The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-05 00:00:00

ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.--,FRENCH piA.rs.

A new piece, entitled Tambour Battant, which, hoer-
ever, Ii! made its appearance in this country in a native
garb, as Taking by Storm, was produced here last night,
in which M. Ravel played the principal part. A young
lady who has determined to marry nobody who doe°
anything like anybody else, finds at length a spouse in
M. Ravel, who comes to look after lodgings which she
is to quit in six weeks, but which he wants sooner—"In
ten minutes "—and who, by the perfect ease of his im-
pudence, the cleverness of his volubility, and his deter-
mination not to have the house, first excites the wrath,
and then the mirth and interest of the lady. The in-
truder is an artist, and he has also made a vow that he
will only marry a lady whom he never saw, and of whose
existence he was only conscious by having pressed her
foot when travelling in the unlighted coupe of a dili-
gence. His only clue to, the fair one's identity is
small pistol which he finds after she has left the vehicle,
and by this means he, of course, discovers that his
hostess is the inamorata in question. Accordingly he
offers his hand and heart, but the lady not at first ac-
cepting either, he proves that he answers to her beau,
ideal of a husband by crowding together all the visits,
letters, and observances of a courtship into a ten
minutes' interval--a feat certainly never performed by
any lover but himself before, and which is accordinglY
duly successful. The character was one whioh gave full
play to M. Ravel's peculiar powers, and, in spite of a
severe cold, we never saw him to greater advantage than
in the rattling, audacious, and light-hearted lover of last
night. There was another novelty—a little piece played
first—entitled, Diviser pour Regner, slightly extravagant
in its construction, but which served to introduce tIVO
debutantes, M. Fede and Madame Marimont, both vain-
able additions to the company. To-night M. Ravel
makes his first appearance in L'Etourneau.

SOCIAL SOIREE OF REFORMERS AT ..13
MANCHESTER. •

A social soiree or reunion of the leading Reformers of •
the county of Lancaster, and their representatives, took
place on Thursday evening at the Town-hall, Manchester, • 1
of a pleasant and successful character. From 300 to
400 invitations had been issued, and the room was very
crowded. After partaking of refreshments,. the business
commenced, a little before 7 o'clock, by Mr. George
Wilson taking the chair, supported by Mr. John Bright,
M.P., Mr. T. M. Gibson, M.P., Mr. Joseph Brotherton, '
M.P., Mr. James Heywood, M.P., Mr. J. Kershaw,
M.P. Mr. Charles Hindley, M.P., and Mr. George
Hadfield, M.P. Among other gentlemen present were
—Mr. Alexander Henry (late member for the county))
Mr. Thomas Bailey, Mr. Bailey, Mr. A. Buckley, Mr.
Henry Ashworth, Sir Elkanah Armitage, Mr. Sal
Schwabe, Mr. E. R. Langworthy, Mr. Watkin Lees,
Mr. John Platt, Mr. R. N. Philips, Mr. R. Munn, •
Mr. F. Steiner, Mr. F. J. Philipi, &c. There were*
gentlemen present, in fact, from Liverpool, Lancaster,
Blackburn, Burnley, Preston, Bolton, Oldham, Roch-
dale, Stockport, Ashton, Bury, and almost every town
in the county.
The CHAIRMAN took a review of the various county

and borough election struggles in Lancashire during the
last 20 years (since the Reform Bill) ; and after congra-
tulating the meeting on the result of the recent returns,
and urging upon his friends not to let success render
them careless of the registration, said, he felt strongly
indignant that their power in the Legislature should be
so limited, in consequence of the arrangements made at
the period of the Reform Bill. He would not do aril
such thing, but he thought that reasons could be shown-
why 25 of these members should be taken away and
given to the towns possessing a population of *el?
10,000 of 25,000, which were now wholly unreproseutew
And the most timid reformer and most moderate man
would hardly object to the disfranchisement of those
boroughs which had a population less than 5,000, and
to handing over the 20 members to those large con-
stituencies. He would go further, and say that no man-
could object to take one, at least, of the members
those cases, and hand him over to those districts
which were so fearfully unrepresented. Under the
new Reform Bill they would have the same franchise
in Manchester and in Buckingham. The protec-
tion to the voter, whatever it was, would be the
same ; but, when they came to this question of the dis-
tribution of seats, which was the true leverage by which
they were to correct abuses, and to give its due weight
to population, property, and industrial rights, it would
be found that the struggle would commence, and that it
would be ten times more difficult to give them their fair
and just rights, as large and improving constituencies'
than in giving
(Cheers.) them a low franchise and the ballet•
The Right Hon. T. M. GissoN, M.P., was receieed
with great cheering. He said—Although the budget f
the late Ministry, as a whole, was bad, and althouP
the attempt to repeal half the malt-tax, and substitute
an increased house-tax, was an impolitic proposition ill
my opinion, still there were good indications of fotil -
policy in that budget. (Hear, hear.) And I hope that
those indications will not be lost sight of by by the Seel
cessors of the late Government, particularly in reference,
to one proposition—l mean with regard to the tea duties'
in which this district must take a most especial interest.
(Hear.) Lord Derby's Government came into office'
p(yl
rae
oau
vrgehlmtBeesrn4) t-
lived, produced its plan, died, and all in ten months
d
aal
lny baare
ee thosetlool measuresbweinpgu tthoeff
ptorofi isiit:mt:
wta that
shouldaref expected,reform,aetu
Government no less a period than 14a
out- requiring from them that they shoti 15 months,_ 0,-aj
sign. (Hear, hear.) And was there ever
etioa.
when the matter could be undertaken betterathL the
present one ? Are we not now capable of considering
this question calmly and deliberately ?—cian it be said that
a measure of reform would be hastily carried in a scramble,
and by a mere concession to clamour, or ill-considered
demands ? Nothing of the kind. (Hear, hear.) 115
would be his endeavour, as it would no doubt be that
of his hon. colleague, to enforce these views in Par e"
meat without going into needless opposition to the G°:
vernment. They would at the same time endeavour to
promote, to the utmost of their ability, those great pond"ciples of public policy which he believed were sanctiollet":
by the constituency of Manchester, and conducive to
the welfare of the whole population. (Loud cheers.) f.
Mr. BROTHERTON, M.P., said, the Reform Bill
1832 was considered a great measure, and yet it by
disappointed many, who thought that it was not nest'
extensive enough. (Hear, hear.) Every reform will°
was not complete must set the people after other re'
forms, and obtaining those measures which tend to Pr.t.Ti
mote their happiness and comfort. No Reform -Di'
would be satisfactory at this time which did not propose ,
to equalise the distribution of the representation. (seas'
hear.) The commercial and manufacturing distriet
must,insist on getting their fair share of political power.
(Applause.) The hon. member then alluded to the eds.'
cation question and the various schemes proposed. Ye
hoped the people would say explicitly what they wants e"
He was almost in favour of any general scheme, if it
spected the rights of conscience and admitted .11 t°
benefits. (Applause.) Tit
Mr. J. HEywoon moved, and Mr. H. AstiWOß
seconded the following resolution :
" That this meeting requests the Liberal members c°,ll:
netted with the county of Lancaster to consider
selves a committee for the purpose of aiding in ailY%.
ceedings with reference to Parliamentary reform, w"the
view to secure such additional representatives' for 0
county as its population, industry, wealth, and hatelligen
require."

up
Mr. BRIGHT, M.P., made a lengthened speech in %At
port of the resolution, and concluded thus :—I '',. to
an extension of the franchise to household suffrage; stied
a 51, franchise, would be to a large extent an unmitlPtho
evil in many districts, if it were not accompanied by as,
ballot. (Cheers.) It would lead of necessity to the the
moralisation of the workmen, and ultimately, by the
temptation it would hold out to us, it would lead to
demoralisation of the employers. (Hear, hear, and
set
plause.) Well, now, we are going next week to mii'
the new Government, and the new circumstances 00
which we find ourselves. Mr. Gibson stated the eutic,
which he should pursue—Mr. Brotherton, that
coincided in that view--I am willing to subscribe to w
they said. Our position has been one of perfect inderce,
dence. Whether Lord Melbourne were In °rra
whether Sir Robt. Peel were in office, whether --
John Ruisell were in office, whether Lord Derby 111030
office, or whether Lord Aberdeen be in office, Itss;,,itli.
to me that our duty is precisely the same—to look
so
all the favour that honest men in favour of reforol eat
look upon Governments, surrounded as they are by gfoos
difficulties, and having (even when honest and an !B op-
to do right) to contend with most
powerful interests for
posed to them. (Hear, hear.) But we must nol row
get that we are the representatives of industry, of for
hers, of intelligence, and of wealth ; that we go to
liament opposed to many antiquated blunders, to inge;
hoary abuses, to many selfish and mischievous privil ,ethio
(Hear, hear.) We must not forget that everythie:t4oci.
country has gained since the revolution of 168°,
especially everything of late years—has been eins'ssses
manly contest of the industrial and commercial ee thio
against the aristocratic and privileged classes oingiot
country. We must carry on the same e49esults
There are great things yet to be done. The r
of past exertions are most encourain —there is a ri f
ore
field Wore us for future exertions and future lore
cess. When lam permitted to speak here or elsel,in
without the walls of Parliament I would alwaYaySPheeheire'
favour of what I believe to be just, and
owhraaetrle..l.-nhclooi:
to be profitable and advantageous to the people ;
the House of Commons I do not aspire t
mentary displays, or to the mere seeking of bfac'be the
ours or emoluments. I would rather aspire to t do'
faithful representative of this great constituency're° as
aeelisiij 0
fend all its rights and interests—(cheers)--te
far as possible
call the liberties we now possess,. more
lay up, if it possible for our children a still Ore
glorious inheritance of freedom than our fatilell4
pd t°,
able to bequeath to us. (Loud cheers.)
The resolution
twermias.nthaetnedunanimously agreed v—
the and
Thp
quarter
o'clock. about a