Mercer, George | Day 1

Provided a detailed account of the makeup of Deal and opinion as to why the town switched to Conservative on account that the Liberal candidate was not well known having previously been the MP for Rochester.

Mercer was also the Borough Coroner.

Witness Type: Other

Witness Testimony:

  • 300.

    Do you agree with Mr. Surrage as to the number of freemen of Deal ? (Mr. Surrage.) There are about 13 living at Deal. They are all freemen of Sandwich ; not freemen of Deal. They happened to be residing at Deal those few days. (The Witness.) We have no right to freemen here. There are freemen at Sandwich.

  • 301.

    (Mr. Jeune.) Deal has no freemen of its own ? – No.

  • 302.

    (Mr. Turner.) I have asked you about the boating class. With regard to what you call the “along shore” men, are they men who change their residence very much, and go about a good deal ? – No.

  • 303.

    Are they resident here ? – Entirely.

  • 304.

    There are no class of men of that kind who are migratory ? – No, they were born and bred here ; in fact they will not go away. They prefer keeping on the beach here to going to sea very often.

  • 305.

    Are they a hard-working class of men ? – Certainly. They are always on the look out ; always on the watch. They are always on the qui vive.

  • 306.

    Are they men who are hard up a good deal ? – I dare say a great many of them are.

  • 307.

    Out of work, I mean ? – Yes, at times when there is little doing on the water of course they are in want to some extent. Their living depends entirely upon that.

  • 308.

    (Mr. Jeune.) I suppose there are certain PUBLIC-HOUSES they frequent, do they not ? – Those particularly on the beach.

  • 309.

    Have these boating people the name of a corrupt class ? – I do not think so. They are like everybody else, I suppose. I am not aware that they are specially different from any of the rest of the population.

  • 310.

    I mean at previous elections where there has been money spent ; do you think that more of that money has gone to the boating population than to the rest of the population ? – I cannot say. I never take any part in the elections myself, and know nothing of the working of them.

  • 311.

    (Mr. Holl.) Are they a class of men who are likely to be influenced by having a good deal of work given to them in hauling FLAGS ? – I can hardly say that they would be more so than anybody else. They are fond of FLAGS, and showing their colours.

  • 312.

    Is it the flag, or what they get out of it ? – I must leave that to you. I am not able to answer that question. I daresay they do not do it for love. They are like everybody else.

  • 313.

    I am not quite sure that I understand one thing. You spoke of 30 licensed premises as distinguished from 74 licensed houses ; 14 of those are beer-houses, what are the other 16 ? – They are grocers licenses.

  • 314.

    They are grocers who have licenses to sell beer, wine, and so on ? – Just so. They are refreshment houses for the sale of Gilbey’s wines, &c.

  • 315.

    There are 14 licensed beer-shops, and 74 licensed PUBLIC-HOUSES in Deal ? – Yes, I think so. I have taken them out myself ; 14 beer houses, and 74 fully licensed houses.

  • 316.

    Did you hear at all of any employment as canvassers and messengers at this election more than usual ? – No, not more than usual There have always been a great many employed canvassing.

  • 317.

    Do you not think there were more at this election than at the previous election ? – Really I am unable to form an opinion about it. If there is anything which you wish to ask as to Walmer I shall be happy to afford the information. I am clerk to the local board.

  • 318.

    (Mr. Turner.) As to public houses at Walmer, can you give us the number ? – That the clerk to the magistrates will give you.

  • 319.

    (Mr. Holl.) Of how many members is the local board composed ? – The local board of Walmer is composed of 18 members.

  • 320.

    How about their political opinions ? – I do not think there is any balance one way or the other very much.

  • 321.

    What is the principal class of voters there ? – Watermen, boatmen.

  • 322.

    There are fewer tradesmen and more boatmen. There are more boatmen in proportion to the tradesmen at Walmer ? – I do not think so. I think the proportion would be the same as between those two classes.

  • 323.

    There are boatmen and tradesmen ? – Boatmen, tradesmen, resident gentry, artisans, and lodging house keepers.

  • 324.

    You account for the change of opinion by the fact of the late member going away ? – Yes, and Sir Julian Goldsmid being a stranger.

  • 325.

    Mr. Roberts was a stranger too, was he not ? – Yes, but he had been here a week or two before.

  • 326.

    Subject to the fact that he was here for a few days, can you give any reason why Mr. Roberts was more popular than Sir Julian Goldsmid ? – I cannot, except what I have said. There had been a change of opinion probably.