The Express.
London, England, 1866-09-25 00:00:00

AREAT, WORK I)EMONSI'RatTION
edt „ tilkAS" biESTER,

n ' MANCREffTBS, BIM 24.
The Reform Demonstration at Manchester, this
liffttmoen notwithstanding the incessant rain, has been 16
,tiratimpo:dng affair. Caropfield, the central point to which
all the processions from fronts north, met, west, aed
math of Manchester directed their steps, was far too
:limited in open to contain all, or nearly all, wbo pre-
,metieri themselves
• ; The square began to fill early by townspeople who were
leasions to secure good places, bat the great processions
-did not arrive till near upset the time of meeting,
which had been fixed for three o'clock. Bands of
t !Mk bad been planed near each of them stations, to head
he various prcersidons which formed from time to time as
he trains arrived, but from Rochdale, Oldham, and some
other large towns great gatherings of reformers came on
foot, in pr minion, with their own bands and banners. The
executive oonimittes of the National Reform Union co-
operating with the Reform League both in the open-air
meeting and in the meeting to be held this even-
ing at the Free Trade-hall, went in procession
to Campfield from Newall's-buildings. They had also
published a request that their friends and members
in Lancashire generally should unite in these
demonstrations. Separate processions formed In various
parts of the city of trades and friendly societies, and came
to the meeting. Amongst them were the temperance so.
sidles. And, lastly, there was a procession of carriages from
the Manchester Town-hall, at half•past two, containing
members of parliament, merchants, manufacturers, and
members of corporations, who had assembled in the
mayor's parlour to accompany Mr. Bright to the open•ah
meeting.
It anything could damp the ardour of reformers, cer-
tainly the weather this morning was calculated to have
that effect. From four o'clock to one—nine hours—there
• was one times/ant down-pour of rain, gradually increasing
in density. From one to two o'clock the fall gradually de_
creased, but at two, by which time some thousands of
people had gathered in the square, umbrellas were in use,
• though there were some symptoms that the weather
might clear up, but this proved delusive. Six platforms
had been provided for the speakers, four in the square in
front of the church, and two in the smaller area behind.
The find procession entered the square by Gartside.
street, with its band and banners, and took up a position
in front of the platform under the walls of the Free li-
brary. A second procession, with the banners of the Na-
tional Reform Union entered shortly afterwards by the

Liverpool-road entrance from Deanagate, and took up a
• position before the platforms behind the church. Other
processions followed in rapid succession by way of Tow-
man-street, Water-street, and St. John-street. Before
three every part of the square appeared to be densely
crowded, and from that time, as people entered from various
directions, great numbers began to leave in consequence of
Ending their places untenable with comfort. The proces-
sion from the Town-hall arrived precisely at 3 o'clock,
but was unaccompanied by Mr. Bright.
The proceedings commenced at once, the following reso.
lutions being moved and seconded simultaneously from
each platform :

That this meeting protests against the perpetuation of
oboe government, by the 'mansion of the great majority of
the people from the franchise, refuses to allow itself to be
mad! an instrument to further the views of contending
jjsrties, or the selfish interest of any class ; and pledges
itself to adopt all means of organising and agitating for the
only just basis of representation—registered residential
manhood suffrage and the ballot.
That this meeting rejoices in the formation of the
northern department of the Reform League, and pledgee
its support to the executive council in the organisation of
branches throughout the north of England ; and hereby
declared Be confidence in Mr. Edmond Beales and the
executive of the Reform League in London.
That this meeting tenders its warmest and most grateful
thanks to the Right Hon. William Ewart Gladstone, John
Bright, Eq., John Stuart Mill, Esq., and all the friends of
reform, who throughout the late discussions in parliament
' vindicated the character and protected the rights of the peo-
ple ; and further expresses confidence in the honesty and
ability of Mr. John Bright to champion the people's cause
in parliament during the coming parliamentary struggle.
Amongst the speakers were Mr. Edmond. 8e.].., Mr.
Wilfrid Lawson (Carlisle), Lieutenant-Colonel Dickson,
Mr. Ernest Jones, the Rev. W. H. Bonner, Mr. Lucraft,
Mr. Odger, and Mr. J. B. Langley. The meeting was not
at an end when our despatch left.
It would be difficult to foim even an approximate esti-
mate of the numbers present. Perhaps at no period of the
meeting were there more than 80,01.0 to 100,000 in the
square at once, but Liverpool-road, Deanegate, Gartaide-
' street, and, other approaches, were constantly filled with
people for upwards of two hours, going and returning, and
it would be no exaggeration to say that the total number
present at various times did not fall much short of
200,000.

THE. EVENING MEETING.
SPEECH OF MR. BRIGHT.

In the evening a meeting was held in the Free-trade-
ball, which was densely crowded in every part long before
the time appointed. The admission was by tickets, which
were given away to the first applicants, but so great was
the demand that a guinea, and even two guineas premium
was offered for admission to the platform. Mr. T. P.
Pones, M.P., presided, and was supported by Mr.
Fihies, M.P., Mr. Whitworth, M.P., Mr. Lawson, late
M.P. for Carlisle, Mr. Geo. Wilson, Sir James
Watt, Mr. Jacob Bright, and a great number
of the leading liberals of the city and its neigh-
bourhood. Mr. Bright, M.P., on coming upon the plat-
form, was received with a tremendous outburst of cheers,
the whole of the assemblage rising to welcome him.
Sir Jays Warr proposed the following resolution :
" That this meeting, while recording its indignation at the
insults offered in parliament and by the press to the work-
ing class and their advocates, calls on the people of this
country to allow themselves no longer to be trifled with
by an oligarchio few, and to rally round these men wbo
have upheld their cause."
Mr. Fans? J 02468 seconded the motion.

The resolution wag carried by acclamation.
Mr. G. WILSON moved as address to Mr. Bright, which
concluded as follows :

You will not return to parliament simply as the represen-
tative of a single borough, but as the elected tribune of a
mighty people. Face to face you have seen this people, you
have a right to speak for the east and west, the north and
the south, and when you are wailed with the taunts and
jibes and sneers of a proud oligarchy, who use every weapon
that slander and malice can suggest, we pray you to re-
member that a whole nation stands at your beck, reso-
lutely determined to support you while you battle with it
for its liberties. Tell these opponents of freedom that the
right denied millions of their fellow countrymen most not,
cannot longer bo trifled with ; that principle must be
the guiding star of men, and results be left to Providence;
that the broadest base MI the firmest security of all au-
thority, and that our country will achieve a still more
glorious destiny amongst the nations when her government
depends for its strength upon the hearts and the arms of
the entire people, and bows its freetkus on the rights de-
rived from God.

Mr. Hooson seconded the motion, and the address, after
afew words from Mr. Bales and Mr. Armitage, who were
listened to with extreme impatience, wu adopted amidst
tremendous acclamations, which were renewed again and
again as the chairman presented it to the honourable gen.
tletnan.

Mr. BRIGHT, who was loudly cheered, then addressed
the meeting. He raid—l was not aware when I was in-
vited
to attend this meeting that anything different from
the ordinary course of proceeding would take place.
I was not informed that I should be honoured by the rre.
sentation of any address. I swept that address, how-
ever, with many thanks for the kindness you have shown
me ; at the same time I accepts it with ennething like fear
and trembling, because of the mighty responsibility which
by that address you have thrown upon me. I have neve
bad any ambition for leadership. I don't feel myself to
have fitness for such an office. I have worked hitherto
whenesover I chanced to be, whether in the ranks or
in the front ; and without pledging myself to
undertake all that this address asks me to undertake and

perform, I may fairly pledge myself to this, that
wherever I find men willing to work for human
freedom and human happiness, I trust I shall be ready
to take my part with them. (Cheers.) And now as my
eye has rested upon this wonderful assembly, I
have thought it not wrong to ask myself
whether there is any question that is great, that
is sufficient, that is noble, that has willed us
together to-night. I have ems to the conclusion that
great as is this meeting, and transcendently great the
meeting which was held is the middle of the day, the quer
tion which has brought as together is worthy of our
assembly, and of every effort we may make. (Rem, hear.)
We are met for the purpose, so far aa lies In our power, Of
widening the boundaries and making mere stable the bona.