Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-02-02 00:00:00

theory, must be the present position of the county repre-
sentation, because at this moment the population of the
counties being in excess of the parliamentary boroughs
,the counties have now but 159 members. I am speaking
now of England and Wales only, and I propose to give
them 177, or 18 more; and the boroughs now have 337,
which I propose to bring down to 301. But this learned
scribe has never complained before. Why, if by giving
the counties 18 more and the boroughs 36 less—because
I take from England and give some to Scotland, and some
to Ireland—if by giving the counties more and the
boroughs less, I am committing a grievous injustice to
the counties, I should like to know what is the way to
do this gentleman justice? (Hear, hear, cheers, and
laughter.) But if the gentleman who writes, and whose
criticisms I am now criticising, could have carried his
observation a little farther, he would have seen that there
is a portion of the bordugh representation of England
which is enormously over-represented. So far as the
counties measure with the great boroughs there is no
great disparity. It is not of the slightest consequence
to us, as inhabitants of -the borough, whether- every
member represents 1,000 more or 1,000 less than in the
counties. It really matters nothing to the great boroughs ;
the difference is altogether unessential; and if there be
any difference, it is in favour of the counties. But if you
go lower ,in the boroughs—if you go to those which
return, or which it is proposed shall return, one member
or two members, then you will find that this class of
representation appears to be greatly in excess. For
whereas, if all the population were divided
by all the members, each member would have about
37,500-; but in such boroughs of only one member,
they would not average more than 11,000 or 12,000, and
such boroughs would have a very much greater share
of representation than the counties or the large boroughs.
But this is absolutely inevitable if you intend to maintain
the distinction between the boroughs and counties. But,
supposing the system of equalisation I propose, be
adopted, I believe in my conscience that if this bill were
to pass, it would then be utterly impossible for- any man,
studying the figures and studying the facts, to hold the
opinion that the county population and the landed inter-
ests are not sufficiently represented in the scheme I have
laid befere the public. It will not take more than a
moment or two to explain how that is. On looking over
the schedule of the boroughs which are to have one
member each—schedule B and schedule D —that is
all boroughs of between 8,000 and 25,000 population,
I believe there are at least fifty seats which may be set
down to be almost entirely connected with the same
influences which direct the representation of the counties,
and therefore may be fairly added to the county represen-
tation of the country. But there is another schedule—
that is of boroughs which have two members—and I
should just like to read you over the names of a few, in
order to show you exactly to what my argument-tends.
If you ask who are the representatives of counties in
almost every part of Great Britain, you will find, with the
exception of half-a-dozen counties or divisions, that they
are either great landed proprietors, or the sons or near
relatives of noblemen, or great proprietors of the county.
(Hear.) Traders are not admitted into agricultural country
representation. You may return William Brown or John
Cheetham for this county, but if you go to north and
sonth Cheshire, and various other agricultural counties,
you will find your merchants and manufacturers are not
admitted there. But how is it in your boroughs ?
Take the first list, to which I call schedule D boroughs,
which I propose shall have two members. There are 19
seats out of those which cannot be said to have chosen
manufacturing representatives of themselves, the first is
Gateshead, Mr. Hutt, who represents Gateshead, has
been largely connected with aristocratic families, and is
also a large landed proprietor in the district. If you go to
Carlisle you will find Sir James Graham, the owner of a
magnificent estate some ten miles from Carlisle, repre-
senting that city. If you go to Northampton, you will
find Mr. Vernon Smith, who is himself a man of great
wealth, and possesses, I believe, great landed property,
representing that town. If you go to the borough
of Aylesbury, you will find that it is a
small county in itself, for it has a very large
landed district united to the town. If you go to Chester
you find the son of the Marquis of Westminster, almost
always representing that city. If you go to Oxford you
will find an excellent gentlemen, Mr. Langston, himself
a gentleman, possessing large landed property, sitting
as its representative. If you go to Shoreham, in the
county of Sussex, you will find that it is as much
a county as any part of Nottinghamshire or Buckingham-
shire, because there is a large district added to the borough,
and the votes of the district are added to the representa-
tion of the borough. If you go to Ipswich, you will find
there a very excellent gentleman, Mr. Adair, a gentleman
who is I believe the largest, or one of the largest landed
proprietors of Suffolk, representing that town. If you
go to Galway, in Ireland, another town in the same
schedule, you will find Lord Dunkellin, son of the Xar-
quis of Clanricarde, representing that city. If you go to
Cheltenham, you will find Colonel Berkeley, one of the
family of the late Lord Fitzharding, representing the
town of Cheltenham through the influence which
the Berkeley family have in that part of
the country. If you go to Coventry,
yon will find a very excellent friend of mine, Mr. Ellice,
representing the town of Coventry, having a large landed
property in Scotland, a man of great wealth, and a man
connected by marriage most intimately with some of the
aristocratic families of the country. If you go to
Macclesfield, in our own neighbourhood, you will
find Mr. Egerton, who, I believe, is one
of the largest landed proprietors in the county of Cheshire.
If you go to York, you will find Mr. Smith, a very large
landed proprietor, in the neighbourhood of Wakefield.
If you go to East Retford, in Nottinghamshire, you will
find that it is a large landed district, a county in itself,
having no more to do with what we call the com-
mercial interests than any agricultural representation in
the whole kingdom. If you will go through all these,
and find that in this very schedule, that of two members
of every borough there are not less than nineteen or
twenty seats which are at this moment occupied by
persons having no connection whatever with commerce
or manufactures, but being themselves great landed
proprietors, or else allied to the great landed
proprietors of the neighbourhood, will I venture
to say, that if it were fair, which I believe it is
not, to take the population of counties and boroughs
into consideration, the consideration of these facts would
very much affect the question which is before us. I think
it is quite possible, that even after such a bill as this had
passed, the commercial classes of the country would still
be able to speak, and speak with fairness, against the
over-powerful and unbroken phalanx which the landed
interest would offer in the House of Commons. Besides,
the boroughs do not pretend to legislate for boroughs
only. The members for Manchester are the members for
Manchester at any time ever since the Reform Bill.
They never gave their votes merely with refer-
ence to the results upon cotton mills or great
warehouses. They have no game laws to fight for.
They have never protested against any fair share of
taxation being laid upon their constituents. They have '
taken simply the great principles of political economy.
They want to have these principles carried out in
legislation. They want economy ; but not economy for
Manchester—as much for Suffolk as for Manchester.
(Cheers.) I should be ashamed to go into the House
of Commons to represent any section at all, or especial
interests ; to be the organ of shipowners, or cotton
manufacturers, or Birmingham manufacturers. (Cheers.)
I would go partly or generally, and try, so far
as my intelligence and power enabled me, to con-
sider all the subjects which came before the House
with reference to the great interests of every portion or
class of the population of this great empire. There is
one other point only with regard to this scheme which I
need refer to, it is this. If you look into your popula-
tion tables you will find that the population of the great
boroughs is increasing. Perhaps three times as
rapidly as the population of the counties. I ask
you what will this place be ten years hence. The popu-
lation of this county is increased, I believe, about 700,000
since the passing of the Reform Bill act. This population
is now about two millions, by the census of 1851, and
next census after, which is just approaching that, the
population will, in all probability-, approach three
millions. Then make your calculations with regard to
boroughs and your counties. You are not to legislate as
if you were "hide bound." (Cheers.) In the great bulk
of your agricultural counties during the last five years,
there has been no increase whatsoever in the county
electors. What increase there has been has been in your
great manufacturing and mining counties, and particularly
in this district, and so it will go on, so long as coal and
iron last, so long
. as yonr capital is not absorbed
and squandered in wars. (Hear, hear, and cheers.)
So long as your intellects are clear, and your hearts honest
and earnest—so long will the eminence of this country
continue, and so long will the population of the great
manufacturing counties, with all their vast interests, be
found making a greater progress than it is possible
snake.siblefor
agricultural population, however enterprising, to
(Cheers, and greet cries of hear, hear.) Now I venture
to say that very scheme of reform is a moderate one.
(Cheers.) I do not think that any man, in favour of any
reform at all, will say a word against it. I do not think
lie can deliberately and consistently condemn the pro-
position I have laid before the public as an unjust
scheme for the people, or likely to tend in any way
to injure the institutions of this country. The House of
Lords has been alluded to. I think that the 11°
of Lords should be much obliged to me for discussing
e
. ple Then this question with the peo our position is not
particularly enviable with regard to it. (Laughter.)
But we do now and then observe them coming out
of social science meetings—in mechanic's institutes—

i i little villages here and there—and, of course,
doing not an easily appreciable amount of good—
telling the people many things, which they knew
as well before, and which any Sunday school
teacher in England could have told them as well. (Cheers
and laughter.) Coming on public platforms - descending
as it were from their high altitude -to come among the
common men. (Cheers.) But now, while a whole nation
is dis Cussing the question—when every newspaper is filled
with it, while the people, from one end of the country to
the other, are expressing their opinions more or less on
this measure—there is -not one of these 'gentlemen who
will come on the platform, and will meet the public
during the discussion of this, the greatest question which
can possibly be discussed by these thinking people.
(Cheers.) We have never had au opportunity of meeting
with any member of the House of Lords. (Laughter.)
Reference has been made to what has been done in past
times, when the power of the Crown was limited—but
was limited by Act of Parliament. We are only propos-
ing to commute the power of that Act by an Act of
Parliament. We leave them as they are—with all
their powers, with all their prestige, their laws,
their . privileges ; but we say that there is
another House as sacred—even to higher interest,
than the bare interests of an aristocracy. The
constitution has no more regard to the Crown, or the
aristocracy, than it has for the people—as the people
is the most durable part of the kingdom - privilege
is ephemeral, but the people are mortal. (Great cheering.)
What we ask then is this—we claim it by the con-
stitution—that the House of Commons shall be made
not with reference to whatever should be convenient
for the House of Lords, but that it shall be made
a really undeniably, sensibly felt representation of
the great body of the people of this kingdom.
What is wanted to that end is this, that we shall
all as much as possible understand the question. You
observe nearly all of those who have come into the field
to test it against us do not understand it at all. Great
authorities, you have seen lately, have made great
blunders with regard to it. (Cries of " Hear,
hear.") What we should all endeavour to do is,
thoroughly to understand what we want—to ask
our own minds, whether the propositions I have made are
on the whole such as we should adopt. I am not speaking,
of course, of details. There may be portions which will
have to be altered. Facts may be laid before the govern-
ment while this bill is passing through Parliament which
would justify some alterations in some particular
cases ; but we should make our minds up on this
question—whether the measure, on the whole, is a great
measure, recognising great principles, adequate to meet
great wants, and worthy of the great and the irresistible
resolution of this great people. (Cheers.) Mr. Barnes,
I think, spoke of what this county. could do. Why, of
course there is nothing that is right to be done
that this county could not do. Two or three counties
like this have gone far to make that marvellous change
'which we see in England to-day, as compared with what
England was 100 years ago. Your ruling classes, when
9 •
their Chancellor of the Exchequer stands at• the
table, are delighted to hear that your fleets
are on every sea, that your manufactures are flourishing,
that the people are employed and tranquil, and that
taxes pour in with constantly increasing volume. All
•this they are delighted to hear, and they recognise the
greatness of Lancashire and the West Riding of York-
shire. Yes, but come down here and see how much of
toil, how much of brain, how much of capital, how much
of hard work, and head work, of daily and nightly
anxiety, was required to produce these grand results.
Do not let us hear of these things only in the budget,
but let us give to that population, so great, so powerful,
so earnest, so irresistible when united, that representation
for which they ask, and which is no more than what the
ancient, the boasted, if you like, the glorious constitution
of this country declares it is right that they should have.
Mr. Bright then resumed his seat amid loud and long
continued cheering.
The Chairman addressed a few words to the meeting,
urging the necessity of their supporting, by petition and
otherwise, the objects which they had undertaken to
forward.

The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the
chairman.

DEAFNESS.—We understand that numerous cases of
deafness were cured by the celebrated aurist, Madame
Gardner, during her former visits to Liverpool ; it will,
therefore, be scarcely necessary to remind those of our
readers who may be suffering from this distressing afflic-
tion, that so favourable an opportunity as the present, of
obtaining that lady's advice and assistance, should riot be
lost sight of. Madame Gardner may be consulted at No.
100, Duke-street.

Although it is the month of February, 1859, most
people admit We are living in hard times, hence it
shonH be the study of every one to ask themselves the
question, "How can I save my money ?" We reply,
without hesitation, buy your steel pens and other sta-
tionery, at E. T. Hall's wholesale steel pen warehouse,
23, South John-street. John Gillett's, Thomas Lowe's,
G. IV. Hughes, and other maker's pens at is per gross.
Good Pen Holders 2d per dozen.

BEIIINGTON.---WC understand that a sale of fancy
work will take place in the Assembly-rooms, Rock Ferry
Hotel, on Thursday next, the 3rd instant, in aid of the
funds for the erection of a new organ, in the parish
church of Bebington. The sale commences at two
o'clock, p.m., and is to be kept up till ten o'clock.
Each adult is to pay one shilling for admission, children
sixpence each.. There will be a band in attendance, and
it is expected that it will be a very successful undertaking.
The parishioners arc indebted to Miss Naylor, of High-
field Park, for this kind effort to replace the very old and
worn out organ now in use. This lady's exertions having
the sanction and approval of the rector of the parish.

Another interesting Reform meeting has been held at
Ipswich. It was convened by Mr. King, the editor of
the Suffolk Chronicle, and the Radical candidate for the
representation of that borough. No arrangements for
speakers or chairman had been made, but Mr. King
found no lack of sympathy or co-operation. A petition
in favour of manhood suffrage and the vote by ballot
was unanimously adopted. The mention of Mr. Bright
and his bill excited great enthusiasm. At Halifax a
meeting has been held in favour of a rating suffrage and
the vote by ballot. Mr. Crossley, M.P., expressed his
approval of Mr. Bright's bill. Sir Charles Wood gave
great dissatisfaction by refusing to attend the meeting
on the ground that he was not an inhabitant of the
borough. This, too, although he is one of its repre-

sentalives !

CHARGE OF HARBOURING A RUNA*AY FROM A
REFORMATORY.—At the Berkeley petty sessions (Glou-
cestershire), last week, William Hazen, of Newport,
Gloucestershire, lime haulier, was brought up, charged
with harbourinc, a boy named Thomas Brocklehurst,
knowing him to have absconded from the Kingswood
Reformatory, near Bristol. The charge was clearly
proved, and, as the act under which the conviction could
take place was of so recent a date and not well-knoWn,
coupled with the fact that this was the first prosecution
in which the presiding Magistrates had been called upon
to adjudicate, the defendant was fined in the mitigated
penalty of lOs and costs (in all £1 4s 6d), or fourteen
days' imprisonment, with the caution that should the
Magistrates be called upon to legislate upon such a case
in the future, they were prepared to enforce the full
penalty of £5, or sixty days' imprisonment. The mon?y
not being forthcoming, the prisoner was removed in
custody.

The Stafordshire Advertiser contains reports of two
meetings, one at Stoke and the other at Burslem, the
object of which was to adopt some plan of perpetuating
the memory of Josiah Wedgwood. Some gentlemen of
Burslem, it appears, wish to erect a memorial building
in that town, to be called the " Wedgwood Institute ;"

and at Stoke the proposition made was to erect a statue
to the memory of the well-known earthenware manufac-
turer. The chairman of the meeting at Stoke was Mr,
J. Ridgway, and a lonm discussion took placep,bau.t neither
one project nor the other was decisively adote
then proposed to work the two schemes together, but the
number of votes was again equal. A cOmmittee wak;
however, appointed. The Earl of Carlisle presided over
the meeting at Burslem, and it was attended by a large
number of influential gentlemen. Resolutions in favour
of a memorial building were agreed to. It was stated
that the workinc, classes were warmly in favour of the
project. A subscription has been commenced, which
already amounts to upwards of £BOO.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.—War Office : There are vacancies
in this office for junior clerks; commeneino. salary, £lOO
per annum. Mr. John Roberts, a clerk of the first class,
first section, of the War Office, is about to retire, after
upwards of 50 years' service. Audit Office : There is a
vacancy in this office for a junior clerk ; commencing
salary, £9O per annum. Customs : An inspectorship of
gaugers is about to become vacant by the retirement on
superannuation of Mr. Richard Z. Troughton, senior
inspector. There are six vacancies in the Controller
General's department, in consequence of the recent pro-
motions, &c. The 19th clerkship at the port of Glasgow
is vacant. Mr. William Henry Hawkins has been
appointed a landing waiter in London. Mr. Edmund
Percy Barrow has ben appointed clerk and searcher at
Douglas. Mr. Robert Morrison has been promoted from
second to first class searcher at Greenock. Mr. John
Cleland has been promoted from third to second class
searcher at Greenock. Mr. William Scott Elliot has
been promoted 'from fourth to third class searcher at
Greenock. Mr. Hugh Smith Main has been pointed
from fifth to fourth class searcher at Greenock. Mr. John
Russell has been promoted from sixth to fifth class searcher
at Greenock.—avil Service Gazette.