The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-03 00:00:00

Lord Aberdeen at the head of the Government, it is
open to him, and he has stipulated to vote for the ballot.
(Cheers.) The City of London is vacated. What do
you want ? The Government will in the next week
take the opinion of a million or a million and a half of
the electors of this country. (Hear, hear.) I will say
more. It is not necessary that Parliament should always
last for six or seven years. I can very well understand
how it is very possible I may appear on these hustings
again before another year shall have passed ; and if
I do, you will not only have had annual Parlia-
ments, but you will have had more frequent Parlia-
ments still. (Loud cheers.) Whenever I may have to'
appear before you, I shall not be afraid. (Cheers.) It is
said, Radicals are destructives. Is that a true charge ?
(Cries of "No.") If you are a Radical constituency, I am
sure you are not a destructive one. (Cheers.) Now, I
will try it. Was the repeal of the Test and Corporation
Act a destructive measure ? Has the admission of the
Dissenters to corporate power proved destructive ? I
think far otherwise. (Hear, hear.) Has corporation
reform proved destructive ? Is the police in this city
worse than it was under the old corporation ? Is the law
enforced with less certainty than heretofore ? Is the
community less happy, less contented, less orderly ? I
think far otherwise. (Cheers.) Has the effect of the
repeal of the corn laws been destructive ? (Loud cheers.)
Ah, there was a morning—the 10th of April, 1848—
when all constituted authorities in Europe trembled,
when Crowns had fallen, when Ministers throughout
Europe were flying for safety, and Kings were hiding
their heads in shame. There was a Sovereign who did re-
joice that in time there had been a reform in Parliament,
that in time the corn laws were repealed ; 'and on the
10th of April, when others were afraid, Victoria rejoiced
in the loyalty of her people—(vehement and prolonged
applause.) Order, security, the rights of property,
triumphed, and I know not where were the destruc-
tructives. They met on Kennington-common— (laughter)
—under a leader towards whom I will use no harsh ex-
pression, because he is now unfortunate. They appeared
on Kennington-common—a handful of men. The popu-
lace of London, in millions, determined to maintain the
cause of order and our domestic institutions. (Enthusi-
astic cheers.) I know not whether there is any other
point on which it is necessary to address you. I have
detained you perhaps too long. (No, no.) But I will
say this, that I am associated with a Government that,
I am confident, is resolved to proceed with reforms with
a powerful and a fixed purpose. Talk of law reform--
the Government of Lord Derby has strutted in borrowed
plumes. (Cheers.) Who were the persons who pre-
pared the measures passed by the late Government.
They were recommended by a commission, and there sat
at the head of that commission Sir John Romilly, the
Master of the Rolls, son of a man whose memory must
be ever dear to the hearts of Englishmen—the late Sir
Samuel Romilly. I remember the unrivalled eloquence,
the manly firmness, the extraordinary self-possession
with which that great man, wise before the light shone
on the whole generation, contended for the mitigation of
our criminal code. (Hear, and cheers.) Men were
hung in numbers for forgery, for sheep stealing, for com-
paratively venial crimes. Sir Samuel Remaly contended
that the sanguinary character of our criminal code should
be reformed. He contended for a reform of the Court of
Chancery, and the abolition of its delays and extraordi-
nary expense. He contended that justice should be
brought nearer home, that county courts should be esta-
blished, that all the chicanery of the common law should
be put an end to. He was called destructive in his day ;
but I have lived to see all the measures for which he con-
tended, and for advocating which he was denounced as a
destructive, carried out with infinite benefit and satisfac-
tion to the British people. (Loud cheers.) Another mem-
ber of that commission was Sir George Turner, who has
already been appointed by the present Government to one
of the highest judicial offices in England. Another mem-
ber of that commission was Sir W. P. Wood, who was Soli-
citor-General in Lord J. Russell's Government. Who
served with these men ? Mr. Henley, a member of the
last Government, but I also, who have the honour of
addressing you. (Cheers,) We shall not stand still.
The Court of Chancery has been reformed. The com-
mon law has been simplified. We must go on with the
Ecclesiastical Courts. (Loud cheers.) Such abuses as
that of Mr. Moore, the son of an archbishop, enjoying
7,0001. a-year sinecure, with the reversion to the grand-
son of an archbishop, must be put an end to. (Cheers.)
With regard to Parliamentary Reform, I am associated
with the three surviving members of Lord Grey's
Cabinet, who introduced the measure of 1832. Lord
John Russell and I have both declared that a revision of
that act is necessary ; and I would submit to you that
it is not by returning some gentleman unknown to you,
however respectable he may be, but by returning a man
long known to you, and associated in the Government
which has the power of giving effect to your wishes,
that you will have the best chance of obtaining the re-
forms which you desire. There is only one other point
on which I wish to address you. I have said that lam
of opinion that the franchise may be extended. In order
that it may be safely extended, I think education
should be spread as widely as possible among the entire
body of the community. (Hear.) I look upon religion
as an essential element in education ; but, according to
the view which I take, I think that particular element
ought not to be under the direction of ministers of the
Established Church only, but that all the different sects
should have a fair opportunity, in their respective
schools, of teaching that form of religion which they
believe to be the best. (Cheers.) I will not go further.
I have now brought to a close the observations I thought
necessary to make. I have not courted undue popu-
larity at your hands by concealing one sentiment I en
tertain. I have not deceived you on any point, and if
any further explanations are asked, I shall answer
frankly, and to the best of my judgment and ability.
(Cheers.) The right honourable baronet then concluded
his address, amidst the prolonged and hearty applause
of the electors.

The proceedings terminated with the customary vote
of thanks to the returning officer.

MORPETH.

The election for the vacant seat caused by Captain
Howard accepting the Chiltern Hundreds, took place in
the Town Hall in this borough on Saturday, and there
was a large attendance of liberals from all parts of the
county. Sir George Grey entered the hall with his
eldest son, and was loudly cheered.
Mr. FENWIOIC proposed Sir George Grey.
Mr. HOOD seconded the nomination.

No other candidate being proposed, the Mayor took
a show of hands, when he declared that the choice of
the electors had unanimously fallen on Sir George Grey,
as their representative in Parliament. The announce-
ment was received with loud cheers.

Sir GEORGE GREY then returned thanks, and said
that he hoped to give to the Government a hearty, cor-
dial, and independent support. (Loud and long-con-
tinued cheering.) They might be safely entrusted with
the guardianship of that policy of- which they had been
the able, distinguished, and consistent advocates—
(applause)—and the House of Commons would not be
looking to them for a pledge of their adherence to that
policy, for their past conduct, their public professions,
and the sacrifices many of them have made in that cause
were the best tests of their sincerity and determination
to adhere to it. (Cheers.)

A vote of thanks to, and three cheers for, the Mayor
closed the proceedings,

HERTFORD.

The election for the vacancy created in the represen-
tation of this borough by the late member, the Hon. W•
F. Cowper, having accepted office under the Aberdeen
administration as one of the Lords of the Admiralty,
took place on Saturday. Mr. Pollard proposed and Mr.
J. J. Gripper seconded the nomination of the Hon. Mr.
Cowper.
The MAYOR then put the question in the usual form,
whether any other candidate was to be proposed, and no
one coming forward to propose a second candidate, he
declared the Hon. William Francis Cowper duly elected
to serve in parliament as representative for the borough
of Hertford. (Cheers.) _ _ _

The Hon. Mr. COWPER addressed the electors, and
the procedings terminated with the customary vote of
thanks to the Mayor.

NOTTINGHAM.
The election for this borough took place on Saturday
at the Exchange Hall in this town at ten o'clock. Mr.
Alderman Hart proposed Mr. Strutt. Mr. Felkin se-
conded the nomination. The Sheriff inquired if any
gentleman had another candidate to propose ; and
being no reply, he declared the Right Hon. war
present-
Strutt to be duly elected. Mr. Strutt, whtc'ereendupon a
ing himself was received with cheers,
narrative of the events which finally led
t demonstrate at
of the late ministry, and proceeded
70tection. Three
considerable length the futility of
P•
and after a vote
cheers were then given for Mr. Strutt_er_,.,
iff the assembly
of thanks had been accorded to the Sheriff, to the overthrow
dispersed.

SCARBOROUGH .
The Earl of Mulgrave having acceptee,sHuoundseer.
the new Government, as Treasurer of the Qdue office n
hold, a new writ was issued for his re-election as one of
the members for Scarborough. The election took place
on Saturday, when the noble lord was re-elected without
opposition. The proceedings took place at the Town-
hall, in the forenoon, and occupied a very short time,
the speeches being very brief. The noble lord was pro-
posed by C. A. Darley, Esq., of Stamford-bridge, in the
East Riding of Yorkshire, seconded by George Knowles,
Esq., and declared by the returning-officer duly elected.'
According to the custom of the place the hon member
was afterwards chaired through the principal streets of
the borough.