Supplement to the Evening Journal, Monday, September 25, 1871. To Thomas Elder, Esq., J.P., Adelaide. [List of names of '1,181 Electors of the Province' petitioning Elder to stand in 'the coming Election'. With transcript of Elder's letter in reply.]

On one side of a piece of wove paper, 45.5 x 28 cm. Wear to a couple of the names, otherwise the text is clear and complete. Fair, on aged and spotted paper, with wear to extremities including a closed tear at head repaired on reverse with archival tape. Small patch of glue from previous mounting on reverse. The names are listed in eight columns of small type, preceded by 'We the undersigned, Electors of the Province of South Australia, believing that your high character, your liberal opinions, and your long colonial experience render you exceedingly well fitted to represent us in the Legislative Council, hereby request that you will allow yourself to be nominated at the coming Election, and that in the meantime you will kindly convey to the electors an expression of youur views upon the leading questions of the day.' Elder's announcement that he will stand, dated 'Adelaide, September 23, 1871', appears at the end of the petition. He acknowledges receipt of 'the Requisition presented to me to day by a large and influential deputation, signed by 1,181 Electors of the Province'. He has 'had the honour of a seat in Parliament for six years'. 'I avow myself now, as I did then, an earnest advocate of Land Reform and of Free Trade.' On the blank reverse, in a contemporary hand, an initialed note: 'These papers are cut out of the newspapers just to shew you what fun there was at this Election'. Reverse also carries 1 cm stamp of the Webster Collection, numbered 5433.