If Colonel Biddulph, who owns the fine old castle at Chirk, which has braved the battle and the breeze for centuries, found that the old castle required alterations and repairs — alterations suited to the development of civilization-you would consider him a fool if he were to pull the castle down. There are people, I am afraid, in some parts of this county who would want to pull the old castle down instead of repairing it. This is an illustration of what the conservatives want-to maintain the real principles of the constitution under which we have lived so happily for so many years, but at the same time to make any alterations and improvements that may be considered necessary. (Cheers.) I state in my address to the electors that "I oppose to the utmost of my power the attempts of those extreme politicians who would subvert the laws of pro- Eerty and overthrow those institutions which have hitherto een the glory of the English constitution." I also say, there, that "I sincerely desire to see the Irish land question settled on the basis of doing equal justice to landlord and tenant." On that point the clamour is for what is called fixity of tenure; that is, in other words, that all the tenants should have the possession of the land, irrespective of the landlords. This I cannot agree to I think that it is simple robbery. (Cheers.) On the other hand, I am per- fectly willing to support any measure which would do justice to tenants without depriving the landlord of his property. Every tenant, at any rate, is fully entitled to the value of his unexhausted improvements, provided that they are done with the sanction of the landlord. (Hear, hear.) The sanction of the landlord should be a prelimi- nary requisite; for, if this were not the case, a tenant who might wish to leave his farm, and to annoy his landlord, would probably drain badly, or build a house that would tumble down, and then expect his landlord to pay for it. This is not justice to either party. (Hear, hear.) In an article that I have just read, in a Carnarvon paper it is objected to me that I am not a proper person to discuss the Irish land question because, although I have lived in this country so long, and generally reside in Wales for nine months out of the twelve every year, I have property in Ireland but, considering the time that I have lived in Ireland, I think that I ought to be able to know something about the requirements of both the tenants and the landlords. Supposing a person were suffering from mental or bodily disease, his friends would not call in a doctor who knew nothing at all about his particular class of disease; they would rather prefer a medical gentleman who knew his case and would be much more likely to bring the proper remedies to its alleviation. I should think, with all due submission to the other party, that I ought to be able to give as good an opinion about the wants of Ireland as my friend Mr Holland. (Applause.) The next subject is the education of the people. This is a point upon which all parties are agreed the only question is, how it is to be carried out. The fact is, that the young people of the country ought to be educated at the public expense. Some people, who have very clever children, and who wish to have them educated, have not the means of doing 80 but it is not sufficient that a child should know how to read and write, and understand the use of the globes. he should receive, also, a certain amount of religious educa- tion. (Loud cheers.) I would not interfere in any way with the private opinions of any class but as to ignoring religion altogether in education, it is like putting a sharp instrument into the hands of a child without cautioning him against the improper use of it. (Applause.) As to poor-rates, which are levied upon a very unequal system now, I have no doubt that the system will be altered very shortly; and any measure introduced with that object shall receive my cordial support, if I have the honour of representing this county in Parliament. On one occasion that I had the honour of actino as chairman of quarter sessions, an appeal was brought before the Court against the rating of a slate vein which happened to be worked under-ground. I had studied the subject thoroughly, and the law upon it, and it was with the greatest regret that I had to give the casting vote that this vein was free from rates, because it was a mine. These quarries, although worked underground, bring very large revenues to the proprietors, who ought to share the burden with the agricultural population. (Applause.) The richest people in this county, almost, are the quarry proprietors, and why should they not assist in bearing the burdens, particularly as the large population which they bring into the district for the purposes of their works necessarily entail eventually an increased amount of pauperism and a corresponding burden upon the lacal rates, (Hear, hear.) As to the national expenditure, my humble opinion is this, that you should first of all see that the public services are thoroughly efficient, and then conduct them with the greatest regard to economy. It is no use, when there are such large armies abroad, to unduly cut down our means of defence-an 'unfortunate but a. grave necessity; but, at the same time, I believe that there is a great deal that might be saved, particularly in what is called the non-effective part of the service. I shall not discuss whether the Dockyard cats shall be put on half-board wages—(laughter)—but there are a great many savings that can be effected, no doubt, and I shall have great pleasure in supporting, them. (Applause.) As to tlhe great evil of intemperance, I am a masristcate in five counties, having commenced my duties as a magistrate, I am sorry to say, thirty-six years ago, svnd my invariable practice has been to oppose, whenever I have had the op- portunity, any increase of public houses on every occa- sion when it has been possible, I have invariably voted for'their being diminished and any proper measure intro- duced into the House of Commons, to check intem- perance, will receive my most cordial support. (Cheers.) I am not one of those who would try to enforce total abstinence it is a very fortunate thing for those who can practice total abstinence, with'adue regard for their health, and we always see those who are temperate succeeding better than those who are not so. (Hear, hear.) There is a Permissive Bill that I have been asked my opinion about; but it is impossible to say what that Bill is. (Hear, hear.) Even in the scriptures we are not enjoined to practice total abstinence our Saviour's first miracle was changing water into wine; and I do not see, with such an example before us, why we should prevent any person from having a moderate supply of what may be necessary for him. Closing public houses on Sundays, however, would be a very good thing. (Applause.) In an article in the Carnarvon Herald I have seen these words: No one but a gentleman with the proverbially sanguine tem- perament of an Irishman could suppose that either his nationality or his politics would be acceptable to even a respectable minority of the truly Welsh inhabitants of Merionethshire. (Laughter.) We believe Col. Tottenham, whom we honour and admire as an upright and kind- hearted private gentleman, is the son of a deceased Irish bishop, and that his brother, like himself, an ex- treme conservative, represents an Irish constituency." It is a pity that the writer of that article did not take the trouble to make further inquiries before he issued such a statement. My father was a bishop, as you all know, and a very kind and good one but if the writer of the article had only taken the trouble to look into the list of the present House of Commons he would have found that there is no member of the House of the name of Tottenham, though I hope, with your kind assistance, before many days are over there will be. (Loud cheers.) I had a second cousin, a cousin twice removed, in the last Parliament; but I was never in Par- liament myself, and I never had a brother in Parliament. As to my being an extreme conservative," that is not the case at all. The article goes on afterwards to say, Whose mission it would be to oppose Mr Gladstone in his endeavour to deal fairly with the Irish people in his Irish Land Bill; and whose Toryism, of the Orange type, will find no sympathy among our free, generous, and en- lightened countrymen." In my younger days I lived in the North of Ireland; and although a conservative then, as I am now, and a loyal subject, I hope, I never joined the Orange Society, and I never was one of extreme politics. I am more like what is called a liberal-conservative, for I hate extremes of any sort. (Applause.) Mr Holland I have long had the pleasure of knowing, and I respect and regard him as a friend but at the same time I feel it my duty to come forward as a candidate for the representation of this county, to show that Mr Gladstone is not the man to be trusted with the administra- tion of this country's affairs. (Applause.) I oppose Mr Holland because he is a supporter of Mr Gladstone. (Loud cheers.) I need not remind you of what is stated in the last paragraph of my address, as to the pains that I have taken in promoting the introduction of railways into Merionethshire. (Applause.) I believe it is well known to many gentlemen here that if I had not given the Vale of Llangollen Railway my active support the Bill for its construction would not have been carried that I also gave my land, for five miles, between Llangollen and Corwen, for what all persons have admitted was a very moderate sum and that, in addition to this, I have given my time constantly to the support of the railway, as I have given it to all other measures for the good of the county. (Loud cheers.) I should be very sorry if I should not have the support of the electors of Merion- ethshire on account of my not being a Welshman but I can refer with pride to the fact, as showing the kind opinion of my neighbours, that throughout this district we have a large ma- jority of actual promises. (Much applause.) If my friends and supporters go on in the next few days as actively and kindly as they have hitherto done, I have no doubt that I shall be at the head of the poll, if the other parties venture to show their faccs at it. (Cheers and laughter.) The only letter I have received from an elector who states that he could not vote for me is one from an elector residing in the direction of Bala and the reason he assigns for not being able to vote for me is, because I fined his son, eleven years ago, for riding without reins in a waggon. (Laughter.) I recollect that was long before the railway was open, and when there was a great number of carts and coaches going along the line, a most dangerous thing. Persons sent their carts to Llangollen, and their sons or servants rode in the cart, at the risk of their own necks, and endangering the lives of other people. In this instance, coming from the Bwlch to Llangollen, I saw a waggon with three horses coming down the hill at a very fast trot, the boy in charge of the waggon without reins, and a man and woman also inside. If any carriage had been met, the boy could not have stopped the waggon, and there must have been a serious accident. It is, however, only three or four times that I have ever fined persons for that offence, and then only in very bad cases, and I have been thanked by the owners of the waggons for having taken notice of the carelessness of their drivers. The fine has generally been about a half-crown; if summoned to the Bench the costs alone would have been about 10s.; so that the course I have taken has been a kindness to the people dealt with. (Hear, hear.) During the great number of years that I have been a magistrate it has always been nay wish —and it is generally admitted that I have succeeded—to pursue a straightforward course, and to do my duty to the best of my knowledge and ability, without any regard to popular feeling. (Applause.) In the Carnarvon paper to which I have alluded he e h there is this sentence" We venture to predict that the liberal n1 0 r on constituency of Merioneth will by a significant verdict tell this gentleman that they will not be represented by a landowner from the Sister Isle, who has nought in common with them in language or convictions." As to being a landlord in the Sister Isle, Lord Palmerston was a landlord in the Sister Isle, but I never heard of his being objected to on that score. (Hear, hear.) The chief objection of the liberals to me is that I was born in Ireland. I I am not responsible for that—(laughter)—I don't regret it, for Ireland is a very fine country, and it would be peaceable and prosperous if it were properly governed. If a man were born in a stable, that would not make him a horse. As it happens that I was born in Ireland, I must add that I have adopted Wales as my country in a great measure, that I live here nine months in every year, and that I spend my money here instead of abroad and in London. (Applause.) I cannot agree with Mr Gladstone because he disestablished and disendowed the Irish Church "It is no use to cry over spilt milk." But what was Mr Gladstone's reason for disestablishment and disendowment ? It was con- fessed to be for the purpose of conciliating the Roman Catholics and the Fenians. Howhas that policy answered ? I have here, in a closely printed list, extending over two newspaper columns, to show Mr Gladstone's want of judgment as a statesman, a list of outrages committed in Ireland in the past twelvemonths—no less than seventy-two outrages, thirty-one of which were murders or attempts at murder, the last outrage in the list being an attempt to murder a Lady. This proves that the Roman Catholics and the Fenians have thrown back "the message of peace" in Mr Gladstone's face with defiance. Previously to the present Government coming into power, Ireland was more prosperous and quiet than it had been known to be for years. The instant that Mr Gladstone came into power he truckled to the Fenians, and the priests, and the discontented people, and they saw that he was afraid of them. The character of the Irish is, it is well-known, that if they see a man is afraid of them they will go in for something more. (Laughter.) It is very difficult, I am afraid, to satisfy everybody in Ireland. The old story is, that if you were to give an Irishman the whole of Ireland for an estate he would ask for the Isle of Man as a cab- bage garden. (Laughter.) If the Irish were well, firmly and justly governed, there could not be a better people re they have many very good qualities, and when they get away from the influence of their priests, they are an industrious and loyal race of people. I do not mean to say that Mr Gladstone governs the Irish unjustly, but he mistakes the way of govern- ing them. This is the reason why, more than others, I am opposed to Mr Gladstone. If the Government were determined to Keep the Irish quiet, they would -be both quiet and prosper- ous. (Cheers.) What is the result of the policy of the present Government? They have been obliged, at great expense, to send a large army over to Ireland, to keep the people quiet. Not long ago I had a letter from an old landowner, who says that the Government are ruining Ireland, that they have dissatisfied the people in the North, and that if the present policy is con- tinued we shall have a rebellion in Ireland before two years are over. This is the result of the administration of the present Government. (Hear, hear.) I object to Mr Gladstone, also, for his great want of consistency. He seems to. be governed entirely by what will happen to suit his requirements for the moment. I have an extract here from an essay written by Mr Gladstone, and published some years ago. These are Mr Gladstone's words —" Upon us of this day has fallen, and we shrink not from it, but welcome it as a high and glorious, though an arduous duty- the defence of the Reformed Catholic Church in Ireland as the religious Establishment of the country." What does this same gentleman do some years after ? He is the first and leading man to attempt to rnin the Church, if possible, and when he has finished the Act of Parliament in the late session, he gives her his blessing and hopes she may prosper (Hear, hear.) I beg to return my very best and hearty thanks to those gentlemen who have so very kindly and actively gone through the canvass on my behalf. This is, I am proud to say, the best-managed district in the county, and in it gentlemen have come forward to support me actively who have actually voted on the other side. I return you my most sincere thanks, gentlemen, and I hope that we shall "go in and win." (Enthusiastic applause.) Mr WALTER JONES, conservative agent and secretary of the central committee, announced that the returns showed Colonel Tottenham to have a majority of sixty-two in that district, and he expressed a confident belief that if the conservatives worked until the election as they had hitherto done, the majority would be increased to 100. (Cheers.) Mr W. LLOYD (Ruthin), stated to the meeting, in Welsh, the purport of Colonel Tottenham's observations. He then pro- ceeded to say that Mr Holland, whether rightly or wrongly, had tied himself to Mr Gladstone. The present Ministers, having Mr Bright among them, were for oppressively taxing the land^ when there were great manufactories free from land tax. If a man took a farm of £300 a year, he had to pay on P,450 immediately, under schedule B., whether he had profits or not. This was unfair taxation. Colonel Tottenham was a landowner, and of course in Parliament would look after the interest of the Itnd so that the voters for Merionethshire, being either landowners or occupiers, might depend upon their interests being protected. He entirely agreed with Colonel Tottenham upon the subject of education, and that secular instruction, without religious, was like placing a dangerous instrument into the hands of a child. As to open scholarships at Oxford, it might lead to the intro- dnction of all creeds into the University; one professor might be a Roman Catholic, another an Infidel, and the education of the rising generation would be worse than Babel itself. (Hear, hear.) Condemning the Colonial policy of the present Govern- ment, he said that after encouraging emigration, and people had been led to Australia and New Zealand, the Government had withdrawn protection, and had left the people to protect them- selves, so that they had been slaughtered like pigs by the natives. (Hear, hear.) In conclusion, he urged the meeting to give an earnest support to Colonel Tottenham, in the canvass, and at the poll. (Loud cheers.) The proceedings terminated with three cheers for Col. Tot- tenham, and three for Captain Tottenham. LIBERAL'MEETING AT CORWEN. On Friday night a large and enthusiastic meeting of the sup- porters of Mr Samuel Holland, the Liberal candidate, was held in the British Schools at Corwen. The building, a tolerably commodious one, was uncomfortably crowded. With the excep- tion of the speeches delivered by Mr Holland and Mr Osborne Morgan, M.P., the entire proceedings were conducted in the Welsh language. Mr JOHN JONES, of Vrondderw, who presided, very briefly opened the proceedings. The Rev. JOHN WILLIAMS^ Llandrillo, proposed the following resolution, which was seconded by the Rev. Mr WILLIAMS, C'ae- mawr, and supported by Mr R. PEARSON ROBERTS—" That' this meeting, wtuist feeling deep sorrow at the event that has occasioned the present contest, pledges itselS to support every effort made to unite the liberal party in theceanty, and to secure united action." The speakers were loudly applauded, and the resolution was adopted amid vociferous cheers. Mr MORGAN LLOYD experienced a very gratifying reception on coming forward to propose—" That in the opinion of this meeting Samuel Holland, Esq., is a fit and proper person to represent i this county in Parliament, and pledges itself 1« use every legiti- mate means to secure his triumphant return." Speaking in mate means to secure his triumphant return." Speaking in Welsh, with remarkable flnency, for upwards of an hour, Mr Morgan Lloyd said that he had a personal feeling for both candidates, the tory and the liberal; and, as far as he was con- cerned, he would have preferred not to speak for one friend aga.inst.the other but what he did he did upon principle alone. The one represented the principle of light; the other represented the principle of darkness. The liberal represented liberty; the principle of .the other side represented slavery. This was the difference between liberalism and toryism. Some measures that were brought forward by the tories, viewed by themselves, looked like liberal measures; and some measures that were brought {"rwa.rd by liberals appeared to have too much toryism in them but we must look upon their principles broadly, and treat them as a whole. In the old times the tories were always for retaining things as they were, and improving nothing. It was toryism that governed Charles the First, and it was the opposite principle that broke out in war against him. In the time of the second Revolution it was toryism that had taken possession of the country; it was, therefore, necessary for William the Third to come over from the Continent, and it was then that the whigs began. They were the men who founded liberty on a sound basis and although, ever since, the two principles had been working against each other, it had never again been neces- sary to appeal to arms it had been enough to tight the battle in the House of Commons, and the battle had been fought in the House ever since, between toryism and liberalism. The French Revolution went to such an extreme that more than one-half the people of England turned tory on account of it; and that was the reason why toryism reigned from the beginning of this century until the passing of the Reform Bill in 1832. The National Debt in the time of George III. was not one-half what it is now, and over zC400,000,000 sterling were added to it by the tory Government of George III. How much was spent to turn the First Napoleon from the throne of France and yet we found another Napoleon there now. It was the liberal party that abolished the Test and Corporations Acts. He described how the old spirit of the tories fought against the Reform Bill; and then after it had been passed, acknowledged that it was a beneficial measure. The tories opposed the Reform Bill of Mr Gladstone, and, with .the help of the Cave, they were successful; but, after doing that, they had to pass a measure that went a great deal further. Mr Disraeli brought his Reform measure forward 1 and the tories thought that if he went low enough he would find that the lower orders were of the same mind as the aristocracy, and that liberalism existed in the middle classes alone. It was for that reason that Mr Disraeli brought it forward. Lord Derby said the Reform Bill was "a leap in the dark," and so it was "a leap in the dark," and he took that leap; but now we saw nothing in the addresses of the tory candidates against reform, although there was much against everything that the liberals proposed. Before a liberal measure was passed, the tories said that it was bad, and after it was passed, they acknowledged its beneficial effect. Perhaps the liberals would be just the same at some time—perhaps they would be conservative; but that time would not come until they had passed every reform that was wanted, and when they had passed every reform he would himself turn conservative. (Laughter and applause.) The tories opposed the Irish Church Bill with the same spirit; yet the tories themselves admitted that the measure had already done good to Ireland. This showed which party was right; this ought to teach us who were most likely to be right in the future, by looking who were right in times past. We saw by the address of Mr Holland that the same principle might be applied to other countries. When we looked into the New Testament we saw that the Church when founded was a voluntary Church; it was about 300 years after Christ that the Established Church prin- ciple was introduced. He should not say much about the Church in Wales, or the Church in England. Not only Dis- senters, but also many of the best people in the Church were of opinion that the Church itself would be stronger if unfettered. And justice demanded it. (Applause.) The tories alleged that the whigs had put a tax upon the dogs and horses of the farmers, but that was not true even if the whigs had done so, it wonld onlv have been as though they had put half-an-ounce to the half-ton of taxes that the tories had imposed. (Applause.) There were taxes paid to defray the expenses incurred by the tories! still, we paid less taxes by E16,000,000 sterling, through the policy of Air Gladstone, than we should have done if the policy of Mr Disraeli had been followed. Who put the 5s. tax on the dogs (A voice "The tories.") They took off the 12s. tax from the sporting dogs. Who was the friend of the farmer ? (A voice: Gladstone.") Who was the friend of the sporting doo-s ? (A voice: "Disraeli.") Upon the question of education the tories had turned very religious; they would not have anyone receive education except from the true spring of the Catechism. The people of Wales knew something about this. Suppose that their children received nothing but the teaching of the Catechism did they imagine that they would be less religious ? Suppose there were no National Schools, did they think there would be less religion in Wales? ("No.") This looked like the zeal of darkness. What did the liberals say 'I They said that the heart had some- thing more to do with religion; that two or three good men in a neighbourhood could do more to teach religion than all the National Schoolmasters in the county. Mr Holland wanted free schools at the expense of the Government. Then, some one would say that we were going to tax people to pay for education. Well he did not know but that he would rather be taxed to have education than to be without it. There were enough taxes raised; the question was, is the money spent rightly < There was enough waste in the fleet and the army, more than enough, to maintain the whole of the schools of the country. (Applause.) There was another question, that their friend Mr Osborne Morgan was going to bring forward, a Bill to enable land to be obtained for chapels and schools. He hoped that the electors of [eriouethshire would send Mr Holland to Parliament to support Mr Osborne Morgan. (Cheers.) Some time ago, in that room- it was at the last election—he said that the tories would not come up to the polk Was he right ? (Loud cries of "Yes.") But he had said another thing, that the county should have quietness for forty years. He was mistaken. The tories thought that the liberals were going too fast, and were thinking that the liberals would split, so that the tories would go in between them. Let the liberals of Merionethshire show the tories their mistake. He hoped that the time was coming when the landlords would come forward, one after another, and say that they would not oppress. Some said this already—some in words, some in their actions. For his own part, he did [not wish to have cringing respect from a slave he should feel himself much lower if he saw a man crawling in the dust before him he liked to see a man stand before him-he felt it himself, and he believed that every man felt the same. The county had been accustomed to be oppressed, and did not feel its liberty. Now Wales was shaking the fetters away all England, Scotland, and Ireland were looking to Wales, and to this county of Merioneth, and were astonished to find Wales showing such spirit. Let the people show, by having a triumphant majority for Mr Holland, this time, that they had an independent spirit, and then the tories would never again attempt to take the county from its liberal and proper representation. (Mr Morgan Lloyd resumed his seat amid long-continued applause.) Mr OSBORNE MORGAN, M.P., was received with repeated rounds of cheers, at the subsidence of which the hon. gentleman said- Mr Chairman, and my Cambrian fritnds, I rise to second the re- solution. I must ask you to bear with me while I speak in Saesonaeg. for although I am enough of aCjmro to understand every word that has been said by previous speakers, and enough of a Cymro to feel thoroughly with them in everything they have said, yet I am afraid that I have not that mastery over our language to enahle me to address you in Welsh as I would wish to do. But I could not sit still to-night without desiring to ex- press the heartfelt interest which I take in the success of my friend Mr Holland, or, as I hope, before very many days are over, to call him my hon, friend the member for Merionethshire. (Loud cheers ) Indeed, the very moment that I heard that a contest was anticipated, I did not wait for an invitation, but I thrust myself upon him; I said that he might command what little services I had to render; and I did so in spite of the advice of one or two friends, more remarkable for prudence than for pluck—(laughter)—who said, You had much better not go down into Merionethshire you had much better mind your own busi- ness you will have plenty to do in Denbighshire when your turn comes." (Much laughter.) I dare say I shall, but by the help of some of my friends whom I see here, I hope to do it. (Cheers.) In the meantime, no selfish consideration will ever deter me from giving a helping hand to a brother liberal candidate. (Loud applause.) Let me, iu the first place, congratulate you from the bottom of my heart upon the choice which you have made. When first the news of the decease of your worthy and lamented representative reached us—his name ought never to be mentioned in any assembly of liberal Welshmen without re- spect and gratitude, for he was the first man who led the forlorn hope in the days when Mer onoth was what I hope it will never be again, a Tory stronghold-there came an ominous rumour that there was a split in the camp, that the liberals were divided, and that it was just possible that a tory might step in between the two. I am glad that the breach, if it existed, is healed up, as that you are all united in support of the candidature of Mr Holland, for I am convinced that he is the right man in the right place." (Cheers.) Not only is he a great employer of labour, not only has he lived among you, I am told, for some fifty years, though I would not believe it, looking Fit him. (Laughter.) Not only is he a Cymro, he is thoroughly at one with his future constituents on every subject of the day, and I am quite sure that if he is returned to Parliament—or, I should say, when he is returned to Parliament-he will thoroughly, and faithfully, and truly represent the interest, the opinions, and the feelings of the people of Merionethshire. (Applause.) Can that be said of Colonel Tottenham? I know how easy it is to be betrayed, in a political speech, into saying what one would afterwards regret, and therefore it is requisite that I should be guarded. Colonel Tottenham did his best to prevent my getting into Parliament for Denbighshire. I don't bear him the slightest grudge for that, particularly as he did not succeed. (Much laughter.) No doubt he is a man both honourable and upright, and of great courage, as shown by his entering on so hopeless a struggle; but he is not the man for Merionethshire. (Applause.) In this county the dissenters are to the churchmen in the pro- portion of five or six to one. How can it be said that a man who, although he may call himself "an enlightened constitu- tionalist," is nothing more or less than a high and dry tory, can represent truly the dissenters of Wales ? The dissenting tory is a very nondescript animal-some relation of "the conservative working man," of whom we heard so much before the last elec. tion, and have heard so very little afterwards. (Loud laughter.) I am perfectly certain that upon any one of the very great ques- tions which Mr Morgan Lloyd eumerated as likely to engage the attention of Parliament next session, we should find Mr Holland voting upon the same side as myself, and Colonel Tottenham on the other side. It is all very well for him to come forward and say that he is in favour of enlightened progress," and all that sort of thing. The question is, how will he vote ? Will he vote for the ballot ? (Cheers.) Will he vote for a com. prehensive scheme of undenominational education? (Cheers.) Even if he were disposed to do so, the tory squires who subscribed X2,000 to get him to come forward would not let him. There is the Bill to enable you to obtain sites for schools and chapels from landed proprietors who refuse to sell. What would Colonel Tottenham say to it ? I know what Mr Holland would say, and do. (Cheers.) The Bill is as much needed as any that ever passed though Parlia- ment. You who stood forward in the forlorn hope, and led the van of progress in Wales, who set the example to Carnarvon- shire, to Denbighshire, to Cardiganshire, to Carmarthenshire be staunch to your colours. I know that there is a terrible threat hanging over you-I dare say there is some truth in it- that the screw" is going to be exerted; but we know that the screw" has lest a great deal of its terrors. Mr Price, Mr Banks, Mr toden, and several others have come forward and said that whether they support Mr Holland or not, their tenants are free to vote according to their consciences. (Applause.) These men ought to have their names written in letters of gold over every housetop in Merionethshire. (Cheers. and a voice: How about Sir Watkin ?") If there be anything blacker than pitch, let it be used to brand those who attempt to use the screw;" and if there be any distinct case of coercion, we will make the House of Commons and the country ring with that case until the country is too hot to hold the perpetrator. (L"ud applause.) The eyes of all Wales are upon you, and the eyes of England too. I wish I could portray the scene in Manches- ter the other day. In that magnificent Free-Trade Hall, in which 6,000 men were packed up to the ceiling, when Mr Richards was detailing the acts of coercion that took place after the last election, there shot through the room, as though upon an electric wire, a thrill of absolute execration. There are strong hearts and arms that will aid you. There was a time when the "screw" had power. That time is vanishing fast. There has been a great upheaval since then; the dry bones are warm with life again; those days have passed for ever. This is the last election that Wales will ever see without the ballot—(cheers)—and, therefore, it is highly probable that never again will you be called upon to exercise the acts of self- denial for which you so nobly distinguished yourselves in past times. Be ready, then, for a last gallant effort. By the re- spected memory of your late member, by the recollection of that glorious triumph, and of those almost more glorious defeats which led to that glorious triumph; by the recollection, and out of respect for those good men and true, who, in this county of Merioneth, and in Cardiganshire, and Carmarthenshire, and Carnarvonshire, resisted coercion and suffered so much for the cause so dear to them, I adjure and entreat you to be true to yourselves; and if you will only be true to yourselves, you will win a victorious triumph which will settle the question of the •••- io.L r. ;¡. ?j}a. •» Representation of Merionethshire now and for ever. (Long-con tinued applause.) Mr OWEN DAVIES HUSHES having,addressed the meeting in support of the resolution, it was adopted, amid much applause. Mr SAMUEL HOLLAND was next introduced, and he was re- ceived with long-continued cheering. He said-I stand before you, gentlemen, as your candidate, I come here, not merely to ask for your votes and your suffrages, but to fight your battle in this county; I trust, therefore, that you will cordially come for- ward to assist me. I am prepared to support Mr Gladstone and his Ministry in every possible way. (Applause.) I am.quite' satisfied, from the expressions that yon have given forth this evening, that you are all in favour of Mr Gladstone's Govern- ment; that is the Government I mean to support, if, through you, I am sent to Parliament; and the many matters that will be brought forward in the next Parliament shall receive con- sideration to the best of my ability and in accordance with the wishes of my constituents. The ballot, referred to by previous speakers, and alluded to in my address, you are all in favour of, and I hope to see it carried ere long, if not in the next session; for every year the feeling of the country in favour of it is growing more and more in strength, and there are now very few men, conservatives as well as liberals, who are not convinced that it is necessary. If we had many more gentlemen, in this county and others, similarly disposed to those who came forward at the last election, and have come forward on this occasion, to allow their tenantry to vote as they wish to do, there would be no occasion for the ballot; still, many will coerce their tenants and labourers; therefore it is necessary to obtain the ballot, to enable those people to vote according to their consciences. (Applause.) Mr Osborne Morgan mentioned to you the names of three or four gentlemen who have written to me most kindly, and expressed their wishes, and desired me to make their wishes and sentiments known among the tenantry, which I did, that they were at perfect liberty to vote for the candidate they thought best to send to Parliament. Thege were Mr Price, Mr Bankes. who has a large estate in the neighbourhood of Festiniog, and Mr Soden, in the neighbourhood of Towyn. Mr Coulson did not write to me direct, but wrote to his agent to inform all the tenants that they were at perfect liberty to exercis; their votes in the way they thought best. Lord Newborough, at the last election, did the same; and from a very kind letter that I have had from him, I have no doubt that his lordship will do so this time. (Cheers.) I could mention the names of others who hold similar estates; but I have referred to these as showing that the feeling is gaining ground every year, that it is absolutely neces- sary to allow people who have had the franchise granted to them to exercise it according to their own judgment. There are none of you in this county, who are educated, but are capable of exer- cising that judgment. This feeling in favour of the ballot has gained ground from what has lately taken place at Aberystwyth, Liverpool, and Manchester; the statements there made, showing how coercion and evictions have taken place, and the expression of public opinion upon them, have had a good effect upon the landlords of the country, and I have very little doubt that in the course of a year or two, if not this year, the ballot will be adopted. (Applause.) With regard to the subject of education, it is a matter which will be brought before Parliament. There are two schemes already before the country-one that of the Educational League, started in Birmingham; and another scheme which had its commencement in Manchester. A Bill will be prepared by some one, if not by the Gsvernment itself, and brought before Parliament, and after due consideration, and hearing the advocates of each system, no doubt such a measure will be framed as will meet the approbation of the country. If such a Bill is brought forward by the Government ie shall have my support. (Cheers.) Months ago, long before I thought of becoming a member of Parliament certainly, I gave in my adhesion to the Birmingham scheme, and that is the one I at present most favour. Such other measures as are introduced by the Government shall receive my best attention and consideration should I be sent to Parliament. It is not very pleasant ti speak of oneself; but to show that I have always been an advocate of education,and desirous of promoting it, I will mention that I have erected three schools myself, and that I am an annual subscriber to eight. (Cheers.) As to knowing the wishes and feelings of the county, I have had for many years something to do with the affairs of the neighbour- hood; I have been chairman of the Board of Guardians for the last twenty-five or twenty-six years; I employ from 500 to nearly 600 men; my payments in wages every year amount to.240,000, all of which is spent in this county; and, therefore, I ought to have some knowledge of how affairs should be conducted in it I have always been a working man, but I hope that there is still a little work in me. I merely wish to go to Parliament with the view of securing this county to the liberal interest; it is a great honour to represent snch a county; and I trust that you will come forward voluntarily and record your votes, to show that the county is safe in your hands, and that you are determined to keep it in the future, when the ballot will enable you to do so. I have the pleasure of knowing Colonel Tottenham, and nearly all his supporters, and from what I have seen of him I respect him. Let us not find fault with him and his adherents for trying to win the county from us; let us show that we are determined that they shall not have it; but do not let us do anything to irritate; let us conduct the election as an example to other counties, in a fair spirit, with a determi- nation to win, but not to abuse. I hope that on next Satur- day you will record your votes in a way which will show that you intend to hold the county; and should I have the honour of representing you, I will endeavour, when I go to Parliament, to support those measures which will be conducive to the wel- fare of the country and particularly of this county. (Loud cheers.) Mr ROBERT ROBERTS, Brynderwyn, the Rev. W. WILLIAMS, Corwen, and the Rev. H. C. WILLIAMS (Baptist), Corwen, spoke in support of this resolution :—" That this meetiog expresses its sincere thanks for the able manner in which our respected chairman has performed his duties." This was heartily adopted, and the CHAIRMAN expressed his acknowledgments. It was announced that a letter had been received from Mr Charles Edwards, detained by family affairs at Dolserau, and a telegram from Mr Watkin Williams, M.P., apologizing for not being able to be present. Mr OWEN DAVIES HUGHES read the subjoined communication from the Welsh Reform Association at Liverpool:—"At a meet- ing of the Council of the Wel-h Reform Association, held January 5,1870, it was resolved, That this Council congratulate the liberal electors of Merionethshire on having agreed in the selection of a candidate to contest the representation of the county in Parliament; and expresses a hope that whatever may have been the predilections of different sections of the electors in favour of the other gentlemen whose names were brought for- ward, they will now imitate the honourable conduct of those gentlemen, and heartily unite in support of the candidature of Mr Holland.-J. Lloyd Jcnes, hon. sec." (Applause.) Votes of thanks were accorded to Mr Osborne Morgan, M P., and Mr Morgan Lloyd; and after these gentlemen had briefly acknowledged the compliment, the meeting terminated with loud cheers for Mr Holland and the success of the liberal party in Merionethshire. CONSERVATIVE MEETING AT BALA. On Saturday afteonoon Lieutenant-Colonel Tottenham ad. dressed a meeting of conservative electors in the commodious coffee room at the White Lion Hotel, at Bala. It had been in- tended to hold a public meeting inlthe Town Hall, but that project was abandoned, and the placards which had been posted were taken down, and the meeting held at the hotel was limited to conservatives only. The Rev. Mr EVANS, Llanycil, voted to the chair, said it was the first time in his life that he had attended a political meeting, and he felt diffident for the reason that many friends and members of his congregation were on the liberal side. But they should agree to differ on occasions of this kind. The church did not tie her members to any political party; they might be tory, liberal, or radical; and bishops, deans, and canons, as well as clergymen, took different views on political matters. (Hear, hear.) Lieutenant-Colonel TOTTENHAM, who was accompanied by Lord Colchester and Captain Tottenham, was loudly applauded. The time, he said, was so short before the election that it had been utterly impossible for him to make a personal canvass of the electors; the only means of seeing them was by holding meetings such as this, at which he might address a few re- marks to them. There was a great reaction in the county; many who had supported the measures of the liberal Govern- ment had seen the errors of their way; they did not like to eat their own words, but they were gradually falling off from the liberal ranks. In proof of this ho cited Mr Whalley's letter. He had requested the placards in the town to be taken down, as he did not wish sensational meetings to create angry feel- ings. He was happy to meet the electors, to explain his views, and to answer any questions that might be put to him. In a Carnarvon paper an article said that as a rash soldier he had entered upon a contest in which he was overmatched. The writer of that article did not know what had occurred within the last few days. He was not overmatched, but had every reasonable confidence that he should be successful. (Applause.) The same article spoke of him as having "the proverbially sanguine temperament of an Irishman." He was born in Ire- bind, and was not ashamed of his country. The Duke of Wellington, the first general of the age, was born in Ireland so was a large proportion of the army which landed on the Continent and never turned its back until it had entered the gates of Paris. The Irishman was a good man when left to himself; it was only when he was tampered with that he was dangerous. The Colonel repeated a large portion of his address at Corwen, and remarked that Mr Holland, about whom he did not wish his observations to apply personally, was held up in this contest as a Welshman. He did not believe there were two men in the county who knew from where Mr Holland came the gener.il impression was that he was a brother Irish- man at any rate he was not a thorough-bred Welshman. Mr Holland was the lessee of a slate quarry, under Mr Oakley, and the lease would expire in about six yeirs. Was it to be supposed that Mr Holland would be likely to represent an agricultural county. He (Colonel Tottenham) had been connected with the county for nearly forty years, and had always resiled in it and the adjoining county nine months in the year. Mr Gladstone had allowed the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Lowe, to send out a New Year's gift in the shape of a tax paper. (Groans.) He could not understand how any Government professing to be liberal could have thought of such a system. He dare say many gentlemen did not know the real bearing of it. The alteration was all in favour of the richer classes. In his small way he should have about X5 a year less to pay for taxes. How was it with the tenant farmer? He had to pay, under the new system, 10s. 6d. for any horse or pany, no matter how small, the same as Sir Watkin or any other gentleman paid for his 500 guinea hunter. Was that liberal to the poorer classes. (" No.") They had often heard that there were two bad pays; one was not to pay at all, and the other was to pay before hand. Mr Lowe was in- troducing one of the bad pays, and he hoped they liked it. (" No, no.") Any farmer or person of small property who kept a spring cart to go to market would, if it exceeded 4 cwt.. be obliged to pay the larger amount of tax, while the gentleman's light basket carriage was charged at the lower rate. Did they call that fair ? (A voice: "It i& liberal 1" Laughter.) He should be very glad to see the rating of mines altered, that mines should no longer be excused from rating, by an Act of Parliament as old as the reign of Queen Elizabeth, when slate was not dug in quarries. Many of the men brought to the, quarries must eventually become chargeable to the poor rates." The Colonel repeated his views upon education, thanked the gentlemen who had worked on his behalf, and believed that they would be successful. (Applause.) MrJAMEs LLOYD stated in Welsh the purport of the Colonel's observations, and was loudly applauded. Dr HUGHES inquired whether the Colonel would be prepared to vote for the abolition of tests in the Universities ? Lieut.-Colonel TOTTENHAM replied that this was a question which he had not fully considered. Mr SIMON JONES attempted to address the meeting, but was called to order, and he protested against such a one-sided gathering being called a public meeting. The Rev. CHAIRMAN addressed the meeting in Welsh, and urged the voters to poll early. On the proposition of Lieut.-Colonel TOTTENHAM, thanks were voted to tne Rector for presiding, and the meeting separated. LIBERAL MEETING AT BALA. On Monday evening Mr Holland addressed the electors in the British Schoolroom, Bala, and met with a most en- thusiastic reception, the room being crowded to excess. The chair was occupied by Mr John Jones, Vrondderw; and on the platform were-Mr Love Jones-Parry, M.P., Mr Morgan Lloyd, Mr Owen Richards, M.D., Mr E. Breese, the Rev. L. Edwards, D.D., the Rev. John Peter, the Rev. 'Phomas Jones, Mr Simon Jones, Mr J. R. Jones, &c., &c. In opening the proceedings, the CHAIRMAN intimated that he had no intention of occupying the time of the meeting in any preliminary remarks he felt that none were needed, as his opinions and sentiments had already been heard by the electors of Bala upon many occasions. A letter had been addressed to him by Mr Chas. Edwards, of Dolserau—(cheers)—the chairman of Mr Holland's Central Committee, expressing regret that he could not attend, and hoping that every effort would be made by the electors of Bala to secure the triumphant return of Mr Holland. He had, also, received a letter from Mr Whalley, whose name, as they were aware, had been very freely used by the tories, and especially in the neighbour- hood of Bala, in which Mr Whalley distinctly stated that the conservatives had no authority for the use of his name, and that it had been done entirely without his authority or cognizance. (Cheers.) Mr Whalley had sent special messages from Ruabon to explain that he was a liberal at heart, and that, as such, he would not support or lend his interest to the candidature of Colonel Tottenham; he would support Mr Holland. (Cheers.) He had much pleasure in calling upon the Rev. John Peter to move the first resolution. (Applause.) The Rev. JOHN PETER, in moving That this meeting, whilst feeling deep sorrow at the event that has occasioned the present contest, pledges itself to support every effort made to unite the liberal party in the county, and to secure united action," spoke in Welsh, to this effect :-The late Mr Williams deserved a monument erected to his memory by the liberal electors of this county. He was the pioneer of their liberty and supporter of their princi- ples, and in doing this great work he had erected a monu- ment to himself; he had made the county renowned in history, and given it a history of its own. The trium- phant success which he obtained for the liberal cause was such, that the tories could not undo it. In the present contest liberals had nothing to fear; the sym- pathy of the people was with the cause, and success was certain. To attain it two things were essential-unity and fidelity. The majority of the electors of Merioneth were liberals, and such being the case, nothing more was wanted than that each elector should act in accordance with the principles they believed and professed, and obey their convictions. He was happy to see the faces of many friends whom, but for the present favourable circumstances, they were not used to meet at these meetings. It was pleasing to see them showing their principles by their presence. (Cheers.) Formerly the county was represented by tories, which was nothing better than misrepresentation, and if Colonel Tottenham was returned he would misrepresent the constituency. On the other hand Mr Holland was most deserving of their support. (Cheers.) Another element of success was unity, for which to a great degree they were indebted to a gentleman on the platform (Mr Morgan Lloyd)—(cheers) — and having gained this spirited and united position, it was their duty faithfully to keep it. (Cheers.) Dr RICHARDS, in seconding the motion, after paying a tribute of respect to the memory of the late member, who, had he lived, would have rendered great and important services in the interest of the county and the Principality, said that of the united action, unanimity, and consequent trumphant success of the liberal cause in the county, no doubt could be entertained. Of tory administration enough had been shown to convince them that the tories were as much opposed to the passing of any good measure which affected the prosperity and welfare of the country, as a certain personage was popularly held to entertain a great dislike for holy water. If the electors of Merioneth- shire were desirous of having religious and civil liberty, and to aid in the passing of great national measures, they must strengthen the hands of the liberal party, and assist in keeping the liberal majority in the House. Let the tories, by the united action of the liberal party, learn that the soil of Merionethshire was engrained not with tory, but with true liberal sentiments and principles, and that they had no longer any political hold upon the county. Mr BREESE having addressed the meeting, Mr LOVE JONES-PARRY, M.P., who was loudly cheered, made the following remarks in Welsh :—Mr Chairman, and brother electors of Merionethshire-I am proud to say that I am a liberal elector of your county, and my vote will go to swell Mr Holland's triumphant majority. I am glad to see that so many have attended to welcome Mr Holland, and to speed on the good cause, by shewing him that he has the unanimous support and good wishes of the constituency, not only in Festiniog, where his name and good deeds, kindly actions and benevolence, are as familiar as household words," but also in those parts of the county in which his face is not so familiar, and he is not so well known. You have fought three plucky up-hill struggles for liberal supremacy and for the liberal cause and principles in this county, for the true representation of Merionethshire in Parliament, Twice you went to the wall, by small, but not disheartening majorities, and these only served as incentives for greater and more successful efforts, which were crowned with an unqualified and triumphant success, in the unopposed return of that old champion of liberalism in our county, our lamented mem- ber, Mr David Williams. (Applause.) The tories have again dared to come into the field after no end of trouble they have succeeded in finding a candidate, in the person of the gallant colonel, whose address has been issued in the conservative interest. His party are sparing neither expense nor energy to get back the seat, to turn the day against the liberals, but they know, as well as we do, that theirs is the losing side—(cheers)—that they are fighting a losing game—and the only question yet to be settled is the majority which shall show the conservatives that m their sun is for ever set in Merionethshire, that their political sway is for ever gone. (Cheers.) Whether its representative be a tory or a radical, Merionethshire is, I say, nothing but a liberal county its constituency is pre- eminently liberal, and if the electors only had fair play, a tory candidate would never dare to show his face amongst us. But the day of landlord coercion and agents' intimida- tion and bullying is now drawing to a close, and a brighter era is dawning. Before another election comes, the ballot will have passed into law, and then the electors will be allowed to vote as they are prompted by the dictates of their conscience, in accordance with their principles and sentiments, and not as their landlord or his agent orders them. (Cheers.) Much has been written and said, and with good cause, as my experience has taught me, about the acts and conduct of landlords in this part of the county, whose behaviour in past elections has not exactly tended to raise them in the good opinion and respect of their neighbours, or of the world at large. (Hear, hear.) In this neighbourhood I am glad to learn that you are able to boast of a conservative gentleman who, in the pre- sent election, is acting like a man and a gentleman should do. I allude to Mr Price, of Rhiwlas—(loud cheers, accom- panied with a round for Mrs Price)—whose conduct has been most noble, most praiseworthy; and the example which he has set in this election, by leaving his tenants to do as they wish, may be worthily followed by other great landed proprietors. (Cheers.) Let us turn for a few moments, and have a look at the two candidates, one of whom must go in as the member for Merionethshire, and your votes on Saturday will have to settle that question; whether your future representative be a tory or a liberal. Col. Tottenham is a neighbour of yours, and doubtless better known is this part of the county than he is further north, where, until the present election he was quite un- known, and indeed as yet he is a rara avis, for, save through his agents, nothing is known of him in our neighbourhood; what he has done for the county, or, from his address, what he will do, assuming a probability which is a very likely improbability, that he ever sits as our member; that the great anomaly again presents itself, a tory member representing a liberal constituency. (Cheers.) In our locality we know of one fact respecting him; he is a tory, and that is quite sufficient for us; toryism wont go down with the great bulk of the electors of Merionethshire. (Cheers.) Colonel Tottenham we respect as a gentleman, and the only fault we can find in him is that he is a tory. Now, Mr Holland is a liberal, he is one of our- selves, he has lived amongst us for nearly fifty years, has a great and increasing interest and stake in the county, is not an Irishman — and it would matter little if he were — no man is the worse for that-he is rather a Welshman, speaking the language of our country, and upholding and taking an interest in those institutions which are the delight and the boast of the Cymry. (Cheers.) He may be a gentleman who is comparatively unknown to you —to us he is as well known as he is highly respected and beloved, and he is now be- fore you ready to tell you publicly what are his senti- ments and opinions, what he will support and to what he is averse, what his conduct as your representative will be. Now, I should like to ask, why does not Colonel Tottenham come amongst us and let us see him and learn what he will do for us ? Why should he follow the ex- ample of tories in general, and not face us like a man ? He has similar opportunities to Mr Holland for coming publicly amongst us, and letting us hear his political creed, and why not do it? (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Surely the people are not so well "educated" in, or en- grained with, toryism as not to require some explanation of its principles or, are its principles those of bygone ages does it not keep pace with the progress of the age, advance with the progress of the people and the nation ? In Merionethshire, and indeed throughout the whole Principality, we have had enough of toryism; we have tried it long in the balance, and it has been found want- ing. Since the days of Oliver Cromwell we have had a surteit ot toryism, lasting over about two centuries, its rule undisturbed except by Sir W. Wynne, who fought the first battle of liberalism in this county. Then we had a champion in the late Mr David Williams, and are his efforts, his exertions, and his great result to fall to the ground? (Cries of "No, no.") Then the liberal party, to keep the ground which they have gained, must work hard in the coming struggle; there must be no wavering, no neutrality, no indecision all must work their best, and Mr Holland's majority will teach the tories that Merionethshire is a liberal county, and that its liberal constituency will have a representa- tive of their own principles and political opinions. (Cheers.) The resolution having been unanimously adopted, Mr HOLLAND briefly addressed the electors, reminding them that he was not fighting his own battle, but that of the liberal constituency of the county, at whose request he had come forward. During his speech Mr Holland was loudly cheered, and at the close an englyn," bearing upon the occasion, was recited by a Bala-ite, rejoicing in the bardic appellation, "Derfel." Dr EDWARDS moved the following resolution :— That, in the opinion of this meeting, Samuel Holland, Esq., is a fit and proper person to represent this county in Parlia- ment, and pledges itself to use every legitimate means to secure his triumphant return and spoke in Welsh. He said he would not occupy much of their time, there being several strangers to address them, especially his friend Mr Lloyd, who had been already refered to. As a county they were indebted to Mr Lloyd in the present election f he had proved that the liberal cause was more appreciated by him (Mr Lloyd) than his own interests. (Cheers.) And if they succeeded in the present contest it must to a great degree be attributed to his conduct. (Cheers.) From what he (the speaker) heard of a meeting which was held on Saturday, the present one would compare favourably with it; this meeting was more spirited and open for everyone that desired. Colonel Tottenham, if he felt in- clined, was at liberty to attend, and they would have been glad to see him, and ask him one or two questions, before this large audience and not in a meeting held in a corner. (Laughter and cheers.) In his address the statements made by Colonel Tottenham on most important subjects were brief and unsatisfactory while on other momentous questions he did not dwell at all. On the subject of education, which that building naturally suggested, Colonel Tottenham said he was in favour of religious teaching. What did he mean by that term? Was he favourable to free education ? As to this not a word was said. If they voted for Mr Holland, on the other hand, they voted for free education, but no catechisms, &c. Mr Holland not only promised to support free education, but believed in free education, and had done much for free education. (Cheers.) Colonel Tottenham did not even mention the ballot in his address. The conservatives adopted it at the Carlton and other clubs to protect them while voting, and if they enjoyed the exercise of it why should not the electors generally? (Cheers.) If they wished to have it let them vote for Mr Holland. If they wished to strengthen the hands of Mr Gladstone, let the vote for Mr Holland. If they wished to advance, and not retrograde, let them vote for Mr Holland. If they would nlished5 Holland that word would be accoBX- m c, r d .had rest- (Great cheering.) orofflJVf"0N^uNES' x? a characteristic speech which1 1th? meeting, seconded the resolution. t Mr TTnif.^ W1.011,04 thl3 8PEECH> THE CHAIRMAN SAID Mr Holland had to leave by train. (Three cheers were then given to the hberal candidate and Mr Jones-Parry, sJdh^«?nGnAN iLL?Y? ablJ s?PP°rted the resolution, and said he sincerely believed Mr Holland would represent this county in Parhament. Both candidates were friends of his, and much respected by him, but it was the duty oi the electors to look to their principles and not to the men. In his address, Col. Tottenham had shown that to goØ16 »n^+lf t ?od th,e Vlews of the electors of Merioneth, k lewdness exhibited conservatism in the —for in4CnnZ°i be,TSt ?^T to sain their approbation instance he said he would support the principles oi true conservatism, and all of them would wish to retain that which was good; but here was the difference-wha1; the conservative party considered good was not always so, and they opposed the most necessary and useful legislation- w»8Pra £ hen/eferred to the abolition of the University of r.™ j State—enlightened progress—the laws nmnf education, and the ballot—from the stand' Fbl c^tendmg parties. The speaker eulogised the address put forth by Mr Holland. In speaking of the ball t, lr Lloyd said he was glad they were to have one election without the ballot, so as to exemplify the reason- able conduct of landlords like Mr Price-(cheers)-and others, who granted full liberty for conscientious action to their tenants -(cheers)-alld more especially as it brought forth prominently the high regard for truth, for principles, for conscience at any sacrifice, which rested in the heart of many a Welshman-- (cheers)-and as on previous occft' sions he felt sure that unless some landlords changed very mUTj ln ,\S ejection Merionethshire, like Cardiganshire, would be able to boast of its martyrs in the cause of liberty- Ine landlord would respect those tenants who respected themselves, and would not stoop to be trampled upon- In conclusion, he hoped they would next Saturday return Mr Holland with such a triumphant majority as would1 keep the county thenceforth as an inheritance to the liberals- (Immense applause.) A vote of thanks to the Chairman was moved by Mr GRIFFITH JONES, banker, Bala, seconded by the Rev. T. JONES, Calvinistic Methodist missionary, and carried witb applause. The mover said that the meeting did not re- present Bala only, but the whole of Penllvn, and asked them as inhabitants of Penllyn, where Mr Jone5 had attended meetings in some part or other every day, and had also been very active in canvassing, to pass a vote of thanks to him. (Cheers.) The meeting then terminated. MEETING AT RHYDYMAIN. On Monday, a meeting in support of Mr Holland's can- didature was held at Rhydymain, a village between Bal-I and Dolgelley. Addresses were delivered by the Rev. Samuel Roberts, the Rev. David Evans, the Rev. Henry Morgan, and others, and a unanimous vote of confidence in Mr Holland was carried. MEETING AT PANDY, GWYDDELWERN. On Tuesday evening a public meeting, in connection with the Merionethshire Election, was held in the Baptist' Chapel. Mr Roberts of Frondderwen occupied the chair> and made a few wise and witty remarks in opening the meeting. The speakers were-Messrs R. P. Roberts, Rhydyfen, J. Watkins, Tre'rddol, J. Roberts, Plasvnddol, and the Revs. D. Davies, Pandy, W. Williams and H. C.- Williams, Corwen. They treated the several subject* that will shortly be brought before Parliament, such 90 the Land question, Education, the Opening of the Uni- versities, the Burial-grounds Bill, &c., and showed most clearly that Mr Holland was the person most likely to* vote on these and kindred questions in accordance with the views of the majority of the electors of this liberal and dissenting county; and though the conservatives were making use of everything that money and might could do, yet they trusted that right would prevail on Saturday by a decisive majority. MEETING AT BETTWS G.G. A public meeting to support Mr Holland was held in the Independent Chapel on Wednesday evening; lqr Roberts of rlasynddol in the chair. The following gen- tlemen addressed the meeting-The Revs. W. Williams, H. C. Williams, and J. Lewis, Corwen; Messrs R. P* Roberts, Rhydyfen, and O. Davies Hughes, Corwen. The audience was large, attentive, and even enthusiastic; and the general impression was that the meeting had effected much good in infusing correct notions about subjects grossly misrepresentated to men of little reading in these days. ° LIBERAL MEETING AT DINAS MAWDDWY. On Wednesday night an enthusiastic meeting came off at Dinas Mawddwy, Mr C. R. Jones, Llanfyllin, in the chair. Addresses were delivered by Mr Love Jones-Parry, M.P., Mr R. Williams, "Gohebydd," and the Rev. :E. 0 Williams. On the motion of the Rev. E. Williams, seconded by Mr J. Jones, Tynycelyn, a vote of thanks was given to Mr Chas. Edwards and Mr Morgan Lloyd, for their honourable withdrawal from the contest.

THE NOMINATION.