The Express. — London, England, 1848-06-08 00:00:00

the peoplo at large was worse now than before the Reform Bill was passed. (" Yrt, yes.") He enjoined them all to unite in one common purpose. Let:them an .04 into divi sions noun trdles. Ile was of °pith. n that tha manhood of the action nes entitled to the elective franchise. But all reformer- wen not agreed upon that point. Then was a large body of ii.flaential reformers without whose „id they could not get reform, who did not think that the right to vote should be thus extensively greeted But let them nut for that reason break oil with such a party ; for if they tt.vided they would be weak, and they would not get who. they wanted, or even a porti .n of it. He would only add one word with respect t the p taunt expenditu,e. Mr. Pitt, in the yrar before the great we , , was Named for 'educing the army. What was the t•-• o• the army at that time ? 4,200,000/. It was now 17,800,00/ (Shame. thame ) Since the Reform Bill had been pm... 1 80,000 in. n had hen added to the army, and force I•I 13,000 polLe crested. What fur? To flAt the foreigre a? N..; to keep clown the people. (Oh, oh.) Was it 11.4 thete'ore, time for them to unite in the deter mination %newt such a ayaton es that which he ha I re!. reed to ? kl , bent dto move the resolution which t e had read. . _ Mr. J. Baid. m conded the resolution, and in doing no though hat uo difficulty eti•tcd in proving relorm to be very m oe faired. The rewffuts in wea then put to the meeting and carried. The CHAIRMAN called upon Mr. flume, M.P., to propwe the .ne u ral re•olivion, but an individual, who g two the name of Mil got p eaewion of the !minding place at. rut to be occupied by the hon. member, claimed the priv.lege of &tide's a tn. meeting. Mr. J. Wittiams ',commended Mr. Hill to permit the tote to he conducted ace ,ding to the plan already TV. " _ . . Ur. 111 LL, however, i :tasted on his right as a rate-payer of the parish to intilieta v.'. meeting, and to propose a r ...In • Lion which he bad intended to more as an amendment on that jus yawl, 11l he not been prevented front so doing. The tp .k. r then pixe, desi to state his views. Toe first re soluthi.. II ii not gone tar ellt)Uprt, and for that rea.en he had draw., up ow, which he begged leave to read to the meeting : That nos lieriing is or opinion from the ettperieure of the tag fifteen }taro that ',Artist relic in• ore itatdequata to effect a mine. tani ot e spenint tire, or to equalise the taxation which pr ,,, 40. It heavily upon the ix. plc, and that they omfatter it neer...sty f c the 11,1, RIM promovrity ul this country to seek for radical reform un the principle ot universal sinfrage of the antimons Howe of Parliament, props.rd by tile late M. Cartwright, advocated by the most emi nent statesmen of Engl.inl, mint embodied in a document culled the People's k barter, approved and signed by Mr. J. flume and other friends. I 'put it,..crnment, in whom the people h.re anew reposed C4lllfidellev. Mr. s.kVAGesecondedthis r solution. . . Mr: II rue, M .aid he had attend. dat all the meet ings hi. :1 bir such purposes as the pretest for the period of twenty. ti oe years, in erls r to lend his assistance to effect the reform. t at were twee.. try in ord. r to protsct soci:ty from dissolu i n ; and he could only say that if it was thought there existed a man more anxeme on these points than him self, he omould like to have him pointed out. For thirty-five years h. had been a rat . ..rime. .',r. Savage, whom he web recollected, and whose assistance in converting the close vestry at Marylebuno into an open one he should Never forget, e. It knew the truth of whet he was stating. (Hear, hear.) Ile was anxious to make the services of Mr. Savage as use rut now as they had formerly been. But he and those wh, supported his views ought to consider thc objects woes% it was sought to attain, sad likewise to t .ke into account the opposition which those objects wen• certain to meet with. Mr Savage said h would not trust him. (No, no ) lie said hr had rather trust the dead. It he relb i only on tee dead ha would net small heap. !lo and those menthen in the House Of Commons who voted with him on she question of r:form had come forward prepared to encount. r the hostility that had been manifested towards them; and won it nothing for him to be told there ho Mr. Savage and the other speaker that he was not to be trusted ? (Chterseed uproar.) HO begged to put it to the meeting a hetner that was 4 tit reward for the men who stirred is behalf of the working clams and the rights of industry ? Was it fitting that two persona, simply betimes they were rate-payers, should arc allowed to come forward and to dis turb and derange the pncancerted order of their proceed ings ? (Uproar.) He held in his hand the resolution which had been prepared; he would presently read it to the meet. tog, and then he would pat it t o them wheth.r it was tot such as every man, who was di sirous of promoting the ob jecs they had is view, ought to vote for lie would tell hie. Savage that no truer friend to the working classes ex isted than himself. He did not think it fair that Mr. Hill should c ate forward, when such a resolution as that he had just rea had barn prepared, awl s ate to the meeting that he (Mr. Hume) was wit to be trusted by them. (Uproar and confusion.) Perhaps if the resolution had been read at the commencentont of the proceedings it wou'll have been better, as then the purp irt would have been clearly seen. Certainly there was Iva one word in that proposed' by Mr. Bill which he was nut ',relevant to sign and certify under his hand. But he would not adopt the means pro posed by that individual. Mr. S.vage had referred to the charter. He had no hesitation in saying that long before be (Mr. Savage) had seen t'ie charter, he (Mr. Home) hod approved and signed it. But let them obtain the chart. rin a cons , trional manner. There were curtain parties who thoug' t tn. p ought to try for it by means of physical force, and those men had retarded reform ',yap doing for the period of fifteen yeses. (Hear, hear.) But let him rind the resolu tion which he had to propose. It was an follows ..„ . That h, r Majesty'. Kim:: Mltit.te r having stated hi. opinion that the people require no extennive in -. .sure, of looliucal and fiscal n it iu hereby reri.lved that in the optiiiiin of this meeting. in order to secure the nubility of the irthitutions of the country :ind maintain public order, it is indL.pierekibiy nece.sary that the elective franchise be extended to all men of in-titre age, who are register d as rasideute for • purhid of twelve months : that the duration of parli.unent should tart exceed three years; that rotes should be taken by ballot ; and that there should be an equal apportionment of member. , to population. He hoped that Mr. Savage, and all those who were anxious to am. iiorate the comlition of the people, would join him in the efforts he was making fur that purpose, and not create dissensions and divisions Ile would not then dilate on the topics which Mr. Williams had touched upon. But he would ask, was any one present satisfied with the parliament as it now existed ? (No, no.) If not, what is the change that is required? (The charter.) He hoped they would allow loin to state his views. Ile thought the re olution he had pro nosed • better one than that of Mr. Hill. It the borough of Marylebone and the country at large supported him in the course he had enteral upon, they would at once okdain all that the chanter embodied. Was it not better fur them all to unite in one common purpose ? They had united seeing them in one phalanx every holder of office in the empire. Wu that not enough to induce them to unite in a still more formidable mos in order to conquer their opponents? (Cries of " The Charter.") He knew whet it was to go to extremes. lie had gone to as great extremes as any of them. But his advice as an old re former was not to let themselves be drawn into extremes. It was for them to show the government how wrong Lord J. Rumen was, when he said they wanted no change ; and he should be glad to see every parish in the kingdom meet and tell the noble lord that fact. Tree reformers in the House of Commons were anxious to combine all men of their opinions in one mass. That was the only mode of getting what they wanted; and, whatever they might say or think of the charter, if they got such a suftrarre as the resolution proposed to give them, they would in effect have got the charter. What was wanted was efficient and honest men in the teat's lature, not men who were to be bought by place. If the people got the pow, r of electing their representative", they would soon have efficient and honest men to represent them. The ballot would prevent them from being intimida ed as they now were. They would then walk erect to the hust ings, and nice their votes as independently as a peer. Now they could not do so, and the franchise instead of being a blessing was on that account too often a curse, as men were compelled by their landlords to vote against their consciences. Having said thin much he begged to put the resolution into Ste hands of the cheirrnisn. Mr. Su ono seconded the resolution, and recommended the union of the middle and working classes. The CHAIHMAN then put the question,—first, on Mr. Hume's resolution, and then on that moved by Mr. Hill. The latter was supported by a body of effiertists immediately in front of the platform, who held up both their hands; hut'! the majority of 'he meeting was evidently in favour of Mr. Hume's, and so the chairman decided, observing at the same time that he himself law very little difference between them, and was only anxious in his decision to act with perfect im partiality (a remark, however, which did not suit the tastes or meet the wishes of the chartist..., who from that to the end kept up a constant interruption to the proceedings). Lord D. Sremer, on presenting himself, was unable to proceed for some moments, owing to the groans directed against him by the malcontents. He said that without hoping to be able to agree in opinion with every one present he nevertheless rejoiced at seeing such a meeting, and hoped there would be many such held throughout the length and breadth of the land, to prove to the government the desire of the people for full and complete reform. (Ceeers.) He would not pretend to entertain opinions of the soundness of which he was not honestly convinced. It was poeible that he was not prepared to go the length of all who constituted that meeting; but of this he was convinced that the present representation of the people in parliament was not satisfac tory, and required a large and comprehensive amendment. (Cheers ) Ho was for greatly extending the suffrage, for giving it not only to householders, but to lodgers—(hear)-- but he should not consider that • wise step unless the voter were to be protected in the free exercise of his franchise by the ballot. (Cheers.) The bailot, like every other measure, had its objectionable points; but its necessity and its use counterbalance them, forming as it would a certain protection in favour of the h onest voter and against the inroads of tyranny. lie fully concurred also in the necessity of shortening the duration of parliaments. Some were of opinion that they ought to be annual, others septennial He would say let them try triennial porde menta. ( Hear, hear.) These were not opinions declared by him for the first time, and cry opinion he avowed he was prepared to give effect to by his vote. (Hear, hear.) He had voted for the Reform Bill, which he admitted had done some good ; but nut having done enough he was for going on in the same direction. He was altogether opposed to the doctrine of finality—(cheers)— for he knew no greater ab surdity on the part of a legislature than to say " we shall =see laws this year which shall last for all years." Changes would and must take place in accordance with the spirit of the age, and in compaance with the wishes and demands of the people. A bill wu lately passed for Rising better security to the crown and government ; and he said then, as he said now, the only true way of permanently eeta, 'dialling that security was by attending to their wishes and demands in time. Amongst the most foremost and pressing of those demands was a reduction of taxation. The people felt not only that taxation was too great, but that its mode of distribution was most unequal, and to that sub ject he promised to give his attention in parliament. He thought it most unjust that the poor man should pay more largely M comparison to his means than the rich man. Re form in that and all other respects in which it was now called for he hoped to see carried, but they must first secure a full and fair representation in parliament. (Chute.) Sir 13. HALL (who was also received at first with mark. of disapprobation from the chartists) timed leave to say, In consequence of sr obsetvation which tell from a previous speaker on the subj,et, that during the II years he had re presented the borough he had attended every nseetieg in that parish or the pariah of St. Pancras, having for its object to increase the liberties of the people. Indeed, he believed it to be essential to the interests of both repro 'tentative and represented that there should be frequent intercourse be. tween them. They were now met to further the principles of reform, and during the 20 years, or nearly, that he had been in parliamens, tie could eerily say he hail never sated In opposition to those principles. (A voice, "'the gagging bill," and some uproar) Why, he was one of the first in •he House of Commons who remonstrated against that pert of the measure alluded to which affected o en and ad• ! vised speaking, and when his remonstrance failed he voted agninst it. The question now before them was whether there should be • further reform in parli iment The first minister of the crown had said that he dad not believe that the middle classes of this country required or demanded en extension of reform in that respect ; and cer tainly if he (Sir B. Ilall) were to follow in the wake of any minister who could make such an as* rtion he should he acting at variance with the political sentiments he had ever uttered. Another point on which he did not shrink from avowieg himself, was that of taxation, of which ho thought there ought to bo a greater equalisation. As a landed pro. prietor he eh odd not object to any amount of taxation upon himself which would relieve the poor man. The distils.* co the et untry was great, and something must be done to re lieve it. (Hear, hear.) It!sgarding the immediate object of the present meeting, they might rely upon his beat efforts to promote it, and his tired act should be t o vote on the 20th, !although in a small minority, with Mr. Hume. (Hear.) Mr. V astsom said lie was not • resident, but bad been permitted to speak by the courtesy of the chairman. Ile considered that the question Now! en the resolution and the amendment which bed been proposed had not been properly settled, end lie called on the chairman to declare which of the two had been adopted by the meeting. It was the general rule to put the amendment lir.t —(" No, no," and cheers)--and he thought that the chairman had made • mis take as to • hich was the original motion and which the amendment. The Cita mat AN denied that he hail made any mistake. lie knew Mr. Hill's to be the amendment. Mr. VEltailal raid the tact was neirte r the chairman, the committee, nor Mr. hill him•rlf unit t •rst,ind the position o f alTairs—(laughter)—and he wusileterininritthst there shoul I be no such mistakes and misrepresent alone as were made at the Riding School meeting. (Cheers.) The CHAIRMAN wished to give fair play to all partiea lie would appeal to Mr. hill whether lie did not jut Mr. Home's motion first, and afterwards his ( Mr. nth's) amend meat. lie hoped neither gentleman would atempt to place him in a false po , itinn. Ile declared, in the tight of them all, that he eoniidereil Mr. Ilunse's motion to he carried. (Cheers.) 11 (the chairman) had not the slightest interest bathe matter, and he hoped no ono would suppote fur a mo ment that he would truckle to the nristoer icy of the country. (No, no.) If it was the wish of the committee he had to objecting to put the resolution once again. (" No, no," and cheers.) Mr. Vertatos then proceeded to address the meeting taillike an amount of (muesli in and contusion which ri n &red him nearly inaudible. Ile stated that he was .4u:e xcised not to stir from the spot until he had be,n beard. The majority of the meetim., however, exhibiting very noisy symptoms of dissatisfaction at his reworks, the speaker eventually sat down. On the motion of Mr. llonoes, a petition to parliament, embodying the substance of the oboe, resolutions, was agreed to. Mr. Et:mauve then moved : Tsar the arecrtion made by Lord John nitwit, in hie place In the liumae o( Daronsuns this ....tun, that the people cluatry do not desire either the peat no sour.• of reform, tis propow.l by Mr. Home and other member. of the house, nor the other meat measure 84 advo cated in the people's charter, Is evidence of hia ignorance of the pre. sent state of the country - , and a prouf that hr I. utterly unfit to min. duct the affairs of the nation. lie cun.•idcred Lord John Russell u the common enemy of the people, and that his main strength consivted in the divi sions which he could introduce atociag them. It was his (Lord J. Russell's) object to keep Hr. Rums and his party in opposit,on to the chartists, end as long as he did so he would can•inuc to carry the day. lie Tee retted to see that the du•ension still existed, because there was little doubt that the people wi re nearly all of one mind on the subject. The principles of either body of reformer., varied but little to substance, and it was for than to unite against the mon who was their mutual enemy. At any rate, they must be on common ground with respect to the resolution which he moved. Mr. W. NORTH seconded the resolution, and called upon the chairman to put the termer resolutim and amendment over again. The CHAIRMAN, however, did not feel that the voice of the meeting übtitied him in doing in. Mr. ROGERS supported the resolution. He Laid that a little retorm would ruin the country, which need. d a great reform ; and it that reform was not speedily obtained, it was very probable that there would be a great revolution in the country. Toe resolution was carried with but one dissentient. The proceedings then terminated. THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 8, 1848. MEETING AT CHELSEA. Last night, a numerous meeting, convened by the West I.nielon Reform Association, was held at the Wellesley Arms, Rolm rt-street, Chelsea, for the purpose of adopting a petition to the House of Commons for lomitenold suffrage, rote by ballot, and triennial parliament's—F. Haskell, Esq., was in the chair : he said that they had met for the prefer mance 010 duty I paramount imp irtance, Lot only to them selves but to the country at large. The course of the middle and operative claaes wan clear. They mipv now give the most distinct contradiction to the sta.ement of Lord John Russell that the people did not want reform. His lordship had, however, in same measure contradicted himself by his bill for repealing the assessed tax paying clauses of the Reform Act. But this was but a kind of tub thrown out to a whale. The meeting might like to know what number of electors would be added to the constituency by the passing of this bill. By a return mooed for by Sr B. Hall in 1847, and just presented, it appeared that the total number of houses in English IL.roughs of the annual value of 101. and up wards, and the occupiers of which werecapable of voting, was 4137,760. Now, how many were disfranchised by not having paid their assessed taus ? Why, 18,065. This was the fullest extent to which the constituency would be increased by the passing of this bill, and this was the measure the noble lord brought leeward to satisfy the country. This measure would not, however, turn the attention of the people from the consideration of their grievances. The measure they wanted was household sea age, which would add two millions to the number of ♦oilers. (Cheers.) lie called upon them all to agree to and sign a peti tion pray ing for the ref vms the country so much required. —Several gentlemen having suggested that the petition should contain a prayer for the formation into the borough of the parishes of Chelsea, Kennington, Hammersmith, and Fulham, the Chairman replied that Mr. flume's motion embraced equal electoral districts The Chairman having read a petition to the House of Commons in the name of the association, Mr. Miles moved its adoption —Mr. Lockhart, in seconding the motion, said that as long as Lord John Russell wu prime minister no reform would willingly be granted by the government. (Hear.) The motion was then put and carried unanimously.—The Chairman said that several of the parochial authorities would sign the peti tion.—Mr. Lockhart moved the adoption of a second peti tion, to emavate from householders and others resident in the neighbourhcod (not members of the association).—Mr. Thomas Haskell seconded the motion, which was put by the chairman and e..rrild unanimously. The fir,t petition having been nuenerowly signed, laid thanks voted to the chairman, the meeting separated. GREAT MEETING AT BATH. :From our Reporter.] The electors, non-electors, merchants, tradesmen, and working-classes of the city of Bath met yesterday, in the Guildhall of that city, for the purpose of furthering the movement at present going on for reform in parliament. The large room was crowded, and t n the platform the mayor, H. Hunt, Esq., was surrounded by several aldermen and town-councillors, and other influential citizens. The Mayon, in opening the proceedings, said:—ln the present excited and anxious state of the public mind I should rather have abstained from the consideration of the import. ant topics which will occupy your attention to-day; but the recent declaration of Lord John Russell has rendered these considerations and the convening of this meeting an act of imperative public duty. (Cheery.) I consider that his de claration that the middle and working classes have no sym pathy with the great reform motion of the 20th June is nothing less than a challenge to the judgment, the sincerity, and the zeal of every rational reformer. (Loud cheers.) Such a declaration having been made in his place in the House of Commons by the noble lord, great consequence will attach to a declaration so made by the fiat minister of the crown, and therefore I think it quite right that the people should be heard on their part, aad in the public and deliberative way express their assent to or clis+ent from the noble lord's opinion. (Hear, hear.) If his lordship had already carried a sufficient measure of reform—if this Reform BiU had been the perfection of political liberty—then his declaration might have been a iust one. But I do not know that any of you who hear me have adopted the notion of finality, or think that further reform is unne cessary. (Hear, hear.) I think that we reformers have always advoca ed the opinion that change adopted merely for the sake of change was impolitic and &viperous ; but that on the other hand, the principle of progression was beneficial and consistent with the advancing civilisation of the present age. (Cheers.) 1 do not see why government should not, like every other institution, receive the light of an increasing intelligence ; or why improvement, which is advancing with giant strides in everything, should be brought to a stand still at the gates of the legislature. (Cheers.) I know we have not, as we ought to have done, pressed many impertant mea sures of reform on the attention of the legislature. Very seldom have we had special meetings respecting the ballot, shortening of parliaments, or the extension of the suffrage: that, however, did not arise (rem our disinclination for reform, but simply from a belief that parliament was not willing to entertain such questions. (Hear, hear.) The expression of parliament was, that they wished to give the Reform Bill a fair trial, and were determined to let experienc, alone de• cilia whether it answered the purpose for which it had been enacted. his true that the bill had many important ob jects in view, a few of which it effected—the disfranchise ment of many inconsiderable places and the transfer of their privileges to wealthy and populous towns. There is no doubt hut that in many instances the expenses of elections were diminished, and that the franchise was given to many who had not hitherto enjoyed it ; but still the law is full of defects and difficulties (Loud cries of " hear, hear.") Look at the Chandos clause, which reduces the counties to the con dition of so many rotten boroughs. (Hear, bear.) Then bribery is going on more shamelessly than ever, if we are to judge from recent inquiries which have bun going on in the House of Commons. (Hot, heat.) We find that in Derby, in Horsham, and saint other places, the members have been untested fur opal and un blushing bribery. (Hear, beie.) Who can deny te isiegua. Ilan of the law when we find 20.00 d persons ending as many members to parliament an 300,000 ; and when we find in ao adult male population of five millions • c maituency of 1,052,000? (Hear, hear.) Worn wr find out of hat nuns her 163,000 proems minding 329 membsra to tullament, bring • majority, I think it clear that some aunelinent in the repre 'emotion of the people is loudly called tor, and that the suffrage should be considerably eztendes. (11,g, hen.) If these are your opinions, u they are nine, you will have an opportunity this day of saying aye to hem, and of transmitting them to the House of Commons, aid thou of assuring Lord Join Rune II that we have some since en Xe the shortening of peril emenn, we have some conceit in the extension of the suffrsge, we have some concern it the vote by ballot. (Loud cheers.) I hope that when we come to seek this Mies we shall not wane our strength ill detain, but go at once fur the great principles, and in such a way ' as to carry the sense of the whole country Mons with us. feheers.) I am sure that your efficiency will be itemised if you gx forward in a spirit of conciliation and ' , r o d contra. v. ny on unimportant and minor matters. Let us make one united effort, and virwn the principle of reform nonce- coo. ceded, we can then look to details and carry them on' at our leisure, and in perfection. (Hear, hear ) 1 hope the rehire I that the move for reform this day will be distinguished ea the former was by piquet, dignity, and a lament, man. nor of applying at the door of the legislature. (Hear, hear.) I am sure that in adopting such a course you will do jessuce to yt.ur own cause, and will disarm opposition; for, believe me, that no opposition, however violent, can stand lung against prudence, p. neverance, reason, and terrier...rem. One obj ect lam you will achieve. You will COliVil Lord John Russell of your requirements, and I am oar. ranted in thinking on from some straws which have already been thrown up. Already we have a union to repeal the rate paying clauses in the Reforin 13,11, and another step in the right direction in the groaned to alter the oaths taken by members of parliament. These afford go •d rea-ours why we shoud ucyu, iut him with our setitimeids. l tru.t i.e will bo no longer sceptical, but will come torwerel as the ad vocato of your loinciples, and u4-wit racer in his enletcaey until they shall hove obtained all the force and cun.i , t, :try ..f law. (Lund cheers.) His worship then read kite-, from Lord Duncan, Mr. St:obeli, Sir 11. frt. y, Mr. I'inuev, an stir J. Hare, iitodotoons tor non mt no , nce, Ott vapi,rwuse their entire concurrence in the object of the mactina. The Rey. T. Set:el:Ku come forward to more the first re. potation, and war received with loud cheer+. Illvieg thasked the me ting for the warm reception aecoolcil to him, the rev. gendemait proceeded to say, that if L ,ril John Russell was in Bath that day lie would himself jue ify the course they were taking. It his lordship believed thao. the people did not want reform, he ought not to be perniitted to remain in that error. If he thought that the people did want reform, but w sited for the avowal of their week., then was the time rime for the people to speak nut. (Hear hear.) Lord John Itussell might think that the people wanted no change IN`C.IUSC of their apathy, hut he (Mr. Spencer) remerate red the time when 17 individuals could ' relent two members for the city of Bath, and yet the people being without hope said not a word against than crying abuse. If now they hoped anything, let there speak their tome. and if they did nut hope, they should reason with one ...other exJ-ite one another in fact—to get up the steam until they had obtained the satisfaction of their just demand. (Loud cheers.) Some thought it rot ri- , ht that the clergy should ' rennet in getting the steam ep ; Nit if the !reveredt end the! rich, like the king in the parable, were not satisfied with their own flacks and herds, hut sought to take the poor man's one lamb, then it was time for the clergy to speak. If there wan a state of things in which the rich made the laws while the poor were permitted only to obey them—if those who laid on the punters would scarcely touch them with their sieves—then was it time fur the ekrgy, in the words of the prephet Nathan, to come forward and say, " Thou art the man." (Loud cheers.) But there never was an age in Eng land in which religion made so much noise as at present. lie ramembere.: the Rev. Mr. Simeon saying that the stream o' evangelical religion was very narrow, hut very deep now it was very breed, hut very shallow. (Hear, hear.) Churches were being built all over the country, but alas, the working man was net there. (Hear, hear.) The clergy had ceased to be hit protectors, and, therefore, he had forsaken them. (Heys hear.) On the i ueetion of popular suffrage the Bible might be quoted as an authority There might be found Rome light upon the question of whether the people should govern themselves, or be govereed by a few who were nu wiser than themselves. (Ile ar hear.) From what be read in the public papers, he strongly suspected that the people in the House of Commons were not much wiser than the people in that assembly. (Hear.) tfitiest in that house ho had Men astonished at the number of young mei,— not grave and thoeghtful session—which it contained. He suspected that tho people had not been consulted in the no initiation of such an assembly of juveniles, It was called senate, but senate meant old people, and we had an assembly of boys. (Hear, hear.) That was an a'u rnbly of tie people, and he telieved that in ea assembly of the people, composed as it war of pore us of different ranks and eget, they were as likely to get at the truth as anywhere else in the world. (Hear, hear.) Having quot d the circuenstanre of the apostles haring chosen some of the common people to decide a question between them and the Jews, the reverena meeker proceeded to ray that the clergy of the church of England used formerly to be chosen by the people—both biehope and parochial clergy. And the church WAS never the worse for that mode of elec tion. (Cheers.) The people were never in the habit of electing fools to govern them. (Hear, hear.) In their friendly societies they did not elect a foolish man their presioent or • dishonest man their treasurer or secretory. ( Hear.) Nu; their choice was generally the picked man of their eon (Laud cheers.) Mr. Spencer quoted John Wesley's opinion as to the absurdity of making or moving a test for the franchise The people were excluded by law, but what law ? Had the poor man's convent been sake d for his exclusion hem the franchise ? If not, the law was null and void for us. No one was in England celled upon to obey a law which had been enacted without his consent. (Hear, hear.) It was written, ' Lot every man obey the powers that be, for they are ordained of plod.' New, in this country the powers " that be" co...irate' of King, lords, and common.. The monarch hail one third of the power given him to protect himself, therefore he was safe. If noble lords thought them e, Ives in any danger, they could veto any objectionable men . ure. Now the common people come forward and asked that they, ton, should have some share in the power— (hear, hear)—and thus with the monarch, the wealth, and the indestr y of the country acting together, they would get ust and safe laws. (Cheers. If this were not done, the powers that be could not call themselves ordained of God. (Cheers) Suppose 1,000 malcontents, armed with pikes, were to rush in and take posaresion of the House of Com mons, placing the greatest villain amongst them in the speaker's chair, would that be • fair representation of the Commons? (Hear, hear.) Suppose a majority of that house had been returned by bribery and intimidation— (cheers)—by going round to their tradesmen, or getting their ladies to do so—(continued cheering, and cries of " Lord Ashley did so ")—could they believe a House of Commons so elected to be "ordained of God" ? Sorely it wen not one of " the powers that be " which they were bound to obey. (Loud cheers.) Ile recollected once carry. ing a point at a vestry against a great man. The latter was thunder truck, and asked two of his tenants who were in the majority if they knew what they were after. Ile then in sisted that the vete should be taken again; when, lo; the majority was the other way. The tenants had been in the meantime taught to know what they were about. (Cheers.) Ile understood that the people were to obey a parliament freely chosen by public opinion, and that whoev -r attempted to coerce that opinion NM acting contrary to the laws of England. (Hear, hear.) But it might be said that the House of Commons did repre sent the people of England. (No, no) Well, it was their ancient right to be fairly represented. The ancient Britons. and the Saxons, who were better men, used in the oldest times to elect their representatives. Temkin told them that the Britons used to intrust their princes with small matters, but that great matters they decided themselves. The representative system was said to be the glory of this island; but could that be called a r ep resentative system in which only one in four adult males was enti tasted with a vote ? (Hear, hear.) Why, common sense called for • more ex tended suffrage. It was the theory of the constitution, as wee evidenced by the mayor or sheriff at an election all ing for a show of hands, which would be decisive if a poll were not demanded. (Hear, hear.) Besides every lawyer knew that many of our monarchs—the Henrys and Edwards —made laws in favour of universal suffrage. The parliaments too, were then annual, and 'teen Swift, who was a high tory long afterwards, put on record his wish that the old gothic times, with their annual parliaments, might return again. (Hear.) Henry VI. required a property qualifica tion, but merely, as stated in the preamble of his net, to pre vent riots at election'. From that time forward the distinc tinn had been maintained against the people. It was now time, however, that it should be done away with, and the suffrage made commensurate with the wants of the people. Louis Philippe had succeeded in contracting the suffrage, but in the moment of success was hurled from his throne. (Hear.) The Emperor of Austria, who had the largest army in the world, had run away from kis people. (Cheers.) The King of Prussia had succeeded in establishing • most oomplete system of centralisation; and let them beware of centralisa tion here. (Loud cheep.) He had thrown a net over his people, but the net had burst, and the people had it all their own way. (Cheep and laughter.) So much for centralisa tion. The case of the King of Prussia was like that of the man whose horse, when brought down to a stray a day, died. (Laughter.) But there was a better secret for mo ouch, than all this, and tkat was to rule in the hearts of the people. (Cheers.) If they would only do that, there would be no fear of such convulsion, as were now tearing Europe to pieces. Why was it that while Europe was convulsed from end to end, America reposed in perfect tranquillity ? You might as well expect a pyramid to reel on its point, as to produce disturbances in that happy country. (Hear, hear.) Against whom could the people rebel ? Against themselves, and it was not very likely they would do that. They had all seen the boy's top, which, when placed on the ' narrow end, could only be kept straight by constant scourging, but stand it on the other end and it would stand for ever. So it was with Europe and America. The former could only be kept right by the dreadful stourge of frequent revolution, while the latter, resting on the broad basis of public opinion, was still peaceable and happy. Therefore, if we sought the welfare of our monarch—and a better sove reign never lived than our good Queen—(loud cheers?—we should struggle for the broad basis of popular right., and even for the rake of the lords the people should have justice done them. (Hear, hear.) He did not fear any evi: conse quences from granting political power to the people. lie aid not believe that one man in ten would abuse that power. He had seen them voting in America, where they had the ballot, but did not care who saw them vote. They called for their cold water, or loco foco ticket, as tie case might be, but cared not who saw them. If, however, say man attempted to intimidate his neighbour, the latter could double up his ticket and put It into the ballot box, and no body the wises. (Hear, hear) The people of this country wished for secret voting to shield them from the pressure of the rich man or else rich lady, as tne case might be. They all knew the ca • rf Elijah, who heeded neither the rushing sound nor the earthquake, but wait at once overcome by " the still smell voice." So it would be with them They would do no violence. attempt no riot, but would Rend their "still small voice" up to the legislature, and they would and must be heard. (Loud cheers.) He did not speak in a political sense, nor from political-motives, but assuredly they lived at a time when great events were about to happen, and it would be a great point if they could get these reforms without anything appvaehing to revolution, with their Queen sale, their wealthy classes safe, their money market undisturbed, and the working classes con tented and happy. They had heard a great dial of clamour &eard the sin points, but they were origistaly proposed by the Duke of lt.chniend in 1782. Fox supported them, and l'itt did not opts-e them, but said " Wait until the con elusion of the war." It was then that Mr. Townehend said the re were oniy two tines when mincession was iticonve trent—one week the ties of war and the other the time of peace (Laughter.) Why hod not the then reform move ment succeeded ? Because the people di-agreed amongst themselves. ( Rear, hear.) For that real .n he advocated uniformity on the present occasion. Let them obt tin all they could, and they would then be in a better condition to seek the rest. ( Hear, hear ) He thought that the real- • lution he bell in bin hand would put all men to the test. II a man said he was for reform, and still refused to support the ri solution, there would be good reason to doubt his sin cerity. The resolution was, in fact, so framed, that every luau wishing for reforest must vote for it. There was one more hint which he wished to throw out. Let every man who had no vo•e send in a petition from himself or from his family. (Hear, hear.) It would have an effect such as no sitie could conceive. A leading man in the present move ment had lids-used thin. Ile had said, "We have done our !lute; you mu-t now do yours, and induce the people indi vidually to petition." It might bo worded thus :—' The humble petition of A. H., who, although paying taxes on articles of consemption, has no vote ; who has to obey lawn, in the making of which he has nn voice; prays that he Intl be permitted to bane a vote fur the time to cline." (Co, era.) It that plan wax adopted, depend upon it they would soon reform. (Hear, hear.) The rev. gentleman concluded by uoivii•g uie f /Wowing resolution 'that tills meeting ix of opinion that the Unites of Common*, east pre-eat congonicil, dues not auttiei, oily specs. the sentiments of ti.e people; that in order to have a fun sod lair reprereutation, it le re. quixite that a c.insiderabie rittetuinn of the sofa age xhould take lame; end that the right of Toting for member* of irirlivni-ot ouuht V. be extruded to all persons having a hied rexidenee of it certain duration. Mr. T. BOLIVELL (ehartiet) expressed the great pleasure he telt in 'economy the resolution. He complained of tne general uttemprs that were made to malign the char:lst body. Among other reports it had been 'alerted that the chartists •ad int- nded to disturb that meeting; but their conduct there was the best contradiction to such a report. (Hear.) fhe declaration of Lord John Russell had had • tremendous effect on the feelings and minds of the persons with whom he was identified. (Hear.) They had iuti ruled to meet on Whit-Monday, to record their -pinion of the declaration, but the moment the present meeting was announced they determined to participate in it. (Hear, hear.) They were perfectly satisfied with the reso lutions, and deeply gratified that their worthy mayor ft d consented to take the glair. Mr. (;atop, in supporting the resolution complained that the Reform Bill had been • complete failure. No one could deny that great ceanges were necessary, and he should endeavour to promote them by seconding the resolution. ((liar, hear.) The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. Mr. T.V. SsUNDEIte (barrister) said, that the second re solution which he hail in his hand was nece s sary to the car rying oat of the first. It was : That to secure the perfect freedom of the voter, it is requi.ite that the ruling should he by ballot, that the magi:llolCW should be ren dered more equal by mean, of eh chiral districts, and that the duration of parliament should not exceed three years. Ile said that the present occasion was one of great import ance. They had been told by the prime minister that they did not want any more reform, but he wondi red how any time man could arrive at such a conclusion. (Hear, hear.) Alderman OultloON seconded the resolution, at the alma lime criumerAting all the riots both in church and state in which reform was lowly cal!ed fur. The resolution was carried unanimously. Mr. Alderman HANbtocii moved the following ?CM lution : That the Prime klint.ter having statir.l hi. belief that the middle and working classes do not desire any are. measure of reform, the following prittion, in the foregoing revolution., hr adopteti a. a mph . to the declaration of Lord John Rowell, and he forwarded to lord Lunen to be p.eeenle,l to the flow* of Commous. _ . To the Honourable the Cormoor.s of Great Britain and Ireland In parliament assembled.—The petition of the underaigned inhabitant. of the eity of Bath and its vicihity --Bespeettolly sheweth, That the I louse of 0011110111 as at pre,eut comt owed does not sufficiently en. preci the sentiment. of the people. That in order to have aMB and fair representation it is requisite that a condilerable eateasiwl of the auKrage should take ptaoe, and that the right of voting f d members of parliameat ought to be extende I to all person. having allied residence of a certain duration. That to secure the perfect freedom ol the voter it is requisite that the voting should be by ballot; that the conatituen. cies should be rendered more equal by auntie of electoral district.; and in order to maintain a ct F., ramuvaiou t etween the ciaritit trendies and th,ir represent-vices, the duration of pat li.onent should mit ea rned three year, That your petitioner, have heard that a propene' is about to be aubmitted to your honourable hotrac, embracmg the foregoing pelt chile, which they pray may be taken into Immediate consideration, that the same may Le with all convenient speed pasted into law. And y our peti•ionera will ever pray. The worthy alderman read an extract from the Express containing a long enumeration of the boroughs which arc under aristocratic influ,nc^, and cant, nded that that list alone completely justified the present movement. Mr E. SAUNDRILS mconded the resolution. After which the meeting was addressed by Mr. Montague Bally, who announced himself a tory, Mr. B,lwell , jun., and some oth-rs. The petition was unanimously adopted. A resolution urging on all the constituencies to require their representatives to support Mr. Hume's motion was also agreed to, and thanks having been voted to the chairman, the meeting separated. MEETING AT WAKEFIELD. On Monday evening a very numerous meeting,con ventd in pursuance of a requisition presented to the Mayor, was held in the Music Saloon, Wakefield, for the purpose of considering the propriety of petitioning parliament in fa vour of Mr. Hume's motion for the proposed measures of reform. Mr. G. W. Harrison, the mayor, presided. The first resolution, expressive of the general approval by the meeting of Mr. Hume's proposed measures, was moved by Mr. Charles Marsh, seconded by Mr. J. J. Horner, and car ried unanimcusly. The Rev. li. Higginson (unitarian mi nister) proposed a resolution condemnatory of the present system of taxation, ax falling ire a proportionate de gree with greater severity on the middle and working classes, and declaring it to be the opinion of the meeting that it was the interest of those classes to ptoteet themselves against such injustice, and mere especially as many millions of the revenue so raised are expended In a way neither to the service nor the honour of the country —Mr. G. Wilson seconded the motion, which was carried unnnimously.—Mr. Councillor J. Horner moved, and Mr. W. T. Lamb seconded, the next resolution, which stated that in the opinion of the meeting the injustce complained of resulted horn the fact that the Howe of Commons does not represent the people, and the meetinv, therefore, rejoiced that it was the intent tMn of Mr. Hume to propose important means for amending the representation of the people, and that any reform of the House of Commons which falls short of universal suffrage will be incomplete, and to the ex cluded classes unsatisfactory. This resolution was carried after a 61iFht discussion, which led to the introduction of the expression in favour of universal suffrage. We ought to state that a considerable number of chartists were present, but up to this point offered no oppo ition to the proceedings. The next resolution, however, was strongly opposed. It was moved by Mr. H. Lee and seconded by Mr. C. Todd, and stated that fur the protection of the voter, together with the prevention of bribery and intimidation, and to obviate all undue local influence, the meeting was of opinion that the duration of parliaments should be materially shortened— that votes should be taken by ballot, and that some plan should be adopted for the equalisation of electoral districts. An amendment was proposed by Mr. J. Hampshire, and seconded by Mr. J. Exley, that in order to give effect to the resolution last proposed the other five points of the people's charter, namely, vote by ballot, annual parliaments, equal electoral districts, no property qualification, and pay ment of members, should be added —After some remarks by the Chairman, the Rev. E. Higginson, and others, the amendment was put, and carried by a very large majority A petition founded on this amendment was afterwards moved and adopted, and the meeting separated about half - past eleven. APPREHENSION or ER — NEsT JONES.—The morning paper which of all others is erroneously supposed to contain correct information—the Times—announced to the world yesterday before breakfast that Ernest Jones and another notorious chartist had been arrested. Unless it were possible to be guilty of truth before the facts the Times was wrong, for at tee time that statement was penned Jones was at large and mast likely at that very time holding forth to a CONVOCATION OF THE CLERGY.—We are informed numerous audience in the City Hall, Manchester, directing a that her Majesty has appointed Saturday, the 17th instant, furious tirade of abuse at the ministry, to the effect that if at three o'clock, to receive the address of the convocation of he and others were transported it would only be to fetch the bishops and clergy of the province of Canterbury, at Mitchel, together with Frost, Williams, and Jones, back in Buckingham Palace. The members of the convocation will triumph, in order that Lord John Rus-ell or Lord Palmer ass , table at Jerusalem Chamber, Westminster, at a quarter icon might be sent to occupy their niece'. At the time the before two. statement was printed it was false; for up to about nine o'clock THE CHARTISTS AND ARREST OF SOME OF THEIR yesterday morning Jones was quietly indulging in ORATORS.—Ernest Jones, Williams ' Fussel, and Sharp, the comforts of a feather-bed at one of the first were arrested yesterday, and—as will be seen by our police hotels in Manchester. It is note true, however, that report—were examined at Bow-street, ortlred to find hail, he is in custody. Inspector Haynes, a metropolitan and meanwhile lodged in Newstate. The full effect of this officer of police, arrived in Manchester during the night, decisive measure app. are to have been shown in the preserve- with a warrant granted at Bowatreet, by Mr. Jardine, and tion of the public peace. Last night Clerkenwell-green, obtaining the assistance of Mr. Beswick, chief superintendent which, for the previous fortnight, has been in a state of con- of the Manchester police, yesterday morning, they went to stant agitation, from the frequent meetings of the chartists, the Mosley Arms Hotel, a few minutes after nine o'clock, assumed its usual appearance. During the evening there and awoke Mr. Jones to take his place in the 9.50 a.m. train were but six policemen on duty, and who had only to patrol for London. It was stated that the information on which the locality. A large body of the 0 division, however, were the warrant was granted had reference to the seditious lan at the station in the Sagiugge- wells-road. in readiness, lest gnage ho had uttered at the Bethnal - green meeting. He is their services should have been required, and who attended said to have exhibited no slight degree of trepidation when there as early as seven o'clock in the evening. The usual the mission of the oaken was announced to him. He was places of rendezvous of the chartist leaders at Farringdon hurried off without even getting his breakfast. Hall, the National Hall, the institution in the Blackfnars• COMMITTAL OF RIOTERS FROM MANCHESTER. — road, &c., were entirely deserted. After the termination of the procedings at Bow-street, at which there was a nu- The examination of the parties charged with being implicated in the Mitchel riots at Manchester, mentioned in the Daily mantis attendance of the friends of the prisoners, these pro- News of yesterday, terminated about six o'clock on Tuesday ceeded to their several lodges, evidently much disconcerted evening in the committal of fire of them—Flynn, Downey, as to the course that should be adopted under the existing Mooney, Birch, and Gun, for trial at the next Liverpool circumstances. It is expected that, in consequence of the Assizes. Four others were held to bail to keep the peace. determined steps of the government, the demonstration From what wa a said by the chairman of the magis intended for Whit Monday will not be carried into effect. traces it is probable that they will be indicted, ALLEGED UNCALLED FOR VIOLENCE OF THE POLICE amongst other things, for a conspiracy to bring ON SUNDAY NIOUT.—A meeting has been called for this about a breach of the peace by force of arms. It was proved evening, to be held in Bishop Boner's Fields, Bethnal- by a policeman that Flynn had told a meeting on the 4th grftn, for the purpose of considering how far the police were ult. that the time had come when something must be done, justified in using the violence they did on Sunday night in and be advised the people to procure and use arms, and re dispersing the persons collected in the above fields. From a commended a procession to be formed to perambulate the communication which has been fonearded to the Secretary town, and seek assistance from the shopkeepers, advising of State it appears that several i'shabitant householders of them where nothing was given to take. If the policemen the pariah, who repudiate beivg in the slightest way con- interrupted them he advised them to fight. I ly-nn and neCted with the ehertietei hr ppened to be Injured by the Downey were charged with being the leader. of persona bearing arms at the riotous demonstration of Wednesday week, and the other three connected with them were charged with bearing arms on that eccasien. The prisoner • had pro. feseional iesie.auce, and the magistrates were inked if hail would bra taken. They replied that Cur ,nn.. in 251. each would be taken fur the appearance of either Flynn or Downey at the assizes, and that three et.retitA of 201. each would be accepted for the other pile.. r. Tn. i ail was not fief coining, and the prisoners were r m ove.. b) railway to Kirkdale ['Fleas the same evening. BART'S, IRLAM, AND HIGGISSON.— Ytstrrdav the last examination of the aflaira •1 this estate took , lace 'before Mr. Serj.ant Ludlow, in the Liverpool Datr.ct Court of 1 Bankruptcy. Several debts havin4 been proved, Air. J than Higgin.on was examined at tou•iderable lenath by Mr. Lowndes, solicitor. In the balivice sheet the les., and ponies of the coecern from the let Jan., 1813, to Nor., 1847, are set dawn at 443,2971. 9.. the profits at 218,616/ , an actual deficit of 224,6411. llr. Ilinginwan wired thee in 1813 there was a net profit of 8.2561.; in 1814, • loss of 8,2051.; iu 184.5, a profit of 3,3991. ; in 1846, a profit of 24,5751.; in 1817. a loss of 31,9861. The depreciation of property was to the event of 189,3241 - with bat debts, 9,3011. The examination, which was c'hi.fly milked to sonic private coniniercal transactions in which 'dr. fligain. eon ot. l.ie own account had been engaged, was adpurneel till Wedneaday TIM BILKENMEAD DOCK CONDIIsSIONEIIs. —Yes terday the usual monthly meeting of this boil) woo held, Mr. John Laird in the chair. There was a v.ry numerous attendance, seven or eight of tho newly-elect.d members being present. The business was of a miscrllaceous and generally unimportant character. The cqpy of on amended bill (transfer of trust, &c ) wit submitted, an I a c .mmittea was appointed to consider its provisions and ecru it through, first reporting to the board on the subject, at an adjourned meeting, to be held on Friday next _STAFFORD,IIIItE. THE BOILER EXI`LO:.ION NEAR DeDLelf.—The inquest upon the bodies of the ten men who 1 e. :heir :lees by she explosion of an engine-boil r at the Hut's bill works, (pertimears of which appeared in the Daily News on Mon day; eanmenced on Tuesday at Hart'shili, witich is shout halt-way IR tweun Dudley and Stourbridge. The e crurn nee having mused much excitement throughout •ho dialect, great nuueuers of persona attended the inveatigateon. Mr. Fellows, solicitor, of Dudley, and Mr. Comer, attended on behalf of Mr. Jefferies, the proprietor of the works The first whams examined was Edward Rowley, au ironroller, who hel been employed at the works since December, 1816. lie stated that the boiler which exploded was made by Mr. If. .hert Gardiner, of West Bromwich ; that it" ran out" before it began to work ; and the manufacturer having been Wormed by Mr. Jefferieg of this circumstance, he sent hi, men to put it in repair; in a short time, reves. , r, •he boiler again ran out, and then Mr. Galli ar said it was the fault o f the mere. at the works. A man named Page (note in custody) had been engineer from the time the boiler was put up, and at tended to it and the other every alternate week Jo:4Th ' , Leigh y, en engineer under Page, had the c are of the boiler lest Friday, the day on which the t xpLsien took place. Witness r membered that on one occasion, in November last, Mr. Jefferies asked Page if he know whet weiglst the clicks would carry. Page replied that he had never seen thorn weighed. A man named Wright, an et renter, was sent fur; be afterwards wrote upon them 67 lbs., and or dered the WIN to he placed two feet and two inches from the end of the lever. This was done, tied Mr J limits ordered Page nut to put any more weight on the clack th n Wright had ordered.—The next witness was Daniel Pladgley, the engineer abuse re erred to, who d p wed that he went to the works about six o'clock on the morning on which the explo sion took place. At the time he experienced a violant shock, bricks, building materials, and iron work being ca-tin all di sections. Page was coming tram the boiler not then in week. Witness went on to state that between four and five months ago Page and himself discovered that both the weights were elf the lever; some portion of the ma chinery had been broken off, but they replaced the weights as nearly as possible in ti eir old position. No additional weicht Lad been placed on the lever, and the valve worked as easily as usual. During the four months he was em ployed at the works he considered that the indicator was in perfect safety. He had been in the habit of feeding the boiler eve ry hour. Had examined the parts since the ac cident, and was unable to form ny opinion as to its calm In reply toe question by a juror, the whiten stated that some months since he heard some sf the peddlers complain that the boiler was not safe, in cm:sequence of its b ing heated by four furnaces.—Mr. W. Smith, an enquirer, re siding at Dudley, stated that he examined the engine in the month of April Lot, at the request of lie Jefferies, the tro prietor, who complained to him that it did oat work el'. His opinion was that the heating surface was much too large compared with the steem apace, provided that a suf ficient depth of water was placed above the main tube; was convinced that the boiler could net work properly on that account. lie proposed to Mr. Jefferes to mane addi tional steam space ; the latter replied that he would have it done very soon, as he thought it was necessary. Did not see the boiler again well subsequently to the explosion, then found seventeen parts of it thrown M al! directions withiu a quarter of a mite of the works ; on examining the•te parts it appeared to him very plainly that the water had been put below the crown Ale, as the plates above 'hat part seemed to have been overheated. The boiler did not ap ear to have been weak or thin in any part, but he observed an unusually large space between the plates ao•t the centre of the rivets, and not sufficient laps over some of the points of the plates, elsich indicated bad and defective workmanship. its opi nion was that the accident was occs.ianel by a want of water in proper time, consequent on which the plates exposed to the fire would become heated, and an excessive quantity of steam be generated. In his opi nion the construction of the boiler was such that it would soon lose a great quantity of water. lied seen many boilers of the same construction, but none with so large a heating surface and so small a steam space. Even with the utmost care and attention the water might have got out of the boiler, and deceived the engineer. Believed that the water might have escaped by evaporation or priming in less than three quarters of an hour. Did not think that the en gineer could be held responsible for the explosion of such a boiler as this. Supposing the weights had been placed as ordered by Wright (referred to by last witnew), it would make a pet ssure of 45Ibs. to the square itch. He did not consider it safe to work the boiler with that pressure. The engine had only one water ind.cator, whereas there should have been two, or an alarm whistle &Uri:time—Mr. Thomas Rowlinson, of Hart's-hill, engineer, said, that on examina tion of the broken parts of the baiter, he discovered that some parts of ,the flues and the rivets had been red-hot, and that some of the plates could not have been covered with water. He was satia fied that the bursting of the boiler cid not arise from too great a pressure of steam, but from some explosive matter within it.—Another witness, named Jereph Simmons, an engineer in the service of Lord Ward. stated that Le had occasionally passed near to Mr.Jefferies' works, and observed, from the blue colour of the steam, that the boiler was worked at a higher pressure than he considered it ought to be. The weights appeared to be placed on the safety solve in a random war. lie hail thought of making a public n port of what he had ob-erved, but had not done so. H•• believed that the a.cident was occasioned by too great a pressure of steam.— J. Timmins. another engineer read a written statement, the purport of which was, that he was in the habit of passing the works, and that in his opinion the heat (rem four puddling furnaces was too much for the surface of the boiler; that the safety-valve was too small, and the weights hung on in an improper way. Believed the'explm.ion had been caused by over pressure.—David Timmins. brother of the last wit ness. corroborated this testimony. Ile stated further that on Frid y morning be was standing at his own engine, when he RIR the boil, rat Mr. Jefferies' works rise ; immediately went to the sNe end saw dead bodies lying about in all directions. Was unable to form any opinion as to the cause of the acci dent. Had enown a boiler red hot for wont of water, and yet no explosion take place.—Mr. W. Wright, engineer, Hart's hill, stated that he was employed by Mr. Jefferies at the erection of his works to superintend his machinery, which he carried out and completed in November last. He (Mr. J.) ca led upon him to examine the safety-we've, particularly in reeled to the weights; having done this, he found that there was considerably more than a safe pressure being worked upon the boilers. The weights had bean taken off before he (witness) got to the works. He took them to the black ami t h's shop and reduced two bells to 87Ihs. weight, at the same time telling Mr. Jefferies and his engineer (Page) to put on this weight two feet distance f ern the end of the lever, which he mark al; they remained in this position until the latter end of December, when his engagement terminated. Had been in the works three times this year ; on the first occasion observed that additional weights had been attached to the valve, and cautioned Page, the engineer, that it was not safe to do so ; the latter replied that it was only a bit of a button. Witness had more than once observed the steam issuing from the boiler to be bine, which was an indication of extreme pressure. In his opinion the plates had been red hot in some places, Pluming that there had not been suffi cient water in the boiler. At the time the works were being constructed he (witness) advised Mr Jefferies not to have the boiler put up, as it would not be safe ; the workmanship was bad, many of the rivets not being up at the head; in consequence of this Gardener, the manufacturer, came over, and ell thy. e went over the works. Witneu then commu nicated to Gardener his opinion of the boiler, remarking that be would have nothing to do with it, if it were put up. Gardener replied that if it were not safe he would make it so, if it met .501. Witness never saw the inside of the boiler after that time. A juryman &eked the witness whether Page had told him that be had put on the button. The reply was that he did, and witness's opinion was that it was 201ba. in weight. He further deposed that he had men timed the circumstance to Mr. Jeffenes, but that on visiting the works again, about three weeks since, he observed that additional weichts had been pot on.—William Lester, an engineer, gave evidence to the effect that ho had seen the boiler a month pierce, and that it was then in good working order. In his opinion the explosion was occa►iond be the water being too low, and the consequent creation of` gas. Such an explosion could not have arisen from an extreme pressure of steam; the boiler would not have been blown into so many parts nor to such a distance. At this stage of the inquiry an adjournment took place. ALLEGED POLICE CRCELTY.—Great complaints having been made of the conduct of the police and special constables in attacking persona indiscriminately during the late poor-law disturbances at Leicester, a number of inha bitants of the borough formed themselves into a committee to receive the statements of persons who had been sufferers from these indiscriminate attacks, and on Tuesday evening a I . I 11 public meeting was held in the Amphitheatre to receive the report of the committee,and decide what further steps should be taken. About 2 000 were present at the meennlfr and the Rev. J. BI sepp‘wegoalled to the chair. In opening the meetin e t iitd it was not called to 117mPatnwe with 14440 wrong, either on *lie side or anothe m itagen ise with those - go had done b"..it been •‘. 7 1 , • ‘• . 11 i•A • A!.7 - t z • 0 • a. • truncheon. or the police in dispersing tee mob, while, as they allege, they were orderly passing by. In some ins'anees they attribute brutal conduct on the part of the police force. (8 1 etatcments,of individual cases have hi en forwarded to ere, oa the f.ce of which much blame is attributable to the force, cape, Tally in having made assaults on unoffending par. ties after the chartist meeting had dispersed.) AORICULTCRAL CHEMISTRY ASSOCIATION. A general meeting of the subscriber* of this society was held yesterday at the Thatched House Tay. rn, St. James ' s -street- In the absence of Lord Portman, who was prevented by illness from attending, the Duke of Manchester was voted to the chair. The Rev. A. 11u:table, the hon. secretary. ex- plained that this association had been stablithed to supply a want which had been long felt by those who were interested in the improvement of agriculture, some national lab sratory or establishment wherein analyses of soils, manures, and vege. table products might loe c ,cried on. In Scotland a similar insti t lion had existed since 1842, and with the best results. Guano arid other manures, especially foreign snanur a, were much ex posed to adulteration ; and unless means were found foranalys ing such substances, and ascertaining t sir chemical proper ties and consequent value at a mod rate cost, it would be impossible fir the farmer to purchase or apply them to his land with any a rtainty. One sample of guano sent to Professor May, the analytical chemist of the associa tion, was found to contain 19 per e, nt of water; the average being 10 or 11 per cent : and the party who was about to m. ke the pt.ri hue obtained a reduction in the 'nice of the guano equal to the deterioration, ni between 8 and 10 per cent. The fee for these analyses was about 31. or 41., though many of them cost the professor as much as 81. or 91. Al the responsibility incurred by the subscriber, was the 2/. or 3/. a year they subscribed; Professor May,on the faith of those subscriptions, undertaking all that was necessary. Having mentioned several instances of practical bens fit resulting from the professor's anslyscs of soils and menures the advantage iu one instance having been derived by Sir R. P. el, who had sent samples of the soul of three of has f .rms fur examination; the rev. secretary observed that the papers puldisticd by Mr. Laws in the Journal of the Agricultural Society, stated that nitrogen, in the shape of ammonis a d phi sphoric acid, but principally the former. was the grand ri guirera. nt for grow ing wheat; and if they could obtain a sheep supply of ammonia they o'ituined a cheap supply of bread. (Ilea.) The grand source of this agent was decay. danimal and vege table products ; and in many parts of Ruglaiol, especially those near the coast, animal substances were occasionally to be ban In attendance. On the property of Mr. Matthison be was told there had been recently a large catch of whales these, wl.en the oil was extracted, were taken out into deep water and sunk, but if means were talon to obtain from them the ammonia, they might obtain for 21d. a pound that which now cost Ba. or 9d. Having explained various interes'ing experiments made by the professor an to preserving the leaves of turnips, mangel warmth, and other roots, fur the foo-I of cattle, sheep, &e., and of restoring O.: nitrogen drawn from the land by exhausting crops, such as Italian rye grass, the rev. gentle man concluded by calling on the agricultarists generally to support an institution c ilculated to c infer so much beneht. R.:solutions in Import of the society, and for ap poin ring the committee and tither officers Inc t .e ensuing year, were moved and sp ,ken to by Mr. It. Denison, M.P., Lord Burlington, Mr. Bane, Mr. R'hi,more, Mr. F. Hobbs, Sir J. V. Johnstone, Id I'., Mr. Holland, Lord St. John, and Mr. Shaw ' in the c tune of which many instants of the advantages which had followed from the analyses of the pro. f. asor were mentioned, and a wishi was generally expreiped that ere long the English Agricultural Society would follow the example of the Highland Agreultural Society, and unite the Agricultural Chemical Association with them. Thanks were then voted to the chairman, and, having been acknowledged, the meeting separated. IRELAND. DUBLIN, JUNE 6. There are rumours to-day that the late changes in the confederate executive were induced by the " leakiness" of one of its most prominent members. Suspicion has fallen heavily on oae noisy patriot, who boasted of the completeness of his domestic armoury, stored with every variety of rifle and pikehead, as well as of the fraternising spirit which he either found or propagated among the soldiery. This gen tleman, with some others, is reported to have been in constant communication with the police, and to have revealed all the operations of the clubs. The " sus pected" have been weeded out, and the directory con stituted on a " safer" basis. The division of the benchers on the rejection of Dr. Gray was in the proportion of seven to five. Two conservatives voted in the minority and two liberals in the majority. The Music-hall will be crowded to-night. The clubs arc to march in procession, and a vast deal of "open and advised speaking will, it is said, be effused on the occasion. This, perhaps, m'ght he ex pected, as the labours of the confederation will hence forwa-d assume more of a pacific character. The committee of the Repeal Association sat to-day to discuss the prorositions for amalgamation. The club system is spreading in Munster. Three new centres of agitation have been formed in Mallow, Fermoy, and Bantry. LOYAL ADDRERSES.—THE NORTH —The loyal addressee yet continue to pour in, more especially—or one might almost my cxcluaively. -from the north of Ireland. "The Wand Orange Lodge of Ulster " have presented, through Grand Master the Rev. F. Mont, son of the Dish, p of Down, Connor, and Dromore ; and their grand secretary has put forward an addrois in very strong lasaf uage. SCOTLAND. Eetoncitou, JUNE 7. Chartism is at a discount, and rational reform in the ascendant in the west of Scotland. At a chartist meeting, held in Greenock, the general feelirg was to throw overboard F. O'Connor and his whole band of organised agitators. One of the speakers mentioned that the large meeting at which Peacock, the member of convention for Greenock, was appointed, a warm discussion took place as to whether he should be paid 2/. or 3/. a week, and which was settled by agreeing to give him the intermediate sum, 505., per week ; after all, however, wily some four or five pounds had been raised altogether for his support ; in fact, the man would have starved in London had not one or two persons advanced money to bring him home. The speaker looked on this as most heartless conduct, •he mcney having been paid by working men but little able to spare it. The idea of holding demonstrations in Witsun-week, he added, was the sheerest fully, as was iteler d all further agitation under the present leaders. This was the unanimous sentiment of the meeting, and does credit, adds the Adrertuer, to the good sense of the tradesmen of Greenock, who have to work too hard for their money at present to afford to subscribe for the sup port of a few traders in politics, who are quite willing to keep up disturbances and agitation throughout the country so long, but only so long, as they find it to pay. At Port Glasgow a requisition was sent to the pro vost, to call a meeting of electors friendly to Mr. Hume's motion; and, on the meeting taking place, resolutions approving of the " four points " were carried unanimously. It was for some time a matter nf doubt whether the petition should be sent to Mr. Bouverie, the member for the district, or to Mr. Hume, but ultimately it was arranged that the docu ment should be sent to Mr. Bouverie, with a request that he would present it, if agreeable, to his views, or if not, to hand it to Dr. Bowring, their late member. PROVINCIAL. LANCASITIRP.