The Express.
London, England, 1866-03-23 00:00:00

THE szzcrzoN PETITIONS.

The labours of three out of the four committees
which eat yesterday have been brought to a doss. In the
cane of Yarmouth the committee passed a series of resolu-
tion declaring Sir E. Laoon and Mr. Goodson, the sitting
members, duly elected, but siting numerous instances in
which bribes were given on behalf of each candidate,
although without the knowledge of the candidates or their
agents. A further resolution was peeped, declaring the
belief of the committee that bribery and corrupt
practices prevailed extensively at the last election.
In the one of Bridgnorth the committee derided
that a voter had been bribed, but without the know-
ledge of the sitting member. Upon a scrutiny two
of the votes recorded for Sir J. Acton WINO struck off,
which placed Mr. Whitmore, the defeated candidate, in a
majority of I, epos which the oommittee declared that
gentleman duly elected. This is a gain to the coeseryative
peaty. Sir J. Acton le a liberal, bet Yr. Whitmore soled
aloes of the cooseavative whips is the last parliameat.
The Tana committee decided that Ns. Alfred Seymour
was duly elected, but that Yr. John leader wee not,
having been guilty of bribery by offering a place to an
elector in return for his rote. In this awe, ea in that of
Great Yarmouth, the ooannittee pared a reeolutlem de-
claring that corrupt practices had exteasively prevailed at
the late ekotioe. la the Nottingham eramitthe vey
little progress hes been made. Only two witnages have
been disposed of, while upwards of 100 is ass petition
alone remain to be called.

REFORM MEETING&
--

A meeting of the Reform Association of the city
of York was held on Tuesday eves*, Mr. Councillor
Coning in the chair, when Mr. G. Lemmas M.P., woe
sleeted the president; ands late the viewprenidents sad
mad bad ::ea Ippointed, a discussion took plans cu the
government Reform Bill. The whole of its previsions did
not meet with gemeral approval, although•vely one present
felt that, taken ea a whole, the bill wee wonky of support.
erpeoially as so stows an opposition was Matestened to say
measure of reform by the tortes. At the close of the
&emotion the following petitioo to the House of Commons
yea unanimously adopted--" The humble petition of the
Reform funociation of the city of York, In public meeting
smembled, showeth that a bill having bees brought Late
yaw honourable house for extending the right of voting
for members of your boson:able hove, year petitioners
desire to express to your hoeoarable house their hearty
approval of the object of such bill. That your petitiossers
would respectfully urge upon your honourable house that
jostles and wisdom alike demand that the representation of
the people in parliament should be placed upon a broader
and armee basis than at present. That the vastly increased
intelligesce, education, and independent* of character ma-
nifested by the working clause of this country folly qualify
them for the exercise of the elsetive franchise, and that it is
a great injustice to oentiane to exclude them from their
fair share in perliemeetery representation. That your peti-
tioners would respectfully remind your honourable house
that the prisciple of an exteosiou of the franchise bee
already been distinctly recognised both by the preeent and
the late advisers of the crown, sad affirmed by previous
parliameate. That your petitioners deny the &Hepatic'; of
public apathy which are urged as reasons for not giving puri-
ties' effect to the former affirmations of sucossetve covens-
meets and of parliament, and respectfully, but earnestly, call
upon your hoe. hoineto fulfil the just hopes of the people
so unmistakably expressed at the last general election of
members to owe in your how:Rumble house. Your peti-
tioners, coolidestly believing that the mid bill now before
your honourable house will eminently tend to the fulfilmeet
of such hopes, and will give increased strength sadvigour
to the 000stitution, humbly pray that the same may pees
into a law." lON intended that a requisition shall be pre-
nested to the Lord Mayor, fora large meeting to be held to
°outsider the question of reform with a view to the adoption
I of a petition front the anise= genmally.
The Mayor of Carlisle, in compliance with a
numerously-sigeed requisition, has ooevened a public meet-
log for Wednesday next, to consider the government Re.
form Bin.
At the meeting held at Bradford on Wednesday
evening, to originate a pstitioe in favour of the government
reform measure, Mr. Bylse stated that be beard from Mr.
Venter, their excellent member, that it Ina the general
opinion in the Bowe of Commons that the bill would be
tarried through the house. The bon. gent/eines had also
told him (11. r. Byles) that he bad dose all he could to in-
duce the government to adopt a IW. county franchise, and a
61. borough franchise,
A requisition, signed in a very short time by be-
tween 700 and 800 townsmen. era presented to the Mayor
of Birmingham on Wednesday, asking his worship to call
a public meeting, to consider the Reform Bill sow before
the Howie of Commons. The Mayor bee complied with
the requisition, sad has Axed the meeting tor next Monday
sight.

ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.