The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-19 00:00:00

REFORM MEETLNG LN BIRMINGHAM.

On Friday night, a public meeting, to receive a
deputation from the National Parliamentary and Financial
Reform Association was held in the Town Hall, at Bir-
mingham. Notwithstanding the fact of the meeting having
originated with four or live individuals, such was the en-
thusiastic feeling manifested by the public in favour of a
further returns in our representative and electoral system,
that from five to six thousand persons attended, and re-
mained in the hall from seven o'clock until nearly mid-
night. Indeed Birmingham suffers as much from the de-
fects incident to the present system u some of the smaller
boroughs, for although the town and suburbs contain a popu-
lation of above • quarter of a million of souls, consequent os
compounds for rating, and other drawbacks on the paro
ehial, there are little more than lino thousand electors.
Sir Joshua Walrnsley and Mr. George Thompson at-
tended in the deputation. Messrs. Monts and Seholefield,
the borough members, were absent, and the cause is as-
signed in the letter given below:
Mr. Alderman BALDWIN presided, and briefly addressed
the meeting.
Sir JOSHUA WALMSLEY, in the course of •
speech which occupied nearly an hour in the delivery,
pointed out the defects in the present system, and the ne-
cessity there was for reform ; he remarked on the position
Birmingham had hitherto taken in connexion with the ro-
tor m cause, and after stimulating his auditory to renewed
exertions, in conclusion said : u the town of Birmingham
the country looked for an example. Its people had a great
and a powerful name—a history glorious and immortal ;
and he ;nicest no more than that they should do in '52 what
they did in '32. (Cheers.) Recently they had amongst
them the illustrious chief in whose great soul was centred
the destinies of a down-trodden nation, and they honoured
him as the embodiment of national and constitutional
liberty. Would they do k-as for thentsclyt, ?—less for their
fellow-countrymen ? (No.) Well, let Birmingham dis-
play the same seal and enthusiam in behalf of the millions of
struggling fellow-countrymen, and they w uuld achieve for
all that which they once so nobly secured for a section of
the people. [SirJoshus resumed his seat amid loud and
protracted cheering.]
Mr. GEORGE TaomPsos followed, delivering a mast
effective speech, the sentiments in which were most anthill.
siastically cheered.
Letters were then read from absent eminent reformers :
Mr. Hume pleaded business and his great age ; Mr. Clench.
M.P., had an urgent engagement in Paris. Mr. Joseph
Sturge also declined attending. Meesrs. Monts and
Beholetleld, the borough members, sent the following

" Birmingham, Jan. 16, 0152.
" Sir,—When, some short time since, we accepted an in-
vitation to attend the reform meeting which is to be held in
the town hall this evening, we were under the impression
that the movement was a perfectly spontaneous one receiv-
ing its impulse wholly from the inhebitants of the borough.
It would now seem that the meeting owes its origin to
other than local intlisences, and that it is to be used not sim-
ply as a means of eliciting the public voice on the import-
ant subject of reform, but also for the purpose of dissemin-
ating the political and financial views of a body of gen-
tlemen acting under the name of the ' National Parlia-
mentary and Financial Reform Association.' Emphatically
disclaiming all feeling of hostility to that body, and wil-
lingly acknowledging the zealous exertions of its leaders,
and their desire to promote the cause of good government,
we cannot consent to identify ourselves with plans and prin-
ciples in many of which we do not concur, or sanction any
extraneous interference with the independent expression of
the opinions of our fellow townsmen. Coder these circum-
stances, and being anxious to avoid anything which can dis-
turb the proceedings of the meeting, we deem it the more
respectful course to abstain from taking any share in its dis-
cussions; and we are, sir, yours faithfully,
" Q. F .11r :c.a.

"To the Chairman." Wm. SCHOLEFIELD.
It would be a very mild expression to my that the recep-
tion the foregoing experienced was anything but compli-
mentary. The Birmingham Journal has a report in its
late edition, and says, " Tho letter was received with
hissing."
Mr. G. DAWSON, M.A., who hod originated the meeting,
then came forward 'midst great applause. He commented with
some severity on the letter of Meurs. Munta and Schole-
field, and said—The resolution ho had to propose was,
" That this meeting declares itself in favour of an extension
of the suffrage to every adult mule unconvicted of crime,
and of sound mind.' (Great cheering.) So far as he
could remember, the resolution was in the very same words
as those of the Charter, and very properly so, because they
believed that universal suffrage was just, and therefore
they could not do better than use the words of a document
which justified it, and had received the sanction of the men
of Birmingham. Let them be worthy of the heritage
their fathers left them, let them re.inapire the fallen
nonage of Europe with hope, and in saving them-
selves they would do justice to the cause of Italy, of Hun-
gary, of Germany, and of Poland. Let them rebuke all
despots, until again liberty, the cause for which their an-
ecinal fought and bled, should triumph as of old. (Great
cheering.)
Mr. B. BILL seconded tha resolution, which was pnt, and
carried unanimously.
The Rev. BREWIN GRANT moved the next resolu-
tion : " That this meeting having beard the statements of
the deputation from the National Parliamentary and Finan-
cial Reform Association, and considering the measures of
that association a great improvement on the present system,
and a great advance towards universal suffrage, offers the
association its tkaaks for what it has done, and montane*
for the future."

Mr. GEORGE EDMONDS, the Clerk of the Peace,
having seconded it, this resolution was also unanimously
adopted.
A vote of thanks having been by acclamation accorded to
the deputation and briefly acknowledged by Sir Joshua
Walinaley,
Mr. THOMPSON, in a few indignant sentences, and
amidst the repeated plaudits of his alic.itory, referred to
the letter of Messrs. Monts and Scholefield. He had been
(he said) frequently in Birmingham, both before the Town
lfall had been built and since, but he had not the slightest
idea—however Quixotic he might be—that he should be
deemed au exotic. (lieu, hear.) The honourable gentle-
man
ridiculed bitterly the letter written by Mr. Mentz and
his hon. colleague. Ile (Mr. Thompson) had attended
many similar meetings, but had never heard of such a
letter being sent to any one ; and if at any future meeting
their members should be present, and there was public
spirit and justice enough to hear lion, ho would come from
London and advocate, as he had ever done, the great prin-
ciple they had established that night. ((treat cheering.)
In a solisequent note Mr. Dawson *as warmly thanked
for calling the meeting ; he noticed it (be said) .in con-
firmation that the policy he had adopted was a wise one,
and that such a proceeding might be safely repeated.
The meeting broke up between eleven and twelve at
night.

CALLS TO TILE BAR.—Tho Hilary Term calla to
the bar of the lino. Society of thu Moline Temple were
made on Saturday last, and th. y compri.e the atter-mtn-
tiou gentlemen: Arthur Patt•son, Esq. ; Joseph Pu-
get., • rim Iley, Esq. ; and Henry James, Esq.

PRINTERS' DRAMATIC SOCIETT.—A soiree in nip-
port of this society took place on Saturday evening at Au-
derton's Hotel, Ileet•street. A variety of entertainments
were provided for the occasion, consisting of songs, recita-
tions, dramatic actors, imitations of London actors, and
p thrinances tin the pianoforte and other instruments. The
p. sts I/ICrl, with the exception of three musicians, were
members of the printers' trade, and their abilities to amuse
the company were quite sufficient to eimpensate for the
absence of a larger number of " professionals." The pro-
ceedings were conducted throughou• with much regularity
and good taste, and the preraillyr sentiment amongst the
'mak ors appeared to be that each should make the utmost
exactions in favour of the general tune. The company
was very numerous, and the result was evidently satisfac-
tory to all conecrue4.

WOLVERIIAIII•TON JUNCIION RAILWAY. The
estimate for incorporating and carr) inz out this company
for a line to connect the Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and
Dudley Railway with the Shrewsbury anal Birmingham
Railway, with station, approaches, de.. is 104.0004