The Express.
London, England, 1849-01-30 00:00:00

FINANCIAL REFORM.

A meeting was held yesterday at the Whittington
Club, the object being the formation of a society•
To promote by all lawful means the reduction of tuition, and
economical expenditure of the public money • and such a further
amendment of the representation of the people'ln the House of Com-
mons as may effectually prevent the occurrence of the sad calamities
which, from want of a doe (mutant on the part of the people As the
management of their aftdre, have been produced in most of the states
of Europe.
Mr. S. HARRISON, in the absence of Mr. Place, took
the chair. The chairmen explained that this was merely a
preliminary meeting, and that his taking the chair had arisen
from the unavoidable absence of Mr. Place, who, along with
Sir Joshua Welmaley and some other distinguished reform-
ers, had intended to be present. The object of the meeting was
to support the resolutions in favour of financial reform which
had recently been agreed to in Manchester and Liverpool.
The conveners of the present one bad thought no time
was to be lost, but that, without waiting for orp solution in
Manchester, they should proceed at once to organise a society
in Westminster.
Mr. SEARLE moved the first resolution
. .

That to avert from this country the evils which have been inflicted
on other European states, fur the want of a wholesome control on the
part of the people over their respeclve governments, it is necessary
that the atrktesteconosny should be adopted by our government, and
that to secure a continuance of this economy when obtained, it is also
neeeriary that the Rouse of Commons should be further reformed,
until it shall bein a fit state to exercise a complete control over the
expenditure of the public money.
The speaker enforced the necessity of all sections of politi-
cal opinion combining in the great national object now in
i view. The only way n which the abuses against which the
efforts of this society aimed could be removed would be by
directing public opinion in one massive form against them. The
resolution before the meeting, while carefully and cautiously
worded, merited acceptance, as well with those who might
think it slid not go far enough, as with those who might be
content with less than others desired, for it proceeded most
unquestionably in the right direction, which all true lovers
Eof their country must alike pursue. very indication around
them pointed to very great change in our condition, moral,
political, and social. Five years would see much of this
change operated. Perhaps to some present the resolution
might have been more acceptable had it been more strongly
worded ; but he implored all to reflect that this was a time
not for words but for things. Lot every man put his ehoulder
to the wheel, and with the progress of financial reform politi-
cal reform would win its way.
Mr. PHELPS seconded the resolution, which wee unani-
mously agreed to.
IMr. MACFARLANE moved the second resolution:

That, for effecting there purposes, the gentlemen present ,:o now
form themselves into an association to be called " Ike Metropolitan
Financial Reform Association," the object of which shag be to take
such legal measures from time to time se may be expedient. and
especially to promote the formation of eimllar meiotic* In the metro-
politan boroughs and such parts of the country as may require their
assistanoe._ _

Dr. BOWKITT having seconded the resolution, it was
carried unanimously.
Mr. PURDAY proposed the third resolution:
That to effect a permanent reduction in the public expenditure,
and to secure a more tquitAbis system of taxation, this meeting deems
it indisp,nsable that the association should act in unison with such

innocial salons Anodations as bees, or nay hereafter
saw
lenitsrlde .
dr. Purday sad that the country had at all got
wad the stage of public information when a Wainer had
Othem with an Ignorant impatiens of taxation ; the
wls now filled with an enlightened *prisms of
wawa, sot of the taxation really necessary to emery as the
eifiirs of the country, but of taxaitm =Ts.
wide for the maintenance of wasteful sad
SOUTIIBB seconded the resolntios, and =grand
rw.
gratiliation to me the middle claws at length
from the apathy which had for no many years ta-
loa then in the consequences of oppressive and lavish
Thereat.
The neolution was adopted unanimously.
yr. HYDE reminded the meeting that the anti-corn law
sodas had lasted seven years ; bat he trusted trot the
wont movement would be brought to a suessesnal termiaa-
sies in lin thee half that time. He weed :
Mat de Wee reamer, to promote throughout the constry
moiled erten ineression the numb or. res
itreeheders to
mew, sed a metal attention to a comperete
regstration of the
noun to eittee wd hersegba.
MILLI BRIM wended the motion.
A g edema present wished to inform the meeting as to
wee wilt which the county forty-sbillieg franchise
IDOL he obtained. lie had himself qualified in three collu-
des, and be believed he might add that votes of this descrip-
dee bad hada very important effect in deciding the last
Ilideeses election. A subscription of shout 2.. Gd a week
waif is aver, short tires flit • man in the poesesdon of the
es., an elector.
whal
`-dr. He/WHITT, in corroboration, wished to state that in
hiselistrin many franchises had bees obtained by a slcisty,
lotialweription to whits was only ninepenc• halfpenny a
go*. la seven years each .saber would hare a 201. free-
will, and in oven more he would have all has subscriptions
Mal sans.
Hr. MACFARLANE gave an inClitle• of the inequality
at la the fan that while the nobleman paid only el
arm as a tar ea his carriage, the poor man who got his
wig by his harekley•coach paid 241. a year. (Rear.)
The moieties was unanimously agreed to.
Eir. 'wain', moved the hith neolution, formally sp-
gaieties Ute posthasteresent a general committee for the
„rpm a currying out the objects of the society, with
powtr to add to their number. The following gentlemen were
sennisteal the buainesr rassm.ttee : Messrs. d. Manson, 1.
Clarke, Dr. Pritchard, Mr. Madison, Rall, Faros, and au
other genthestsa whore name escaped us. Mr. W. Arthur
son was appointed treasurer, and thanks were voted to ,
MIS cialrima.
The CHAIRMAN, in returning thanks for the way in
which the meeting had testified its sp?robation of the
manner is which he had filled the chair, wished to chum.
that tits being in that honourable position Sal arisen from
the ausvoidable ab.enoe of Sir Joshua Walnoiley. Row- ,
weer ia order that the meeting might brow what were Sir
Jerhisa's ow the suhject natter of their deliberations,
he would read the following letter, which he had just re-
eseted from that gentleman:
Maroc Jaw. V, 1819.-1117 dew rejoice to Imre
tam year iota awl circular et Ike OW bestest, which km sal, Jost
Peeked me Wm, Out the bleeds et progreseve token lathe metro.
eke MR at heath Jotemakted the they will, W treek set he behind
he Mows et wed =cot in ether loess; ead I I'M mew.
Pee with than earn anlbrehafirobWie envy way Ins. I
ore ay molest ensinly illeposst et the saweratiert, wed will
War tam the obi cc she deeelessisee pities Is as ameehtles
poi which I emienserne us meals we. I pees es I Wyou.
etc dodo a pew ea wee pro/ M raieti olio I heruPre 'eve
Nes. I*l aW_Atr filtiond at the retsinsone ertoii I should
ea
rote, nal beg skunk moll MOM my Mardis In yam stils way. I
incrod to sob however, the war Mewls bete will set seers we
alt heed.y sight. They me is **saddle of as active end,
*stud tte ahmea, It will base a bed effect. My hurt Is with yen,
sod I .hell look anxiously kw the result of your denteratioss.—May I
bryi the looter uf albe to the Panedhe ben.-1 sea, Maly yours,—
J. WALIPCST.—Vramis Play, lise,
All., the reading el the letter, which elicited loud cheers,
the meeting separated.