The Express.
London, England, 1851-12-04 00:00:00

N.R.

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THE TINES NEWSPAPER—PUBLIC MEETING IN
Btaxtrionass.—A very crowded public meeting assembled
at the Public Office, in Birmingham, on Monday night,
Kr. T. H. Gill in the chair. The general object of the
meeting, as expressed in the advertisement, was to take
into consideration an attack on the people of Birmingham,
contained in an article which appeared in the Times news-
paper on the 10th ult. • also to consider tho general
conduct and policy of that paper during the last twenty
years, as opposed to the feelings of the mast of the people
It professed to represent ; and to adopt some course of ac-
tion for the removal of the paper from all the news-rooms,
libraries, and places of public resort.—Mr. W. Ashford, a
highly respectable manufacturer, moved the first resolu-
tion That this meeting, taking into coraideration the
aptitude for slander, the reckless mendacity, the selfish in-
consistency, and the servile and sordid spirit which have
long characterised the Times uswspaper, cannot but regard
the leading position of that tournal in the English cress as
morally discreditable to the English nation, and deems it
an important duty to use its most strenuous endeavours to
remove the said newspaper from that position." Ho
suggested that a placard should be placed in every
hotel throughout the town, to which visitors might
attach their signatures, implying a request that the
Times should not he taken in: 11. H. Horton seconded
the resolution.—Mr. John Smith, solicitor, who appeared to
defend the Times, moved the following amendment: " That
the Times is one of the most independent organs of the
press, and ought to be supported." Mr. Smith, in support
of his amendment, re-opened the vexed question relating to
the Baroness von Beck. The meeting became impatient,
and hints were given that the speaker's object was a ram
to get the meeting dissolved without a resolution being
come to. In a little time the hissing waxed into a storm of
disapprobation, and a show of hands being taken by the I
chairman on the question of Mr. Smith being allowed to
proceed, it was decided against him by an immense ma-
jority, and Mr. Smith retired (as he said), not in deference
to the wish of the majority, but to the request of the
chairman.—Mr. James Warden seconded the amendment ; I
and directly afterwards both ho and the mover of it were
hissed out of the hall.—Mr. J. S. Smith, also a large menu-
istsrer, moved the next resolution. In doing this Ito re-
viewed the conduct of the Times for the last 20 years, and
characterised it as a scandalous publication. Ono secret of
the animosity which animated its conductors, as regards
Birmingham, was to be found in the fact, that some 10
Iyears since Mr Walter came down and expressed his great
anxiety to represent Birmingham in parliament; he was,
however, soon told that he was not wanted, and the result
VMS that every popular movement since, which originated
in Birmingham, had been denounced by the Times. For his
own part he had ceased to read the Times and he hoped that
all classes, masters and men, would follow his example.
Mr. Smith concluded by submitting the following resolu-
tion " That, in furtherance of this object, every individual
attending this meeting pledges himself on no occasion or
bi n Times,et on
rk
etro,
pretence nee whatever
rtise ireia to Jru.r;ehat. cwolgleosfaltehcae
seconded the resolution, which was carried by acclamation.
—The meeting was afterwards addressed by Mr. W. B.
Plant, and by Messrs. Park, Foster, and Davis, working
men ; the latter, who was much applauded, described the
Times as the upholder of despotism and the bugbear of the
world's indignation. Foster said that he had become a
subscriber to a news-room on purpose to vote out the Times'
and he knew many working men who bad followed his
example. The following resolutions were duly moved and
carried, as had been all the preceding ones, with only three
or four dissentient voices : " That every individual attend-
ing this meeting pledges himself to make every effort
to procure the expulsion of the Times from the news-
room or library with which he is connected."
" That every person attending this meeting pledges himself
to do all that in him lies to prevent others from purchasing
or encouraging the Times in railway conveyances, and in
all other places, and at all other times." A committee was
appointed to carry out the object of the resolutions. As a
proof of the strong feeling against the Times it may be
mentioned that, at a meeting of the subscribers to the New
Library, not a long time since, a motion for the expulsion
of the paper was only lost by thel chairman's casting vete •
and at this moment a motion stands on the paper for di;
elusion at the annual meeting of the Old Library, the
object being to exclude the Times and substitute the Daily
News in its place.

EARLY DELIVERY oP LETTERS.—Tho Postmaster-
General has succeeded in effecting arrangements, which
will come into operation in a few days, by which the in-
habitants of the populous districts of Clapham, Stockwell,
and Brixton-hill, will receive their general post letters
nearly two hours earlier than heretofore; and inqui-
ries are making with a view, if possible, to accelerate the
delivery of these letters in other districts near London.