The Express. — London, England, 1848-06-01 00:00:00

AMENDMENT OF THE LAW. The Society fur Promoting the Amendment of the Law held their third annual public meeting, at their rooms in Regent-strcet, yesterda y . Lord Brouebam, the president of the society , was in the coheir ; and there were present the Dom of Anryll, Earl Fitswilliam, Earl Radnor, the Earl of j)evon the Earl of St. Germano, Berl Stradhroke. Earl For tune. Ltrd Wharnehffe, Lord Monteagle, Lord Lyndhurst, Chief Justice Reddie, the 'tient Ron A R. Blake, Mr. Esrey, kJ P., Mr. licadlam ' M P., Mr. Mackinnon, M.P.; C om missioner* Fine, Fonblanque, end Evans; Mr. M. D. Hll Q.C. ; Mr. Montagu Chambers Q.C. ; Mr. Roebuck, Q.C.. ; Mr. Seej. ant D'O)ley, Mr. J. Stewart, Mr. 08111.1.11, Mr. Tiblett, and re veral other members of the bar end the nt her branches of the 1 gal profession. The Pluntinesr, after re'errinit to the numerous emend. merits in the low wttieh had resulted from the common law COollnisliall in regard to pleading judgments, executions, arbitrations, and practice generally, and from the real pro-. petty consmimion in respect to conveyancing, title, entail., fines and recoveries, and other matters connected with real property; slut to the improvements in the law of debtor and creditor. end the abolition, except 6.r one or two offences, of the punishment of iL eth, and other amendments in our criminal laws, end atter adverting to the importance of carrying out the recommendations of the criminal law com missioners in layout of a digest of the whole of the criminal taus of the otontry, a bill fur which he had already been enabled to introduce in the (louse of Lords, proceeded to read the following addl., as of the council to the meeting, which he said was a report of the proceedings of the society d to the public at large Doe rower of the society to to collect and diffuse all Information which can tend to the elnipliticathm and Inuit Veined of the law ; to anortraq the manna by which the administration of justice may be rendered ice.. 4ida cry, less alp DAV!. and in. UnCartila ; to add to the raw. and security of real reorient% by furilitating Its transfer; to *id ionsinal right.; and to defend trout pereenal wrong. The result has been the pt inning of reports on many most imp ortant nub yen, of which seeeral have attracted the attention of the leeedature a mt some here become the fitundatien of legislative eracttuent. The Court et CliAllearY, innt`ea•sAle to the poor, vexatious to the rich, dilatory anti espensive to all, with a theory almost peeing Is Its monks, with a practice alinost unequalled In its iroperkos lions, so: e. nom st, es of course, the first to melee their attention. But there Si another and a higher it Ronal welt entith dto divan" peere- roe with the Conn of Chancery as an object of law ta.forin - the Mane art of Parliament -not ie its political, but in its ley/Wane, capacity not In any question of the purity of its intentions, but k respect et lit incapacity to convey. three intentions in reasinablelswe gusge. It would be a mortifying though an instructive task, to ascertain how much of each volume of the statutes at large is occupied in correcting the errors, uncertainties, insutbeienciee, imeertinencea, and of or imperfections of its predeeeneri Ain the aerie+. To thin the society has directed It.. epe. ial attention : and it la not without hope that some of its suggestions are on the eve of adoption. On the subject or the conveyance of real 'sweetly, the committee have trade Kemal reports, arid are still occupied in its blether examination. They may n.fer to the act for rendering assignments of terms of years unitccesury, an ao instance where the legislature has acted on the reports ol the committee with great hene et to the public. For more than fifteen year., there hoe seureely been a session in which an *et him not palmed on the law of debtor and creditor, with its coneequences of huiLniptcy and insolvency ; and yet pennies melt affected by the evils to wow it trade is expand, and man prectiraty conversant with the law, declare that the law yet retrains uncertain anti inealthient. The jurisdiction and procedure of the ecclesiastical Ontario, the law of wills absurdly subjected (even under the same instrument) to two jutislictlons (if the property left be both real and personal) the important questions re biting to marriage and the law of divorce not exclusively applicable to the rich, are subieem calling for amendment The administration of the criminal law ; more speedy, vet more deltionite let d; more certain and more eflicarious puma/meld; COntillitad modifications of our once sanguinary eyntern ; rein. iu.itory temishinente of secon dary se , erity; a court of rerisioa or appeal ; :ire among our exigen cies. On the ista*ct of legal edu...tion, the society .icipiteeee in the general opinion t ha t the great law cullers, the societies of Lincoln's inn, the Middle sad Inner Temple, anti Graywinn, have not ade quately f trilled the purposes of ther institution : they have been Rtel . : 0 1 resort, anti nOtnnit; mum Unit( lately, no poet of their though consisting of sccumulattous and oontributions rained bye opt coos of taxation upon the members of the profession, were ap plied too public purpose s. The eociety would be tenured to risk for some contrullinesenate which should asstuilate the 1. gni to the other universities. The Council hope* that in thus showing some shown bow the extent of the obits:et of their institution ;hey have ate • ehown bow deeply and how extensively the public are into In their sue. ex s. Landed proprietors, magiistrates, clergymen, merchantit, leirikens, trader., have each their several questions of law—have each *see thing to ask or something to complain of. The toutety ewers them a tallying point for communication. a council for lannee, AI organ for suggeetion ; and to return they Ask fur csoperationoiseistance ; and support. Re congratulated the society upon its proem. and the advance of the principles of law return during the last twelve months, both in parliament and out of doors, and upon the full attendance that day. That hi. noble friend, the Duke of Richmond, was not present was only because he wee pre siding over the meeting of another most important societ)tbe Society for Reforming Criminals and preventing the Re petition of Offences, anti for carrying out thoar principles which had been so successful in Belgium and some parts of France. The Earl of RADNOR tht.n moved a resolution to the et feet that the meeting concurred in the vtewe expres.ed in the address, and considered that the eociety was entitled to the continued and increased contitlehte and support of the public. The Earl of DEVON. in seconding the motion, spoke of tke fainted', the carefulness, and the abil.ty with which every suggestion made to the council for the amendment of the law was diseessed, and added that it was important the public should know that this society gave an opportunity to every man, of whatever profession or calling, who had arrived at the conclusion that the law as it affected him in his busi ness or his acts required amendment, of making his vi ws known with the certainty that they would receive a lull, calm, and impartial consideration. (Cheers.) The resolution was carried. The Earl of STKADBROKE proposed the nest resolution — That the present law relating to the tempter of real property wan defective ape ill adapted to the wants of society; and that s camper and mute ready mode of conveying land was demanded both in Eng land and Ireland. He spike from experience both as a seller and purchaser of land in England and Ireland, when he said that the present law wan mos , defective, a d that any alteration that would facilitate and diminish the expense of the transfer of real pro- perty would he a great benefit to society. He knew a case in which three years were occupied in completing a sale of pro perty which, but for the imp dements the law interposed, might have been completed in three month.. Mr. J. L.TEWAILT (barrister), in seconding the rev lution, also spoke of the many defects of the law, and his expectation of amendment, as arising from the recommendations of the real property commis-ioners, and Mr. A. BLAKE said he had seen, with great pleasu'e, a bill before parliament for facilitating the transfer of real estates in Irelsnd—( hear, hear)—a bet which, though ca pable of sense amendments, contained some important princi ples. That measure he found gave a new root of title, viz., that when a sale was made the cony. yance of the master should be good i aga_nst all opposers. But, AS they gave strength to that rule they must take care that it did not ope rate unjustly, and must take precautions against improper titles being imposed en the master. He bore testimony to the good which had been effected by this society, and added that if it should be successful I. its object of cleating out the Court of Chancery, it would effect even more good than wield maulr from the cleaning out of all the sewers. The resolution was then agreed to. Mr. klesineee, M.P., then moved — That the expense and delay arising front the present state of chan cery procedure, opecially in the master's Ake, were no great as to require LI speedy remedy in order to protect the Court of Chancery from falling into public disrespect. Tke pleadings and practice of the Chancery courts were, in many rupee's, bad, and the practice of taking evidence by written interrogations and written answer. was most objec tionable He thought the bill as to joint stock partnerships of the present session was a step in the right direction, and be hoped the principle of it would be extended still further. The resolution having been agreed to, Mr. W. HAWES moved: That, tioniiidcring the prrent unarttled and conflicting gate of the law of debtor and creditor, and the great importance of maintaining credit in tine country, Mi. meeting Is of °pint. that into branch at the law requires a careful investigation tad reseston. As the law now stood no protection was given to the creditor who gave credit on the faith of the debtor's promises, because the onus of proof of fraud was thrown upon him. The debtor whn applied to the Bankrupt or Insolvent Court to be re lieved from his liabilities should be bound to show that he had not contracted those liabilities in fraud. Ile complained that this society, which had interfered to save expenses to the rich in the transfer of estates, had not interfered to pro tect the small trader by giving him a sure and speedy remedy against his debtor. The public at large were f.,r more inte rested in a good law of debtor and creditor than in r forms in the Court of Chancery. The lees by bankruptcy and in solvency in this country—nr rather, the total amount of tail urea—i acceded 60,000,0001. a year ; and if they were to go on allowing, and io fact encouraging, men (f .r such was the operation of our bankrupt and insolvent laws) to repudiate their debts, they must n ht be surprised it the principle ex tended more generally, and a composition of the national debt should not be thought impossible. (Hear, bear.) At presort it was only the more honest of those who failed who reserten to the Bankruptcy Court. The majority effected their object by miens of a composition which they forced their creditors to accept by the threat of taking advantage of the bankrupt laws. This was especially the cue, lie was informed, in the drapery trade. He believed much of the comm , rcial distress we had experienced wan owing to the cackle amen with which debt was incurred in the absence of any punishment for that offence. Mr. GAVNEN seconded the resolution, concurring in the opinion that had there been a law to punish fraudulent and reckless debtors, the commercial difficulties which, on various occasions, had been experienced during the last quarter of a century, might in a great measure have been avoided. The PREsIDENT assured Mr. Hawes that he did not differ hem him in principle on this subject. It was on the prin ciple that the debtor, not having paid his debt, was prima facie in the wrong, that he had opposed the present Lord Chancellor's bill, which imposed the onus of proof on the creditor. The present law of debtor inn creditor undoubt edly required the consideration of parliament. Mr Commissioner FAKE. — If the subject was to come before parliament, he would ark parliament to take into its consideration at the same time that principle of law by which the creditor who had obtained judgment against the debtor was to he preferred over the others--for the consequence of that principle was, that whichever creditor the debtor pre ferred, though the debt were altogether fictitious, grasped all the property. So far as his experience went he could say that great practical evil arose from that particular rule of law, which raid that he who was urgent and obtained judg ment should have the property to the exclusion of the others, for the man who did so, and seized, was often the greatest knave.—The resolution was carried. Mr. Itotirecx, Q.C., then moved that in order to carry (solo m [linty and complete the necessary amendments in the law, it is essential to establish a mullet r et justice, or a department in the state which shall be devoted to this duty. At pre,ent there was no department upon which the respon sibility of this duty fell ; and what was meant by the resolu tion was, that all that was directly or collaterally connected with the administration of the law should be placed in the hands of on. responsible officer, whose duty should be to bet hie mind and the minds of those wider him to the reform of the law and the administration of justice. He knew that there were objections to the title "Minister of Justice,* as TILE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 1, 1848. groan had taken on their quarters at Finsbury-equare. Capt. Hay immediately sent olf a large body of police, who found about 1,000 penons assembled, whom they quickly dispersed The Green having been cleared aid the military drawl off, the majority of the police were ordered beck to their Ise. veral station.. About 500 ordinary and 40 mounted were ordered to remain during the bight. Cabs arid special mes tenger' were also kept in readtisess to convey any intelli gence if it were tie.. .emery to summon the authorities. It wurrenerally reported on the Greta, that In the event of an outbreak there the signal was to be convoyed to the se veral club., and a general outbreak would tike place. During the evening a strong body of special conetahles, with the E irl of Arundel and Surrey at their head, assembled in the school-1.0.,m and church of St. Martin-in.the-Fielda, and remained in readiness until they received notice from the commissioners of police that their attendance was no longer requisite. The noble earl dismissed those present with an announcement that he should be in attendance with his brother constables every evening as long as there seemed any likelihood 0. their services being required, and he hoped other parishes would follow their example. Tut NAVIGATION LAws.—There were 272 signa tures appended to the City of London petition fur rairal of the navigation laws, presented on Tuesday by Mr. Lebow chore. Among thew are the names of tne gov rnor. the deputy•governor, and several directors of the Bank of Eng• land, sev. rat Lombard-street bankers, and many of the leading mercantile firms of London. BROMPTON HOSPlTAL—Yesterday evening a spe sial general court of the governors and directors oa this chtrity took place ut the board room, Brompton, his grace the Duke of Richmond in the chair. Some routine business having been transacted the meeting proceeded to tho elec tion of three additional assistant physicians, which resulted in th a appointment of Dr. Bowie, Dr. Quaid, rid Dr.Cott"n. His Royal llighnces Prince Albert, who laid the f iundation stone of the building, esamined the various wards and offices of the institution, and expreand himself highly gratified with the ilitfcrent internal arrangements. THE REFORM MOVEMENT. We have been requested to give publicity to the following I. tier from Mr. home to the Chairman of the Preston Reform Leiiaue : London, 6, Bryanstone-square, May 31, 1849. Sir,—l beg to say, in reply to your letter, that no more effectual aid cam 5e g yen to my motion of the 20th ot Junej in favour of ref ,rou, then by petitions to path msnt, ems. nating from public, meinits or otherwise, contioed to the inha.ntrints of the st v, rid district-, and I recommend that the petiq ms be rosewood through the medium of the repre. seat/gives fir the respictive localities where such petitions ' aro originated Ac 1 11,4 it impossible to reply sepantely to the numerous letters which are addressed to me from different parts of Great Britain, inquiring by whet means co operation can he best afforded to toe reform movement. I have availtd myself of this mode of sendi .g sou an answer, in order that it may be read by my correspondents generally in the columns of the public pr , as, I am, sir, your obedient servant, JOSEPH HUME. Mr. W. Limey, Chairman, Preston, I..tcaehi;e: ---- P.S. I recommend great care in receiving signatures, and Only th.se residing in the locality, as much dicmrcilit has been brought up m petitions by the insertion of fictitious names.—J. H. RETRENCHMENT AND EQUALISATION OF TAXATION.—MEETING IN LIVERPOOL. Yesterday, at noon, a great public meeting or the inhabitants of Liverpool, promoted by the Finantial Reform Aasoci Awn recently formed in that town, wan held in the Sessions Howe, " for the purpose of petitioning parliament to take immediate measures, by wise and prudent retrench ment and a just revision of taxation, to equalise the ordinary expenditure with the ordinary income of the country." The meeting was convened by T. IL Horsfall, E.q , the mayor, in compliance with a requisition numerously and respectably signed. The Matron read the requisition convening the meeting. He said no meeting could be held for a more simple, a mere legitimate, or a more cnnstitutional ohj- ct. (Applause.) Mr. Churchwarden Frnousos moved the fiat resolu tion. People, he raid, had ceased their party cries, and were now deeply occupied with questions sal pounds, ;bil lings, and pence. Merchants could now scarcely bring a cargo at their own risk, the majority of mills were stopped, many working half time; and the tradesna. n, above all others, were emliarraseed. Ile could attest from his own experience the depression of the shopkeepieg inter. et in Liverpool. In the last 19 months there had been 848 bank ruptcies in England and 292 in Scotland. He might sur prise them when he stet d that there were in England alone two millions of paupers, costing annually eight millions liter ling to maintain them. Amongst the causes of •his distress the Currency Bill, in his opinion, stood prominent. Another cause was the taxation, which was unjust in principle. The poor man paid 10s. in the pound, the middle classes 65., the very weas.thy only Is. In 1847 the exci•e and customs duties paid 37,000,0001. ; the stamp duties yielded 3,000,000/. ; whilst the land, the whole land of England. paid but 1,200,4001. (Hear, hear.) After suiting the determination of the people to demand financial reform, Mr. Ferguson conduit 4 by moving: 'That the depression and want or confidence under which the trailing and commercial interests of the country are now labouring use greatly aggravated by the present unsatisfactory state of toe national finance. Mr. C. HOLLAND seconded the resolution. He said, 'e vading to his own c mfession, the Chancellor of the Exche quer would be 6,000,0001. short in January , '49. Was not commercial prosperity or adversity int imately con meted with the credit system of the country ; and could it be en a secure basis when we round those who managed the monetary affairs of the country actually going on with a bankrupt exchequer, without the moral courage to come forward with any plan to re lieve themselves from that lamentable position ? (Applause.) If next year the Chancellor of the Exchequer had to go to that great monopoly the Beak of England tor money, and another commercial crisis were to ensue, where could the trading classes of the country go to obtain the supplies which they would require? Since 1815 an addition of 60,000 men had been made to the standing army of the country, and seven millions addition bad been made during the same time to the expenditure for the forces. What possible justification could there be for all this, when the Queen told them in her speech at the opening of parlia ment, that we were at peace with all the world? We should Ask Lord John Russell what had been the cause of the revo lution in France ?—financial grounds alone. The great se curity for a country like this was commercial prosperity, healthy employment for every man in the community, and not thousands of idle bayonets paraded up and down. The 18 millions which our army and navy cost, if left to fructify in the pockets of the people, would have been better em ployed in industrious pursuits. He knew from a re sidence in various parts of the world that the appearance of a man of war was dreaded by the cap tains of merchant vessels, as the oportunities to enter produced disorder among the crews. The country next to us in its commercial relations was the United States; yet their navy was only a drop in the bucket ximpared to ours, and yet they had equal protection to ourselves all over the world. The public had now to assert the principle that they would insiA upon retrenchment; and when the Chancellor of the Exchequer brings forward his deficiency, all classes unanimously should say, " reduce your expenditure"—that is the secret. (Applause.) The people would no longer permit liberal members to be bearded by the aristocratical portion of toe house, when they put questions about abuses, or demanded firancial reform from the govern ...ent. The principles of communism were tried to be adopted in France ; but he trusted that if we could ob tain true principles of legislation in this country, namely, if capital and labour had free exercise, and taxation instead of Lakin, so much from the fruits of capital and labour, were removed from the proceeds of industrious labour and made to fall more upth accumulations of capital and property, we should accomplish, without resorting to the doctrines of communism, a practical communism, in regard to the division of profits ; we should relieve the working classes, and secure to them a fair day's wage for a fair day's work. Mr. J. TAYLO!:, cotton broker, off:re 1 a few remarks to show the depressed state of trade, and created some amusement by declaring that it would have been better for Liverpool if the Mersey had been blocked up for the last two yearn. lye thought from the disturbed state of the continent we might have to suffer for the next two years still more commercial embarrassment ; hence there was absolute ne cruity for great retrenchment. He would not canvass the merits of the ministers or their opponents—both parties bad lost his confidence; but let who would be minister, the country could not pay taxation up to the point it had done for some years past. (Applause.) The MAYOR put the resolution, which was carried unstr- mously. Mr. C. ROBERTSON moved the second resolution. The necessary retrenchments, he maintained, would never be made till the country should insist upon them. The present mi nistry had coin nitted a greater outrage, in the matter of finance, than any government which hail preceded them for a long time. They came into office when the income was equal to the expenditure, and contrived, before two short years were over, to convert it into a deficit of three millions; and when they were asked to retrench, they commenced by increasing the army and navy estimates. When one abuse was pointed out, they met it by the creation of another, to balance it. (Laughter.) lie wished it to go forth to the country that the opposition which Liverpool had offered to the increase of the income tax was net so much against the tax itself es against its mode of collection and its want of equalisation. The resolution which he had to move was : That the national expenditure is on a scale of unjustifia ble ex t ra- Who, he asked, could doubt the truth of it ? Pensions for doing worse than nothing—places made for men instead of meritorious men being called to till places--jobs of all de scriptions, large and small—commissions poking their noses into everybody's business, and pockettioit the public money on the plea ot doing the public a strvice—sinecures from which the fortunate possessors, atter being some time in pos session, retire, receiving a large sum as compensation for doing nothing. (Laughter.) Sometimes when we beard, as a meri torious act, ot some public office having been abolished, we found it only to be a plausible pretest for giving to the sinecurist something out of the public parse in shape. (Rear, hear.) Then there were t he hangers-ots court, of whom, if the truth were known, he had no doubt our gracious Mai,e7 would b:a as glad to gat rid of as bar kriA Pabi KA , W0+ 1164 We 'gut goatees a the pol:shgunds. being unitise/114h, which might he removed by the substitu. lion of the title "Secretary of State fur Justice." (Hear, I hear.) It was a disgrace to this country that no such depart- ment existed. The administration of English jostle, ex; tended over the whole globe, but to a.lntinistered in many cues, with all its delays, its vexations, and expellee, it was not English justice but English injustice. (Hear.) Let this society continue their exertions until they succeeded in getting such a department established, and they would then be in reality as well as in name, a Law Amendment Society. Mr.-Coaamiegioner Fells seconded the resolution, which he said invoked all the others, and A having passed, Kr. 3/. Q.C., moved net the pormsh elated the criminal law, more especially that part Mk Ida! TIMM te Ismirry punishment/. was bighlldekell•e• The plinCiPill of sioseavy punish eau should be deterring, ' and the feeling of Sir 8. Hominy, and other criminal law reformers, was, that to make it no you must by depriving the punishment of all that was revolting to the feelings, and pre venting the public sympathy being with the mimeo .1, ensure conviction. Though they bad approached this result nearer than they formerly did, they were very far from hiving obtained it. When forgery was punished by death the number of convictions as compared witn the of fence, was as 1 to 165 ; the proportion now was 1 ie 100. He believed experience showed that in such establishments as that which the Duke of Richmond was then engaged in pro moting, of every 100 juvenile criminals sent to them 64 were permanently reformed—the expense being 3,0001. for ev, ry 100 boys. If those boys were committed two or three times to prison, and then, as they would be in all probability—for prisons did not reform them—transported, the coat to the country would not be leas than 1001. each. And th.s rx. pens* would be incurred—fur what ? Not to reform the crimiaal—but to throw mast unjustly on our eoloni.ts that pest we most wisely sent from our own shon e. He was not, however, for making any great choegee in the criminal law, until they were agreed as to the principles on which they should proceed. The resolution was accorded by Mr. Ewan, and carried ; as was mother proposed by Mr. Ewart, M P , expressing the annum nu of the .report in regard to legal education. Lord Mosicaote moved the thanks of the meeting to their noble and learned president, not so much for his con duct in the chair that day, as for his earnest and c n. sistent, and practically useful curse through life, and he hoped he might long remain before them car an ex a mple of what one man could do. (Cheers.) With regard to the law, IS to the conveyance of property, he would state a fact which had come before him in the committee of the House of Lords, on colonisation, over which he presided. He bad been speaking to a witness of the importance of tacilitating the rise of the labourer in the colonies to the condition of the small landholder; and the reply was: " The law of England prevents that ; you have forced your laws as to toe con veyance of real property on u., and the expense of making the conveyance under those laws is so much beyond the cost of the land in the case of ante' nurchascs, that individuals I who would otherwise buy land, and raise therowlves to tile ; condition of the middle classes are prevented." (lie., hear.) t He (Lord Monteagle) *as convinced that such a law of con . veyance was not the best means of cementing the uuion between our colonies and the either country. Earl FORTESCVE seconded the motion, which was carried with acclamation. Lord BROVOHAY, in acknowleilgi..g the compliment, said the fact just mentioned by his noble friend. w h most ins. portent and atriking, as showing the mischievous character of that gross, expensive, and riskful system of conveyancing with which this country was now afflicted. The meeting then separated. GENERAL DOMESTIC SERVANTS' BENEVO LENT INSTITUT ION. The annual meeting of the members and friends of this institution was held yesterday, in the Queen's Concert R. rom, Ilenovar-square, when there were about 1,20 t/ persons present. The chair was taken by the Earl of HARROWIIY, in the absence Lord Robert Brae• nor, who had been expected to preside. His lord-hip explained the objects of the society, and ob . d that it was remarkable that within a very short period there had been no such institution in existence. There was no doubt that alums/ the earTer and ma turer portions of their lives domestic servants ere placed in a portion which rendered them familiar with ell the coin forts and many of the luxuries of life ; end the decline of their days was not only marked by the loss of those comforts and luxuries, but frequently of even the necessaries of exlsience. The irotitutien was not one in the nature of an insurance office, to provide an annuity in after years for those who chose to pay a certain POW at pre eta ; those who subscribed to the society must do so from higher motives than the ex pectation of personal advantage, for the annuities given would depend much on the funds of the institution and the nature of the cases brought und, r their notice. As a proof of the estimation in which the acicty was held, and its consequent success, he need only mention the fact that they had at present the sum of 2,0001 invested in the Three per Cents.; and he hoped that its successful com mencement would encourage its friends to provide for its prosperous centinuance. The Rev. T. BEAN then read the report of the commit tee. It commenced by congratulating the eubseribers upon the prosperity of the society since the last meeting, which was evinced by the amount of the reserved fund which had been established, and the increased list of subscribers. There were 1,157,000 domestic servant in the kingdom, of whom 900,000 were females ; and the com mittee urged upon them the necessity of exercising pro• videocs and forethought, and the diligent performance of the duties which they were called upon to fulfill. The com mutes looked forward to next year with much anxiety, tor at its close the period would .rrive when an election of pen - slum - Ts would take place; but they trusted that their friends would enable them to eh ct every deserving applicant upon their bounty. They urged particular attention to the third clause in their rules, which empowered the committee to grant temporary relief in cases of urgent distress. After much consideration they had determined upon ex tending the period of relieving members to 50 years of age, on a graduated scale of subscriptions, according to the con tingencies of the case. There were now 2,176 members of the institution. The receipts since the year 1846 had amounted to 2,2311. 14s. 10d.; and the disbursements to 1,8311. 16s, 11d. They had been enabled during the last year to invest 1,0001. in stock, which made the amount held by the society 2,0001. The Rev. H. HOWARD moved the adoption of the report. Mr. M. GORE seconded the resolution. The resolution having been agreed to unanimeusly, the Earl of Harrowby vacated the chair, having other business. His place was filled by Lord It. GROSVENOR, who had just arrived. His lordship regretted that he had not been pre sent at the commencement of the proceedings. He had been compelled to attend an electioa committee in the house of Commons, from which he was only released in con sequence of a peculiar event which had taken place, and which probably could only have taken place on an Irish committee, namely, that the counsel struck for wages— (laughter) ; and it wu owing to that peculiarly Hinernian circumstance that he had the advantage of being present. Mr. EWART, M.P., moved a resolution to the effect, that the meeting, remembering the success which had attended the society since its formation, desired to impress on all classes the necessity of united exertions in making known the objects of the institution, and of inducing ser vants generally to become members. Toe Rev. Mr. GIFFORD seconded the resolution, which was also adopted unanimously. Several other gentlemen subsequently addressed the meet ing in support of similar principles, and the proceedings ;mutated, after a complimentary vote to the chairman. THE CASE OF MR. MITCHEL-MEETING OF CONFEDERATES. The threatened disturbances on Clerkenwell-green and various parts of the metropolis last night created mach excitement. A threat having been made at several of the chartist and confederate clubs that they would, if any inter ruption were offered to their meeting, burn London in a few hours, the commissioners of police sent notices to all persons in the ,'istricts of the several meetings, requesting them to keep the gas turned off at the mains. . From an early hour in the dsy the government officials at the War office, Scotland-yard, &c., were engaged in adopt ing every precautionary measure for suppressing any out break that might occur. 'fhe parish church of Clerkenwell was filled with foot soldiers and policemen. The Sessions-house else contained nearly 1,000 policemen and 800 Chelsea pensioners under arms. A large number of private houses on the green were filed with special constables, who in the course of the day had been called out. At half-past seven o'i lock, at which time not fewer than 5,000 persons were present, two troops of horse-guards made thi it app stance on the green, near which they took up their quarters. The MO . ) gave them three cheers as they passed, some greeting them with various ironical epithets. Shortly after eight o'clock a person mounted a lamp-poet, and commenced addressing the people, who flocked 'around him. He said he came there expecting that there would be a demonstration, and he felt greatly disappointed that those who were to lead them on to victory should not up to that time have made their appearance. He implored them to keep order, for he was quite assured that their meetings might be turned to glorious account before the night was cut. (Cheers and cries of " Pike', pikes !" "To arms, to arms:") They hail been most brutally treated the other evening by the police. He trusted that none of them would unnecessarily interfere with the police, but if the police annoyed them he trusted that they would at once defend themselves like men. The police were a useful body in pre serving the public peace ; and he hoped that all his friends would provide themselves with some sort of arms, so that they might resist the police it they attacked them without cause, " I," said the speaker, " have done my duty, and have provided myself with a proper instrument of defence.' All those who were not provided with arms should imme diately join a chartist or confederate club, and they would be no longer defenceless. (Cheers.) --One or two other per. sons addressed the meeting, but their orations chiefly con sisted of recommendations to cheer for Mr. Mitchel—tor re peal of the union—and, also, exhorting them to join him in shouting, "Down with the police!" "Three cheers for the soldiers," " Three cheers for a republic," " Down with the monarchy," and " No Queen I" At nine o'clock the police, under the command of M tn Le Nis, took posseasion of the green, and drove the mob into the adjoining streets. Up to 11 o'clock several conflicts took place between the puffy. and the people, du - ing which many heads were bat tered. On Saffron-hill several of the rioters took possession of a house and commmenced pelting the police with sttnes and broken bottles. After a desperate resistance the police succeeded in apprehending several of them, who were con veyed to the station-house. Many of the police were seri ously wounded. One it feared dangerously so. Shortly before 11 o'clock a report was spread that the majority of the persons who had been dispersed hem the grand falconers, groom of the stole, and so forth. These °Sees might Ire necessary, but they could be better performed by giving to some honest groom 801. or 1001. a year for the purpose, than by men who pocketed some thousands a year for this degrading and menial service. After the host of minor extravagances, whose name was legion, he came to the wholesale squandering on the army and navy, which wu a sort of bettors slaughtering of that most unpro- tected of all game, her Majesty's industrious British subjects. Row many millions of our hard working population must sweat and strug .le (some die in the struggle), to furnish 18 millions year after year, absorbed by this monstrous and ever-expanding peace establishment. The 46 millions which we itad;to par tor our past follies ought to serve as a caution to WI to commit no more. Mr. Robertson concluded amid considerable applause. Mr. A. H. WYLIE seconded the motion. He contrasted the items of expenditure of this country and that of the United States ; and showed that we pay for our consulate in China more than the States pay fur their embassies M all parts of the world. Our colonies were nate for patronege ; and he thought we would never see them prosperous till we bestowed upon them self-government. When the industry of this country was leas fettered we might have immigration rather than emigration. He lisped that all party differences would be sunk, and that in Liverpool would be formed a great mercantile and trading party. When so united they would effect more than all the laws that could be passed for the preservation and security of the crown of this country. The resolution was carried. Mr. L. iiIITWOUTE moved the next resolution, calling upon government to reduce its expenditure to its legitimate income, and expressive of the opinion that if the deficit which may arise be met by borrowing, it would embarrass financial affairs, and by increasing the distrust add to the evils from which the country already so deeply suffers. He showed that working-men paid in taxation about 12 per cent upon their income. We depended entirely upon our commerce, and if, be the maintenance ef restrictions, we should lose that, we would lose our potency altogether. lie thought that in our estimates for the army and navy alone a reduction of eight millions sterling might be maie. It was not the interest of any nation to make war upon another. We could not go on increasing our standing army without raising up at the same time an army of unemployed operatives, who might eventually kindle • civil war. Mr. R. V. Yarns seconded the resolution. He thought it iniquitous that the poor man should pay a greater per centime upon his income than the rich man, which occurred through indirect taxation. He saw by a government return that the nation at large paid 73,0001. for the London and 36,0001. for the Dublin police. Why should not the inhabi• ! tarts of those towns support their police the same as Liverpool did ? By the same return, he observed, that 45,0001. had been optnt upo: ii :gilding of the House of Lords. He thought it iniq that there should have been squandered in such a manner a m which would have kept 2,000 fami lies now on the brink of starvation. When Mr. Macgregor inquired as to a pension paid to the present Duke of Marl borough, Lord John Russell told him to look into Cax's book of the house of Marlborough. He (Mr. Yates) had done so, and he found in the course of his inquiry that 4.0001. a year had been paid for 120 years, since the duke died, to his descendants; and he found, calculating compound interest, that the amount came to the enormous sum of 12 millions sterling (" Shame "). This sum had been absolutely thrown away on the mei vors of a duke, who had been well paid during his life. 'f he Duke of (Lefton had 3,0001 a year tram the Poet office, 7,0001. from the Excise—his only title being that he is descended Iron an illegitimate son of Cheeks the See!nd. The resolution was carried. Mr. J. H. JEFFREY proposed: That In the opinion of ,his meeting a large measure of financial re form, including the remission of the burdens on industry; and that an equitable adjusted scheme of direct taxation, in which property shall be made to pay its file proportion; are imperatively demanded at the hands of government; that the taxes raised from excise and customs are unjust in principle, limit ow the subsistence of the people and the operations of trade, and thereby materially retarding the progresaive prosperity of the country. Mr. Jeffrey addressed the meeting at considerable length. contending that the customs and excise duties should be !wept away, and the pr needs from an equalised probwe and legacy duty (estimated to yield ten millions a year) should he applied to the liquidation of the capital of the national debt. The value of the property in the united kingdom he I stimated at four tnousand millions sterling, and on this he proposed (to raise the annual revenue of the coun try) to impute one per cent. Income and property, in regard to taxation, should be equitably treated, so that industry should not have to pay, as at present, twenty times the amount of property. Mr. F. BUELT seconded the resolution. The motion was put and carried unanimously; and, after a vote of thanks to the mayor, the meeting broke up. MEETING IN MARYLEBONE. Yesterday, a meeting took place at the Marylebone Court-house, to consider the ni cessity of securing a dimi• notion of the taxation of the country by means of an exten sive refimm in the constitution of the present parliament. — Mr. Michie, a member of the Marjleboue vestry, presided. The CHAIRMAN, in opening the business, observed that this was a peels:2ll..ll7y meeting of the people of Marylebone, to show to the prime minister of England the error into which he had fallen, in supposing that neither the middle nor working clean of this country required reform. He would say there, as he had said in the vestry, that a greater untruth never emanated from the mouth of any prime minister. (Hear, hear.) That meeting, convened only at a few hours' notice, clearly indicated the interest which the middle and trading clams felt in the subject, and he had no doubt but they would have the aid of all intelligent and reasonab c mioded men of the working classes in this great movement. Mr. STEVENS, a vestryman, proposed the first resolution. That the present state of the representation of the people in the Commons House of Parliament is partial In its nature, and in its lonelier tends to elam leglaintlon, is no security against unequal and oppressive taxation, and produces no comprehensive measures for the benefit of the people. Mr. Ilunuse, in seconding the resolution, showed at some length the present imperfect representation of the people. The time had now arrived for doing that which men of all reasonable minds were prepared to do, namely, to have a real Common. House of Parliament. The class of which that meeting was composed were not violent men. (Hear.) They were not met to upset the monarchy, or destroy the constitution. They neither set their faces against the House of Lords or the church, but they had met to rebut a state ment made in the House of Commons that the middling and working classes in this country did not wish for reform and a reduction of taxation (Hear.) Mr. SYDENIIAM defended the declaration of Lord John Russell, and expressed his want of confidence as much in Mr. Hums and Mr. Cobden as in Mr. O'Connor, and de clared that he believed the whole party in kicking up the row wire under the influence of a foreign power. (Laugnter.) He moved as an amendment: That any agitation for a reform of the Commons House of Parlia ment, or the Introduction of any other system than the present, is utterly useless until the mid lle classes themselves take some steps for ameliorating the condition of the working dames of this country. There being no seconder to the ametidment it fell to the ground. Dr. GRAY said he was astonished to hear that Lord John Russell should have declared that the middle classes did not want reform. When out of office he came before the people an humble suppliant and asked their aid, but no sooner did he obtain power than he spurned them. The people of England had had enough of him. Mr. Wiesosi observed that the subject they had met upon wee one of vast importance, and it was desirable that I they should discuss it with moderation and temper. (Hear.) He was not an advocate fdr great organic changes. Ile loved the institutions of the country, but be believed they were capable of being adapted to the wants and the intelli gence of the people in the time in which we live. The House of Commons, which ought to be a curb upon the government, were themselves parties to a wasteful expen diture, and that wee a good reason for saying that at present the House of Commons did not fairly represent the people. (Hear.) As he before Paid, he was a lover of our inst:tutions, but he firmly believed that our institutions were in danger ' unless some temperate and rational reforms were speedily carried out. Let them have a temperate and rational ex. tension of the franchise. Mr. J. Wituams, M.P., begged to tell them that since he had had the honour cf a se it in the House of Commons he was more ;,onvinced :han ever that that house as at pre sent constituted did not represent the people. Why was it that Lord John Russell had made the ridiculous observation that he had done ? It was because he associated with those only who were considered as coming strictly within the pale of the constitution. (Laughter.) 'Toe aristocracy knew nothing whatever of the real wants of the people. How could they, when instead of assecating with working men, their whole society was maids of honour, grand falconer., masters of the buckhounds, and all such characters? (Hear, and laughter.) He (Mr. W.) had the honour to be one of the working classes, and therefore it was always his delight to associate himself and identify him self with the interests of the working classes. He preferred such society to that of the aristxracy, for he had faund out there was not much to learn amongst the latter. (Hear.) He believed Lord John Russell to be a good hearted man, and that he would not have made that declaration in the House of Commons if he had been really aware of the wants of the people, but the fact was that he had too many sycophant, about him, fawning, and flattering, and misre presenting, in order to get into favour to obtain appoint manta. He could assure his friends that it was a dangerous thing for a man to be in a high place, but it was a farce to suppose that Lord J. Russel: did not k now something of the wants of the people, unless he was totally blind. The first step was to let him know the real wants and wishes of the people, and if he did not carry out the reforms required, let the middle and working classes unite and do all in their power to put some one else in his place. These were the terms he called upon his Marylebone friends to adopt with ragged to the present [novena:lit, but et the same time he would advise them to indulge as little as possible in exciting language. The hon. member resumed his seat amidst loud applause. The revolution was here put from the chair, and carried with acclamation. Mr. Soden proposed the next resolution. In his opinion 1 there never was a greater insult offered to the commonsense 1 and intelligence of the people of England than the late steer- , lion of the Prime Minister. If he was so ignorant of the feelings of the people he was wholly unfit to occupy the position he held. The people knew too well that there were numbers of fellows putting their hands into the pockets of , the middle and working classes who had no right to do ff. He viewed the party who h ad come forward in supp.rt of this reform movement as conservatives. They were the real conservatives, for the constitution was in danger, and it was only these reforms that would save the country. (Cheers.) Mr. Soden moved : That the Prime 'blinkerr of her Majesty's government having stated his opinion that the people require 111.1 extended measures of wildest sad Gocol reform. it is hereby resolved that • public petting of the pmfsitionen of Oa. Marylehniss he celled to ewer Ihsir wWon on la 1 ,;,,X' owlet,' of petlhmsat 10 : prow= ix ma. siai if XI! suffrage, roes by bra 4 triemlal parliaments, and equal electoral 1 districts. Mr. BELTON second. el Shia resolution. Mr. M'Evii.v was of opinion that they were embarked in an excellent cause ; but whilst that was the case, he could not lend himself to the exaggerated statements charging Lord John Rumen with dishonesty. (Loud cries of " uh.") Mr. J. BeLL thought that Lord J. Russell was himself not opposed to progressive reform ; hut the fact was, that the noble lora was so opened by the tories, that he was unable to carry any c .mprehensive measure of reform. (Oh oh ) Ile would appeal to the hon. member for Macclesfield (Mr Williams), and ask him whether he did not believe that the present prime minister was disposed to carry out reform if he felt that he could emery such measures? Mr. WILLIAMS, M.P., said that, as an independent mem ber of parliament, he regretted very much to see Lord .1. Russell relying for support on the bitterest enemies of the peqple, the tories. He was sorry to see him relying for sup port on those parties who, when any mra.ura was brought forward for the benefit of the people, howled jibe a lot of wolves about to lose th• it prey. (Hear.) Lord J. Russell and his government, instead of relying on the body of true re formers, who were ready on all proper occasions to give their assistance, threw themselves into the arms of those who only supported the government to serve their own selfish ends, and who, at the first opp ertunity, would leave them in the lurch, in order that they (the teenier) might step into Mail plates. (Hear.) Mr. JOSEPH could not congratulate either Mr. Bell or Mr. M'Evily on their defence of the prime minister. They had talked of his being an advocate for progressive reforms There,were two sorts of progression—the one the pewee:anon of a snail, and the other the progression of a horse. He certainly believed the progressive reform of Lord J. Russell, if left to himself, would belong to the species of the snail. (Cheers and laughter.) He would ask what measures of re form had ever emanated from a minister es about being force by the people 1 The fact was that the noble lord the mem ber for L radon had, in making hie late declaration, quite mistaken his position Tue noble lord had assumed that be. cause:the middle and a large body of the working cleans hat shown their loyalty and affectien to the crown on the 10th of April last, they had equal affectieen for and accorded in all the conduct of the government If thot was ti.c opinion of the noble lord, he begg.d to tell him that he was never more mistaken in his lite. (Hear, and cheers.) After declaring that the middle classes in this country had no sympathy with the peace-br.akers of Ireland, one of whom had met the just reward of his conduct, Mr. Joseph said they were, however, determined to secure their own rights ley moral and legitimate means. (Cheers.) Several other gen.lemen addressed the meeting, and the resolution having been carried nein. con., thanks were voted to the chairman, and the meeting separated. WF.ST LONDON REFORM ASSOCIATION.—Leet night , a large meeting of the inhabitants of Chelsea, Kensington, Hammersmith, and Fulham, was held at 'he Wellesley Arm., • Kit-eft street, Chelsea, in support of the local association formed for obtaining an extension of the suffrage, triennial parliaments, vote by %ABA, a repeal of the window tax, a reform of the income tax, an efficient measure of sanitary reform, a reform of the existing laws relating to the relief of the poor, a proper application of the funds known to exist in this country for charitable purposes, and the formation into a borough of the above parishes. The c h air was taken by Mr. F. Oaken. He said he had just heard that the special constables had be. n called out, hut, for his own part, he bc.- Hared there was not the slightest cause for alarm. If there were any real apprehensions for the security of the publ c peace, the hest way to calm all fi ars would he by granting those reforms which were now twins called for by all classes of the community. The declaration of Lord J. Russell, that neither the middle nor the working classes required any extension of the stiffrav was most extraordinary. He vas cot more auto nishcd at the untruth of this statement of the premier, than at the circumstance that that assertion was supposed to pass uncontradicted. It was now the duty of the mickle cla-ses of England to give the moat distinct denial to the declaration that the people were satisfied with their present represents tion. A proof that the people of that district, at least, were not content, was to he f and in the , xistence of this sass ciation.—Mr. B mar ouggested that the association should now merge with the " National Reform League." This movement was already joined by the oldest reformers and only reqnired the cooperation of the people to be completely aucceestul.—Mr. Wickham informed the meeting that the whole machinery of the anti-corn law league would soon again come into operation. Mr. Bright informed him yes ' terday that the old leaders of the league were elming to London ; that they were going to take Drury-lane Theatre for their meetings, and they would act in all respects upon the former model. (Cheers.) Some further business having I been disposed of, the meeting separated. WOLVERUAMPTON.—A meeting, convened by, work men, was held at Wolverhampton on Tuesday evening, for the purpose of forming a branch league to co operate with the Reform League established in the metropolis, under the auspices of Messrs. liume and Cobden. NORTH CHESHIRE ELECTION. The nomination of candidates for the northern division of Cheshire, to supply the vacancy in the representa tion caused by the elevation of the Hon. Mr. Stanley to the peerage, took place, at Knutsford, yesterday morning. There was a vast concourse of people collected to take part in the ceremony, including, besides the tenantry of the tory squire., who came up on horseback and in omnibuses, • great number of persons from the manufacturing districts of the county, who had come by railway—probably not less than 3,000 to 4,000. The nomination took place in front of the sessions-house, and the adherents of the two candidates came up in procession, headed by bands of mu•ic. H. Brooke, Esq., the high sheriff, having opened the pro- cee l d ri i4 P. W M r. . Tattoo, of W ittersham, proposed, as the candi date in the conservative interest , Mr. G. C. Legh, of High Legh.—Mr. W. Sidebottom, of Mottram, seconded the nomi nation. Me. J. Cheetham, of Mottram, proposed, as the candidate in the liberal interest, Mr. F. D. E. Astley, and entered at great length into the circumstances under which Mr. Astley had withdrawn at the late election, to save the expense of a contest, the tones being parties to the compact, so far as the friends of Mr. Egerton, the present sitting member, were concerned ; and he contended that all those friends of Mr. Egerton who supported him on that occasion were bound by the contract, and notes the party of Mr. Legh now attempted to construe it—those five or six gentlemen only whose names were signed to the document.—Mr. C. Ilindley, M.P., se conded the nomination of Mr. Miley. Mr. GEO. CORNWALL LEON said his honourable opponent Mr. Cheetham, in a somewhat discursive speech, had re ' ,erred to one or two topics on which it would be necessary to follow him. He had spoken of a compact having been entered into at the last election, but he must remind him that other parties on that occasion gave a pledge as well as Mr. Astley and hie party. He (Mr. Legh) was there as well as Mr. Cheetham, and said he did not think l it right to force the county into a contest, yet that he i had received so di spontaneous offers of support, that on the very first vacancy he should again come forward and offer himself for the county. He now remem bered that pledge, and, whetever might be the opinion of gentlemen on the other side, be was determined to give the electors an opportunity of saying what their decision should be. If it was against him, he should cheerfully submit ;if it was in his favour, he should be proud of the honour con ferred upon him. He thought the proposer of Mr. Astley had put that gentleman in an awkward position by referring to the compromise at the last election. Either Mr Astley felt that it was the wish of this constituency that he should I represent it, or he did not. If he thought they did not wish it, it was a matter of prudence in him to retire from the contest ; but if, on the other hand, he thought he should win, then surely he did not treat the constituency with that respect which he ought to have done. But he (Mr. Legh) had yet to learn that any gentlemen or representatives of parties had a right to meet in some little alehouse by the way-side, and decide, not only who was to be the member on that occasion, but who was to be its representative at a future election. He had yet to learn that he was to be precluded front the honour of asking their suffrages, because some little knot of gentlemen met and determined that Mr. Astley could not stand a chance then, and should be on that account allowed to walk over the course on a future occasion. He denied that any party had a right thus to disfranchise the electors of any place. If ever there was a time when the consti tuency should claim the right of exercising their free choice it was the present. If they looked around they saw convul sion and anarchy among the people of other countries ; they saw thrones crumbling into dust; they saw power pros trated in the governments, while it wan dominant in the street ; and he did not think this was the time to moot those organic changes which the gentlemen on the other side came there to take their stand upon. (A voice: " Oh, no, it's never the time," and laughter.) He agreed in the expression that while the thrones of other countries were shaken or thrown down, the institutions of England re mained unscathed. But why was that? Not because of this revolutionary spirit which these gentlemen would stir abroad, but because every class of society, from the highest to the lowest, felt a firm attachment to the constitution of this country. It was for that reason we stood a bright exam ple for the world ; it was because here in this country all men stood equal in the eye of the law. (Cries of "No, no.") The people of this country knew that they had a right to redress for their grievances., and that they could obtain it by constitutional means. They knew they bad power to obtain it by parliamentary legislation. and they would not condescend to use that physical force which they heard so much about in these days. (A voice, " Who talks of physical force ?") He was not afraid to avow himself a strong and firm supporter of the esta blished church—(laughter and groan.)—as well as of the other institutions of the country, yet he was as willing as any man to reform those abuses which could be proved to exist, he having shown that by his support whilst in parliament of all those measures which were brought forward to ame liorate the condition of his fellow-countrymen; and ha instanced amongst others the financial and free trade measures of Sir Robert Peel. The other point which be had promised to notice in the speech of Mr. Cheetham, was that relative to economy and retre nc hment. Now he (Mr. Legh) was as firm an advocate for just retrenchments as any man, but he was not for the niggardly paring down of some paltry clerk's salary, nor for such an economy as would render inefficient the services of our army and navy. (Groans and disapprobation.) As tar as the franchise was concerned, he was walling also to state hie opinion in answer to the cry for his send. menus upon that question. He was willing to allow that. II the progress of aivilisation and the intelligens* of the country it was competent for any gentleman 611111 VMS ti time to moot that question, and he was ready to stsgethse ' any 'proposition for the extension of the suff ra g e whisk awe 'tutors the 110.11 e of Commons should have his hose* ete. I se;esstios. 01. laugh.) Ile vomit aot glee pietipe he would not condescend to offer a pledge—to the freeholders of North Cheshire. His honourable friend, Mr. Cheatham, had taunted him with having said that the navigation laws were a difficult question to deal with, and he was not unwilling now to admit it—to say that it was one which ought to be disinsmitstaately considered; and though he would never give a pledge to any constituency how he would vote upon that question, whether his election might depend upon the result or not. he would promise to give the subjt et his best consideration should it come before the legislature. He denied that he came there in violation of any pledge: he offered himself on aialependent principles, was suite determined that he would go to the poll, and at the poll he had no doubt he should win. Mr. T I) P. AerLer next presented himself amidst mingled . :missions of applause and disapprobation, and pro ceed. d to address the freeholders, but a heavy shower of rain having commenced towards the conclusion ot Mr. Legh's address, he did not occupy attention more than a few minutes. He said he felt his position on the present occa sion a amen more comfortable one than at the last election, lecauee he could not now bo charged with disturbing or en daneering tne prospects of another candidate of similar principles to his own. He did not expect to mono - olise all tee von s of a great constituency like that, even under the conditions of the compact about whish so much had been said, and even supposing many gentlemen who ought to have been bound by it kept their pledge.; but at all events he had a reasonable hope that he should unite majority. Those who thought that a c instituency of which a great portion was manufacturing ought not to be wholly reoresereed by agriculturists. those who h. Id the opinion that agricultural prosperity had a dependence upon the prosper ty of manufactures, [hot, who held that economy and retrenchment in our national expenditure, with a reform in our representation and a moderate and safe extension of the franchise, was due to the enlightened progress of the people—all these he hap, d, and he thought nut unreason ably, to unite in his support. His opinions on the great leading ques•ions of the day were before the electors in Lie printed address, and were mole fully expressed at the last election, and he should not now trouble the meeting with them again in detail. lie was for a de cided but moderate reform of our poltloal ingitetions. and Le was a frectrader. (Great ch.grat.) Ile believed the interests of agirLiaiture to be so mixed up with those of trade and commerce, that by supporitte comes vial free ' door he was the friend of both, and of the industry of the whole country. his views of free trade did not tend ' to the removal of the corn laws alone, but to the removal of that indirect taxation upon other great articles of minsump non which tended to the disadvantage of this enuntry in various ways, more, specially by cchancing the price of ei rumoditiesto th- consumer, whilst they retracted the markets for our manufactures, and in the collection of which there ea- such an acknowledged shameful waste of treasure. With regard 'o reform, he had seen on the continent so much of the evil and danger of depriving those who were iottllig. nt and quilifi.d to exercise them of their political tights; he had .seen so much of the evil of denying those just reforms which, whin too long withheld, ae d denied by peaceable means, generally came by convulsion, and were precipitated upon society. when in estate of mind rendering them less dia per .1 to receive them with good feeling; he had seen so much of the bad effects of puttiog off r. terms too long in &Trinity and Italy to be the opponent of a w.se and gradual concession of popular r:ghts and the freedom of the people. (Applause ) Ho agreed with his honourable opponent as to the peacelul conduct of the people of this country, whilst the thrones of the conttneut were tottering to theh fall; but he dreg • different inference from it. He did not draw the inference the such • people ought to be denied their rights, but that they deserved, and ought the more to have them yielded. (Cheers.) He was a friend to a jute protection of the veer, and other measures for the amelioration of the condi tion of the people ; and if he went to parliament he should go, not seeking his own interest, or pleasure, or the mere gratification of an idle vanity : his object was to serve his neighbours and his fellow-countrymen in the brat way he could, and his beat reward would be tie it approbation. The Sheriff having put the question to a show of hands, there was a large majority fur •.r. A.-tley, and he 4eclared his opinion to that effect —Mr. Tattoo demanded a poll on behalf of Mr. L.gh.—The Sheriff then stated that a poll would commence on Monday m going next, and close on Tuesday evening, and he adjourned the court till 'Thursday morning. DISTURBANCES IN MANCHESTER. We stated in the Express that the friends and sympathisers of Mitchel, the convict, had advertised a great demonstraion in Manchester for yesterday, and that the mayor, with a view to prevent any disturbance from the in flux of a concourse of people, such as it was known the " sympathisers" were trying to organise and bring together from the surrounding towns, had prohibited such de monstration. After our report was sent off on Tuesday night, it appears that meetings were held at Oldham, Ashton, and other large towns, at which resolutio n s were passed ' pledging the people to disregard the mayor's proclamation, and to go to Manchester. Reports of these intentions were conveyed to the authorities in Manchester, and yederday morning preparations had been made on a laree scale to in tercept them and defeat their object, which, in addition to an ordinary meeting, was also reported to contemplate the turning out of hands from the mills and woekshops. A de putation profes-ing to represent the parties intending to assemble waited on the authorities on Tuesday night, and again yesterday morning, and expressed their belief that the meeting, if allowed to take place, would be a peaceable one, and a hope that the prohibition would be removed. 1 The magistrates, however, remained firm. One of the Mau -1 cheater papers (the Guardian) says : " We may mention one or two facts, as showing bow little the assertions of the deputation, that the meeting was to be a perfectly pears able one, are to be relied upon. In the course of Tuesday, George Archdeacon, whale name is appended to the placards convening the meeting, as secre tary, was beard, in a house in Anceatsstrect, haranguing a number of chartist', and urging them all to • come armed to the meeting.' At a meeting on Tuesday evening, con sisting of about 150 mm, around the lamp at New-cross, persons were hem d stating that there would be a considerable lorce of chartists to go to the Town-hall in the m.rning, and take poastuion of it, and seize the magistrates who might be assembled there, the chief officers of the police force, and all the arms they could get ; and that they would detain the magistrates and officers in a ustody until Mitchel should be set at liberty." The whole borough police, amounting tonearly a thousand men, including supernumeraries and a - body of special con stables, were placed in different parts of the borough, and on the roads leading from Ashton, Oldham, aid Stockport, where the principal bodies of men were expected to come from early . in the morning ; and towards 11 o'clock infor mation be ing received of a large body of working men being on their route from Oldham, and smaller bodies from other 1 tow..s, the military were called out 1,7 Limit-General Sir Timms' Arbuthnot, and bodies of the I lt h Hussar* and 63rd Int intry were stationed in Stevenson-square, where the meeting was to have been held, and ire other parts of the borough. Bodies of police also went out towards Fails worth, hearing that a mob had reached there and turned out the working people from the mills ; and their presence had the effect of preventing these parties from making that place a general rendezvous and place ot meeting, as had been eubwquently determined upon by the leaders of the move ment. Some of these parties were found to be women with 'ticks having pikes at the end, but they were readily dis persed by tae police and a body of mounted patrols, aided by a heavy shower of rain which came on. Shortly after wards a messenger arrived thence, and stated that the mob were rioting at Failsworth, and Lieut-Oeneral Sir Thomas Arbutheot and a troop of the 11th Hussars proceeded thither at once, and Mr. Metele and Mr. Murray, both county magistrates, and who were in Stevenson's-square at the time the information was received, proceeded thither with the cavalry. They were both mounted. Sir Thomas intimated that if he found the rioters with arms in their hands. he should at once order the cavalry to disperse them. We have since heard that the body of men advancing from Oldham to Manchester, on learning from some of their fellows in this city the ample preparations that had been made to prevent their entering Manchester, changed their determination—in all probability ftcr a nue communication from the deputation already noticed,—and determined to hold the meeting at Failsworth. Wo understand that near the Newton-heath Toll-bar Mr. Beswick, with a small police force, was keeping in check a mob advancing from Osdharn towards Manchester, when he perceived a second mob behind his force, advancing from Manchester towards the her; and he requested Mr. John Henry, who was acting as one of the mounted atrol, to proceed at once to Manchester to obtain a rein forcement. Mr. Henry hastened forward, but instead of taking his way down some side lane or street, so as to avoid the advancing mob, he pushed forwards, met them, and then tried to get through by urging on his mare ; and, whilst in the mob, some fellow with a pike or dagger, stabbed the animal in the side, and Mr. Henry received several blows about the head and face, both from sticks and missiles. One stone struck him on the side of the head, near the ear, and inflicted a severe would of the scalp, but fortu nately did not fracture the skull.—Mr. IL,bert Worthington, of Crumpsa ll -hall, who has the command of the mounted pat:ol, finding Mr. Henry, after he had got clear through the mob, bleeding from the wounds he had received, pro cured a brougham cab, and cony, yed him to the Town-hall, and surgical assistance was speedily procured. We are glad to state that his injuries, though severe, are not dangerous. Mr. J. Henry is a ten of Mr. A. Henry, M.P. At the Town-hall there is now in reserve a company of the 89th regiment of infantry, from Preston, voider the command of Major Graham. A reserve of thirty of the police force had just been despatshed from the Town-hall to Stevenson's square, to relieve some of those on duty there. 7 P.K.—The close of the mills for the day has hberated the workpeople, and the streets round Ancoate-lance Swan street, George's and Oldham-roads, are crowded try several thousand people. A part of the mob toot up a patios of the pavement, which they threw at the police, bat beyond this no offensive operations have been commenced The greater number of the people assembled harm heen at tracted by curiosity to the spot. The military aad police are drawn up in the neighbourhood of the streets above named, accompanied by Mr. Maude and other a nglereeres. No serious breach of the peace is aaticipand, %he leaders of the chartist and repeal parties being at mime with their fol lowers with reference to some of to-day's ps.aceedings. Mr. Donovan, the delegate from Manchester the late Chartist Convention, had, with soma other members of the com mittee, to escape over the garden-wall of a gentleman's house in order to tiooil maltreatmea•- Th. Oldham rioters were met by the military and poltee, and compelled to retire without ltavinq Manchester , 1130 P.N. — rhe crowds have entirely dial:Klima, and the town is to all appearance perfectly quiet, All is quiet at Bradford. Leans, WEDNESDAY Art LaNOON.—Shortly atter seven ecifesk .. .nig morning about sixty of the 52nd regiment, and dime she ism twfs 6 eot Pnessossers arrived loom lit.atords