The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-23 00:00:00

The Franchise.

Last evening the "unenfranchised masses" were invited
to a meeting in the Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen-street,
to claim the franchise for all not morally or intellectually
disqualified. Mr P. Peeler!, oeenpied the chair, and
he was supported by Mr Nicholay, Mr Washington TiTilke,
Mr George Jacob Holyoake, Mr Odgers, and others well
known in connection with political and trade agitation,
Letters were read from Liberal members of Parliament who
had been solicited to attend, hut who, from various causes,
had not accepted the invitation. Among these letters war;
one from Mr John Bright, who said "I think you are quite
right to move for manhood suffrage, for that is what you
must approve, and it would be absorb for working amen to
propose a schema which tebetld eetchtde three o'tt of foer of
them 'front tae franchise. I think the people everywhere
should ask for what they want, but at the same time 1 would
recommend that they who ask for much should not regard
as enemies and opponents those who ask for less. By a com-
bined and friendly movement we ehall, get eotnething, and
that _•:,D aDted la never lost again, but becomes an additional
power to obtain more. I think the time is near when we shall
see another step in the path of reform. The present Govern-
ment lives only on the name of its chief Minister. It it can
survive his time of office, it can only be by adopting liberal
principles and by keeping tee them ahl attleg en theta; We
are eeery a;..- leering the time when the House of Commons
must undergo another change, and that change will be
largely in the direction of what is popular. In this I see a
botter day for our country and for the great people' hitherto
excluded from political In the neatest which is ap-
proaching, I hope I need not say you may calculate on my
hearty exertions in your favour," These views were loudly
cheered, as were those given by Mr Potter, M,P., Mr W.
Cox, M.P., and other gentlemen. The chairmatein the coarse
of a lengthy speech, expressed his hearty sympathy with
the came) of the ttnenfranthised, and said that in his belief
the goVertitticht of the country would be carried on better
than it is if the working classes had a greater amount of
power. Mr Leno, a working man, in the course of a tempe-
rate speech, proposed the following motion !—' That this
meeting is of opinion that the existing limitation of the
right to vote in the election of members of the House of
Commons is most unjust to the people of this great country,
and a gross etiolation of the true principle of representation,
by depriving of the franchise millions who contribute to the
real strength and wealth of the nation, and who, as liable
to the duties and obligations of citizens, have as well founded
a right to the franchise as those to whom it is now caprici-
ously restricted,' Mr Nicholay seconded the motion, and
said this was the time for this agitation, as Parliament was
about to die a natural death ; and he urged the working men
to mark well the names of those who had voted against Mr.
Baines's motion on the franchise and against the ballot;
The present Government, he reminded his hearers, had
come into power pledged to reform—a pledge, he said, which
had been forgctten. His motto was—' No taxation without
representation.' He urged that if the working men could
as volunteers be intrusted with arms, they could be trusted
with the vote ; and, in eenchision, he expressed his willing-
ness to take his seat in the ' Senate-house' for the sake of
the working men. Mr W. T. Malleson supported the mo-
tion, and said the fact of Mr Coningsby, of Penge, writing
to the Times declaring that he did not want the franchise,
was the exception which proved the rule that the working
men desired it. The resolution Was then ()ended unani-
mously. Mr G. Howell, another working man, proposed
the second resolution, which was as follows That in
the opinion of this meeting, the time has arrived when the
unenfranchised masses of the people of this country should
be admitted to a share in the right of election of members
of the House of Commons, by that right being extended
to all resident and registered male persons of sound
mind and unconvicted of crime.' The mover quoted
Blackstone' to show that, in the opinion of that great legal
authority, every man was entitled to the vote, an opinion,
the speaker said, which was also held by Jeremy Bentham.
lie added that the working men, though they had not agi-
tated in lawless assemblies for the vote, had not the lees
thought of the injustice which kept them from their right.
He said he had read ' Plato,' as well as Mr Coningsby, but
had learnt a different lesson from that learnt by the person
named, for ho had been taught to take his stand as a man
for the right to which be was entitled. Capt. D. Rogers
seconded the resolution, which was supported by Mr Wash-
ington Wilke, who in the course of a long speech argued
that to debar the working man from the franchise was to
lower him in his own eyes, and degrade him in the presence
of his fellow•citizens. The resolution was then carried
unanimously. The concluding resolutions laid down steps
for organising committees to confer with members of Parlia-
ment on the opinions expressed in the first two resolutions.
A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings.

WESTON'S RETREAT.

-471---

An adjourned sessions was held at the Vestry Clerk's
Office, No. 1, Gordon. square, Euston-square, yesterday
morning, fur the purpose of considering an application
which had been made by Mr Weston for a wine licence,
under Mr Gladstone's Act, for the Retreat at Kentish-
to% n. The applicant alleged that his house came within
the meaning of the act as a place for the sale of confectionery
and articles of food.

Mr Sitigh and Mr Starley appeared for ➢lr 'Weston ; and
Mr Gordon for several gentlemen, who opposed.
The Chairman said the application was adjourned for the
purpose of Mr Gordon producing evidence that the Retreat
was a place frequented by prostitutes and other disorderly
persons.

Mr Sleigh observed that the summons alleged that it was
not a confectionery shop, cr a place for the sale of food, and
that it was a disorderly house and frequented by prosti-
tutes. It was also contended that it was a house which was
already adjudicated disqualified. He apprehended the last
charge was disposed of at the former meeting, and that the
only business with which they had now to deal was whether
it was a place frequented by prostitutes.
Mr Gordon made an offs that if Mr Weston would
close the Retreat on a Sunday, the opposition would be
withdrawn.

Mr Sleigh did not think they could accept it.
Mr Gordon said that on the last occasion he asked the
Bench to keep the words " adjudicated disqualified" in the
summons.

The Chairman They are. The Bench wished Mr
Gordon to call evidence respecting the character of the
house.

Mr Edward Weston was the first 'witness called, and
proved that he resided at the Retreat, although he was
absent at the Music Hall, Holborn, every evening from
half• past 6 o'clock until 12. His brother wag the proprietor
and owner of the Retreat, and sold food, victu Os, and con-
fecti finery. People could go in and purchase food without
paying anything for admission. Would swear that the per-
sons frequenting the house ware respectable and orderly in
their conduct. Had never seen any prostitutes there, nor
had the police ever male any complaint respecting the
conduct of the persons who attended. He had expended
£20,000 upon the place. Did not give persons at the Music
Hall tickets to go to the Retreat on a Sunday, nor had he
ever given a general invitation to that effect.

James Hillock, who described himself as an " Evan-
gelist," deposed that he had been to Weston's Retreat, He
went there on a Friday night, the weather being dull,
There were 13 or 14 females rambling about, and they wero
using language such as no virtuous woman would over
think of employing. Thera were also young lads there, of
much the same character as the women, One of the waiters
was as bad as the women. Witness also went on a Sunday,
and saw a great number there. He saw women seated in
some of the boxes grossly misconducting themselves.
By Mr Sleigh—He was an Evangelist, being employed
by the London Congregational Association, which was
similar to the City Mission. Was employed to preach and
visit, and it was because he had visited these places that ho
knew of their dangers and victims. Before he became
" Evangelist" he was a missionary and teacher. When he
discc,vered that the conduct of these women was so Indecent,
he did not go to the proprietor and complain, because it
would have been dangerous. (A. laugh.) Did not go to
the police-station and complain of it, because that would
have been dangerous. (Laughter and oh.)
By the Bench—Believed the women whom he sow were
prostitutes.

Mr James Hodges proved that on ono occasion last
September he Baw several intoxicated women at the Re-
treat.

Benjamin Ingle said that last August or September he
saw two prostitutes there, but did not see any disorder or
indecency, and he waa there four or five hours.
Samuel Davy, an ex.policeman, saw some prostitutes at
the Retreat about twelve months ago, but their conduct
was very good ; in fact, had never seen a place conducted
better.

Mr Copestake and Mr Ingall gave evidence to the effect
that the people who assembled at the Retreat caused a good
deal of noise by talking, laughing, &c., which was a nuisance
to them.
Mr Sleigh submitted that the charge respecting prosti.
tutes frequenting the house had failed, and the Bench said
that they should not call upon him for any rebutting evi-
dence.

The magistrates then retired, and upon returning into
court,
The Chairman said that they had come to the decision
that the house for which the license was required was not a
confectionary or eating-house within the meaning of the
act, and that it was adjudicated diequalifi3d for the sale of
wines therein.

A. large number of persons who crowded the court imme-
diately shouted out "Shame, shame," "Prejudice," "A
robbery," &e. This excitement was caused by it being
thought that, as the bench had hoard evidence respecting
the character of the house, they did not intend to refuse the
licence on the ground given; and that, as they did intend
to refuse the licence on this point, respecting which they
had all the evidence last time, it was somewhat strange that
they should have heard evidence respecting the character,
Which they now decided was not bad.
Mr Sleigh asked for a more specific statement of the
grounds of the decision, but the bench declined to give it,

SEBASTOPOL,—The Journal de St. Pelersbourg
states that the harbour of Sebastopol is being cleared of the
hulls of the ships sunk at the entrance of the port at the
beginning of the Crimean war. The same journal adds that
in three years the railroad from Moscow to lioursk will be
extended to Sebastopol.