The Sun.
London, England, 1830-12-07 00:00:00

LEITH.

Yesterday, a public meeting of those inhabitants o;
Leith; friendly to an extension of the elective franchise in
he counties of Scotland, called by requisition, addressed
to the senior Magistrate, was held in the Exchange Build-
,ngs there.
Ilailie WIVIART hiving lie,n called to the chair, real
the requisition, which in addition to the object above
itated, contemplated takini such steps ns might secure to
the town of Leith a suitable representation of its interest,
in Parliament.

Mr. J. B. Scarr, the late Chief Magistrate, in movim,
the resolutions, observed that it was not necessary to say
a word in support of them, for rvery one must he sensible.
of the necessity of Reform in Parliament. Mr. Scott the:.
read the resolutions.
Bailie SCEA LEs.seconded the resolutions.

Captain CARNEGIE approved warmly of the object of
the resolutions, and of their tenor, except that part o
them which mixed up their old squabbles with the Town
Council of Edinburgh with the general question of Reform.
To that portion of them he, could not agree ; and if the
mover would not consent to expunge the objectionable part,
he would feel bound to move an amendment.
Mr. CRICHTON bad nut the least doubt but his friend
Captain Carnegie's observations had been made in the best
possible spirit; but some of the requisitionists happened
to know a little of the views of Ministers on this question,
and that their great object, in the contemplated Reform,
was not merely to overturn die close system and corrup-
tions, but to give a voice in the Legislature to the shipping
and manufacturing interests, the case must therefore be
viewed in a different light from that taken by Captain'Car-
negie. It was requisite that a case should be made out to
show, that the .port of Leith had interests separate from
Edinburgh, and that it would not do to mix those of the
former with the latter. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) It
was evident, that the cause of Reform must be benefitted
by a reference to the abuses which had arisen out of
the present system. He would just mention one. In all
the struggles the people of Leith bad been engaged in,
though they generally had triumphed, they never were able
to get six tnembers, out of the whole forty-five, who would
raise their voices in behalf of the trading and shipping in-
terest of this putt. He said this without the slightest per-
sonal reference to the representative of the Corporation of
Edinburgh, but as an instance of the general effects pro-
' duced by the burgh system.
Captain CARNEGIE said, his objections had not been
touched by Mr. Crichton, and he must still object to the
latter part of the second resolution.
Mr. J. A. Ciatesau., C. S., regretted the words ob-
jected to by Mr. Carnegie had been used. He was against
dividing the meeting—for then it would he said one party
supported the town of Edinburgh, and the other Leith.
Mr. J. Itlrrcortm, would concur in any measure of Re-
form which had the support of Lords Grey and Brougham;
hut it did not follow that he must attack the Town Coup-
ell of Edinburgh. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. J. B. Score could not see how the resolution could
be altered. It was as follows :--.

" That this town and port, containing a large population and
extensive commerce, has long felt the want of any direct in.
fluency in the representation of Its interests—(Captain Carnegie
Stop there—l only object to what follows.")--and that in
the various contests which this town has had to sustain with the
close Corporation of the neighbouring city, although finally sue.
cessful in resisting the most prominent encroachments, yet this
has only been ettbeted by incurring enormous expense, and
chiefly by the patriotic exertions of Members of Parliament who
are nut immediately connected with Scotland."
Captain CARNEotic said it was not from any friendship
to Edinburgh that he opposed the resolutions. Ti' obtain
Reform, it was not required unnecessarily to abuse our
neighbours.
Mr. ALEX4NDER STltvettsoN, Solicitor, was of opinion
that they must state the particular grievance under which
they laboured,
Mr. JOHN Rain, in a low tone of voice, urged the ex-
punging of the word " close" from the resolution.
' Dr. Comas was glad that the difference in the meet-
ing was only as to the single point of allusion to the Town
Giuncil of Edinburgh.
Captain CARNIEGIE then moved an amendment to ex-
punge the objectionable part of the resolution ; Mr. Mit-
chell seconded it.

Mr. CRICHTON said the object of their petitioning was
to obtain for Leith, which was a rising community, a
voice in the representation of the people ; and the full ex-
pression of that object womb] not be attained if the resolu-
tion objected to was withdrawn—the first and third re•
solutions would be nonsense without the second.

Capt. CARNEGIE remained of the same opinion, that
any, expression against Edinburgh in the resolutions was
not calculated to forward the object of Reform generally.
' show of hands was then demanded, when only sir
Were held up in support of Mr. Carnegie's amendment.