The Express.
London, England, 1867-01-30 00:00:00

REPORdf MEETING AT WOLVERHAMPTON.

A great reform meeting was held in the Agricul-
tural Hall, Wolverhampton, on Monday eswederg.
following letter from Mr. Villiers, the late Presides t of
the Poor Law Board, was read:
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, .
"_39, Slosneetreet, Jan. 16.
" Dear Sir,—l beg to apologise for ita delay which has
occurred in acknawledging the letter which you addressed
to me on behalf of the Wolverhampton Auxiliary Branch
of the National Reform League, and in which you convey
to me an invitation to be present at the reform meeting on
the 26th mat. The letter was not addressed to my ten-
dente in London, end I only found it at the club
to which it was aidreesed long after its date. The
delay, koyrever, for which I am answerable, I em sure
yen ,will not ascribe to any want of respect to your-
self, or certainly to the cause on aooount of which
it WIC written. That cause is now properly absorbing
the ettention of the community, and re deserving of the
gravest consideration. It has in view the removal of
glaring discrepancies in oar system of represenlaikeikend
seeks I 7 an exteimion of the people's right., to render
that sYstoni more faithful and fair. It was for this pur-
pose that Lord iniseell's government—of which I was as
humble totember—proposed a MOOD Will last session, and
it is the end which the same men will keep steadfastly ia
view in governing their course while in opposition.
During the long time that I have been is parliament I
have vated for every practical measure of reform that
purported to widen the basis of representation, and my
opinion in this respect is wholly unchanged. If, therefore,
I should now seek to judge freely for myself in what way
I can personally serve the cause best, I hope that I am
not drawing too largely on the confidence with which
my past Seam may possibly have inspired my consti-
teen*. On the mode in which the people think
it now right to make known their wishes Lod
opinions upon this important subject, I have not a word
to offer. It is emphatically their own cause, and they
have the fullest right to its management. But paths-
Meat is shout to reassemble in a few days and, wishing to
give the fairest consideration to the various views that are
known to lie entertained by honest reformers as to the
course which it will be best to pursue, I trust the com-
mittee of the Lague will not think it disrespectful if I
decline to attend a meeting, which, at this moment, might
appear to fetter my independence as a member of the
Imam. Asking you to have the goodness to state to the
committee the reason of my nut -attendance, and to thank
them on my part far the honour of the invitation, I re-
main. dear sir, yours very faithfully,
" William Parkes, Eaq." "C. P. VILLIEEA.
A letter from Mr. Weguelin. was Liao read, and
in it be stated that he felt bound to &adios the invitation
which had been sent to him. He did cot think that a
wise settlement of the reform question would be aided by
advocating the extreme views of the Reform League.
Several resolutions were passed at the meeting. Amongst
than was one declaring that the rejection of the last re-
form measure showed that the present House of Commons
was unworthy of support, and pledging the meeting to
agitate fur a still larger extension of the franchise, and
for vote by ballot. Another resolution thanked the true
friends of reform, both in and out of the House of Com-
mons ; and the last ooe was as follows :—" That . the
thanks of this meeting be given to our borough members ;
to the Right Hon. P. Wien, for hie long and faithful
advocacy of all measures tending so promote the welfare
of the people ; to both, for their steady support of the
Reform Bill introduced by the late government." The
numbers present were estimated by the promoters of the
meeting at 3,79 d.

REFORM MELTING AT BAYhWATEIL—A very File-
woof ul meeting was bald on Monday evening, under the
auspices of the Reform Lugo., at Wtstbourne-hall,
Bayswater. About .100 persons were present. Mr. Joseph
Cued*lla was called upon to preside, and the meeting was
addressed by Messrs. Alden, Odger, Cramer, end others.
After passing the usual resolutions in favour of reform,
the proceedings terminated by a vote of thanks being ac-
corded to the chairman.

ON PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.
—Mr. W. H. Stone, one of the members for the borough of
Portsmouth, addressed a crowded meeting at the
Mocietes-hall, Portant, on Monday evening on the sub-
ject of psdiamentary reform. Mr. Stolle went to Porta-
mouth on the invitation of the local branch of the
National Reform League. which bad promised to secure for
him a fair hearing, although it was understood that Mr.
Stone's *pianism were not in perfect accord with those of
the League. In his opening remarks he stated his objec-
tions to registered residential mar hood suffrage and to the
doctrine of abstract right to parliamentary representation.
He repudiated all sympathy with Adullainites and spoke
in favour of such a liberal reduction of the franchiseaswas
izrosed isr the bill of the late government. Mr. Stone
a for upwards of an hour. and he was very loudly
owed at the close. Although some of the !waken, who
followed him dissented from some of his views a cordial
vote of thanks was accorded to him for bin attendance.

•
SIH UHARLF.s BRION; M.P., AND HIS CONsTI
• E 57...— Last night the electors and Eon-electors of Green-
wich residing in and around Deptford, met at the Lecture-
hall. for the purpose of baring from Sir Ch.rles Bright,
junior member for the borough, a statement of his viowaoa
public affairs. The attendance was very numerous ; Mr.
W. Merchant was voted to the chair. Sir Charles Bright
entered into a lengthened statement of his opinions on the
various political questions of the day, but his observa-
tions were to a great extent a repetition of what he stated
at Greenwich lest week. Replying to questions put to
hits. by elector', he said he did not know whether there
would he any legislation on the subject of trade unions
during the ensuing session, but if a bill were introduced
it would receive his best consideration, and he would
arrive at no decision upon it without full discussion. A.
vote of confidence in the hon. member was unanimously
ado_pted.
IIgyLOILABLE AsxIDENT.—On Monday afternoon
a deplorable accident, which has resulted in the death •of
Mm. •.e.argill. the wife of General Seragill, took place in
York. He left his residence in Mt. Mary's, tkatbam, along
with Isis wife, son, and daughter, re a light carnage which
was. drawn by two spirited homer, and as they were pro-
ceeding along Bootham, from some cause or other, the
horses, which were driven by the sou of General time.
gill, drew the carriage between the flagged footway and
• donkey cart that was standing there. The horses, in
trying to get the carriage clear, gave it so severe a jerk
that it was upset on the flags. All the occupants of the
carriage were thrown to the ground, and the whole of
them injured. The carriage, which was found resting upon
the Mad of Mrs. Scatgill. was speedily lifted up, and she
was found to be quite insensible. General Scrugill was
also leveret), injured. His daughter was also cut about
the head and face. The son was the least injured of the
party. Several medical men were soon on the spot, sad
they Attended more particularly to Mrs. Scargill, who was
found suffering from concussion of the brain. She never
regained her consciousness, and expired about 4 o'clock.'
yesterday morning. The horses detached themselves from
the carriage, and galloped madly through the streets with
the carriage-pole and splinter bar, and the latter having
00133 C in contact with • shop window, the horses were
stooped before any further mischief was occasioned.
t rrietiam., JAN. 2!t.—The Queen has been
pleased to present the Rey. Myles Galloway Booty, M.A.,
to the Rectory of Middlehani, in the county of York, and
diocese of Ripon, void by the death of the Rev. James
Alexander Birch.—a,:ette.