The Express. — London, England, 1849-05-19 00:00:00

umonipionimmiliniimion•MP economic movement. The arguments and the qeee - es at that meeting are models of what suit ought to be—calm, eensib!o, co,ent, vtithunt de nudation of sass, or appeal ti stronger passion@ than those of arithme.ic. We trust the groat mewing of the parrot assoc:rion, which is to be held on Tom gay, under the presidency of Sir JOSHUA WALICSLET, will be marked with the same character, and will triumphaotly attain the great end of awakening the wholia.mc energies, whilst leaving unstirred the &arms passion, of the people. Tug shareholders in the Rasters Counties Railway, whose petitions were pretended to the House of Com mons on Thursday . night, appear to us to have bees rather premature in their application. The carom they lay tr the charge of the ex-directors it their company wue neither committed against the haw" nor in their capacity of membera of the:homer. Teo% it may be maid that being members of the legislature* any stain upon their character reflects indirectly apes it; but hitherto the Home of Commons has not ma &damn to exercise the functions of • moral poll:e l over its me mbers. Mr. Cuessmins's committee wee appointed to inquire into the truth of certain al egm lions which go to impugn the integrity if I some unnamed members of parliament in that cowl city. Lord Jowl Rennie. moved last night to base a new writ issued for Limerick in the room of Mr. Burnt O'BRIEN ; but the Howe of Commons left it to a court of justice to inquire whether that gentleman had committed an act of high tiesmate l d did not declare him no longer a member of their until be had been convicted in due form other. the proc edings spinet WlLxrs, recorded in the warning peps of history, we question both the expediency and the justice of allowing the Home of Commons to expel any members for misoonduct which hes not subjected them to conviction Is a regular court of law for an infamising MEW. And we question both the expediency and justice of allowing the Home of Commas to constitute itself • court of justice to try its mem bers for private donate. The assumption of such powers by the house might easily be perverted into an engine of political prouriptioa against a minor Ty. Tee House of Commons, however, saw fit to receive the petitions, though we scarcely anticipate that it will take any action upon them. Certain members of the house delicately insinuated to the parties incul pated that it might be advisable for them to say a word or two in exculpation ; and the house, by listen ing to them and the petitions, tacitly sanctioned the recommendation. In the case of Mr. HUDSON this meld obviously lead to nothing. He was necessarily tied down to the subject immediately before the house, the spree. complaints of certain share holders in the Eastern Counties Railway. Bat these shareholders do not speak with the warrant of the company, nor do they state the whole of the allega tions made spinet Mr. HUDSON by the company. Further, the conduct attributed to Mr. Moment in the management of that Company's affairs is, with regard to his character, but a part of his complicated opera tions in eonnectioa with a great number of railways. Nothing that Mr. HUDSON could my on Thursday night could possibly exhaust the charges brought against him, or set him right with the public. The same may be said to a Imited extent of the expla nations of his late colleagues. They could only speak to imputations on their probity, emanating from the few petitioning individuals. great body of shareholders in the Eastern Cuunties were not in the field ; there was no statement of their case made by their authority, or to which they could be tied down. It short, the scene enacted in the Home of Commons en Thursday night has very moth the appearance of having b. en got up to save appearances. The peti tioners and the parties petitioned against exchanged shots, as timorous duellists have been known to do under the auspices of friendly seconds, who took are that there should be no balls In the pistols. The &desis tence of such an arrangement, if any, was all on the side of the ex-directors. They were only called epos to meet the angry and unconsidered charges of rash adversaries; and if ultimately there shall chance to be no judicial investigation of their conduct, they may hereafter sesame the airs of injured inno once, and say they openly met in the legislature the sceusetiors openly brought against them. And whether inn vent or guilty, respectable society—and, above all, ari-tocratic society—will deem this a suffi cient ground for opening its same to receive them, provided they come out of the 'Erie with money in their pockets. Bevy man of common sense sees that the receed- Urge of Thursday evening leave matters exactly as they read before. Of Mr. Beosnew we say nothing: his part is a very subordinate and inconsiderable one. Mr. He Dense has merely criticised some of the figures in the report of the Enters Counties committee of investigation. Now, with respect to Mr. Hopson, the as stands thus. On the 16th of February last, a motion was made at the statutory meeting of the Midlands, for a committee of investigation into the condition of the company's affairs. Mr. HUDSON, the chairman, opposed the motion ; imputed all sorts of improper 'actives to the mover and seconder; de clared that he would consider its being carried as a vote of censure; and bad it rejected, only two hands being held up for it. On the 20th of February, how ever, a similar motion was carried in the statutory meeting of the York, Newcastle, and Berwick, Mr. HeDSON not opposing, but offering to make a considerable sacrifice in order to avert, it. Ou 28th of February, a similar motion was carried with only two dissentient velem in the statutory meeting of the Eastern Ossanthis, Mr. HUDSON bending before the storm, reflisimg te appear, and sending in his resignation as &shade. On toe 24th of April the Eastern Counties Oset mitts* of Inquiry published their report, in which Mr. 'Hu mos is gravely inculpated. On the 4th of May the report of the com mittee of the York, Newcastle, and Berwick appeared, in which the charges against Mr. HUDSON are declared to be substantiated; end he resigned his office of chairman in consequence. A meeting of the shareholders in the York and North Midland is to be held on the 24th instant, and already, in anticipation of that event, Mr. Hopson has • the" , chairmanship. We do not propose at present to enter into the details of the accusations brought by these various bodies against Mr. HUDSON; it is enough to state that, if true, they are part and parcel of a gigantic system of operations persevered in for years by him and others confederated with him. So grave an impeachment at the bar of public opinion (if nowhere else), partially confirmed as it is by Mr. HUDSON'S successive resignations of the poets be occupied, is not to be tuned off by a side wind. If Mr. HUDSON'S speech in the lime of Commons on the presentation of the petitions against him is un satisfactory, Mr. WADDINGTON'S was infinitely more I so. At an adjourned meeting of the Eastern Counties on the Ist of March, he threw Mr. HUDSON over board altogether; talked of him in a most damaging style of innuendo, and for his reward was honoured with three cheers at the close of the pr:ceedings, while the mention of Mr. HUD sores name was the ripe for three groans. When examined before the company's committee of inquiry, Mr. WADDINGTON'S evidence bore hardest a all against Mr. HUDSON, though this did not save him at the meeting d the 10th inst. from an ample share of the suerauons vented against his former oelleepe. But ea Thursday night Mr. WADDINGTON, when bee to face with Mr. HUDSON, backed out of ens of the most important items of his charge sesiast bin. " The hon. member having denied it, I have nothing further to say on the subject." The prescriptive and proverbial character of those parties who turn King's evidence will not suffer in Mr. WADDINOTON's hands. KING'S COLLEGE HOSPITAL.—YeatOrday (Friday) mains as adjourned easing of h 1 committee of this ion tulles was held at the Bearimms, Partagal.strest, esla's-ina lklda. Soma reads , bagasse having bees disposed of, the secretary 'unattested that the subscriptions sad donations oa the memiat of the ansimmary festival, as Saturday Lat, ansouated to the handsome Mad of 2.0981. Si. W., Winding a liberal aollection made by the pupils of King's Goners School, and forwarded by the Moe. Dr Major. It was also stated that a large mamas had pre. Mouly been subscribed by the students, as well as the pupils, sot only of the college itself, bat from some of the sehosis In monexion with it. SW:GOMM) TOBACCO Is BcTrEa.—An ussumas cue of asaugglina was detected yesterday monsing at the Custom home. A ease of Data batter, ia the usual else rdle, was entered for duty, and the Miters of the Customs "rasa it to sacertaia the contents, which to all appearances was sethfutory ; but upoa pluMag ate of the rolls the la• strameat was obstructed by some herd subsume, and, on the odious matting into the butter, loud a scull tin moister of tobacco embedded in each top, Tame were in all about 100 rolls. FRANKFORT, KAT DS. There a•e eetirely dirinct patties in the movement which has begun is Germany. In the fir.t place, there is the party of the kings, their friends and domestics. The cow t aid cabinet of Prussia afford '1 HE COURT. the best sample of this party. Toe king himself affcc ing bio words about German good faith ( Deutseher Treue), while he betrays every b'dy in tern, is the type of those feeble character who flatter themselves they ere strong and energetic, when they are merely brutal and devoid of ooesecietce in their dealings with those who fer the time have no means of defence. The Count of Brandenburg. an illegiti mate scion of royalty, is narrow-minded and nn idesod—a man who but foe his equivocal connexion with the royal family would certainly never have risen to any higher appointment than that of a subaltern in the guards. He is a perfect specimen of Prussian JusekertAsues—of that woolens destitute of elevation of noel, that aristqcracy which bus no higher ambition thaii to shine by cox oombry in dress and brisk frivolity of manner. M. von Manteuffel is a man of distinction, and represents the Prussian bureaucracy. He has neither extended views nor elevated sentiments; but he is a practical man, never looks further than he thinks be c iu reach, and possesses all the energy requir4 to surmount the obstacles, great or small, he may encounter on his' way M. von Manteuffel in his person is very like' ' the Emperor Napoleon, and perhaps be is of the stuff I of which great men are made. The Prussian diplo macy is probably even more than the army the vita principle of the government, end Manteuffel is the men to keep it working. Wrangel is a brutal soldier, dietinguished only by his courage and his ignorance. He obeys blindly his king, and any one who commands his king. If the cabi net of Berlin consisted only of the parties I have named, and especially if M. Von Manteuffel exercised a preponderating influence over his associates, all , would, likely, go well; fur then its efforts would be energetically &meted to an end of poeible attain ment. But this is not the case. The King of Protei sin is a kind of dilettante in the art of reigning and governing ; even if left to himself, he would be con tinually committing blunders which it would be im possible for Manteuffel to repair. But this dilettante King, diplomatist, and statesman, has fail n into the bands of another who rules over him despotically—l speak of M. Von Radow:tm Radowits is one of the most remarkable men you can meet with. There are sparkles of genius in everything he saye. lie is profound in his observations, and possesses eloquence after the fashion of the ancients, who led their hearers insensibly to the point they swished, and obliged them to give in to them after an obstinate resi-t.nce. Bat with all these high qualities Radowits is romantic and fantas tic, full of the ideas of the middle ages, regarding constituted authority u a kind of divine incarnation, power as something self-generated, and not as we ordinary mortals of the 19th century consider it, the result of a good and regular government oontribu log to the greatest possible happiness of the rutted pos sible number of citizens. I will not take upon me to assert that in all his romanticism, all his fsntsatie notions, all his middle-age ideas, Radowits Is sincere at battorn ; but there is no questies that in all his 'nays and speeches, he plays the part of a devoted champion of autho rity, of the powers that be. It may be that this deep thinker only embraces these o;,init , no to flatter the prepossessions of the King of Prussia. This is the more likely, because it is certain that the ultimate objects of M. von Radowitz are not to serve the King of Prussia. He is not a Prussian—not even a German, fur he is a countryman of K. s-uth ; bathe 1e also a jesnit—re ally a jesuit—alimb of the order of Loyola. As such he assuredly seeks to lead the King of Prussia, not to the end which the King him self his in view, but to that which the Jesuit and his i order urine. This M. von Radowits , who is con reindispensable at the Court of Berlin, will be the eon to ruin everything there. The jeuits are Mrs vellum, and never fail to flock thither where they scent corpses. There were jeanits of the Stuarts —Jesuits of the Capita—Jesuits of the Hohenzol- Urns ! M. Von Rsdowitz arrived at Paris a few days before the fall of Luis Philippe, and left it to pay a visit to Metternkh. Before quitting Paris he wrote he Berlin that the throne of Louis Philippe was sa Inn as if it were founded on a rock. Before ho embed Vienna this rock had crumbled away, and IL Von Itadowitz had scarcely time to feel astonished at his mistake, when the people rose and drove his friend Metternich out of Vienna. This man is at present all-powerful in Berlin, and that will be enough, in my mind, to ruin the Prussian cabinet, which, after all, could net be saved even though there were no M. Von. Radowits there. I wished to sketch the other two parties alga, but to-day I have no time for the task. Toe constitutional petty and the republic= party divide the ground, overegainst the royalist party, very unequally between them. Taking Germany as a whole, there may be about 5 republicans to every 100 constitutionalists. The 100 would therefore be secure of victory were the struggle only between them and the republicans. But unluckily a republican need only show himself on the field to make all the conetitntionalists take to their heels. It was thus at Dresden and Leipzig; the constitutionalists would not fight side by side with the republicans, and the latter of course were beaten. But had they conquered, the defection of the consti tutionalists would have enabled them to give the law. In the south of Germany—in Baden and Rhenish Ba varia—the republican party is the more numerous, and all our intelligence represents it as having the upper hand. The war between monarchy and the republic) has begun ; it will be long and bloody, and no sue can foretel on which side will be the victory. RIPRESIOFfATION OF SOUTH &SM.—We are thorned to sins An tin report, espied into our paper of Wednesday from illo Esau Herold, that Sir B. N. Buxton Wads to retire teem the representation of South Bases is milk* without ibusdation. TZUNDUSTOIIMS AND DESTRUCTION OF PRO hdlg.—On Thmalay Meadiester was visited by the most Semi& thandeaftra which has beta felt for spy years. was the atmosphere wilt electricift, and so wen the awls of the lightning, that a portion of the wain bakeglas to the vrareloosesel the la's Doke • aurgaw:s tants were oompletely stripped, and the heemsdialammi to pleas. Several nab also in the ism lfeellegthritood were struck by the lightning, but little nanny was done, end no lives were kat, though some severe injuries have been Bight men were stack to the floor in the Bridgw ater warehouses, bat were not injured.— On M y, donne a tempest which passed over Cam badman» and Suffolk, while the flock of sheep, containing about 14 soon, of H. Wilms, BK., of Stowlaupteft, near Bury St. Edmund's, were retuning to the fold, they rested seeder ea mit tree during_ the rain, and the shepherd ran home for his eat. He had net left the fink more than a minas what Were was a snit vivid flash of lightning and a %remissness clap of Moaner. Fancying that the flock might have sustained injury, be turned round, and saw a groat number of them !snag one ear the other. Oa making at ease lamas, he Lead that 21 of the animals had been killed on tie spot, sad one wee needy dead ,• the others got away, sad appealed to have received little injury, though some of then lad their goats singed. The tree re ceived only partial damage, its trunk haying about six inches of bark all the way down stripped off, and a few of the arms slightly barked. PAUPER lUmfOlanou.—On Frady the steamer ' Londonderry, from Ireland, strived at the lower quay, Glas gow, with a misallaneous ciargo, part of it cementing of en importation of Irish paupers. Oat of from 300 to 400 satr aps matogen, who crowded the decks of the steamer, folly • third part, at a very moderate calculation, were in each a wretched condition. both as to apparel and physical strength, that the idea of their ever supporting themselves by the labour of their own hands, is entirely eut of the question. I The attention of parties on the quay wee excited by the wretched eppearanee presented by the majority of the linter tante individuals, who, immediately aft. r landing, weeded thew way in scores to the t' Seagate" and Saltmaricet, from thane, no doubt, in the majority of instances, to issue forth 'umlaute of chanty ; and where, at some future time, they will become, in all probability, pensioners on the public bounty. Oa this subject a letter has been written by Mr. Bashtoo, the re , of Liverpool, to Sir G. G rey, l3art , dated April 21,1 1 7, 4 11 it has been printed, on the motion of Mr. Cardwell, M.P. It represents to the home secretary the resulns of the Irish immigration into Liverpool, and suggests measures calculated to lemon the burden on the public resources of the bermes and parish of Liverpool. The accumulation of a vast number of halt naked end destitute Isiah in that crowded commercial town has not only imposed additional burdens on the townspeople, but infected the place with a wet malignant pestilence. As a rem• dy for this crying nuisance, Mr. Rushton recommends an extension of the proaeions of the act for the removal of Irish paupers, so se to render all Irish persons oace removed to Ireland uneer the powers of that act who again return to England and there beano chargeable, liable to punishment as rogues end vseabemk, wad the limitation of the number of deck pae- INSireft breedht in steamers fano Ireland. FIRS SIAN BRADFORD.—On Thursday a fire broke it in the woolhoose at the Upper Globe Mill in Mann ham, Bradford. Engines were promptly on the spot, mad the ravages of the fire wereanfined to the building in which they were first discovered. The damage is estimated to so wn 2001 The mischief is supposed to have been occasion. by the spontaneous eembastion of some greasy wol. THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 19, 1849. The Queen, neorimpanied by her Royal Highness the Princess Augustus of ti-se Cobourg Goths, the Priam o• Welts, and the Princess Alia, took an airing in an open carriage and four yesterday. General Wemyss attended on horseback. His Royal Highnese the Prince Albert, attended by Lieut.- ' Col. the Hon. C. B Phipps, and Lient..Col. the Hon. Alexander Gordon, left town at half-peat 10 o'clock yester day meanie& for the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, to attend the examination of the gentlemen cadets. His Royal Highness returned to Buckingham Palate at twenty Awe minutes past 6 c'elook. His Royal Highness Prince George visited her Majesty yesterday at Beeltinghant Palace. Prince Alfred, the Prisons Royal, the Prise= Helena, and the Princess Louisa, took their usual exercise yesterday in the reyal girders. Her Wesel and Prince Albert, moompanied by the Prises and Princess Augustus of Saxe Cobourg Gotha, ho noured the French Plays with their presume yesterdaiezt ing. The Royal suite cioesieted of the Countess of) the Burt of Morten, General Wears, and Ltent..Cokinel the lion. Alexander Gordon. Her Royal Highness •he Brehm of Kent also honoured the performance of the French Plays last evening with her prance. Her Royal Highness was attended by Lady Augusta Brace, Lady Fanny Howard, and Sir George Coupes.. Lord Portman had an interview with the Right Hon. H. Labonehere yesterday at the office of the Boyd of Trade. Mr. French had an interview with Lord John Russell yesterday at his official residence in Drweioc•street. Despatches from the Governor of Van Diemen's Land were received yesterday at the Colonial-0111m. Despatches were sent off last evening from the CeSonial-Office for the Governors of the North American colonies. OPERA COMIQUE, ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.—Her Majesty and Prince Albert honoured the performance at this theatre with their presence last sealing. Their Serene Highnesses the Prince Augustus end the Princess of Coburg amompanied her Majesty. The &qui suite comprised the Countess of De sert , the Earl of MorP.n, Colonel Gorden, and K ent , Weicyss. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of ent attended by Lady Augnsta Bruce, Lady Fanny How- ard, and Sir George Coupe,. also honoured the theatre with nee. presence. We observed also in the boles and stalls his Royal Highness the Duke of Brunswick, the Duch. ss of Lords, the Countess of P.m:. Lady Blantyre, Min Swart and Miss Ann Mackenzie, the Bsil of Hilemony, Lord and Lady Poltinsore, Lord Brougham, Count and Conntesa de Magri:, Baron Eugene de Oirlache, Sir F. Trench, Sir G. and Miss Talbot, Lady Jodrell, Chevalier Drouet. (Frees lett night's Gazette.) COMMISSIONS STONED BY THE LORD LIEUTENANT OP LINCOLIIISIIIII3.-0. H. T. d'Eynooort, 13.. q 0.8. Lis ter, Rig., G Bkipwortb, E.q., and C. Fardell, Es., to be Derity-Litu.enants. ClinllssioNE SIGNED BY THE LORD LIEUTENANT or LANABSIIIII3 —Lieut. G. Baird, to be captain ; D. Smith, gent., to be lieutenant ; G. Lowden, gent., to be cornet, in the Glasgow:and Lower Ward of Laaarkshim Teo. raaary Cavalry. COMMISSIONS SIGNED BY THE LORD LIEUTENANT or MoNTOOMMITSIIIIII.—Cornet D. Jones to be lieutenant, W. D. Hewson, gem., to be cornet, is the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry Cavalry Regiment. FINANCIAL AND lAMENTARY REFORM. MEETING OF THE COLEMAN - STREET, CHEAP, AND BASSISSHAW WARDS. List evening a numerous and respectable meeting of gentlemen connected with these wards was had in Mason's hall, Basinahallstrut, to receive a deputation from the council of the Metropolitan Financial and Parliamentai y R -form Associatioa, and form a I imlar association for the district. W. Linwood, E•q., attended u a deputation from the e until. Mr. W. G. SEED having been called to the chair, the following resolutions were agreed to by acclamation : " That, feeling that the House of Commons does not at present represent the tax-paying millions, and that the un rival and exorbitant burdens imposed by the present system of taxation may be regarded as effects of class legislation, this meeting is of opinion that such an extension of the franchise as will secure a fall ml fair representation of the peop:e in the Commons House of Parliament, is necessary, bith for the vindication of justice, and the attainment of economy, in the regulation of the public expenditure." Tnat, with the view to the sccempli'bment of financial and p elementary reform, it is resolved to form an mooch' don, to be called ' The Coleman street, Cheap, and Basis slum Financial and Parliamentary Reform Anxieties, to co-operate with all associations throughout the kingdom in every legal and constitutional endeavour on behalf of vs trenchment and retorts, and that the gentlemen present constitute the onamittes of the said association, with power to add to their number." " That this meeting very cordially sympathises with the Metropolitan Financial and Parliamentary Reform Asetreis tins, and pledgee itself u so-operate with its council in their efforts to obtain progressive reform." " That the cordial thanks of this meeting be given to the council of the Metropolisn Financial and Parliamentary Reform Association, for sending a deputation to these wards, and to William Linwood, Esq., their representative, for the eloquent and able manner in which he has explained to them the objects of the association." After a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting separated. MEETING IN LEICESTERSHIRE. A meeting of farmers was veld at Loughborough on Thursday afternoon to consider the beet mode of bringing before parliament the present agricultural distress. Mr. WOOD, a surgeon, who occupied a small farm, moved that a petition founded upon the resolutions be presented to both houses of .parliament, end in doing so took occasion to condemn the calling of harsh names, he., and recom mended the farmers to try what they could do for them selves in the way of improved cultivation. E. B. FARNHAM, Elq., one of the tory representatives of the division of the county is which Lougnboreugh is situate, admitted that the malt tax wss oppressive, but thought there were difficulties at the present time which p led the government dispensing with the revenue pro duced by it. He was of opinion that no good would be dune until they had a reviaion and a reduction of the public ex penditure of the country. This announcement was received with loud applause; and several expressions were made use of to the effect that go vernment must be compelled to carry oa affairs with less taxation. MEETING AT WREXHAM. 1 On Wednesday hat, a respectable and crowded I meeting was held in the ancient Town-hall, Wrexham. Mr. EDGEWORTH, being called to the chair, warned 1 the meeting that an attempt would be made to return to , protection, and read a letter, published in a Cloister paper, signed by Mr. Leach, a Cheshire landowner, eurioisly claiming protection to the land because the country was over-taxed, bat deelarieg that he could not see how any material redaction could be made in the amount of that over-taxation. He then introduced Mr. Prentice as an earnest labourer for the repeal of the of laws, and who would show them a vary great reduction of taxes could be made in the public expenditure. Mr. PRENTICE, in the course of an address of an hour and a halts length, made a particular reference to the county of Denbigh, and stated his belief, from what he had heard, that, with due etiolation to the registration, members might be returned to represent the interests and the ittellect of the country and pledged to a sweeping, bat prrfectly safe sad easily practicable reduction of the public expenditure, and, consequently, of the public bur. these. G. GRIFFITHS, Es q., attar • few remarks on the nem sity of diminishing greatly the amount of taxation, moved —" That this meeting having heard with auk plume the able address delivered by Mr. Prentice, pledgee itself to use Its beat exertions during the short period yet remainin g be fore the 20th July to improve the state of the registerr the borough and county of Denbigh." The motion was carried unanintondy, end a vote of thanks to the chairman having been proposed and carried by accla mation, the meeting was dissolved. METROPOLITAN FINANCIAL AND PARLIA- ; MENTARY REFORY ASSOCIATION. The council of this association have issued the following address. They coagratolate their fellow-reformers upon the somas which has followed the first efforts to esta blish a powerful political combination for the constitutional redress of great public grievances. " In the impending contest between the advocates of a searching reform in the administration of the large sums annually raised from the labour and property of the country, i and the upholders of a system which favours the few at the cost a the millions, the important, of strength enias public o pinion through the medium of an organised body which unites reformers of all grades of opinion is too obvious to require c,mment. The council believe that at so period of the history of the country have the eels of this system roved so intolerable in their pressure, or so ruinous in their influence upon the well-being of the people, as at this mo ment ; and a long experi , nce ha shown bew hopeless it is to look for relief from either of thewso gnat partme in whom for centuries the governing po bee been alt mutely reeve!. "Satisfied that no material diminution of the public bur den., nor any a :usable improvement in the ands of their it portion, will or can take place until the Hans of Osallecas is made a more faithful reflex of the opiates, eras, isi lo- Wrests of the people at large, the mesa& here esimmined that the means aod energise of the amedetims sbell in the first instance be directed to the allaneelmt of es anima reform of our representative " That reform will consist Orr: smil as entrallna d tim suffrage a will confer the right hobs wilampi se ma 'berme up s every man of full age, not sabjestae may kpidlesWity. who for twelve months shall have complied may teremelne. et portion of a tenement, for which he sball be reds of dial ream % have claimed to be rated, to th e relief elite peer LOSSleldb the adoption of the 'system of Wing WO ; third'', t he [ limitation of the duration of In three man' y and. fourthly, such a change in e arrangement of the electoral districts as shall produce a more equal apportionment of mons , Matins to omsdruents. " The extent and character of the proposed reforms have been the result of earneet end deliberate eenaidaration. They are retarded as meteors' calculated to ensure the sr sent and support of that great body of the middle and pro &wile* clam a, through whose combined inesenes the great el &cgs in clif repreeentative instituti , ms took place in 1832. "The council believe that no class of their fellow chinas is more deeply interested in the speedy and peseeful seems. pliehment of the reform now proposed then theaters wealthy, whose p winos se.d pnperty can be endangered by nothing so seriotely as by ` of',mimed reddest* to the juat and wederato dminthl s large majority et the people ; and therefore it is th.t the co operation of all amen is most enilously invited for the accomplishment of the proposed change while there is yet tines to effect it with that calm dignity which ought to pervade the legislation of this great country." REPEAL OF THE NAVIGATION LAWS. MEETING AT LIVERPOOL. At Liverpool, oa Thursday, a meeting of merchants, shipowners, and *Men, was held to consider the question of the repeal of the navigation laws. W. Raemsonn, Req., was shed to the chair, and several speakers having ad dressed the meeting the following resolutions were nasal mend,' adopteci : let Moved by CIIIIBTOPIMUI ILLIrDoW, Eq., asoonded by ETIM EVANS, Eeq , and supported by CRADLES BODUrr- SON Elq " ' That u the individual who have originated the calling of the public meeting to be held to-morrow are personally interested in the met burled enactments of the navigation laws, and are M • position to fill the largest budding in the town with their own immediate dependents, it is nct deemed expictient to interfere with the proceedings of the tad meet ing, as any competent conflicting demonstration. which could only be effected by the excitement of bur clams of °pestle's, might endanger the public peace." 2nd. Moved by HUGO. EOHOBT, Er. seconded by °nouns Maxwsixx, E-q., and support ed by RICKARD BROIL, EN.: That this meeting having hoard that a ball is now before tie House of Lords, having fim its object the 'modification of the navigation laws, desire to express their approval of the Measure, as one in the right direction for abrogating the re strictive and injurious machinery of those laws ; and that they learn, with great satisfaction, that this is only the pre cursor of other measures for the removal of all restrictions and cimptesory enactments which now injuriously affect the British shipowner, and the general interests of the com munity at large.' 3rd. Moved by JAMES MrLutriaux, Esq., seconded by Joint CLow, Esq., and supported by CUM. Euw. RAW- Lum, Jan., " That • petition to the House of Lords, embodying the foregoing or second resolution, be prepared, and laid in the Exchange-room fi r signature ; and that it be forwarded by the chairman to the Marquis of Lansdowne, for presentation." Resolved unanimously, on the motion of 6 Bolton Hoyt., Jan., Esq., seconded by Josue FINCH, to Jon. Mr. , E Ra q , th bone forat the cordial thanks of the meeting be given th his able conduct in the chair. Yesterday, in compliance with a requisition pro. muted by the shipowning interest, J. Bromley Moore, Esq., the mayor, convened a meeting for the purpose of affording another opportunity to the inhabitants of expressing their opinions on the navigation laws. The meeting took place in the Amphitheatre. '1 he MAYOR, after reading a letter from Sir J. Glad stine in favour of the objects of the meeting, said they had now assembled to exercise one of those constitutional privi leges which were the birthright of every Englishman ; and when he saw the vast assemblage there before bin it was • convincing proof that the question had tsken dee p root in the minds of the people net the tows. lie explained the object of the meeting, and said they were to consider the matter not only u net affected the interests of the artificen sad others, but to look into the vista before them, and con sider the effect the till might have upon our maritime Cu. proar eiy and our national defences, and consider whether they mold recommend such a measure when they took into somas our enormous national debt—and every man in the *wary contributed his quota to the interest of that debt—(heer)—it would be for them to consider this mo mentous questim in all its various bearings, and having dose se, to put the question to themselves, how, with a people t zed at the rue of 30e. a head, and with reduced wage" if that should be the effect or the bill, how, with such a st ate of things, demands might be met. Mr. Ald. T. B. HORSFALL said, before proceeding to the duty which has been assigned to me in moving the first rie isolation, I should like to put a question to you, sir, or to some ether gentlemen in this building who may be competent to answer it. (Hese.) I hold in my hand a copy of the Liver pool Mercury of this day, and in that paper 1 find an Raver thesannt headed" The Navigation Laws," which states, that at • meeting of merchants ' shipowners, brokers, end other inhabitants of Liverpool, held yesterday, the 17th day of May, 1849, certain resolutions were adopte d. Oar Mend Mr. Itsthbone was is the chair, sad the resolutions were in support of the mildew- dal measure for the repeal of the navigatlca laws. Now, what I want to know is this: was that a private or a peldis meeting? lf, gentlemen, it was • private meeting, I think there was no necessity for these gentlemen to have published these Trott* , ions to the world. If, sir, on the other hand, it was a public meeting, I should like to know where it was held. With regard to the object of the present meeting, the speaker went on to nay, there is a very long speech is the House of Lords from Lord Carlisle, and this noble lord gives us • string of reasons for strongly objecting to the present navigation laws, some of which statements are not founded on fact, and others of which are very . easily remedied without affect• ing the principle of the navigation laws. The first state ment to which I shall allude is this :—" That copper ore, now produced in great and growing abundance in Aus tralia, cannot find a sufficient number of British ships to convey it to this country, and the high freights, which are the necessary consequence, diminish the profit of what is sent, which has led to the project of establishing smelting weeks in Australia, instead of employing, first, the shipping, and, next, the manufactures of England, for that purpose. ' No, I venture to my that that statement is not founded on fact. I venture to say, that so far from there being a defi ciency of British shipping, vessels are continually going from, Australia to search for freights in India. Yes, going in ballast. Now, air, with r.gard to the establishing of smelting works : the object of establishing these we. k. it not bettor they cannot get the ore brought to England, but owing to nese portion of the ore being so fine, and as they want to pins it on English soil ai cheaply as they possibly can, they relit it before they ship it. By the last advices there was no ore offering for shipment. The next point * which Lord Carlisle alludes is this—" That at Bombay and Calcutta, though there is constant uncertainty whether there will be ships to carry rodeos to England, and the freight has been as high as eight guineas a toe, and though Vet use puts are filled with ships not Daly seaworthy, but efficiently commended, and which would bring home that predate if they were suffered to do so, yet, because of that preposterous disability which attaches to ships manned by Lour sailors, they are not suffered to do se." I will not gems Lord Carlisle of practising a wanton deceit on the ban when he told them about freights being 81. or eight guineas a tom. I venture to assert that, for many years, ship swum have sever had a freight approaching to anything of its kind. Mr. liondell cot traded by moving the following :deletion : " That this towhee, believing the second reading . of the bill in the House of Lords for the al =repe f the navigation laws has been curled con tr ary to the epressed wishes of the electors of the united kingdom, is of opinion that in the present disturbed state of the continent, se well as of Our colonies, it will be more than ever impolitic to proceed further with such organic changes as those contemplated in the bill." The second res o lution was moved by S. Houtz, Esq., seconded by J. A. Tures, Esq " That her Majesty's ministers having, however, declared their determination to proceed with the said bill, their lord ships be again respectful/1y urged to retain intact the vital principles of the navigation laws, revising and adapting them to the present and prognesive aspect of our national, colonial, and foreign commerce, securing, at the same time, that dee encouragement which is 'Neutral to the maintenance of all British interests." Third.—Move! by C. Breams, Eeq., seconded by G. Town, Esq. : " Thlt • petition to the House of Lords be adopted, and signed by the mayor on behalf of the meeting, and that it be forwarded to Lord Harrowby for presentation, peeving the House of Lords will so adhere to the Title of the Bill, is to retain intact the vital principles of our navigation laws, re vising and adapting them to the eresent sod progressive aspect of oar national, oclonial, and foreign commerce, seeun ing at the same time that due encouragemeat which is essen tial to the maintenance of ell British interests • and so preserve the misty, honour, and welfare of the' British dominions." Tree ranting Shen vaunted. VACANCY IN THE REPRESENTATION OF SOOTS WARRICIIIIIIII.2.-Mr. Evelyn Shirley, the member for South Warwickshire, has announced his acceptance of the stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds, and his consequent resispatioa of his mat in parliament. He empresses a hope, in his printed address, that a younger person will be found to represent the feelings of " thii agricultural district."—A Warwick correspondent, writing yesterday, says, " Pre sent, it is mere speculation as to who will be the probable candidates ; for as to a contest, one there must b• if Mr. Leigh, the eldest eon of Lord Leigh, coasts forward on liberal principles, an occurrence which is looked upon as a settled thing among the liberals themselves. The tories will, it is expested, try their fortune in Lord Guernsey, the eldest son of the Earl of Aylesford." THE DEFALCATIONS AT THE BRIGHTON SAVINGS Bfarn.—A special genresl meeting of the trustees and managers was held on Thursday last, to receive a report re lative to the amounts consequent on the frauds commit•ed by the late actuary. The chair was taken by the Berl of Chichester. The minutes of the stoerintending committee, ordering the closing of the bank in the early part of Much last, till alter the amounts had undergone a systematic exa mination by an acmantant, having been read, Mr. W. Hat ton, of the Beading Savings Bank, the g•ntlemen appointed foe that purpose, brought forward his eer)rt, the result of which statql the total deficiency to be 6781. 8a 24. It was announced that, in consequence of a sum of 6001. having been received from the late actuary's sureties, which had not been in cl uded in Mr. Hatton 's statement, the bank would be able to repay every depositor in full, and still re tain a surplus of 211. 10s. 10d. OUR REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM READlNG.—(Corrtneen.) The cue which was prepared by way of defer.ce to Mr. Mills' pethion against the sitting member,, war. is the judgment of their agent, " highly satisfactory ;" but when it went before conned learned in the law they gave a very unfavourab!e opicion with respect to it. This very much claimed the sittirg members and their Mends. Their Reading agent tried to keep up their opiate, but in vain. The cath for theipetition was opened before the committee on Friday morcing, the 29th of April, 1842. The rest of that day was spent in proving the poll books sad in skirmishes between the counsel. As opened, the case for the petit ion was a strong one. A number of instances of direct bribery, in one case the payment of a sum of no less than 451. for a vote, were alleged. It was also opened that the sitting members bad clearly adopted by their own sub sequent declarations, bribery which had been prac tised in their names by other parties. There were charges of wholesale treating at 13 public-boutts, both before and after the teate of the writ, ann against Mr. Respell it was specitt ally alleged that he had promised to certain voters eligible situaions on the Great Wes tern Railway's the price of their suffrages. The liberals fully calculated upon proving these charges, and dis•placing both members; but their real object was, if possible, to effect a compromise, whereby one of the seats might be obtained for Mr. Mills . This, in consequencs of the terror of the tories, there was, apparently, not much difficulty in accomplishing. An overture was made immediately on the opening speech being concluded, but it dces not appear to have come to anything. On the ascend day, Saturday, the counsel were observed to be very slow in their movements, and to occupy as much time as possible in discussing minor points. " The matter had thickened," as the liberal agent said ; and they wanted Sunday to effect the arrangement. Accord ingly, on Sunday, between 3 and 4 o'clock, Mr. Charles Saunders, the secretary of the Great West ern Railway Company, waited on Mr. Weedon, the Reading solicitor for Mr. Mills, at Cooper's Hotel, in Bouverie-street, and told him that he was commis sioned by Lord Chelsea and Mr. Russell to enter into a negotiation, and that he had a carte blanche as to the terms. " He then suggested," says Di r. Weirdos, " that an ar rangement might be made, by which Mr. Mills's expenses might be rapid him, and that a seat for some other place might be secured to him, at the expire-, and through the means of, Mr. Russell and Lord Chelsea, or that a coati derable sum of money—l think Mr. Saunders mentioned 2,0001. —mig ht be paid to Mr. Mills, to enable him to pro cure a seat himself. A good deal of conversation passed be tween us, and my reply to him was that I was convinced that Mr. Mills would not entertain the question of with drawing the petition, unless it involved one of the seats for Reading, and that he would do nothing that his supporters in Reading were likely to disapprove. I again met Mr. Saunders at Mr. Hunt's, in Parliament ' street, solicitor for the Great Western Railway Campeury, at 9 o'clock on the morning of Monday. I saw no person at that meeting except Mr. Saunders, but there were other parties there with whom he was in communication in another room. I had prcvionsly drawn a sketch of an agreement which mourned the terms of the compromise which I and Mr. Mills were willing to assent to, and alter a good deal of con versation between Mr. Saunders and me, I told him that these were the only terms that we would accede to, and I handed him a sketch of the agreement. That agreement was objected to in various parts by Mr. Saunders ; he went backwards and forwards to see his friends, who were there to assist the negotiation. Ultimately it was acceded to, and it wen as follows : READING ELECTION PITITTION.—IL is a-reed between the petitioner and the sitting member as follows: 1. That the petitioner shall withdraw from the prosecution of his petition ; and such reasons shall be assigned to the committee as counsel on both sides shall ogres on, end the "Wine members declared duly elected. 2. That one of the sitting members shall trustee his seat, In such time that a new election may take place during the I present mission ; and that both of them shall use their It ' moat endeavours to secure the election and return of the pe titioner at the next election for the borough of Reading (whether caused by such vacating, by death, advancement' to the peerage, or any other circumstance) without oppoti tion, and to Induce the corservative electors of the borough of Reading to do the same. 3. That in the event of the petitioner's election not being effected in the Way above proposed, the sitting members will forthwith pay 2,0001. to the petitioner. London, May 2, 1842. C. Resset.e, Witness, Charles A. Sounders. Casesse. Mr. Russell's committee reported that The circumstances which induced the sitting members thus to give up one seat, and run the risk, deemed by Mr. Russell himself almost a certainty, of paying 2,000/. were 1. An apprehension on the part of the counsel of the siting members that there was great darger incurred by defending the seats of losing them both. 2. The certainty of great expense with very great chance" of an unfavourable Issue. Mr. Milli and hie friends confidently believed that under this arrangement that gentleman would be re turned. Mr. Russell, however, was of a contrary opinion, and as everything depended upon the extent to which this gentlemen could neutralise hisfriende,he was the best judge of the probabilities. From what is stated at the present time by the best informed persona at Reading, there is reason to think that Mr. Russell was right, and that the tory y would have brought forward a candidate in ffr t d Chelsea's stead, despite all the interest their re presentative could exert. But the opportunity was not afforded. Sir Robert Peel's administration ec hoed Lord Chelsea the Chiltern Hundreds, and his lordship consequently kept his seat for Reading daring the parliament. There is one point about this election petition which does not appear upon the evidence before Mr.Roebeek's committee, but about which, we fear, there is not much doubt. The conservative attorney at Read ing was, an Mr. Russell stated, sanguine about the case. He was, in fact, the only person who had the elighteet hopes of it, but his hopes were very great. "My own opinion," he said to the committee, " has always been that the seats were not in danger at all. After the consultation with counsel I told Mr. Rus sell that if the case were my own, and I had the same pecuniary resources that he and my Lord Chasm had, I should not hesitate for a moment taking the case to en end and awaiting the result of the de cision of the committee ; and I say again if the cue had been my own I should never have stopped ehort at all." Again— After hating got up the evidence, were you still of opinion that there was very great expectation of maintaining the seats for the Suing members s—l left Reading at half pest seven on the Monday morels', in the firm belief that I could carry the cue triumphantly through, and get a decision i favourable to the sitting members. It is stated at the present day at Reading, that this gentleman bad good grounds for hie anticipations. There is every reason to believe that the petitioners would have been able to prove nothing, because the witnesses would have sworn to nothing, or rather, would have sworn to anything. " Sir, mid a con servative elector to the writer, "it is a shocking thing to say, but at that time there was scarcely a man implicated who would not have committed any perjury to win that day. I believe, indeed, they would sot have thought it perjtry." If Mr. Russell and Lord Chelsea suspected this it ie highly creditable to them to have arranged the compromise se they did, rather then to have kept the seat and their money. "The noes c-at of this eleeiou to Mr. Russell the eoamit• tee (Mr. Roebuck's) could not accurately ascertain, as the ace wets have not pt been rendered to him. He himself states that he he paid on account about 1,1001. or 1,2001. The ascent of Mr. Russell says that he has had delivered to himself, as arent of Mr. Russell, farther bills to the amount of above 3,0001, some of which he believes are the joint bills of Mr, Russell and Lord Chelsea. " Lord Chelsea himself believes, as appears from his an ew en to the committee, that his expenses will not exceed 2,0001. " Of the application of the whole of this money, the com mittee could gain no accurate Deformation. Mr. Russell, Lord Chelsea. and their agent distinctly assert that [to their knowledge, should have been inverted here] no part was ex pended in direct bribery; though it Is admitted by both sifting members that so large a sum could not all have been spent in legal and proper disbursements ; and their agent, when asked as to this expenditure, and more especially whether beer shops had been opened, de fi ned to answer. The °pewits agent speaks in very positive terms as to the (Merges of treating and bribery he expected to prove. " The gross met of the election to Mr. T. Mills was 1,6001. "Of the expenditure of this money nothing very accurate could be ascertained ; that any part of it was spent in direct bribery all parties concerned in the distribution deny ; but at the Salle time it was admitted by Mr. Mills, and also by his agent, that much must have been spent improperly." The total cost of this election to the tortes, including the petition and the compromise money, if paid, which we presume to have been the cue, could not have been much less than 10,000/., of which Mr. Russell paid the/ greater part. Nearly the whole of Mr. Mills's expenses would have been covered by the 2,0001. which be was to have received. There oozed out before Mr. Roebuck's committee one incident connected with election expeneee at Reading that is sufficiently amusing. It is a laudable practice in this town, with a view, no doubt, to enhinoe the expenditure, that no two candidates, however closely aaso- dated, should directly act together, but that e ch should have his separate hotel, separate committee, sten s, bands, and banners. Thus Mr. Rues U end Lord Che'ses, although in close coalition, lived curt and acted as if standing on different interests. But many 1f the services pet foemed for thcm were ren dered to both. The publicans, fur example, who opened their houses in the conservative Callao gave away their beer on account of these can didates conjointly. But when they made up their accounts, and sent in their bills, it was found that they had not shared the charges as between the candidates, bat had deb:ted rah with the terms sum tctsL Thus if 20/. worth of beer were glees away at the Anchor and the landlord thereof chargei 501. for the risme, he would charge Mr. Russell 501. and Lord Chelsea 501. also, and get paid in the whole 1001. This is a step decidedly in advance of elec tioneering accounts in other towns, bad as many of them are. Between 1841 and 1847 the conservative repre sentatives for Reading lost much ef their popularity, and the divisions which arose in the party ranks tended still farther to injure their position. It is probable, however, that Mr. Russell would have been re-elected at the last general election, had it not been for a mistake which his agent made at the preceding registration. This gentleman served one-half of the town, including some of its most respee' able inhabitants, with notices of objection to their votes. Groat excitement, and much annoyance, venation, and inconvenience was the consequence. It vim increased by the mysterious silence which was observed as to the nature of the ob ction. At length it turned out that the agent had got hhold of a crotchet. The overseer?, in making nut the list of voters, had described them as of such a street, without giving the numbers of their houses. The agent fancied he should disqu lify the libetel voters en matte, by objecting that this was an insufficient description. But the revising barrister overruled the objection, and on the day of election the only efFet was a very hostile feeling towards Mr. Russell and his agent on the part cf those who had been annoyed and inconvenience d. Serjeant Talfourd, the old liberal member for the town, presented himself again, supported by his peva -I:ar interest and personal friends. From the first his return was thought MM. Another gentleman came and canvassed—Mr. Francis Pigott, son of Mr. Payn ton Pigott-Stainsby-Conant, of Archer Lodge, an old whig gentleman of some pronetey in this county and in Hants. Mr. Francis Pigott hal contested Winchester in 1841 against Messrs. East and Escott, but without success. He now came forward as a kcal man, and being we'l known as a fexhunter and county magistrate, many even ef the tory gentry and farmers about Re ding gave him their support. The canvass was conducted inexpensively. Mr. Russell having now had some experience of the effects of election eering expenditure, was particularly cautious. He was over sanguine, too; for no one bad much idea that Mr. Pigott could succeed. Indeed, some days before the nominstioe, that gentleman had left the ton n altogether, as if he had abandoned it entirely. As it proved, he had no such intention. Ile was in his place on the hustings on the day of nomi nation, and on the day of polling, to the sur• price of every one, he " went ahead" at a r apid pace, distancing all his competitors in a canter. The old tory party voted for him as a resident county gentle man; the wbigs voted for him from party connexion ; the friends of Serjeant Talfourd split with him to annoy Russell ; the dissenters voted for him because be was opposed to Roman catholic endowment; the undecided voted for him beccust they saw he was highest on the poll ; and thu cor rupt portion of the constituency appear to have voted for him also. Those who calculated he would have been lowest on the poll found to their amerearent at its close that Mr. Pigott was at the head of it. The numbers were— For Mr. Pigott Serjesnt Talfouril Mr. 11,0.11 52l Viscount Chelsea The vexation of Mr. Russell was extreme. He " washed his hands," he said, of Reading, after that, and departed thence without intimating the slightest intention of returning. Trig was, upon the whole, the fairest contested election that has taken place in Reading during the present century. Three of the candidates spent nothing beyond what they might under the present system, constitutionally. be called upon to pay. Mr. Pigott's expenses were 1,2001. How that money went nobsdy knows: we have no doubt that the It .n. mem ber is totally ignorant hinicelf. But there are shrewd suspicions on the subject in Reading, and very little doubt amongst the knowing ones. It will be coecluded, from all we have recur 'ecl, that Reading is a very corrupt constituency. The proportion of venal electors is large, and their price is high. The system is one of direct bribery, prac tised unblushingly, the reward for the vote being re garded ns a sort of right. The administrators of the bribes are nearly as numerous as the bribees. Certain men upon a candidate's committee know others who are to be bought, and they buy them, if required, at the market price of the day, which of course depends upon the closeness of the contest. The parties who receive the bribes are generally the small ten-pound householders, and they may amount in number to 100 or 150, the number, of course, increasing in propor tion to the increase of the temptation. The average rice, on ordinary (wardens, may be ten guineas, but the amounts given vary so much that it is diffieult to fix a specific sum as the amount of a Rea' ng bribe. Apart from this bribery, which le so bad as to be quite a remarkable feature in Reading elections, the other corrupt practices of the place are rot worse than in any other towns. The treating is, on the whole, less extensive here than in other places of the same size and population. There is a great deal of money, however, spent upon the lawyers, and the flag and riband system is extensively preethed. In Reading, as well as in other boroughs in Berkshire and Oxfordshire, a practice has prevailed of aea.tering money amongst the crowd during the chairing of the members. It will be remembered that Sir Frederick Theciger, when Attorney-General, was much cen strati for perpetuating this practice at Abingdon, at his el c'ion in 1644. We are glad to say that on the occasion of the last return, Serjesnt Talfourd and Mr. Pigott refrained from following this ancient custom — one certainly much more honoured in its breach than its observance. The electoral system of Reading is not immediately likely to undergo any alteration for the better. The town is increasing, and probably improv ing in respectability; but those who have lists of the corrupt electors see no reason to think that they are diminishing in number. Much dr peuda in such a place upon the candidates, and the course which they pursue. Serjeant Talfourd has been able to set a good example here, and much honour is due to him for it. Would that Reading could insure that such an example would be followed. The railways in the course of time may make some alteration in the political position of the town of Reading. Up to the present period the railway in fluence has not, however, been so potent here as some persons may suppose. Mr. Russell, certainly, was never returned by it, although chairman of the Great Western. That railway, in truth, has scarcely hitherto been popular in Readieg. It was a great coaching town before the railway was constructed, and so much of its trade was diverted be it from the old and accustomed channel that it hid fir a long time more enemies than friends. Necessarily, a great depdt like that of the Great Western at Reading, must bring business and money into the town. but probably its chairman has never been able to comply with one tithe of the numerous applications that have been made to him for business and appointment', and has consequently dissatisfied nice of his cons' ituent s where he may have satisfied one. At no wry distant date there is an element likely to be introduced into Reading elections ever. more potent then the influence of the railways. That ele ment is the ever-powerful one of property. One third of this town, and by far the best commercial situations in it, appertain to the family of Biog. ave, who ere settee' near the town. Their property up to a recent period was let on leases for lives renewable, as each life dropped, upon payment of a fine. Re: ceotly, io consequence of differences between the tenant for I.fe and the tenant in tail, the Court of Chatcery has decided that uo new lives are to be put in. The estate is consequently fast falling into hand. At no distant per:cd it will probably fall into possession of the nephew at the pre sent owner, a young gentleman of five aid twenty. There is, indeed, some doubt whether all the•leaws for lives cannot be upset upon the death of tIM present life tenant. In such event the whole of this great town property would fall in at once to yea% Mr. 11 o'