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

POLITICAL DINNERS.

Lord .litlin on Pied Lard of the Trerritry, gnre
• (bond lamiliset 1.4 evening at hir official revi,lenre, in
lkorniiii:--trect, to a large party tif atenilheri of the Houo.•
of C0mm,,,,.1 ni111.,t14 wWI tin government. Then• were
prevent the !tight Hon. the Speaker, the Marnuir of Kil-
dare, the mover, noel Mr. Pet, the 'aconite!, of the Ad-
deo*: VI-emirs( l'aliner.ton, Sir Georg•• Grey, the Right
lion. hot Monk. th.• Atforaev-lienerit. the Soli. itor-
Illeneral. 'tight lion. Sir Win. Somerville, the Chan-
rollor of the Evelvinner, the Right lion. Sir John Cum
llolitious.. the Plight lion. W. U. Ilayter, lion. John
}Alas. Mr. Howe.. Mr. !knew, Mr. Rich,Mr.(teonie Corn-
wall Leask, Mr. Janos the Right lion. Henry
Labonetoce. the Vimt lord of the Admiralty ; Lord S.•v-
auur, Mr. J. Parker, lion. Win. Cowper, Admiral Dean.
Disivilar, Adiginil Drawly e, Colonel the llon. li.•orge An-
PM. the With! lion. M. I'. Itaiu•, the Right lion. W. S.
Lonelier, ',le David Dimilar, Mr. Ralph Rental, Intl Al-
fred Pray?. L..nl Nirmur hill, Lieut.-Col. the Hon. Robert
Bork. LOTII Clareni, ihm t, Mr. lt. W. (trey, Mr. W.
Lin. and Mr. A. 11. The 'swat. were all attired in
V.tlitik.. and Idler th:• lautquet Lord John Ros-
ati' read Irr •polli to the a...•aMed trued..
The of I:m.4.am, .ir lervler of the ministry in
the lion•' ..t Lord.. !are a nt:µtniMrt•nt entertainment tart

efrAulg I a 1.1.10116 t•t %Ur). Lowe part} of peers—
;upprwt. r. ta the rt p,ent got yr...twat. l'he leant. inelutlvel
he Lora Otateallar, the Earl of Effingham. the 1110,1. r.
WWI Innll'reniont• . the s etattler of the arlaresa. The
()oho of lk sonshire. the Mkt. of Norfolk, the Marquis of
Amtlest.,. the Marquis of llreadalhune the Martini. of
Weantiuster. the 'Marquis of Clanrivard;, the Earl of Car-
11w Earl of Ilemborough. the Earl (trove, the Marque.
of Ihmegal, th.. Earl litzhanlinge, the Karl Fitawillium,
(h. Earl Dr.ottille, the Earl 1 trey. the Earl of Milan, the
Earl of llorlea. the Keel Smawer. the Earl of Stralfonl,
the Earl ..f Walacura.... the Earl of Effingham, the Earl
of ramp rtlos ti. V is.ount I'moomhe, toned Ikaumout,
Lora (owto Lora 1' trio/ton, Lora ttahorne, Lord De
biataky. Lora lhitferist and Clanchoye. Lord Elplawaour.
Lora F.. 1 e. lord Ilatherton. Lora Monte:tsar. Lord l'on-
MA.. Lora *smote,- (of Ahlerley), Inrl Dremocur, Lord
Lonl I. Vora. and the Earl of Shelburne. Her
blajt-aty'. vetch wa. read to the. 'meats after dinner hy the
nohlr marquis.
Lon' Stanley. as leader of the opposition in the Home of
euttrtaintsl a large party of peers—auppolers of
. ma...math, policy—DA erratum at Ws mammal in St.
aaatty'st.lo tre. The party included the Duke of ltith.
mond, the Duke of Itutland. the Duke of Cleveland, the
Nama. of Exeter, the Marquis of Salisbury, the Earl of
earditfart. the Earl of Exlinton. the Earl of. Lansdale, the
Earl of Nlalimtalure, the Earl ..f Imean, the Earl of Sand-
y ich. the Earl of Wilton. the Fart Nelson. the Earl of
StraPtroke. the Earl of Wiarlailyta. the Earl of Kinsale,
tin. Karl of layman. the Earl Talbot, the Earl of Erne,
thsEarl lkaawarr. Vistsaint Comhennere, Viseount Strata:-
ford. Lora Herhaslal Lord Lord Southampton,
Lad Colthout r, Lund Saloon and Lora Sonar,

tt. THE WINTIOW DI-TV.—Ye•tk.rity ft vestry
meeting of the pariah of St. Clenteut'a Daue,, was held to
tolopt twea•un.s (•r the reirral of the window tax. Mr.
Charehearden Spent, r pn+ided. A large nunther of the
ta4atataist. wen• lm • •nt. and the great unanimity pre-
vailed. 1t..4-tlutioos eon I. inning the tic and the howe tan,
by .Lich it La been propned to replave it. wen• adopted ;
J.Jether with a I.t•titi••u to parliament, to he presented by
the reprnuntatins Vrertudinter.

Hhnu.tt.t: FM itHotn L.iND gI.K HUY:A +aerie of the
tot:tubers and friend. of thin annoriation wan held on Friday
"ruing: at the rublie 11211. Itoehdale. to celebrate the our-
chaning al on entate hr the 'the Lind V situated
Rochdale. a:A tostrainei. about •2W acre.; it will vont about
and in raped, of Acing divided into .101311ottnentn.
Mr. 61,111101 Tweedale eccupb 41 the chair. Mr. Churl.,
WAL., r oval thy tint resolution, which 14,1ared that the
freehold I e... 1 movement wan it-nerving of the warmest
support of all v. ho bleared an exten.iort of the nulfratre,
Ceding an it did to the iummennent of the social
and moral tonditian of the indugtriou. and unenfran-
tithed (taut•. The renolation wan seconded by Mr.
T. Livery, and briefly .up; whirl by Mr. Aleaand:r
Renew, tI.T. The motion IV a. unauiinow.ly agreed
to. Sir. 6. Ilenley moved a weond renolution, That
thin tweeting. while it recogniNes the utility of free-
hld hoot ...WC., an n direct and meditation:4 means of

attending the political franchise, bylieses in their superior
importance O. a means for the advantageous investment of
moll sayings, and the enelniragewent of habits of thrift
:ma India-try amongst the noticing claseys.- Mr. Jacob
Bright %retooled the resolution. Mr. Bright. M.P.. in
"uPPolling the resolutimt. %%pressed his opinion that
melt s..teivties as tlose were absolutely necessary to ac-
complish the object in view—the csteuston of the
polita al franchise. For c:rittuies past the whole
olueet of our legislation with regard to land had
been to keep it in great estates. and consequently
a few
_great pr-prietors had managed to keep the whole of
the alrairs of the nation in their eau hands. The possession
of land had been Made the key to es cry Lind of political
power and influence, and the panes.- tr. of land had made
all sortsof incomprehensible laws to ',merle ostatesbeing split
into small allotments. Working men ought to become
members of these white% both on social and political
tfrnunds—on political grounds in order that they might
acquire a greater influence In the settlement of national
cpsestini. than they hail hitherto possessed. The resolut:on
was ,-,cried unarinnoa-le ; thai.l.s were voted to Messrs.
Ilrt,..tt and Myers,y and to the chairman. awl :sic; proceod•
Mgt terminated.

NATIONAL
REFORM ASSOCIATION.

The first monthly soirie of the National Reform Associa-
tion for the present y.ar was held Ind evening at the
London Tavern, In Bishopegate-street. The large hall of

' that establishment was completely crowded. A large por-
tion of the company co ' ted of ladies. Tea and coffee
, having been served, Sir Joshua Walmeley, president of the
association, accompanied by Lady Walmesley, Alderman
Sir James Duke, M.P., Mr. Hume, M.P., and H. Hartley
Kennedy, F.sq., took their places on the platform amidst loud
applause. Many ladies u ere on the platform, end l
amongst other active 'itemisers °rale assnciat ion the
rewe present:
Messrs. Hoisghton, Blond, J. A. Nicholay, D. M`Dtin-
sell, H. J. Slack, W..tham, W. E. Corner, J. liambleton,
J. Groesunith, J. Ilatwm, Wooltoruns, U. Shillibeer, T.
J. I.fitchburn, W. H. Ashurst, W. D. Saul, S. P. Ward, T.
i 0. ',eater, T. K. Pritchard, H. Elsie. J. B. Eisslell, E.
Brown, J. 11. Pirkforl, J. Waterman, W. Howard, J. A.
Lyons F. Farrand, J. 'Linton, H. Preece, J. Allen, S. D.
8111illett, W. Statham, J. Manning, T. S. Nicholls, W. B.
Whitman (Brentfora), W. Brown (Uxbridge), S.
Boughton (Hounslow), W. Featherstune (St. Mary Cray),
W. (iothorpe, &e.
The ee People's Anthem" having been sung—
Sir JOSHUA WAI.MSLEY said—Ladies and gentle-
men: This is the first of a series of soir,,es which are to take
place en behalf of this association, fur the purpose of
teaching and instructing the people, Ile to their just rights
(11, ar, hear.) To do more—to show them the way to get
them. The first lecture will he delivered to night by
my hon. friend who stands behind me. When I named this
question as one likely to improve and teach the people, he
claimed a right to the first poet. (Cheers.) Ile said, I rill
denser tite first and there he is. (Cheers.) His
is an example worthy of imitation, and I feel that if you
work for reform as he has done, you will very soon hare it.
My friend Mr. Ilume will give the first lecture. The
second will be delivered by one to whom we are deeply in-
debted-1 mean, to Mr. Fox, the member fur Oldham.
(Cheers.) The third will be given by one whom we esteem
highly, T mean Mr. Edward !Wall; and I will nut
follow the course further, as the arrangements have
not been all made, further than to state that one
of the series will be delivered by a working man—a Nor-
operative. Thee will he followed by other lectures.
With these observations 1 beg to muse that my, hon. friend,
Mr. Hume, do take the chair, and, I am sure, it is a motion
requiring no seconder, and that it will be carried by ac-
clamation. (Cheers.)
- - - - • •

Mr. 111-ME then took the chair amidst the loud ap-
plows: of the rompany. Ile mitt—Ladies and gentlemen : I
did say that I should be mat happy to address this meet-
lug. Lecture I never do; for I 3.111 nut one who come with j
a speech ready prepared. I have now had an experience of
upwards of fifty year. OA a public man, so that I commit
claim on the precut occasion the privilege of the old op--
j logy of not hcing accustomed to public speaking. Although I
hare not written a speech for delivery on this occasion, I
have noted down one or two points of importance, and I
shall try to keep myself to them as closely as possible. In
the first place, I conceive that we one to the members of
the association our hest thanks for the exertions which they
have made in this muse. I hold it to he the business of
every man to see that his fellow-tarn shall not be deprived
of their rights, that they be placed in that position as
members of soelety and n. freemen to which they
ore entitt, d, and onglit nut to lie left to suffer
without word of encouragement or effect on their behalf a
_ _

species of slavery. I think, in a free country, every man
ought to have a voire in the ehnning of representatives,—
not only of thine who are to raise money for public purposes
and to tat the people, hut of rause who make laws to affect
life and property; nod I think it is our duty, and we ought
to s,se that every man is placed in his proper position as a
freeman and member of the mune state. If you meet and
converse with any one at the present time, he is almost sure
to tell you that things cannot remain as they are now—the
representation, the state of the courts of justice, show that
it is impossible that things ran long go on as they are. The
next question I ask is, what are you to do to attain
the end desired? We have seen the mode in which
the people of other countries have endeavoured to MTV out
reforms and have failed. In this country I see no wi-fi any
where manifested to seek reforms, or to work them out, in
any other way than by the lawful legitimate mode, by which
all our reforms have hitherto been carried out, and I think
that nothing will urine to alter that disposition in any elloo.
of the wept:, but that all reforms will continue to be
sought for in a legal and constitutional manner. No man
in this country can speak more highly of the value of the
contitut• than I do. (Bear, hear.) I speak with con-
fidence, having had opportunities of comparison with others.
Our eopstitution eonsca• of King, Lords, and Commons.
(A win., We want no lords.") I wish those who differ
from me in opinion would wait till I am done. I like every
m m to have his opinion ; but there is a time for every
thing, nail two men cannot speak with advantage at the
s ern tiro-. Bach branch of the legislature has its paper
rights most accurately defined by law ; and let me tell those
who may not he aware of the net, that it was obtained at
no slight cost. Let us look shortly at what were MOM'• of
the ancient rights of the people under the constitution.
I have noted down one or two authorities on this
priMt. The first of these which I shall refer
you to is Blackstone. I like to catch the Lawyers if I eau,
for they are a strange Art. This is what Judge Blackstone
says at rot i., p. 1.18, of his Commentaries on the Law. of •
England—•• That parliament is iss.val with the kingdom
itself." That is quite true, and there are other institu•
thins for self-government even of an older dote. One of
. .

the oldr-t io,titution% in the country iA the disirion into
pariAte% it is Po old that we hare %carroty h.en able to
a.rertain the time when the ttivi wt% made. From time
Wrizi

immemorial it has been the law that any man residing in a
parish, and paying any portion of the rates of that parish,
haa a right to attend vestries and take a part in the election
of all offirem, or the raising or expenditure of any
money neceasary for parochial purposes. That way
the law from very ancient times hut sonic
year. ago Mr. Sturges Bourne oht tined an art from parlia-
ment giving cumulative votes to certain persons, a most
absurd and dangerous innovation. By meana of this act a
man peosestoinr a house at 1501. may have three votes,
wheetets the Man whit a :;01. house 11.1 s only tine vote. This
system is happily not general. but several parishes hove
adopted it under the pernti.sion given by Mr. Sturges
Bourn-'a Art. In my opinion a man who pays only six-
tietht toward.s the par.whial burthen, is as much interested,
perhaps mina• so, than the man who ha. 10,0001. and a
hole, from 300/. to too!. a yestr, for the former has a greater
interest in seeing that the affair. of the parish are properly
administered. I could tdate, were it 111,1NOWATT to go into
details., WOW curiaes farts with respect to a parish in this
neighbourhood, where one individual is enabled to collect 700
loon person. who do not attend. fly this means he if
013111441 to carry even thing his own way, and this goes ou
at the present time. The pariah is one of our old institu-
tions. There is another—the office of comner—whieh is
another of the oldest in the kingdom, and even man who
mutt rates had a rote in his election. I will not carry you
Lack to the older time, to which my old friend, Major Cart-
wright, has n.ferred iu his eollection of authorities, though
I may say he was quite right, that at that {alio(' every free-
man in the land (at that time you are aware some
were not free) had a right to attend and give his
vote, not only at municipal elections hut for members
of parliament. (Ilt ar, he With the... explanations,
I come now to the passage in blitelintone to which
I have referred, as to the high antiquity of parlia-
ment. The judge says that parliament is coeval with the
kingdom itself; that we have instant... of itameeting in the
reirna of Ina. On, and Ethelhert. lle goo, further even
than I ilo, that upon the true theory tool strituioe principles
of liberty, every member of the eontuntn.tv, however poor.
should Hair a vote ; and that every man nho is supposed a
free agent, ought to be, in some measure, his own governor ;
and therefitre a branch at least of the legislative power
should reside in the whole body of the people, meaning
Commons. (Ilear.) I have a numher of other authorities.
Lord Grey, in 1832, cited Sir Thomas Smith, who wrote in
the time of Quern Elizabeth, and whose work is held in
high repute by lawyers. lie says—•• Every. Englishman is
intended to be present in parliament, either in person, or
by procuration and attorney, of what presetnittence, state,
dignity, or quality fOVVer he be. from the prince to the
lowest person of Enelantl. And the “nisent of the parlia-
ment in taken to be every man's consent." (Cheers.) Are
we suet dolts as to ray that every man is now represented
in parliament ? It is a mockery to say so, and I am oar-
primal that men ran Ise found to utter such an umertion. I
shall only- put a single ease to you. If you hail h^en in the
ROO' 01 I:ominous last a:lAm, do you think it likely you
would have :toreed to give to a young m to, who has a for-
tune from his father and a high rant. iu the ahoy, 12,0001.
a year, fur no tubs r reason than that he was a tainsin to the
Queen ? I need not say that I opposed the grant in every
stare, hut it was no use the House of Co ninms does not
represent the p. (Hear, hear.) I hare hull the
curioaty to ascertain from an actuary, a very emineut man,
what is the actual burthen of this annuity ea the people.
Be say. it is just equal t,.223,00W. Anil yet this was passed
in a angle vote to one whose arryieesdid net d• serve a single
shilling. (Cries of phase.") I have by me as authority
which hi, I think, steer important, because I am anxious to
lay the ground the proving my position, that the people
have a right to be repnhented. and that it is not a matter of
favour. In a committee mita the t'ireneeshr election
petition in 1792, it became neceshirs for the committee to
define what was the right of election, and they gave •
general definition. f.r the purpose of enactin, nt, a to right
of voting, in the following terms, which stated it to extend
to—.• every male person of full are. and not sulajeet to any
legal incapacity. alto shall occupy ewe house or dwell-
ing. the MIMIC lasing bona jilt hitt ell for and ap-
plied to purposes of residence, shall. if duly registered,
he entitled to vote in the election of mentlojaa to setae in
parliano nt." What then do we seek more than what
Black.tons., and Whiteloek, and Glanville. and other autho-
rities have told you is the right of the people ? (Hear,
hear.) With these observations I come now to consider
whether that right is enjoyed par not. 1 ran only say that
as chairman of committee in 1834, to inquire Meet the num-
her of voters in every borough and couuty, I found a laments
able proof to the contrary. It was then awertahted that
there was only one in seven of the male populatioa, abuse
twenty yean of age, who had a vote. I believe the propor-
tion is now shout one in six. Is it ream able to soot)°,
that men will remain Whiled with sash a state of
things. The working classes arc mar in gaud employment,
and do not trouble themselres so mutt about the elective.
franchise as they did some time ago: but is not this the
proper time to aetue the question. Or wait till a reverse
takes place, when a demand again itt,olt., hot in this most
arTsoloaiLnianiaff. extbetial from the llLlSOfilifia Na
man xi,:ely CAS 04. ns:aw with a dear con-
science that st is fie:: that , oue 3n as sea, should ponces a
teice -a halation arts is the authiag es the :me* sallied;