The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-07 00:00:00

THE GOVERNMENT REFORM BILL

011010.
in compliance with a numerously signed requi-
sition, a meeting was convened by the Mayor, oa Time
day evening, in the Town-hall, afford., to consider the
Bnfranehisement Bill which ham been brought before par-
liament by the ohanoellor of the Paahequer. The attend-
anoe was large, and the prooeedinp were welloonducted.
The Right Hon. L CARD WILL spoke warmly in defence
of the bill. I sincerely hope, be said, we are not
going to pass series after seespion,o2postsUrliemsat after
parliament, to have this question In saupseas. I
Abell be glad if it be interred for the parliament of 1885 to
PTfeVi the Feet wok of parliamentary reform of 1832, to
en up whalc was defective in that work, in order
to perfect a system of parliamentary refermin this country,
and to make* • lust
_reflex of the enlightened, intelligent,
industrious, mid *pi ulation of this great community.
(Cheent. This • t will then have aooom.
plinked the Meng results that can be obtained,
oonforrmg ape the people of this country—and, through
them, aped the whole world—the meate* blew
be a people eon OfatOY. (Cheers.) We shall thOil. baye
order combined with ability, the voice of an int
conuansity budging up day by day to a greater pitch et.
gresperity, and power, than has hitherto been
attained. (Land cheers.)
Mr. O. Nam, ILP., next addressed the meeting at con-
siderable length in support of the government measure,
and equalised his determination to support it.
Alderman SATILBE proposed, " That this meeting cor-
-811114 expresses its approval of the franchise bill now
before parliament, as a substantial, honest, and valuable
IMIIIRUO, and pledges itself to support the government in
Muting it to a successful issue."
Yr. Smug seamded the motion.
Profeseor Boone having warmly rarl the bill, the
maim was carried amidst vociferous cheering.
Yr. Sheriff CAOTLI moved, Alderman Call seconded,
and it was resolved, "That a petition be wiresented to both
Bonne of Parliament is support of the bill, and be signed
by the chairman on behalf of this meeting ; and that the
petition be headed to the members for presentation."
Kr. Waveiox moved, lir. Joe. HIGGINS seconded, and
It was resiolezeliaThat the thanks of the meeting be ten-
dered to the members for the kindness with wide*
they had to the wishes of the cennituents."

Ginireirer meeting will be held here next
Wednesday in support of thegovernment hill. Mr. J. S.
RIM bat been asked to act as ; and the borough
member, the liberal members for boroughs in Kent, and
the Mend ceadidates for the county will be invited to
attend.
FOLKEIROXII.—A meeting was held at the Town
Hall lad night, W. Bateman, Esq., J.P., in the chair,
who said that the liberals of Folkestone had thought of
callings pnblis meeting, and aeßaron Meyer A. de
Bothech member for the boron(Hydra) to attend,
but flag that he would not be to be present, they
thought the beet plan they could adopt would be to pre-
pareeseopstitions for signature, and ask the liberals in the
to oome to the Town-hall and sign them. The
petitions were on the table, one from the freeholders, to
be presented by Baton Rothschild ; the other from the
=ldere, to be presented by Sir Edward Doing. It
n and by the opponents of the bill thatths erruntry
did net care about reform, but if the bill was thrown out
It weed very pea be found that they did aim about it.
Bzurrou—On Thursday evening a public meeting
insupport of Mr. Gladatone's Reform Bill, wee held at the
itedoross-street British schoolroom, Bristol. There was a
veky large attendance.
SUNDZILLAND.—In compliance with a numerously
signed requisition the Mayor of Sunderisnd convened a
meeting for the purpose of 'Deities public opinion on the
government Reform Bill, which was held in the Weems
K=e. Thursday night. Sir H. Williamson,
evreased his determination to support the ressaure. Mr.
Aa Candlish, M.P., Mr. Joshua Wilson, and other gentle-
men subsequently moke, and resolutions of confidence in
the government were unanimously pruned.
Lotraueotorme.—A large and enthusiastic meet-
ing was held in the Own Exchange, Loughborough,
Leicestershire, on Thursday evening, tinter the presidency
of the Rev. E. Stevenson (Baptiet minister), foe the naive*
of rending the vodka of reform and supporting the
government in than present efforts to extend the franaise.
• Woxvxtuaerrow.—An enthusiastic and crowded
asseing of artisans, which was attended by *. Weguelin,
H.P., and the leading members of the iers and We•
radio committee, who were all well received, was, we
Team by electiaricjhelasvh, held at Wolverhampton_ last
ni)ht, and "en ly repudiated that the washing
dames were event to reform,* explored an " unal
terable determination never to rest satisfied until a coin-
prebenere measure of reform was carried." The govern-
ment bill was, it wee declared, " worthy of the hearty
support and sympathy of the working classes."
Wow:anat.—There was, we learn by telegram, a
very large and noisy meeting of electors and non-electors
of the city, held at the Guildhall, Worcester, last night,
to
discus the provisions of the government measure of
reform. The meeting was convened by the Mayor, in
tempi/once with a requisition signed by ever 300 persona.
It was announced that the two members for Waroester,
Kr. A. C. Sheriff and Mr. Padmore, would attend, and
announce their intentions with retard to the measure ; and
as it was understood that the conservative party intended
to master co the wades the needing was looked forward
to with unusual interest. Only the members were listened
to. Some fighting took place, but pet of a serious nature.
A resolution in favour of the bill was moved by Mr.
Cousher, and seconded by Mr. Councillor Minehall, and
carried by large majorities. The two members spoke in
favour of the bill.
Cirtexceenta—A meeting of the electors and
non-electors of this borough was held in the large assembly
room of the Ram Hotel, on Wednesday evening,for the
purpose of considering the government Reform Bills and
submitting a petition in favour of its adoption. Dr.
Smith, president of the Cirencester Reform Club, mou-
nted the chair, and there was a crowded attendance. The
meeting was warm in its approval of the bill, and reso-
lutions and a petition to parliament in its favour were
adopted. •
TORQUAY. --011ThUreally Welling a crowded meet-
-was held atTorquay in support ci the government Reform
WALSALL.—A large and enthusiastic meeting,
convened by the Mayor, in compliance with a numerously
signed requisition, was held au Thursday evening, in the
trill-hall, Walsall. The Mayor(Mr. J. Brewer, jun.) occu-
pied the chair, supported by Mr. Charles Forster, M.P.,
and most of the leading liberals in the town and neigh-
bourhood. The mooting was mainly composed of working
men, of whom probably, about 2,000 were present. A
letter was read from Mr. J. Bright, in answer to an invite-
doh to attend the meeting. It read as follows :—" Dear
Sir, I cannot come to your meeting. I cannot leave
home until Igo to town next week. I thank your
friends for thinking of me, and wish I could see them,
and speak to them. I have so much to do
that I cannot undertake anything more at present.
You will have a good meeting I cannot doubt, and will in
that way give efficient help to your excellent member, Mr.
Fonder. I hope you will mod up a great petition, and that
be may present it to the house in proof of your approval
of the suffrage bill. With thanks for your kind note, I
am, very truly yours, Jens Barony."
3iNartnaato'.—On Wednesday evening, in com-
pliance with a requisition numerously signed, the pariah
esastablea of Knaresbro' convened a public meeting of the
inhabitants, to consider the government reform measure.
Mfr. Potter was called to the chair. Mr. Dawes read a
letter received from Mr. Holden, one of the borough mem-
bers, regretng his inability to attend the meeting, but
expressing his most cordial approval of the movement. A
resolution. approving of the proposed measure, was carried
unanimously, and it war resolved to petition the House of
Commons and to forward the same to Mr. Holden for
presentation, with a request that Mr. Woodd would sup-
port it.
WAILLFIELD.—On Wednesday evening the Wake-
field Town Council and Local Board of Health resolved, at
their usual monthly meeting, to petition in favour of the
Rdorm Bill.
CHELMSFORD.—Yesterday, the Rev. Alexander
Golden, M.A., of Magdalen Hall, Oxford, curate of West
Hadmey, delivered a lecture at the Mechanics' Institute
in this town in favour of the government Reform Bill ;
Mr. John Copland presided. The lecturer's arguments in
IMCof the bill were enthusiastically received.
CASTSR.—The Mayor, in response to a re-
quisition, has called a meeting to consider the government
'Reform Bill, to be held on Monday night.
HANI'L 6POOL. —A town's meeting was held on
Thursday night in the Town-hall. The Mayor voided,
and resolutions in support of the government bill were
adopted.
Bor.rou.—On Thursday evening a public meeting
was held in the Temperance-hall, Bolton, to support the
reform bill introduced by government. There was a large
gathering, the hall being crowded, and great interest and
enthusiasm was displayed in the proceedings. Mr. Alder-
man Heywood occupied the chair. Resolutions in favour
of the bill were adopted.
Acennerrorr. —A well-attended meeting on the
reform mortis. was held on Wednesday evening , in the
Peel Inditution. The resolutions passed were in savour of
the government bill, and approving of the course taken by
the government. A petition, embodying the substance of
the reeolutiona was segued the chairman, and will he
forwarded to the Marquis of for presentation
to parliament. The pepalation within two-awl-64W
miles of Acerhigtoa, whisk was said to be 36,604 is pester
than that of seven boroughs which send fourteen inembels
to parliament.
TODIWBORN.—On Wednesday evening,. a meet-
convened by requisition, was held in the Odd Nib(
for the purpose of po•t the Reform HM. .
P. presided. T'he m was watiiima
soma gemeemm, whose remarks were eadleishilledly
reasived- Reed .;ons animosity r
of pease
wwitiog ' the goverarnestwr nßeTbrm raj
the hope eventually of • further reform be the
redistribution of seats. A petition to parliament was
&pied, to be presented by Mr. °Meteor, sad Mesa