Report – Thomas Wentworth Beaumont – 13 Feb 1826

TO THE GENTLEMEN, CLERGY & FREEHOLDERS OF THE COUNTY OF NORTHUMBERLAND



      GENTLEMEN, -  As the present Candidates for your Favour are continuing to solicit the Promises of Support for the next General Election, it might appear disrespectful towards you, were I to delay following their Example.  I have also Reason to fear that the Cause of my Silence might be mistaken, and instead of being attributed to a Confidence in your Justice, and an Adherence to my expressed Determination of again offering myself for the Honour of representing you, that it might be supposed to proceed from Indifference to that Honor, and a Wish to reveal my former Resolution.  I therefore again pledge myself to stand a Contest, if necessary, at the next General Election for the County of Northumberland, and not to join directly or indirectly with any one.

      My political Principles are well known to you.  They are what are commonly called Anti-Ministerial.  I shall feel it to be my Duty, if again returned to Parliament, to do all that lies in my Power for obtaining a Reform in the House of Commons, the total Extinction of Slavery, and for placing our Roman Catholic Fellow-Subjects on the same Footing with ourselves.  There are other Subjects upon which you may wish for an explicit Declaration from me, but you will see that it is impossible for me to enter into much Detail within the Limits of this Address.   At the proper Time I will answer the fair Questions of every Man.

      There is one Subject, however, from which it would be unmanly to shrink - one Question that I shall anticipate: ‘Why have you not been more regular in your Attendance in the House of Commons?’  The Circumstances which have detained me from that Attendance, have been of an unusual Nature, and of an extraordinary Character, and he must be a bold Man, indeed, who would say, that in domestic Difficulties, such as have beset me over the last two Years, he would have been able to give up more Time than I gave done to public Duties.

      As I have promised to answer, at a proper Time, all Questions that my Constituents have a Right to ask, I shall take my Leave of you for the present, by repeating my Assurance, that I shall offer myself for the Honor of representing you at the next General Election, as I think that Money cannot be spent more usefully and honourably, than in giving honest Men an Opportunity of showing themselves to their Country, and encouraging others by their Example.  If I am defeated, I shall not consider a Defeat under these Circumstances disgraceful to me.



It is my Intention to avail myself of the first Opportunity that the Business of Parliament will allow, for personally paying my Respects to you, and soliciting the Continuance of your Support and Favour.

      In the mean Time, believe me to remain, GENTLEMEN,

      Your obedient humble Servant 

      T. W. BEAUMONT 



St. James's Place, London, February 13, 1826.