The Express.
London, England, 1850-01-17 00:00:00

RIOTOUS PROTECTION MEETING AT

BASINGSTOKE.

A public) meeting was held at the Town-hall.
P•eloptoka, on Wednesday afternoon, the notices conven-
ing it invited the laadownen and farmers, tradesmen,
and other persons favourable to the principle of just pros
Patios to every British interest against foreign competition
is the markets of this osuntry, as resolutions would be pro.
posed with • view to obtain relief from the present filillGU•
depression produced by the operation of free trade measures."
The meeting was exert for S o'clock, and by that hour tne
hall was densely filled by those more or len interested in the
matter propond for discussion. Among the gentlemen
were Melville Portal, E•q ~ M.P. for North Hants;
present
L. Relater, 8 ;W. Clarke, Esq. ; Captain Portal,
W. Portal, Esq. ; Mr. Hanlon, Mr. Stratton, Mr. Taiy-
uan, and a large number of tenant farmers.
In the morning there was a very strong feeling against the
anempt to obtain • reisepositlon of protective duties on
eon ; sod placards headed " Free trade and cheep bread,"
were plentifully exhibited. In the market, cries of " Down
with the rents," " Lower the tithes," and " Free trade fog
ever!" were frequently vociferated. This and numer-
ous other demonstrations gave rise to a fear among
the protectionist party of • general " row " at the
meeting, and application was made to the chief magi-
strati of the borough for the an 'odorant of the police.
Several men of the labouring class paraded the town with a
loaf of considerable weight and dimensions, decorated with
ribbons, and on it the .inscription, " Three loaves for a
*billing."
Whoa the meeting had assembled in the town hall,
Mr. trritiaTEN, a tenant-farmer, and secretary to the
Buinitatoke Protection Society took the chair.
Mr. St:LATER, • large landed proprietor, moved the
first resolution. After making use of the usual protection
arguments, Mr. &Aster concluded by moving a strong protec-
tionist resolution,

Mr. BRCKINGHAM seconded the motion, and it was
carried by a lugs majority, four hands only being held up
against it.
Mr STRATTRN, an extensive tenant-farmer, next rime to
address the meeting, and proceeded tolerably quirt until he
denounced in violent terms the free trade policy, and called
Bir Robert Peel a traitor, and the milted of Mews. Cob
den and Bright a species of humbug for self-interest ; and
then a knot of free-traders in the lower part of the hell set up
a groaning and hissing, which led to a general tumult of
nearly half•an-hour.
Mr. PORTAL, M.P., for North Hants, tried to restore si-
lence. hut it we, ineffectual.

A TENANT FARMER, addressing the Chairman—ls
this a free trade or promotion meeting ?
The CHAIRMAN replied—" A protection meeting.•'
A FARMER—Give the word of consmsnd, and we'll tarn
'em out.

There being no probability of cry gentleman obtaining a
hearing, the protectionists then combined together to eject
the free-traders, when the eenfusion and noise became in.
describable, the party setting up a cry of " Free trade for
ever!" "Down with the rents and tithes." It wee leered
that something serious would occur, the scene brine
d la Stafford, excepting that the mob did not
have recounts to pelting the speakers. After •
number of attempts, in which blows were exchanged, the free
traders were ejected, but it was not until the assistance of
the police had b.en resorted to. The mob then set up yell
tug, and ;Aiming outside, and several windows were
afterwards broken, by some missile being sent through
them. The protectionists proceeded with their basica...,
and, after speeches from Mr. Stratum, Mr. Twynam, and
Mr. Portal, 14. P., in which the usual arguments were em•
ployed against free trade, the meeting broke up at 6 o'clock.
Ihe meeting determined upon mentorialiaing her Majesty
for a dissolution of parliament.
The noise in the streets did not antral, until some time
afterwards,

A PROTECTIONIST MEETING was held at the
Crown Hotel, Sevenoaks, yell. rday, under the presidency
of Earl Stanhope, who, daving read a letter from the Right
Hon. J. C. Harries, expressleg his regret that he was unable
to attend, and his " conviction of the urgent importance of
the subject for the consideration of which the meeting wa.
summoned," proceeded to bewail the " effects of free trade,"
as shown in " the decay and stagnation of trade " and
" general discontent" to lo! found in England, Ireland, and
the colonies, on which, and the doctrines advocated by Mr.
Cobden, he " Bared a revolution " would be consequent.
The noble earl then went on to analyse and condemn Sir
Robert Peel's letter to hie tenants, asking whether the hon.
baronet turns aware that if frotecien be restored the public
•lebt would no longer he paid—that the interest on m. rtgsges
could no longer be p.id—that a g I reduction of all pay.
menu, public and private, commensurate with the fall in price

of provisioss, must be the coast quence ? And does he think
that it is easier to accomplish such a measure, and is main-
tain a law which only came into operation at the beginning
of this year, than to revert to the former system, under which
this eountry has flourished for so many suet... Wye g ions?"
Having asserted the utter inefficiency of any reduction of
rents, the noble speaker went on to condemn the malt and
hop taxes, and announced his conviction, that "if eve had
vote by ballot in the House of Lord., we shouli carry our
views by a large majority. As to the House ot Commons, I
ask you what man in the kingdom uncocnected with
party has any confidence in that how e?" His lordship
" would, in conclusion, say to these who have seen the storm
arise, who have sat patiently at home watching the progress
of public events, yet taking no share in the matter, deplor-
ing the course of events but not even protesting against
them, taking no lead, as it is their duty to do, in this great
popular movement, which ought to be carried on throughout
the whole length and breadth of the laud, and which ought
to express itself in a voice of thunder reaching to the walls
of Burkieghant-palace and to the doors of parliament—to
those persons, whomsoever they may be, I would say,
e Awake, arise, or be for ever fallen." Resolutions of the
customary stamp having been carried (one was th it the
Qu' en be petiti reed to dissolve path ment), a vote of thanks
w v passed to the noble chairman, and three beery cheers
siven for the Queen, for Lord Stanhope, and for protection,
after which the meeting separated.
A PROTECTIONIST MEETING was held at Welsh-
pool. Mon•gont ryabire, on Monday, when resolutions of the
usual character were adopted.
GRAY'S INN, JAN. 16.—Saint George Kerr, Esq.,
and Ueerge Francis, Esq., veers this day called to the degree
of barrister at law by the Htn. Society of Grey'. Inc.—The
Rev. Dr. Dewy was *levied preacher to the Hon. Sochi, in
ti • room 01 the late Rev. Dr. Shepherd, deceased.
WINDING-CP OP JOINT-STOCK COMPANIE9.—ruE
ROYAL INDIA AND AUNTHALIA MAIL STEAM-YACtiST
CONYANT.—Yesterday the soineling.up of this company's
affairs came on before the Master in Chancery Blunt, at his
court in Southampton-buildings, Chancery-lane, on the
petition of Mr. J. Yates, of Cornhiil, and Mr. A. Ford, master
mariner, holders of 100 shares each, and two ot the directors.
The petition represented that the company was started is
1847, for trading with ream-ships, and for the conveyance
of the mails, transport of troupe, passengers, specie, and
goods, by the establishment of a regular communication be-
tween Great Britain, the East Indies, Australia, New
Zealand, and other intermediate ports. It was incorporated
by royal charter, with a capital ot 100,0001. in .5,000 shares of
201. each, with po ter to augment. It was to he lawful for
the directors, sob loss of at least 76 per cent.
on the capital for the time being subscribed had
been incurred, to call a meeting to dissolve, but this
could not be done, as it was found impossible to convene a
sufficient number of shareholders who had paid the calls to
constitute a legal meetng. The directors made calls, but
the shareholders refused to pay them. Business was serried
on until April, 1849, when the affairs became grestly ember.
raised. From the report of Mr. Coleman, the official ma-
nager, presented yesterday, it appears that 12,653 shares
were applied for and allotted, ot which only 3,720 shares
were paid upon, amounting to 3,2111. The debts new due
amount to 4,8271 ; sieve in hand, 4971 ; expenses from
commencement, 7,5401. The list of contributors liable to a
call bee been settled in respect of all those shareholders who
signed the deed, and of those who paid the preliminary de-
posit, bat who did not sign the deed. About 242 shares
were taken in Madras., and 81in C-y lon, and these have to
be considered The total number of shares not included in
the list of contributories is 3,925. This arise. from their
being considered bad, those to whom they were allotted being
dead, insolvent, or abroad.
THE CITY DISFENSARY.—Yesterday afternoon the
half-yearly meeting of the governors of this charity, was
held at the dispensary, Queen.street, Cheapside. Mr.
Roberta in the chair. The medical report showed the num-
ber of patients under treatment on January 1, 1849, to hate
been 935, and that there had been admitted during the
ensuing 12 months 8.731. There were discharged cured
and relieved 8,673, 3.5 had died, 25 had been dienniitA for
irregular conduct, and 13 remainet under treatment on the
31st of December. Several hundre, cases of the late epidemic
were attended to without letters of recommendation, also
many accidents and diseases requiring immedi .te aid. The
receipts for the past year amounted to 6241., and the expen-
diture to 5801. In answer to a question the secretory stated
that the charity was still 2201. in arrest., and that the sum in
hand was hut 1161. The report was then adopted.
THE YOUNG MEN OF LONDON.—The first yearly
report of the Metropolitan Committee for establishing
Evening Classes fot Young Men in London and the
Suburbs has just been issued. It states that these
classes have been open during three t rims ; and thst
the experiment, notwithstanding the difficulties which it
has ked to encounter, has been so far sue iess'ul as to
justify the conviction that if it is aided as it ought to be, by
those who have the means to do so, it will lead to the perma-
nent establishment of a system in the highest degree pro-
motive of the intellectual and spiritual welfare of those for
whose bent fit it is specially designed. It is a fact which
ought to be made known, that the elms mashers are for the '
owfhto"h e cue demand entirely"da extensiongra'u e;
that other aid must be obtained ; and hence the urgency of
si'myuseNalm",:'llalnecdlneerth:FiceineUpation of a wider field, it is obvious
the claim for a corresponding addition to this funds. We
feel that the great thing which is required is that the society
should be made known to the public. Let this be done,
and we feel satisfied that its benevolent originator and
honorary secretary, the Itev. C. Mackenzie, will reap an
ample reward for all the exerticns and saerilius he has
magi.

INTRAMURAL INTERMENTS IN CORR.—We learned
Last evening that a letter had been r. ceived from Dr. Corti-
pa, to the effect that a warrant had been inc. d for the
mewl= of Maher interments in the portion of Upper
Roandon churchyard adjuiumg the North h &miry, repre-
sentation having been maths to thn of 11,1sIth in
Dublin, that the solitary condition of the innsao s of the
Whiney rendered such a step imperative. It has been
farther stated to as that a like course will be adopted with
regard to other burial-grounds within the prec:ncus of the
elty.—Cork Reporter.