The Sun.
London, England, 1831-06-07 00:00:00

~~

(Laughter.) Nobody complains of the regular
tion of time, of the sun and moon, or the sue--
cession of day and night. The present system ie
kas old as the Constitution. Magna Charra was.
' passed, and the glories of our Henries and Edwards.
achieved under the old Kalendar. Other !rations,.
it is true, have made the change, but are we to fol-
low
their example? Are we, free-born Britons, to ,
take lessons from the Spaniard or the Frenchman.?
If we trace their history, we will find these ',mimes.
go;ng down, torn with wars and convulsions, which
date their origin from their adoption of the new Ka_
lender, while Russia is advancing from bai berisrn to
civilization by adhering to the old system. But if the
mania increase and the people insist upon a reform
In the Kalendar, why riot have a moderate Reform,
,(Loud laughter.) Instead of such a sweeping..
revolutiortar7 measure, why not proceed graduahy ?,
Why not proceed by seconds ins'ead of hours, and
reform the Kalendar by' degrees, so that in the couree,
1 of years we might find ourself es without agita,ioe in
the new system.—(Continued laughter.) Ar4u-
ments of this sort would ha% e applied as forcibly to
the reform in the Kalendar as they do to the mea-
sure of his Majesty's Ministers. He would a-k ,
them, then, who did most justice to the Cerwitu-
iien,—they who professed a warm and lellous rt-
spect for that Constitution, yet who apprec'ated its. .
defects arid were willing to redress them, or they:
who opposed themselves to change and improve.-.
event ? These cling to the errors and flaws super-
induced upon the fabric; we seek to free it from
the moth and rust. They would perpetuate its de-,
fects; we strive to extend its advantages—
" They but presetre the ashes, we the fame,
True to its sense, but truer to its Rune."
The Right Hon. Gentleman then sat down amidst
loud cheering which lasted for some time. The
above is but a very imperfect outline of his address,,
which was delivered with great rapidity and anima-,
dein, and occupied in the delivery exactly fifty.
minutes.
..

On the Member's leaving the Court-house, her
wile-received-by an immense concourse of persmts
with the most enthusiastic plaudits. The incor-
porated trades, all well dressed, arid wearing their'
insignia ofsashes, aprons, &c. were in a'tendance,
headed by their Convener, and with fla4s flying.'
A chair, superbly ornamented with silk, ribands,&e.'
was also in waiting, and Mr. Grant being ushered•
into 'it, the' cavalcade proceeded up the Haugh, down
Castle-street, Church-street, &c. The whole had
a very imposing appearance, and the Right Hon.,
Gentleman as he was carried along was Saluted'
from every window with cheering and waving of
handkerchiefs. As the procession reached the house'
of Mr. Edwards, Sheriff Substitute, where Mr;
Grant resided, the scene became more animated,
and a dense crowd collected from every quarter.
The gardeners had prepared a sort of triumphal arch'
of flowers and branches, beneath which the Member!
was carried, arid set down safely on the steps at Mr.'
Edwards' door.- Here he addressed the people,
thanking them kr the honour they had conferred On:
him, and applauding their loyal zeal and unanimity:
in the cause of Reform. He drew a sort of parallel.
between the progress of the Reform 8.11, and his',
progress in the chair through . the streets, which ex-
cited immense cheering and laughter. Both, he
said, had exhibited occasional deviations and declen- •
sions, but still they went forward, borne along by a
generous and united people, and both had at last'
been crowned with triumph. At the conclusion of
his address, Mr. Grant received the popular triumph
of three cheers, which were echoed far and near.
Three cheers were also given for the King, one for
the Queen, and one for Lord John Russell, after
which the trades moved off, and the populace dis-'
persed. A plentiful supply of porter was afterwards
distributed by the Member.