The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-10 00:00:00

BANBURY.

A crowded meeting, convened by the Mayor in
pursuance of a numerously signed requisition, was held in
the Town-hall on Friday evening, on the subject of reform.
The Mayor (Mr. J. Her lock) presided; and upon the plat-
form were Mr. Bernard Samuelson, M.P., and most of the
leading liberals of all sections.

CITY or LONDON.—Yesterday morning an in_
fluential deputation of electors of the City of London
waited on the Lord Mayor at the Mansion-house, to pre-
sent to his lordship a requisition to convene a public
meeting in support of the government measure of reform
now before the House of Commons. The deputation was

introduced by C. Bead, Eaq., F.S.A., who laid before his
lordship the requisition, which was subscribed by 563
names of leading citizens, which Mr. Reed explained had

been obtained after a brief canvass of twenty-four hours
and which could easily have been doubled. The Lord
. .

Mayor expressed his rOadhwas M all times to comply with
the wishes of the citizens, and his gratification
at the occasion for this call on his services, He

regretted that the Guildhall was not easily available, in
consequence of the arrangements connected with the Ex
hibition now being held there ; but the Egyptian-hall, at
the Mansion-house, was entirely at the services of the re-
quisitionists. His lordship added thatTlimsday next would
be the earliest convenient day, and that daywould be appro-
priate for the meeting, as it was appointed for the second
reading of the bill. He would, therefore, fix the meeting
. .

to be held on Thursday next, at 2 o'clock. The deputation
thanked his lordship for his courtesy, and then withdrew.
CHEATER. —Acrowded meeting was held last night
in the Music Hall, Chester ; Alderman Trevor presiding.
All sections of the liberal party in Chester and neighbour-
hood were represented, and they were unanimous in sup-
porting the government Franchise BilL A letter from Earl
_ _ .

- _
Grosvenor, M.P., declining to attend on the ground of the po-
sition which he had assumed on the question, was read, and
was loudly hissed; and the meeting was on the whole a popular
demonstration against Lord Grosvenor's policy. The reso-
lutions in support of the government proposal were unani-
mously carried, and a petition, signed by more than 2,000
persons, was handed to Mr. W. ii. Gladstone, M.P., for
presentation to parliament. Mr. Gladstone was present,
and spoke at length in favour of the Franchise Bill, pro-
mising it his active support.

- -
RLYmorru.—A large and enthusiastic meeting
was held last night at Plymouth in favour of the
government reform bill. Among the speakers were
some of the most influential liberals of the borough
as well as working men. Both the members sent
letters excusing themselves for non-attendance. The
Solicitor-General wrote saying that he had to attend par-
liament that night and the liberal meeting at Bari Rus-
sell's this morning. He expressed his hearty concurrence
in the object of the meeting, and was gratified to find
Plymouth following the example of other large towns in
supporting the measure. Resolutions were unanimously
adopted declaring the government bill to be a substantial
and valuable extension of the franchise for both boroughs
and counties, and to be deserving of the approval and ac.
ceptance of the country. The 16th clause of the measure
was slightly objected to, but the other clauses were oonsi.
dered to be good ones. A petition to the House of
Commons founded on the resolutions was adopted.
CHELTENIIAM.—A crowded and enthusiastic Re-
form meeting was held last night at Cheltenham, Colonel
Berkeley presiding, at which resolutions were unanimously
carried in favour of the government bill, and it was de-
clared that working men are entitled to all the rights
conferred on them by it. A resolution expressing ne-
cessity for a redistribution of seats was also carried.
WrNosos..—Yesterday evening a meeting was
held at Mr. Mason's Public-rooms, Windsor, under the
chairmanship of Mr. H. Driver, for the purpose of adopt-
ing a petition in favour of the Reform Bill proposed by
her Majesty's government. The hall was crowded by the
liberal portion of the constituency, Messrs. Darvill, Bed-
borough, Chase, Harris, Durant, and other gentlemen being
among those present. Sir H. Hoare and Mr. Labouchere,
the members for the borough, though momentarily ex-
pected, had not arrived at tlio time of cloning this des-
, patch. .

•
SCARBOROCCIL—In compliance with a nume-
rously-signed reuisition to the mayor, a public meeting
was held in the Town Hall, Scarborough, on Friday night.
The mayor presided, and there were present Mr. J. Dent
Dent, M.P. for the borough, Rev. Dr. Evans, Mr. Ald.
Bean, Mr. Rowntree (Mr. Dent's chairman), Dr. Rowan,
Mr. Moody (town clerk), and many other leading refor-
mers. A letter of apology was read from Sir John John-
stone, M.P., in which the hon. gentleman announced
his intention of supporting the bill recently introduced by
the government. The statement was received with loud
cheers.

HEREFORD.—A numerously signed petition from
this city will be forwarded to-morrow, to Mr. G. Clive,
for presentation to the House of Commons, in support of
the government bill. Amongst the petitioners will be
found the names of Lord Say and Sele, Archdeacon of
Hereford, the Very Reverend Richard Dames, the Dean of
Hereford, the Mayor, the whole of the aldermen, and a
majority of common councillors, the leading tradesmen,
and a large number of the working classes. A strong de-
sire is felt that the bill should pass in its entirety, and if
not, that the vetran premier would immediately dissolve
the parliament.
BlNGLEy.—Yesterday evening a large meeting of
the inhabitants of Bingley was held to express an opinion
upon the government reform bill, and resolutions expres-
sive of approval of the bill were adopted, as was also a peti-
tion to parliament embodying the sentiments of the reso-
lutions.

BELPER. —A public meeting on the subject of
the government Franchise Bill was held in the Court-room
on Thursday evening. There was a numerous attendance.
The meeting was addressed by a number of resident eke-
tors and non-electors, and suitable resolutions and a
petition to parliament were unanimously adopted in favour
of the bill. Mr. Wm. Webster, chairman of the liberal
committee, occupied the chair. Letters were read from
Mr. T. W. Evans and Mr. C. R. Colvile, the members for
South Derbyshire, regretting that the shortness of the
notice given precluded their attendance, and expressing
their determination to give the government bill their

hearty support.
Posrsritaer.—A petition in favour of the govern-
ment Reform Bill is bring signed in the borough by the
working men, and will be sent to Mr. H. C. C. Childers
for presentation to the House of Conuuous.
BIUMIN6II/4.—Up to Saturday evening last, up-
wards of thirty-six thousand persons had signed the peti-
tion in favour of the government Reform Bill. These num-
bers show how far the liberals generally, and especially the
working men of Birmingham, are determined to give their
hearty support to the bill, and the ministry which intro-
duced it. But there are still many who have not yet
signed, and as there are still three days before the petition
need be sent to London, we invite all those who are true
to the cause of parliamentary reform, and who have not yet
added their name to the musterroll, todosoatonce. Inthese
less agitated times there is no necessity for the working classes
to assemble in vast masses forthe assertion of their political
principles as our forefathers did in 1832 ; but it is still
necessary that by vast petitions presented to parliament
the house may know what is the true will of the people.
There are a number of manufactoriee in Birmingham where
the workmen have not yet obtained copies of the petition.
They are invited to do so at once, and can have copies by
, applying either at the office, or to Mr. W. C. Morgan, 37,
I Waterloo-street. —.Birmingham Daily Past.