The Sun. — London, England, 1830-01-27 00:00:00

eld. lie (Mr. Attwood), in July last, thou ght it proper, out of respect to his talents and character, to wait upon this gentleman, and request his co-opera tion in the establishment of the political union.— Upon that occasion, Mr. Turner solemnly and se riously addressed him in the following words :—" I do upon my conscience solemnly believe that we are on the verge of a most tremendous convulsion ; I do, on my conscience, believe that your society only can possibly prevent it ; and yet I will not join your so ciety."—(Cheers and laughter.)—Mr. Turner did give a reason for this inconsistent determination, but lie (Mr. Attwood) would not repeat it, as it might raise a smile at the expense of a gentleman for whom he had a great respect and esteem. It was well known that the meeting in May last produced a very important effect throughout the country. lle had heard it spoken of iu at least 100 companies, in all of which he never heard one word of censure on its objects or resolutions dropped. In fifteen or twenty newspapers their resolutions had been advertised gra tuitously ; and it was satisfactory to reflect, that 110 document, in the recollection of any man, produced a stronger impression upon the public mind than the one issued by them on that occasion. He must, however, say, that although it produced so beneficial an effect upon the country, it did not produce the same upon the legislature. Lord Carnarvon, in in troducing their petition to the House of Lords, acted a manly and consistent part. Mr. Brougham, although he could not support one part of our plan, undertook its presentation to the House of Commons. He told us that he did not agree with us that it would be adviseable to lift up our meaes to the level of our burdens; but he would fight to bring down our burdens to the level of our means, He (Mr. Attwood), however, was sorry to say that Mr. Brougham never fought at all, and the petitioners were much disappointed. The Duke of Wellington, of whom he (Mr. Attwood) Wished to speak with respect, when the petition was presented to the Lords, had made one or two curi ous observations. He said, " You have been ac customed to a fictitious wealth—your habits are above what they ought to be—you must go back to the ancient mode of thinking and acting." This was what he was reported in the public papers to _have said, and he (Mr. Attwood) had no doubt he had said it. No nobleman was, however, found to tell the Noble Duke that his 700,000/. was granted ie fictitious money.—(Cheers.)—No nobleman was present to tell him, that if the middle and lower classes were to return to the ancient level, it was just that iris salaries and grants, and the pensions of iris family, amounting to about 60,0001., should be reduced to the same standard.—(Cheers.)—No no bleman was found to ask, whether it was not equally just that salaries, grants, and places, should be /educed with the wages of labour ?—(Cheers.) The Duke of Wellington still acted the great ge neral ; fee he (Mr. Attwood) could not believe that he was sincere in what he said. He had been so accustomed to feints of war, that now in civil mat ters he demonstrated one way while he . meant to act aeother,---(Cheers and laughter.)—Mr. Peel had likewise made some curious observations in the Com mons on the day, he (Mr. A.) believed, the Birmine barn petition was presented. On that occasion the Right Hon. Gentleman said, one great dillieuhy with which they had to contend was, the accumulation of wealth into great masses, and the extreme poverty of the lower enseses of the people. Ile ( Mr. Att wood) thought this assertion of Mr. Peel's peculiar, because ha had, in a letter to him so far back 219 1820, showed to him that this wee the natural effect of hie own bill; that it necessarily created a starving population, while it filled the pockets of the monied expitaliste,—(Cheers.) — He (Mr, Attwood) at the came time eatiel s " To those who have already much you are giving mare, while from those who have little you are taking the little they have." These were his words ten years ego, He would say no more, but now go to the business of the meeting. The requisition attributed the general dietrees now pervading all interests to the gross mismanagement of public atfairs, and that such distress could only be effectually remedied by a reform of Parliament. He (Mr Attwood) had always heen an advocate for re form, anti he would defy any one to deny (Cheers.)—Whea estate of national prosperity— when there was abundance of trade for the manufac eurer, and abundance of !about - for the workman— when humble wages were the reyeaed pf humble labour, he did not eome publicly forward as ;Se seise eats, he did not run his head against a wall, nor, like Dorn Quixote, hunt windmills, He had, however, always expressed a wish for reform, Gentlemen, however, argued, that because, twenty years ago, they were not public reformers, they were inconsistent in being its advocates now. Was he (Mr. Attwood) slow Ire had with him at least nine-tenths of all the respectability of the kingdom, and 00 out of every .100 of the assembly around him, riot to come for ward ? He (Mr, Attwood) should not sleep sound ;n iris bed if, at the present crisis of national affairs, be did not lend his assistance to avert the awful eonsequeneee which he antic;pested.—(Cheering.) —The resolutions which they passed ;n May, 1829, had never been impugned. They stated thee within 15 yearn the rent and taxes had been doubled. This was the language they now again uttered; nor was this opinion confined to them ; the same was ac limowledged in every county in England, In their petition they prayed, either te be lifted to ties level of their burdens, or for their burdens to be reduced to the level of their means. He (Mr. Attwood) stated in May, that he did not ear', 3 rush which mode was preferred, if only that was adopeed which would severe the property of the country. The Duke of Wellington, whose hew he was sorry to say 'seas the law of the land, refused te jilt 113 to the level of our burdens, Be it se; but ought not their burdens then to be brought down to the level of their means ? He (Mr. Attwood) abandoned all thoughts that the Legislature aver would lift them tip; hut, weary and rugged as was the road through which they had to travel, he (Mr. Attwood) with the assistance of his countrymen would compel the Government to do justice to the people.—(lmmense cheers.) Government had made their own bed; they had planted theme in the pillows of millions ; it was but just that they should be compelled to lie in the same bed with the I.;zople.—(Cheers.) It might be thought that because the national waggon as stuck fast in the ditch, they ought to pray to Jupiter for assistance ; he, however, said :;o; let them all put their shoulder to the wheel, and they ghoul(' soon be able to relieve it from its difficulties. By the assistance of those whom ire wee addressing, he (Mr. Attwood) hoped they would plant an acorn of British oak, which would, one day, grow up into a mighty tree, under whose foliage the poor of the kingdom should find shelter during the piti lees .storm. Dr. Henry, in his interesting " His tory of England," said that when their SilKi;il ancestors were attacked by the Danes, they sla vishly threw themselves with theie faces on the ground, and prayed aloud, " Lord, look !IOW they encompass me," instead of taking the bow, the spear, arid battle axe.—(Laeghter and cheers.) — He (Mr. Attwood) hoped they should not imi tate the example of their degraded axon ances tors, but that, although they should not use eke how or the spear, they would vdel4 the weapons of trutie s reason, and justice, and by these ceecessfully drive before them the Philistine', the Teepees, eend Jaws. (Cheers.) He would make his address as short possible, and give them out instance of mismanage ment of public affairs. When God laid the foundas lions of the world, he ordained that mews should live by the sweat of his brow—that he should receive bread as the reward of his labour. Now, however, they prayed for labour, and were without bread. He (Mr. Attsveod) was sorry to saythet there were gentlemen sell°, from ignorance, or front coneeleing all books but the book DC life, told them that pro *verity was not the natural ressele of good government : that it was perfectly natural that we should have prosperity one day and adversity to-nmerow, The doctrine that labour acrd industry under a wize go vernment worth! always Ir±et with its proper pay :Dena and reward was too good news to be true. his Was too absurd to require refutation. Industry end labour, unless there was gross mismanagement, would ever receive a proper remuneration. The years 1824• and 1825 were considered years of great prosperity. Trade flourished—there was abundance of business—profits were good—capital was plCnti ful, end there was plenty of employment for the worki tg classes. The consequence was, the la bower received an abundant reward for his labour. He (Mr.Attwood) did not know any two years when things wore a more cheering aspect. The only draw back was the little that wee said c r done towards reform : this, however, was to be :attributed to that general absence of complaint, always charac teristic of times of prosperity. In the autumn of that year, the Government told us by Mr. Ro binson, that " our prosperity was derived through the ancient portals of a constitutional monarchy," meaning the borough-mongering influence. He (Mr. Att wood) would tell the Meeting how that prosperity passed away. At that time there were no less than 400,000,0001. in bills of exchange in circulation, payable, when due, in the coin of the realm, orßank of England Notes. Now,the course of exchanges and the balance of trade carried all the gold out of the country, during the year 1825; thus, as it were, streaming out from the right arm of the nation. The Government, at the same time, compelled the Bank of England to confine their circulation of 1/. notes ; thus again draining the nation through its left arm. What did they think would be the fate of an individual, if he had an artery opened in each arm ? Migi t they not ex pect that, from exhaustion, he would naturally die ? 'I he consequence of this was, that the 400,000,0001. of bills were left without sufficient money in the country wherewith to pay them ; they were re turned, and every tradesman in the country imagined that the Philistines were upon him. This was the nature and true cause of what were termed the panics. They would see how the foundation of faith slided from under the feet of the cormsiercial men. lie would tell them how the Government then acted. They found it necessary to interfere, and they issued, in the purchase of national debt, in the course of ten days, full 9,000,0001. of large Bank notes. They wished to subject the nation to the arbitrary notions they had derived from musty lass books, rather than make arbittary notions give way to the public interest. In the midst of this dis tress, Government never interfered, until they found, according to their own confession, that the nation, if they persisted, would, in 48 hours, be reduced to a state of barter,—meaning,by barter, that society would be in a state of chaos, in which those who lived at all must live by Woodland plunder, Ile (Mr.Attwood)told the Ministers to their face that they were within seven days of such a state of things, when Mr. HIM.. kisson afterwards stated they were within 48 hours. Every one would allow that this was a most despe rate crisis for the industrious loyal people of this nation to be brought to. How did Government act ? At his (Mr. Attvrood's) instance, he believed the Bank, by order of Government, issued one pound notes; but he told Ministers that the issue of these notes had aced as mere driblets, and did but add fuel to the flame, as it were; but that the country wanted masses of money to meet the masses of debt which were pressing ni.on the market for payment, and that unless these masses of money were instantly provided by purchases of the national debt, it would not be possible for the Government to exist in England for another week. The istie of Bank of England notes, by the purchases of national debt, was accordingly increased from 17,000,0001. to 26,000,0001. in the course cf ten days; besides 6 or 7,000,000 more of sovereigns, which were also issued in that period ; and for these soverei g ns they were mainly indebted to the favour of the Bank of France. Thus, having saved themselves from a state of barter, or universal plunder, by the assist ance of paper money, Lord Liverpool, within a little month, came forward end, to the astonishment of all rational minds, proclaimed the abandonment of that very system which, but a month before, he declared saved there from destruction.—(Cheers.) He (Mr, Attwood) at that titne, in January, 1826, in a pamphlet, denounced the madness of this mea sure.—[Here Mr. Attwood read an extract from his letter to Sir John Sinclair, describing the tempo rizing policy as leading to the same ruination in the cud, though operating through the slow and distress ful operations of 1816, instead of acting with the swift destruction which threatened the existence of the Government in the late panic. The one was dying by inches, the other by a cannon-ball.] — lie, r. Attwood, need not say how these pro hecies had been fulfilled. It was known, and now acknowledged by all parties, that Mr. Peel's bill had literally doubled the real weight and the real value of every tax, debt, and monied obligation in the kingdom ; and that the fall of the prices of labour had been full 10 per cent. instead of 5 per cent as had been foretold. His friend, Mr. Dobbs, hed wit tily placed this subject in a proper point of view. He supposed John Bull to be a manufacturer of saticepens,and he borrowed 100 saucepans when such were selling at a shilling each. But, by a hens poet's operation of Government, these pans were re duced to sixpence each, and thus John had two to pas instead of one. But this was not all ; poor John, same time, obliged to pay two for one, is, by the saw'e operation, deprived of his employment; arid thus the burdens of poor John, whether public or private, were confessedly quadrupled. In 1819, the city of London, and the merchants of Liverpool, re meastrated against this destructive measure. Mr. Cohtiett denounced it, and stilted that he would be broiled upon a gridiron if it were possible to carry it into full effect, and that in the very attempt, if per severed in, two millions of men must literally die of imager, unless taxes and obligations were reduced in the same degree as the value of money was raise 1. Wonderful it was to say, that this deadly and de structive measure had never been efficiently inquired mie ; but that a deadly and fatal silence had pervaded the ieg:eletive :councils from the moment it was adopted until the present day. lie (Mr. Attwood) would not throw asperaion unon any body; but when he reflected upon this wonderful secrecy, he could nut bet call to mind the words of the great painter of nature, ss!eo, when he represented a man attempt ing an object whieh nature shrinks at, makes him tall upon elemental darknese to shelter his designs fro;:: his own eyes and from those cf !leaven Come, thick night, " And pall thez in the dunnest smoke of hell! " That my keen knits szT. not the wound it makes, " Nor heaven peep through th:; Llsnlet of the dark, ' 4 To et). hold, hold !' lie did not mean to say that any Members of the Ministry or of the Parliament were animated by any diabolical motives of tiii2 kind—upon his honour he believed not ; but still he would soy, had it not been for this deadly secrecy which had been ob served—if due notka had been given of the fatal ef fects of this fatal measure, the people of England wound have broke in upon their deliberations, with a voice a thunder, crying, " Hold, hull !" He (Mr. Attwoodj vies sensible the day was getting very short : he had an deal to say in defence cti the measure he had the honour to b:•ing forward, but he paceiyed the Meeting were satisfied already, and therefore he ws_it4d cut short the business of the day, and immediately propose the plan of the Poli- ' tin! Union. [Here the plan of the Union was read, the ,;;.ding of which occupied a full hour, and was listened to t:ot , ,,i_rhout with the most profound at-1 tention.] Mr. Attwo. - ,4. resumed. They had heard the plan of the institution read; which had already received thc , signatures of 36 gentlerneli. Mr, Att wood here eigtail4 r!te several provisions, allowing I of such alterations as wi•igifi; suggested upon fu-1 ture consideration. He bad only oppremark further to " I feel it my duty (continued Mr. Att wood) to dealore to you, that I know the country to be on the verge ol dreadful calamities. It may be thought, because I come forward now, that I shall be tez.d;r, come weal come wo e ,' to head you through thick apd thin—through the dark and dreary scenes which are approaching. As far as law will justify me I will go with you.—(Tremendous cheers.) When 1 say I will go with you as far as law will allow, I declare to you, most solemnly, I will not go further one inch, I know that a great crisis is approaching. I will do all I can to avoid that crisis ; but if the nation is to go through the ordeal of political convulsions, I will not interfere in those convulsions but legally and peaceably ; and I wish you to bear this in mind, when those dreadful cir eumstat;ces arise. I know you swill conic to me and , ay, ' Lead us.' My friends, I will not lead you ; [ will go with you as far as the law will justify, but if the elements of law and order are disorganised, I ciii go with you no further." (Mr. Attwood re tired amidst loud and vehement cheers.) The following motion, previously read by Mr. Attwood, was seconded by Mr. Betts :—" That in the opinion of this meeting the general distress which now afflicts the country, and which has been so severely felt at different periods during the last fifteen years, is entirely to be ascribed to the gross mismanagement of public afftirs, and that such mis management can only be effectually and permanently remedied by an effectual reform in the Commons House of Parliament ; and this meeting is also of opinion, that for the legal accomplishment of this great object, and for the further redress of public wrongs and grievances, it is expedient to form a general political union between the lower and middle classes of the people in this town." Mr. J. PARKES then presented himself to the meeting. Ile had ever been a sincere and ardent advocate of Parliamentary Reform, but could not conscientiously sign this requisition which convened the present meeting, when the requisition, in such sweeping, and, in his mind, incorrect language, attributed all the distress of the country for the last fifteen years to the gross mismanagement of public affairs. In the first place, national prosperity was not singly dependent on the government and internal trnde of its country; the foreign relations of other States ever had, and ever would operate materially on our adversity and prosperity. Seasons of com mercial distress and revulsion were also inseparable from such vast commercial and trading transactions as those of this country. God forbid that he should slight or deny the pressure and increasing severity of that deep rind general distress which now pervaded the commercial and agricultural iroerests of the kingdom, and in which, unfor tunately, Birmingham so largely suffered. In hi profession he could not be supposed to be competent to enter into all the topics addressed to the meet ing on commercial :matters by his friend Mr. Att wood; but it was competent to him, as an inhabi tant of the town, convened in common with other of his fellow -townsmen, to consider the general pro priety of the resolution now proposed. In the second place, he could riot agree in the words of a requisition which passed so sweeping and indiscri minate a censure on the illustrious individual at the head of his Majesty's Government. He could not review the acts of his short administration without feelings of the deepest gratitude, that through his wise and uncompromising measures union had been restored to Ireland; and, as a Protestant Dissenter, he should he unmanly and base if he did not admit the debt of gratitude for his enjoyment of equal rights and civil privileges; and the Duke of Wel lington had added to his glory as a warrior the far surpassing glory of having rent in twain the veil of the temple of bigotry. [Here Mr. Parkes was in terrupted with loud shouts and yells, and the chair man and several gentleman in vain endeavoured to obtain order. Mr. Thomas Attwood replied that all these measures alluded to were trifles and rushes; that religion and priests were not wanted, but beer, bread, and meat.—(luzzas.) At last Mr. Edmonds appealed to the impartiality of the meeting, and to give Mr. Parkes a patient hearing, as he was a real friend of reform, and he obtained another hearing He trusted, as he should be brief and pointed, and wholly relevant to the object of the meeting, that they would give him a dispassionate and quiet hear ing. The currency had been stated to them as one great and paramount cause of the present distress. He might not agree with gentlemen who had pre ceeded him, that the currency, as explained by them, was the proximate cause; but he did assert, that the roots and cancer of the present evils were, that shameful act of the legislature in 1797, which lega lized arid imposed upon the country art inconverti ble currency, the evils which were then fully predicted ;—which had subsequently piled loan upon loan, and debt upon debt ; which had in its direful consequences, corrupted the springs of public government ;—which had originated crusades against the liberties of the world, deluged the rivers of Eu rope with blood, and whitened its plains with the bones of the slain.—(Cheers.) Was it the perpe tuation arid return of this base system which is de sired ? If so, he was here its utmost and most ve hement opposer. He admitted that the great public measure of Mr. Peel in 1819, to remedy these evils, might have been too hasty ; that the questions of depreciation, and the standard, might not have re ceived that attention they deserved. He would admit that the question of the euirency had now a fair claim to the re-consideration of the Legislature; but he preferred the evils, had or fatal as they might be, of a metallic currency now restored, to the pre dicted benefits of a base, incontrovertible, and de yreciated paper medium. He then proceeded to the more immediate consideration of the reeolutioe, on which he proposed to found an ainendment.—(Yells and hooting.) He did conscientiously oppose one main object of that resolution. He opposed the formaticn of fl union or club, because he did not consider it the legitimate or successful mode of sup porting or advancing reform of Parliament. That Parliament required reform, and the same principle of amendment extended to all other institutions of our country, few now pretended to deny : the time and mode of reform only were the subject of differ ence. Had time rio operation on the constitution of the British Legislature ? Were the opulent and populous masses of society, called into existence even since the last revolution, not to partake of the rights and benefit of representation ? Vas it not a scandal and a shame that they should continue bereft of political power ? And were three or four hundred Members of the House of Commons not emanating from the people, to control the fate and commercial policy and interests of this great nation ? But a political club or union, as proposed, was not the mode of promoting these great ends. Poli tical clubs were generally composed of the ex tremes of different parties, with different ends in view. Excepting the Catholic Association, an excep tion to the general:rule, they did not succeed in their pretensions. They were landmarks of division among common friends ; they were always perverted from their original intent, and they had thi s genera l effect—that they tempted Government:to make laws which invariably abridged the liberties th ese d u b s intend to promote. It did not require the gift of prophecy to foretcl that the projected Political Union would riot survive the duration of the present Parliament. The Society of Friends of the People, the Constitutional Associations, all shared this com mon fate of inutility and dissolution. It might be now asked of him by what means, then, he proposed to attain the object of Parliamentary Reform. H e proposed the use of the rights of . the press an d o f periodical public meetings and petitions to the legis lature; not reliance on the effect of such meeti ngs alone on the legislature, but in their operation on public opinion ; he proposed the support an d ex tension of everyinstitution and means of public education which spread knowledge among the people, and which alone could fit the people for the exer cise of the elective franchise. He proposed inform ing them on the first and great principles of govern merit, of trade, of capital, of labour ; awaking them to their true interests, turd the use of their political rights. With these vierve, Lorry as he was to differ from the friends around him, he proposed tire fol lowing amendinent—(APPli!ii 3 e) " That the great and increasing distress of the commer cial and agricultural interests of the country demands the urgent and paramount attention of the Govcrument and Legislature, and every possible economy and retrenchment in the national expenditure, consistent with the preserva tion of the ne.tioisal faith to the public creditor. 6 , That the population, intelligence, and opulence of the town of Birmingham, and the spirit of the British Con stitution, entitle Birminsibam to send "'epl'eeentatives to Parliament. " That the operation of time on the constitution awl purity of the Commons' }Tom of Parliament requires re form in the amendment of the representation of the people --to equalize and sitnplifi the elective franchise,—to make ate body of electors too larqe for individual corruption, and the period of choice too short for temptation, and, by the subdivision of the places of election, to bring the elec tors together without confusion, and within every man's reAch. " That petitions, embodying these resolutions, be sig,ned by this meeting, and . pre,,ented to both Houses of Par liament." Mr. W. REDFERN, on rising to second the amend ment, said, when interrupted, he was in the act of warning them against the ulterior views of the gen tlemen who were the framers of the union.— (llisses.)—What he predicted had come to pass.— Mr. Attwood, who had introduced the principal measure, had favoured them with a small cast, but had given them a ponderous volume on currency.— ( Hisses.)—" I u►:,," continued Mr. Redfern, " an advocate for retrenchment to the uttermost farthing, consistent with national honour and good faith.— Yes, if there be a single troop of horse or foot re tained in the service of Government which is not necessary for national defence, let it in God's name be disbanded. If there be a single vessel of war not required for the protection of our shores, let it be given up. If any Government offices be retained, not with a view to national good, but simply as ap panages to some noble families, let them be swept away. If any colonies be retained, not for the ex tension of our commerce, but as convenient appoint ments for the haegers on of Government—let them be abandoned.—(Cheers.)—lt is not fitting, it is riot seemly, it is riot just, that the money wrung from the nation, " from the hard hands of peasants," should be squandered away in useless profusion, should be otherwise expended than for strictly na tional purpose. Fellow-townsmen, submit to me a motion to this effect, and with the qualification which I have before suggested, " I will applaud it to the very echo that cloth applaud again." Pre sent such a petition to me, and I will sign it with both my hands !—(Laughing.) Are you aware at what time, under what circumstances of peril and of danger, this national debt so much decried, and by none more so than by those who least understood its operation, was contracted ? Many amongst you must surely recollect the time when the whole of England was in arms,—when the country from one extremity to the other looked like a vast garrison,— when the peasant from his plough, and the mechanic fro►t his shop, were alike fired with a patriotic and martial ardour,—wLen the thronged camp, and the numerous squadrons of the enemy, could almost be discerned from our own coasts on the opposite shores of France,—when, after five centuries of freedom from foreign invasion, English►nen anticipated the ►notnent when they could be called upon to fight on their own soil, in defence of their wives and chil dren, their hearths and altars. It was —yes, it was at this time, and at such times as these, that no in considerable portion of what now constitutes the national debt was advanced for the sacred purpose of national defence. But you may perhaps say, we are willing to pay what we have borrowed; ought we, is justice, to pay more ?—(Cries of certainly not.) This is my reply—you ought to pay what your engaged,—you ought to fulfil your contracts. But the value of money has been raised by artificial meens,—hy an Act of Parliament. Granted ; but the knowledge of this is no new matter; it was un derstood when the contracts were entered into, that cash payments would be resumed. Mr. EDMONDS again interfered in behalf of the speaker, but finding all intercession unavailing, he put it to Mr. Redfern whether he would continue. The CHAIRMAN', at length, put it to tine Meeting, whether they would hear Mr. Redfern ? when the negative was carried by a majority of least ten to one.—(Cheers.) Mr. ArrwooD, in reply, said he had occupied so much time already, that he should say little in addition. If all the ten thousand present were al lowed to speak for hours, they would be kept for days and years. He was not sorry, therefore, that his friend, Mr. Redfern, had requested that the sense of the Meeting as to his proceeding should be taken. Mr. Parkes had designated the Union a club. A club, in his opinion, was an association of a few individuals for party purposes; but what they proposed was nothing snore nor less than the union of the people of England. Ile would concede to Mr. Parkes that the club of olden times to which he alluded—the Whig Club—had never done any good, nor ever intended to do any good.—(Cheer ing.)—From the days of King William, when we were ruled by a Wiiig party, to this time, the Whigs had done nothing to forward the canse of public li berty.—(Cheers.)—He (Mr. Attwood) never be longed to that party—he was always a Tory, and a real friend to the privileges of the people.—(Cheers.) If the public interests at the present crisis were left to a mere desultory town's meeting, as Mr. Parkes recommended—one at Manchester proposing one object, another at Birmingham proposing another, and a third at Leeds another,—no good would be done until this great and glorious nation was reduced to the state of Israel in Egypt.—( Loud cheering.)—He wished to see the bull taken by the horns ; he wished to Fee public opinion pro perly organized ; and he would ask his friend, Mr. Parkes, if they were able to bring two millions of people to thitdc, speak, and act as one man, did he not think they should be able to effect more good than by the plan he proposed ?—(Cheers.) It had been said that he had attacked the fundholder. This he denied. Three of the first fundholders, viz., Sir Robert Peel, Mr. Rothschild, and Mr. Baring, at the time Mr. Peel's Bill was before the House, supported him in his views. These authorities all said that its effects would be felt at the utmost cor- tiers of the kingdom. He (Mr. Attwood) was as much the friend of the fundholder as be was of the landowner; anti he firmly believed that unless there was a speedy alteration, the property of the fund holder would not be worth a rush.--(Cheering.) The God of nature had not provided that mass of gold which was required to pay off the national en gagement. Eight thousand tons of solid gold was equal to 800 millions of pounds sterling; such an amount was not within the bowels of the earth.— lie (Mr. Attwood) would make one other re mark, to show that he was no enemy to the fund holder; Consols had risen from 60 to 93, while the rent of land bad been reduced from 63 to 30. Dur- ing the war the two interests were upon a footing of equality ; now one was three times larger than the other. In addition to this the landholder had his land subject to settlements, mortgages, and incum brances, which when reduced from 65 to 30, reduced it still further to 15. Thus it would be seen, that what with the land-holder was GO was now only 15; while the fund-holder was risen from 60 to 90. This was what he called turning the country topsy turvy. It was taking the flesh from round the legs of John Bull, to wrap round his head.—(Cheering.) With regard to maintaining faith with the public creditor, he knew an interested party in the House of Commons were in the habit of talking of the Act of Parliament—the bond by which the country was bound to pay in a metallic currency. He (Mr. Attwood) did not believe this bond existed ; but if it did, let them have the forfeit of the bond. Let them take it front nearest the heart of the country but if, in doing so, they took one drop of Christian blood, let their goods be forfeited to the state of • Venice.—(Cheering.)—Mr. Attwood concluded by referring to America, as a proof of the manner in which a paper currency might exist consistent with the security and happiness of a state. He sat down amid loud and continued cheering. Mr. G. Eoanmos rose to warn the assembly against voting for the amendment. Of itself it wa s unobjectionable, but it was introduced for the purpose of cutting off the most important object of the meeting. He (Mr. Edmonds) could easily b r i n g forward proofs to show that clubs had pro duced the most beneficial effects. What they pro posed, however, was not a club : they merely created a channel for the conveyance of the united sentiments of the people—they merely proposed to establish a system by which to exhibit what he could not better term than that electrical sympathy which glowed in the hc.som of individuals from common sufferings to the head of affairs.—(Cheers.) Had not the Duke of Wellington confessed the power and force of public opinion, as concentrated and expressed by the Catholic Association ? (Cheers.) And might they not expect similar effects to be produced by similar means ? If the public opinion of England was but fairly and ener getically expressed, there could be no doubt that the hero of Waterloo, who wished on all occasions to stand high in the public esteem, would sacrifice wealth to meet the views and wishes of the country. —(Cheers.) Mr. Edmonds then happily contra ted the manly conduct of the Tories as compared with the insincere dirty conduct of the Whigs, whom he described as extremely patriotic tea-table politicians, but who would never do any thing except with closed doors.—(Cheers.) Mr. Edmonds concluded by exhorting all present to enrol their names as members of the Union, at the office in Paradise street; and as money was the sinews of even moral wars, to immediately subscribe to the funds. He sat down amidst loud and vehement cheering. The motion was then put and carried, 20 to one, amidst the most deafening cheers. The subsequent motions, all of which will be found belew, were moved and seconded by Messrs. W. MARTIN, C. JONES, SALT, RUSSELL, HAR RISON, &c. The censure of the High Bailiff was momentarily opposed by Mr. B. RkDFERN ; but on marked symp toms of disapprobation being evinced towards the speaker, he precipitately withdrew. Thanks were vo ed to the Chairman and Mr. Attwood, and likewise to Mr. Beardsworth, for the accommodation he had arc,rded to the meeting; when, after three cheers fur the King, proposed by Mr. Attwood, the immense assembly quietly dis persed to their several habitations. Such an exhibition of public feeling, nor one which has excited so intense an interest throughout the whole neighhourhood, is not in the recollection of man. ()TULL ItZSOLUTIONS PASSZD. The above plan of a political union between the lower and middle classes of the people, for the pro tection of public rights, having been read to this Meeting, and the same having been duly considered : 3. That it be approved, adopted, ratified, and confirmed, as the act of the town of Birmingham. 4. That the 36 gentlemen who have brettOtt forward the plan, and whose names are affixed to it, be appointed the Political Council for the year ending the first Monday in July, 1830, and that after that day the Council shall be elected by the Members of the Union, agreeably to the rules and regulations. 5. That Mr. William Shortbouse, Mr. and Mr. William Martin, be appointed Auditors of the Political Union. 6. That Mr. Richard Rotton be appointed Treasurer. 7. That this Meeting pledges itself, collectively and in - dividually, to support the objects of the Politican Union by every just, legal, and peaceful means. S. That we recommend to all our fellow-townsmen to subscribe to the funds of the Political Union, so far as they can conveniently afford, and to obey all the just and legal directions of the Council, so far as they can be legally and conveniently obeyed. 10. That this :fleeting cannot separate without de claring its opinion that the conduct of the High Bsiliff, in neglecting the requisition of so respectable a body of his fellow-townsmen, was highly unbecoming and censurable, inasmuch as he ought to have known that it was his duty to comply with the wishes of 200 individuals, equally ca pableof exercising a sound judgment as himself. _ The petition, being an exact Copy of the one adopted at Cambridge, was taken as the Birming ham petition. SHIPPING INTRGLIGENCE.--(THIS DAY, FROM LLOYD'S. PORTSHOLTH, J. 26.—Wind S. W.—Arrived the Lufire, Zannet, from Meant. HASTINGS, JAN. 26.—Arrived off port, the Annan dale, Ferguson, from Bombay; the Apollo, Randall, from Berbice; and the Warren, from Charleston. LIVERPOOL, JAN. 25.—Arrived the Sarah and Caro line, from Charleston ; Atalante, Mallard, from Lisbon; and the Boston, Mackie, from Boston. FALMOUTH, JAN. 25.—Wind N.E.—Arrived the Anna, M‘Lachlan, from Jamaica ; Patina, Littlewood, from Seville ; Athens, Harper, from Charleston ; and the Sutherland,Albion, from Gibraltar. Sailed the Sphynx packet, for St. Domingo, Jamaica, Mexico, and Havannah. Cowles, JAN. 26.—Arrived the William, Hanningtoo, from Batavia. Dovxx, JAN. 21.—Arrived the Dryad, Kelliek, from Mauritius, and St. Helena ; and the Lucretia, from Demerkra. The Mary, Bison, from Tampico, has arrived at Castle Townsend. The John and Mary, Swaffin, has been condemned at St. Michael's, having been on shore. The Draper, Grosvenor, from London to Dublin, was cff Whitstable yesterday, rather leaky, having been on the Girdler Sand. The Swallow, from St. Michael's, is supposed to have arrived oil Dover. LAW INTIiLLIGENCIE.-(THIS DAY). COURT OF CHANCERY. RUSSIILL V. MAI:SLAND-Xx-YAILTZ INJUNCTION. The SOLICITOK-GENERAL applied on behalf of the plain tiff, a gas-pipe manufacturer atWednesbury, for an ex-parts injunction to restrain the defendant, who is an iron-founder at Burnley, his agents and workmen, from making or selling, or causing to be made or sold, any iron pipes for conveying gas, or other purposes, upon the principle of a patent men tioned in the pleadings. Five years ago a Mr. Whitehouse had obtained a patent fir a new invention of making iron pipes or tubes by drawing, while the metal is in a state of fusion, instead of 'nammering it. The patent had beets re gularly assigned over to the plaintiff, who had from then till now made such pipes undisturbed, upon the new prin ciple, to a very large extent. Sometime ago the defendant, in the garb of a working man, called on the plaintiff, and having been upon the premises, endeavoured to obtain a licence far making tubes on the principle in question. When such license was positively refused to be granted, the defendant declared his determination to make such pipes, whether with or without a license. The plain tiff did not at first recognise the defendant, but after 3 time, be taxed him with being Mr. Marsland, with whom he had former dealings, when the defendant ac knowledged himself. These facts appeared on the affi davit of the plaintiff, as well as the circumstance of having obtained (though with considerable difficulty) a portion of pipe manufactured by the defendant, expressly on the plaintiff principle. The affidav its of several other per sons were made, stating that the defendant is c rrying on this part of his business in the most secret manner, lock ing up his men while they are at work, using every pre caution to those whom he suppliee with the pipes, and that they are indisputably made on the plaintiff's principle. The Loan CHANCELLOR, on being further informed that this violation of the patent had only just reached the knowledge of the plaintiff, ordered the injunction to issue as prayed. GOURT OF KING'S BENCII. WYNNE V. CROSSW.ME. This was an action tried a few days since, at Guildhall, before Lord Tenterden and a special Jury. It was brought to recover the amount of a respomientia bond of 3,0001. and a verdict was found for the plaintiff. Mr. BROUGHAM this day applied for a rule to show cause why that verdict should not be set aside, and a new trial granted. The Learned Counsel moved on two grounds, first, that the transaction under which the bond was given was not of that nature required by the Act in case of re spondentia, and therefore the bond was illegal ; and, se condly, the misdirection of the Learned Judge in his sum ming up to the Jury. The COURT considered the ease had been properly put to the Jury, and also that they were the proper judges of the nature of the transaction, therefore they saw no reason fur disturbing- the verdict that had been given. —Rule re fused. MARCHANT AND ANOTHER V. BRUTTON. Mr. JOHN WlLLlalts moved for a rule to show cause why the verdict obtained in this case should not be set aside. It was an action tried before Lord Tenterden at Guildhall, when a verdict was given for the plaintiff, damages to be settled out of Court. The action arose under the following cicumstance :—ln 1524, the plsintiffs were in partnership, and about the end of that year they had a distress put into their premises fur rent. The per son executing the warrant of distress having ex ceeded his duty, they employed the defendant, who is a solicitor, to bring au action against him for an excessive distress, in which action they obtained a vardict with SUL (Imago. Four years after title Walt' Il ia plaintiffs commenced an action against the defendant, in which they charge him with withholding part of the money received in the former action, and the Jury under. ell lie (Mr. Williams) submitted, the misdirection of the Learned Judge, found a verdict in their favour. News othing could be eo important to a person in the defea ii,mt's situation in life, as to clear his character from such - a charge, and lie therefore trusted the Court would give Lim an opportunity of so doing by granting another trials lie was prepared with proof that for four years after the first action was brought, not a word had ever been uttered tibout the defendant keeping part of the damages and c osts, aml also that the plaintiffs had, during that time, been to the greatest distress, and frequently solicited a shilling at time from the defendant's clerks ; and . - . Lord TENTERDEN—Yon have 'toted enough to entitle you to a rule.—Rule granted. After the ATTORNHY-GENERAL had moved in a case of no public interest, the Learned Counsel asked the fa vour of the Court to make another motion immediately. LORD TENTIADEN—We cannot, I think, depart front the usual custom, Mr. Attorney. The ArroaNnT-GENznAL—It will be very inconve nient, my Lord, for the to wait until the bar has been gone through. Lord TENTERDEN-I am sorry for that, but utile,e pub lic business calls you away, I think your request cannot be complied with. His Lordship then called on Mr. Campbell to more, and the Attorney-General sat down. THE MARKETS.-(THIS DAY). CORN EXCHANGE. The open weather has not continued sufficiently long to bring in our expected supplies of Grain, the quantities this week are therefore very short. There is scarcely ►ample of fine Wheat at market to-day, and our millers decline purchasing other sorts. In all other Grain there is no alteration to be noted front Monday's currency. The Flour trade remains as last reported. A ItAIVALS. Barley. 150 qrs. English Irish Foreign Wheat. 2-4.1 qrs.. Oats. I Flour. 5 qrs.' 000,auks. 551 - bris. MAY MARKETS.—(At per Load of 36 Trusses.) SMITHFIELD. Coarse heavy Lowland Meadow Hay .E 2 tl to .£2 19 New Meadow Hay 0 0 • 0 Useful Old Ditto 2 3 3 10 Fine Upland Meadow and Eye-grass Hay . . ... S 15 4 10 Clover Hay (extra flae).../5 to...lllenersillr S S 4 lb Oat Straw Supply limited, trade rather dull, and pares stationary. CANTERBURY,_ Jan. 23. We had a short supply of Wheat at the commend of our market, and of ♦ery indifferent quality, b u t to wards the close we had a better supply, which readily ob— tained the prices of this day week. Barley and B e aus are dull of sale, and the same may be said of Pease ;,, , a Oats. Wheat, white s2s. to &55....... Old .—e. to --S -red Barley, Maltiog 2ss. to 34s Oats Beans 22s. to 325. Pease 32s. to 38s. THE SPEAKING FRENCH GRAMMAR, By J. V. DOUVILLE, PROFESSOR OF THE FRENCH LANGUAGE. . No. 1, Soho-square; and 2, Lsverence-lane, Cheapside, London. THE THIRD EDITION. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sla,—The French Language being usually studied with a view to conversation, this Grammar will he found par- . ticularly calculated to promote this desirable object. The rapid sale of the two large impression• of the work, aud the increasing patronage by which the Third Edition 1 5 daily distinguished, are sufficiently indicative of it« merits. Extensive experience in teaching having confirmed me /0 the conviction that the English are peculiarly diffident ia speaking French, I have principally applied myself to re medy this mauvaise honte, by continually drilling the pupil on the verbs, and the other parts of speech. By this means, and the explanatory system adopted through out the book, the student is kept in constant practice; without which very little hope may be entertained of ever speaking French. The Essays on the Rules are all col loquial, and may be considered as a repertory for convey- . s'ation ; while the verbs are exemplified in quite a new and clear manner. The work is concluded by a Grammatical Analysis, and a Treatise on French Prosody and Versifi cation ; besides a classified Vocabulary ; a Collection of Familiar Phrases, arranged under distinct beads; and numerous Models of Notes and Letters, with some forms of Bills of Exchange, Promisairy Notes, and Receipts. In the execution of the whole, in abort, I have spared no pains in my endeavours to give the work the greatest pos sible degree of perfection ; and I flatter myself the present edition will be esteemed fully to justify my pretensions. I hare the honour to be, Sir, Your mo►t obedient humble servant, London, Jan. 2G, 1830. J. V. DOUVILLE. N.B. The Key to the Essays is published. His MAJESTY, it is expected, will hold Court on Thursday next at his Palace at Windsor. A Cabinet Council was held at three o'clock yesterday afternoon at the Foreign Office, which was at tended by the Loan CHANCELLOR, the Duke of WV. LINGTON, Earls BATHURST, ROSEILTIfy and Antenna(' Viscount MrLviu.s, Lord Er.r.a Naonouam, Mr. Secretary PEEL, Sir GEORGE MURRAY, the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, and Mr. HERMES. The Ministers remained, in deliberation till half-past six o'clock in the evening. • The Russian and French Ambassadors had 8. 1 . conference with the F.arl of ABERDEEN yesterday, at the office of the Secretary of State fur Foreign Affairs. The Marquis of CHANDOS had an interview yesterday with the Duke of Wxr,LINGTox, at the Treasury. Mr. HERRIEs attended at the office of the Board of Trade on Monday evening, and also yesterday morning. Mr. COURTENAT, the Vice-President of the . , Board of Trade, had an interview with the Right Hon. . 1 Gentleman, at the office, y e st er d a y. S ome official papers connected with the office were forwarded yesterday to the. residence of Mr. IlEartrEs. -• . We regret to state th a t it is very confidently stated, and very generally believed, that the Marquis of 'e CirANDos is about to accept office under the Duke °fi t '''. WELLII4GTON. If this rumour be well founded we can- e not help pitying the Noble Marquis. The fact of Lord : CHANDOS joining the present Ministry is unfortunate in more rcpects than one. It is unfortunate for the Noble. Lord personally, and as regards his character and avowed. or rather professed, sentiments; anal it is doubly unfor-. tunate that this junction should take place in the wane of the Duke of Witu.iNcxoN's power, lie can render no assistance to the falling Premier, but he may lose his friends and office pretty nearly at the same time, and dia." grace himself by a connexion which he will most assuredly repent hereafter. We hope, however, that the rumour is untrue, and that it will be in our power to-morrow to give it an unqualified contradiction.—Morning Journal.. We are authorised to state that a Catho l ic gentleman of the first respectability, politically unconnected with any of the great leading interests of the county, will, on the first opportunity, offer himself to the consideration of the independent electors of the county of Galway, as a candidate for the 'amour of representing them in Parlia ment, upon purely independent principles.--. Dublin Morning Register. The note of" improvement" has been so long sounded in the public ear, that, delightful as are the seusa tians which its vibrations should at all times produce, r w bye * almost fear again to strike the chord,lest its monotony should al plaur that time past been in agitation in this city, that it ia for sr p oe r am o d v ey e b ir e k en so s m a e id to re o la u t r ive re t a o de t r h s e . va l r r i i o d u eed . mush „ L y m e' ,nie 11 t difficult to allude to the subject , without going len i of our h o o lu) w rre e ve v i E, t es be lu pi p ioe r ie. o al d ir i u be it :l i of This good it e ra to tooivuoetnselves l g i eo r u ub r i r y, j d esc t ot l s ue t . s the cause, or it will tend to draw forth the contempt of our fellow countrymen, whose attention cannot but lse turned towards a city where so many undertakings have been pro..- • jested. That there is a lack of means to effect the varioul improvements cannot fur a moment be supposed ; nor would butr t "ie r w p o r u e l s d en t pe pe riod gently hint toou di n r s f t p e ic l i l a c i ; l : a fellow-citizens, i t a t itziwee their want of s l , l I(i),Wilin: that the that ir 3 t ; t wide fi e ld i s b e fore them for displaying felicitous for th e f oun di ng of a name that is p e culiarly shall command the respect of every future generation. The Suspension Bridge, the Railway to Bath, the College, the Hotel, and other improvements of minor importance, if accomplished, will be regarded by posterity as so many nt.nniments erected to the honour of the present age ; but either t rf lr y atev°er merited it3hooet ssienecxoupireirtelio:jteocitfit'alosruhebraoepumlirdsoarsfseaaitiel(inifetoerilrel::)Pr'aViestaeliltrt. d ogf C fit U uh) : I 's : apathy,ti l api t ol n ro —Bristol .114reury. . b __•.....% j313 " 3 ! ,... 1 44 :tr i 1 itS:tcetnnektox.in.Bc,.. ~12 , t Ceot c u , V itt° It ‘d- ••••• ir t Cnt. A.. tts , I ra , .. 1 4hk L. A ,• to su n • to o , YPars 1"7 3 0 years 6714140*k .tto ...„.....___hands ... 10 1111cEs 0 . i Austrian Bond " 04 yrti Cliiliun Bonds ('°l "abial 11 bitto, 18t4 c) : ba.lzish Unto p:;;;i; ** uttto, 1142 5 ...: Clltilnal.- .... ; Atet---- iean F,Ald iiitta, p m —-----__:::: PRICES , kratilnlClaialex. I'4 n bitto Natio, A~tcter ca tcrd 1128 D i t t o t r rt ': ntt °t n idi 1 / 4 1 111.1, c a. Trieste 1.1 Cedizlboa '''''''' *********** llare~.lor;********* Seville a Gibraltar *** ?KICKS I,lilk Stock Cow, (1, 4, 3 per Ditto to , ck 3 1 ( , Per Cent oew 11°Y. I)eb. 31,4 oral Canal St Grani canal S i e..,itx Deb 3 pet Arrived, • Am e . t .i, O Brasil 9 Baenos 0 Cluthage 1 Dublin... 0 - 1 12tnders Franc e _ 0 Guernse kicll W.A NOrnin g 30 0 ~~~~ WEDNESD Intellige ! the Colonic STIRLING, This iutellig sta te, is of STIRLING Swan Rirel most cheer. the Colotth advantages belief of ul that the been -some ►her add tit, VAnglesec Gage's Rol th e gloomy In additio by Govern has received Capt. DAN foregoing st The folk the above of We are I to relieve a B pect to the River. W not at all 8( though it is is a letter re Liao who h which is of I " We arrive h our but a roa much expel nearer the shor This Was the damaged. W e the Bar ; but more than thr Ration, as it fri You get Out o f with the city We experienc e ! L i" ' our '4O beach to t' (1114 ter of a m 14t toducti on to 14°1 Y. The ./t. Ilt_ititt b e so ld f i ti olist a l ost th t hatne fate al TUE I( YH fip m ip e e • :41: 1 6tItintt : tilblt:"}' ,. 4:1:'':4:114:'lealeiPlue°4:::491cia8ta e tptritthilr' t r.plib*b t ioWydy8b l Eewir e t.fge r a°°vLte1 8 See , der:11:atalP b Yrvtti'' toe ne 1 C ul w iNte ' e rY thi ng Iva, ' 'Ple 'eal hOS t f 1.41 ' of the Alet one of the t i 8 MAJE Wi t „ pellusor Cas 4 :ed M r . 1-1 't as Presii 441 "i 3 of C