The Sun.
London, England, 1831-05-19 00:00:00

DURHAM, MAY 17.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
ventured to forward to your excellent Journal
yesterday, a sketch of circumstances tending to mark the
extreme lengths to which the boroughmongers are driven
by despair, and the intense enthusiasm in favour of the
Reform Bill which pervades all classes here, with one ex-
ception. I am, however, happy to learn that in many
parts of the kingdom there are some consoling instances
of public spirit in this class. \Ve all know by whose in-
fluence, and by what a culpable compromise, the petticoat
nominee was foisted in as a iris-representative of this an-
cient city ; and the fol'owing documents will show your
readers that the benefits of the same petticoat government
are about to be extended to the electors of the county of
Down, in the sister island. The documents show how
little or how far the law, which forbids the influence and
interference of Peers in the election of Members to repre-
sent the people in the House of Commons, is or is not set
at defiance by certain great folks. You will see that I
express myself very guardedly on this matter, both for
your sake and my own ; but let that pass. Few have not
partaken in the public indignation excited by a recent let-
ter or mandate to the electors in this neighbourhood, issued
by the agents (latterly dignified with the title of his Grace's
Commissioners) of a Nobleman, whose private worth ren-
ders him an honour to his order, and an estimable mem-
ber of society. You are aware that the general sense of
' his good qualities in private was, in the particular instance
of the mandatory letter as a gross violation of the Coosti.
tution, far overbalanced in the public opinion. But as
that letter has been in some measure disavowed in a high
quarter, and is now supposed to have been an officious,
unauthorized intermeddling by subordinates, who exceeded
their commission, I here allude to it only to remind your
readers that it was the force of public opinion, expressed
by the periodical press, which extorted that disavowal.
If the public had expressed their wounded feelings and
the journals remained silent, the practice of sending
threatening letters by commission to electors would have
been considered established by precedent. Indeed, if there
can be any one reason more forcible than another at the
present moment, for an immediate and effectual Reform
like the pending Bill, it is the audacious publicity with
which the law for preventing the interference and in-
fluence of the Peers, in the election of 'Members of the
House of Commons, is set at defiance.
I do not mean to state, in so many set words, that such
is the case in the following instance; but I submit the
particulars to public opinion, leaving your readers to
judge for themselves. This I may be allowed to say, that
if a person writes a note to another, excusing himself
from attending to fulfil an important engagement, by say-
ing that his son or neighbour is in a difficulty, and he
must go to him, the receiver of that note, and all who
read it, may reasonably conclude that he has gone to use
his influence and exertions to bring his friend through the
difficulty adverted to in his apology.
To come to the immediate matter, you will please to
observe that the pitmen and coal proprietors, with some
few exceptions, have of late had serious differences rela-
tive to the hours of working, the terms, and mode of pay-
ment. In consequence of this unhappy circumstance the
pitmen, who are a numerous body, have some time since
struck, that is ceased to work, with a view thereby to
obtain a settlement, agreeable to their demands. Un-
doubtedly when we consider the interruption thus pro-
duced to so important a branch of trade, and the heavy
losses which have already accrued, and are hourly accru-
ing, from its suspension, and the number of industrious
hands thus inactive, we must admit that this is an alarm-
ing state of things; although, as far as I know and be-
lieve, the dispute has hitherto gone on peaceably. Every
friend to order must wish for the disagreement being
speedily brought to an amicable conclusion, and I do not
mean here to give any opinion on its relative merit-r, but
merely to show that the noble coal proprietor herein ad-
verted to, and the other great coal proprietors, justly con-
sider this question to be one of vital importance to their
interests. The pitmen also are as fixed in their opinion

of its deep and immediate importance to their means of
daily existence and comfort. The former have held seve-
ral meetings, and knowing that union is strength, they
some weeks ago adopted the principle of acting together,
to maintain the established system of regulations and pay-
ment.

Their presence in this neighbourhood was rendered
necessary to hold consultations, meet emergencies, and
report progress. This necessity is so obvious and so
pressing, that we may reasonably conclude nothing but
some very urgent, imminent occasion could have power
to produce the absence of any leading member of those
meetings, especially of one who is a local Magistrate, at
so unsettled and dangerous a crisis, when the yeomanry
are called out and doing ds
uty in NfLeas.,
utl eg,
aaAdatgraoio,
aki
apprehendei commotion.
You will judge, therefore, that the Marquis of Lon-
donderry, whose good qualities, notwithstanding his
present unpopularity, 1 am well disposed to appre-
ciate, and whose constitutional ardour must be a
powerful auxiliary to any good cause, must consider
the chances of his son's (Lord Castlereagh's) elec-
tion for the county of Down to be nearly hopeless, when
he absented himself from the meetings of the coal pro.
prietors here, and hastened over to Ireland, with a petti-
coat reinforcement, to assist by his active presence and visi-
tation in the return of that young Nobleman to sjt as a
representative for that county in the House of Commons.
Far be it from me to impute, in any form of words, a cor-
rupt and illegal interference or influence to the most noble
Marquis. I submit facts, and leave his Majesty, his Mi-
nisters, and the people, to draw a fair conclusion. The
first document which follows, will show how far it was
his interest, and, indeed, bow far he was bound in honour
and duty as chairman of the meeting of coal proprietors,
and as a Magistrate, to remain here and aid their deliber-
ations
with his advice and influence.
" Coal Trade Office, Newcastle, 6th May, 1831.
Lord LONDONDERRY in the chair.
" Resolved,—That the score prices, as fixed on the 19th
March, be strictly attended to.
(Signed) " VANE LONDONDERRY."
I beg to be clearly understood, here, as not either directly
or indirectly referring to the score prices in the above re-
solution. With the reasonableness or unreasonableness of
those terms I have nothing to do at present ; hut one thing
is char, that the coal proprietors present and the Noble
Marquis as their presiding head, bound themselves strictly
to maintain those score prices. I wish to mark this fact,
that where a number of persons formally meet and d li-
berately agree upon the absolute necessity of their acting
together according to a lawful plan unanimously adopted,
each individual is bound in integrity and honour to keep
good faith with each of his associates and with the general
body. It is indispensably necessary for their own good
name to abide correctly and sincerely by their own resolu-
tions. Among gentlemen, a breach of any such com-
pact is deemed deserving of a virtual and moral exile to
Coventry, for an indefinite term of years, according to cir-
cumstances.
The above document, (the correctness of which is war-
ranted to me by a competent authority) shows that the
Noble Marquis was looked up to by the coal proprietors
as their principal counsel, at the meeting of the 6th of
May. I have been assured also, that his Lordship on that
occasion delivered his sentiments with his accustomed ear-
nestness, though not in so loud a voice, with such violent
gesticulation, or manual expression as on the memorable
thy of the prorogation of the late Parliament. It is certain
that the Noble Lord was looked up to by the coal pro-
prietors who attended the meeting on the 6th of May, at
which he presided as chairman, to be one least likely to
Isreak squares with them by any violation of the resolution
then unanimously adopted and attested by his Lordship's
official signature. But what so soon followed, shows that
a strong necessity has no law, and the gallant spirit mani-
fested by the electors of the county of Down in mustering
all their independent force to turn out the Anti-Reform
Lord Castlereagh, has driven the Noble Marquis to the
extreme measure of making terms himself with the pitmen,
‘j:sh
I heav
issued positive
by breaking the resolution of the 6th of May on the second
day after, that is on the morning of the Bth, being the
Lord's D my, and as such not the most fit for any public
business. I here subjoin a copy of the printed address
issued by Ids Lordship and circulated here:—
" Durham, Sunday Morning, May 8, 1831.
ic pressEN,---I am obliged to leave this place, as myson's election is opposed in my native county.
" I implore you to remember what I stated to you yes-
terday. I bsg you to reflect on Lady Londonderry's ad-
afros, and how much she is attached to you.
" If you will resume your labours, I will at once give
you the thirty shillings per fortnight, and the fines must be
left to my honour and your viewers' good sense.
" There shall be no difficulty in the way of score work
prices. Only let me feel and deal with my own, and not
pitmenot' o her collieries,
orders
to my
who can
agents t
oneitherp
oboe
w t
attached to us nor our property.
these instructions.
" Trust me, Pitmen, I stand before you and your fami-
lies. After this public declaration, resume your labours.
You shall never be deceived in me.
" VANE LONDONDERRY."
The breach of the resolution of the 6th of May is a
question with which I have nothing to do : this is a ques-
tion between the Noble Marquis of Londonderry and the
other great coal proprietors, who attended the meeting

Bedfordshire
Berkshire
Bucks
Cambridgeshire
Cheshire
Cornwall
Cumberland
Derbyshire
Devonshire
Dorsetshire
Durham.,
Essex
Gloucestershire
Hants
Herefordshire
Hertfordshire
Huntingdonshire
Kent
Lancashire
Leicestershire
Lincolnshire
Middlesex
Monmouthshire
Norfolk
Northamptonshire
Northumberland
Nottinghamshire
Oxfordshire...
Rutland
Salop
Somersetshire
Staffbrrishire
Suffolk
Surrey
Sussex
Warwickshire
Westmoreland
Wilts
Worcestershire•
Yorkshire
Total forty
Counties

Gained to Reform
Lost, to be deducted
Clear gain
Majority last election again
Majority now in its favour

132

to Reform
ISt Reform ......

Not over yet, but considered favourable to
dilates.

-128

-128

:he Reform can.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

FRENCH PAPERS.

(From the Messager des Chambres, Tuesday, May 17.)
PARIS, MAT 16.—The Dauphinois contains the fol-
lowing article:—" The accounts which we receive from
Italy are much at variance with each other. The con
spiracy of Turin, of which the Journals have said so much,
is by turns contradicted and confirmed. What is certain
is, that the Austrian influence is not at all felt either in
the councils of the new King or among the Nob.lity.
There is no appearance that Charles Albert means to give
a Constitution. The Nobles alone could be at the head of
any movement, and they only want a Chamber of Peers in
which they might make a figure. It is, however, believed
that a Political Assembly will be instituted, the only power
"( " —"' in voting too Saxe,
" The Piedmontese Gerdes du Corps have been
dis-
banded. The Bishop of Pignerol, it is said, has I),!en
arrested, which would indicate the existence of some
movements.

" It will not be till after the funeral of his predecessor
that the King will act, and that an opinion may he formed
of his policy and the course he means to take. He has no
frien,!s in any party.

• " It is reported at Chambery that extraordinary agita
lion prevails at Turin."

(From the Moniteur of Monday.)
NATIONAL GUARD OF PARIS.

PARIS, MAX 15.—The General Commanding in Chi e
the Nation Guard of Paris and of the Banlieue hastens to
perform a very pleasing duty to his comrades—that of
acquainting them with the satisfaction which the King
several times expressed during the memorable review of
this day, as well at the appearance as the discipline of the
seueral corps of the National Guard. His Majesty was
struck with the rapid progress which he evidenced, an
ensemble which perhaps none but Frenchmen could have
displayed in so short a time to their fellow-citizens, and to
Europe a sight so promisiug for order and peace.
While addressing to his comrades these testimonies of
august approbation, the Commander-in-Chief receives from
the King a letter, in which his Majesty expresses his senti-
ments with so much goodness, that it leaves him who has
had the happiness to read it first nothing but to commu-
nicate it immediately to his comrades, that they may join
in the gratitude which this noble language naturally in
spires.