The Sun.
London, England, 1837-07-10 00:00:00

CITY OF LONDON ELECTION.

A meetis:ii took place this day at the London Tsveit;
Bls'sepagate-street, for the. propose of sitS•iliii;t• tl,ie tiesi ineans
of securing the re-tls!Ctiell of the present Liberal Members for
the City tst. London—Messrs. Wood, Pattison, Grote, and
Cfawford. At half past one the Committee entered the
room, and were received with loud cheers. On the motion
of Mr. HEPPrib,
Jolts TRAVEn4I
Tilt CtiANNlAN—Gentlemen,
N., was called to the Chair.
you have been good enough
to place me in a situation of some difficulty, but I do
that upon this eeeas!ctl,
not shrink from the responsibility, because I I,
depend . • s ' . -now
as upon all others, I may
1 Ott ro, the preservation of good order, and for
3cur countenance and support. I look to you For
that support with confidence, more especially as you must be
well aware that upon the character of our proceedings within
will depond our character without doors at the present time,—
(Cheers.) Gentlemen, I may as well tell you something of
the iorigin of this meeting. There are those, as you know,
in the city of London, largely interested in its concerns,
and extensively interested in its welfare, who are nevertheless
not neglectful of the popular interests—who look to these in-
terests with particular regard_who are identified with them 1
on most occasions, and among whom I shall be always happy
to include myself; and we thought it of great importance on this
occasion, looking at our present position on the eve of a most
important election, that you should be called together to
express your sentiments thereupon, and that it should be ascer-
tained how far, and to what extent you are interested in that
cause of reform -to which hitherto you had expressed so ardent
an attachment—that you should declare on this occasion whe-
ther you are the same friends as you ever have been to the
equal rights of your fellow-men, of whatever creed, of what-
ever colour, whatever country, or whatever condition—whe-
ther also-you are determined to carry out those reforms which
you consider equally essential to our political, as they are to
our social safety, and the improvement of our political
institutions.—(Hear, and cheering.) Not being disposed
(for I am aware you are not so disposed) to destroy or over-
turn anything but simply to purify and amend ; and whether
in support of these principles you would at this time send your
four Members to Parliament, who are all men of liberal cast
and tendency—(Cheers)—who shall all of them, and without
exception, carry out those principles and practices as fast and
so far as times and circumstances will permit—Gentlemen, it
was des;rable to ascertain your sentiments on the subject,
(Hear, hear)—but let me say to you that I think you should
not—that you cannot hesitate as between two opinions, you
must either have Reformers or no Reformers—you must have
melt who are thoroughly and deeply embued with the spirit
of Reform, who are really the representatives of the liberal
interests of this city; but on the other hand you must not
be' too overweening in your expectations of any man or
any set of men whatever.—(Cries of Hear, hear.) You
have never been able yet to find out—you never have heard of
two watches which went exactly alike. How then can you
find one man to represent all your opinions—your mixed
opinions ?—and how is it likely that you could find four men of
that stamp ; therefore, Gentlemen, don't expect too much of
any man. Take the broad, intelligent, liberal cast of character,
exacting too much from no man, but leaving a little to his
discretion. Do not be too hard upon them—expect them to
do their duty, in the general acceptation of the word, and re-
pose some confidence in them.—( Hear, hear.) The simple
question to be put to yourselves is, whether your pre
sent Members—for to them I look with the greatest
confidence myself—whether they have in times which are now
passing away, done their duty faithfully and honourably, and
with the best intentions towards you. I tell you, Gentlemen,
that my individual opinions are, that no constituency was ever
blest with men who so faithfully and entirely devoted them- 1
selves to the interests of their constituents—for they represent
your interests and that of the country.--( Loud cheers.) No
men have laboured so closely or with so much talent on your
behalf, for I know their public characters intimately.—( Some
interruption here took place at the remote part of the room.)
If there be any gentleman in the room who does not approve
of the objects of the meeting, we shall be happy to hear
him in reply. Gentlemen, I say that your present representa-
tives are worthy of your renewed choice.—(Loud cheers.)
If you think they have served you faithfully and honourably,
and that you have one spark of gratitude, you will re-elect
them, as a matter of course—they have zeal, talent, and assi-
duity, and have laboured with infinite success in adapting their
conduct to the expectations, the humour, and the interests of
their large constituency. It is for you to decide upon that
point—it is for you to take the times at their present important
turn, and give them that support which will. be likely to pro-
duce good fruits to yourselves.—( Hear, hear.) Take the
broad, intelligent, and tangible lines of the subject under
discussion, and I have no doubt of your decision—recollect
the enemy are at your gates prepared to take advantage of
any weakness that may be discovered in your camp. They
are endeavouring to introduce even one Member, and that is
indicative of their; intention to shovo in their whole body
upon you when the opportunity offers.—( Hear, hear.)
You should recollect that the introduction of one Member
neutralises one of your present representatives, and tlien you
will be only represented to the extent of one-half. They in-
tend to undermine that unanimity which they have found to
be your strength upon past occasions, by saying that
the minority ought to be represented as well as the majority.
Look at their conduct for the last fifty years, but the people of
this great country had to be grateful that such proceedings
were happily at an end. We have at present a liberal and en-
lightened Sovereign.—(Cheers). There was no mistaking
the uprightness of her intentions, for she has already com-
menced purging the Court of the rank enemies of Reform.
There were many proofs of her purity of intention and jute-
restedness for the welfare and happiness of her subjects. Then
let the people be loyal in return—(Trernendous cheering)—
and let them prove by their conduct, in sending up-
right and conscientious men to represent them, that they
are grateful, and anxious to testify their sense of gratitude.—
( Loud cheers.) Certain resolutions would be drawn up,
expressive of all that was intended, and nothing would be
found in them of an intemperate character. I have not a sha-
dow of doubt that you will send four Liberal Members to Par-
liament.—( Cheers.) After the first resolutions arc submitted
then the present Members will take occasion to address you
on the past, present, and the future. The first resolution
would be moved by the son of a gentleman, whose name is fa-
miliar to every man who entertains sentiments of a liberal
kind--I beg leave to introduce to you Mr. Edward Buxton, as
the mover of that resolution.
Mr. BUXTON in coming forward was loudly cheered. He
felt that he was inadequate to the task for the honour con-
ferred upon him, which he attributed partly to the kindness
of the worthy Chairman, and partly to the name which he
had the honour to bear. The resolution he had to propose
was respecting the confidence which the citizens of London
reposed in their present representatives, and he felt certain
that there was a small minority of the City of London who
would dissent from the spirit of that resolution. He ti ought
by re-electing their present representatives, they would best
promote the great interests of Reform, and he thought that no
Administration would so seriously affect the trade and interest
of the country as a grinding Tory Administration, which he
hoped no one present would ever witness, holding the reins o
power again.

Mr. DILLON then read the first resolution.
That this meeting viewing the continuance in office of a Liberal
Administration as the surest pledge of future good Government,
bail with satisfaction the declaration made by her Majqsty to the
Privy Council on the 20th ult., being satisfied that the happiness of
the country will he best promoted by that progressive improvement
in our laws and institutions, of whirls the foundation has been laid
by the Reform Act of 1832.

Mr. DILI.ON said that he stepped forward with the greatest
satisfaction to second the resolution. He felt confidence in.
the prospects before them, in consequence of her Majesty's
answer to the address of the City of London, in which she
declared that she placed the firmest reliance in the wisdom,
and had the highest confidence in the prudence and firmness
of the people. Would they declare that such confidence bad
been misplaced ?—( Loud cries of " No, no.") Iler Majesty
also reminded them that she succeeded to a Sovereign, whose
great object had been to improve the laws, and to ame-
lim-ate the institutions of the country ; whose' name was
held in the highest esteem, and in whose footsteps
it would be her study and glory to tread. And did not they
also respect his late Majesty ? And why ? Because he was
William the Reformer.—( Applause.) Her Majesty declared
that she would tread in his Majesty's footsteps, and she would,
therefore, promote the amendment of the lairs and the ame-
lioration of the Institutions of the country. 80, the. Re-
formers revolutionists, or whatever they might be termed,
her Majesty was a Refoemer—(Cheere)—and volentarlly
pledged to pursue like measures. But who, that was wise
and good, was not a Reformer? And what was it to be
a Reformer? To seek to remove that which was bad, and to
perfect that which was good.—( Cheers.) They did not seek,
like the Conservatives, to preserve what was evil, selfish, and
exclusive. Iler Majesty declared her respect for the institu-
tions of her native land ; had they less respect for those insti-
tutions? Quite the contrary—and, like her Majesty, they only
sought the amelioration of them in order the better to secure
their preservation. Her Majesty likewise had declared
her determination to support the Protestant institutions of
the country, adding—and be the words ever remembered—
to secure the " full enjoyment of religious liberty to all."—
, (Loud cheers,) What had they now to do ? To return Mem-
bers for the City of London. On the occasion of the Reform,
they proposed and carried four Members, thereby showing the
feeling of the City of London on the question of Reform It
was proposed that they should pursue the like course now.__
(Cheers.) He hoped they would all feel the conviction of the
necessity of such a course as strongly now, as they did on the
occasion of the Reform Hear, hear.) He begged
them not to be diverted from their course. Allow none to ap-
proach under false colours, or specious name and pretext. Who
were their enemies? The Tories—(Hear, hear)—and they
were against the Tories.--( Hear, hear.) He would not de-
scribe the Tories. He would resort to one of their own active
andretirementand
) He hoped the like means would induce John
orsley Palmer Esq , to retire in time, and previously to
being compelled to do•so.--( Hear, and a laugh.) He re-
spectedbut
ile spoke
ep
himic and
ocommercial
individualc ha r a ent eorr ofas Ma rc. a
nPal;ddmaetre
but as the nominee of the " absurd" and " contemptible"
Tories.—(Cheers.) That gentleman was urged forward as
the instrument of the contemptible, absurd, and stupid To-
ries. The committee for the Conservative interests, aft( r all
their efforts and boasting had come to the resolution of select-
ing only one candidate, Mr. H. Palmer ; 'but in him they
declared that they felt warmly interestefl in his success. He
spoke not in derogation of Mr. Lyall, jun. He did right in
defending his father against the stupid, 'contemptible, and ab.
turd 'Tories ; but the like reason: which induced Mr. Lyon to