The Express.
London, England, 1849-10-05 00:00:00

THE PUBLIC BREAKFAST ON THURSDAY

MORNING.

Yesterday morning the committee gave a public
breakfast to Sir J. Walmsley and the other members of the
deputation at the Corn Exchange. There were about 200
persons present, including all the members of tho conference
and a large number of the more distinguished local authori-
ties who were present at the previous meeting. The Ex-
change was decorated for the occasion with a variety of flags
and banners bearing suitable inscriptions, se " Steady and
progenies reform.', "Tee prosperity of the people,"
" Prosperity to commerce, agriculture, and nianufmturee,"
" Peace to the nation and plenty to the labourer," " The
respectability of the crown," and over the chairman was the
motto, " The constitutional champion of popular rights."
J. H. TILLETT, Esq. wished, previous to the busintes of
the day being proceeded with, to reed the following letter,
which had been received from Sir Thos. Beevor, Bart., of
Haigham Hall :
Dear Sir,—l regret that it will not be In my power to be
at Norwich on Wednesday, or I should have had much
pleasure in attending the meeting in St. Andrew's-holL
With best wishes for the success of the movement, which I
trust will now continue until universal suffrage becomes the
law of the land,
Believe me, yours truly,
Halghans, Ist Oct. 1349. Taos. B. Baavoa.
W. J. HALL, Esq., wished to address them as a mer-
chant of London. The meeting of last night had given him
groat pleiwure, for he twlieved it would put an end to that
mum by which great towns like Norwich were represented.
Norwich was one of those towns which suffered in a peculiar
degree from the existing system of taxation ; one of
the largest imports fn China was formerly the Nor-
wich Gimlets, lout the high duty levied on tea had
almost put a stop to that trade. The Chinese could not pay
for these imports in lime silver, but they could pay for them
in tea ; and if the duty on the Import of tea was reduoed, the
demand would be increased, and the trade in mallets would
be restored.
Mr. W. A. WILKINSON said that he had allowed him-
self to be nominated as the treasurer of the sa,ociation,
and he regretted to find that the duties were not so onerous
as he could wish; the reason was that they were not yet
supported by the propertied or monied classes. They had
no Mr. Gurneys coming down with their 001. ..piece; they
had with thins the advanced section of the middle classes,
but not the upper or monied section. They had
had large meeusgs in London, but they had
not with them those men who were accustomed to
take the lead in London ' iadeed, had those gentlemen
been consulted there would have been no meeting, but they
did not ask their leave ; they called the meeting, and
the result was that no theatre in London was large
enough to contain the numb-re that came. (Cheers.)
He trusted that some arrangement would be made by
which the contributions of the working men, from the
smallest sums upwards, might be collected, and devoted to a
purpose from which they and their families would ob.
Min so large a benefit. Let it be proclaimed
again and again, that the object of this movement
was to preserve order and to protect property at all begirds,
the property of the rich as well as of the poor. But while
they were determined to preserve property, they were deter-
mined also to have their rights, and if those rights were not
granted in obedience to the expression of the popular will,
they would go on until they obtained the franchise in all of
the counties in the kingdom, and then success would be no
1 tiger a matter of doubt. (Cheerr.)
Mr. HUME hoped that ere long Norwich would have an-
other member like William Smith, whe had distinguished
himself by his efforts for the abolition of the Test and
Corporation Acts, and in favour of every liberal
measure brought forward while he sat in parliament.
Wnat they wanted was refona not revolution, that
was not revolution in the ordinary term, they wanted %return
to that constitution which they were entitled to, and where
, every man had a voice in choosing those who were to tax him
or make laws for his government. No class perhaps was more
interested in this movemeot than the farmers of Norfolk.
Ia conclusion, he recommended unanimity of action, es a
sure road to success.
Sir J. WALMSLEY congratulated them upon dm orderly
manner in which the meeting had been conducted on the
previous evening. Sufficient Wes said at that meeting
to induce them all to bes'ir themselves.
man man exert himself and say that the ref
should sussed, and it nut snowed ; let Opp rely ups -•1
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