Election Celebrations
May, 1835Early on Monday morning this town exhibited an unusual degree of bustle and excitement.
As early as 8 o'clock, parties of horsemen and carriages, wearing no colours, began to arrive from the Duke of Leeds' estates, and as colours were not by any means universally worn in the town, persons having no such party badges passed unnoticed.
At half past 9, a gay and numerous procession from Rotherham were welcomed with loud acclamations on entering the town. Mr. Jackson, of Canklow Mill, took the lead on horseback: he was followed by a handsome orange flag, with the inscription, 'Purity of Election.) About a dozen banners then succeeded, borne by men on foot. One of Mr. Bentley's wagons, conveying an excellent band of music, drawn by three fine grey horses, attracted great attention, being driven in postilion style; - George Nixon conducted the train, decorated in a cocked hat, ornamented with yellow riband, and beating time with the music on his celebrated left hand nic nacs.
Two other wagons, one of them belonging to Mr. Bentley, and the other to Mr. Didsbury, of Dalton, conveying electors, and similarly decorated, then succeeded; also a great number of carriages and gentlemen on horseback; the procession was closed by the bay team of Messrs. Knowles and Brown, conveying a large number of merry faces, gaily anticipating the fun of a contested election.
At half past 11, a very numerous and highly respectable procession came in from Ecclesfield and parts adjacent, bringing, it is said, 126 voters for Morpeth. Elegant banners, with pithy and appropriate inscriptions, gave an extraordinary degree of life and interest to the scene.
At 1 o'clock Lord Milton appeared at one of the Tontine windows, and in a brief and encouraging speech, announced the state of poll at Barnsley to be 153 in favour of Morpeth, which was received with loud huzzas.
A little before 4 o'clock Lord Milton briefly addressed the assembly in the Committee Room, in the Tontine, on the necessity of redoubled exertions in the cause of Lord Morpeth, and he begged of them not to be too much elevated by their success here, as that would in some degree be counterbalanced by the votes of the agriculturists in many places being given to Mr. Wortley, from a misapprehension respecting the Corn Laws. He hoped that they would therefore continue to use the same exertions, great as they might have been, which they had hitherto done, and thereby place Lord Morpeth at the head of the poll in this district, in order to counteract any deficiency of support he might receive in other places. (Applause.) He begged pardon for the liberty, which he considered it to be, of having occupied their time, but it arose from his extreme anxiety to serve the cause of reform. His Lordship concluded by again hoping they would exert themselves, and place Lord Morpeth at the head of the poll (Loud cheers.)
The following is the state of the Poll at different hours during the day:
- 10 o'clock - Morpeth 90, Wortley 107
- 11 o'clock - Morpeth 240, Wortley 213
- 12 o'clock - Morpeth 346, Wortley 285
- 1 o'clock - Morpeth 408, Wortley 330
- 2 o'clock - Morpeth 491, Wortley 336
- 3 o'clock - Morpeth 524, Wortley 348
- 4 o'clock - Morpeth 587, Wortley 358
Majority in favour Morpeth, 229
The above was publicly announced by Lord Milton, and received with loud acclamations.
