The Express.
London, England, 1851-02-04 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 4, 1851.

life and property, while other were denied that right.
(Hear, hear.) Is it reasonable to think that the
Ave or an without that power will be satisfied
that it should remain for ever so? It is impos-
sible. (Hear hear.) 1 go further and say, that the
refusal of this right is actually holding out a tempta-
tion to men to do evil. (Hear, hear.) I had an opportu-
nity the other day of reveling in a daily newspaper an opi-
nion of the present house of Common.. I like to consult
the filth estate of the realm, and the sketch to which I refer
is in the Doily News. But perhaps I had better first give
I you a definition of reform by the Times. (Hisses.) The
Times was nut always what it now is, and may he before
long again. (Laughter.) I remember the days when the
Times lauded me on to my exposures of military
abuses. For nearly ten years, front 1822 to 1830,
it every day exposed the abuses which I had
I hunted up. Recolletring these things, I live in hope
that the good times may come again. On the 14th of De-
cember 1833, the Times gave the following definition :
" l'arbrimentary reform means, in SultAttnee, a security
lodged In the hands of the people fur the names of what-
ever they conceive to be a national grievance, whether
authorised or not prevented by the existing law. Itut the
right and power to redeem all grievances which atHiet the
people etllectively, involves the duty of legislating for the
redress of whatever grievances affeet a particular portion of
the people, otherwise the most precious of all rights, cis.,
that of equal justice, might be altogether excluded from our
idea of upright government and of cis il liberty." (Cheers.)
There is no doubt that the Reform Bill has failed. I be-
here we may attribute that failure to the want of the ballot
and to the want of short reckonings. (Hear, hear.) Here,
on the 3rd Februm7, 1641, we have a morning journal, the
1 Doily News, speaking thus of the result:—" How could it
be otherwise ? One-half of the members of the House of
Commons are to this day as essentially nominees as any that
sat in the old close-borough and proprietary-borough par-
liaments; and the whole class of intelligent, skilled artisans
I may be considered as virtually excluded from any voice in
the election of the remainder. Nor is this all; the existing
electoral qualification and system of electoral registration
have enabled clubbed and affiliated purtiums to pack even
pretty numerous constituencies with factitious mmorities.
The voice of real public opinion is scarcely heard in the
House of Commons; it has not even the semblance of in-
fluence over the votes that are there given. The House of
Commons is packed and managed by knots of speculating
I politicians; by the holders of a bank a; political rouge el
noir, and the punters who are trying to break it. The
House of Commons is as well entitled to be made an object
of the paternal solicitude and watchfulness of the
poliee as any hell in Jerrayn-street and its vicinity."
Well, now, this is true. Yet is it nit ridieuiout
that the paper which tells us of such a result should, at the
same time, tell us that we are going too far, and ought to 1w
satisfied with an equalisation of the franchise? (Hear,
hear.) Why, if this is the state of the present itiou-e of
Commons we must be right in insisting on a complete
change in its constitution. (Hear, hear.) That House of
Commons is the " taxing organ." The members who com-
pbut ow' it
are
,innitheirosetaitionse,onhnoeeneiel a.n.idthltaohnentulraa,ble menwhicA
have an interest in the maintenance of existing evils; and
I risk, would you, as sensible people, have to a body so con-
etituted the control and managemeut of your money mat-
ters ? How can you expert economy and retrenchment when
your taxing organ "is so defective. The expedient
of agitation answers your purpose, after a loot effort,
in obtaining what you want. But look at the agitatiou now
going on for the repeal of the window tax. Why, the slaw
amount of agitation ought to get rid for you of everyone of
these abuses. (Ilene, hear.) The scone agitation has to be
repeated on es ery occasion for every special grievance. I
say put the people into power at once. (Cheers.) We
should theu have economy, and we want it. Certainly we
have done something to cheek extravagonee. When I
entered the House of Commons, it voted away yearly
300,01101. to sinecurist-. Well, we have destroyed that abuse.
We have attacked and got rid of a good many
sinecures; and, in fact, the only sinecures that
remain now are in the church. (Laughter and cheers.)
And. I can tell yon their time is cumin:; toss (I,aughte-
and loud cheering.) Give me a reformed parliament and
you will soon see them melt away. I recommend to you all
to join and to assist this roariation. We can all work to-
gether in it ; and it is only by a long pull, a strong pull, and
a pull altogether, that we can win the day. (. rhe hon.
gentleman resumed his seat amid enthusiastic cheers.)

Sir JOSHUA WALNIsLEY then stepped forward, hold-
ing in his hand a howpict of large dimensions, and statcd
that the flowers had been sent with a note requesting that
he would present them publicly to Mr. Hume. The un- ,
nounceineut war received with cheering. Sir Joshua
Walinslev briefly commented on the incident, and then
handed the bouquet to Mr. Hume, who bowed, blushingly,
and appropriately acknowledged the unprecedented com-
pliment.
Sir JAMES DUKE then addressed the meeting. lie
proposed • resolution of thanks to Mr. flume. Ile was
glad, he mid, to hove this duty intrusted to him. Ile had
known Mr. Hume for 3--) vear•, and he was proud of a
friendship from which had derived incalculable benefit.
They would all be delighted to express to Mr. flume their
thanks for his presence that evening, and their seas• of his
long public services. (Cheers.)
Mr. HARTLEY KENNEDY seconded the resolution,
which was carried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN thanked his hon. Mend, Sir James
Duke, whose acquaintance he had bad the honour of for
11 years ; and nothing hod given him greater pleasure and
satisfaction than to see that 110 a. gentleman win his way to
the highest station by energy and perseverance. Sir James
was au example for every man in the commooite to imitate.
The Minimax thea announcal that he had just had
Iflt put into hi. hand by Mr. Houghton, of A)lorhury, one
of the larg..st tenant-farmers in England, toward. defraying
the expenses of the association. (Applause.)

Mr. UOCGHTON, the gentleman referred to, proposed
the fiollowing resolution That this assetuhly desires to
exprews its implicit confidence in the president and council
of the National Reform Assiwiation, whose labour- they
cannot too fully appreciate, and oboes principles and objects
they determine to support." Ile said he csrtainly did nut
expect, when he came upon the platform, that any portion
of the duties of the evening Would have devolved
upon him. Ile came to hear, what had since given him great
satisfaction, the• very able stwech delivered by Mr. plume;
but, at the same time, he so fully concurred in everything
said loy the chotinaoin, and 460 by Sir James Doh:, that he
could not refuse to propose the rt•solution which had just been
placed in his hands. lie lwlicred that the steps hithertotaken
towards the abolition of monopoly had greatly conduced to
the state of prosperity in which the country was now placed.
If they proceeded in the same direction, hi. firm label was
that they would reduce the poor note to nothing, and empty
the gaols. Everywhere the people were well employed, and
cni.oying greater comforts than they haul ever done b•firre
and he hoped the time sin, rapidly approaching when the
money spent in carrying out the poor law, and in conduct-
ing criminal prosecutions would be expended in educating
the moose. of the people. (Cheers.)

Mr. SLACK seconded the remlution in a speech of con-
siderable abilite, in the course of which he lore todimony
to the admirable practical working of the association.
The resolution wac hero put and carried unanimously.
Mr. LE BLONIJ called the attention of the meeting to the
effitau•ted state of the funds of the iv...elation, and to the
neeecsity of contributing liberally to enable it to continue
its efficient action.
The proceedings terminated shortly before ten o'clock.

Ill'll,TAUT AND ATTTAIPT AT Mewl:ft.—The inhalti-
tants of the tow u of Walsall and neighbourhood were, tarty
on Wednesday evening, in a great state of excitement in
cons„,queuee of the perpetration of a daring burglary.
coweltd with a double attempt at murder. The following
are tie: particulars :—The 11,Q1,1• where the burglary has
bet n eouintitted is situatcd to the left of Lichfield-street, at
a place railed the Butt., and is °templed by a small farmer,
wanted William Holmes, the retuttinder of the household
consisting of the mother of Holmes, and two young women,
Metes of the occupant. The burglars had QP,t made art en.
trainee from the farm yard by means of a small window
which communicated with the hack kitchen. After irarking
up a quantity of wearing apparel, the thieves then, it ap-
pears, made he best of their time, and visited the larder,
where they found a nuantity of eatables, together with
two bottles of wine, with which they enjoyed themselves
for some tint,. They afterwards press; sled up stairs, ow‘
1 armed v. ith a staff, and the other with a large woralen bar
taken from the hack door, in which way they entered the
MOM 11,UVit ti by William Holmes. Their first act was to
endeavour to commit murder. Holmes, who is rather deaf,
it seem.. was asleep, and they struck him while in that state
twice oa Cie side of the head with such force as to cum-
pletiy ..hiver the weapon to splinters. Supposing the
heed was ateomplished. their te!xt step was to plunder
the Men ; but, strange to announce, the blow given had
not KO the effect contemplated, as the intended victim
sprung from his bed, and with great strength and
courage caught hold of the one who was in possessiou
of the .t.itr, took it from him. and struck the villain
who had attempted his life a arc: re blow on the top
of his brad, front the elfeete ~f which he fell insensible.
The other one then attempted to make hi., esempe, hut he
struck him likewise. Ile then roused the two Misses
Holmes, who prozeeded for Assistance. Mr. D. S. Moor,
surgeon, who was attending a skit person near, hearing the
alarm. proceeded in the direction the sound came from. awl
Cmitd it came from the house of Holmes, whom he found
bleeding very much, and in a dangerous condition. Sub-
inspector Filet, awl Police-otficer George Wolley imme-
diately attended, when the prisoners were handed over to
their charge. On the arrival of the officers the prisoner ;
who was tird struck with the staff was rontoletely in-:ea-
tilde, in which state he was conveyed in a curt, first to Mr.
Wymper, 9U7'40,:1. and afterwards to the lock-up at 1
Bush ell. previous to their removal to Lichfield. The two i
prisoners, who at the time refused to give their =MCP.
are app t.ently about twenty and twenty-six Years of I
age : the young one has apparently received a gOod edit- !
cation '.,y his address, and was dressed in an old suit of i
moleskin; the elder one had a s'art or .lop, such as is worn ;
by ClLCAVilitles, user his other clothes. The younger one has
siticesstat,tl that he comes from London, and his companion
from Le:eester. They have been se:n begging about the
neighlemthotal fur some time past. The house where the
robbery was committed is out of the borough of Walsall,
and therefore will be the subject of inquiry 'relive a county
magistrat .. The wine which they had drunk no doubt had
a great effect upon them, when closely attacked ; and when
taken to the lock-up, the blood from their heads, and the
colour of their complexion, from the disguise they had
! assaulted for the occasion, were lutlicroue hi the extreme.
The wounded man, William Holmes, is not expected to sur-
vive the iniurit 1.
I i AMUR/ALIT, Fan. 3. Areoret stants.--Seoand En-
! i sitm,r Creeds Saumtcrs, to the l'imeti,es.
t Quentin: George Lamb, to the Arroyont i and Chatice
0 William. N the liiii.m.