expressed dissatisfaction with anything that I did [oh, oh! And uproar].I am extremely obliged to those who supported me [Go home!].
Mr. Shadwell’s appearance was the signal for a disreputable display of noise and confusion, in which that worthy gentleman made several ineffectual attempts to speak. The Mayor and some other persons having vainly attempted to restore order, the reporters were invited to a seat near the speaker, but even then, the noise was so great that it was with great difficulty that sentences could be taken down. He was understood to say that, coming forward at quite the eleventh hour, he could not, and did not expect to be returned. He would bear testimony to the gentlemanly way in which the opposing candidates has acted, while he trusted that he also acted in the honourable manner that became an Englishman. In alluding to the cry on the nomination day of his paying his labourers “8 shilling[1]s a week and greens”, Mr. Shadwell said the charge of underpaying his men was utterly false. It had been his pride to pay his workmen the best wages of any in the neighbourhood, and this he would continue to do – an example he hoped others would follow. He then retired amidst a din of groans, hisses and other totally undeserved and unbecoming noises – a sample of some at least of the 400 new electors. It was thought that these rowdies took encouragement from Mr. North’s uncalled for expressions that for the future he intended to take a more violent course. His supporters were perfectly satisfied with the political (?? Something missing) he had already pursued, and the present writer happens to know that some of his friends afterwards expressed regret that they did not abstain from voting, as they at first thought of doing. Of course the extremists of the Liberal party were greatly elated at what they called tricking the Tories, albeit, Mr. Putland, who seconded Mr. North’s nomination, hoped there would be no trickery. But apart from the political aspect, the new member, Lord Harry Vane, never did a tithe of good to the borough of what Mr. Robertson and Mr. Lucas-Shadwell had done and continued to do.
Journalistic Comments. On the Friday after the election, and when the excitement had calmed down, the Hastings News, in a sensibly written leader reviewed the case as follows: “Hastings awoke last Saturday as from a dream. At the close of the poll a general feeling of astonishment pervaded the town. The winners were astonished at their success and the losers were filled with unexpected consternation. The contest had been sudden. It was short, sharp and decisive. -
- ↑ An explanation of old currency and coinage may be found at the following website Pre-decimal currency, accessdate: 16 June 2022
