The Sun. — London, England, 1837-01-24 00:00:00

re:pset to the policy pursued in the last Session of Perna meat, I need say but little. Every one knows that a stop was put to the progress of legislation bv the impediments thrown the way by one great branch of the Constitution. The question thorcfere arises—%vhia, is to be done to re medy that serious evil ? Or how long is the nation to to lerate that suspension of Legislation ?—(Cheers.) If I call your attention to the change of policy which is con t •mplated to be pursued in the ensuing Session of Parliament as compared with the last Session, 1 think every man will perceive that it is of the greetest irnpertanee. It appears that Sir Robert Peel is to chan g e his policy altogether. In the manifesto issued by the Right Hon, Baronet from 'Merchant Tailors' Hall, nothing more was claimed by him than a fair trial. " Give us," said he, "a fair trial, and we shall be prepared to encounter the Reformers.—(Laughter and cheers.) You must carry your measures by the registration. Look to your registries ; sec that your men are ready ; for by the Members of the house of Commons must the fate of the country be determined." But what does lie say now ? Finding that the registration is against Limp, not vithstanding all the votes his party has gained, he now tells them fairly and frankly, " 1 will not submit to a tyrant majority."—(Loud cheers.) It is most important that every Reformer should look to this. Sir Robert Peel is now throwing himself into the hands of Lord Lyndhurst ; Anil not only is he prepared to reject and dispute the authority of that tribunal w hich, in my hearing in the: House of Commons, he admitted was the only equitable and consti tutional tribunal for deciding the question pending between the Reformers and the Tories, but before the great as sembly at Glasgow he changes his tone, refuses to accede to any one of those propositions by which he formerly de clared himself ready to abide, and now declares himself one of the Lyndhurst and opposing faction, and a stanch upholder of the Peers.--(Tumultuous cheer ing, and cries of " All the better.") And 1, too, say, it is all the better, because now the murder is out.—(Cheers.) We had nothing but hypocrisy before ; now we have the truth. The cloven foot is in view. And now comes the question, what course ought the Reformers to pursue ? Sorry am Ito say that there are too many Tories in the House of Commons. But there they are, and we must deal with them in the best way we can, and the only way in which we can deal with them effee• tually is by union —(Great cheering)—and by giving up our own petty differences.—{Renewed cheers.) I dare say ninny of you will recollect my having on one occasion stated that nine-tenths of the stock in trade of the Tories was power, and on a certain occasion I was called on to decide whether I would turn out Lord Melbourne and a Liberal Ministry, or act upon my honest conviction. Now, if I had been, like the Torios, a hypocrite, I might have held my tongue. But I said, so important did I con sider a change of Ministry to be at that political crisis, that to keep in a Liberal Government, and to keep out the Tories, I would vote that black was white.—(Laughter and cheers.) The various Tory papers have rung the changes on my want of principle in making this declara tion. Why, in fact, 1 told them the principle on which I made it..--(Laughter.) Every thing, it seems, is to be re jected by our opponents. The Peers are not to be put down. Right or wrong, they are not to be put down. The trial is coming. Is it to be the few or the many who shall conquer ?—(Cheers.) You may shut your eyes and be un willine to look as you ought to do at the real state of the case. But I you that what is now going on in this country is a struggle between aristocracy and democracy—whether the few shall rule for their own benefit and advantage, as they have so long done, or whether the affairs of the nation shall be managed by the people through their representatives. — (Cheers.) We are now arrived at that period, at that crisis. The tug of war is commencing, and we have to determine with ourselves whether we are to fight or yield.— (Cheers.) I say on this occasion my voice is for war.— (Cheers and laughter.) Generally speaking, I am against all war ; but really this is a struggle—or call it war if you please—which has already begun, and must be most seriously looked to by the people.—(Cheers.) We have arrived at that period when an error in our proceedings may turn all to evil. It is a period, therefore, requiring from us the coolest and gravest consideration.—(Hear, hear.) I pre sume we are all agreed that a Liberal Government should be kept in office.—( Here the company rose, and gave seve ral distinct rounds of cheers.) I have no hesitation in stat ing that I have great confidence in my Lord Melbourne. — (The cheering was renewed.) Now, gentlemen, my Lord Melbourne never was a great Reformer. I have known him a great many years, but one very important advan tage which he enjoys is, that he has risen with the times. —(Cheers.) I wish I could say as much of all his col leagues.—(Hear, hear.) But I am willing to hope they will see the necessity of adapting themselves to the opinions and feelings of the times. Many of them, I know, are as fully radical as I ever was, and what I want them to per ceive is that the time is now come when they ought to be aiding and assisting in the great cause that is now pending. in the country. wish not to see the whole labour anti burden on Lord Melbourne alone, in whom, I repeat, I have great confidence. It is therefore our business to con sider how that Noble Lord is to he continued in office while the cause of Reform is made to advance. lam aware that that there are many anxious friends of the Government who apprehend that the differences of opinion which exist among the Radicals will tend to break up the present Government, and afford an opportunity to the Tories to step in. Allow me, Gentlemen, to state the result of my observation dur ing the few past years. "What turned out Lord Melbourne in 1834 ? He had a majority of 150 in the House of Com mons. It was because the people believed that he was against them, while the Court and the Peers were certainly against them. My inference, then, is that the Government ought to consult the wishes of the people ; unless they adopt measures to meet the public view they can have no security. On them alone must Government depend. The Tories declare that the Court is with them, that the Peers are with them, that the clergy are with them, that the magistracy is with them, and that the squierarchy is with them. Why, I will give them all these so that 3ou give me but the people.— ( Loud cheers.) They say much more (and it is too true) —" We have the army with us, we have a Tory com mander-in-chief, a Tory Secretary, the lieutenant of the Duke of Wellington, managing everything." It is too true, and the friends of freedom have no chance in the army ; they have no chance of promotion at all ; and I tell Lord Melbourne that his voice ought to be raised against so un constitutional and so unjust a proceeding.—(Cheers.) Can any man look at the manner in which the whole family of the Beauforts has possession of the army and of its emoluments without feeling that it is too much that seven or eight millions of the public money, besides immense patronage, should be thrown into the hands of the enemies of the country ? (Cheers.) Are such proceedings as these likely to satisfy the people ?—(Hear.) Can they be satisfied with seeing the military defence of the nation in the hands of men so opposed to their best interests ? I want measures as well as men.—(Cheers.) And I avow that the measures which we see in this department of the State are contrary to a free Government, and ought not to be allowed. And I am surprised to see them continued under the auspices of a Liberal Administration. We then come to the question, seeing that Lord Melbourne was turned out, though he had a majority of 130, what was it that brought him back again ? Not a majority of 150, but a majority of lt) only. And can any man doubt for a moment that Sir Robert Peel, who is so well acquainted with the state of the country, would have given up the Government after the trial of two months ; for he had two long mouths' trial, and it was fortunate that he had, because he had united with him a great many indi viduals who laid the flattering unction to their souls that lie must retain power ; can any man doubt, I say, that Sir Robert Peel would, under such circumstances, have given up the reins of Government, if he bad not believed that the country was against him ?—( Hear.) It is impossi ble. He felt that the fact was so, and he therefore re tired. Well, we are satisfied at taking their own statement that all those powers in the country which I have just enumerated are against the progress of Reform. Does any man, then, believe that we can, with the majority which we now possess, maintain, a Liberal Government in office unless measures are taken to please the people. (Loud cries of" Hear, hear) ? In order, then, to please the peo ple, my opinion is that we should proceed to complete the Reform Bill. What is it the people ask the Ministers to do? They say, give to us the power of exercising our franchise honestly. Unless you protect us against all the influences that are capable of being exerted over us in the disposal of our votes, it is too much to expect that we should sacrifice our property and the interests of our wives and families for what, eller all, is but a contingent good to us. You cannot ask us to put in jeopardy our immediate existence for a remote advantage. It is cruel to do so and therefore we ask you to give us the Ballot.—( Here the greater part of the company rose and gave several rounds of cheers.) Let us have open questions.—( Loud cheers.) I should be sorry—perhaps I should even risk the exist ence of a liberal administration—if I were to press them to adopt this or that particular measure- That is not the course which it would be wise for us to pursue. But let the Government hear the objections that may be urged against, and the reasons which may be advanced ;a favour of that measure ; let these come fairly before them and the Legislature, and then let the country decide.—(Loud cheers.) I want nothing but constitutional reforms. I want to complete the Reform Bill. ; When that Bill was introduced, we were told that there should be no con stituency below 300 ; but, in consequence of the money paying clauses, and the other vexatious qualifications, many of the constituencies have been actually reduced below °OO, and, for want of the ballot, these places have become mere nomination boroughs. That is not what ought to be a1m.04-0. m. 0 4 -0. We want a large extension of the principle, and I 11,4 that we should fairly try whether a household e " - esseerld not succeed.—(Loud cheering.) Ido en se, . 1 , 4 6 de e & reepeethat no quarrel whi c h may b e ra i se d a b ou t . ibis Cabala question or that will be allowed to interfere - THE SUN, LOND' tion that the union of Reformers throughout the! kingdom, and the progress arid predominance of the cause of Reform for the future, are mainly involved.—',Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) Like my respected friend, Mr. Flume, and like the other gentlemen who have spoken before me, I too am anxious that the union of Reformers should be un broken ; that it should be hearty, active, and triumphant, for the noble purposes which called it into being, and 'for the benefit of the people at large. lam anxious, if it were possible to see Lord Melbourne the chief and centre of that union, commanding, if not the unanimous agree ment of all, at least the respectful esteem sad confidence of all. I could wish that he would be, in deed and in word, the Minister of the people as well as the Minister of the King. But this he will not be, and cannot be, so long as opinions avowed and justified by half of his supporters in Parliament, and by a vast proportion of his partisans out of Parliament, are forbidden to be manifested by any Mem ber of the Government. If Lord Melbourne wishes to be considered as the Minister of the entire Reform party, anti not of one section of it only, he will consent to make the great and vital questions on which that party is divided, matters of open. debate and fair discussion. Is it not at this moment a truth, notorious and undeniable, that the Radical voters in the constituencies are absolutely essential as allies and supporters to the very existence of Lord Melbourne's Ministry ? And can he reasonably count upon the conti nuance of their active zeal and co-operation, if he persists in attaching the anathema of the Cabinet to such questions as the Ballot and Triennial Parliaments. I wish most anxiously, gentlemen, that there should be as much concert and unity of purpose, and as little disunion as possible be tween Whigs and Radicals, and it is my duty plainly to state my belief that this harmonywill become more and more difficult to preserve unless the principle of open questions be con ceded in reference to those points of reform on which the opinions of Radicals have been largely and unequivocally pronounced.—( Hear, hear.) Gentlemen, we have all heard the shouts lately raised by the Tory press in the in creased prospects of victory to their party through animo sities between Whigs and Radicals. In these hopes I confidently trust they will he altogether disappointed.— (Hear.) If I know any thing of Radicalism, the Radicals have much to lose, and nothing to gain, by countenancing or abetting the Tories ; and if Sir Robert - Peel is to defer his entrance into office until he is helped into it by the Radicals, his period of expectation will be sufficiently te dious.—(Cheers.) But, gentlemen, I cannot forget that my paramount duty as a representative in Parliament is, not to identify myself with one Ministry or another, but to labour with my best energies in the vineyard of the people.—( Hear, hear.) However valuable the preserva tion of any Ministry may be, the cause of Reform is in my eyes far more valuable, and I am bound by every feeling of public obligation to enforce that cause, as I understand and interpret it, whether my doing so may place me in collision with Tories alone, or with Whigs and Tories together. Far be it from me to countenance the smallest trace of vexatious opposition ; but I shall not shrink from asserting, that the error of Radical Members has hitherto been on the side of overstrained forbearance ; and there have even been important occasions on which the Ministers themselves have been unhappily misled by the reluctance of their inde pendent supporters to give public utterance to objections conscientiously entertained.--(Hear, hear.) Gentlemen, it is neither my duty nor my disposition to appear as the un qualified panegyrist of the past acts of the Ministry ; but there is one department of their administration which stands so prominently apart from the remainder, and deserves such eminent commendation, that I should be guilty of injustice if I left it unnoticed—l allude to the Government of Lord .Mulerave in Ireland.—(Cheers.) The spirit of justice, impartiality, and beneficence in which the Executive Go vernment of Ireland has been conducted since the ap pointment of Lord Mulgrave forms a memorable era in the chronicles of that distracted country.—(Cheers.) I cannot wonder that every man of liberal principles, English man as well as Irishman, is proud of this glorious page in the history of the Whig, Ministry ; still less can I wonder that a long-oppressed and warm-hearted people like the Irish are grateful to excess for their emancipation from the tyranny of a faction, and disposed to forget every other consideration in the eagerness to preserve Lord Mulgrave at the head of their affairs.—(Hear, hear.) Gentlemen, there is one more topic on which I would gladly say a few words. If the Ministers desire to maintain the esteem and confidence of the great body of Reformers, they will abjure at once and for ever the fruitless project of trying to con ciliate the House of Peers at the expense of their own con sistency, as well as of their duty to the people.—(Cheers.) For my part, I know but of one satisfactory remedy. and that is, a complete reform of the Hereditary Chamber.— (Cheers.) What are the two points, gentlemen, against which Sir R. Peel, in his recent harangue at Glasgow, directed the main stress of his attack ? Ballot and 'Peerage Re form. He wants to preserve the Upper •House, with its Tory majority, unaltered. He wants to preserve the undue footing of the Tories in the House of Commons, by continuing the present intimidatien and corruption of the constituencies.—(Hear.) He is for a House of Commons not freely chosen, and for a House of Lords not chosen at all. These are his component elements of popular govern ment. Such, gentlemen, are the holdings of the Tories. If Ministers still remain opposed to Peerage Reform, they are bound at any rate to avoid the dishonour of surrendering or compromising the great points in dispute, and prostrating both their own dignity and the hopes of all Reformers at the feet of an inexorable oligarchy.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. Grote then sat down amidst loud cheering. Mr. H. G. WARD, M.P., rose amidst loud cheers to propose the next toast. The toast he had to propose was " Justice to Ireland."—( Loud and long continued cheering, the audience rising from their seats and prolonging the ap plause for several minutes.) Up to the present time Ireland had had rights withheld from her which no Go vernment would ever have dared to have kept back from the people of this ceuntry.—(Hear, hear, hear.) The principle acted upon up to the present day was to preserve and promote the interests of the mino rity, and this was to be effected by reducing to a state of degradation the bulk of the Irish nation—(cheers)—and and what was the justification for this ? Why, the worst of all pleas, namely, the plea of a difference of religion. (Hear, hear, hear.) He protested against acting upon such a principle in the name of Christianity and Protes tantism, which, when it was rightly interpreted, meant the right of free judgment on religious matters.—( Loud cheer ing.) It was the duty of the Government to protect the rights and preserve the liberties of the people, and to deal out to each and all impartial justice. To talk, therefore, of the essential principle of Protestantism in the English Constitution was as unjust as it was absurd.—( Hear, hear, hear.) He felt called upon to make some observations ' with reference to the tithe question. He could understand the principle of the Catholics refusing to pay tithes, as they might regard them as part of the cruel system which had so long existed ; but he could not understand those who said that they never would assent to any other than the present system of appropriation of tithes, and most certainly to none by which the Catholic millions could be benefited.--(Hear, hear, hear.) He was glad that Sir Robert Peel bad made use of the language which he had at the late meeting at Glasgow. There could be no mistake as to the mean ing to be attached to the language he there -. used. ' He thre distinctly statteUtliatlwel Would maintain the Pro testant religion in' 'as. it - then' ,ssta. , --in connection with the State. The second of which. Ireland had to complain was the refusal to her of that system of municipal reform which both England and Scotland were now in the enjoyment of.—(Cheers.) On what plea was participation of that reform refused to Ireland ? Even an English House of . Lords not dared, as a general principle, to - dispute .thc:.-tight- , af the !people to admi nister their own • eoncetuts.:-:-(Cheers.). They hail not, in the case of Scotland, refused to that country the benefits of municipal reform, though the large majority of her po pulation was Presbyterian ; nor had they denied it to Eng land, notwithstanding a considerable portion of the English consisted of Dissenters. In the single case of Ireland had the old and lame fallacy of Protestant ascendancy been al lowed to come into play.—(Hear, hear.) This was the second evil, the remedy for which was comprehended in his toast, " Justice to Ireland."--( Loud cheers.) He might allude to many more grievances of which Ire land had to complain, were it . not that he feared he should be considered tedious.—(No.) It was essential that an immediate remedy should be applied to the existing want of a system of national education in Ireland, and that re cognition should be unequivocally made of the right of the poor of Ireland to relief' out of the wealth which they were the means of creating.—(Cheers.) The sufferings, the extreme wretchedness and misery of the Irish poor were without example, and were such as, until the publica tion of the Irish poor-law reports, not a single man in this happier country coulti have had a conception of.—.(Hear.) To all these evils it was essential that an effectual remedy should be applied, and lie had every reason to hope, from recent declarations, that to many of them Government was prepared to apply the required remedy.—(Cheers.) He felt certain that whatever other slight differences of opi nion might be entertained among Reformers, there was none in reference to Ireland ; and that although it might be a feeling with many Liberals that Lord Melbourne's Go vernment would have done better in taking bolder mea sures, and throwing themselves with more fearless confi dence on the support of the people, yet that all shades of Reformers did full justice to the Irish policy of the Go vernment, and equally admitted and admired the vigour, the impartiality, and the conciliatory spirit which characterised the whole administration of Lord Mulgraee.—(Cheer.) The Hon. Gentleman concluded by proposing his toast, which was drunk with great enthusiasm. Mr. C. BULLER said the toast which he had to propose was one which had been unexpectedly put into his hands, and he owed this honour to no less potential a cause than the influenza, which had, by its :widen attack, prevented with that which I conceive to be the most important ques tion of all, the diffusion of education among the masses — (Cheers) —the establishing of a general systa mof education by which we shall remove the . only objection that Sir Ro bert Peel himself makes against power being entrusted to the people. I cannot help observing, that one of the greatest vices of Government, since I have been. a public man, has been to distruA the people.—(Hear.) To this part of the subject I add no more ; and will therefore ad vert to another topic. The time is arrived when a clear understanding must be come to with the House of Lords. —(Loud cheering for some minutes.) It is impossible that one House of Parliament can be allowed to stop- all proceedings in legislation. Many remedies for this evil have been proposed, and I am about to add another to the number. I am disposed only to look at a tem porary remedy, and I think there is no difficulty in finding- a very efficient one to which those objections cannot be made which have been urged against several of the schemes suggested. Let us not attempt to effect a change unless it can be dime with safety. Great prudence must be exercised in whatever course may be taken. At the same time I am certain that a very considerable "change must be made before long, otherwise we shall haste :o submit to the domination of the few over the many. I will only repeat, let those who are anxious to maintain a Liberal Government be prepared at the same time to give up each in his turn that which may interfere with their general objects ; but let the Administration in their turn also give .up something. Meet us and go with us. If they do not, it is impossible the people can he satisfied. Let his Majesty's evil advisers become convinced that the people are not with the Administration, and away must go Lord Melbourne.—(Hear, hear.) One of the most objectionable measures of the last session was the putting a penny stamp on the means of conveying information to the people. If the Tories were to come in, whether agreeably to their own principles or not, they undoubtedly would, for the sake of obtaining popularity, repeal that tax. I trust, therefore, that for the sake of their own character, as well as for the good that may come from it, his Majesty's Ministers will in the ensuing session do away with that objectionable impost. As regards the county which I represent, before I sit down, permit me to call your attention to a measure on which I hope I shall meet with your unanimous support. It is a measure to place the counties of England on the same footing as the boroughs—(Cheers)—and to give the rate-payers the power of appointing a board to manage their own affairs. In the forthcoming session I have rea son to hope that I shall have the support of the Govern ment for carrying this measure into effect. I know that in principle they agree with me. Give me the principle, and I will never quarrel with them about the details. After all the favourable expressions I have used towards his Ma jesty's Ministers, they must not believe that if they do not go on with us and give to us those open questions which we feel to be paramountly due to the public, they must not, I say, think that we are going to do injury to them, if as public men, bound to perform a public duty, we should feel ourselves imperatively called on to adopt a course different from that which they themselves might think fit to pursue. —(The Hon. Gentleman sat down amidst the most enthu siastic and prolonged cheering.) Mr. BYNG then rose and gave the health of " The Re formers of Middlesex." Three times three. Mr. H. WEYMOUTH, on the part of the freeholders of Middlesex, returned thanks. Mr. Wm. CLAY, M.P., who was received with loud and continued cheering, addressed the meeting as follows :—A toast has been confided to my care which I have the sin cerest pleasure in proposing, and which I am confident you will welcome with cordial approbation. I give you " Lord Melbourne and his Majesty's Ministers."—(Loud cheers.) I have supported, and warmly supported the present Minis ters, but it has been the support of one claiming, and not unfrequently exercising, the privilege of entire indepen dence. I thank them for the good they have effected ; I thank them for that which they have attempted to do, but which they have been prevented from accomplishing.— (Cheers.) In saying this do I speak my own sentiments alone ?--( Hear.) No, lam certain that I do but find voice and utterance to the feelings of this magnificent assemblage—(Great applause)—l am sure that Ido but express the opinions of the vast constituency I have the ho nour to represent. I believe that I speak the sentiments of the far greater portion of all that is most pure in poli tical principle, and elevated in intelligence among the people of this United Kingdom.—(Great applause.) Deeply should I grieve were it otherwise.—(Hear, hear.) I say without fear of contradiction, that in the four sessions of the Reformed Parliament more great measures of real and practical improvement have been passed into laws than can be cited in any period—l will not say of equal length, but of TEN times the length—since the Revolution of 1688.—(Cheers.) I am slow to believe, Gentlemen, that the people of England are unmindful of these things.— (Loud cries of " Hear, hear!") Still less do I believe that they are or they have been, as hastily asserted to be, indif ferent whether the Ministry be displaced and succeeded by a Tory Government. The people no doubt are tranquil. The Tories have a monopoly of agitation.—(Applause and laughter.) Indeed there is a very odd and somewhat amusing change lately as to the region in which political excitement exists. In my early days it was always the people—the mob, as they are termed—who were disturbed. It was at meetings of operatives at Spafields or Manchester that violent language was held ; but now it is the masses are tranquil—( Hear, hear) —and the upper classes are dis turbed.—(Cheers and laughter.) I protest the most tur bulent class of the community at this moment is the Tory Aristocracy—(Great applause)—and if at any meeting language of a very dangerous and almost seditious kind is used—such, for instance, as drawing the sword, civil or otherwise, according to the discretion of the speaker, against the constitutional power of the majority—ten to one but it is a meeting of Tory peers, and squires, and reverend gentlemen—(Laughter and cheers) —most of them with two or three livings apiece. —(Much applause and laughter.) Let, however, these well-dressed agitators not reckon too much on the calm attitude of the people.— (Cheering.) They are tranquil, but their tranquillity is not indifference—(Loud cries of " Hear, hear")—it is the repose of conscious strength—it is the slumber from which the giant will awake refreshed--(Lone continued cheers) — it is the pause of the mighty river, which seems to sleep in the bosom of the lake, until it again precipitates itself on the obstacles that oppose its onward course.—(Cheers.) And now, gentlemen, I will conclude with the expression of a hope, in reference to the statesmen who are the sub jects of our toast—a hope which I feel assured will not be disappointed —may they never forget that their sole reliance is on the people.—(Cheers.) This maxim should be en graven in their breasts—it should be written in letters of gold on the walls of their most secret council chamber—it should influence their every action. For us (the independent Members of the Liberal party in the House of Commons) our path is clear—not ignorant of the obstacles which be set the course of a Liberal Administration—aware that the practical solution of every theoretical question of govern ment must be to a certain degree a compromise—that there are powerful and conflicting interests to be conciliated— fears and prejudices to be tranquillized, we ought zealously and steadily to support his Majesty's Ministers, in the firm reliance, that if the measures they bring forward are not in all cases the best that could be devised—they are the best which there is any rational prospect of carrying through.— (Applause.) But there remains for us also another and a higher duty. The Tories have lately taken every oppos e tunity of expounding their opinions and asserting that in those opinions the people concur. It behoves us,—who are unembarrassed by the trammels of office, the more clearly and thoroughly to announce and etplain our principles, and to take every fair opportunity of bringing under the con sideration of Parliament the measures which are necessary to give those principles practical effect.—(Hear, hear.) The toast was then drunk amid the most enthusiastic cheering. Mr. Gesere then rose, and spoke as follows :—My Lord and Gentlemen, I feel greatly honoured in having my name coupled with a toast of so much dignity and importance las that which you have just drunk. The toast, gentlemen, is, " Shorter Parliaments, and protection to the freedom of the suffrage." Allow me to translate this toast into my own language, and to express the same sentiment in phrases by which it is more commonly known—Triennial Parliaments and vote by ballot.—(Cheers.) For if we seek substantial and effective protection to the voter, I know no other method by which it can be ensured. A wide suffrage—an often-repeated suffrage—a free and dis interested suffrage—these are the cardinal points of every good representative system.—(Cheers.) If ever there was a time when it was important to us to have a House of Commons faithful, freely chosen, and popular minded, that time is the present. I have already had the satisfac tion, gentlemen, of supporting in the House of Commons a motion for repealing the Septennial Act, and I hope soon to enjoy the opportunity of doing so again.—(llear, hear.) I have also laboured earnestly and assiduously to enforce the necessity of the ballot, and it is my firm purpose to re peat the proposition in the Session now at hand.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) It is most gratifying to me to recollect the growth and expansion of this important question dur ing the last few years—from an unnoticed theory, to a mighty and overruling article of the Reformer's political creed. I accept the past progress as an earnest of the future.—(Hear.) I trust these two most important questions, Ballot and Triennial Parliaments, will both be brought forward in the next Session of Parliament, under more favourable auspices, and with increased support.— ( Hear, hear.) I would fain also indulge another hope concerning them. I hope that the Ministry will leave them open questions. I hope that every Member of Parliament, whether he belong to Government or not, will be per mitted when in Parliament to vote upon them as iris omit sense of duty may dictate.—(Hear, hear, hear.) I in. dulge in this hope, not merely from the interest which I take ha the questious themselves, but from a deep convic. TUESDAY, JANUARY 24. i 837 the assembly from having the toast introduced to their ...at,tention in the flowery language of their eloquent and high-minded friend Mr. Sergeant Talfourd.—( Hear, hear.) The diffidence which he (Mr. Buller) should, under any circumstances, have felt at undertakii.g the task, was thus greatly enhanced by his having to make his first appearance on those boards upon so short a notice, as the substitute for " an eminent performer," in an arena, n.oreover, in which the eloquent gentleman in question had lately so distinguished himself.—(Cheers.) He felt the more re gret at what he felt to be his own incompetency, be cause the toast which he had to propose was one which, proposed by so feeble a person as himself, would, he feared, excite much less emotion than it woull as suredly have otherwise done in the mind of every freeman, namely, that of civil and religious freedom throughout the world, without distinction of ereed.—(Loud cheers.) It was the glorious principle for which the patriots of Eng land had ever fought ; it was this glorious principle which the ancestor of their Noble Chairman had sanctioned by his blood, when he had laid his innocent head on the block ; it was this glorious principle which was so ably asserted by their excellent Chairman, a man who nobly maintained the reputation of his house—(Cheers) ; it, was this glorious principle which had throughout animated the two gallant men whom they had assembled to do honour to, in the long and arduous stru g gle which they had maintained—and up to a recent period almost alone—in defence of the liberties of their countr)itien—(Cheers)—and it was this principle which the Reformers, in this their (so to speak) high and palmy day were determined fully to carry out and maintain in practical operation. Free and enlightened as this country was among the nations of the earth, we had still a hard battle to fight ere religious and civil freedom was tho roughly vindicated among us.---(Hear, hear.) Were lie to dwell on this subject all the evening he could but echo the eloquent words of the speaker who had preceded him, and the sentiments which were involved in the toast, " Justice to Ireland." The lion. Gentleman concluded by again proposing his toast, which was drunk with the warm est applause. Mr. WARBURTON' rose to propose the next toast, " The Reform Associations throughout the kingdom, and may union be the watchword of every Reformer."—(Cheers.) To insure that union it was necessary that the people should know what it was they were to expect. The people had never been backward when some great object was pointed out to them for which they were to struggle with the enemy, and when this was once clearly appreciated by them, they had gone forward at all personal sacrifices, as in the ques tion of Parliamentary Reform, which they had so triumph antly carried.—(Cheers.) One great object to be set before them now was the introduction of the vote by ballot, that so essential protection to the elector—(Cheers)--and there must be held out to them the immediate expectation that the rate-paying clause should be done away with.—(Cheers.) As to the conduct of the Radical Members in the ensuing Session there could not be a moment's doubt. The simple question for them to ask themselves was, " Are the Whigs or the Tories the more liberal party ?" And as the answer i was self-evident, the course of the Radicals was equally so. The ballot, the extension of the suffrage, and triennial Parliaments, were questions which he had ever, and always should, vote for, and should never cease agitating, but he would at the same time do all he could to keep out the Tories.—(Cheers.) Mr. T. DUNCOMBE rose to propose the next toast, and was very warmly received. The duty which had devolved on him was that of proposing to them the health of their Noble Chairman—(Loud cheers)—a duty as easy as it was pleasant. To that excellent Nobleman had descended the glorious and honoured name of Russell, and it was matter of national exultation that by him would that name be handed down to posterity as unsullied as he received it, identified with the rising liberties of his country. He conceived it was evident to every one who had attended to the speeches of the evening, or who at all reflected on the position of affairs, that the great difficulties which the cause of the people, the progress of Reform, had at present to contend with, consisted mainly, entirely lie might say, first in the powerful hostility of the Tories in the House of Commons ; secondly, in the perhaps somewhat timid policy of the Whigs—(Hear, hear)—and thirdly, but not in the least degree, in the fkctious hostility of the great majority of the House of Lords.—(Hear, hear.) The question then was in what way these several obstacles were to be most effectually overcome.—(Hear.) This must be first, what ever was done, by making the great point to be to keep out, to beat, to extinguish the Tories.—(Cheers.) Secondly, by vindicating and strengthening the Whigs.—(Cheers.) And thirdly, by coercing and never succumbing, in any point, to the Lords.—(Loud cheers.) The Liberal Mem bers of the House had always shown themselves ready to give to Ministers their warm, and zealous, and disinte rested support. The clear course of Ministers was to throw themselves on the generous support of the people—a sup port which all statesmen ought to know they had only to merit in order to obtain—a support by the means of which all their exertions might be brought to a triumphant issue, and without which nothing could be accomplished.— (Cheers.) It was only fair towards the Ministers, and a duty on the part of the Reformers, to await patiently the result of the renewed trial which was now about to be given to the Ministers, from which he had every reason to expect the people would derive those benefits which were looked for at their hands. The Hon. Gentleman concluded by proposing the health of " The Chairman, Lord Russell." The toast was drunk amidst rapturous applause. Lord RUSSELL, as soon as the cheering had subsided, spoke as follows :—Gentlemen, I thank you for the honour you have conferred on me in drinking my health. I am happy in feeling that this meeting will rejoice every friend to the steady and powerful progress of Reform in our in stitutions.—( Hear, hear.) We may be quite sure that in promoting harmony among Reformers of all shades we are performing our duty, because we all know that confusion in our camp would be a source of exultation in the other.— (Cheers.) Gentlemen, we should hear in mind that our opponents are banded together to a man to effect their pur pose.—(Hear.) Let us, then, be equally united to carry ours.—(Cheers.) Let us do our best to make our several views prevail amongst our friends, but when the foe shows himself, let us to the onset with one energy and one mind. —(Much cheering.) Let us not refuse a part because we cannot command the whole.—(Loud cheers.) Mr. HALL, M.P. for Monmouth, then gave " The Duke of Norfolk and the Liberal Peers." We regret to say, that in consequence of the low tone in which the Hon. `Gentleman spoke, we were unable to hear him. Mr. HUME—I beg to express for myself, having no doUbt but that the sentiment will be heartily responded to, my grateful thanks to the ladies for their countenance on this occasion. —(Cheers.) I hope they will use their very best endeavouas to assist us in making as many good Re formers as possible.—(Shouts of laughter, and cheers.) I beg to wive the health of " The Ladies."—(Received with all the honours.) The CHAIRMAN, with the principal part of the com pany now retired, and in a short time afterwards the ex ample was followed by all that remained of the vast assemblage. We cannot too much impress on Reform Members the importance of being in their places on Tuesday next, for the debate on the. Address, as the Tories will unquestionably move an amendment, if there be not a full attendance of Reformers. Whether prepared or not, they will, at all events, make the attempt, under circumstances at all favour ing them. We must, once for all, say, that there is no safety but in every Member's attendance in his place. Let each Reformer consider the issue to depend on his presence.— Morning Chronicle. Mr. Hall, M.P. for the MOnmOutlishire boroughs, has issued an address, signifying his intention of not coming forward at the expected. dissolution. Mr. J. Bailey, jun., is again in the field on the Conservative interest, and Mr. Blewett, banker, of Newport, is spoken of by the Reform party.—Cambrian. Mr. B. HALL.—We have heard with great plea sure, that this gentleman will be invited to become a candi date, for the representation of a large and liberal consti tuency, who will return him free of expense on his part.— Hereford Times. Yesterday morning, shortly after nine o'clock, Mr. Bagster, linendraper, of Great Surrey-street, was discovered by his servant in his bedroom, with his throat dreadfully la cerated, and lying on the floor, quite dead. The wounds were between three and four inches in length, and about two inches in depth, and had been inflicted by a razor. By accounts from Mexico, we learn that the Mexican government has abolished the duty of exportation on cochineal. The writ for the Itenfrewshire election has been re ceived by the Sheriff of the county, and the following ar rangement has been fixed for the election. The nomination to take place at Renfrew on Thursday, the 26th ; the polling days are on the 27th a nd 28th.—Scultish Guardian. A public meeting was held last week in Pollock shaws, to ascertain the real strength of parties in the elec tion of a representative for Renfrewshire. After the neces sary arrangements were completed, the result of the meeting w as :—For Sir John Maxwell (Liberal), 100 ; for Mr. Houston (Tory), 16.—Glasiow Chronicle. We are enabled to state that, upon the death of the Earl of Rosslyn being made known to the Treasury, im mediate steps were taken for the reduction of the salary which his Lordship received as Director in the Court of Chancery of Scotland to the lowest possible amount con sistent with the efficient discharge of any duties attached to that office. In the hands of Lord Rosslyn the office was a sinecure. We cannot incur the suspicion of being influenced by any political partiality towards his Lordship when we state that he enjoyed through life the esteem of every person who had the opportunity of knowing him. He was a most amiable man, and we sincerely lament his death. —(Egercer, THE THEATRES. OL YMPIC. A new burletta, in one act, called Folly anal Fric;vlsll;p was performed at this ti:eatre last night with moderate suc cess. The Folly is that of a Mr. Augustus Tavistock, who, having succeeded to a large fortune, contrives to get rid of it in a very short time by the help of gruel-der; and blacklegs ; and the Friendship is that of a Co Lidford, who not only contrives to save a part of the ruined spend thrift's property: but exerts himself to bring about a match between him and a young lady whom he had basely desemted ou coming to his fortune. IVith this view the Colonel purchases, with a part of his friend's money, and unknown to h m, a place in the country, to which he amt rives to br:ng the quondam lovers. Theflady is apprised of his design, in which she heartily concurs, acting, as we sup pose, on the approved maxim (on the stage at least) that a reformed rake makes the best husband ; and after some mystifications have been practised on the repentant pro digal, he is m ade happy with the hand of his mistress. This, with the perplexities of a ridiculous country attorney, who is uneonscientiously rendered a party to the plot. makes up the subject of the piece. It is a mere trifle, but contains some amusing situations, and was acted with the smartness for which this nice little theatre is distin guished. Mrs. Honey was very arch and playful in the young lady, and warbled two tolerable ballads very pret tily. One of them was encored. Oxbcrry was grotesque in the attorney ; and Miss Goward, i n a -country servant girl, reminded us of Mrs. Orger. Tavistock and Colonel Lidford were pleasantly personated by Selby and James Vining. Notwithstanding the advantages of such good acting, however, the intrinsic qualities of the piece are not such as to command any great degree of favour. ADELPIII. Dir. Fitzgerald's extraordinary imitations of " The Great Agitator" continue to draw full houses at this theatre, and the boxes, during the last fortnight, have been crowded by the most distinguished political characters at present in London. On the whole, we may fa'rly ccn;ratulate Mr. Fitzgerald upon having made one of the most successful hits of the season. The Russian Ambassador has been invited to Pass a few days with the Earl and Countess of Jersey at Mid dleton-park, previous to the meeting of Parliament. Alnwick Castle is still full of company, and the utmost gaiety prevails ; dinners, balls, and concerts of the most splendid description have been given. The visitors are expected to remain until the close of the month ; and the 18th of February is fixed for the retur❑ of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland to London. The Earl of Minto gave an elegant dinner on Sa turday, at the Admiralty, to Sir R. and Lady Anna Maria Donkin, Mr. and Lady Catherine Boileau, Sir W. Parker, Sir C. Adam, Mr. Romilly, and Capt ain Plumridge. Viscount Beresford and his lady are now entertain ng a select party at Westdean Park. Lord Berwick has let his house in the Green Park to the Sardinian Minister, and gone to Italy for the terni, namely, three years. THE INFLUENZA.—The epidemic which prevails to so great an extent in the metropolis and various parts of the country, has Leen equally serious at Windsor, Eton, and all :the surrounding towns and villages. In many instances whole families have been attacked with it, and there is scarcely a single family but some one or more members of it have ex perienced its injurious effects. The medical men have been constantly employed night and day in attending upon patients, and although to them it must of course prove exceedingly profitable, their labours have been very excessive.— Windsor Express. If consecration is no more than a declaration that such a place is set apart for the worship of God, then we know what it means ; but in that case ceremony is super thous, for every one is aware, when a church is built, that such is the object. Who has consecrated the great deep, in which so many thousands lie whelined ? Yet the sea shall give up her dead. Wood, stones, iron and earth, clay and gravel, can never be made good orthodox matter by all the prayers muttered over;them, any more than Lord Welling ton s bedstead can be rendered brave by his lying on it, or a philosopher's arm-chair can become metaphysical by his reposing in it. To talk of religious brick and mortar, and holy nails and timber, is about the same figure of speech as to say of a divine's bed, that it has a moral counterpane ; or, of a logician's parlour, that it is covered with a long-headed carpet.—The Dissenter. The monthly meeting of the Lynn Reform Associa tion took place on the sth inst. Tile meeting was addressed by Mr. R. Clifton, the chairman, Messrs. Swan, H. Jackson, Carter, James Towel], and others, who entered at length into the circumstances which caused the quarrel between Major Keppel and Lord G. Bentinck, and strong resolutions were unanimously passed in approbation of the conduct of Major Keppel upon a recent occasion, and marked disap probation of that of Lord G. Bentinek.—.Norwich Mercury. THE LATE STORM.—It is not generally known that most of the alabaster with which we are supplied, comes from the shores of the Bristol channel ; where, between the towns of Watchet and Minehead, are vast rocks of this elegant substance, presenting a most curious appearance, being intersected by differently-coloured veins of quartz, mica, &c. It is justly regarded as the finest alabaster in the kingdom, and is much 'used in an adja cent manufactory for the making of various ornamental ar ticles. Its base extends outwards into the sea to near 100 yards, and is covered with various kinds of sea-weed, which are taken up by the inhabitants, and prepared into an excellent edible dish, termed laver. These rocks have, for several years past, been suffering greatly from the action of the water ; but since the late tremendous gales, they have been almost completely demolished, its foundation being shaken, and the whole dashed into fragments of so small a size, as to be of no use whatever. On the day of the storm's greatest fury, the streets of the small sea port town of Watchet were quite overflowed with water, and this clement even forced itself into the ground-floors and kitchens of the houses, and committed great damage. The Chamber of Representatives at Brussels has been chiefly occupied by discussions on the law proposed with regard to the regulation of mines. Great interest is excited by this subject, as, until the law is settled, no new veins can be opened, and the price of coals has risen from 25 to 30 per cent. within a short time ; and even at that advanced price the demand of the manufactures is but im perfectly supplied. A proposal also has been sub m it te d to the Chamber to vote eight millions of francs for the construction of new canals, which it was resolved to take into consideration. Fifty Spanish emigrant monks had just arrived at Brussels. The Earl of Rosslyn, whose death we announced in The Sun of Saturday, was in his 75th year, was a Ge neral in the army, Colonel of the 9th Lancers and of the Fifeshire Militia, a Privy Councillor, member of the Board of General Officers, Commissioner of the Royal Military College and Royal Military Asylum, Director of the Scotch Chancery, and Lord-Lieutenant of Fifeshire. He was the second Earl, having succeeded his maternal 'uncle, Alex ander Wedderburne, in 1805. He married;in 1790, the eldest daughter of the Hon. E. Bouverie, of Radnor, who died in 1810, leaving two children, Lady Janet Walrend and Lord Loughborough, now Earl of Rosslyn, born in February, 1802, and whose eldest son is in his seventh year. The present Earl is Colonel of the 9th Lancers, which regiment is now quartered in Edinburgh. The late Earl commenced his military career in 1778, when he wa s appointed a Cornet in the Ist troop of Horse Guards. In 1782 he served :on the Staff in Ireland; as Aide-dc-Camp to the Lord Lieutenant, and was subsequently appointed Assistant-Adjutant-General in that country ; in 1792 lie obtained the Lieut.-Colonelcy of the 12th Light Dragoons, and served with that regiment at Toulon in 1793, and af terwards as Adjutant-General to the forces in the Medi terranean, under Sir David Dundas and Sir Charles Ste w . art. In 1795 he obtained the rank of Colonel, being ap pointed A. D. C. to the King. He was employed as Bri gadier-General and Adjutant-General, to the British army in Portugal from Nov. 1796 to the end of 1797. In 1798 he was appointed Major-General. He was present at the reduction of Minorca, and continued in the command after the departure of Sir Charles Stewart to the end of 1799, when he returned to England, and was appointed Colonel of the Sussex Fencible Cavalry, which was reduced in 1800. He was next placed on the Staff of North Britain, where he served a few years ; in 1805 he was appointed Lieut.- General, and placed on the Staff in Ireland ; in 1806 he was again appointed to serve in Portugal ; he was at the siege of Copenhagen in 1807, and in 1809 in the Zealand expedition. In August, 1810, his Lordship received the Colonelcy of the 9th Lancers, and in June, 1814, he was appointed General. A letter from Ostend says, part of the stern of a ship, on which is painted, in white letters, " Crown, Dundee," has been thrown on the coast to the east of that port. Active steps are at length being taken to form a Reform Association in Beverley. The Reformers ai united in their detcrmination to use every exertion to rescue the borough from the disgrace attaching to it from the system of bribery and intim►dation which has rendered it notorious. Beverley possesses one good Member in Mr. Burton ; the Reformers should take care that his exertions and votes are not longer neutralised. However, they may depend upon it that unless they establish the system of " Purity of Election" they will not succeed. It may do for those who have the Carlton purse to apply to to squander money among those who are base enough to take it ; b u t if they want a man to serve them faithfully they must not ex pect that he shall pay them for the " honour" of doing so. We anticipate much good from the exertions of the pro posed Referta Asseciation.—ilall 4avcreLicr, BRIGHTON-MONDAY. His Majesty - , accompanied by Sir Charles Thornton, took a carriage drive this - morning at hvelve o'clock. BuLLETJ Ductio,s a Gloucester his h a d an excellent night, and is much better this Morning." Lieutenant-General Sir And Barnard left . this morn for town, ~vita the intention of proceeding to Melton Flo'.-;bray, to join the hunt. Sir Andrew is not expected to return this season. Lieut.-Colonel Rownn and Lieut.-Colonel Duffy dined with their Majesties yesterday evening. The Marquis Conyngham wui honoured with an audience of the King yesterday afternoon. Among the calls at the Palace to-day "are— Commander Cleor,ge Daniell, R.N. (on leaving); the Marquis of Bristol, Sir A. and • Lady Dalrymple, Lord Teignmouth, Lieutenant-Colonel and Mr. -Willard, Sir John and Lady Brooke P,!ehell. THE INFLUENZA.—This epidemic has proved fatal to Latly Codrington, who died yesterday at two •o'Clock, at. Hampton Lodge, after a few da)s illness. We never re member at any previous time so many people confined by illness as there are at present. The deserted appearances of the various places of worship in the town fully evinced that the malady, instead of abating, has increased. The trade of the town, particularly the fancy trade, has bn greatly affected b? the prevalence of the epidemic, for few of our fashionablcs will venture abroad. COURT CIRCULAR. His Majesty will bold a Privy Council at the PaviHe m at Brighton on Saturday afternoon. At the Council, the King's Speech on the opening the Session of Parliament will be arranged. A Cabinet Council was held at three o'clock yesterday afternoon at the Foreign Office. It was attended by Viscount'Melbourne, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Viscount Duncannon, Lord John Russell, Viscount Palmerston, Lord Glenelg, the Chancello r,f the Exchequer, the Earl of Minto, Sir John Hobhouse, Mr. Poulett Thomson, and Viscount Howick. Lord Holland was prevented from attending the Coun cil by an attack of gout. The Council sat till near five o'clock. The Duke of Argyll had an interview with Viscount Melbourne yesterday, in Downing -street. Lord John Russell arrived in town yesterday, from Oakley llouse, Bedfordshire. Don Manuel dc Aguilar, the Spanish Minister, tran sacted business yes!,erday at the Foreign Office. Mr. Parker (ona of the Lords of the Treasury) arrived in town yesterday. Despatches from Major Dun las Campbell, Lieutenant Governor of Sierra Leone, were received yesterday at the Colonial Gffice. FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE. ARRIVALS. Mr. Benjamin Oliveira, in Great Cumberland street, from Athens ; Admiral Sir George Martin, Bart., in Berkeley square, from a tour ; the Hon. Mr. Tisdall ; the Ladies Coote, from a tour ; Sir Robert Adair, Bart., from a tour ; the Coun tess Dowager of Clare and Lady Isabella Fitzgibbon, in Bel grave-square, from Bath ; Mr. H. Bingham and Lady Augusta Baring, in Eaton-place, from The Grange, in Hampshire ; Sir Thomas Gage, at the Waterloo Hotel, from Charing, Kent ; Captain Drummond, at ditto, from Brighton; Lord and Lady F. Somerset, from Badminton. DEPARTURES. Mr. and Mrs. Selvin, from the Waterloo Hotel, for Croy don, Surrey ; Robert Baker, Esq., for New College, Oxford; Captain Duff, from the Brunswick Hotel ; Mr. and Mrs. Staveley, from ditto, for Yorkshire ; Mr. and the Misses Handley, from ditto, for Hastings ; E. Stopford, Esq., from ditto, for Paris. . The Princess Victoria has acquired an excellent seat on horse-back ; her figure, when mounted, reminds us, though somewhat less robust, of the late lamented Princess Charlotte at the same age. The Earl of Belmore and a large party of distin guished Noblemen, are on a visit to Lord and Lady Corry. The Duke of Norfolk, who has been entertaining a select party at Arundel Castle, is expected in St. James's square, to fulfil his functions of Earl Marshal on the open ing of Parliament. Lord Yarborough, whose approaching elevation to the dignity of Earl of Yarborough and Baron Worsley, is announced as being entertaining a family circle at Appul dercombe Park, Isle of Wight. It is understood that Lord Worsley is to be the second title to the new Earl, because his late Lady was the niece and heiress of the late Sir Richard Worsley, whose estates Lord Yarborough inherited. Mr. and Lady Louisa Cavendish have left the hos pitable mansion of the Earl and Countess of Harewood. The Earl of Ashburnham arrived at Ashburnham place, near Battle, from Worthing. His Lordship made a long sejour in Italy, where he made a choice collection of vertu. The Noble Earl, we believe, has never taken his seat in the House of Lords since his accession to the Earldom. Lord Farnborough arrived in Privy-gardens on Sa turday, from Bromley. His Lordship was in an ill state of health, when his deceased lady (who was interred on Sa turday at Wormleybury) was indisposed, and the shock of her demise has increased his illness. Sir Robert and Lady Peel and f am il y are expecte d in Whitehall-g ar d e ns, on Friday next, from Drayton, Staf fordshire. Sir P. and Dowager Lady Pellew have arrived at Barmouth. Mrs. W. A. Madocks has arrived at Clifton, from her seat, Tregunter, in Breconshire. Lady Harriet and Hon. Miss C live have left Oak ley Park. Lord Alvanley has left the seat of Earl a nd Countess Lichfield, aftera short visit. Lord Napier, the eldest so n o f t h e late ill-fate d Peer of that title, is gone to make the grand tour. Lady Napier and family have taken up their residence at Brighton. The present Viscount Lake, in addition to the Peerage of his late brother, General Viscount Lake, also succeeds to the hereditary pension for services of 2,q00/. per annum, granted to the first Peerf who was for many years Commander-in-Chief and member of Council in India, with a salary of 16,000/. per annum, and received about 100,000/. prize money. The Earl of Charlemont, whose elevation to the British Peerage is announced, sits in the House of Lords as one of the twenty-eight Representative Peers of Ire land ; and, as their Lordships are elected for life, the pro motion of the Noble Earl will not create a vacancy in the number of that body. BADMINTON HOUSE.—The seat of the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort has been, since the marriage of Lady Georgiana Somerset with C. W. Codrington, Esq., M.P., visited by a large circle of noble and distinguished friends. Dinners, balls, the sports of the field, and the picture gallery, have passed the immediate days. The pic ture gallery contains many of the chefs d'ceuvre of Salvator Rosa, Guido, Raphael, Holbein, Jausm, &c. ; they were collected by Henry, third Duke, whose premature death took place in 1745. A series of fourteen portraits of the Beauforts, from John of Gaunt, from whom they trace their genealogy, by an early and excellent hand, said to be original, adorn this fine collection. The remains of the lite Dowager Marchioness of Exeter was removed for iotermont to-day, to the family vault at Beckenham. The Governorship of the Royal Military College at Sandhurst has become vacant by the promotion of General Sir Edward Paget to be Governor of Chelsea Hospital. The beautiful sketch—Shakespeare brought before Justice Shallow for deer-stealing, has been added to the Duchess of St. Albans' collection. Mr. Kean ha's been performing at Manchester to crowded houses during the last week. Died, at Newtownlimavady, on the 13th instant, Sarah, the wife of Archibald Campbell, Esq., 22d Regiment, 'having survived the birth of her child only a few days. It is a curious fact that by the late Brevet, the com mands of all the naval foreign stations are vacant, except the Cape of Good Hope. Sir Charles Adam replaces Ad miral Rowley in the Mediterranean. • Mr. Galt was on Monday last visited with another stroke of paralysis, which for some hours deprived him of the power of speech. His friends and admirers, however, will learn with pleasure that he has now, in a great measure, recovered from the effects of this last attack, and is once more able to resume his literary avocations.—Greenock Advertiser•. The projectod new ball-room, and other c mve niences, at St. James's Palace, have been abandoned for the present ; the estimate of building, furnishing, &c.► reached to 10,0001. TRANSMISSION OF SOUND.—The Lords of die Treasury at present have under consideration a plan for conveying messages from one Government Office to another. as simple and speedy as it promises to be satisfactory, and secret, if necessary. The plan is the invention of Mr. Curtis, the King's aurist, who, improving upon the ex peri ments of M. Biot, at Paris, on the transmission of soma through solid bodies, and through air in long tube s , has • shown the easy practicability of conveying intellig ence from the Parliament to the Horse Guards, St. James's Palace , Whitehall, and to or from any other place of given di'! tance. Biot conversed through tubes of Mr. Curtis's del scription with a friend at a distance of 1,039 yards ; th e time occupied in the transmission of the first word was five seconds and a half. The same eminent philosophe r wisho• , to determine the point at which the human voice ceases la be audible, but could not accornpliak it.