The Express.
London, England, 1867-11-30 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY

NATIONAL REFORM UNION.

Last evening the first of a series of meetings
under the auspices of this association was held in St.
James's Hall, Mr. S. Molnar in the chair. Upon the
platform there were Mr. Stanfield, M.P., Mr. Torrens,
M.P., Mr. Berkeley, M.P., Mr. Mason Jones, the hon.
sec., Mr. J. H. &Montt, Mr. W. Morris, ho.
. . .

Mr. Magus JONES det'ailed the action which wu to be
taken during the winter months, and pointed out the
ground upon which that action was taken. On behalf of
the London committee of the National Reform Union he
had to announce the subjects of the ballot, redistri-
bution of seats, the ratepaying clause, the Irish di/Duality
—(cheer., and a Voice, "the Repeal of the Union")—in-
eluding the Irish church, and the Irish land question,
education, the game laws, the law of primogeniture and
entail, and other kindred topics. He appealed for funds,
and was loudly cheered upon announcing that Mr. S.
Morley, in addition to the thousand pounds he had given
to the Manchester fund, had subscribed 100 i. to bead the
London list.

Mr. BITL'LLAGH TOREEN9 proposed "That in order to
secure the free, independent, and unbisseed exercise of
the franchise, it is essential that in all parliamentary elec-
tions the vote should be taken by ballot." (Cheers.)
The Hon. Mr. BERKELEY, M.P., seconded the motion.
The resolution was carried unanimously, and like its
successors, amidst loud cheering.
Mr. STAINFELD, M.P. (who was enthualastically re-
ceived), said, although this was his first appearance at the
National Reform Union's meeting it was not his own
fault. He now took the first opportunity of ascending the
platform of " stale sedition." (Laughter and cheers.) If
reformers had been treated to hard words they had also
had their consolations, for it was some satisfaction to
know that they had compelled their enemy to the public
confession that he had taken a lisp in the dark—
that he had taken the leap while they had
pointed out the gap to him. (Laughter and cheers.)
Lord Derby went on to say that the leap he
had taken as Prime Minister of the country and leader of
his party bad been because he had come to the oonclusion
that boldness, or rather rashness, was the only road to
safety; but the safety that was in the mind of the leader
of the conservative party was not the safety of the state
entrusted to his keeping, but the safety and the wooer of
the party he led. (Cheers.) Since that occasion when
there was " sound of revelry by night," and when all
went " merry as a marriage bell," Manchester had had
something else to say upon the question of conservative
safety and success, and she had returned no uncertain
sound—(cheers)—for the triumphant election of Jacob
Bright was one of the greatest triumphs of modern ad-
vanced liberalism. (Loudobeera.) It woof immensemoment
at a crisis like this, when what we wanted above all thinp
was a reconstitution of the liberal party upon a broad,
Blear, and advanced platform, that an event of this nature
had ithen place, and, looking round upon his friends of
the National Reform Union, he felt it was a good augury
that upon the morrow of such a victory as that of Man-
chester they were renewing their labours In the metro-
polis. (Cheers.) The liberals had every reason to be
satisfied with the Manchester election, but, this being the
day of happy families, the Manchester conservatives were
satisfied too. (Laughter.) They had undoubtedly proved
themselves to be in • minority, and they ought to take
the earliest opportunity of availing themselves of the ad-
vantages which the minority clause would put into their
hands. (Laughter.) The liberals would find that that
minority clause was a useful weapon at their right hands
in the battle they were about to fight with respect to the
redistribution of sesta, because it was a principle and
method that would only be advantageous if we conceived
the whole country mapped out into something like equal
three.cornered constituencies' and because the mere fact
of its introduction furnished the strongert and weightiest
argument in favour of • complete and advanced measure.
The conservative party never made so great • mistake as
this, for they did not attempt to deal with the claim for
an efficient and just redistribution of political power; but
they professed to have formed checks upon the prineipls
of household suffrage in the ratepaying clauses, which
were most surely doomed. (Cheers.) He was about to
move • resolution as to redistribution, and in doing so be
strongly asserted that these restrictions foolishly con-
oeived, carried within them the seeds of their own destruc-
tion. He prophesied also, with the fullest conviction that
the prediction would be realised, the resurrection of the
compound householder, and the complete annihilation of
the so-called great principle of the conservative Reform
Bill of last session. (Loud cheers.) The hon. member
entered at full length into the provisions of the ratepaying
clauses, with the view of showing that Mr. Henley and
his friends, instead of attending the obsequies of the
compound householder, bad but ministered to his
apotheosis. Did not the present state of thine bring back
to our minds the stand made last session, and the
eloquent arguments of Mr. Gladstone—(loud cheers)—
when, amidst the derision of a conservative house, he de.
nounced these arrangements as calculated to inflict a fine
upon the working people our towns if they ventured to
accept the generosity of parliament in the measure which
had just passed into law ? (Renewed cheers.) If in the
coming session of parliament the great leader of the liberal
party sought to remedy the evil which last year he could
nos prevent, let the people of the country support him, and
when that act of jut legislation and right should be accom-
plished they would be within easy distance of the object
of their long wishes, namely, household suffrage, unadul-
terated and simple. (Loud cheers.) He moved the following,
" That the present distribution of electoral power is in-
adequate to the free representation of the people and
could not, therefore, be accepted as a settlement of the
question, and the meeting calls upon all reformers to de-
mend of the present parliament such a distribution of
seats as would secure an efficient representation of the
intelligence, property, and population of the country."
Mr. J. H. Earcouar, in an able speech, seconded the re-
solution, which was carried unanimously.
The following resolution was proposed by Mr. NOBLE,
seconded by Mr. ALEXANDER, and also carried unani-
mously That this meeting is of opinion that the re.
stricdon imposed upon the qualification of household
bsuffrag by the payment of rates is wrong, and ought to
ere lad
A cordial vote of thanks to the chairman was carried
unanimously.

MRTROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORK/I.—After our
report left yesterday, Mr. Pollard, the clerk of the board,
wished to know from the members in what way he was
to alter the minutes which were said to be incorrect.
He had, prepared them to the best of his ability and he
should like to be informed what should be added, and
what parts of the minutes should be struck out. Mr.
Roche had furnished him with an abstract of what he had
mid in denial of the statements made with reference to
him, and he would be glad to understand if it would meet
the views of the board that he should enter this denial on
the minutes. Mr. Richardson said it was not their duty to
enter on the minutes speeches or letters read by individual
members. They should only contain the results of what
the board actually did. Mr. Saunders seconded the ma
tion, urging very effectively that if any abstract of a
speech or copies of letters were given, which one member
bad made or read, the speeches made and letters read by
every other member should also be inserted; this would be
most irregular and inconvenient, and would be going
beyond the intention of the board in keeping minutes of
what they did. After some further discussion it was
agreed that Mr. Doulton's letter, and that of Mr. Furness
in reply, should be struck out of the minutes. The other
business was disposed of and the board adjourned.
DIOCIIBII or NORWICH.—On Tuesday lest the
Rev. John Marjoribenks NisbetaLA., was installed canon
of the Cathedral Church of Norwich, vacant by the resig-
nation of the Rev. Dr. Archdall Gratin*. On the same
day the Rev. George Roberts, 8.A., wee instituted to the
rectory of Beechamwell Si. Mary with Si. John annexed
in Norfolk, on the presentation of Mr. Thomas Fielden and
Mr. John Fielden, of Todmorden, in the county of Lan.
caster. On the same day the Rev. Robert Rogers, M.A.,
was licensed to the perpetual curacy of Fordham, in Nor-
folk, on the nomination of Mr. Edward Roger Murray
Pratt, of Ryston Hall, Norfolk, Mr. Herbert Murray, of
Downingqtreet, Westminster, and Mr. Robert Hay Murray,
of West Lodge, Byfieet, Surrey.
TR It POOR-LAW BOARD AND MentOPOLITAN
Uerromi.—The Poor-law Board authorities have notified to
the Greenwich board of guardians their intention of
severing the parish of Woolwich from the Greenwich
union, and forming • district union, comprising Wool-
wich, Chariton, and Phimatead parishes. The Greenwich
hoard of guardians, while offering no oppoition to this
severance, have resolved upon forming • deputation, and
seeking an interview with the Poor-law Board, with the
view of obtaining the placing of Sidbrooke (a wealthy
neighbourhood, and hitherto • part of the Lewisham
union) within the union ; and the local board of health at
Woolwich, objecting solely to be joined to Charlton and
Plumatead, the latter parish containing scarcely any but
a working-class population, have, resolved upon a like de-
putation to the Poor-law Board, seeking either to be in-
cluded in the Lewisham union, or to have the more
wealthy parishes of Fltham and Kidbrooke included within
what will in future be the Woolwich union.
ROYAL HOSPITAL FOR INCURABLZS. —At the
annual meeting of the governors and subscriben of this
institution, held yesterday morning at the London Tavern,
Sir Benjamin S. Phillips in the chair, the attendance at
which was very numerous, a long discussion took place
with regard to the attacks upon the mimagement of the
institution which have recently appeared in the Atheneum,
the result being that • resolution was passed unanimously,
to the effect that the complaints in question were unde-
served, and that the board are fully entitled to the me&
deuce and sympathy of the supporters of the institution.
From the report, which was read by Mr. F. Andrew, the
secretary, it appeared that there are at present 107 inmates
and 193 pensioners connected with the hospital, and that
funds are greatly needed to complete the new wing now in
course of erection, as well as to maintain the °pastime
of the charity, and to extend its benefits. The report
was adopted, and at the close of the business-part of the
meeting the subscribers proceeded to the election of 30
inmates and pensioners.
URAL= RESTOARD ST DD BARRY'S FOOD TO rat.
MACS, nerves, lung, end liver at old and paw, cu=als.
Deed& findlgeetiou), constipation, diarrhoea. oddity, t
ismrskrie, hysteria, psipitallon. sisenteninana eseiWty. wastism
cough, asthma, terms, consumption, low 4.44164 60,000 annual
cues which had resisted all medicines, Ilaidadlas that of his
Hollnyes the Pope—This, et la led ; lib., Sd. ; lflb.,
241 b., 40e-Du Barry and Co., TI Seoneepadrant, London :
Mao 44 GI, Orscacharc4l-4trest ; S. f/A=l:ziad 114, Ward.
alma sad aims= sal slandis.