The Express.
London, England, 1868-01-23 00:00:00

THE REFORM LEAGUE.

The oriinary meeting of the council of the Reform
League was held last night at the °Moss, Adelphi•terrece
Mr. E. Reales in the chair. The Chairman announced that
as yet he had received no reply to the following communi-
Zwhich he addraaed to Sir Richard Mayne on Monday
t— " 8 IpgM'eru,„MtAijtl/2-17.
• o e OTM

MIA me comma or sio Nvosw•.•
formed that on several occasions lately officers of police
have interfered, by threatening communications to the
landlords, end in other ways, to prevent branches of the
League from holding their usual legal and constitutional
meetings rt certain licensed house*, and the council have
requested me to address you oaths subjpress ect.
their t a
the information they have thus received, they not being
aware that the meetings referred to have been of a nature
to justify their being thus interfered with ; and I have
further to ask whether this interference has taken place
by your authority or by that of government, and what are
the grounds for such interference ?—I have the honour to be,
sir, yours, EntioND Ii Lv.—Sir H. Mayne, K.C.8."
The Chairman then said be had an interesting communica-
tion to make to the council. He bad not been aware that
there was in Edinburgh a branch of the Scottish Reform
League. He well knew what an active part their Glasgow
friends bad taken in the reform cause, but he was not
aware that their Edinburgh friends had as yet taken much
active part in the agitation. The Chairman then
read a letter enclosing the following resolution
rent for the consideration and approval of the
council :—" We of the Edinburgh Branch of the
Scottish Reform League, whilst adhering to our prin.
aiples of residential manhood suffrage, protected by
the ballot, do, meantime, adopt as our plationn for con-
tinuous agitation the following :—I. Assimilation of the
parliamentary electoral franchise in the counties with
that in the burgh*—that is, registered residential
household suffrage in the burghs and counties. 2.
Protection to the voter from intimidation and
coercion, and preventiou of bribery by the ballot. 3.
Electoral districts, of equal area of population, with
one member only to each district. 4. No condition if per-
sonal payment of rates as qualification of voter. 5. In.
creased representation by additional members tom tlanthe d.
After • discussion the programme was approvby
council. The Chairman said it was extremely advueble
that they should not be silent upon that most important
conference in Manchester on education. Meer, hear.) Ho
should be glad if they came to some resolution expressing
gratification at the sentiments expressed at that conference
with regard to the adoption of • general system of
national education. (Hear, beer.) He suggested
that the natter should be specially brought forward at
nest meeting. This was agreed to. A
rtolu of the
executive committee, omising to suppo Mr. Mantle am a
candidate for the representation of Coventry, to which he
' had been invited, was approved, and the council adjourned.

TEE REPREEENTATION OF KIRECTIDCZIONTSHIEZ.
-The nomination of • candidate for the representation of
Kirkcudbrightshire, vacant by the death of Mr. Msckis,
has been appointed by Sheriff Hector to take pl Mr.
ace at
Kirkcudbright on Thursday, the 30th inst., at noon.
Maxwell, of Munches, is the only candidate, and the
proceedings of the election will, therefore, be tamely
formal.
THE NATIONAL COTTAGE HOSPITAL POE CON-
sum rrioN xxn Dim.urga or me Citm?, Veterrios, ISLE
or Wiorr.-since the lest announcement the following
additional contributions to the building fund have been
received:-Sir William Medias, ; Sir H. Percy Gor-
don, 21/. • Lady M. Gordon, 21/. ; O. Yung;, Esq., 25/. ;
Mimes Ward, 21/. •H. Ingslton. Esq., Captain B.
Kerr, 21/. ; Mrs. Prescott. 211. .• C. Mardian. Esq. 101. ;
E. Homes. &q.. 211.: Bailees Currie, Esq., 2U. ;J. Pen-
nethome, Isq., ; Viscount Somerton, ;J. Fleming,
Seq. 211. ; Mrs. Malcolm, 21/. • 'T. Piper, Req. U.,
annial ; Rev. C.
.Sy, 101. ; the 'Bishop of Worcester,
10/. ;the Hon. RA. Pelham, 211. ; Sir Laurence Peel,
101. 10s., annual, N. re. • Captain Oliver, N. la. ; Lord
Egmont, 25/. ; Captain 'Phillimore, 101. 10s. • J. B. Mar-
tin. Req.. 10/. 10s. ;W. Duckworth, Esq., 21/. ;J.
KB. Eyre, Esq., 211. ; .1. C. Sharps, Eiv 1., 1/. 11131111111
J. Holdsworth. 21!, ; Henry Huth, Esi;. second
doostion, 211. • Dr. Hawaii, 21/. • Frederick Leif. Es]
211.; Mrs. Lief, 211. ; W. 8. S'oames. Req., 21/. ;the
Marquis of Exeter, 10/. • W. G. Shedden, Esq, 2N. ;
T. Blackwell, Esq.. 10/. Ids.; Mrs. C. Bailey, N. Is.; Hon.
Mrs. Packsnhain, IL ; the editor of the Lenart, N. Ss.
Tan MIbSING CLERGYMAN. -The fate of the
Rev. Benjamin Speke, rector of Dowlish
nful Wake with West
Dowlish. still remains enshrouded in pat mystery. It
is exactly • fortnight since the rev,
gentleman u naocoanuar unt
ably disappeared. On Wednesday, the ath of Jy,
he went to London to attend the wedding of an old
friend, the Rev. Mr. Beaumont, who was to be married
next day, and, we believe, be was to give away he
bride. lie arrived at the residence of his brother-in-
law, Mr. Murdock, banker, P.oclestonmuars, Pimlico, and
told Abs servants be was going to b
beuy • new hat for the
wedding, and should require • cab to in waiting to take
him ont to drive. He west to • Imitate in Ww arwick-
sent
street, at 6 o'clock, and purchased • hat, which as
to Ecclestonsquare ; but Mr. Spoke never returned, and
up to this time not the slightest trace of him has been dis-
covered. Every day sines, in the Times and other papers
• reward of 100/. has been offered for the discovery of tit;
Mesh gentleman. Detective police, Sir -Richard
Mayas, and • couple of the most expert " senate
hive been invoked in vain. The unfortunate gentle-
man is as completely gone as U the earth had opened
sod swallowed him up. As • clergyman he was
exemplary in the discharge of every duty that could be
attached to his calling. He was in the habit of daily
going from Jordan., his father's seat, to Dowlish Wake,
where there was • small mansion, quite equal to the
wants of the incumbent of • Weiss of 6001. • year meat.
but
being • batchelor, hir did not keep up an establish
In manners he was most frank and affable-the most
unlikely man to have an enemy leadand the testimony
which we Marl yesterday from • inhabitant of
Ilroinster was be was of all men the last we could
afford to lien" We need not my that tbe grief of the
family at Jordan, is beyond expression. Death would
be filmes preferable to this agonising suspense. If
anything could soothe their great sorrow, the
universal and profound sympathy of all dames of their
neighbours might have that effect. Of three out of four
most premising sons Mr. Win Spoke has been bereft ; one
fell, fighting for his country, before the gates of Delhi ; an-
other, whose same will Um as loos as bistorylaats, through
much peril and many
_dangers penetrated to the centre of
Af rice, discovered Om Nyamalako, returned home to be wel-
comodintriumph, and to receive • magnificent testimonial,
and then fell by the accidental discharge of his own gun.
Painful ea these bereavements were, they pals before the
extraordinary and mysterious diaappserance of Mr. Ben-
jamin Spoks.-Skerhorne Joerissl.
ISIPZEDLWO CAD STRIKE AT LIVIIIIPOOL.-WE
regret far many means to hear that the ash proprietors of
the town have come to the resolution to strike in
until the
watch committee should take the initiative in putting lb*
new Ile-laws into force. That step ban, we putt
rag
been taken within the last few days bye the committee
giving notice that on &sudsy, the let February, the
first batch of cabs will be Omani inspected. This batch
would comprise a hundred vehicles were matters to go
on in the, roper course ; but on that day, we under-
staad,ths Marks will take phase. and therefore no cabs
will turn up. Should this resolve be carried into effect
It will turn out of employment sheet 1,000 men. This
mom that nearly fuer times that amilier will be almost
isamedlatalf plunged into deep disteess At Mrs best, of
timm mob &donates would be provomtivo of evil ; hot st
whim this Mori of_eabs have bees getout idle
Cr" Immity menths,ths fast i ea esdambeed end
=taloa to the diaireem at the Mira. We anted to
that the proprietors me sot tidally blind Sr tide
fest. It has born propene& that As names sod sambess
of emir eel, Mould bs taker Mt OM velpisie is order thst
the proprietets might be jsatlBl4. mine !heir Sal fee
bke'ss "beeteeteedsg-a seem "WI Mott men the
mai.' the disemitmeni, show NN ab 4 bas opt Ilimbel
tottogdpbbramand at the sams time lleviate the
We de soli hewwhat
dal praptsillei hes mseived. Os behalf ofistris=
sot owing to the peoreposi iaeseveaieeee, bet to the
meant of derivative which looms in the dishing', we
bops that mak • somlem pmt so • strike will net
bbe nermanatsd. If it is slimed to gam. we us sem
Sri Oa blame will set fell solely es one of the essissdas
=3,4lwaf gill 18, oFPaffig.ed fairly between thstoi-;'
Dap NIL