The Sun.
London, England, 1838-01-22 00:00:00

PUBLIC MEETING.-(THIS DAY.)

THE BALLOT.
A Public Meeting of the Inhabitants of the Borough of
Marylebone, convened by the Vestry, was held this day
at the Workhouse, New Road, for the purpose of ex-
pressing their opinion on the subject of the Ballot, and of
petitioning Parliament in favour of that measure. The
meeting was originally to be held in the Workhouse-yard, but
in consequence of the severity of the weather it was deter-
mined to hold it in the school-room of this building. When the
chair was taken there were not a great many persons present,
but, in the course of the proceedings. it became very crowded.
On the platform we observed Mr. Hume, M. P., Col. Evans,
M. P., Col. Thompson, Gilbert Ainslie Young, Esq., Mr.
Hall, M. P., Sir S. Whalley, M P., and other eminent re-
formers, inhabitants of the borough.
On the motion of Mr. HOME, seconded by Mr. HOVENDEN,
Dr. HARRISON was unanimously called to the chair, at twenty
minutes past one o'clock.
The CHAIRMAN said, that the honour of being called to the
Chair was quite unexpected, as it had been intended that a
Noble Lord who, however, was not now present, should pre-
side over the meeting. He requested that they would hear
every person, whether opposed to the object of the meeting
or not.
Mr. HOVENDEN rose to move the first resolution. Hs said
the inhabitants of the borough were once more assembled
humbly but firmly to call upon the Legislature to give full
effect to the Reform Bill, and to make those amendments
in that measure which were necessary to give practical effi-
cacy to its enactments. It was mere chicanery to pro-
fess to confer the franchise upon a large portion of the
people if it were not intended that they should vote freely.
He could not suppose that the Legislature meant to say to
the electors as to children, that they might nominally possess
the franchise, but they must use it only so as to please their
feudal superiors.—( Hear.) If that was the object it would
have been better to have allowed the old system
of nomination boroughs, because under that system no coer-
cion was necessary. The great man gave orders to his steward
and bailiffs to go through certain forms, and to return his no-
minee to Parliament. He (Mr. H.) was aware of the disadvan-
tages of secret voting, and if every man in the country had a vote
it would be proper that the people should know in what way
he used it, but so long as the franchise was limited, and hebe-
lieved that in the present state of society, it was necessary that it
should be limited,whilst it was so limited the Ballot was necessary
to protoct those who possessed the franchise from the tyranny of
their landlords and the intimidytion of their customers. For
this reason he balanced the advantages of secret votine with
the disadvantages, and he remained, as he always had been,
the advocate of the Ballot.—( Cheers.) It was said to be un-
manly to vote in secret ; but was that more unmanly
than to be whipped to the poll by a tyrannical land-
lord or an arrogant customer ? (Hear, hear, hear.)
As to the idle talk of " unmanliness" such a pretence was
scarcely worthy of reply.—( Hear.) A great man in the north
( Sir J. Graham) had said that whoever advocated the Ballot
there were 13 men in this country—and three potential names
—which must ever be opposed to it.—( Hear.) But
notwithstanding the untoward declaration of the Noble
Leader of the Cabinet in the House of Commons, which I
deeply regret—(" No," we believe, from Mr. Hume)—that
Noble Lord had been taunted in a way which few men could
resist, with a coarseness of language which he (Mr. Hovenden)
deprecated still more than the declaration in question; still he
was sorry that the Noble Lord had been induced by that lan-
guage to make such a declaration.—( Hear, hear.) Notwith-
standing, however, the assertion of the " Cock-o'-the-North"
--(Laughter)—when it was recollected the Earl of Durham, a
name synonimous with honour—(Cheers)—when it was re-
membered that the resolution; supporting the Ballot, House-
hold Suffrage, and Triennial Parliaments, had been appro-
priately called the " Durham test of true Reformers"—
( Loud cheering)—and that this nobleman, who had
been a member of the late Cabinet of Earl Grey—
had been just entrusted with a mission of the greatest respon-
sibility and importance, this was a proof that the present
Cabinet did not consider that to maintain these three
great measures was not necessarily to be in opposition
to their Government, and therefore it might be hoped that
they were not determinately opposed to the measures.
(Cheers.) Even if they were, let it be remembered that
twenty-five millions of Britons were opposed to them, and by
peaceable, yet earnest perseverance, those individuals would
be forced to come to a better way of thinking.—( Cheers. )
It was not necessary for him (Mr. Hovenden) to detain the
meeting by repeating the arguments he had so often urged in
favour of the Ballot. —( Hear, bear.)
Mr. HOVENDEN then read the resolution, which was to the
following effect :
" That this meeting is of opinion, from the great and im-
portant benefits which have resulted from the practical use of
the Ballot in the parochial elections of this extensive
parish, that it is the only mode by which the in-
dependent exercise of the elective franchise can be
effectually secured to the voter, and therefore ought to
be extended to the Parliamentary elections of the United
Kingdom."—( Cheers. )
Mr. HOME then came forward, and was received
with loud cheers. The Honourable Gentleman said
that, as a fellow parishioner, he was extremely
Pleased to find them moving towards that great and important
object, which was so necessary to the welfare and happiness of
the people, and which, if they only persevered in, they must
obtain. That was, that every man who possessed the elective
franchise should be able to exercise it without fear or alarm,
as to his personal interests suffering by it. They met now
under very different circumstances indeed from those of last
year, when he ( Mr. H.) and others believed his Majesty's
Ministers to be restrained from proceeding with the reforms
which they contemplated by the head of the' State.—( Hear. )
Ile thought they might now look upon Ministers in a very dif_
ferent light. His Hon. Friend had expressed his regret that
Lord John Russell should have made the declaration which lie
did against the Ballot. Now he ( Mr. H.) did not participate
in that feeling. It was not becoming, in his opinion,
for a man occupying the high position whiali his Lordship did,
it was not becoming a man of honour and honesty, he would
not be entitled to the confidence of the country, if he spoke
hee thing, while he thought another.—( Hear.) He (Mr. H.)
d been himself a most anxious and ardent supporter
of a Whig Administration.—(Hear, hear.) He had supported
them because, in comparing their principles with those of their
predecessors, the Tories, he found that while, on the one ,
and, the progress of Reform was impeded and checked,
the Whigs professed, at least, to extend the liberties of
the people.—( Hear, hear, and cheers.) He was also
sensible—no man could be more so that very
great advantages indeed had been obtained from the Whig
..I,Wrninistration since they came into office, and having given
!nem the Reform Bill in name and in letter, they were bound
In honour to carry it out in effect.—( Cries of " Hear,
o c 'ate e) To be sure they had in the last and the
Preceding session been opposed by circumstances
at which they could not control, but he (Mr. Hume) believed
the time that they were sound at bottom,
!•rld would endeavour to carry the principle of that measure
,wilt'!O effect as soon as those difficulties had been removed.
th regard, however, to the declaration of Lord John Russell,
fg the Noble Lord every credit for his manly declaration,
T?!. such he esteemed it, but lie thought that Mr. Wakley and
hera had been most unjustly complained of for drawing that
declaration from him. Was there any ground for complaint
Againstt those Gentlemen because they asked the Ministers
4,),rear ny out the principles of the Reform Bill ?_( Hear, hear.)
There was nothing else asked ; it was true it might be asked
more courteous language, but the question was, whether
emmeat language was intelligible or not. Could any one doubt
at it was?—(Cheers.) The request was put what do you
an to do? Do you mean to give protection to those who
have the suffrage ? Dou you mean to extend the suffrage and do
,to 012 Mean to give us shorter Parliaments—( Cheers)—in order
Make the representatives of the people more responsible to
their constituents.—( Cheers. ) These were the questions that
were put, and he applauded Lord John Russell for no longer
Olssembling what his real intentions were.—( Cheers.) They
,4d the declaration of the Noble Lord, who he believed spoke
the opinion of his colleagues, for none of them at any public
rrleeting had denied it.—( Cheers. ) It must therefore be
taken to be the declaration of the Cabinet, that as far as they
were concerned they were determined not only not to
,`ve, but to oppose the Ballot.—( Hear, and cheers.) They
ther° determined to oppose Household Suffrage and the
tip ortening of Parliament.—(Cheers.) So far from regret-
ciog that Lord John Russell had made the declaration, he had
re:e' he applauded it because it showed the country the senti-
N..os of her Majesty's Ministers upon those subjects. He
tlov cated the Ballot on the principle, that the worthy
astvr had done, and he held it to be a mockery in the high-
tens egree, to give the suffrage to an increased number of per-
it ito allow a state of circumstances to exist, which rendered
10,4 :Possible for those to whom they had given the suffrage to
si honestly or without compulsion.—( Cheers.) He had no
bei' from the declaration of Lord( John Russell, that he
sga-•"ed the Ballot was not popular, because he had stated
tseilo4. and again his desire to meet the wishes of the
(4.rltY of the people—( Cheers)—and from what he said, he
of 'Lllurne) believed his opinion was, that the great majority
tieatue People did not wish it.—(Loud cheers, and
has of "He is wrong.") If that was his opinion that
Ala,: reason why meetings like the present should take
that thin every parish, in order to show that Noble Lord
hie th e opinion he entertained was wrong.—(Loud cheers.)
,ad berefore joined most cordially in the proposition which
10t? wen Made. Was there anything un-English in the Bal-
t)ss ( Hear, hear.) It wes more un-English to compel and
,k4a4 those who might be dependent—it was more un-
-I,Ntek' to exercise power to oblige individuals to violate the
emma ins of those in humble situations. Though at this
„ t v„,t, the public might appear indifferent to the value of se-
ea setae
e hoped that on further consideration of what was
rjtse,tc'a, and the necessity of having a control over the re-
"ttiVeS of. the people and of the Government, the mea.
1 th,°,lllti work its way in the mind of every reasoning nian,
to ens, the people would feel the necessity of raising their
,11,11,11,41 order that Government, being acquainted with their
itat'.ll°°s, might re-consider their present resolves,. and
aitlse
solo to their own principles and. their country.
IsiNtiO4 not look to the declaration of the Admi-
O'li ti, without regretting the desertion of those principles
a,lstk trade the people anxious to support them. He could
tamis' back to the favourable measures conferred upon us of
ktt electione. —( Cry of o the Poor Laws.") This was
t411.4.10t1114'e to enter into that question.-7(" That is
.ameng
lcoN peen Russell's other good qualities.") If a meeting was
t4,llt,tstid the subject of tho Poor Laws he should be ready
They were now met to consider the subject. of
of 'igie ati,,`' as he was no friend to the Ballot or Extension
'Qs "o,"rasse. who wished to thwart or stop the proceedings
meeting by introducing extraneous matter. On the

subject of the Poor-laws, he should not be backward to state
his reasons for supporting that measure and defending his
conduct, and ho hoped they would be able to prove that many
of the fears and alarms which had existed respecting that most
important measure were entirely groundless.—(Hear, hear.)
He could not help expressing his deep regret that the
Government did not think fit to follow out their own mea•
sure—the Reform Bill, which had given them so much
respect in the eyes of the country. At the same time
he was not insensible, and never would be insensible
of the great extension of popular rights which they had for
the last seven years obtained from them as Ministers. All he
hoped was that they would see the advantages they had already
derived from the Reform Bill. and that they would carry out
the measures they had promised, the measures the people
wanted, and the measures which he held to be essentially ne-
cessary to a good Government. The Hon. Gentleman con-
cluded by seconding the resolution.
Mr. HOVENDEN explained. He had not regretted that Lord
John Russell did not conceal his opinion, but he regretted that
he should entertain these opinions.
Col. ENANS then presented himself and was greeted with
hisses, cheers, and cries of " off." He said he should be under
necessity of retiring for a short time from the meeting, and
therefore he would take the liberty of saying a few words in
support of the resolutions. —(Hisses.) He was not aware
there was any man in that room who had a right to refuse him
a hearing, if he pretended to be a friend of freedom.
If any man from mistaken motives attempted to call in ques-
tion, by hissing or other means, his sincere and constant de-
votion to the principles he had always professed, then he was
called upon to assert his own character.—( Cheers.) Instead
of being resentful to those individuals, he only lamented they
had been misled, or that they had misconceived his intentions
and actions.--( Hear.) He was not afraid to appear before
any body of men of whatever description, particularly of those
principles he had always advocated, and always would support.
The presumption was, that the persons who did so had some
ground to hiss him, which he would beg most emphatically to
deny. He would ask, what man was there in that room who
had gone more out of his way, who had made greater sacri-
fices, or exposed himself to more risks in the cause of liberty
than himself ?—( Cheers.) He differed occasionally from his
Hon. Friend, the Member for Kilkenny, upon political mat-
ters, but that Hon. Gent. himself was sometimes obliged
to appeal against the dissentient voices of those who
differed from him. —( Hear, hear.) He presumed the
present expression of feeling arose from a letter of his regard-
ing the Canada question.—(Cheers and hisses.) But they
would recollect that that question had been only just brought
before the country ; and he should be ready, when it came to
be fully discussed, to support his opinions there as well as
elsewhere.—(Loud and continued cheers.) The subject at
present before them was that of the Ballot, and nothing wa s
more important than that the people should obtain a mode
of voting fearlessly and independently. There was a
difficulty in urging what was a self-evident principle, and
nothing- was more obvious or self-evident than the neces-
stiy of obtaining Vote by Ballot.—(Cheers.) The re-
sult of the late elections bore him out fully in that opinion ;
and neither Tory, Whig, nor Radical could bring forward
more cogent arguments in its behalf than that result. He
feared that the Liberal party had not been quite so scru-
pulous on that occasion as fum principle required, but
the Tories had far transcended them in that respect, and
had never more conspicuously displayed their complete
indifference to political opinion and public rights.—(Cheers.)
With respect to the questions of the extension of the suffrage,
and the shortening of the duration of Parliaments, he for one
regretted that Ministers had expressed themselves unfavour-
ably to these questions; but they would find that when the
great majority of the people were favourable to them, the
Ministers would rather grant them than give up their seats
in the Cabinet.—(Cries of "No thanks to them !")
Some of the Ministers, he believed, were in favour of the
Ballot, and while there was any doubt of the opinion of any
one of the Cabinet, he thought that it was more im-
portant that the public feeling should be shown, so
that they might be forced into the granting of that
which would be a most healing measure. He was very
sorry to see so thin a meeting on such important questions.
Probably that might arise from the weather, or more
probably because of the suddenness of the calling
of the meeting—he himself had not been invited more
than two days since--otherwise he had no doubt there
would have been a very full attendance. His Honourable
Friend the Member for Kilkenny had stated that Minis-
ters, ought to declare they had done so and so, and he
was proud of it, but the Hon. Member was a little inconsis-
tent, because during the late reign therefore he had stated
that he supported the Ministry because the Sovereign was
thought to be an enemy to Reform—that was ad-
mitting expediency, and if once admitted it must
be carried out to its full extent. Therefore he thought that it
was inexpedient at the present moment to press the Ministry
to a decision upon the question. He would rather that the
public voice was unequivocally unexpressed, in order that they
might then be forced, by a sort of gentle compulsion, to
comply with the wishes of the people.—(Hear, hear. )
There was scarcely a person connected with the Liberal party
who was not surprised at the result of the last election. He,
for one, deeply deplored that result. It astonished him, and
disheartened him as to the prospects of the Liberal cause. He
was never more surprised at anything than at the number of
Conservatives who had been returned to the present Par-
liament.
The CHAIRNIAN here rose to order. He said that the meet-
ing had been called together for the purpose of considering
three objects, and he hoped that every gentleman would con-
fine his observations to these, namely—the vote by ballot, house-
hold suffrage, and triennial Parliaments.
Colonel EVANS apologised for having digressed—he had
always been the advocate of the three objects of the meeting,
and especially of the Ballot.—( Cheers.) The Honourable
and Gallant Gentleman concluded amid loud cries of " Go
on, go on."
Mr. HOME begged to explain. His Hon. and gallant
friend had misunderstood him. He (Mr. Hume) had said
that he approved of Lord John Russell's declaration, as it
gave the country an opportunity of expressing its opinion in
such a manner as would induce Ministers to alter their in-
tentions upon that subject ; besides he wished every man
honestly to speak out Isis opinions ; and it would have been
hypocrisy on the part of Lord J. Russell, if he had allowed
the people to suppose that he held opinions contrary to those
which he real!), did hold. He (Mr. H.) hoped that gentle-
men would confine themselves to the three questions before the
meeting, which was the most likely course to attain their
object._( Hear. )
The CHAIRMAN said, the Members for the borough were
present, and were desirous of an early opportunity of address-
ing the meeting, as they had important duties to attend to in
Parliament.—( Cheers.)
Mr. Head, then came forward, and was loudly cheered for
some moments, with conflicting cries of " Whalley" and
" Hall. ' He assured the meeting that it was a matter of
indifference both to his colleague and himself which of them
should be first heard.__( Cheers.) If he (Mr. H.) believed
there was any difference in the hearts of those present, he
would by no means put himself forward first.—( Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN having observed an individual who had
more than once interrupted the proceedings of the meeting,
told him that if he continued his annoyance, he would order
him to be removed.—( Cheers.)
Mr. HALL, then, adverting to the three measures in
support of which the present meeting was called,
said he believed that the effect of the measures if carried would
be to give to the people a more efficient representation ; and
he was persuaded that the more the feelings of the people were
truly represented, the more they were thus mode a compo-
nent part of the Constitution, the firmer would be the
basis upon which that Constitution would rest, supported as it
would be by the great mass of the population.—(Cheers.)
The three propositions of the Ballot, the Extension of the
Suffrage, and the Shortening of the Duration of Par-
liaments were so intimately connected with each other
that they might be considered parts of the same system.—
( Hear, hear.) The duration of Parliament was advocated,
because thereby the electoral body would have a more fre-
quent confront over their representatives.—( Loud cheers.)
The Suffrage ought to be extended—to widen and
render firmer and more secure the basis of political
representation—(Cheers)—and " last, not least," was the
paramount necessity of the Ballot—(Cheers)—not merely to
protect the electors in the exercise of that extended franchise
which they hoped to obtain ; but that oven under its present
limitations they might be able to give their votes according to
dthe dictates of their own judgment without corruption or intimi-
ation. They associated these, as he understood from the resolu
tion, those three great propositions. He was glad of it. He was
rejoiced that they had come forward thus manfully to avow
theirintentions and determination to carry them into effect.
He, as their representative, had no hesitation in declaring
that lie agreed in the sentiments declared by those resolutions,
and however ill qualified he might be to be the organ of these
hopinions, he had no hesitation in saying that he would take
is stand with them—(Loud cheers)—let the opposi-
tion to them come from what quarter it might, whe-
ther from their old enemies the Torii s or from those
who held the reigns of Government, and who, ought to be the
most strenuous supporters of the principle, and their leaders
in the struggle to obtain the recogeit'on of it.—( Hear, hear,
and cheers.) At every meeting which he
(Mr. H.) had at-
tended in that parish, he had always been frank and
explicit in the avowal of his opinions—(hear)—and
he would
ever be so. If, therefore, he was to say that one of those
three great measures was more necessary than the others to
carry out the purity of elections, and the free exercise of the
elective franchise, he hoped he would not be understood
as saying anything to take from or lessen the importance
of the others. He thought, however, that the Ballot
was more important in its nature, and being nearest of attain-
ment, they ought to make a strong push for ft.-4 Hear, hear.)
Rapid strides had taken place in public opinion upon this sub-
ject. A few years ago there were scarcely more than twenty
advocates for it, and he WaS now numbered amongst 200
Alembe..s of the House of Commons, who were ardent supporters
of it.—( Cheers.) Since the year 1823, the period to which
he alluded, there had been no less than five dissolutions of
Parliament, and as many contested elections, marked
by all the asperity, persecution, and corruption,
which had called so loudly for this remedy.
His Hon. Friend the Member for Kilkenny well knew that a
Bill had been brought into Parliament, and subsequently
abandoned, that Committees had been appointed, and come to a
conclusion without offering any distinct proposition to tiee House.
All had been abandoned, the shifting and shuffling cf the many
had beea given up, for wherever they turned, the is ord Ballot
stared them in the face, it was like the hand-writing upon the
wall—(Cheers.)—demanding, that the electing of the repre-
sentatives of the people should be placed upon a pro-
per footing.—(Cheers.) He advocated the question of
the Ballot the more especially, because he believed
it was nearest their grasp, and if they could hold
if they would wield it for the protection of the voter.--

(Cheers.) He would now point out what were the leading
irgurnents made by the Tories and Whigs against the pro-
eosition of the Ballot ; the argument of the Tories was inge-
leous and subtle, carrying with it a sea of corroborative proof
that some evil was at hand. The Tories dealt in subterfuge, they
fare not say to the people " You shall have no further Reform,"
they rested their hopes upon deluding the people.—( Ci,ecrs. )
They sent forth clap-traps for the mechanic and agrieulterist,
end the only difference was, that the agriculturists fail into
the trap, while the wary mechanic avoided the trap. They cried
nit that the Church was in danger.—(Cheers.) It was well
known that the Spiritual Church was stronger than ever.—
( Cheers.) He wished to make it manifest that there was a
difference between the Peers and the People.—( Hear,
hear, and cheers.) He said that the Peer was responsible
to God but the 101. householder: to his neighbour.—
(Cheers.) He could never sanction such a proposition as
that. The argument of responsibility amounted to this, that
whilst they desired that the voters should be responsible
to his conscience, the Tories desired that he should
be responsible to his landlord.--( Cheers.) They de-
.;ired that the voter should be free, while the Tories
wished them to be under domination.—(Loud cheering.)
But the latter part of the argument carried with it a plaus:bi-
lity upon which lie would touch briefly. It was said if you
give the Ballot to the existing constituency, you debar
yourselves from this power of the extension of the suffrage,
Was there anything so uncharitable as such a statement ? He
defied them to point out any data on which to form such an
aspersion on their fellow-countrymen. If we could believe that
the granting the Ballot would debar the extension of the suffrage
he would be the last man to support the proposition. If the
Ballot was granted to-day and the Extension of the Suff: age
should be deferred awhile ; he believed those who had the
Ballot would be the first to come forward and demand an
extension of the Suffrage to their fellow-countrymen with
the protection they enjoyed.—(Hear, hear, hear.) Having,
touched on the leading articles of Toryism. he would now,
look to the assertion of the Whigs. He did not condemn
Lord John Russell for the explanation which lie had given of
his sentiments. He entirely concurred in the remarks of the
Hon. Member for Kilkenny, and was sure that any one who
watched the conduct of the Noble Lord must have marked
the deliberate manner in which he always gave his opinion.--'
( Hear, hear, hear.) So far from having a don'et as
to the conduct of Government, he (Mr. Hall) was convinced
that the Noble Lord had only stated the sentiments of the ma-
jority of the Cabinet and the intentions of the Cabinet, for
this sole reason, that the people might see they had to depend
on themselves. So far from condemning the Noble Lord for
his declaration, he honoured him as a man, but condemned his
conduct as a politician. Did the Noble Lord suppose his decla-
ration met with a responsive feeling ? The moment the
words went forth from St. Stephens Chapel, the signal was
given for Reformers to meet through the country, and pass
resolutions condemnatory of that declaration. The noble lord
said, if they demanded he was prepared to resist—he had gone
so far and would go no further. The answer of the people
was, that they had placed the noble lord and his colleagues in
power to pass tile Reform Bill, which was only a means to an
end. The suffrage was given and they wanted its extension. The
Noble Lord said the Reform Bill was a final measure, and that
a compact had been entered to that effect. With whom was
that compact entered into ? Was it with the Parliament or
the people ? If with the Parliament, he, (Mr. Hell) as a
member, was no party to it, and he declared that whilst the
people desired nothing less than the Reform Bill, they
did not rt all debar themselves from the power of de-
manding more when a fitting opportunity arrived.--( Hear.)
With regard to the argument of finality, was any thing so
preposterous as the argument that any body of men, how-
ever exalted their station, should arrogate to themselves
a power of legislating for futurity ? Was not the
growing influence of the times, and the just demands of milli ms,
to be considered? The argument of finality was worth the
dictum of the Minister, and the dictum of the Minister was
worth nothing unless it received the full sanction of the re pie.
He desired at meetings like the present, where he met his
constituents, to be distinctly and unequivocally under-
stood.—( Hear, hear.) This was the first meeting he had
had the honour of addressing of his constituents since
he had attempted to represent their interests in the House of
Commons. He thanked them for the kindness with which
they had listened to him, and he hoped that at any future time
they would allow him in the same way to express his senti-
ments. The Hon. Gentleman sat down amidst great Ace, ins*.
Sir S. WHALLRY hardly knew whether he could claim
their attention after they had listened to the very able
speeches that had preceded him on this occasion. He
had derived great pleasure from hearing the expression of
those sentiments. His Hon. Friend (Mr. Hall) had in a
most able manner stated his views, so much so, that he (Sir S.
W.) felt the difficulty of going over this old trodden ground.
They did not wish to approach the Legislature with any erode
desire of organic changes, but they had a greater claim on the
attention of the Legislature than any other body of petitioners
who might approach Parliament. Because they asked them
not to give them any ill considered measures of changes, but
merely to extend to their political rights that mode of
voting, that species of suffrage, and that duration of repre-
sentation that they had given them in their parochial affairs•
He could hardly hope to find unanimity of opinion upon the
subject of the extension of the suffrage. Unfortunately, some
minor differences of opinion had sprung up, not upon measures
but upon their extent. He spoke in the presence of many who
were not householders in the borough, and who might complain
that they did not vote for an extension of the suffrage to them
also. That complaint was naturally, but the time was not
distant when the householders of the United Eiagdom
hailed with delight the framing of the Reform Bill which
conferred the franchise on the ten-pound householders
only, because they felt that although it was
only limited to them in the first instance, the Legislature might
be afterwards induced to let in a larger constituency.—
(Cheers.) The same principle weighed with him (Sir S,
Whalley.) Now it was prudent to limit their prayer to House-
hold S iftrage only at present, but he was not pre-
pared; to fiz any limit to the constituency, because
there was no limit to the increasing capability of
the people to take part in the Government of the
country.—(Applause.) In his time he had seen the most ex-
traordinary proof of the march of intellect (as it was called)
among the people, and he would accept the extension now
prayed as an instalment of the great debt, without attempt-
ing, as he before observed, to fix any limit to the
constituency of the country.—( Hear, hear, and cheers.)
Many were of opinion that it was inexpedient to ask for the
protection of the Ballot for the present constituency. He
differed Is ith those gentleman in opinion. It was necessary that
the present constituency should be protected. The question
to be asked now was, whether the people or the landed
interest was the greater power in the state ?_( Hear,
hear.) The landed interest had too much influence
in the Government, and it was necessary to protect the con-
stituency—it was necessary to grant the Ballot, in order to
emancipate the present constituency.—( Cheers.) On the
part of Cie people, he denied that they were in favour of
coercion even in their own hands. They wished for protection
to all parties.—( Cheers.)

We shall give the conclusion in our
SECOND EDITION.

About ten o'clock on Friday night a fire was dis-
covered to have commenced in the housekeeper's room of
the Reform Club, Pall-mall. The secretary, Mr. CoppcTlt,
made an effort to extinguish it, but the smoke overcame him,
and he was drawn out of the room in a state of partial insen-
sibility. The County Fire-office was sent to, and in a few
minutes the two engines belonging to the establishment and
the parish engine were brought to the spot, and after working
three hours the fire was completely subdued. The damage is
said not to exceed 150/. The building, &c., is insured for
17,0001. in the Sun.
SIR CHARLES WETHERELL'S WARDROBE.—
Those who have seen Sir Charles only in the law court,
cannot of course form any idea of the character of his
card-
robe ; for the ample proportions of his professional gown
conceal his ordinary apparel from the rude gaze of the public.
It is of a very peculiar kind : it is always, at least on a'l oc-
casions when I have seen it, of a colour for which I believe
there is no name. There can be no doubt that the colour,
when the cloth came from the hands of the manufacturer, was
what is called black ; but the thing which puzzle one is to
decide what the colour is when the cloth first graces the per-
son of Sir Charles. No one ever yet saw him sport a new
suit. This may have been understood as a joke. I speak
in sober seriousness when I say, that I never, so fur as I
could judge, saw his person graced with apparel which was
fresh from the hands of the tailor. Some people would
have no objection to hint, that he never purchases his c!o.hes
new, but that he deals with some second-hand vendor of ap-
parel. This is not my theory ; neither do I subscribe- to the
hypothesis, that in early life he laid in a stock sufficient to
last him half a century, and that he wears the fifty suits
constituting his stock, by rotation, allowing one week to each
at a time. In fact, if the truth must be spoken, lam not only
dissatisfied with both these theories, but I have no hypothesis
of my own to offer in their place. I may be called a pretty
philosopher—that is to say, no philosopher at all—for making
this admission I cannot help it. Better to have no hypo-
thesis at all, than to have an erroneous one. The learned gen-
tleman takes the shine out of his clothes in a double sense.
Ile does ample justice to them in the matter of wear and tear.
He acts with his apparel on the principle of not parting with
an old acquaintance so long as he can help it. He keeps to
his clothes till they will no longer keep to him ; and even then
the separation is, on his part, made with the deepest regret.
Whether or not this arises from considerations of economy, I
cannot positively say : I am strongly impressed with the
notion, that it has its origin in that singular eccentricity of
character of which I have been speaking. It is known all the
civilized world over, that Sir Charles never wears braces. It
11;:s been said indeed—with what truth it is nor for me to de-
termine—that the circumstance of wearing a pair of braces
proved an effectual disguise, when the Bristol mob were in
suit of him. Possibly this is a joke, and nothing else. It is
no joke, however, but a sober fact, that Sir Charles has such
a mortal abhorrence of braces, or " suspenders" as he calls
them, that nothing short of their saving his life could reconcile
him to the calamity of wearing them.__ T/ Bench and the
Dar, by the Author of " Random Recollections."
THE SERPENTINE.—Many of the leading mein
bars of the Skating Club made their first appearanee on the
Serpent:ne yesterday and on Saturday. The ice,
as we be-
fore stated was excellent, and very superior to the Regent's
Park. On the north side the best skaters cppeared. The
usual figures, in narrow circles, predominated ; the carri.e.;es
on the line, from tha north-eastern end to the building. erected
for the recovery of drowned persons, were more num-r-us
than on any preceding day during the fro t• Many ..v..1!-
dressed persons were on the south bank. We are happy to
say we heard of no accidents.

NEW STANDIRISH
RAILWAYS and JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Parliament-street, Jan. 22, 1838.
Pariis nenA Correspondent, subscribing himself "An Irish
tary Agent," doubts the suggestion that Ireland is
exempted from the operation of the Ninth Standing Order
' for a deposit of ten per cent., previous to proceeding before
Parliament with a Bill by a Joint-Stock Company for making
Railways. or certain other Public-works. Now, in reply to
this doubt, I have merely to add that the other Psriiamentary
Counsel, who concurred in the view taken by Mr. M. D.
Hill was Mr. Harrison, than whom there can be but one
higher authority as to the practice of the House, and that
aame uthoritY, I
ion have reason to believe, has since expressed the
s op in

I hare the honour to be, &c.,
YOUR PARLIAMENTARY AGENT.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

12, Carnaby_strect, St. James's, Jan. 18.
Sia—By giving publicity to the following you will very
much oblige me and, I think, prevent many such cases, and
also offer a suggestion to the trade with which I belong-, and
you are so intimately and, I hope, beneficially connected,
which may of material service to them through your valuable
and popular journal.

JOHN BINMORE,

MARLBOROUGH-STREET, JAN. 18.
ROBBERIES IN COFFEE-lIOUSES.—A man, who gave his name
James Black, 34, Ogle-street, Marylebone, was examined and
fully committed to take his trial from this office, for stealing
nevtspapers from Binmore's Devonshire Coffee-house, Car-
nabv-itreet. There having been a great number of papers
missing frequently, the proprietor had taken the precaution of
privately marking them, and when the suspected party left the
house, followed him and gave him into custody of the police,
and on searching him found two of the marked papers in his
poss?ssion.

I would not trespass on your valuable columns, but the prac.
tice being so much on the increase, the members with whom
act are determined to prosecute every case they can d.tect.

J. B,

TO 11. ALEXANDER, CHAIRMAN OF
THE GLASGOW COTTON-SPINNERS' COM-
MITTEE.

Edinburgh Jail, Jan. 15, 1838.
DEAR SlR,—Our case, which has excited so much public interest,
has now come to a close, and we have received, in the language of one
of the Judges, Mackenzie, " AN ARBITRARY SENTENCE." How far that
sentence is in accordance with the laws of this country, and the usages of
our Courts of Justice, we leave the public to decide. After having
calmly examined the nature of the crimes of which a Jury have found
us guilty; after minute and impartial investigation, we think it will be
found, that those crimes amount in substance to neither more nor less
titan this—That we, along with our fellow-workmen, resolved to, and
did strike work against au enormous reduction of our wages, resolved
upon by our employers; that a tumultuous crowd, or mob, ofmen, women,
and children, of every grade and description, amongst which there were
some spinners, assembled at Oak bank, and that some stones, fish-heads,and
other missiles were thrown, and two men thereby hurt ;—that another
crowd assembled near Mile-end, in Calton, and some spinners were seized
upon by the police, not for any offence except composing a part of the
crowd; and that one of them was summarily brought before the
Sheriff' and convicted of what he never before knew to be a breach of
the law;—that the Cotton Spinners' Society resolved, at the request of
their Agent, to use their influence with their own body to prevent their
members from joining in such assemblages in future. Yes, Dear Sir,
this is all the Jury, after eight days' attentive investigation, a period
unparalleled in the history of criminal jurisprudence in this or perhaps
any other country, could find against us: and what we think worthy
of remark, no witness or any one else attempted to say that any of us
were near these places where the disturbances occurred; in fact some of
us were not in the Kingdom at the time!! So you may see, Sir, that
our offence consists in our being members of the Spinners 'Committee ; an
offence if it be one, that we have not at any time attempted to deny.
As to the evidence upon which even these things were established,
such as papers found in a chest of drawers, in some part of our house,_.
where no chest of drawers ever was; or twenty or thirty new hands
being taken in at Oak Bank, where only eleven could possibly be admitted,
and only thirteen ever could be admitted at any time ; and a thousand
other absurdities which came out in evidence against us; on all these,
it is not oar intention to comment. Nor do we wish to say anything
about the secret that. happened to slip out in the heat of an elo-
quent address to the jury by a great personage, " That the conspiracy
of which it was alleged we formed a part, was less formidable, than the
conspiracy against us," or words to that effect. We shall not at pre-
sent comment on these things, but leave them to the public.
Our object in addressing you at present, is solely for the purpose of
expressing our unfeigned and heartfelt gratitude to you, Sir, to the Com-
mittee of which you have the honour to be Chairman, and to the work_ ing claeses generally, for their promptitude and liberality in coining
forward with pecuniary aid to afford us the means of defence, and save
our families from starvation, which must have been their fate, but for
the sympathy of a generous public. It would be injustice to withhold
from the Trades' Committee of Edinburgh, the mired of praise and gra-
titude due to them for the kind and unwearied attention paid to us
during our confinement here. Nor can we forget those patriotic friends
of freedom and justice, O'Connor, Beaumont, Stephens, Oastler,
Taylor, and many other philanthropic spirits who made our wrongs
ring from pole to pole, and roused the working classes from their lethargy, by showing them that the blow aimed at us was
equally aimed at themselves, of the truth of whirls we have no doubt,
they will soon get eenvincig proof
We cannot withhold our gratitude from the many disinterested
friends who came forward with their mite to procure for us justice, and
a fair trial. When these see what has been our fate by only ONE or
A ILIJOIIIIY or a JURY finding us guilty of the crimes above enumerated,
while that Juryman unanimously cleared us of the many false charges
brought against us, they can be at no loss to know what would have
been our fate bad we been left without the means of defence. For our
careerrare
deservingwoul d
haveosv part
nealts:tdv have
on
no a htelissigt arat icoenfui
In
gsaalyl
oi
wn t h
()own rfaerarwt let Iy
such a fate, as the have
e a saidvod In
te before,n tender
u leavenc
et
rhse
thanks t t
tt o
ojuurd
Agents,ge.
conclusion, Sir,
we beg e t
Mr. Gemmel, for his able, efficient, and indefatigable
i
particularly:ous
in our cause; indeed, had he been a brother
hecould not have done more for us. As for our Counsel, they
are too well known to the public to require any eulogium from us.
eert
Their assiduity and attention during the whole trial, we believe, is un-
rivalled in the history of this country. The legal and literary talent
displayed by Messrs. M`Neil and Robertson is also without a parallel in
the annals of pleading, at least that we ever heard or read of. Where
now, we ask, are the CONSPIRACINS to burn mills, warehouses, &c., &c.,
and to commit muenee, with which we were so unsparingly charged
Y ormter To Be (thanks to an enlightened and discerning
from the day of our apprehension to the day of our trial ? TIIEY AUL
E
HB
jy'uV irlE in; iT) thrown back in the face of their cruel and unprincipled fabri.
cators.

Sir, in the names of those friends of freedom we have
erai
unqualified thanks of your ever faithful and disconso.
late friends.
When we are dragging the felons' chains, and perhaps
writhing under the lash of our task-masters, while the tears of our
wives, our dear little ones and numerous relatives water the streets of
Accept,
to h theen '
you have done your duty to prevent these and even worse
our native city—you can recline on your pillow with the consoling re.
efloenesti4nuetnhcaets thannY theseus w from overtaking us. As it is more than pro_
bable that all or aOf ill have no opportunity of seeing you before
our departure, with our best wishes for your welfare, adieu, Sir, adieu
(Signed)

THOMAS HUNTER.
PETER HACKETT.
RICHARD M'NEIL.
JAMES GIBB.
WILLIAM M'LEAN.

TO THE EDITORS OP __
THE NORTHERN STAR.
_____________
Gentlemen,—Most fortunately the above document was received
from
they were snners yesterday (Tuesday.) To-day (Wednesday) at three,
uddenly and unexpectedly hurried off to Leith, and put
m the spi
aboard
of
.the London Steamers, which then immediately set off. lh
warning above an hour till they were off: No friends
were,
not even their agent here. A son of Thomas Hunter
had
f g dr
o,
, , i
.:
Glasgow ; but he was refused the melancholy plea-
u Father, Farewell." By mere accident Mr.
M`Kerra-
ssure
yoinformed,
f h
,arrived,
had
i s obdan ry not
cher and m i
saying
myself got notice of their departure, We hurried to the gaol
door, and in a few minutes out they Caine in two coaches. We so-
lemnly waved adieu with our hands. R. M`Neil exclaimed to me to hurry
to E • eith, who had the previous day come from after him with vitt} his wife
jLn I speedily found her--got a coach, but when we
Cilas.ow to see n •
whaven they were shipped. We hired a boat, got aboard,
,e or four minutes in their company. I need not say it
fit meeting. r e ship was about to sail, and we parted. We
was a pain t
sent to the Penitentiary, or Hulks. They knew not
suppose they are
and how could we ? Oh what savage cruelty I Four of
themselves,
aa,r,rdiviiepderiatt :.t4h'erc
rm .
the men and no opportunity was given them to see their
and
hi;
fan
friends, arrange
iie
iltsheir household affairs—no opportunity for a father
to tender herla last advice and blessings to either wife or children I The
most endearing ties of nature rent asunder, without the slightest re-
ard to mercy, humanity, or religion! All this, too, in Edinburgh—
educated Scotland ! What other feeling than that
religious, educated
and contempt can we, or ought we, to feel for such
coigonfnadbruehcl°it, and yet we are called on to respect the laws. When
the dispensers of the law commit such outrages on the best
feelings of human nature, it is impossible to honour them. But what is
yet to be done for the men ? Their counsel arc getting up a petition to
the Queen in the name of the prisoners, praying for a remission of the
,eatenee. It is not doubted the seven jurymen, the minority of Oze,
will sign it. We are to have a public meeting in Edinburgh on Tues-
day evening first, for the same purpose. Up, then, England ! Up
Lose not a moment ! A great national effort must be made to break
their chains asunder!
I can write no more with fatigue, distress, and exhaustion. Oh men
of England, Arouse ye! Arouse! You have the whole of this case
oppreision_that is to say its true features—in the Spinners's own
statement.
J. FRASER, Edinburgh.

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.-('FHIS DAY.)

DEAL, JAN. 20.—Witul N. W., moderate and clear.—No arrivals.
Caine Cr
Sierra wn from the River and proceeded, the Lord Wellington, Tate,
fo Leone. 21.—S.S E., fresh breeze.—Arrived and proceeded
for the
ick. River, Wm. Glen Anderson, Metcalf, from St. John's, New
Brunsw Came down from the River and proceeded, the Stratford,
Lane, for Mauritius; and Cxsar, Alexander, for Messina.
pORTSSIOUTIT, JAN 20.—Wind E.S.E.—Arrived the Napoleon, Childs,
from London for Africa, last from Cowes, to be docked, having been
at :horn at the entrance of that harbour. Sailed the Claudine, Kemp,
Madras; and Oldesia, Burgess, for Llanelly. 21,
wards, from Youg,hall ; Mayflower, Searl, from Cork; New York Pilot
Tam O'Shanter, from Gloucester; Perfect, Ed-
. bi:o.Sra.tEt,i.l-f-eroACmrarllttadtnie'rtchlaem ; and Louisa, Valk, from Odessa. Her Majesty's
ship Wasp is gone out of harbour to Spithead.
PLVNIOUNI, JAN. 20.—Wind E.S.E.—Arrived the Olive Branch,
Tubbs, from Newfoundland ; Gironde, Delavolper, trom Charleston ;
for
and
London. Th:Lnas Carty, isTea_,
y from Demerara. Put back, the Calpe, Cox,
Fa of °urn, I
"N. 19 .
--Wind E. to E.S.E. Jan. 20.—Wind S. to
all, strong Sties and squally.—Arrived the Alamode, Bartlett, from
Newfoundland; Henrietta, Gundry, from Ilertch ; Clyde, Luckie,
Victoria, Adams, and Charles, Le I,tivre, from Messina; and Anne,
Fawcett, from Oporto. Sailed the Falmouth Packet, Urru, for Lisbon.
Put bark th Minerva, Terry, for
Dovna, JAN. 21. Arrived off port the Sarah, Sharp, Newfoundland.
So,'lHAmProx, JAN. 21.—Arrived offport the Transit steamer, Lisbon.
CONVE, JAN. 21.—Arrived the Gerberd Herman, from Porto Rico.
Coate, JAN. 19.—Arriv,:d the Juno steamer, from London.
Ho:sit:LAD, JAN 20. Arrived off port the ship No. StiO, supposed
the Virginian, from New York.
Newenar, JAN. 20.--The river is full of loose ice, so as almost to pre-
vent slips mooring.
17' tbeth.

The _ sai Ranberg, from Copenhagen, put into Otterewick with
rudder unshipped, having been on shore, bound to Trieste.
The Dewdrop, Fowler, from Dartmouth, put into Plymouth, with loss
of ratinniast &c., bound to Newfoundland.