The Express.
London, England, 1866-11-22 00:00:00

eTnibtrittP Erdettigence.

OXFORD, Nov. 21.
DEATH or CANON SnraLzr.—We regret to have
to announce the death of the Rev. Walter Waddington
Shirley, D.D., Canon of Christ Church and Regina PPro-
[vapor of Eoclesiastical History, who expired at his lodg-
ings in Christ Church, on Tuesday evening, after a severe

Tag REFORM LEAGUE.—At the weekly meeting
of the Reform League held last evening (Mr. Beale, in
the chair) it was announced that the donations for the
week amounted to 61N. 16e. lld., which included two
sums of 2101. each from Sir Wilfrid Lawson and Mr.
Samuel Morley. A letter had been received from Mr.
Connoly, one of the deputation appointed to attend the
banquet to Mr. Bright in Dublin, in which be announced
the formation of the Irish Reform League, haring for its
president The O'Donoghue, ALP., and for its vice-presi-
dent, Alderman M'Swiney. Offices for the league had
been taken in Dublin, and promises of support from vari-
ous quarters of the count"), received. The chairman re-
ported the holding of a day meeting, a banquet, and an
evening demonstration at Luton, all of which were
largely attended, and in which the wealthiest farmers
of the district took part.
Mk. CRACFURD, M.P.—Mr. Craufurd, M.P.
for the Ayr district of burghs, addressed a large meeting of
his constituents at Ayr on Tuesday night. Tile hon. gen-
tleman glanced retrospectively at the character and in-
fluence of the late Lord Palmerston and his last adminis-
tration, and, after adverting to tho labours of parliament
during the last session, proceeded to discuss the question
of reform, maintaining that the House of Commons as at
present constituted did not fairly represent the interests of
labour, whilst it excessively represented those of capital.,
He doubted whether a tory cabinet would introduce such a
measure of reform as real reformers could accept, and he
anticipated the result of their attempting such en uncon-
genial task would bo his reappearance before his consti-
tuents within the next six months to solicit their suffrages
in support of a new and liberal government. A vote of
thanks for past consistent service and of confidence in his
future fulfilment of the trust reposed in him was unani-

mously permed to Mr. Craufurd.
THE BALLOT Soctcri.—At the weekly meeting 01
the committee, held at their oflicesonTuesday, a letterfrom
the private secretary of Mr. Disraeli was read, in reply to
the following communication sent from the society, as
agreed to at a previous meeting :—" Offices of the Society
fur Promoting the Adoption of the Vote by Ballot, 61,
Iliespside, London, Nov. 12, 1866.—T0 the Right Hon. B.
Disraeli, M.P., Chancellor of the Exchequer, sc.---Sir,—
In consequence of the feeling which is generally prevalent,
that the government, of which you are one of the principal
members, will iutroduce a Reform Bill in the next seaman
of parliament, lam instructed by the committee of the
above society most respectfully to call your attention
to the necessity of putting an end to the cor-
rupt practices which prevail at the elections of
members of the House of Commons. I am de-
sired to remind you that this society is not a
party society, and that its sole object is to enable the
elector to vote according to his own convictions. The
committee advocate the vote by ballot, because they have
not been able to discover any other plan so likely to pro-
tect the voter as the ballot. All the evidence they have
been able to obtain, whether from the old countries of
Europe, the new states of the western world, or the colo-
nies of the British empire, testifies to the efficacy of the
ballot in putting an end to most of the evils which we
have to deplore in this country. I could refer you to
several constituencies which now return liberal members
for which conservatives would be returned but for the
Millie/we which employers of labour have over the persons
in their employ, and which influence would he destroyed if
the votes were taken by ballot. If you wish it I can furnish
you with much evidence of the satisfactory working of the
ballot in various parts of the world, and I now enclose one
of our last public:al ms, containing the letter of a gentle-
man who has witnessed the beneficial results of the ballot
in one of our colonies. Could the government be induced
to protect the voter from bribery and intimidation they
would entitle themselves to the lasting gratitude of the
British people.—l am. sir, your obedient, humble servant,
J. F. Boterrus, Hou. Secretary." The following subsezip-
lions were then reported as having been received :—J. P.
Spencer, 21. 25.: 'l' L. Openshaw, 1/. ; Thos. Pilkington,
11. ; F. Steiner, I'. ; B. Johnson,.
; S. )Turley, 101. ; C.
litirdseye, 1/. ; J. Bennett, C.C., 1/. Is. ; A. J. Larking,
D. Is. ; W. S. Burton, N. Is. ; M. E. Marsden, 2/. ; F.
Wedgwood, 41. 45., ; W. H. Roberts, If. Is. ; Stafford
Allen, 11. Is. ; Colonel French, 11. ls., and sundry smaller
sums.
LORD JOHN MANNERS AND THE TRADES REFORM
DENONSTRATION.—A general meeting of the trades reform
demonstration committee was held last evening atthe com-
mittee-rooms, Bolt-court, Fleet-street, to consider the pro-
gramme for the forthcoming reform demonstration ; Mr.
lipshall in the chair. The secretary reported that he had
received the following letter from Lord John Manners, the
Commissioner of Public Works, in reply to his application
for permission to assemble and marshal the procession in
St. James's-park :—" Office of Works, Nov. 21, 1866.
Sir,—l am directed by the First Commissioner of her
Majesty's Works to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of the 17th instant, in which yon ask him, with
a view of obviating the inconvenience to the public
traffic which would arise by assembling the proposed
procession of friendly, temperance, and trade so-
cieties on Monday, Dec. 3, in Trafalgar-square re•erious
to proceeding to its destination, to allow it to be formed
on the parade, or on the mall of St. James's-park. In
reply, I am to state that the First Commissioner must de-
cline all interference with the preliminary arrangements
for the proposed meeting. The mall in St. James's-park
is open, by and during her Majesty's permission, for the
use and enjoyment of all peaceful and well-conducted per-
sons. It must, nevertheless, be borne in mind that any
such use as is contemplated in your letter must be com-
patible with its use and enjoyment by others not con-
cerned in the proposed assembly ; and. lam directed by
the First Commissioner to add that a grave responsibility
rests on those who call together large masses of people in
the public places and streets of a crowded city without
xd possessing the power of influencing and controlling dis-
I orderly and ill-disposed persons, who, experience shows,
avail themselves of the opportunity so offered to injure
property and disturb the public peace.—l am, sir, your
obedient servant, ALFRED AUSTIN, Secretary." Con-
siderable discussion followed the reading of the
letter, and the prevailing opinion being that no opposition
was intended to be offered to the assembling the procession
in the mall of the park, and each member of the com-
mittee declaring his willingness to accept the responsibi-
lity placed upon him, the following resolution was unani-
mously adopted:—" That the main proces'ion for the de-
monstration be organised in the mall of St. Jamea's-park,
and that this resolution be forwarded to Sir Richard
Mayne for his information, as promised by the deputa-
tion." The programme was further considereand ordered
to be definitely settled on Friday evening next The seer.-
un announced that Mr. John Bright, M.P., Mr. Forster,
M.P., and a large number of members of parliament, bad
engaged to attend the evening meeting to be held on the
day after the demonstration. St. James's-hall bad been
taken for the purpose, and the prices for admission, which
would be by ticket, would be be., 2s. 6d., and L. The
committee then adjourned.