The Sun. — London, England, 1830-12-29 00:00:00

) 6/, / SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY REFORM. , \) ' dm. - 0410,,,, -. f:::- . ,t) `":‘ '' • 1 - 2 3 ' '• /..„ ... 40 4' 1 - - .•''''' ~ / :, ,/ ~ - ...'''- ~-.' z / ~ t ./ (d0t, t z,e ) ,,,0), ~ e. 7 7 //- -. i ~r . . . f i , ' l. ~. - . 4 . • 'N, ..,* ~ .:4:it 1 , . //: , . -- A k z.... 44, -6,.. • . L. l - — t. , - * , • i ''' , ' • 'y4t:',,i,- , !,,,vh. -. ,' • :, .. ~,', '1 .:! - 4 ,,! :)%::; ,,-* ; 77 ;4- L v'7,..,• 'irs;:--(•-f '` .., *4 - •; . 6;:' , •:tr,„,, i ,,...,.._ 4 . ' \ " - - 1 ' l '''' ...- ''''.%* :it - ,i-,i't , Ai „i, , ~, ~.„,..; ~ :,...v..„., .p. ~....,.,........:,_.... \ e„ . .ia,,,„,,, : i... i . it ,.. , \.,_,_; "7 - '1 1 ~, . 1 -4, l, =• ''' ', ai ' - '' ' -7: ( fc't -- ' ~ r. . ; :irri , , , . ,', ' t '. V } .-- .°' 'I: --...''''' ;• , ... '''' ;et t' . '''' '''‘Wl .- " 4 4'; . ------_, - ; ,5 7 , ,-; I n. 144 j! 1. `A 't .J 'l' , -* : l ' ;,1 ' 1 , '. .' l / 4 . 1 , ' -- . , ; ~4r.•::4!'.4:t .' I 1- 1 ''. '1 , . I - / , ~./.. ..... , ..... :.,3,,. .. ;k- - a :.' . le , / kep- -• t ', -, . . - . - --„ , t ~,, ~ 14 1 ; „ ' w ., , N , , , ~, ke;TO - A ! "-T 'bp ' ',.^ c el , • -;0 '. , 4.'-¢ - ..d• f -ifi r• , ... -- • ',- ''' `,., , \ ~' .. _, , ,..,1,/ Ik_l . • ~,, ' ,..;1, „0 . 1 ''' ' 4redif;r4Cit2 '"A Iftk =o4k '4 t ,,* ,:-..5, . --- - -,...:_•,,•:..:; it ‘.,:, • • 111-4 ft s 'iiMo- -,,i... ) \ ILD 1 . 11 --- --,-. ///' • I / AT a GENERAL MEETING of the .}IOOSEHOLDERS audit THIBITANTS of IN: VERNESS and its vicinity, called by public Advertise ment, .(the Pioviust of the Burgh having declined to con/ ( ,omit Oketing on a Requisition midmost-Os him) for tjfe , : pyrinase of petitioning.both Houses of Parliament on the .illbject of a Reform in the Parliament iry RepresentatiOn , of Scotland, and h eld in the Court-house of haverness the 20th day of Decernbet, 1830 JOHN MACKBNZIE, Esq. Banker, in the Chair, It was unanimously resolved, I. That Scotland is inadequately represented in the Commons' House of Parliament, considering the relative mt . portance of that Country as 'part of the British Empire ; the number of Electors bears no just proportion` to its po p.tdetion and wealth—and, by the system under which Iferabers of Parliament are elected, neither the interests nor the intelligence of the people of Scotland are repre ' :tented. . 2. That the qualification oLEleetors in the Counties of Scotland, does net represent the landed and other essential interests of the Country. 3. That in the Burghs, the system of election is even still more objectionable : the Electors (few in number) being themselves self-elected and their proceedings secret, no direct connection exists through which they can be in fluenced by the views or interests of the inhabitants, be. tweet; whom and the number , so elected ther4 is conse (Melly even no communieation, though he is assumed to represent them in Parliament. 4. That the evils complained of are aggravated by the 'system of one Member' ping' returned for a district of four or fly Our t :more Or less' distant, of widely unequal . popuiatiOn; l having different interests ; the practical effect of which . is,—in the case of four Burghs, to confine the franchise to the returning and any other'one Burgh in the district,—and in the cast of five Burghs to confine the franchise to a combination of any three of them, to the exclusion of the others. 5. That this systern, besides being unjust and defective . , is calculated to lessen the usefulness of the Representative, ' and to diminish the confidence and the interest of the people in the Government and the Laws.. 6, 'That being sincerely attached to the principles of our excellent Constituiion, and desirous to perpetriate its bless- Ings.tO posterity, we are convinced that this cannot be ddt►B without removing those defects whickare inherent is thesystem, and which time and change of circumstances have produced or aggravated, and adapting it to the exist. lag state and wants of the country. 7. That - Petitions, founded on these Resolutions, be pre ! . stated to both Houses of Parliament, praying Ear an in creased representatiem of Scotland in the House Of Com- . pons, and for such an improvement and extension'of the Elective Franchise as shalt embrace in it a just represents. tion of the interests and intelligence of this portion of the Empire. 8. That the Petition to the Peers be transmitted to the Lord High Chancellor, and that to the Commons to the Right Hon. Charles Grant, M.P. for Inverness-shire, with a request that they will present and support them. 9. That these Resolutions be published in the Inverness Newspapers, and in The Sun and Scotsman Papers. JOHN MACKENZIE, Preses. On the motion of J. 1. 'Nicol, Esq. M.D., seconded by Mackintosh, younger, of Mackintosh, the thanks of the Meeting were unanimously voted to the Chairman. "•" The Petitions tei Parliament lie for Subscription by the Inhabitants of the Tuwn and its Vicinity, in the Jury Room, within the Court House, every lawful day, from Twelve to Three; and from Six to Eight o'clock. BIRCHIN-LANE, CORNHILL. CO It PO It ATI 0 N of the LONDON ASSURANCE of HOUSES and GOODS from FIRE« Established by Royal Charter i n the Year 1720, for making Assurances against Loss or Damage by Fire, and for - Assurin Lives. JOtIN C. POWELL, E sq . G overn o r . Tot ABEL CHAPMAN, Esq. sub-Governor. I - 4 1 JOHN HILLERSDON, Esq. Deputy-Governor. t tDp DIRECTORS. I tr , Robert Allen, Es q . G eorge Gooch, Fail. George Barnes, Esq. Edward Manage, Esq. Henry Illanshard, Esq. William King. Esq. J. W itorradaile, Esq. John Ord, Esq. Edward Burmester, Esq. John Plummer ' Esq. Henry Cayley, Esq. John Anthony Rucker, Esq. . Aaron Chapman, E q James Sims, Elig, Bonauty Dobree, Esq. Daniel Stephenson, 1 - sq. Richard Drew, Esq. Thomas Weeding, Esq. John Fur s e, Esq. James Williams. Esq. George If. Gibbs, Esq. L. P. Wilson, Esq. Gabriel Gillett, ES4 I , Henry Woodfall, : Notice is hereby given to Persona assured against Fire by this Corporation, that printed Receipts for the payments due at Christmas are ready to be delivered at the London Assurance House, where attendance is given daily from Ten till Four o'clock (except on Saturdays, when the Office Is closed at Two,) for effecting Assurances from Fire and on Lives ; and that the fifteen days 'allowed by the Corporation after the Quarter-day on Fire Assurances, will expire on the 9th of January. Proposals for Assurances from Fire and on Lives are delivered at the Office. JOHN LAURENCE, Secretary. This day was published, in 12mo. rice 4s. cloth, THE LONDON UNIVERSI'T'Y' CALENDAR, for 1831. Contiining : A History of the Institution—An Outline, I- by each Professor, of his Plan of Instruction—Erin:illation P , Ters , ..-Houts of Attendance—Fees—Lists of Prizemen, Certificated Students, and Proprietors. • Printed for John Taylor, Bookseller and Publisher to the University, SO, Upper Gower-street. This day was poblislied, THE SECOND VOLUME of MOORE'S LIFE of BYRON, with an Original Whole- Length PORTRAIT, engraved in his motit finished man ner, by William Finden, from a Painting by Sanders. Also, another New and Cheap Edition, with a Portrait and Illustrations, 4 pocket vole. 18mo. only 18s. of 2. The POETICAL WORKS of the Right Hon, LORD BYRON. Ne arly ready, printed for the first time to match with the above, with Plates, 18mo. 98. 3. A FIFTH and SIXTH VOLUME of LORD BYRON'S WORKS. Containing HINTS from HO RACE, ENGLISH BARDS, WERNER, HEAVEN and EARTH, DEFORMED TRANSFORMED, The ISLAND, &c. Ste. ; rendering this the First and only Complete Ed►tioo ever printed in this country, Don Juan alone being omitted. John Murray, Albemarle-street. 4 . - WiIITTAKER'S MAGAZINE for . • JANUARY, the First Number of a New Volume, "'will contain-1. Merlin's Prophecies for 1831-2. Po land ; its past conditi on an d p re s e nt prospects—S. St. ' Croix, a Tale of the Reign of Terror-4. Brougham's ' New Law Courts-6. Mot. Jordan's Memoirs-6. Dr Fos, hie Life and Times-7. Carmen di Sipolehri-8. Bketches of Brazil-9. Mismanagement of the Colonies— ' 10. Notes on the Mouth—The French Ministers—Pau ' peva of the Pension List—Rubbish of the Claphamite Hy , rites Expense of the Army—Luxury at Algierd— eake's Comedy—Economy in the Strand—Prodigality at Pi, nilleitt , ;--La Belle Alliance versus Tottenhttn-street— ' ~..4.) P ropriate Presents from Morocco—Colonel Rowan's I marr.—Quarantine for the Cholera—The Bishop of Bath asid Wells and the Cottage Sy stern,-Jekyl's Jukes—A cer ;' taio Mirquis of the Prize Ring—Price of Votes at Liver. eal--4lonouralile Distinctions and the Royal Society...-. fi Aornery of Auti-Slavery Gang offensive to Decency— ,.„,B4la by Aeolian, Duke of Devonshire's estates in Ireland— '`' Reviews of New Books, &c. ' Whiltaker and C 0.4 Loudon ; Waugh and lanes, Ediu ;f"....-Ortk nad.J. lkl.ilitekie; Dublin. • PUBLIC NOTICE. IN -consequence of the eery increasing demand for DAY and MARTIN'S BLACKING, the Pro ' Prieto , . hare erected a Manufactory en so extended simile, that they will be enabled to execute all order's for Foreign or Norge consumption at a day's notice, and to secure the Public from imposition an engraving of the New Building Win appear aa the High Holborn, May I, MO- MINERAL SUCCEDANEUM FOR FILLING DE CAYED TEETIJ, MONSIEUR MALLAN AND SON, SURGEON -DENTISTS, 82, GREAT MIS ' SELI,STREET,, BLOOMSBURY, grateful for the high and extensive patronage which has so eminently die ` tiuguislied their profesoional exertions since their arrival the British Metropolis, respectfully announce to their Friends and the Public in general, that they still continue to fi l l decayed T eet h, with their celebrated MINERAL SUCCEDANEUM, an universally recommended by the z Faculty. of London and Patio. The operation of filling t Teeth ie perforated iu a few seconds, without the slighted 4 pain, heat, or promote ; also Wen loose Teeth in a man net' 4 riguhicly efficacious, cud supply whole or partial Sets of Teeth of the above Incorrodible Mineral or Natural Substances without Wire or other ligatures, and g uaranteed to answer weary putpohe for articulating and masticating. The &ciga...Ass reop ec tf u ll y invited to witness the sue ', tessful resu lt the hIINERAL SUCCEDANEDM.o. , Charon as in Pun'. .k; No. 11 .949 Just published.. price Is. THREE LETTERS Addressed to the DUKE of WELLINGTON, in 1829 and ISM upon the DISTRESSED STATE , of the :COUNTRY. By G. F. MUNTZ, Merchant, Birmingham. Birmingham : Printed and NOM at the 'Journal Office ; and sold by Baldwin and Cradoek, Londott.: THE MIRROR. VOL. XVI. of this popular MISCELLANY was this day published, with Fifteen whole page IL lustrations, and Twenty.fi.ve other Engravings—many ol them from original drawings ; tbe Novelties . of .Conteni. porary Literature, useful facts, and recreative reading. Part• 103, with Title, Index, &c. completing Vol. XVI. will be published on the same day. Vol. I. to XV. price 41. Is. 6d. boards; talf..bontid, price 51. ss. Jahn Limbird, 143, Strand. Just published, in foolscap avo. pry•++ '7 SONGS 'of the AFFECTIONS ; wi OTHER POEMS. By FELICiA MENIANS. Alio, by the same Author, •I. RECORDS of WOMAN; with OTHER POEMS. The Third Editioq, foolscap. sy°. ss. 6d. 2 The FOREST SANCTUARY ; with OTHER POEMS. Second Edition, with additionß, foolscap Bvo. Ba. 6d. Printed for William Blackwood, Edinbtlrgh ; and T. Cadell, Str.,nd, London: IRELAND. (Prom the Morning Herald.) DUBLIN, SUM - AV.—The Marquis of Anglesea s administration has commenced vigorously. He ar rived on Thursday, Friday and Christmas-day were occupied in consulting with the Law Officers as to the course to be adopted with regard to the threatened meeting of trades, convened for to-mor row, to present an address to the" Liberator ;" and the result has been the proclamation which I hert with forward. I have just taken a walk through various parts of the city, and have observed a great many copies posted in the neighbourhood of the va rious Roman Catholic chapels, with crowds of people perusing them. They appear to be much exaspe rated; and I heard several swear they would pay no obedience to the proclamation, and that they would have a meeting and a procession in spite of Government. This feeling, however prevalent among the lower classes, does not extend to their leaders; and I have reason to know that, however mortifying it must be to their vanity, they have determined to submit. The langtuqie made use of by the different ' agitators at their various meetings this week has far exceeded in sedition's daring any thing previously spoken by them. The printed reports of the speeches convey no idea of their , violence (although you may probably say what is published is bad enough): but the directors of the Press are, in fact, afraid of sub jecting themselves to prosecution by publishinrver bating the rebellious ravings of the demagogues. They have had melancholy experience of the tender mer cies of Mr. O'Connell In 'avowing himself as the author of certain speeches which the law deemed libellous; and, however willing they may be to as sist in serirating the two countries, the spectre of Harding 'racy occasionally ihts across their recol- leetions; and (leeks their patriotic aspirations. --- I mentioned in my former communications that when the " Repeal" question was first agitated, acid for some time after, scarcely a Protestant joined the tanks of the Anti-Unionists. I regret, however, to state that numbers have been latterly cajoled into a belief that the measure is eminently calculated to be. nrfit them; and at a meeting of the parishioners of St. Mary's, which was held in the arena last Thurs day, se veralrespectable Protestant tradesmen attended and advocated the necessity o(fie repeal. At this meet ing Messrs. O'Connell, Rouayne, Steele,, Lawless, .Costello, and other extra-parochial agitators, at• tended, and addressed the assembly. While the 'Liberator was speaking, a number of last Tuesday's Courier was put into his hand, containing a para graph contradicting certain statements made by the veracious patriot as to his being lately offered a high situation, in reference to which he called the eon. rier A LIAR, and declared if it had presumed to nt sert an unauthorised contradiction, or if any indivi dual would dare to affix his name to it, he, O'Con nell,. would then give the. full particulars of the negociation, and the names of the persons concerned,* At this meeting a certain tradesman declared that the first hostile shot fired in Ireland would be " a receipt in full for the national debt." The senti ment was loudly cheered, and the Liberator hoped it would ho conveyed to the ears of the Marquis of Anglesea... THULE O'CL9cx-7Thestreetseregreatlicrowded, and many of the proclamations have been torn down. All the police functionaries are on duty at the. dif ferent offices. Strong 'rumours are 'current of an intention, on the part of Government, to call out the yeomanry. Every thing is assuming a serious sp.; pearanee. BY THE LORD LIEUTENANT-GENERAL AND GENE. RAL GOVERNOR OF IRELAND. g , A PROCLAMATION. ANGLESEA. " .Wberet;,bytirt Act passed in the tenth year of his late Majesty's reign, intituled " An Act for the Suppres sion of dangerous Associations or Assemblies in Ireland," a power is vested in the Lord Lieutenant, or other Chief Governor or Governors of Ireland, by his or their procla matiou or order, to prohibit the meeting of any assembly or body of persons in Ireland, which he or they shall deem to be dangerous to the public peace or safety: . " And whereas it bath been made known to Us, that a meeting of an assembly or body of persons, under the name of The Tradesmen of Dublin,' is about to take place on Monday next, the 27th instant, at the hour of eleven o'clock, at Phibsborougli, in the county of Dublin, and, when there marshalled, to proceed in regular array, and in great numbers, through the streets (tithe city of Dublin: 4 4 And whereas we have received information upon oath that the said meeting is caloul ited to lead to a disturbance of the public peace, and bath excited serious apprehensions thereof in the minds of his Alajesty's peaceable subjects : " And whereas we have also received infirmation, upon oath, that language of a highly id 'minatory nature ha. been used by some of the persons who have signified their in tention of attending the same meeting 44 We, therefore, the Lord Lieutenant-General and General Governor of Ireland, deeming the said meeting to be dangerous to the public peace and safety, and being re solved to prohibit the saute, do hereby accordingly pro hihit the said meeting, and being determined and resolved . strictly to enforce the law, and the penalties thereof, against all persons offending in the premises, do charge and com mand all Mayors, Sheriffs, Justices of the Peaie, and all other Magistrates,Offieers, and others whom it may concern, to be aiding and assisting in the execution of the law, in preventing the meeting of the said assembly or body of persons, and in the effectual dispersion and suppression of the same, and in the detection and prosecution of those, who, after this notice, shall offend io the respects aforesaid. Given at his, Majesty's Castle of Pnbliu, this 2titli they of December, 1850. fly his Excellency's command, . 0 God save the " W. GREGORY." 4 He boo now au opportunity of fulfilling ; hie promise, for I perceive Friday's Courier reiterates the assertion. „ • WNDON, WEDNESIMY EVENING, DECEMBER 29, tB3O. INVERNESS REFQRM,MEtTING. (From 'the Inverness'Couriev of Wednesday.) On Monday last a public meeting of the house holders and inhabitants of this town was held in the Court,liouse, pnrsuant to advertisement, for the . purpose of petit.ipiiipg Parliament for such an exten sion of the elective franehise in the burghs turd counties, as might inclUde a fair proportion of the properly and intelligence of .Scotland, Though con 'sidered almost exclusively as a burgh meeting, we were gled to see several country gentlemen present, among whom were Mackintosh yr. of Mackintosh, Nlr. Fraser ofAbertarff, Captain Fraser of Bal !lain Mr:Fraser of Torbreck, Mr. Mackintosh yr. o f Geddes, Captain Mackay of Hedgfield, Mr. Mac donald of Ness Castle, &c. On die motion of Captain MACKAY of I Tedgfield,- JouNpacks:NztE, Esq., banker, was called to .the 'chair, ',end took his seat the' acciatnutions .of the meeting. The CRAIRSIAN returned thanks, and opened the proceedings of the day by stating the circumstances ,which had preceded the meeting. A considerable number ofrespectable individuals in the burgh ads 'dressed a requisition to the Provost, to convene a meeting for the purpose of petitienitig Parliament on the itihject',or a Reform iii the repreattitatioti for Scotland; and it was in consequence of his deiclin jug to do so that - the present meeting had been called by the requisitionists themselves. It was but candid and fair in him to state that he had every reason. to believe that the Provost's sentiments, ,es an individual, were not adverse to those which had been expressed by many gentlemen who have taken a prominent part in calling this meeting, though he had in his official capacity considered it better, on other grounds, that he should not convene them on this occasion. That his individual sentiments, or those of any well informed man, should not differ from theirs, was, however, any thing but wonderful. lie (Mr. Mackenzie) could not imaglue any one gravely maintaining that the present system of Par liamentary representation in Scotland is perfect, ,or that it ought not on every principle of justice and expediency to be amended. It was not his inten tion to enter into the merits of the objects of this meeting. These would be far better explained and illustrated by those gentlemen who would bring under their notice the resolutions, which it was Sins cerely to be desired might receive the unanimous sanction of the meeting. He conceived it, how ever, as a part of his duty in the chair in which they had placed him, that lie should express his anxious hope, as it was at the same time (from his confidence in the good sense and good feeling of those pre sent) his belief and expectation, that their whole proceedings should be conducted with the greatest possible propriety and order. This would have been the case even had the meeting been called by the Provost) burit was still more to be desired be cause the meeting was in their own bandit, and under no offiCial authority or direction. Let it not, be said (what he did not say any one had said) " the Provost was right in not calling the meeting, as he knew it would be disorderly, and cast discredit, not only on the cause the requisitionists advocated or pretended to advocate, but on the town itself," It was given out here that public • meetings in Inver ness would be dangerous and lead to disorder.— He was entirely of art opposite opinion, and hoped that the proceedings of that day would dis prove these allegations, and lead to their having lot are meetings on important occasions, which might re flect credit on the capital of the Highlands, enlarge their views and interests, and make them feel more closely united than hitherto to the institutions of their country,—(C heels.) Bin perhaps ihd most powerful reason for their proving that 'they could meet and discuss so important a subject with mode ration' though with firmness, was, th at un l ess t h ey coultido so, they did not prove the expediency of the extension to them of the elective franchise; and in place of forwarding their cause, they would only afford the stronger argument to its opponents. " Let us prove then," added the Chairman, " that While on the one hand we come forward to state the grounds on which we claim an extension to us of important privileges, and to prove the expediency of a new system in the Parliamentary representation for Scotland, we at the same time deprecate all extreme and visionary doctrines; all such ultra and rapid legislation as would greatly endanger and pro highly destroy the Constitution which we so earnestly desire to amend. Let us 'thew that our views of Reform are wise and just, and such as ought to be entertained by the best lovers of their country) that we are the friends, riot the enemies, of the true principles of our Constitution."—(Loud cheers:) Mr. MACKENZIE then read the requisition, and concluded by again requesting' that the meeting would keep within its'terms and objects. Captain Frusaa of Balnam, in a long and able" speech, moved the first five resolutions. The meets ing being duly constituted, he hoped, he' said, that the suggestions which had fallen from the Chair would be received with the attention worthy the importance of the subject about to be brought before them. That subject was not, indeed, new to this country; it was to address the Parliament, craving an alteration and amendment of the system of Par liatnentary representation in Scotland. It was im portant to remark that, when at several former times the publiC mind in Scotland had been excited by this very subject, it had unfortunately happened (whether from the fault of the persons who took the lead, or from the state of the public affairs of the country he could not say) that the proceedings at that time incurred the suspicions of Government and were repressed and stifled. Now it too often hap pened, after a failure of this sort, that the friends of liberty were crushed and its enemies encouraged and strengthened; and thus ;t might follow that the very efforts now made would be detriniental, instead of favourable, if they departed in any degree from the paths of prudence and discretion. He would take the liberty of beginning the subject ab ova, and of opening up the question by stating that he thought Scotland was inadequately represented, in point of number, as compared with the it amber of members cent from the other parts of the British Empire, and had been so ever since the Union. He would be the last man to assert any thing derogatory to the great national compact, so productive of benefit to both nations. He held in the greatest detestation the attempts of some talented but mis guided men in a sister kingdom, who sought to dissever an important portion of British domi nion, and to hurl it from, that proud pinnacle of prosperity and independence in winch it had so lately been placed by that celebrated Act .of Legislature. Ho admitted that the intention of England at the thine of the Union was to admit Scotland to a fair participation of legisla tive privilege. 'What then was the rule adopted by which her share had been assigned to Scotland ? It was not her population; for that was estimated at one million, and that of England at six millions; and had that proportion been taken, Scotland would have been entitled to one sixth of the representa tion of the whole empire. The rule .assumed was the proportion of the Lint tax which she would have to pay after the Union, and that proportion was as sessed by an estimate of the returns of laud. Now, it was at .the, close of a century of barbarous civil wars, attended by every circum►tance that could re duce the value of the return of land, th a t Scotland entered into• this compact relating to the proportion of Parliamentary representation. It was plain, that she had not made a fair bargain, ,Suite the Union, we find that her capability of revenue, whe ther we look to the returns andei the assessed taxes, or those under the property tax, is about 1-7th, while at the time of the Union it was supposed to be 1-14th. He entitled to this part of the subject, because, if he was right in attributing any truth to the reports which Were current regarding the - Re- Ihres of the Scotch System of representation in con ieMplation of Government, that Reform would prin. CiPelly consist of an increase of the number of the representatives. He thought that . every person would, on reflection, see that, 'if this course should be adopted, a variety of the, nice distinctions and minute enquiries relating to the tenure of lands and burgh charters which would arise, if the expected Reform was merely to consist of an alteration of the present qualification, would be swept away or passed over. Neither would the rights of the holders of superiorities he'vinlated; for, although the money price of -them would lie dirninished, they would come to afford their possess Ors two, three, or more votes. Again ' 'let us suppose that every burgh now in cluded in a district of five or four burgh's were to return a Member by itself; he, thought it would not require the spirit of a Diviner to foretell that the system of self election; and several evils attending burgh management, would be appealed aganit extineuished. To return now to the superiority or qiedification in counties :—That qualification bore 1-1 its face e-'description of property in land. There was a regular naming of the several tenements, end the rents arising from ,them were' carefully slimmed up. Then came a precept of sasine on which the ceremony of infeftment followed ? and after all tvai done (strange to say) theproprietor walked away with his property in his pocket, a piece of paper Or parch ment ; but no real.prOperty in land followed for none was required, to make either an election or a represens native in a county in Scotland, and thus all its inte rests were at, the mercy of those who .themselves might have no 'interest at all in the county. But if the state oldie counties was bad, that of the burghs was still worse. In a district of five burghs the candidate by securing three, would feel himself at liberty to disregard the interest of the other two — or in one of four, he would direct his attention to only one, and to the returning burgh, unless one of these other two were to be the next returning burgh. But act as he might, the views and interests of burghs in the same district might be, and often were, discordant and irreconcileable. How then could one Member act impartially to them all. 'The general effect of this system was; that no man could through out all the counties of Scotland, whatever might be his profession or 'station in society, have any voice in nominating the representative, unless he had se cured for himself the sort of fictitious property he had before alluded to; and. that in burghs, no exer tion of talents, no success in following out his' trade or profession, could obtain for its professor or hie descendants any share in a political right which was freely enjoyed by the meanest householder in some of the towns: a England. In fact, Scotland had no. regular public voice at all. Such, indeed, was the force of public opinion, and such the liberality of those who were sent to Parliament, that Consider lade deference bad often been paid to the sentiments of the public. This compliment he thought was justly due to those true servants -of their country, among whom he would certainly include the distin guished representative' of this burgh. He would now allude to an objection he hod often heard Made against any alteration in the Scotch representative system. It was said . that with all its disadvantages Scotland was stip a thriving eountry, where as much civil liberty existed as in any country, and every mats was at liberty to enjoy the fruits of his inthis try or any other possession in full security: He should be sorry to distutb-thette'pth.sons in their en joyment and tranquillity, but he would recommend to them, if they wished a continuation of their re pose, not to attempt a feeble opposition to a popular movement so just in principle and so favourable to the interests of their country.—(Cheers.) But there was another class of objectors, the advocates of extreme opinions. These gentlemen had Several notable projects for the benefit of the state, such as universal suffrage and annual Parliaments. He would not take upon himself 'to pronounce on these opinions, nor to say how far any portion of their plans might injure or benefit , the Constitution, but he would suggest to them as ti:reason for joining in the moderate 'Proceedings of this day, 11114 no Pert of their plans will be listened to during the exist ence of the present system. When the country sent up to Parliament Members - freely elected, between whom end their constituents there should be a strong sympathy of views and interests, he would assure them, that every important (petition would be freely and temperately discussed. He would merely re mark, in conclusion, on the answer returned by his respected friend Provost Robertson, to the requisi, Lion. The Provost states t h at as Government is pledged to Reform, it is improper to agitate It in a public meeting. He would ask if that Government did not ewe its strength to popular opinion, and if so, can it be offended when that opinion is in Unison with their own ?—(Applause.) And then does not the Prime Minister himself owe the great political fume which he enjoys to his wonderful exertions in in the cause of Re-form, nt a time of life when other men scarcely begin to think at all. And then have we not a Lord Chancellor who only a few days before he was elevated to the Woolsack, advocated the general measure of Reform in the House of Corn mons and designated the Scotch representative system, which he welt n understood, o man better— as being one_hvge . rotten burgh ? Considering, then, the nature of our free Coubtitution, and the vowed opinion , ' of the iniaters, he could nut but con- eider this a most favourable opportunity for bringing forward the subject. In coliclasion, Captain Fraser read the resolutions (see advertisement). and hat down amidst loud and general cheering. Mr. NPANDREW, solicitor, begged to second the resolutions, of which he cordially and entirely ap proved. He would, with the permission of the meeting, state shortly the grounds upon which-he founded that approbation. The first point totched, upon in the resolutions was the inadequate refire. sentation of Scotland as a part of the British em pire. The number of representatives for England was 513, and that for Scotland only 45. In the present stat e o f t h e co u n t r y this could no t be con sidered n fair proportion. The population in 1811 wasforEnglantllo,79l,lls; for Scotland 1,805,688. By . Dr. Beck's esti t n a te of 1800, the value of land and tithes in England is stated at x,750,0001.; that of Scotland at 1,200,0001, By the ProPel ty Tax re turns of 1810, the yearly rents of lands and houses in Great Britain was ascertained to he 42 millions and a half, of which those for Scotland exceeded six Then, nguin, the ship building in both portions of the isl an d stee d i n 1822 as follows :---In England the number of veaiela built WIIS 399, awl the tonnage 46,596, In Scotland the number built was 122, and the tonnage 9,457. Now, on taking a combined view of all these facts, extracted from official returns, it appeared to him that it might be fairly concluded that the proportion of represero Mises from Scotland should at least be double their :present number. - Withregard' to the second branch of the resolution, that neither the property tier in• telligenee of, the country was represented, it was only necessary to state that the whole - number & electors for the counties ;tit' burghs of Scotland Was somewhere about 4,300, of which a large proportion have no connection whatever with the places for which they are electors„ Many of them are elector for several pl,►ces, and not a few ere not even Scrotc. PRICE 7D tnen. This subject is capable also of illustration by reference to England, where it is not said that any essential interest is over-represented. In England the proportion of elector' keine in twenty-five, but in Scotland it was only one in 480.—(Hear.) The, next resolution has relation to the qualification for. comities. Of what this qualification consists, a very forcible and eloquent description had been given by the honourable mover, and few words were neces sary :to show that the resolution was well' founded. The number of freeholders in the counties of Scot land .Was somewhere about 2,980, of whom many, it is notorious, hold no lend in cite counties of which they-are electors, while the number of landed estates, held by individuals, and exclusive of those belonging 'to corporations, was a few years ago 7,654; what the actual proportion of freeholders who do not possess land in their respective counties. was, he was net enabled to specify with necureey; but in the county of Inverness the following statement will be :found sufficiently accurate for the present purpose:— The riumber:of freeholders is about 80, there Are upoisthe roll 41 who hold nee land in the county; five or six . have their (publications only partly On their own estates ; about nine have their qualifica tions, on other eatates, and there are about 35 landed gentlemen in the county who havteno qualification. —(Hear.) In the burghs, the case is still Worse, but this subject having. been sufficiently elucidated by the mover, he would not weaken what had been so forcibly stated by that gentleman.- Isappeared; therefore, that the system was totally defective and indefensible. Indeed, he did not anticipate that any pertosewould now have the temerity to oppose Re form on the plea that the system was either good in itself or adapted to the real wants and wishes of the people.—(Cheers.) But this, it is said, is not the proper time to [Agitate the question. It will be re tnetnbered that this ground of opposition has been urged by certain persons for upwards of fifty years, It•was the rallying point with many of the opponents to the measure when the question was brought for ward by Pitt, Flood, and 'the present Premier. Others say that as we have now got en adminietrus bon formed upon the avowed principlei of Reform, retrenclunept, and peace, it is improper t() make any movement, but that the matter s h ou ld be left unfet tered in their bands. Many respectable gentlemen friendly to Reform sincerely entertain this opinion, but he was satisfied that if their advice was acted upon it would prove, most fatal to the cause, being at the same time convinced from the difficulties surrounding the question itself and the vars() inte rests opposed to it, that 110 ministry however powerful could carry such a question unaided by the firm, the steady, and the zealous support of the middling and respectable dame of the community. Without such support a specious pre text would be afforded to active and zealous op ponents for stating that, the people were satisfied with things us they are, and the Ministerial plan of Reform would now, as in the days of Mr. Pitt, be deeominated the " visionary chimeras of political Quixotes.", Mr. Pitt brought furwurd a motion for Reform in 1782,during the Rockingham Adminis tration, which was pledged to. Reform 4 "d Re. tsenchomi. It was strenuously opposed, partly on, the ground that this Was not the proper time, and partly, that the people were satisfied. Next year it shared the same fate ; and in 1785 Mr. Pitt again brought forwards he question of Reform, when he was himself a Prime Minister, with a Parliament newly elected; but it was still urged. that us the people did not petition they were, satisfied, and die met* of the Minister was negatived by a large majority.—(Hear.) This historical fact allin de one of the strongest ;Woofs for exertion that could be well adduced. Some will say that this system works Well s bemuse,, generally speaking, Ministers , aidir Parliament, meet, in this country, be influenced' by the force of public opinion. lint ev e n if it were admitted that the system did, under ordinary Ctrs catustances, work well, the very power which it acknowledged to be necessary to keep the machine' in working . order, affords ; when, the subject :is viewed dispassionately, the strongest argument for Reform. The force of public opinion is admitted to be irresistible, and therefore safely demands that, instead of being allowed to remain as an extraneous seed undefined , power, the system should be so trip dified us to 14Pit it within known and defined limits, under a :form of representation which will identify the feelings and interests of the representatives with these of the people, and establish betwixt them an unremitting and recognised channel of conununice tien.—(Applueets) Bailie COWING . then moved the sixth resolution, which, he felt confident, would be cordially and una nimously approved of. It was-unnecessary for .hint to say atilt he was friendly to Parliamentary ReforM. !---(Appliiuse.) His being there that day, and the sentiments which he bud expressed to several indi viduals then present, long before this meeting was contemplated, was a sufficient proof of this; but when hedeclared himself in favour of the principle, he begged distinctly to state that he aimed at no thing wild or extravagant—nothing beyond modes rate Refotm— r such - as some of the best and wisest meet ; of the land desire to see, and such as lie hoped the Government would at no distant period concede to the wishes and expectations of the people. The resolution which be was about to read referred to our excellent and glorious Constitution; and if he thought the proceedings in which they were engaged had the most remote tendency to injure that Con stitution, he would be there, not to support, but to offer his luunble but zealous opposition to ,the tempt. " Our object, ,however," said Mr. Cum ming, " is to strengthen and uphold the Gonad. mien, and, I trust, we shall ultimately see our wishes rea lized."—(Cheers.) Mr. CAMERON, solicitor, said be had been ho. ootired by having ussigned to him the task of second ing the resolution just read by his friend . Mr. Cum tiling. If be consulted his own feelings, he would content himself, after the very full aratementa they had abeady licard, with simply expressing his acum en:epee in , it; but, lest this course might not be devoted respectful to the meeting, he should claim their attention fur a very little time. The resolution involves an expression of attachment to the princi ples of the Constitution. It is impossible to with. hold our admiration and attachment from • a system of goveintnent : and laws, (for it is these that form what is called the Constitution) in which Magna Charta—Triel by Jury--the Habeas Corpus Act— the independence of time Judges—and, what has been well denominated the key -stone of the arch, the Liberty of the Press—are importimt elements. Bat he did not agree with those who think that it is sa erilege`to touch tide fabric, ssared by what they call' the wisdom of our uncestors. All human institu tions are imperfect, and susceptible of ameedment; and our predecessors ought not to be permitted to legislate alssulutely for future generations placed in ditfrent circumstances from theirs.—(Ap -14100 Ak . :onr object, therefore, is t o. obt a i n not oidy an essedtott of the ehetive ilia, but an en largetl I'olll'o4ll l 4ton of the people in the great Couneil of the nation, it may not be improper to inquire hether our views are in uecordauce with the spirit end prectice of the Constitution Now, We know hiatorically that Edward 1., who may be said to havAsiummoned the first English Parliament, properly so:roilea,_ issued his writs for the election of two knights for each shire, two citizens for each city, - andlwo: burgesses fur each borough, contents plating a fair and - equal representutiots of all classes and interests; but we - know tthio,' that this original plan•hrts'not been curried into hill exeeution, 111E14.. t f nitwit in ifttestittskeen into itnpnreteto in tlint o ' f "" population, intelligence, and wealth, are not • represented ets4 terhibUinthere, which have, surds into ineignifirenees,eujoy ate*xer eke the privilege of sending Northers to. Parliament. Togrstit the just claims of those greet eommunities, would be perfectly o tnsistent with the pructice of farmer times. In the reign of Healy NU, the re. presentative' of the people were 298 in number. In the reign of Edward Vi., 48 were edded-e-21 were added in the reign of Queen Mary-esElizebeth added 60—and further additions' were made in the subsequent reigns of Charles'', and 11. This proves a recognition on the part of the Legislature of the principle of extending the franchise and enlarging the representation--adapting - them, in this words ef : the resolution, to the " etate,und eircurnstoices of the coutitiy."—(Cheers.) ..lii Scotland, the re presentation of shires was indodueed by James 1., and it appears that all freeholders, without regard to their properties or holdings, enjoyed the elective franchise. James VI. fixed the qualification at forty shillings of what is called old 'extent, a velsation made three hundred years before; and Chitties It. made it 400 pounds Scots °trent where no evidence of the old extent remained. The euffregcbs the choice of Magistrates of burghs, also. *oust A4Vd been anciently extensive, for the inducive ettnte of the introductions of the present-system of tion in 1469, and which -the ulltfibit+iiita• c)f., the Scotch towns have borne-with for nearly four .cen turies, thus selling their birthright —was, as the Statute expresses it, the " ;rest contention •zeitly f u r the clueing .of Aldermen, Bellies, and other officiates, threugh multitude amid clamour of con,- moues, simple personec!'-s-(Laughter,) At the time of the Union of the two kingdoms, the popu lation of Scotland was about., onessisth of that of England, and. although the revenue of the limner country was compatutively small; yet new t -xes were imposed, immediately upon the .eompletiou of the treaty. The. most important: udvanteges have old mutely accrued to Scotiand front the Union ; bat there is no doubt that the Commissionets uppointed on our part to protect our interests in the adjustment of this interesting and important transaction were corrupted by English money, and duo they sold. the independence of their country. The Scottish Pars Murton consisted at thii time of I+s Noblemen and 160 Commoners. This body was extinguished,,and seats for only. 16 Peru a end 45 Commoners in the British Parliament were stipulated for, and obtained; and although the populetion of Scotland is now two millions and a hull, orshout a fifth of that of Eng land and %Vides, and her annual net contribution to the revenue of the Vetted Kingdom, is at least four millions, this shadow of .a representation bee, res muined unaltered.for the lest 12:3 ' , ram But e v e n in the election of the 45 represents t ices, the people of Scotland have no, voice, The quelificatioe, for voting both in Euglend and Scotland was, and still is, 40 shillings; with this essential difference, how ever, that in Scotland it is 40 shillings of old extent, a rate made 600 years ago, mind not subject to change according as the value of money deeteased, mid in England it is 4.0 shillings of the money for the time being, the necessary e ff ect o f w hi c h i s, to render the franchise sufficiently extetteive in the one comitry, and confine it to Is very small number in the other. —Scotland, therefore, has not yet been in tee% admitted to the benefits of the o(4l4olmia /1. It. is a theory of that Constitution, that the people are re presented in the. House of Commons anti ;mow in the enactment of the laws, but as regal di *Teeple of Scotland this theory is untrue-- , Pedianteht Japm tipotente—an Act of Parliament, it has been ,üb served, can do any thing except to make a 4144 a woman or a woman, a inen.---(A, laugh.), --Now it is plainly unjust to subject a nation to this power with out a full and free voice in the legislature. It was the imposition of taxes Without. representation that roused the United State" 'of America to a seas i+ of their rights, end issued in the establishment or their independence of the mother country. The cases are by no means parallel in their Circumstances, but each involves the same principle. As to the pro priety of holding this meeting, and petitioning for a ReforM in the reoresentstion, certain esullomm from US. They say that es the Ad mieistration is pledged to Reform, it i in , xpethent for the people to move or interfere in the matter. Plut see the dilemma arising 'from this negUment. Now that the Government is favouruble to Refo l those friends of ours tneititain that it is useless to petition. When we lied a Government that was hustile to Reform, then alio' they maintained that it was useless to petition I--(Laughter.) Leaving them to reconcile these irreconeilettble pleas, 1 an glad that their views have not deemed:lod its from meeting, or diverted us from our purpose. If they accuse us of disaffection ' are we disa ff ected in ex pressing our approval of the great healing measure contemplated by a Governmeet based, more than any Government that went before it, oil piddle opinion? If they accuse us of dislo,s :thy, ate we dis loyal in proclaiming a stntiment of gratitude entad miration of the liberality and patriotism du soeefeign ssho is , himself a Reformer? in the wortli'lth a modern miter, slightly transposed and altered, "'we are not assembled here to pour out the bitter wafers otstrife and unimosity-we are not assembled, like our countrymen in times peer, to light the torch of civil war, or to spread repine and desoletioes liver the land. We du not seek to restore those feudal chains by which Highlanders were bound to the earth.; but to support our sacred and 'inalienable claim to just rights end equal laws. These are the true rallyiag points; this is the true getheting of the clans.-s-(Applative.)—We assemble in the exer cise of the right-of a free people, to bind the com munity in good will and affection 'to 'the 'King and Government by the links of the' Constitution.”— (Cheers.)-i—He begged to apologize for having ties passed so much upon the time of this very respect able assembly.. &popular meeting itt Inverness has so much novelty -in it--.(A laugh).--und the sub jectis one of such vital importance. to the *orfgroof the country, that he nustedit Would 'not be held a very egregious error even in tnen:whose prdessionel duties and private ,eoncirus domand e!! their time and attention, to come forth from ' their re . tirettlehto, sued expreis their sentiments upon it in the presenee of their fellow citizens. Mr. CASIIOI,OIa. concluded by seconding the rest). lution. Mr. G. MACKAY, merchant, moved time seventh resolution.' Every enlightened and benevolent, mind, he said, must rejoice at the present pros Peet dim provement in th e d est i n i es o f Europe., 'There :wed , still, however, u few, even in this , favoured country, s it ow i o v i h m d eor ed t wl h io gi bl e l ip y t ; h r e aa e o vt s i e s i t e i h o e je r i u t n ienx i le tn ni t bn i t e i l e ti ot a l it i : e v e t e h t i s eti tt o ai n7 th s oh v o t h o s o t e ri : u y ' r e . :: 4 ; t 'l : : -: companson, who generously end brisielystilll to 'inv v tehtehe distressing eoilitron nations. p o o f wer ofe i f o t n i i s t ' , t i l t :L* o l;6l%e felt - Bess end oppression who may well rejoice In the clear light of the new day.. The toilette Governor of the universe appeared now to be tonging, the chains of the oppressed in all countries; bat as' they wae More immediately concerned with their oikii o tuntry,.he begged to state briefly a few of theisaids twit.ing from the present system of representation, or roller misrepresentation, of. the people in , KlM ment, and the necessity of it judicious and tempetate, but firm exertion to obtain an improvement. if the people had been truly represented in the House- of Commons, would they have consented in 11Th to go to war with die Amerieutscoloniesi old tOeut4i , - so many thousand lives on both aides, and edit millions to our national debt,- for the purpose. of compelling the American'. colonists, limp esented, to psy taxes, 110 e for thwirown benefit, or fur that of the mother country, but for the purpose ofpas s Mg a few sinecure* to the supporters of 4 tit. at nuntstrntion ? If the British people had been trimly represented in the Lower Houle of Parliament, would they have consented again in 1793 0 44 p to war with 'the people of 14411Ce s because • they at tempted to follow the example of this coa<tytry in 1688 ? And -would they have continued ' 6 " w " 1, so unjustly begu n , f or two and. twenty years , ntarti atwitter, for the ultimata ptirpoie of placing wi he pu fished, I. In foolscap Bvo. SONGS, by THE ETTRICK SHED. lIERD. Now first collected. Lately puhlished, by the same Author, in 2 vols. 12mo. price 14s. THE SHEPHERD'S CALENDAR. 11. In foolscap Bvo. SONGS of the ARK; with OTHER POEMS. 13) HENRY S. RIDDELL. Ptinted for William Blackwood, Edinburgh; and T. Cadell, Strand, London.