City election. At a Meeting of the Committee for the Election of Horatio Ross Esq. Of Rossie

This broadside, authored by Henry Lumsden, provides information about the campaign for Horatio Ross (1801-1886) to unseat Whig MP Alexander Bannerman (1788-1864) for the seat of Aberdeen in the 1837 General Election.

The broadside notes that Ross, of Rossie, had recently travelled to continental Europe on urgent family business but was now returning. The broadside announces that he would soon address the Aberdeen electorate.

A letter read out from Ross to the electorate explains his absence and appeals to the 'Protestant Constitution'. Lumsden, chair of the campaign committee, goes on to say that they note the appeal and growing support of the 'Constitution in Church and State'.

Ross was previously a Member of Parliament for the historic constituency of Montrose Burghs between 1832 and 1834. A previous broadside in the collection, available here, indicates that Ross did not like the Tories, but was also less radical than others would like. His voting record, detailed in this broadside, indicates that he voted in favour of the Parliamentary Reform Act of 1832.

The corresponding Scottish Reform Act of 1832 resulted in the creation of the Aberdeen House of Commons seat and the thirteen-fold increase in the Scottish electorate. Ross eventually withdrew from the 1837 election, leaving the incumbent MP Alexander Bannerman unopposed.