The Express.
London, England, 1866-03-17 00:00:00

TORY OPPOSITION TO THE REFORM BILL

MEETING OP LORD DERBY'S FOLLOWERS.

The fierald of this morning says :

" A very large and satisfactory gathering of the Imp-
porters of the Earl of Derby took place yesterday at the
residence of the Marquis of Salisbury, Arliegtonotreet. Is
t►e absence of Lord Derby, who was confined to his house
by a slight attack of gout, the Right Hon. Benjamin Dis-
raeli addressed the meeting. The right hon. geatternan's
remarks were enthusiastically received, and it was agreed,
without one dissentient voice, that the ministerial Reform
Bill should be strenuously opposed at every stage. The
amendment to the second reading will take the shape of a
resolution to the affect that no Reform Bill wilt be seta
factory to parliament which does not offer a complete set.
dement of the question."
The Aderrtiserhears that the party mastered 240 strong.
The course to be adopted with reference to the government
mamma of Parliamentary Reform was the osteusible object
of the meeting, and on that point Mr. Disraeli spoke at
considerable length mad with great earnestness, availing
himself, however, of the opportunity to criticise the divi-
sion on the Parliamentary Oaths Bill, and to atter words of
songratulationand'of hope =the " insignificant majority' of
14 through whose votes the government farm of oath had been
carried in the Home of Commons to the rejection of his Eliza-
bethan form. " All the proposals of the Chancellor of the
Exchequer's reform scheme were presented to the assembly
in Mr. Disraeli's most sarcastic style. Having worked the
party up to a degree of enthusiasm which they seldom ex.
hibic, it Will umaimously resolved that the most uncom-
promising and determined hostility should be offered to
the further progress of the bill. SOMs were for meeting
the mooed reading with a direct negative, while others
thought that a resolution denouncing any interferes°e
with the franchise, in the absence of some well-
considered and equitable plan for the re-distri-
bution of seats, was the more advisable course.
The latter opinion prevailed, and Mr. Disraeli was re-
quested to prepare and give notice of the Opposites
amendment. Should the second reading be carried every
succeeding stage of the bill is to be fought with the most
dogged determination, aid nothing will be left undoes
to prevent the measure beooming law in Its present
shape. The 71. borough franchise and the lodger fran-
chise clauses are those which excite most the deter-
mined hostility of the Oomervative party. An 81.
i borough clause amendment will be moved in tom-
' mites, should Mr. Disraeli's resolution be defeated, and
the lodger clause will be subjected to a proposition for its
emission from the bill. Lord Derby was prevented by
severe indisposition from being present. In the course of
the conversation which took place after Mr. Disraell's ad-
dress, it transpired that Mr. Lowe Galmastes on between
fifty and sixty liberal members following him into the
lobby. There are at least, he considers, that number
en the ministerial side who will not have the bill The
government. on the other band, maculate on a deer Wai-
-1 mum majority of thirty votes."