The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-20 00:00:00

NATIONAL PARLIAMENTARY REFORM

ASSOCIATION.

A special meeting of liberal members of the House o
Commons and. other gentlemen was held on Saturday,
at the rooms of the association. The chair was taken
by the president, Sir Joshua Walmsley, M.P., and the
meeting was attended (amongst others) by the following
gentlemen, viz. :—Mr. William Biggs, M.P., Mr. James
Bell, M.P., Mr. S. Carter, M.P., Mr. Fox, M.P., Lord
Dudley Stuart, M.P., Mr. E. Warner, M.P., Mr.
Whalley, M.P., Col. Thompson, Mr. John Williams
(treasurer), Mr. Serjeant Wilkins, Mr. Torrens M'Cul-
la.gh, Captain Reede, Mr. Acton S. Ayrton, Mr. Moss,
of Derby, Mr. Wade, of Deptford, Mr. Henry Vincent,
Messrs. Nevans, Slack, Phillips, Matson, Gregory, Fos-
ter, Salisbury, Manning, Le Bland, Healey, T. J. Serle,
Haly, Newman, William Cooper, &c. Letters were
read from the following gentlemen, expressing regret
that unavoidable engagements prevented their attend-
ance, viz. :—Mr. Hume, M.P., the Lord Mayor, M.P.,
Mr. Atherton, M.P., Mr. Crook, M.P., Mr.
rossley,
M.P., Mr. Geach, M.P., Sir George Goodman, M.P.,
Mr. G. Hadfield, M.P., Mr. Kershaw, M.P., Mr. Peto,
M.P., Mr. G. 'Thompson' M.P. (Aberdeen), Mr. Digby
Seymour, M.P., Admiral Sir C. Ekins, K.C.8., Rear-
Admiral Sir Charles Napier, K.C.8., Mr. Nicholay,
The president having explained at length the object of
the executive committee in convening the assembly,
several gentlemen addressed the meeting, when the fol-
lowing resolution was passed unanimously, viz. was
moved by Wm. Biggs, Esq., M.P., seconded by T. J.
Serle, Esq., " That this meeting pledges itself to pro-
mote the union of the liberal party in and out of Parlia-
ment, firmly but moderately to carry out the objects of
this association as fit occasions may arise, in order that
the earnest friends of the people may give efficient aid
to such political leaders as may really serve the cause of
rational progress, and make their own strength available
for the advancement of their principles and of the gene-
ral welfare." Many valuable suggestions were made
for the future progress of the association, and a liberal
subscription having been entered into, the meeting ter-
minated with a vote of thanks to the chairman.

SHIPWRECK, WITH Loss OF LlFE.—Portland, Friday,
Dec. 17.—This morning, shortly before one o'clock, a
French barque, laden with arms, ammunition, clothing,
spirits, wines, &c., struck upon the Portland beach, and
in less then twenty minutes, the whole vessel was
broken into fragments by the force of the waves. The
wind had been blowing for the previous fourteen hours a
perfect hurricane from the S.S.W., and the coast-guard
at the Langton station having discovered the signals of
distress, were on the spot when she struck, and were
instrumental in saving eight persons out of the fifteen who
composed her crew. The parties saved are the captain,
the mate, the supercargo, cook, and four of the seamen.
From these we learn that the barque was bound to the
African coast, for the purpose of trading with the na-
tives. Up to four o'clock this afternoon, none of the
bodies had been recovered. A few cases of goods have
been washed ashore, but beyond this not a vestige of the
unfortunate vessel is to be seen.