The Express.
London, England, 1850-01-04 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 4, 1850.

FINANCIAL AND PAR
REFORK.

GARY

The ummtbere of the Seat Bov'kwsrk Perna-
mastery sod Financial Reform Assosiaties dined together
ieftiea srday, at ths floathwuk Army Tetley-street. About
patlenem sat down to as aroel .et dinner
t ire °Week, Mr. Serraztair, president of the asso-
dation, took the *Mr, and Mr. Piazza, the vies-chair.
Tb Arm toast was The Queen," given in appropriate
Isms by the chairman. The toast was received with load
Itheeelng, followed by the national anthem, fu which the
oath* esupasy joined.
" Prince Albert and the rest of the Royal Family" were
nett ploiged ; alter which the Chairman gave "The
People, the only souree of legitimate power," which met
with n most vociferous welcome. The next tout was
" Prosperity to the Parliamentary and Financial Reform
Association," which the Chsirman gam with one or two i
prefatory observation.
The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm and three
times three.

Mr. OROSSMITH returned thanks on the part of the
council of the association. He congratulated himself that he
had first commenced his political career amongst the men he
then saw around him, and he cangratulated reformers gene-
11111_7 on the earnests opening to them.
Mr. HOWARD proposed the next tout, " Sir Joshua
Walecaley and the Council of the League, coupled with the
names of Mr. I'. Atkinson and Mr. Winteer, members of
that council." He (the speaker) was happy lofty that the
prople's cause had eeeee wanted advocates, even in the most
disastrous crises of their affairs. The toast was received with
loud cheering.
Me. TINDAL ATKINSON, after thanking the meeting
foe the friendly feeling they had evinced to himself person-
ally, congratulated them on the cordial union which was
gradually being formed between the middle and working
classes. The former had shown that while ready to turn out in
defence of order and our national institutions on the 10th
April, they ware equally ready from thenceforward to de-
mand and enforce every necessary and salutary reform I.
those institutions. (Hear, hear.) The masses, as they were
called, had shown equal activity, and had heartily responded
to every call media on them. After some observations
on the importance of a strict union between the
middle sod working classes, and the flattering prospects of
the cause, Mr. Atkinson concluded by again thanking the 1
m. sting for the honour which they had conferred on the in- ,
'citation and himself ind;vidually.
Mr. WINTEER also returned thank..
Mr. HARRIS gave the health of the chairman. The
toast was received with much cheer:no.
The CHAIRMAN returned thank". He had, he said,
been a reformer for .50 rears, and he trusted to remain so
for the rest of his life. (Hear.) He used to call himself a
whig ; but now he taw uo difference between whip and tart',
! and most tall Limed, • radical reformer, although no revs-
lutionist. (Hear, hear.) As lone as God gave him life er
orength, all his energies should be devoted to the cause of
tluancial and p.rliamentary reform.
Subscriptions were then collected, and poured in with
considerable readiness. Ose gentleman sabscrthed 1 at. , and
several smaller sums were also handed in. Tile other toasts
on the chairman's list were then disposed of, and the com-
pany separated.

ENFRANCHISEMENT OF KENSINGTON,
CHELSEA, FULHAM, AND HAddMERSSIITII.

At seven o'clock lest evening, a public meeting of
the parishioners of the above-named parishes was held at the
King's Arms Tavern, High street, Kensington' in pursu.
and of • requishion signed by the t bairman of the Kensing-
ton vestry, fur the purpose of reetivina a report from the
vistry committee, as to the sups taken during the last ses-
sion of parliament to promote the enfranchisement of the
parishes. Capt Hoop, R.N., presided.
The CHAIRMAN bridly opened the proceedings, by
reading the notice convening the meeting, and thin called
upon
Mr. M'OREOOR, M.P., who proceeded to detail the
steps he had taken during last session of parliament with'
regard to the motion for enfranchising that and the neigh-
bonding parishes,
Mr. W. L. l'Eltli.EY moved the first resolution, which is
as follows :

" Petitions having been presented to the House of Com-
mons during the last session of parliament, praying that the
franchise, v,id by the disfranchisement of Sudbury many
years since, might be eanferred upon this parish with that of
Chelsea, Hammersmith, and Fulham, by inchrporating them
into ens parliamentary borough, and Mr. hiliregor,
t acing undertaken to bring the claims of the said parches
list year before the House of Commons, which was nosy...id-
ably delayed in consequence of various encomiums' which
be has explained to this meetirg—resolved, that as the pa-
ruhionan of Kensington are highly satisfied with the same,
as will as the present prospect of success which Mr.
M'Oregor holds out, that the best thanks of the meeting be
ofUred to him, with a strong hops that he will be enabled to
succad during the ensuing session."

Mr. lIARYLEY KENNEDY, M an animated addreu,
seconded the resolution, which was carried with diesent.
J. PERCIVAL, Beg., of Notting-hill, moved the next
resolution, to the *fleet that the support of all members of
parliament is earnestly solicited by the meeting, to assist Mr.
M'Vregor in any mod m that he may make in parliament
.r the enfranchisement of Kensington and the other
dietrict•.

_ .....
Mr. DURNFORD having seconded the resolution it was
carried unanimously.
T. J. BERLE, Esq moved the third resolution _

'• Tat for the hemr carrying eat of the object of this
meeting, a finance committee, treasurer, and secretary, bo
appointid, and that the following gentlemen constitute the
s,tne : Capt. Hood, R.N., Hartley Kennn:y, Esq., W. R.
ir Try, Rsq., Dr. Simi tao, Mr. Durnford, &e. '
The resolution wig carried nemeeon., ands Tote of thanks
having heea paaattl to tha gallint chairman, the meeting
aspirated.

A CHAIRMAN OP QUARTER SESSIONS ON FREE
TAADIS AND YILDTECTION.—The following address was de.
Lys red on Wednesday to the grand jury at the Bedfordshire
Quarter Sessions by the chairman, T. C. Higgins, Esq., of
Torrey Huse. He said—" The all.abewhing topic of
public discussion is the present condition of the agricultural
' interest. He did not feel himself at liberty to take notice of
it in that place, excepting so far as it may concern the in-
terests of the labouring poor ; and, as in this respect the in-
fluence of the jury with them must have great weight, he
ventured to address • few observations as to the course most
likely, under present circumstances, to promote their web
tare. The distress which new prevails amongst the occu•
piers of the s,dl, Mr. Higgins said was mainly attributable
to the great change which has taken place in the law
as regards corn importation into this country, though
it is by no means clear that this is the sole reuse, or that it is
probable that, under the law as it is, the very low prices will
continue. Abstractedly, an abundance of food and low
priers ought to be considered as a special blessing of provi-
dence, and the inquiry suggests itself, therefore, now is the
apparent paradox explained, that low prices operate bane.
fully on • certain portion of the community ? Tnere is a
natural difficulty in reconciling a class of persons to any
messure, the immediate tendsucv of which is to inflict But-
tering and pet .ation on that Class; and an unwilling tar
may be expected to be lent to any one who may endeavour
to prove that by a little patience • brighter day will arrive.
But he had such an opinion of the tvnantry at large
in this country, that could they be persuaded that such
would be the ease, and that in the meantime • great public
benefit had been promoted, though tempos slily a: their ex-
pense, they would extend still further that forbearance,which,
to their great credit, has hitherto so highly characterised
them. It is to be observed, with much satisfaction, that
notwithstanding the pressure to which they are exposed,
the labourer in this country is not only as well employed as
at this time last year, but also at wages very siiahtly re-
duced. It is beyond doubt, that wages are not paid at this
moment out of the profits of the land, and that little hope
now remains for those tenants who, without capital, have
entirely relied on high prices; but he was acquainted with
some farmers, who, seeing the law is irrevocably fixed, are
determined to cut off every superfluous indulgence, and to
make any sacrifice rather than forego their only thanes of
righting themselves, by employing additional labour
on their land. They put their shoulders to the
wheel in good earnest, and trust to their own''
exertions and selhdenial, rather than to the de.
Italie promises held out in the exciting atmosphere
of publio meetings, that prosperity is only to be
restored to the agriculturist by the return of a duty. The
persons who use this flattering language are not friends to
those whom they mean to serve ; it tends to relax exertion,
and buoys up with false hopes. Few persons are more im.
mediately affected then himself by the opt, m of free trade
from the peculiar character of the soil which he owns, but
more especially from his connexion with West India pro-
perty ; but on reflection he could not conscientiously ask for
an amelioration of the laws without a much longer experience
of the result, and he could not but acknowledge that he is
yet @linguine that • great channel to interred prosperity is
now op. ned, commencing certainly amongst the large
mamma of the manufacturing population, but wending its
,course, slowly though surely, through every artery of the
boat) politic."
REDUCTION OP FARM RENTS.—At the rent audit
of Mrs. Mitchel, of Wiiatcombe, last week, ten per cent.
was returned off the rents of the Doreetshire tenantry.
The nee. H. Boucher, of Btalbridge, at his audit, return• d
ten per cent. of his rents to his tenants, and intimated his
intention of endeavouring still further to meet the times, if
it were required. The rent audit of Admiral Fano was held
at the Three Boars' Heads, Lydlinch, on Friday, when the
tenants* sat down to a very excellent dinner, provided by
Mr. and Mrs. Jeaty, sad after the repast, Mr. leston, the
steward, announced that the gallant admiral had taken off
fifteen per cent. from the rents of his tenants. We find
that T. W. Bramston, Esq., one of the representatives of
this division, has made an abatement of ten per cent, on the
rents of his estates—a course which was to be expected from
the character of a gentleman who Is ever ready to uphold
the general interests of agriculture and promote the welfare
of the tenantry. We feel much pleasure in informing our
readers that John Bullen, Brq., of Charmouth, at the
meeting of his tenants, held on Monday lest, returned to
each of his tenants (unsolicited) who paid up their last
Michaelmas half-year's rent fifteen per cent., and afterwards
gave them an excellent dinner of roast beef and plum pud-
ding, with a liberal supply of good punch.—SA•rborne
Journal. _ _

---
THE mall TIDIL —We have been fortunate
enough to escape the inundation with which we have been
threatened for DOM time put, though it will b seen that
other planes have not onioyed a like immunity. Some in-
convenience hal, however, been occasioned by the previa-
tions taken against it.—cork Reporter.