The Express.
London, England, 1848-06-30 00:00:00

REPORTED RETIRESIENT OP DR. CHAMBERS
111031 Pmacrica.—This report, which originated in a
weekly paper, is, it appears, not true. We have Ruth°•
city to state that, although Dr. Chambers is suffering from
a temporary indisposition, he is expected to return to prac-
tice in the
LIBERATION OF Mk. VERNON, TIIr. _
Yesterd—
the bail for Mr. Vernon's appearance at the
tentral Criminal Court hsviag been put in and perfecter
before Mr. Justice Erie, at his chambers, Mr. Vernon was
liberated from Newgate, where he has been confined since
his committal.
Nonni WESTERN RAILWAT.—An entire alteration
takes place in the time tabie on this line of railway to-mor-
row, in consequence of the directors having ordered an ac-
celeration of We express trains.

THE REFORM MOVEMENT.
LETTER FROM 3IR. HUME
TO THE EDITOR OP Tilt zernses."
Meuse of Commons, June 29, 1848.
ISir,—l here been greatly disappointed at being compelled
to consent to the postponement of the resumed debate, which
stood for ,ti-morrow, on parliamentary reform, to Thursday
next, the 6th of July; but I had no pewee of preventing it,
as the trovrrnment (,rowed by the accumulabon of public
business) was unwilling to bartender their r.ght of meet,
dente tomorrow—an ^rrangement to *hien Lord J. Russell
had given a provisional consent. As I stipulated foragovern-
ment day in order to secure the continuation of the discus-
sion on this imp, rtant question, I can only regret a delay
which has been forced upon me. I entertain no doubt that
the promise of the gov.rnment will be faithfully kept, and
that the debate will be proceeded with on Thursday, the 6th
of Jury, as now fixed.—l am, sir, yuur obedient humble ser-
vant, JOBEI.II HUME.

MEETING AT KENSINGTON.
Yesterday, a public meeting of the inhabitants of
Kensiugton was held, at the King's Arms Tavern, to adopt a
petition to parliament in support of the reform movement of
Mr. Hume.
Mr. HAWK es took the chair, and opened the proceedings
by observing upon the state of inactivity into which the
government had fallen, and the apathy displayed by a large
portion of the public with regard to reform. Lord John
Russell appeared to imagine that, because the middle classes
bad, by enrolling themselves as minced constables, taken so
important a part in the preservation of order, they were in-
different to the gr. at movement of reform which was now
obtaining so large a share of public support. Ile urged them
to prove by their votes that evening that such was not the
ease. He read the petition proposed to be presented to par
Bement.; it embraced the whole of the measures advocated
by Mr. Hume.
Mr. S BIRD moved the adoption of the petition, which
was seconded by Mr. WALKER,
Mr. PERCIVAL supported the resolution, condemning in
strong terms the avowal mode by Lord John Russell in the
House of Commons, that the people were not desirous of
reform. lie .greed in nearly all the measures of reform ad-
vocated by Mr. Hume. When they remembered the name
be bore, and knee the (act that he had been educated is
high tory principles, they might guess that he
had not embraced those of reform without due
consideration and ''good reason far doing so. With
regard to electoral districts be was not quite decided
in opinion. He was afraid that such a system would
cause population to be represented without regard to pro-
perty. Now, he would have them both equally considered;
but still more was he desirous that talent and character
should have its due weight and influence.
/dr. Lovetr, while agreeing with the petition as far as it
went, thought it did not go far enough in some respects. He
was a chartist, but was not in favour of physical ford, and
in that reap. et he believed that the main portion of the
chartist body were with him ; and that if their principles
had been I 0 mer taken into consideration there would have
been so occasion for the scenes of confusion and riot which
bad recently taken place. He urged the adoption of uni.
versal suffrage and annual parliaments, but would bury all
differences, and support the petition.
Sir J. .v" ALSISLEY followed in support of the petition.
He thought that when the gentleman who had last spoken
knew more of Mr. Hume's principles and of those of the
gentlemen with whom be was acting, he would give them
even more of his support than he had already done. He
thought that the majority of the chartists were opposed to
physical force, and were far more moderate in their views
than many supposed them to be. He denied that any dan-
ger would be caused to the throne or the conetitution by the
granting of universal suff:age ; on the contrary, he consi-
dered th it the acquisition of political rights would only
endear the people toe more to their sovereigu. There were
in England and Scotland twenty millions of people, of whom
six mil ions were male adults; and of these only
957,000 were in possession of the franchise. It was
for the middle classes to come forward and procure a reform
of that abuse by supporting Mr. Hume's motion. lie &deo.
rated the system of electoral districts, and pointed out the
inequaleiee at present existing with regard to both counties
and boroughs. The di•triet of Kensington was a stroi g
can in point. In that district there were 130,000 persons,
and 113,000 voters, but how many representatives had they ?
None at all; while the county of Buckingham
with a mailer population, sent eleven members to parlia-
ment; and many boroughs with fewer inhabitants also had
representatives. He concluded by enjoining the middle
classes to bestir themselves in behalf of their poorer brethren,
who were the main strength and sinew of the land, and for
that purpose to aid the exertion, of Mr. Hume and his friends
in behalf of the reform movement.
Mr. PERCIVAL wished to explain that when he expressed
himself as not prepared to support electoral districts, he was
by no means ehuttirg his eyes to the pretest ridiculous
system of representation. (Applause.)
The lion. WM. CAMPBELL, M.P., said be was opposed to
the motion of Mr. Hume, and had attended the meeting on
the representation of the hon. secretary that it was desir-
able to have all classes of opinion represented upon the occa-
sion. He maintained that the evils existing in the country
were not caused by the existence of my system which Mr.
Hume's motion proposed to reform, and, therefore, could not
be remedied by the adoption of the measures which he pro-
posed. He ascribed the whole of the distress of the country
to the lavish expenditure of the state, and the unequal pries.
sure of taxation. He proceeded, amidst considerable oppo-
sition, to explain his views, but eventually yielded to the
opinion wi the meeting and sat down.
Mr. ATKINSON wished to say a few words in reply. He
proceeded to make some sarcastic comments upon the re-
marks of the last speaker, in the midst of which that gentle
man left the room. Mr. Atkinson argued in favour of the
measures propose,: by Mr. flume, which he considered essen-
tial to the well•lecing of the community.
Capt. HOOD, R.N., addressed a few observations, dis
agreeing with some of the points in the petition.
Mr. S'TALLWOOD followed. While advocating the six
points of the charter he would not oppose the present move-
ment, but on the contrary would give it his cordial support.
After some further proceedings the petition was agreed to,
and the proceedings terminated.
The petition was to the following effect:
That, white your petitioners view with indignation and abhorrence
all attempts to influence the deldarations of your honourable house
ihmoastratiens of physical force, and are determit ed to preserve
the public peace from outrage, they emphatically protest against their
feelings of loyalty being construed into indifference as to the state of
the franchte or the sufferings of their fellow-subjects. And your pe-
titioners are convinced that the must effectual way to preserve the
public peace in to remove the causes of discontent; namely, the laefeh
expenditure of public money and consequent heavy taxation, which
evils will not, ha the opinion of your petitioners, be remedied so lone
as the tax-payers are fur the most part excluded their direct and
just influence in parliament. Your petitioners therefore pray your
honourable house to extend the franchise to all who contribute to the
taxation of the country; to give the voters the protection of the bal-
lot; te..ffeet a more equal distribution of the electoral power by means
of electoral dir.riets; and to shorten the duration of parliament to a
period not exceeding three years.

CHELSEA.—Last night a meeting was held at the
Prince of Wales, Exeter-street, Chelsea, to consider the
prepiiety of petitioning parliament in favour of equal elec-
toral districts, or a better apportionment of numbers to popu-
lation.—F. Gaskell, Esq., in the chair.—Mr. Soar moved the
following resolution :
That this meeting is of opinion that the inequality and injustice of
the present method of representation in the House of Commute hay-
ing been fully proved by atatiaticol returns, there must be a more just
and equal distribution of members hosed upon the population, with
a due reward to property, before the House of Common can fall} and
fairly represent the people of this country.
The resolution was seconded by J. J. Lockhart, Esq.—Mr.
Miles, in supporting the resolution, maid the nec peaty for
adopting its principles was to be found in the fact that of the
population of the metropolis only Bin 1,000 were voters.—
The resolution was also supported by Mr. Chambers, Mr.
Robinson, and Mr. Johnson, and was carried unanimously.

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, JUNE 28.

Lord Miltown has written a long letter to Mr.
Thon las Ray, in which he descants on the advantages
of 1101'0" among the opponents of British legislative
conne, tion, and by way of illustrating his sincerity tie
declines to join the proposed Repeal League.
The Parket of last night started a possibility, and
the quit launcs of the Four Courts rear thereon a
" pyrami dof nothing." All day, the judges being in
chamber, the gentlemen of the hall are busy with all
sorts of ru nour. It is assumed, in the first place, that
the whigs are out, whereupon they erect their castle.
By universe I assent the woolsack is to be new-fringed
for Lord C, Fief Justice Blackburne, and the vacant
chiefehip to b e filled by Mr. Serjeaut Greene. Mr.
Brewster is .'n be Attorney-General, and Henry
Martley according as friendship inclines.
This well-arranged plot undergoes variation—and
Jonathan Henn .akes the Solicitor-Generalship. The
Whigs, however, are still in, and the beautiful con-
servative vision may not be realised.
The remains of Mr. Steele reached Dublin late last
night by the Duke of Cornwall steamer. At ten
o'clock this morning the body was transferred to Con-
ciliation HAIL Very few persons were present at the
removal.
The duty of the clubs as well as their objects hu
hitherto reposed in darkness. A light, however, has
broken in on the gloom, and our high southern authn•
rity informs us that the members must be all " know.
le4reable," and particularly skilled in phydral
geography. They are to be all philosophers, and in-
stead of hard drinkers, as of old, they are to become
hard students. Here is the outline of the course :