The Express.
London, England, 1849-08-17 00:00:00

AT MARYLEBONE.

A public meeting took place last evening, at the
Litenry and Scientific Institution, Marylebone, " to con-
tiler the propriety of extending the operations of the St.
Pancras Freehold Imnd Society to the whole of the borough
of Maryleb me." The spacious hall was crowded on the
00014i00. W. RW•IIT, Esq., M.P , presided. supported by
Mr. W. Williams, late M.P. for Civentry, Mr. tome, Mr.
Rowley, and several other influential g, ntlemen of the
district.

The CHAIRMAN, in introducing the business, said It
was well known to every one who bad in the remotest i.e-
gees studied the history of this country, that in former times
the freehold of the land was pessessed by the people to a
much greater extent than at the prevent day. (Hear.) Up
to the reign of Henry the Sixth, almost every man had •
vote, every one who paid "scat and lot," or contributed in
any daps to the state; bat in the time of Henry the Egnth
a statute bad been passed, which Sir Rohert Peel had quoted
in the House of Common., when he brought in a bill to
disfranchise the Irish forty-shilling freeholders, and
that statute rehearsed, that, whereas in conse-
quent. of the number of persons who proceeded
to the poll to vote, disturbances had been excited,
it was, therefore, convenient and expedient to fix some limit
which should resiriet the numbei of voters. The limit fixed
was the possession of • 40s. freehold ; a,.d, at that time, that
was a very considerable amount for a freeholder to possess in
land. It was remarkable that, from the era when the wars el the
Roses broke out, dated the first restriction cm the enviously
almost universal suffrage which had exited in this country.
However, the object of this association, in imitation of th me
fellow-countrymen at Birmingham, was not to go beyond
the 40s. freehold. Tiny thought that, although the c onati
union of England, as originally framed, gave the right of
voting far below that, it we. the obj.et of the association
only to carry oat the e seating law, by inducing those who
chime so to lay out their capital, to expend it is the purchase of
40.. freeholds, so as to give them a teal, firm, and fixed pos-
session of land, aid the power of voting for members of par-
liament. (Applause.) This judicious movement bad origi
mated with the men of Berningh ens, a very stirring set of
individuals, who seemed to have strong bears to carry their
political object' into effect, as they had strong baud; to
work out 'he objects of their industry. (Hear hear ) They
had succeeded in producing as large a number as 600 or 70)
fre. holds, the posses...as of each of which would have the
right to vote. and would besides have a very valuable return
fur the money they hid invested. The system was this:
every man, by paying in a shilling a week, gradually contri-
buted to the secumulaeion et • fund which was judiciously
'seated in 1 ended property ; this, being purchased by
wholesale, war obtained far chea,gr than when bought in
small parcel.. A further step in the prams, necessary, was,
vigilantly to watch the persons to whom they entrusted the
investment of their property, and take care that they were
such in whom they could repose entire confidsnce. (Hea,
Ilea.) After what had happened in this country in the last
two or three year., every one would admit that this was a
primary consideration for thi se who had money to invest
(Hest, hear.) He doubted not that these societies would
agreed throughout the coantry, sad thereby a double
object would be achieved: a great number of men
scald obtain ate interest in lan I, and their political
power would be extended, which was the greatest
security for the maintenance of order. (Cheers.) It was to
be regretted that the tenantry is various parts of the country
were driven to the poll like the flocks they fed; the indus-
trious classes, by becoming voters, would counteract these
gregarious assemblages. (Hear, hear.) In all former times
the victories of freedom had been won by the independent
feeeholden, and this would be the case again if this move-
ment were tally carried out. They were now reverting to
the original mend principles of the British constitution. in-
cluding that of self-government, whereby the progress of
freedom would be certain, and the maintenance of order se-
cure. (Cheers.)
Mr. ROWLEY moved the first resolution—
" That as the large number of shares already taken in so
short a time, places the success of the St. Pancras Freehold
Land Society beyond a doubt, and as it offers the best invest-
ment for the savings of the working classes, by giving them
an interest in the soil, this meeting pledges itself to extend,
by every laudable means, the operations of this excellent
society through the whole of the borough of Marylebone."
He alluded to the profane of the Birmingham society, and
slated that three estates had already been purchased ; this
had boss effected almost solely through the exertions of one
semblng men, Mr. Taylor. (Hear.) The men of Bir-
miaghem had shown that by their combined exertions the
land might be obtained at one-third the retail price. And
this was the way in which it had been obtained by the graap-
tag landlords. (Hear, hear.) The people, however, would
soon win the whole of the counties back, for the movement
was rapidly extending in the midland and northern counties.
(Cheers.) The London men might thus easily secure not
only Middlesex, but Kent, Surrey, Sussex, and all the neigh.
bounng counties. They kod nothing to do but go on and
win. (Cheers.)
Mr. PORTWINE, in seconding the resolution, expressed
his confident hove that such men as Mr. Cobden, Mr. Bright,
and the Chairman, would soon take the places of Lord J.
Russell, and those now in power.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS referred to the noble example set in
the parish of St. Pancras, and called on those present to imi-
tate it. By information which he had received from Birming-
ham and Coventry, he learnt that this movement had pro-
duced an excellent moral effect on society at large in that
part of the country ; and there was no doubt the county of
Warwick would by their means be emancipated from the
thraldom of the wont species of teries.
The resolution was then put and unanimously agreed to.
Mr DEAN moved:
" That, as the returns to parliament show that the number
of freeholds in this country, amounting to 270,000 in the
middle of the last century, had dwindled down to only
30,000 in 1813, in consequence of the monopoly of the land
by the aristocracy and landed gentry, for the purpose of exer-
cising an overruling power in the councils of the nation,
thereby politically and socially depressing the middle and
working claws to an incalculable extent, this meeting re-
gards with unmingled satisfaction the great success which
has attended the freehold land societies throughout the coun-
try, believing them to be the best means yet devised for ex-
tending the suffrage, breaking down elms legislation, and
promoting the sociafprogress and the domestic happiness of
the people."
Not only would the persons purchasing freeholds through
this society obtain the franchise, but they would receive 10
per cent. for their money, while the savings' banks paid only
3 per cent., sad the funds bat three and a half. (Hear.)
This society had many advantages over others of a like kind ;
• member might subscribe for me or six shares ; he might
alsrhis payments, without fine, in an adverse period,
ed resume them afterwards ; and the sum paid for expenses
was extremely leer. (Hear.)
Mr. LINTON seconded the motion.
Mr. JOHN COWAN moved, and Mr. ARNELL se-
conded, a vote of thanks to the chairman, whisk was briefly
and suitably acknowledged by Mr. Swart, who apologised
for the absence of Lord B. Stuart and other gentlemen (then
attending the Hungarian meeting), and called on those pre-
sent to enrol the/melees members of the society.

LONDON SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OP YOUNG
FINALISE—Yesterday th.• annual meeting of this charity
was held at tne asylum, Tottenham, for the purpose of re-
ceiving and adopting the annual report. The Rev. Mr. CI
(heaves, M.A., the incumbent of Christ Church, Horne Bay,
in the chair. Previous to the meeting, the ceremony of ex-
amining the children in their learning was gone through.
At the conclusion of the examination, the secretary, Mr.
J. B. Talbot. read the annual report. It stated that since
the last meeting, Prince Albert had become a patron, and
had given a donation of 501. There was an increase In the
receipts over the pas: year. The receipts for 1847.8 amounted
to 2,0131. Igo. 6d., sod the receipts for the year ending June,
1849, were 2,4041.9.. 6t1., showing an increase of 3901.115. 2d.
Theincrease, however, has arisen in some measure from the
sale of a portion of the society's funded property. The en-
=during the pot year have not exceeded the income, it
2,2791. 31. Bd., leaving a balance in the society's hands
of 1241.65. The funded property of the society amounts to
2501. Three per Cent. Consols, and 6001. Exchequer Bills.
The board have also to reporahat moral houses of infamous
character have been surressed. The society had received
472 children since the foundation, and there were now 70 in
the asylum. The report was adopted. Earl Mounteashel
was again elected chairman, and Lord Viscount Rage as one
of the oodanittoe.