General Election 1830
The Times, (The London Times) 21 Aug 1830:
On the arrival of Mr. O’Connell at Navan, on Wednesday, he was met by an immense concourse of people. A list of the constituency of Meath was presented to him, indicating those whose votes were secured in his favour if he should stand for that county. It appeared by the showing that, allowing all the unascertained votes to be hostile, his return was unquestionable. Mr. O’Connell however, declined standing until he was satisfied in the first instance that Lord Killeen’s return was as certain as his own, and a committee was formed to judge of that fact, who have been left at their labours.
The Times, 27 July 1830: Navan – July 23 1830:
We have still hopes that Mr. Naper will be induced to stand for the County of Meath. Sir Marcus Somerville, for reasons which need not be stated, has rendered himself rather unpopular with several of his constituents. His conduct, it is said, upon some question concerning tolls, is particularly obnoxious. There was a meeting here this day of the county. Mr Lawless as usual, attempted to interrupt the meeting, but the Hon. Mr. Preston, Lord Gormanston’s son, refused to put a resolution, the object of which was to declare the said Mr. Lawless a candidate. The turn things have taken will, I think, be productive of some very curious results.
31 July 1830:
A meeting, purporting to be of the gentlemen and landed proprietors of this county, took place at Navan, on Thursday last, the professed object of which was to consider a proper person to represent it. The Hon. Mr Preston was in the chair. Some resolutions favourable to Sir Mark Somerville were proposed, but not carried, and the partisans of Mr. Lawless having erected a scaffold in order that he might address the meeting, some confusion arose, as it was stated that that gentleman had no interest in the county. In the course of the dispute, however, the scaffold gave way, and Mr. Lawless and his friends were brought to the ground: four persons were very much hurt. Several resolutions were then submitted, but as the chairman refused to sign them, he was ejected to make room for a Mr. Gannon, and that gentleman having sanctioned them, the meeting was adjourned.
2 Aug 1830:
A meeting of the gentry of County Meath took place at Navan Courthouse on Thursday, the Hon. Mr. Preston, eldest son of Lord Gormanston, in the chair. The Marquis of Headfort, Lord Dunsany, Sir Charles Dillon, Hon. Mr. Barnwall, Mr. Naper, and all the respectability of the county attended. Sir Marcus Sommerville’s friends were strong in force to reject the intrusion of Mr. Lawless upon the county as its representative. On the part of Lord Killeen, the Marquis of Headfort denied any connection or coalition with O’Connell or Lawless, and he went to eulogise the character of his late colleague, Sir Marcus Somerville. Mr. Naper of Loughcrew, also addressed the electors, and lamented the attack, with which the county was menaced. Soon after Jack Lawless, waving a large branch over his head rushed into the court, surrounded by a crowd of low rabble, shooting and hurraing. A sense of the utmost confusion ensued, and the court was immediately adjourned.