The Express.
London, England, 1864-10-13 00:00:00

SZPRESINPATION OP PIRSACIBT.

On Tuesday evening a public meeting of electors
favourable to tho return of Mr. Tomas foe Thebery took
plain at Cowparetreet Rooms, Ilty-rced ; Mr. la
niED
WALL= in the chair. Amongst those present were Mr.
Humphreys (coroner for Middlesex), Mr. Stafford Allen, Dr.
Bruce, Mr. Watkinson, Mr. Bolton, Mr. Anderson, Dr.
Bletchley, Mr. Holden, Mr. Hansen, Mr. Cooke, he. A
letter was read from Colonel De la Rae, regretting his
&Mews, and promising his active support.
The Cflammim, at the opening of the proceedings, en-
premed a hope that the new parliament would differ
essentially in its 'tics and chamber from that which
was about to expire. t behoved them to consider whom they
sent from Finsbury as their representatives, and he trusted
they would not confide their interests to untried men. Mr.
Tornio' had bees in parliament before, and had proved
himself a faithful and an able advocate of popular rights.
As • man of letters he was equally distinguished, and for
hie own part he thought they could find no better man to
represent them.
Mr. Tower's, who was warmly received on presenting
himself, addressed the meeting at considerable length,
dwelling especially on those topics which related to load
and netioml taxedon. The local rates in fit. Luke's were
now 4e. 4d. is the pound, and he found that the sum they
had paid last year amounted, on average, to more than 10s.
a-head on every individual in the ;with. Ten years ago
they had had to pay but Cm • head. The cause of this in-
crease of harikari was not far to seek ; the City
pushes had, by meet architectural improvements, con-
trived to disburthen themselves of a great number of
the poorer classes, who bad been driven into St. Luke's and
Bothnal•green ; and the destruction of humble dwellings
to make room for new railways in Clerkenwell and else-
where had contributed to the same result. The represen-
tatives of Finsbury in perimment ought to deal with such
medical questions. Railway companies, be thought, ought
to be compelled within certain limits to rebuild habitations
for the working classes, or to compensate the parish whose
industry they dislocated. A select committee last session
had reported.in farmer of repealing the local statutes by
which that and other metropolitan perishes governed them-
selves. If this were dome, their representatives ought to
insist that the area of rating should be enlarged, and that
the Bank of England and Lombard-street should be made to
help in the support of the poor now cast upon Bt.
Luke's. Imperial taxation had unfortunately increased
contemporaneously with local rates. In 1854, the average
charge on the whole community was under db., whereas
now it was more than 455. a-head. The least they might
ask of the new parliament was to make them once mom in
taxation forty-shilling 6 freeholders. (Laughter and cheers.)
Mr. Terms peoossdsd to urge the alarms of the middle
clam to a greater share in administrative trusts and honours
now almost monopolised by the landed interests and their
connections. Men who had proved themselves capable and
zealous in local government ought to have the comer of ad-
vancement open to them in the Civil Berries. This was
what had helped so powerfully to render popular the pre-
sent ruler of France; and he believed it was a system far
more politic end Just than that which sought to create •
separate and spec bureetterstic class through the agency
of competitive examination. (Loud cheers.)
A vote of approval and confidence was moved by Mr. T.
RocroN, supported by Dr. Berme, and passed
unanimously.
A numerous and influential committee, including Colonel
De la Rue, Dr. Wildhore, Mr. B. Allen, Mr. Comer, Mr.
Walker, kn., was then appointed, and a vote of thanks so
the chairman having been carried the meeting separated.