The Express.
London, England, 1849-08-14 00:00:00

AGGREGATE MEETING

DRURY LANE THEATRE.

YeAseday, the first aggregate waning of the
Financial Reform Leanne was held at Drury-lane Theatre.
The &Avert isewents announced that the chair wouid be taken

;t saves o'cltch, but tull two bouts tefore that tine the
various avenues to the theatre were bckirged by hundreds of
eager applicants for sdmiaeioo, and within a few minutes of
na, the hour at which the dome were thrown open, the pit,
the gelleris., the public bean, and, in fact, every part of the
house except the stage, the stalls, and a tew private boxer,
which were reserved for those who were to take an active

ra t in the proceeding. and their immediate (mods, were
filled to overfiewissit. The breach warieties from all parts of
the metropolis, Norwich, Hemel Hempstead, and from
wok set other puts of Ettglaud, contributed their ountSers
to add to the mond forts of this popular dentoostra.
ties is favour of (epitomical gcuroment. From
ire Greenwich breath 120 of the MOM WM came

up in pr.ewion, headed by Hr. John iVaie,their
man. As the hour for eommencing the proceedings ap-
proached, the reserved seats began to Ail, and som Aims
before seven every available space wee occupied, and the
theatre became crowded to elves'. Is tie dregs rinds and

in the private bean were a swathe, of a...wily-dressed
ladies.

At pr.-citify MTH o'clock Sir J. WALWILIT made his ip-
pearano, and amid the most enthusiestic and oft repeated
greerings of the assemSled multitude proomded to take hie
place as the president of the evening. Having taken the
chair,

The His. CHAIRMAN immediately rose and addressed
the meeting in the following terms: Lodes and Gentlemen,
—We have not, I em sorry to say, the advan-
tage of the preseneo of many able, earnest, aid
maims men, whom I could have wished to see amongst
es this evening, but I am sure they are yid' us in spirit
if not in their bodily eresewee. (Cheers.) I regret to
say that that Nestor of reform, to whom we looked for his at-
tendance at this meeting, end who did I know purpose to
he present —Mr. Hume—((Lang continued cheerina)—he
is ueavo)dably absent, bet I have a letter front him, ex-
plaining the cause ors his absence. We have also letters
from other friends of the cause, two of which only I will
venture to trouble you with readies. The first, as I have
tail, is fern Mr. Hume, and is dated Jersey, St. Httlen's,
Au.ust 10, 1849; it proceeds as follows
eiv dear Sir Josbus,—l am sorry to be obliged to write to
you instead of pre seatiog myself, as L had intended, at the
meeting on the 13. h, hut the packets do not admit of
being in London until the evening of the 14th. If you wffl
offer an excuse to the meeting for the &appointment, yen
will oblige me, as every day I live and everything I hart
ceneineee me more and more that there is no chasm al
efficient financial reform. nor of any other reform, until the
House of Coolness shall be reformed,_ and the power of the
piemls in that house increased; and I am satisfied that sm-
elting less than the reforms, which the bill I propose to ask
leave to introduce in the next session, will afford. I trust
that the notice 1 have given mill induc., reformers generally
to consider the situation of the country and the belpless
condition in which the industry of the country is placed by
the class legislation which hat so long existed. But as the
reform is entirely in the power of the electors, I trust we
shall find them alive to the dtry they owe to themselves, as
well as to the non-electors. I shall persevere to urge reform
on the government and on the Howe of Commons, bat =-
Ire we have the support from without, and the aid of the
electors, we stall not succeed.—Wishing you a good meet-
isg, I rennin, yours sincerely, Joanna Hume.
Sir Imbue Waleasky, M.P.
I have another letter which I shall read to you with mesh
It is from Richard Cobden. (Loud chews.)
fore I read it, however, I must ay that I hope the peer
=pat forward Ise one part of his istter will cot be hal-
The letter is dated " Euthowas, Sussex, Amuse 7
1849." It is to the following effect :
Will you be good enough to express to the comminiee
my regret that aen.w- from town will prevent my being
prase% at the next meeting of the Metropolitan and Pectin
mentary Reform Association. You have many years a,
d work before you, and it will not therefore he anise to
keep an army of reserve for another campaign. Ia the
mtaa time, you are doirg battle eeroically.
'rho writer promises, besides, that he will be with es by
sad bye. (Loud ehee re.) I have a great many letters hem
other parties, but I will not trouble you by reading them.
Amongst the various subjects of congratulation arising. ont
of this brilliant and important meeting, not the Teat mg&
filmed is the presence of so unusual a number of our fair
oosuitrywomes. It is an evidence of the rectitude of our
principles and the peacefulness of oar policy, and striking)y
indicative of our early signal and complete success; and I
am persuaded that I only echo the sentiment of every gen-
tleman present when I my that we thank them gratefully
for their countenance. (Loud chars) Gentlemen, it is
honourable to London that this association has so rapidly
developed the necessity of uniting all classes in the attain-
ment of a Isrge, substantial, and permanent measure of
reform; that, in the short space of six months, we have
succeeded in inspiring confidence where distrust and preju-
dice formerly existed—(cheers)—)n uniting those who bad
long been alienated, and is 'ivies form and conaisteacy to
the demands for civil rights. And from this peace may there
now go forth a national tallying cry, which will end in the
extincion of abuses and the elevation of the masses to the
tights of citizenship. (Loud cheers.) For this early effi-
ciency we are indebted to the zealous, untiring, and earnest
labours of the members of oar council. (Hear.) They were
told that the middle clams were apathetic, and the inseam
skilled into indifference. They applied the teat of public
assesiage to the assumed fact, and the result has been
that DO building has yet been found sufficiently. capacious to
Omsk" the *Damn& who have thronged to give their ad-
beim to the cause of freedom and advancement. (Renewed
sheering. ) But, gentlemen, the great Skaters which distill-
geisha this movement from all others in the history of
polite al agitation, is the momentcus fact that the link which
was broke., and thus separated the two greet clares, has
again been welded firmly, and I trust for ever, for the just
purpose of social and political elevation. A glance at
our parliamentary history will convince even the most
sceptical of the necessity for a thorough reform of our repre-
sentative system. (Cheering.) The only great national
measum which resolved the sanction of the legislature during
the entire of the last imam was that crowning act of free
trade, the repeal of the navigation laws. (Laud cheers.) But
this did notarise from went of exertion on the part of the
members representing large constituencies. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Cobtea's motion for placing our warlike establishments
an the basis of 1815, after 20 years of peace, and thus saving
10 millions per annum, was rejected by 275 to 78. (Cries of
" Shame.") Mr. Hume's motion for the amendment of the
national representation was also lost by 268 to 82. (Expres-
sions of marked disapprobation.) Mr. Bareley's motion for
the ballot was rejected in like manner by 136 to 85. Mimes
and groans.) Mr. O'Connor's motion for the charter was
treated with no more newest. That was kicked out by 224 to
16. (Loud cries of " Shame.") Nor was Mr. Osboree's motion
fee a committer to inquire into that abortion the Irish state
church, viewed with more favour, though many of the Irish
members supperted it: it was refused by 170 to 103. (Re-
newed cries of " Shame.") Ia fact, every measure ealcn-
lated to relieve the burden or elevate the condition of the
people is treated as visionary and out of place, and will con-
tinue to be so treated until the Hewes of Commons becomes
not only in terms but is re..lity the Commons' House. (Load
cheers.) But, gentlemen, I feel that it would ill become
me, in the presence of so many gentlemen of the Hoses of
Commons, who are far abler and better qualified by expe-
rience than I am, to dwell further on this subject.
(Cheers) The emotion for you is a simple one. It
is whether you will continue to allow a territorial °Hear-
chy to subvert and ever-ride the entire spirit of the consti-
tation—(cries of "Nu")—or whether by the exertion of
your moral power, you will vindi ate the majesty of the
people, and ensure peace, happiness, and contentment, to
every portion of the empire. (Loud and repeated cheering.)
Gentlemen, I will nit detain you a moment longer, but will
all on one of our council, and a most excellent member of
it (Mr. Tomlin), who in season and out of season is
always at our service, to read the repro* which has been
prepared for your adoption by the council.
Mr. TOMLIN proceeded to read the renerrt, but not be-
ing able to make himself heard in the mote didant parts of
the hones, the task wee undertaken by Mr. G. Thompson,
M.P. who, amid the cheers of the meeting, road the doew
meat as follows :
It is with the utmost gratification that the council have .0
announce to the lint aggregate meeting of members the in-
disputable success of the wsociation. lameessed with a deep
sense of the responsibility incurred by undertaking to con-
duct so momentous an agitation ; and, conseisze of the evils
to be apprehended to the cause of rational progress from
faction, they have wide/inured to exercise the greatest cau
lion is their movements, and have avoided stimulating undue
hopes of success, or exciting expectations not to be realised.