The Express.
London, England, 1848-08-15 00:00:00

NATIONAL REFORM LEAGUE.

Yesterday a public meeting of the electors and non.
electors of Mitrylebone, convened by the above anode.-
Wu, was held in the Portland Rooms, Foley-street. Mr.
Nicholay oresided, and opened the proceedings in a brief
address advnca,ing reform principles.
Mr. Ewa moved the brat rieolution, which was to the
eft ct that the present position of this country preteuts a sub-
ject for the deep and serious cons;drretn/n ut the community,
and requires that Fame wise and prodeat exertions be
diately made to prevent agitatien and rernire tranquillity to
the nation and prosperity to the people. In mooing
the resolution he spoke of the vast resources of
this country, which were amply suificie:4 to main-
tain its population, but who were to a great extent
deprived of the means of existence, because labour was not
protec'ed and they were not fairly repros, uted in parliament.
lie considered, indeed, that uo etas, were r. presented in the
legislature but the landed and the money interests of the
country, and it was therefore time that the people should
exert themselves to remedy the evil. In pursuing this
course, however, he urged them to b., united, and to endea-
vour an ter as possible to reconcile email differences in pur-
suing the common end in view. It was their object to pre-
vent the enaction in this country of .s sy.rem of agitation
which had been so destruct ye to tee iuti rata of Ireland and
France, and these evils be considered c ...Id only be avoided
by carrying out the principles of the leseue.
Mr. I. Windom eecondedthe mulatto:4, which was adopted

unanimously.
Mr. HUMBY then moved a resolution expressing the
opinion of the meeting that little g,:cid could be ettectid or
ho, ed fee but by the united simians and moral intelli-
gence of eNctors and people employe in co-nperoti with
faithful representative., and that wine system was necessary
to secure that co-operation.
Mr. RUMELL seconded the resolution. While advocating
the principles of the people's charter, he expressed himself
opposed to the violent course red ntly adopted by its advo-
cates—opinions which were received with loud expressions of
anaent, in the midst of which Mr. Itnssell continued to urge
his views. . . . . .

The resolution basing been carried,
Lord D. Sn'Aftr, who, with Sir 13 Hall, attended at the
request of the committee, then came forward to address
them. The meeting ha assembled to discuss a question of
as high a degree of importance as well could be—vie., how
where the people to be represented in parliament an how
were they to be goverred ?—[A Voice " And how are
they to be fed ?"]-0n those questions the prosperity of the
people depended. Hewes fully sensib:e of the fact, lead since
he had had the hon'ur of representing the borough
there had Bien no reform measure brought forward to
which he had not given his support. Besh'es parlia•
mentary reform, he had voted for the reduction of
public expenditure, which be had always conceived to be a
most important qui ethos. He was aware that with a large
and heavy debt, such as was hanging over this country, the
people must • ndure a large amount of tar.tion ; but he
wanted to reduce its present amount, and, what was more,
place it on a fair and equitable basis. He :bought English-
men should never rest until they .Tro ensured that no tax
peened mere heavily on the poor nits than on the rich. It
seemed to him monstrous that they should be then endee-
routing to obtain that whicu it was ridiculous to suppose
could be refused in this country. It was his object to have
the people fully and fairly represented; he had therelore
voted for Mr. Hume's motion, and should continue
to follow the same courtse whenever he had the
opportunity. It was with the greatest pleasure that
he had the other night found himself in the majority on
a resolutiou in favour of the ballot. (Cheers, and cries of
" Where was Sir B. Hall?") He would leave his bon. friend
to answer the question. He hoped it would not he meg be-
fire a bill was brought into parliament for the 6111118 object,
although he was no believer in its early adoption. He had
also given notice that he would early next session propose a
motion in favour of triennial parliaments. (Cheers.) He
was also in favour of every other measure of
reform proposed by Mr. Hume; and when those
measures were passed—when the people was fairly
represented—when they had no corrupt influence
(for the legitimate influence of property, united with thee-
reeMr, must ever remain), then a better order of things
woull be seen : parishes would not be saddl II with unjust
police rates, policemen would not be armed, taxation would
be put on a proper basis, labour would have its rights, and
this country would acquire something :ike a degree of
prosperity. (Cheers.)
Sir B. Hash then came forward, and in the first place
begged to explain his absence from the house on the
night when the resolution upon the ballot was
brought forward. which he said was caused by a domestic
event of a pleasurable chsracter, and one which required his
presence at home To all the measures of reform the mem-
bers tor Marylebone lent their advocacy; but, being at pre-
sent in a minority, the most efficient assistance mold, be ren-
dered by the people thecosi Ives. T., show that he had not
been idle, he would tell them that ho had moved for a re-
turn which would put every man in possession of the exact
state of representation as it stands at pre'-nt. (Cries of
" We know all that," and " How about the gagging bill ?")
After alluding to the present state of represen-
tation in Marylebone, and the difficulty which he
had experienced in getting a bill through the house
for abolishing the payment of assessed taxes and poor-rates
as a qualification to rote, he pioeeeded amidst continual in-
terruptions and allusions to the " gagging bill," to express
his opinion that whilst a great duty devolved on the mem-
bers, an equal necessity existed that the constituents should
exert themselves. lie concluded by hoping that they would,
during the recess, lend their co-opeudimi to the exertions
which it was the intention of their representatives to make
in the next session of parliament. The hon. member then
retired amidst general applause.
Further resolutions were afterwards passed in favour of
the principles of the association ; and a long address was
delivered by Mr. Hydd, the chaitiw, who, wh le he would
nut move an amendment, expressed his conviction that the
entire principles of the charter were necessary to be carried
out rather than more partial reforms. In the course of a
somewhat noisy debate upon the question at issue, Mr. Fogg.
and tooth. r speaker condemned the proposal id the league
to oleain the opinion of every man in the country with re-
gard to the Tharter, as being impracticable, aid leading to
an expenditure which the usocist:on would be unable to
me. t. Mr. Willoughby defended tb • measure, and urged
its desirabh ni as and expediency.
The rueetit g bcparated at a late hour.

TIIE LONDON AND NORTII WESTERN RAILWAY,
AND THE ENGINE DRIVERS' DSPUTATION.—Yesterday
a.ternoon a deputation from the enuinedrivers, late in the
employ of the London and North West- rit Railway, hod an
interview with the members for Itlarylebine, Lord Dudley
Stuart and Sir B. Hall, on the subject of the re cent depute
and their stcrasion from the company's sersice, and the
safety of the public under existing circumstances. The
deputation were very courteously received by the hon. mem-
bers, aid they proeeeded to state that th, it object was to
show a substantial re.son why the government ssould be
called upon to appoint a committee of inquiry in order to see
if, under existing circumstanees, the safety of the public was
really guoranteed as stated by Mr. CI yo, the chairman of the
North Western Company • whether it was true that the
e nein, s on the line were placed ut.der the control of posies
selected from her Majesty's dicky arils; whether the po ice
had been employed to take place of porten placed on the
trains, in accordance with Capt. Heist's ilreolar ; a d also
th :t they would be pleased to luquire of Mr. Giyn whether
there is or is not any truth in the statement made at the
meetings of the engine-men relative to accidects and delays
on the line during the past week. The deputation pro-
ceeded to state that they were prepared to vouch for the
statements which had already appeared in the public press;
and they added that on that morning the line had been
blocked by three testes coming in ell at the same time, and
that the train which ought to have arrived at Euston station
at 10 o'clock from Peterborough, did not arrive until 20
minutes after 11, or one hour and twenty minutes behind
time.—Lord Dudley Stuart informed the deputation that, at
the morning sitting of the House of Commons that day, Mr.
Glyn, in answer to a question put by Mr. Thornely, had
stated that an attempt had been made by the engine-drivers'
clubs to induce the men from Rugby to Carlisle also to
resign, but that it bad failed; and also that a great number
of the men who on the southern division of the line had sent
in their notices, had withdrawn them, and had resolved to
stay in the company's service.—Mr. Brown (the chairman of
the body) begged to give this latter statement his moat ex-
plicit and emphatic contradiction; and, as a proof, he begged
to inform the noble lord end the honourable baronet,that
on that morning the whole of the men at i @Aden, Wolver
ton, Northampton, Rugby, and Birmingham, had taken in
their coats and watches belonging to the company, and had
rtoeived their last week's salary, whict it was the custom of
the company always to keep in hand.—After a full explana-
tion of their grievances, Sir B. Hal; suotested that the
engine-drivers should tontine their statement to matters of
fact ; that they should make out a statement en writing of
the delays which had taken place on the arrival of trains at
Euston-square and other places during the past week, and
place it in the hands of his noble colleague, for the purpose
of inquiring whether such statements were founded in fact
or not. It would then, in the event ot the answers not being
satisfactory, be competent for a member of the house to
tasrTd
move for a inquiry as to the state of the li skyre-
sent capabilities tor ensuring the saWy pule,
Lord I). Stuart having concurred, seat e would give Sr.
Glyn due notice of his intention to puTt s quebtions.—TheA
(I— potation then withdrew, and suf, end: waiteid on
Mr. B. Osborne, 'M.P., Mr. Waklek P., Mr, Iluar23 ri
M.P., and other members of parttime& \
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MR. St ELY ASP VIE BOMA:till of Ll ice Ly:
Sir,—l's s• or paper ot ratty. 'ay you state :"Ifit be true,
as n rep an.' bah,. d, that Mr. Se,-Ir, the late ms
for Liticaln, and lie h dinsto and constituents in the borough,
de ice I:stoma snore than full and complete inquiry into the
gem rap pro. tire attending elections in that town, why car
taitily Mr. llobhouse seems to betaking 'somewhat singular,
not tos iy auspicious, course." It is true that lam anxious for
an inquiry, and Mr. T. B. Hobhouse is fully aware of this, for
iramedistsly atter Mr. llobhuuse's lint vote against the hill
brought in by Sir J. Hammer, my friend Mr. Keywortb
wrote to htrn, Eating how anxious 1 and the liberal party
who supported Mr. Ilubhouse were that the bill should
pans. lln :,eve I shall be able to prove that the most im-
portant parts of the evidence against me were false. My
Counsel and solicitor did nut go into evidence simply because
they believed that the committee had virtually decided in
my favour. Cal. Sibthurp sate the bill is uncalled fur as ie-
spects Lincola, and that he has " never bribed, directly or
Mdireetly." lam sorry to be obliged to differ trims hi:u on
both these points, and I found my opinion on the following
facto. At the no.nina:ian in Ita Mr. Ald. Rudgard inquired
of the Rev. H. Sibthorp (the blather of Colonel Sibthorp)
If he hid not paid .wo sovereigns each for a vote, and the
reverend gentkman lu answer to Mr. Itaclgard'i.
questaits, I have no hesitatiuu in saying, that I not only
gave twos wereigns to two or three, hut to three or four
hundred of thole who asked me (loud bursts of indignation
and ironical cheers). But when I gave it I said it was for past
SeTViCCP. and 1 declare I never promised an individual
anythiny. when 1 canvassed for his vote; I have &ways said
'Do as you please.' " (Tremendous uproar.) At tie t
lec-
tion in 1441 it Iv notorious that Col. Sibthorp paid a gr. at
number of voters, called placcuien, for nominal services. Mr
Struts was unseated for Derby f.sr the same practice. And
I bilieve that in addition to tha mode at bribing the epee
tort Col. Sibthorp likewise paid several voters one pound
each as chairing money. Cul. Sibthorp diitributes coals
every Christmas to persons who vote for him. No coals are
given to non-voters, or to persons who vote against him. The
tickets are issued at the office of Mr. Carline, the legal agent
of Col. Sibs orp. Let Col. Sibthorp deny these facts it he
cannot, surely there is reason for inquiry.--.AI Ad. RELLY.—
Lincoln, Aug. 12.