The Express.
London, England, 1865-03-16 00:00:00

VISCOUNT AMBEELEY AND THE ROI
TATION OP► LEEDS. A

.

LEEDS, WIDUZIDLT NIGH?.
Viscount Amberley to-night addressed a large
number of the Mend dodoes of Leeds. Be explained his
views upon the foreign wilily of *a country, sad upon
some other topics of political linseed. Several questing'
were put to him by various elosetore, in reply to which he
laid he declined to promise to appose the ballot, on the
ground that the advocates of the measure bad failed to
prove their case. lie would vote for the abolition of church
rates. Upon the subject of the franchise his lordship wee
very closely questioned, but, to the surprise of almost all
present, he &dined to pledge himself to vote for a 61.
franchise. This caused a feeling of great disappointment,
and instead of the resolution approving of his lord-
ship es a liberal candidate in conjunction with
Mr. Baines at the next election which was ex-
pected to have been proposed, on the motion of Mr.
Lupton, seconded by Mr. Marshall, a resolution was
passed thanking Lord Amberley for the frank expression of
his views, but at the same time recording the opinion of the
meeting that no candidate would satisfy the liberal elec-
tors of Leeds whose opinions on the franchise did not at
lean go as far as the support of the 61. borough franchise.
Ills lordship will to-morrow evening address the re.
mainder of the liberal electors, and it wai announced
that he would avail himself of the opportunity of giving
a fuller exposition of his views on the subject of reform.

The Lcec Mercuny of to-day says :—" Last night
Lord Amberley appeared to explain his political views before
a half of the liberal electors of this borough. He treated
of foreign subjects with much ability and deerneer,
but his views upon the question of as extended
franchise were not suilicieetly delisite to obtain the
approval of that portion of the constituency which
attended yesterday's meeting. A resolution was
pseud thanking his lordship for the full and frank ex-
preasion of his opinions, but stating that no candidate would
be aooeptable to the liberal electors of Leeds who did not
go at least as far as a 81. borough frembiae. In justice
to our liberal friends, no lem then to Lord Amberley
himself, we feel it our duty to refrain from all com-
ments on his views about the garage, or the resolution
which was adopted with referenoe to his candidature,
espedelly as his lordship promised to express his opinions
upon the extension of the franchise more fully and dearly
at this evening's meeting. We tenet that all the members
of the committee will then be present to listen candidly
end attentively to the fuller exposition of his pr
inciples.
and, when the decision of that muting is taken, we shall be
is a proper posit on—which wean not at present--to state
our opinions as to the position and prospects of the liberal
- .

- .
party in this borough."
The following occurs in a report given by our cootempo-
my of yesterday's meeting :
Mr. Fuwiz said—Most undoubtedly, from the admirable
speech delivered by Lord Amberley in the Town-hall, they
had some right to expect something more definite than they
had heard to-night. (Hear, hear.) Lord Amberley could
not ay that this was a sow question. It bad been before
the country for years. The last election took place upon
this very question. (Hear, bear.) Their own esteemed
member, Mr. B .roes—(cheers)—bad brought it before the
House of Commons twice, or thrice, and would shortly
do so again, sod the question he would wish to pat to Lord
Amberley, and press for an answer, if be could possibly give
one was—Would his lordship, if he were in the present
House of Commons, vote in favour of Mr. llama's Borough

Franchise Bill 1 (Prolonged cheering.)
The CHAIRMAN said be could quite understand the desire
of the meeting to have a more definite answer, and he would
therefore ask Lord Araberley to go a little more minutely
into the subject. (Cheers.)
Lord AMBXBLIT—I ►hink the gentleman is quite right
to press the question upon me. (Applause.) The meeting
is entirely right to wish for some definite answer, and I
heartily wish myself that I were able to give it. Up to a
very recent period I certainly should have said that I was
in favour of Mr. Baines'a bill ; it is impossible, however,
for anyone not living himself among the working classes,
not being in familiar relations with thew, and not actually
knowing personally the 61. householder*, to say whether
they are persons who ought to be admitted to the suffrage.
I am nut one of those who would say that every man ought
to have the suffrage se a matter of right.. There are some I
know who, though perhaps they would in many respects
agree with me, hold that everybody has a right to the suf-
frage. Now lam very sorry that I cannot altogether agree
in that opinion. A man's right to the suffrage, so far as
he has any, appears to me entirely to depend upon his fit-
ness for it. I don't deviate or go back from my former
speech. On the costrary, I have several times thought on
what I then said, and I still think that the opinions I then
expressed were perfectly right. (" Hear, hear," and cheers.)
The wish which I then gave utterance to was that every
intelligent and honest man might be admitted to the suf.
fr".ge. (Hear, hear.) I entirely adhere to that opinion, but
at the same time it is not altogether in soy power to say
whether the 61. householder', whether all of them at any
rate, have those qualifications. Many of them no doubt
have, and I should be exceedingly glad if all who are so
qualified for the suffrage should be admitted to it. I have
been told upon good authority that there are many living
is Gl. houses who might if they choose live in 10/. houses.
If that is really the case, if those who could perfectly well
afford to live in 10/. houses still prefer to live in 61. houses,
I cannot think that they are persons who are entitled to be
admitted to the suffrage. (Cries of "Oh, oh.") That is the
reason why I hesitate, much to my regret, to give a definite
answer to the meeting. I shall be exceedingly sorry if this
meeting should consider, as it has a perfect right to do, that
this question is one of such importance that, unless I give a
definite answer upon it, they will be unable to approve of
me at all. (Hear, hear, and a voice—" That's a fact.") If
in the minds of the liberal electors of Leeds this question is
of that importance, I hope they will not for • moment allow
the question to stand in abeyance ; it is quite right they
should insist upon it ; butt hesitate to give &positive promise
upon this point, bemuse I feel that at a future time I might
see reason to change my opinion ; sod then I could not very
well come to this constituency and he fettered by that
pledge, still less could I go to the House of Commons under
that pledge, and be driven to one of two courses, either
of which would be dishonest. In the one Can I should have
to vote in favour of a bill of which I could not entirely ap-
prove ; in the other case I shoold have to break • pledge
given to this constituency. Either of these events
would place me in a roost difficult position, sad that is,
therefore, why I hesitate to give a positive promise,
although I am inclined to regard Mr. Baines's bill with
great favour, and It is very probable that I might
vote for it, (Hear, hear.) The 61. suffrage is not pre-
cisely the kind of suffrage I should like myself. However,
as you are aware, I am very much in favour of extending
the franchise to the working classes, and of giving them a
proper representation ; and if I find that the object cannot
be accomplished in the way I myself should wish, I should
in all probability vote foe Mr. Baines's bill. At the same
time I don't find myself in • position to give • positive Pro-
mise on this matter. (Hear, hear.)

THE PRINCE Or WALES WITH HIS HARRIERS.—
A ROYAL HUNT NEAR BOUNSLOW-HaITEL —Yesterday
morning his Royal Highness the Prince of Wala, attended
be Lienteuant-0010001 Remold, left the Waterloo terminus
of the London and South-Waters Railway, and travelled
by the 10.50 Reeding train to Staines Junction, where the
Prince and his suite arrived at 11.36 6.01. His royal high-
ness wan met at the station by Mafer-General the Hoe. A..N.
Hood, the master of the royal harriers, and having mounted
a splendid light cinema bunter, which bed been sent from
Windsor, rode off, followed by the gentlemen in sttend-
anos, through Staines to Perry Oaks farm, about four miles
from the station, situated on General Hood's estate, and in
the occupation of Mr. R. A. Stevens. At the farm at
Heath-row, Harmondswortb, his royal highness was met
by a large field of sportsmen. Sport was soon found in the
vicinity of the farm, several hares having been previonaly
I turned out in antimpation of the hoot, and, after a good
deal of riding about in the atighbourbood of the meet and
Stanwsll a nrat.rate burst was made away towards Sksisfe
I about 3 o'clock, the chase taking the honed. and bald slmort
to the back gardens of the bonne in the town, the inhabi-
tants of which were kept on the qui tire by the bark of the
peek as the !moods drew near. The Prince kept in the field
I till a late hour in the afternoon, when his royal bighorn sad
mite rode beck through Skeane; to the railway statism, sad
left for London by the 4.15 p.m. train from Reading.
PRINCE ALTERS • SCOTTISH KNIGHT.—Her Mrs-
jesty having been pleated to ensats Prime Alfred an gates
knight of the Moat Ancient Order of the Thistle, the
reesg-
nitiona of him royal highs's, bars now been completed.
Excepting the Sovereign, the Prises is the only member of
the royal family who has boas adadatad to tits distinction
of the green ribsad and St. Andrew hedge. We have no
doubt this appointment will be regarded with great matte-
' faction by the people of Scotland, who will doubtless re-
, Doggies the late Primes
and 16111•09 Prince as a worthy mom-
tor to the late Prime Ooosort in the roll of Scottish chi-
vain. It may also be regarded as as addition to4M many
tokens of warm affection which her Majesty has ever shown
for the northers kingdoe.--Scotanan.