The Express.
London, England, 1850-01-21 00:00:00

TURBULENT MEBTLNG AT READING.

The county of Berks was convened on Saturday by
the High Sheriff, in pursuance of a protectionist requisition,
"to consider what measures should be taken to meet the
distress of the trading, commercial, and agricultural classes,
in the Amiss Hall, Reading." Oa the platform were the
lianmis of Downshire, Earl of Radnor, Viscount Barring•
t-a, M.P., Mr. Palmer, M.P., Mr. Pussy, M.P. Mr. Stan-
ford, M.P., Mr. Mount, Mr. D. O. ifilth, Mr. Duffield,' and
a large array of other county gentlemen.
The Hion SHRIMP having been celled on to preside, Mr.
MOUNT moved, and Mr. JOB LOUSLEY seconded, tee
first resolution, to the effect that the agricultural, colonial,
and trading interests of this eGuatry were suffaing from the
adoption of free trade, and that remedial meamres were
imperatively necessary The free traders in the hall were
tolerably cony during the speeches of these gentlemen, and
the protectionists were quite as elamenuens. As Mr. Lots-
ley's sentiments were expressed in an indistinct voice, and
as they were not very palatable to the rreelnders, it rosy
be imagined that not much of h:s address was heart
At last _ _

Lord RADNOR rose and said, I am here to advocate
your cause. If you will not listen to the gentlemen who
advocate different opinions to mine, how can you expect
throe gentlemen to listen to me when I speak on the other
side of the question. I entreat you to let every gentleman
have a fair and impartial hearing.
Renewed uproar, after which
Mr. LOUSLEY resumed. The attendance of that greet
concourse in this inclement season showed the interest that
wee taken. The increase of the income tax was derived from
himself and others who were paying It out of their capital.
(Renewed uproar.)
Lord DOWNSIIIRE came forward. He said as the
High Sheriff hadtailed to obtain a hearing, and his friend
Lord Radnor had tailed, he should feel flattered filth could
succeed when he begged them to give him a lair hearing.
But if everything was to be put down by clamour, as it
was at the County Down meeting, where the protectionists
were beaten, he would advise them not to be beaten there.
(Immense cheering.) He was the last man to appeal to
physical force, but If there was any mere of this row, he
would head eight or tea farmers and turn these rioters
ow. (Loud cheep.)
Mr. WEEDON roes to call the setae lord to order,
but the High Sheriff declared Mr. Weedon had done
much to disturb the meeting by his accusation against
him (the Sheriff) of partiality ; and finally, the prone
tionists, who were the most numerous party, resorted to
physical force, and ejected the free traders, wham they
kicked with more or lam energy into the street. The free
traders revenged themselves by attacking the stray farmers
about at the time, beating the police, and smashing the hall
windows, so that the mayor was obliged to swear In a num-
ber of special constables to preserve the pesos of the town.
When the • leas lad pined ask own way they re-
solved to vs no fair play to their epposants, and It became
evident that the free trade Mynas, bad no chance of a
hearing. On the resolution bowines semsded,
The Earl of RADNOR rose, and, amidst antsiderable in-
terruption, spoke nearly as follows—l glumly regret that
so much uproar and confusion have up to this time marked
oar proceedings. I must thuefore say that if you will favour
me with a ring hearing for a few minutes I shall feel the
greatest obligation to you. (Hear, hear.) My object in
coming here is not to set one clues/ain't another, nor is it to
enter into any defence of Sir Robert Peel or
Mr. Cobden, who will, I have no doubt, be
perfectly able to defend themselves on the proper ocaaion.
But my desire is to real the meeting to the nal object and
purpose for which it has been convened. Neither the requi-
sition nor the resolution expresses, in my opinion, the real
object or purport of this meeting; for every gentleman who
bears me mast admit that the real object is to exhibit ade
monstradon in favour of protective duties upon corn.
(Cheers.) I understand that that is what this meeting is
called for and it is to resist that object that I now address
you. (Interruption— ales of " Turn him out," and
" Shame.") I woe an advocate for the repeal of the torn ,
laws when they existed. They have been repealed. I re-
joice
at It ; and I should regret exceedingly to see any attempt
made to reestablish them ; sad It is to convince you, Patin-
mem, why you ought not to be protected that I now offer
myself to you. (Hear, hear, hisses, irons, and "Who
gave you your fad?") I read fa the newspaper
yesterday a speech, made fry Ws. Maga, at a
minting at Lewes, in ►whisk IMP &demand the gem
view es Mr. Linsley, and said that we bad now.bad the ex-
wince of three years of free trade, and we saw the result.
Now I deny the fact we have had three years albeit trade.

JANUARY 21, 1850.

We have at had than peig di
tlMtipmel et ski
ass lama Ths sad1867, 11148 aM eie
whisk Mr. UM 11r. Leafy
aka 13 se 13 woes of them three Mem itaeaelhe
slidiag meals. 1847 thil 1•111 were repealed. M
greater meantla thaa they are now—artandy to a eidatst s-
toat this they were Is 1849 ; bemuse not only Ina thin se
day whatever heed en the empeetatioa of ass Ws the
somata, bee the whole of ea provides' of the naegasima
laws with roma to sera was alto repealed. Prom the Ski
January, 1847, tM the Ist Mari, 1848, then was then as
satire repeal of the sees laws. What was the result
Why seem ram item SIB sr die. a quest, to 211.
a lead. (Hass, eel elms t f " Why dna% yea
tell the Oak," "The hake peer," &A) ns there vies
a revival elate eliding mesh, sad diens the whale of the re.
Mb*/ year, Ma the le Mask 1848, till the le AL,
1849, eke sliding male was is eshmems. sad the amegallap
was Is. Tv Gs. a quarter. Mee, ea Me Ist dee
eau laws en misled ; sal has hat Was to I F
to yea that the piles alias his bees espy kw, tho
u
g
hts
Ii
M boo
set Ass se low as has bias Bat sew, whet it
is )dl Sal Sir R. Peel slidTla. eight to be the lowest
Ries, It h steepled is Mersa arganhat hem that, le
Ni tell yea what has nay lees the avenge pie of whist
Mr the three years wide have hest erroneously slated le
be "the three years of he. taro." In 1847, the pees
was es. 9d. ; is 1848, 411 s. 9d. • and the average of tins
three years was 64a 9d. (The noble was hue assailed with
hisies—coarse epithets were hurled at him from all quarters;
sad the ales of "Turn him eat " beams so general, mad
am eked is es mange a tea the at one time we
fund the silver lain sad assay virtues of his lordship
WWI lisray ems liks fist the indignity. Peen tt
Iswesehis Is pressed farther, this noble earl handed up
the tallawfiag masdessat to the chair).
TAM absadesse, sae easeqesut cheapness, of ears, Is
lied rt gesalse lasperal bismags that a nation.= enjoy,
Obi OM le lobs say seeps by leghedvs or other mans to
dhishli the sepply or Maass the cost of it is to intercept
pinks mak for his ereatures by a greases Providence,
and meat to the people."
Kelm COMM seconded, and Mr. Wasaaw, late mayor,
14=athe amendment, but their °beryllium were made
irow.
NS STANFORD, the sew borough saber, next pre.
Mae himself, NM was loudly °hatred. Heald that he was
lb
=es eihr in favour of protean, because he
hat less that Est proteetioaist apneas essieed of Italia,
IM dams sad abuse. After brieflyiladlag w Mr. Cob-
den. whoa he demeribed as as ignorant sea mamma of a
sertain facility of epee*, bat who had sew distinguished
himself it either oil the univenitise. sad *nit " therefore"
be unlit to cope with politico, be went on to de-
imelhe the present ccosequenese of be. trade as
as ruin of the agricultural speedily followed by the
maaufactoring interests, and the remote eon ass as a
seal revolution of the most bloody character. (This speech
;me general satisfaction to the agricultural minds, aid was
badly npplanded throughout.)
Mr. WEEDON again attempted to address the meeting
Ma the other side, but with little better success than before,
ant one word iu ten reaching the reporters.
Mr. R. PALMER, M.P. then cane forward, and was
well received by the agriculturist.. He avowed himself as
Ira a protectionist as he had ever been.
[At this period considerable eon seriatim was occasioned
la the meeting by a volley of stones coning crashing through
Ike windows. • message was also delivered to the Mayor,
sad he immediately left the hall ascompanied by two or
three policemen. A cry of " help the police " was then
bend from the stairs, and it was soon ascertained that the
nlechesica and others who had been ejected or refused ed-
ibles's had now mustered in great number, and were
the harriers guarded by the police. The farmers
to the assistance of the police, and succeeded in hold-
the siege; but the equanimity of the meeting was
agj aria perfectly restored.] •
Viscount BARRINGTON, Y.P., next addreamed the
meeting from the body of the hall. He said—l address you
from this place because I have not been able to reach the
platf,ras. From the same cause I have been unable to hear
the arguments on either aide of the question ; but I made
up my mind upon it some time ago, and I will only just
say—

The HIGH SHERIFF interposed and said he feared Lis
lordship was ont of order in speaking from that put of
the 1011.

Viscount BARRINGTON continued—l have only just to
say that, with regard to this free trade affair, I take it to be
an 'kinetics, a humbug, and 'delusion. (Immense applause.)
The resolution was then put and carried.
Mr. VANSITTART than proposed the address to the
crown.
Tice Marquis of DOWNSIIIRE seconded the address,
which was agreed to, and the meeting almost immediately
afterwards broke up.
On entering the street from the hall the agriculturists
were met with tremendous yel:s and hootinge from the
townspeople who had usembred outside, and retaliation was
wreaked upon many of the fermate for the indignities previ•
cutely put upon the freetra4en. Wherever two cr three
farmers were seen alone they were pelted and hooted at in
all directions, and we regret to say that the mayor of the
town was severely maltreated by the mob. Altogether, such
e day has never before been aeon m Reading within the re-
collection of the oldest inhabitant.