The Express.
London, England, 1848-05-02 00:00:00

THE REFORM MOVEMENT,

MEETING OF THE COMPLETE SUFFRAGE-
-ISTS AT BIRMINGHAM.
Yesterday morning at 10 o'clock a meeting of
electors, convened at the instance of the complete suffrage
party, was held in the Town-h.dl at Birmingham, to hear an
address from Mr. Vincent on the present state of the country.
The attendance of electors was very numerous ; that part of
the ban allotted to the public was crowded to excess. At
least 8,000 persons must have been present. Mr. Muntz,
M.P., Mr. Schnlefield, M.P., and many other influential
persons in the borough were present.
Mr. Aid. PAL/lett having been called on to pre4dc opened
the business of the day with the observation that the time
had arrived when they were called on to exercise the right
they possessed as freemen. They were living (he said) in
perilous times : society was Agitated from one end of Europe
to the other, throats were falling, and ernpirt s shaken in all di-
rections.lnEngland greatdissatisfection and distress prevailed.
The time had arrived when something must be done. The
question was, what that shotild be. All sensible men were
agreed that the people were borne down by taxation until it
could be borne no longer. They had arrived at the break-
back point. Government appeared to have no thought fur
the people but to tax them. The people, on the other band,
thought they were taxed enough; they believed that the
time had arrived when the expenditure of the country must
be reduced. Something must be done. The people were
suffering the greatest privations—trade was stagnant—ma-
nufacturers were discharging their men, and living on their
capital, instead of on profits. The working classes were
dissatisfied. They felt that labour as well as capital
ought to be represented in the House of Commons—that
the landed and monied Aristocracy had full sway in the
country—and that there must be an alteration in the peo-le's
house. Of all things it was important that this agitation
should be conducted peaceably. Anarchy and confusion
would du no good, hut, • n the contrary, would create uni-
versal ruin. If the people were but firm and united the aria-
tom Key of the kingdom must ultimately bow before them.
In his opinion it depended entirely on the wisdom of the
middle classes whether the country was saved from revolu-

iron and ruin.
Mr. VINCENT was then introduced by the chairman. lie
delivered an address which occupied upwards of an hour. He
commenced by observing that the present parliament was
so notoriously corrupt that it ceased to command the respect
of the enlightened and virtuous of the working classes. He
repudiated the Principle that the duty of a government was
to provide the means for enriching any portion of the com-
munity : no man ought to expect to get rich except by honest
labour, sobriety, and thrift. His conviction was, that the
true philosophy of social progress was in the labour of
each individual man, and that the labouring clauses were
destined by God to lift themselves out of their present degra-
dation. The time had come when new blood must be in-
nisei into the House of Commons. The expenditure of
the country was progrroyively increasing. This year the ex-
penditure was twenty-a:x millions, exclusive of that which
was required for the payment of the interest of the na-
tional debt, which was an increase of eleven mil-
lions since the whigs came into office. An expression
of Mr. Cobden's had been much carped at, that the
annual expenditure of the country might be reduced ten
millions, without injery to any branch of the public service.
But this would never be till the tax-payers, as well as the
tax-eaters, were represented in the House cf Commons.
Mr. Vincent then entered into a long detailed statement,
illustrative of the inequality in our present system of repre-
sentation, and then went on to c :press his belief that a large
portion of the Bensible and thinking men of the country
were in favour of an extension of the franchise. It was no
question of anarchy—no mere demagoguism—but a move-
ment in which he believed men of all parties would •ally to
save the country. The middle classes were altogethee unie-
presented in the House of Commons; every questim for a
reduction of the expenditure was treated with laughter and
derision; and a voice must again go forth from lliorninahano,
in the name of peace, law, and order, demanding, firmly and
resolutely, for the great bulk of the people, their full share of
political rights.
Mr. Mvsiz, M.P., after a few introductory observations,
said that he had always been in the habit of' calling things
by their right names, and. if it was a het that the people
were rubbed by the Meuse of Commovis, then the represen-
tatives of the people (as they were called) in the House of
Commons were thieves. lie condemned the goverment
for having brought in the gagging bill—fur having been
frightened into doing so—a bill which (he said) he had op-
posed in every shape and form. Thereafter the hon. gentle-
men went on toshow the policy andexpediency of the people
not being too ultra on either the one side or the other. lie
had ne objection (he said) to universal suffrage himself ;1
he saw no objection whatever to it, providing
they could get the ballot with it ; without it there would be
all sorts of bribery and interference. Now (continued
the hon. gentleman), can yeti, as the people, get the charter
without the consent of people in other places. You all re-
member seeing in the papers an account of a meeting of
members of parliament to take into consideration certain
refoims for which there was just now an agitation in the
country. At that meeting all the hearings of the question
were discussed, and after a long and reasonable discundon it
was thought better to take no steps whatever in the matter
until after Mr. O'Connor 's motion. They did not wish the
public to see that they were divided on it ; but the feet was,
that of those who were present at the meeting to which he
was referring, four-fifths would have voted against univer-
sal suffrage; now he put it to them whether they were
prepared, by persisting in their demand for the suffrage, to
give up the support of the 100 members of parliament who
would, under the circumstances, go with them. (Hear.)
A very extended household suffrage, with the ballot, trim-
ni d parliaments, and electoral districts, would give them
such power, that nothing would prevent their getting
universal suffrage it they required it. He had laboured
many years in the cause of the people. In 1830, when the
tint political union was formed, ho presided at a meeting at
Beardsworth's Repository, which was the surprise of the
world ; the proposition then was, that they should have
household suffrage, but the whip suffered the
Reiorm Bill to be filled with such absurdities
of all sorts that the 101. franchise, fettered as it was with
rate-paying and other clauses, restricted rather than in-
ased the franchise in many places. If, however, all
householders possessed the suffrage, and all lodgers who had
held possession a certain time, the franchise would be very
greatly widened. lie had once thought it objectionable
that soldiers tad sailors should be permitted to vote,
loot if there was • restriction as to residence the objec-
tion was done away with, and a very smell portion of society
would be found to be unrepresented. He deprecated the
spirit that seemed to actuate some chartists who de-
sired all or none; it seemed to him (he said) like
the man who wouldn't go to the top of a
church until ho could jump up it. For his
part ho was as extreme a radical as anybody, and always had
been ; but he should like to know what that party ever got
of themselves, but, when they were joined together as they
did in the political 'union, they made a great demonstration,
and, if they did not get all, they got a great deal. Amongst
other things they obtained the power of sending members to
parliament ; and it was a fact that the large constituencies
were the only honest coustituencics that now existed. (Hear.)
For he would venture to erty that there was not a small
borough in the country where bribery and intimidation
was not exercised. At the present time the dis-
tress in the country was becoming unbearable. He
admitted that the suffrage, per or, would not
mend the condition of the people, but it would
give them the power of enforcing the adoption of such mea-
sures as would make them happy. (Mar, hear.) His
counsel therefure was for the middle and working classes to
unite together in one solemn bond of union, and they would
obtain a large proportion of that which they were seeking
to obtain. (Hear, hear.) At the present time there were
time parties in the liouao of Commons—the whigs, the
good cou
Peelites, rine the tories. All tho,o were broken up, an no
ld be expected from either of them. The s
tory
party could not move an inch—the Peel party had been
pushed out —the whigs came io, and these two parties
playtd into each other's hands on all important (pee-
-1 tient', sometimes getting up a quibble on a little
thing ; but in fact there was 1.14 hone fide opposition in the
House of Commons. This state of thiess neeld not, however,
exist much longer ; 100 memb. rs going from one side of the
house to another, would make a rather considerable dif.
ference. The whigs came to him sometimes, sneaking and
sneering, but se. y frightened, and they said, "You'll do no
good you'll all tumble to pi, e,s ; " but the fact was, that
minor ditferenei s would but sink into insignificance when
they all united together for a common object • and it would
bo the fault of the people themselves, if they did not ob-
tain a better system of government. (lieu.) It VMS his
intention, as soon as all prices and profits went down to the
continental level (which would be very Khortlyl, to make
a motion to the effect that all salaries he reduced to what
they were prior to 1797; profits were reduced to the
li
lowest pose:ble figures, salaries ought therefore to
be reduced in proportion. Nothieg in the shape
of reduction could be expected from the whigs' who
were in office ; nor from the Peelftes—they expected soon
to be in; but the tories, when they had sufficiently suf.
fered cooseignent on rents not being paid and from other
causes, would not be very backward in agreeing to such a
motion. (Cheers.) The ther day he (Mr. Mums) read in
the Exprest Sir Joshua Walmaley's letter to the electors
of Leicester, and a mare sensible production he had never
read. He edyined thou present to peruse it, for in his

mind the principles tbereia entestciated and expounded, if
carried out, ought to be andleilut to satisfy any reasonable
men. In his opinion, those entertaining extreme opi-
nione were bound to make a slight sacrifice in
order to obtain household suffrage; then it would
be impossible for any government to withhold •
more extended reform, if the people required it. Fur his
own part, he tied always relied on the mass of the people in
his elections, and so he had told the House of CoolasoMe
All the people had to do was to hang together. la faller le
emancipate tnemselves from the thraldom which degratied I
them, sud would exist, so long as the aristocracy were par-
mitttd to purchase power at the expense of the integrity of
the people. (Cheers.)
Mr. ticitotartzeo, M.P., who was received with entlea. I
gamic cheering, rose to address the meeting. He remarked,
that after the very admirable address of hie hon. colleague,
in the principles of which he most cordially concurred,
he felt he should not be warranted in taking up the time of
the meeting by speaking at any length, more especially as
he saw other gentlemen around him who would doubth se
wish to explain their mites upon the subject. So far as hie
own views went upon the matter before them, he
would say he had not changed them, and those pm.
lent knew the principles upon which he said he
would stand when returned to parliament (Applause.)
They knew the extent of his views upon the suffrage ques-
tion ; they knew that he sincerely and deliberately advoeated
the principle involved in the term universal suffrage ; and to
that principle he now as rrongly adhered as he bad ever
done, and more so. He had, however, signed the declaration
in &your of the movement for household suffrage that he
might join iiithat movement, which he believed would stir
up England from end to end. (Hear.) Ile (Mr. Schelefield)
had a certain distance to go, and he would get as many as he
could to accompany him to the end of his journey; but at the
same time he would go as far as they went with those who
did not intend to go the whole distance, and when he sepa-
rated from them he would part with them in friendship,
while he should pursue his course and go the whole
length of his journey, though he should have to travel
within the law to his journey's end. (Applause.)
No doubt a great deal of mistake had existed between the
I middle and working claws, for the middle classes had
treated the working classes as though they (the middle
classes) had interests in which the working classes had no
share ; hut he thought it cool I be shown such was not the
caw. Largely as the middle classes thought they were re•
unseated, it had been shown that day how small a propor-
tion of them were represented in reality. Had not the
middle classes their grievaocee from the existence of such a
system ? Had not they heavy taxation and bad trade ? And
were not those the same grievances of which the working
classes had to complain ? And the middle classes and the
working closers should know that it was only by their being
united that those grievances could be redressed. (Cheers.)
He would not detain them further than to assure them of
his desire to see the charter fully carried out, and he trusted
they would not accuse him of falsifying one single promise
that be made when elected ; and it he understood himself
he never would give them an opportunity of making any
such cheep. The hon, member then resumed his seat amid
loud cheers.
Mr. 0. Dawsort, MA., said, the wishes of the working
claws are well known; the charter defines them simply
and clearly. The question is, are the middle classes pre.
pared to go that length. I think they are not. What is to
be done ? Are the two climes to be regarded as contracting
parties, who must each make concession; or are the work-
mg classes to insist upon their whole demand? Can you
get the charter if the middle classes do not join? Will
they join ? If not, what will you do? Will you refuse
a part because you cannot get the whole ? Some of us
will not. We will ask what there is a likelihood of oh
tabling. In so doing there is no departure from principle.
lam well aware of what will be said. We shall be called
double:faced. Apply the epithet to your members. They
aro for universal suffrage, and yet have signed the household
declaration. Call them double-faced. The beet way is to an-
ticipate sham, and by prophesying it take away its sting. I
expect, then, all universal suffrage men who now join a
movement for leas will be said to be deserters—unprincipled,
expediency-men, double-faced, whiggish, panderers to pre•
judice, timid, unjust, half and-half, and so on. Say BO; we
expect it; it will harm us not. Let the questions be fairly
stated and answered. Is there any chance of your carrying
universal suffrage ? Is there any chance of household ? Shall
we refuse the one because it is not the whole? If the
chartist feels ho cannot go for leas than the
charter, let him go for it. He need not oppose the other
movement. If union is possible, unite—if not, let the parties
pursue an independent but friendly course. if the two are
to be antagonistic, then I will join the most practicable—not
feeling that in so doing any principle is sacrificed, but a tri•
bute paid to that genius of progressive reform which is so
dear to Englishmen, who have so much of the conservative
element in them. To those working men who, though char-
tists, are wiling to join the household movement, I would
say—" Be not deterred from so doing by what may be said.
Moral courage is never more shown than in doing right
when it may be called wrong." Many chartists feel that they
cannot demand less than the charter. So be it ; bullet others
who feel they can, without inconsistency, join a
household movement, at once do so. (Immense cheering).
Mr. Josson Srunon next addressed the meeting. He
expressed his delight at seeing so large and so harmonious a
meeting, and his hopefulness that if they could only obtain
their object they would not quarrel about the name by
which is was fated. Though he had nut read the letter of
Sir Joshua Walmsley, to which reference had been made,
still he did think, if he could understand that letter rightly
from what Mr. Monte had said, that both himself and Sir
Joshun came very close together in opinion. If he
(Mr. Sterile) understood rightly, man, as man, was
worthy of full political privileges without any re-
ference to property. As far as ho understood Sir
Joshua's letter, before a man could vote for a repro-
eentative in parliament, he must have a settled residence '
for a certain period ; and, if that was all, did not they then
agree together in principle ? That being so, he begged of
them not to quarrel about a name. Again he would say,
was it not wrong to condemn a whole class as working men
becatoe of a few physical terse men ? (Rear.) There were
thousands, tens of thousands, whom providence had placed
in a position above that of the working men who would,
seeing what was going on upon the continent, have taken a
part in politics now, if it was not that they were afraid of so
doing. But they might as well charge upon religion all the
dire effects of the inquisition, at to charge upon the whole
of the woeting classes the faults of some of their
would-be leaders. (Applause.) It was he knew their duty
to advocate equality of political rights, hut he did implore
them, if the, could not agree upon all points, not to disagree
upon details. He trusted they wool" look upon those who
did not go the whole way as agreeing with them, and join-
ing in going a certain distance, as far as they could now see
their way. But he thought hie friend Mr. Dawson was
rather too senguinc about the matter, and he (Mr. Sturge)
should prefer going for the great principle. (Cheers) In
conclusion Mr. Sturge called upon all parties present, who
were in (Roque of an extension of the suffrage, to unite
together for the purpose of supporting so desirable an object,
after which he resumed his seat amid much cheering.
Mr. H. V.INCENT then again rose, and expressed his de-
light at the catholicity of feeling displayed by the meeting,
and his hope that the objects fur which they had met would
be realised. He trusted by a little good temper the dietinc.-
tiveriess of names might be done away with, and a firmer
union effected. lie wanted a union between the middle and
working chimes, and a full and fair representation of the
working closes.
Mr. J. Marlow, chartist, said that his friend+, some of them
who had neokee, had been more candid than he had ex-
pected, and he expressed his desire to know what household
suffrage meant. He did not think thatthe chartists were fana-
tics. lie bad been a chartist for years, but no fanatic. Hewes
one, too, who never called other persons by hard names ;
and be thought they should not look back upon the errors of I
the chartist', or it might rake up other unpleasant reminiss
mum. He would say to those who were fur obtaining
household suffrage, " Go on, and get es much as you can,"
and let the nnivereal suffragists assist them where they
could. But he called upon them as men of principle to re-
collect, that when that bill for granting house.
hold suffrage went into the houses of par lament there
would be amendment upon amendment, until the promoters
of the bill would find that the one passed was not the one
they wished for. (Hear.) They (the complete euffirage
party) had declared their principles ; they did not complain
of the exertions of those who did not go quite so far, but he
would rather lay let them get as much se they eonld. That
declaration had been signed by men of both parties, both
working men and middle-class men, which showed there
was a mutual desire te co-operate. He would tell the meet
ing plainly he wan a chartist, but he did not upon that ac-
count rice to attack the two honourable members pre-
sent, or Mr. Dawson ; they must all be aware
that their two honourable representatives had much
to go through, which those present knew nothing of.
Whilst, then, these honourable men would stand upon what
they considered they could obtain, he would, upon principle,
stand upon what they (the working classes) ought to obtain;
and if they did not do that they might depend upon it they
would not get the household suffrage they wanted. He
(Mr. Mason) now found hundreds of middle ease men cheer-
ing the very sentiment,' which, when he tittered teem a few
years ago, be was imprisoned for so doing ; and the reason
was that the middle classes now saw that the working
classes in their principles were right, and that nothiug
1 could be done without a union of the two. (Hear.)
Mr. Mason then went on to remind the meeting that in a
co-operation of the middle and working classes there was
much to be forgiven sad forgotten • and urged that they
should rather unitedly take their stand on the principle of
universal suffrage than on the accommodating expe-
dient household suffrage, at the same time reminding the
meeting of the fact that the men of Birmingham were now
being led by men who would cause them to work out their
object by peaceable and legitimate means and no other.
Mr. B. SMITII (of the firm of Martineau and Smith) con-
sidered that while in the days of the agitation for the Reform
Bill it was said that " taxation without representation was
tyranny," should they:not now take the converse of that, and
argue that the man who bad a voice in the representation
should be one affected by the taxation of the country ? He
thought that a system of fair and eqnttable taxation might
be adopted.
Mr. O'Nziet suggested that it would be better to ask dis-
tinctly what was the nature of this " household suffrage "to
which reference had been made that day.
Mr. MUNIZ, M.P., replied that, at present, there had
been nothing definitive settled by the new liberal party in
reference to the extension of the suffrage. He had (he said)
before told them that there were a certain number of liberal
members who had agreed to endeavour to obtain " an ex-
tension of the suffrage, vote by ballot, triennial parliaments,
and electoral districts." A meeting bad been called to
arrange the matter, but, in consequence of the postponement
of the motion of Mr. F. O'Connor, that meeting had been
adjourned. As to the Reform Bill, it was the tault of the
eovernment of the time, who would not let it be passed in
the form it ought to have been. He had told the
People over and ever spin that it would be so

altered and emasculated that it would sot be the e s
bill they wanted or expected. Bat there had been ;
something done by the Reform Bill ; it bad put • stop ,
to the old beroughniongering system ; and by means of new ;
boroughs, such as Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Shef-
field, and others, had sent what he termed real represents
tires of the people to parliament. Mr. Monte again referred
to Sir J. Walmsley's letter, which was subseqoently read to
I the meeting by Mr. O'Neill, the Chairman having handed
to him the Doily News fur that purpose. Mr. O'Neill said
the contents of the letter were the sentiments' of one man
only, but it certainly embodied some of the leading points in
the charter; and so far he declared himself satisfied with it.
Mr. Him., a chartist, considered the question put by Mr.
O'Neill, in reference to the full meaning of the words,
" household suffrage " as very proper, more especially 14
they should rightly understand the question before the meet
ing of Wednesday, prior to which be contended the parties
who celled that meeting ought to define precisely what im-
provements they were going for.
Mr. MUNTZ explained that he had received a letter from
the gentlemen by whom the meeting on Wednesday was
called, inviting hint to attend a meeting that morning to
define and determine upon the princ•ples the should adopt,
so they would all see there was no desire on the part of those
gentlemen to withhold the information required by the last
speaker.
Mr. DAVI., a chartist, followed—His party (he said)
wanted the suffrage, believing themselves to he entitled to
it. Some others were for household suffrage, and for his
part, he said, if they could get 10s. in the pound, it would
be better to take that instalment of a right then refuse it alto-
gether. He regarded it as is the highest degree unjust to
deprive them of the suffrage, and his motto was " The
charter and no surrender."
The meeting broke up with this expression of opinion,
and without the adoption of any resolution, but there appears
• no doubt but that Mr. Sturge and all the most influential
, of the complete suffrage party will unite with those who are
/ going for the very extensive reforms comprised in their de-
I elsration, including household euffrage, the ballot, electoral
I districts, and triennial parliament,.

LEICESTER REFORM MEETING.—In our report of
this meeting, on Thursday last, the following typographical
ermrs escaped correction:—" N. Briggs, Esq., Mayor," fi r
"John Biggs, Esq., Mayor ;" the Rev. C. Barry," for
the " Rev. C. Berry ;". .and the " Rev. I.,Scudimore,'• for the
"Rev. J. Smedmore."
ANOTHER NEW STEAMER, belonging to the British
and North American Steam Company, called the Niagara,
intended to run between Liverpool and Now York, arrived
in the Mersey yesterday, from Glasgow, where she was
built. She is commanded by Captain Kyrie, late of the

Ilibereis.
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.—The annual meeting,
of the members of this society was held Yesterday
at their rooms, No. 21, Regent-street, .7. J. Blaady,
Esq., in the chair. From the report of the council it
appeared that owing to the unfavourable state of the
weather last year the profits on account of the exhibi-
tions at the gardens at Chiswick had been diminished
to the exteat of 7481. 15s. 3d. Nevertheless, in conse-
quence of the economy practised by the council, the debt of
the society had been reduced by the sum of 6691. It had
been resolved that all life *Ascriptions (or compositions)
should henceforth be funded; and the whole amount under
this head in the present year had been invested in the Three
per Cent. Consols. The exhibitions at the gardens. bad
maintained their accustomed reputation with the exception
of fruit, in the quality of which there had been so marked a
decline that the especial ate ntion of the exhibition
committee was directed to the subject. The committee
had recommended abetter classification and more minute sub-
division of prizes, together with the abolition of what were
termed collections of fruits, and an exclusion of fruiterers
from ethibition. By the new arrangement 26 heads of com-
petition were provided instead of 6. The number of tickets
issued for the gardens was 21,073, while in the previous year
it was 23,917. The total receipts amounted to 6,0911. Ils. Id.,
and the expenditure left a balance in hand of :5841. 15s. 3d.
Some valuable contributions to the collections at the ger-
dens had been received ; amongst which were—from Vis-
count Palmerston, various vine cuttings from Pen:a, which,
if they can be made to grow, will prove highly interesting ;
from Captain Munroe, through the Earl of Auckland, a
your g plant of Amherstia nobilie, dtc. The committee hod
to thank Mr. Lindley for two lectures on heat and coa-
bastion, and they had to report that Dr. Lindley bad deli-
vered 14 lectures on various subjects connected with gar-
dening. The report having been adopted, and the council
and other officers elected, the meeting separated.
INFANT ORPHAN ASYLUM, WANSTEAD.—An an-
nual meeting of subscribers was held yesterday at the Len.
don Tavern, Bishopurte-tr.
presided. The commitatee sof management reportedl thaMt the
number of orphans on the establishment at the time of the
last annual meeting was 216 ; there had been since admitted
by election 100, and by purchase 2, making a total of 318.
Of that number 47 had left for other asylums, or the are of
their friends, and 8 had died. The number would
be increased by the election of that day to 313.
The income of the charity bad very considerably exceeded
its expenditure; and after defraying) all the claims of the
year 1817, a large proportion or the life subscriptions re-
mained for investment. The committee, however, begged
to reiterate what they had before stated, that until the
asylum was filled the economical working of the charity
could not be adequately developed. They acknowledged
the receipt of 250 guineas from her Majesty, in the name of
the Prince of Wales ; and among several legacies, one from
the late Mr. J. W. Bridger, amounting to 2001. The usual
business—the election of officers, stc.—having been gone
through, the proceedings terminated.—The poll was then
opened, and was closed at three o'clock, when 60 out of 169
candidates were duly elected to the benefits of the charity.
CALEDONIAN ASYLUM. —An adjourned general
meeting of governors was held yesterday, at the house of
the ficottisa Corporation, Crane-court. aleet-street. The
Marquis of Breadalbane presided. After a short conven-
tion with reference to some observations which had been
made at the former meeting, the minutes of that meeting,
and of the subsequent proceedings of the directors,were read.
They stated that, in necordance with a resolution of the
general meeting, a committee had been appointed to inquire
into the circumstances and management of the institution.
That committee, after receiving a report of the finance
committee, came to the unanimous decision that a complete
change in the arrangements arid management of the asylum
was necessary. They recommended that the services of the
secretary should be dispensed with, and another officer ap-
pointed under the title of eretary and superintendent, who
should reside in the asylum ; also, that the services of the
principal master should oe dispensed with, and another
person appointed in his place ; that the office of assistant
master he abolished; and that the instruction of the junior
classes should be conduct( .1 by pupil teachers. The committee
recommended the abehtien of the office of assistent-school-
mistress, and also the dismissal of the drill-sergeant, another
person to be appointed in his place. With regard to the
tieaucial condition of the asylum, they found that far the
last two years the expenditure had exceeded the income by
2,0481-, and that both the capital and income were fast dim-
ni.hing. They suggested that the funded ca-
pital should at no tics be reduced below 10,0001.
They had laid out a system of bye•laws for the
future management of the asylum, which they re-
commended to the attention of the directors. The directors
had adopted, with some reservation, the recommendations of
the committee, the principal of which was with regard to the
proposed dismissal of Mr. Burney, the secretary, who they
considered might be continued in his office, to which should
be added the additional duties of superintendent. A long
discussion took place upon the proceedings of the board, in
which some diversity of opinion was expressed. The result
was that the minutes were confirmed.
FISTULA INFlRMARY.—Yesterdas, the anniversary
dinner of this institution took place at the London Tavern.
The L: rd Mayor occupied the chair. Atter the usual loyal
and complimentary toasts had been honoured, his lordship
called especial attention to the toast of the evening—
" Prosperity to the Fistula Infirmary." He said it
was especially satisfactory to notice that, notwithstand-
ing recant events and the generally depressing aspect
of the times, the funds aid prospects of the charity
had not suffered. The objects of she institution
deserved this decided support, since at sought to relieve a
class of diseases which nom their character rendered those
suffering from them the objeetsof compassion. Ilia lordship
referred to the chief points of the report for the year ending
December, 1847. It referred to the fact that, notwithstanding
the sad inroad death had wide among many of the early
friends of the institution, there was yet an increase in the
amount of its annual subael:ptions, thus affording a sub-
stantial proof that the niunha of those who are'not on.
mindful of their poorer brethren, languishing from privation
and sickness, is not diminished. The report furtherstates that
the infirmary, which has reached its twelfth anniversary, has
been the meant of affording permanent relief to nearly 6,000
sufferers, of whom above 1,7,00 have undergone surgical
operations. It was regretted, however, that although the
charity had suffered no retrograde movement, yet the accom-
modation was still fur too circumscribed to allord assistance
to all who are eligible objects of its solicitude.. The rover-
non of the infirmary, therefor s, entreated not only a con-
tinuance of pecuniary, but als • a bestowal upon it of moral,
support, by enlisting the sym, achy of fricuda andconnotions
in the praiseworthy cause—a e .use it was considered that
every one who values the ^drancement of science, the
alleviation of human sufLring, and the happiness
of his fellow creatures, is called upon to promote.—
Sir James Law Lushington, in prof *sing the health of the
(winder (Attie charity, bestowed a warm eulogium on the
excellence( that gentleman; and Mr. Salmon, in returning
thanks, said that it his friends and the pus lic wished to mark
their recognitian of any services he had been able to afford to
the case of charity and the suffering poor, the best mode
they could adopt was to continue their support to the Insti-
tution, the twelfth anniversary of which they had met to
celebrate. The donations of the evening amounted to nearly
400)., which, with the minuet subscaptions, made a total
sum of abeut 5001., as the produce of the anniversary festival.

IRELAND.
DUBLIN, APRIL 30.

The "Irish ambassadors," after their Cork enter-
tainment, are invited to pay a visit to the urba intleta.
This will scarcely be practicable, as Messrs. O'Brien
and Meagher must appear personally in the Queen's
Bench to-morrow, and so on from day to day until
the hour dime. Mr. Smith O'Brien and his subor-
dinates will be received Via evening by the Sar.field
Club. Mr. Mitchell's recepti m was very dishearten-
ing. The Liuurick. CAroacle thus describes his ar-
rival yesterday in the city of the violated treaty:—
When the mail drew up opposite the Post office,
where a largo crowd of ' Old Inlanders' had as-
sembled in expectation of Mr. Mitchell's ..rtival, they

commenced groaning that gentleman, to whom much
indignity. was offered, with foul threats of per-
sonal injury, in consequence, as they stated, of
his calumny of Daniel O'Connell. Mr Mitchell
appeared quite surprised at such discourtesy, and
said he did not anticipate such a reception from
Irishmen. Several members of the Confederate Club
who were in waiting to congratulate Mr. Mitchell,
and endeavoured to suppress the indignity, were
themselves abused and insulted. Messrs. Mitchell
and Meagher reached Cruise's Hotel in safety. It is
not unlikely that a melee will take place at the soiree
this evening between Young and Old Ireland. Tho
" calumny" to which allusion is here made is con-
tained in the following passage from the floated Irish-
Illan of the 22nd of April :
The great Irish abler and abettor of these English plunderers was
one Daniel O'Connell, throughout his life the upholder irt " middle—
class" rule. in all its plows, crimes, huxterlee, and by ocriries, and
on all occasion the mortal enemy tf the Irish working man, tiller,
and artificer. Ilia was the principal agency by which trades unions
and combinations of workmen were broken down in Ireland, and
labour left naked and unarmed to the mercy of capital. lie upheld
landlordism, and held down the working farmer to the -tmost of his

power.
The soirr'e at Limerick, to Messrs. O'Brien, Mit-
chell, and Meagher, was not concluded when the
last accounts left. The entertainment was given
in the lower floor of a large store, in Thomas-street.
There were about 300 persons present. At half-past
'even o'clock "The Prosecuted Patriots" arrived,
and, after receiving a long round of applause, the
festivities commenced. After the first set of cups
of tea were drank, the toasts of the evening
were proceeded with. The first was " The Queea
of Ireland," which was boisterously received,
with some few marks of disapprobation.
" The People, the true source of Legitimate poser,
—" The Prosecuted Patriots"—and " Ireland for the
Irish," were responded to by Messrs. O'Brien, Meagher,
and Mitchell, in long, but, as compared with their
recent harangues, moderate, speeches. Mr. Mitchell
was not well received. The opposition to him was
incited by the Rev. Dr. O'Brien, for his recent attack
on the character of Mr. Daniel O'Connell, whom he
designated as the " enemy to the working men of
Ireland," and " an abettor of English plunderers."
The soiree was avowedly given by the Sarsfield
Club, which is composed of members of the Irish
Confederation, and was not, as originally supposed it
would be, a compliment from the United ltepealers
of Limerick. Mr. O'Brien appears to lez in high
favour with the Old Irelanders, as well asYoung, here.
While some of those think he is going too fast, they
do not hesitate to say their city representatives are
going too slow.
Notices have been posted through the town of Rath-
keale, convening a " monster meeting" for Sunday, at
the Market-square, "to sympathise with the pro-
secuted patriots, Messrs. O'Brien, Meagher, and Mit-
chell, and to subscribe in aid of the Defence Fund."
The placard concludes with these inflammatory
words :—" Rally to the Rathkeale meeting, rack-
rented and cruelly-taxed farmers, idle and starving
tradesmen and artisans. Rally to the meeting, starv-
ing labourers, hungry able-bodied paupers, and prove
that you think an feel with those noble and generous
patriots, who are daily wasting time and property
for your frecdom."
A meeting of noblemen and gentlemen connected
with the county of Down assembled yesterday at
liillsborongh Castle, the residence of the Marquis of
Downehire. A declaration of attachment to the
crown and in maintenance of the union was unani-
mously agreed to, and forwarded for signature to the
magistracy, clergy, i.nd yeomen of the county. The
marquis was requested to correspond with the lieute-
nants of the other counties in Ulster on the same
subject. Among the list of toasts we find the
" Memory of O'Connell," the first tribute ever paid
to the name of O'Connell since his death.
The military organisation and discipline of the
police force is scarcely inferior to that of the line, and
it is intended by the authorities to assimilate them
gradually in rank and honours. The first step has
already been taken, and the three grades of sub-
inspectors 1,2, 3, will henceforward assume the title
and dignity of captains, lictitcoants, and ensigns.
The fleet under Sir Charles Napier is expected
round to the Shannon.
A very remarkable circumstance is mentioned in
a letter from Killarney. When the defalcation in
the savings bank of that town became known at the
union workhouse, a considerable number of the
paupers made their way out of the house, and, with
their pass-books in hand, rushed to the savings bank,
demanding the amount of their lodgments ! This
extraordinary fact is given upon such unquestionable
authority that it is impossible to entertain any doubt
of its accuracy.
The Limerick Chronicle mentions a somewhat
similar fact in the following terms:
A woman went into one of the Cork banks on Monday,
and asked for gold for 121. in notes, which she had just
drawn from the savings bank. She got the gold, and while
folding it in piper a gentleman present, whole attention was
attracted by her poor appearance, recognised her as receir-
‘o out-door relief in the neighbourhood of Macroom.

LIMERICK ADDRP.BS TO HIS EXCELLENCY.—The follow-
ing address of confidence in his excellency has received nume-
rous signatures in the county and city of Limerick :
We, the undersigned inhabitants of Limerick and its aiciaity,
having witnessed with deep regret, the attempts which have bean
made to accustom the minds of men to violence and bloudshcal ; and
to introduce into one part of the United Kingdom the horrors of civil
war, approach your exullency with this expression of our conviction,
that such atrocious attempts are not only reprobated by us, but by
what may legitimately be called public *Maim' in this neighbour-
hood. We entertain not only various but conflicting po-
litical opinions ; and for the support of there opinions
we have contended, and arc prepared to contend again
ming only In such contests all the means permitted by
our free constitution. We do not attempt to deny the existence of
rnentabte distress and Msery ; but we are convinced that constitu-
tional liberty is at an end, when internecine strife begins; and we be-
lieve, that no permanent relief can be given to poverty, except
through the employment of the poor—that no employment can be
given except through the investment of capital-rand that no capital
will be invested where life and property are threatened with destruc-
tion and confiscation. When we temember that Ireland already poe.
Wats that freedom of speech and of the press, that representative
system, that trial by jury. that responsibility of ministers toe
which so
many other nations have been, and still are at, uggiing ; we feel the
more ashamed and indignant that language, such as we have alluded
to, should go forth to disgrace her through the Christian
world—language not only counselling bloodshed, but modes of war-
fare so horrible, as to seem the suggestion of demons rather than of
men. A strong sense of public duty has impelled us to lay before
your excellency our opini nn on the state of our country. We boon
done so in the firm ciinfideoce that your excellency, Influenced no
low by your well-known kindlinem of heart than by • sense of justice,
will not rest satisfied with vindicating the cause of order and of law
(in which we promise our moot earnest co-operation), without at the
same thee tracing our many satin; evils to their origin, ono applying
each remedied as may, with tune and God's blueing, diminish pau-
perism promote employment, develop industry, cement order, and
make the empire, to which we gloty in belonging, strong in the
support and to the affection of a contented, prosperous, and loyal
people-
-BT4TE or THE COUNTRY.—A paragraph in the Limerick
paper of to-day, written by a person who has traversed
within the last week the whale of that valley which lies
betwe. n the Keeper mountains and the Galties, and from
the boundary of Waterford to the river Maigue, describes
the state of cultivation in the most cheering language. Not
only is there more corn sown, but the breadth of potatoes
down equals that of any former year. The " cheerful song
of the peasant is again heard in the open field ;" and, save
in those places where extermination has been at week, " the
general appearance of the country is p.culiarly delightful."
The writer suggests, whiala I cannot but feel is inn great
measure true, that if the landlords would observe a little
forbearance next year the country would again be pros-
perous. May we not hope that even for their own ultimate
advantage they will do so ? Tho wretchedness of Gal-
way who can attempt to describe ? Amongst the pain-
fad tales related in the local papers this week, is
one in which a woman and her daughter, driven through
hunger to feed on the carcass of a dog in a putrid
state, died of the horrid meal within 24 hours, in the moat
awful agony. The Lough Corrib drainage works are at
length in progress, and all to some extent relieve the labour
market of the town of Galway. There are 60 men now upon
the works.