The Sun.
London, England, 1839-11-13 00:00:00

property would have taken place, or an excuse been
given for placing in their town, at an enormous expense,
a force not calculated to preserve its peace, but pa of
a system intended to crush the liberties of the people.
—( Loud cheers.) At all events, he had no hesitation
at the present moment in publicly giving it as his opi-
nion, that, but for this change in the Magistracy, none
of those evils would have occurred.—(Cheers. ) 'As
he was most anxious, in bringing forward the name of
Capt. Moorsom, that his public conduct should stand
in a right point of view, he hoped he should be ex-
cused for alluding to the report that he was a candidate
for the office of Commissioner of the Government
Police, which had been forced upon them in Birming.
ham,—(Hear, hear.) That this part of Captain
Moorsom's conduct might be correctly understood, he
would beg leave to read an extract from a letter which he
had written in answer to inquiries which he (Mr.
Sturge) had felt it his duty to make upon the subject.
In that communication Captain Moorsom said—
" It is not correct that I was a candidate for the Com-
missionership ; but, learning that my name had been given
to Lord John Russell as a personrson who would be accept-
able to the town generally, gh without my know-
ledge or consent, I did, on being asked, intimate my readi-
ness to accept the appointment under certain conditions,
which I then stated to two individuals, to this effect—that
I should satisfy myself that Governmnt meant to carry the
Police Act into operation as a provisional measure only,
and on the constitutional footing of not interfering with
public meetings, or with the expression of political opi-
nions. That I should not be bound by any existing sys-
tem, but allowed to form the force on my own plan ; and
that I should ascertain that my plans would meet with the
co-operation of the Town Council, and the approval of the
ratepayers generally ; and I also stated that I should en-
deavour to bring over the workmen to favour the measure.
I must, however, guard myself against the supposition that
my plans would have bean conformable exactly to the
views of the Council. I should have exercised my own
discretion." .

Now fully appreciating Captain Moorson's motives, it
was but candid for him (Mr. Sturge) to state that he
differed with him in opinion about his accepting the
office on any terms, as he considered that a measure
like the Birmingham Police Bill, which was calculated
to undermine and destroy the liberties of the people,
ought to be left for execution to the servile instruments
of despotism.—(Cheers.) What he knew in this
matter, however, removed all doubt, did any exist before,
that the placing of any real friend of the people in this
office would not answer the purpose of the Government,
and Captain Moorsom, and others, who before thought
differently, were now beginning to open their eyes. He
(Mr. Sturge) had watched passing events rather closely,
and had been long convinced thatthe present Administra-
tion had made up their minds, both at home and in
the colonies, to try to rule the mass of the people, not
by moral but by physical force—not as men but as
brutes.—(Hear, and cheers.) He would mention, be-
fors he sat down, one other negative claim which Capt.
Moorsom had to the votes of the Council ; he did not
subscribe, as had been stated, to the fund for rewarding
the London police, which had been announced through
the public press.—(Loud cheering.) He confessed that
he had read this document with a mixture of indigna•
tion and astonishment. and the Council would mark
well that it was dated the 28th of October. Mr. Sturge
here read the following circular, which had been for-
warded to the Superintendents of the various divisions
of police, and read to the men at each station-house
" Metropolitan Police Office, Scotland-yard, Oct. 28.
" The Commissioners of Police have received a com-
munication that the Mayor, together with the Magistrates
and other inhabitants of the borough of Birmingham, has
collected a sum of money to be distributed amongst the
inspectors and men belonging to the first party of police
sent down to Birmingham in July. Taking into considera-
tion the valuable services at the above place of Superin-
tendent May, they (the Commissioners) have determined
upon presenting him with a gold snuff-box, and to In-
spectors Martin and Partridge a silver box each, the ba-
lance of the money collected, amounting to 951. odd, to
be distributed equally amongst the remainder of the men
forming the first party above alluded to.
The Commissioners have great satisfaction in receiv-
ing this testimony of good feeling from the inhabitants,
for whose protection the party was sent to Birnaingbam, as
also the favourable opinion of the Mayor and Magistrates,
under whose immediate observation the police were acting
on so trying an occasion. The money to be distributed as
follows :
" The three police sergeants, 21. Is. each; and to fifty
six constables, IL 12s. each.