The Sun.
London, England, 1831-10-18 00:00:00

CARLISLE REFORM MEETING.

( Abridged front the Carlisle Journal of Saturday.)
We stated in our last that the Lords would in all pro-
bability come to a division on Friday night. This turned
out to be the fact. On Saturday and Sunday there was
a feverish anxiety observable in the public wind here to
know the result. Men gathered in groups upon the
streets to discuss the probabilities of success and to consi
der the chances of defeat. The arrival of the Manchester
coaches about ten o'clock on Sunday evening, at length
brought the wished-for intelligence. The division, it will
be seen, did not take place till near six o'clock on Satur-
day morning, and within an hour afterwards the spirited
proprietor of The Sun newspaper sent off expresses to all
parts of the country with the fatal intelligence, and a re-
port of the night's debate. Thus by his spirited exertions
the news was conveyed here (a distance of 305 miles) in
less than forty hours. Late as the hour was when the in-
telligence arrived here, it soon spread through the town,
and was generally received with " curses, not loud but
deep."
At an early hour next morning numbers of people ga-
thered in the street to learn additional particulars, and
gloom and disappointment were visible in every counte-
nance. In the course of the forenoon the following notice

was issued :
" PUBLIC MEETING THIS DAY.
" The tradesmen of Carlisle are respectfully requested to close
their 'hops, warehouses, &c., this day, at one o'clock, to testify
their deep sorrow at the rejection of the Reform Bill.
" By order of the Committee of the Reform Association,
" Oct, ber 10, MI. " JAMES STEEL, Sec."
By the appointed hour almost every shop in the town
was closed. Immediately after the shops were closed,
hundreds of persons were seen hurrying towards the Swifts,
the place appointed fur holding the meeting. Fur nearly
half an hour the people continued to pour down the streets
in one unbrcken stream—in fact, the whole male population
of the city was upon the move, to take part in the inte-
resting proceedings. Large bodies of men also arrived
front several of the neighbouring villages—particularly
from Dalston, Warwick, Sec. About half-past one o'clock
the Caldewgate and Dalston men arrived upon the ground
in an immense body, with a band of music and eight or
nine flags. Amongst the latter was the large flag which
attracted so much attention at the election, with the full-
length portrait of the King, bearing in his hand a copy of
the Bill ; one of the flees was a tri-colour ; another was
inscribed "James and Independence ;" a fourth bore the
motto, " Who would be free themselves must strike the
blow." The mottoes on the other flags we did not ascer-
tain ; but the whole of the banners bad pieces of black
crape hung to them.
About half-past one the Committee of the Association,
accompanied by a great number of gentlemen, and the
principal tradesmen in the city, took their station upon
the bank, and were received with three cheers. The ap-
pearance of the meeting at this time was most imposing ;
the number of persons present being as nearly as we can
calculate about twelve thousand.
Joni. threw, Esq. then came forward, and was re-
ceived with three hearty cheers. He said—Friends and
fellow-countrymen—Being called upon to take the chair
nn this occasion, I met confess that I appear before you
tinder feelings of great disappointment, but at the saute
time without one particle of despondency, because I am
sore we are all united in a good, true, righteous, and holy
ctuse, and we have nothing to do but go on—united as
one man—(" We are," "we will")—and the dey will be
our own ; for who is there to stand against us ?
(Cheers.) I hope the Lords have acted from misinforma-
tion. They know not the feeling of the country. They
have been told by the public Press—l mean by a small
portion of it in their employ—that the people were cool-
ing towards the Bill ; but they have been grievously mis-
taken—they have been most wofully misled.—(Applause.)
I trust such meetings as this, held, as they will be, all
ewer the country, will open their eyes.—(Cheers.) Our
duty is clear we must remain firm, united, undaunted—
and keep the peace.—(Tremendous cheering, and shout.
of " We will.") I call on you, then, to hold up your hands
to keep the peace.—(An immense forest of hands was
held up amidst great cheering.) I know you will keep
the peace (for yon possess more good sense titan you get
credit for)—l am certain you will, for the only chance of
failure is in a contrary course.
Mr. FERGUSON-Gentlemen-Keep the peace, and all
is save.—(Loud cheering.) Our object is, to send a
petition to our excellent and patriotic Sovereign, request-
ing him to use that power which the Constitution affords
him, to create a sufficient number of Peers to meet the
exigency of the occasion.--(Cheers—A voice in the
crowd, " We want no more Peers—there's plenty of thesis
to keep."—Laughter.) And also to send a memorial to
Earl Grey, to tell him and his colleagues not to he dis-
couraged—and that we place confidence in the wisdom,
ability, and independence of his Ministry.—(Cheers.)
And now one word more as to what Mr. Dixon has said
to you. Above all things keep the peace —(" We will,
we will," and great cheering.) Let us he firm, and use
every constitutional means to carry this question, but let
eta keep the peace. Mr. Ferguson concluded by propos-
ing that the petition be presented to the King.
The CHAIRMAN, on account of the indisposition of Mr.
Ferguson, read the petition.
G. G. Mousse:a-, Esq.—Gentlemen, have great
pleasure in seconding the address to his Majesty—(Cheer-
ing)—concurring as I do, in every word it contain,. I
ars satisfied that we shall win our way, and gain our pr.
pooe.—(Cheers.) I have only to reiterate a single senti-
ment—Peace, and avoid disturbance. The only chance
the Opposition have, is in the event of commotion.
The Criatnataar then put the question, which was car-
,ried amidst loud and long-continued cheering.
HENRY A. Anew env, E.g., of Newhiggin-hall, then
prestvited himself, and was received with three cheers.
He seird,—Friends and fellow-countrymen, it is under
feelings a strong agitation, but at the same time under a
sense of imperative duty, that I now present myself before
you to propose the memorial I hold in my hands. The
Learned Gentleman then read a memorial.—Gentlemen,
I hope it will be adopted without a dissentient voice, like
the petition which has just passed. I hope we shall all be
unanimous too in keeping the peace; and I was much gra-
tified at seeing you all bind yourselves to do so, when the
Chairman put it to you ; for by so doing we shall ensure
eucceas.—(Hear, beer.) The petition which you have
passed is to request his Majesty to create a sufficient num-
ber of Peers : this 1 have no doubt will be the course
adopted ; and then we shall see the Bill passed.--(Cheers.)
The only thing with us ought to be union, harmony, and
co-operation. Be not riotous, or all is lust.(Hear.)
That is tie point which we ought all to remember. I ap •
peal also to the advice given by a newspaper in this town—
there are two descriptions of newspapers in this town.—
(" Aye, aye, we all know the Patriot.") That to which
J allude is one which has honestly and consistently, from
the commencement of its career, advocated the rights of
the people, and the Editor has always given to the people
good advice, and to whom, as I have said on a former
occasion, and in another place, we are in a great measure
indebted for the triumph of the last county election. I
allude to a paper which has been iesusd by the Editor of
that paper this morning, at least it bears the meek of that
offitte, sod I think, front the style of compositiou, it is his;
written in a spirit which I perfectly agree with, and in
words much better than I could cofavey to you.
" Preserve the peace; but show by your eneeo and firmne,s
that you are not to be thwarted in a measure, which season,
justice, and the security of the empire demand---aiid ;.n a few
days all will be well."
To this sentiment I cordially etetsaelibe.—(Great cheering,
mad cries of " Let us give three cheers for Mr. Steel, the
Editor," which were given.) Mr. A. concluded, by slain
desiring them to keep the peace, and await the result of
their present course, and retired amidst loud cheering.
T. Ramsit.ty, Esq. seconded the motion.
The CHA MILAN then put the tneanorial, which was
carried unanimously, :and followed by three cheers.
Mr. if. PEA RSON, juu., treat stood forward, and was
received with three cheers. Three months ago the people
were willing ,to say to the Aristocracyo " pass us the Bil,
the whole Bill, crid nothieg but the Bill, and we will rest
content, we will traieble you with no further demands,"
The Aristocracy boat Phtisen to reject their part of the
compact, and now the people are at liberty to demand
more.—(Cheers.) I say, I,4en, let us demand snore;
let us superadd to our former de:lie:lds that grand palla-
dium of liberty, the vote by ballot.---(Lond and continued
cheering.) The mitre I am informed has been thrown
into the scale against us ; and twenty-two Out of twenty-
four Bishops have chosen to vote against the people.-0
cry in the crowd We want no Biabope," " Turn then]
out.") Does not then the reflection force itzell on your
minds ; the public why should /
be called upon to pay ten
millions a year (the atnount I behave of Church property
in Great Britain) to an establishment that has always op-
posed the liberties of the people—(APPlause),--that has
a' ways--
The Cirsinatss here interposed ; be said Le could not
allow such a sentiment to paste uncontradicted that the
Church had always opposed the liberties of tlitveep,e,fofepnlec:,
for that was not the fact. This appeared to
g
to a part of the meeting, and there were shouts ottii ' t
stop him, Mr. Dixon," " Go on,
ag.ilOSt US ; ~
hearty, 6 me
Bishops plenty on't—they were always
(Hisses and applause were mingled for some time ; at
length the noise somewhat subsided,) and
Mr. If. PEA RSON again stood forward and continued.
bow to the decision of the chair, and I am willing to
eeehit v what I have tali!, by confeseing that there have been

periods in our history when the Church has been on the
side of liberty.—(" No, never ; they were always against
us.") But I was alluding more particularly to the pre-
sent times; however, I will drop the subject.—(Cries of
" go on," mingled with groans and cheers.) I ant convinced
that many of the Peers are now quailing under the votes
they have given, many of them are perchance at this mo-
ment reflecting that forty years ago France was in posses-.
sion of as proud, as rich, as unbending an aristocracy as
we have now in England ; that aristocracy refused to
concede in time to popular demands, and now what is it?
The ghost of departed grandeur—the shadow of a shade.
—(Much cheering.) With this example before their eyes,
the aristocracy of England are perhaps already sensible
that they have let slip the time for concession,—that they
have lingered on the beach till the return of the spring
tide has rendered retreat no longer practicable. I beg
leave to move a vote of thanks to our excellent Chairman,
Mr. John Dixon.—(Cheers, mingled with some shouts of
dissent followed the proposition, a part of the crowd ap-
pearing to be somewhat out of humour with the worthy
Chairman on account of his previous interposition. )
Mr. DIXON was about to return thanks, when
Mr. AnuorrsY said he believed the motion was not
carried according to the usual form, it not having been
seconded, and he, therefore, wished to do so.
The motion was carried, and three times three cheers
followed.
Mr. Dixost returned thanks. One word as to the
Church. I am sorry that the Bishops have taken the
part which they have.—(" We don't want any Bishops.")
No man can regret it more than I do ; but the reason why
I called Mr. Pearson to order was, because he said they
had been invariably found marshalled against the liberties
of the people—a thing historically untrue.—(" Oh, say
nothing for them,"—" Away with. them.") Sorry I am
that they should have taken what I think an erroneous
view of the question of Reform ; yet 1 know that there
were times when they stood up for our privileges.—
(Cheers—" Aye, but that's long since.") The Chairman
then concluded by desiring them to sign the memorial as
speedily as possible.
The business of the meeting having been concluded, the
Chairman called upon the people to give three cheers for
the King, which they did accordingly, and with great en-
thusiasm ; and after doing this, the meeting, with a spon-
taneous feeling, gave unrequested, three hearty cheers more
for Earl Grey, and then separated.
The business of the meeting did not terminate until
after three o'clock ; at half-past five the sheets placed at
the different booksellers' shops were called in, when the
signatures amounted to five thousand two hundred and
sixty—being by far the largest number ever attached to a
petition from this city, and the t‘ hole obtained in little
more than two hours. . .

The petition to the King was signed by the Chairman
on behalf of the meeting, and forwarded to the Lord Chan-
cellor for presentation.
Yesterday (Friday) morning the following answer was
received from Earl Grey :

" Downing-street, Oct 122, 1831,

Sin,—l am desired by Lord Grey to acknowledge the receipt
of your letter, and of the memorial of the inhabitants of Carlisle.
" It has afforded him the sincerest pleasure to hear that no
disturbance of the public peace has occurred at Carlisle, and he
desires me to offer to you, on behalf of those who have signed
the memorial, his warmest acknowledgment of the flattering
confidence in his colleagues and himself expressed by them.
" I have the honour to be, &c.
" To John Dixon' Esq. " CIIAS. WOOD."
Monday passed off in perfect quietness. On Tuesday,
however, it was understood that the Bishop of this diocese,
who bad given his proxy against the Bill, had arrived at
his seat at Rose Castle. It was soon resolved upon by
the working classes in Caldewgate, to burn him in effigy.
Between seven and eight o'clock in the evening, the streets
were completely filled with people ; and a litt'e before the
latter hour the procession set off from Caldewgate.
Several men bearing torches upon poles preceded the
effigy, which was dressed in full canonicals, with a placard
upon its breast, and inscribed upon it—" The plunderer of
the people." Behind this was another effigy representing
the devil, who kept close at the back of the other during
the whole time of the procession, as if in conversation with
it. These were surrounded and accompanied by a variety
of banners, and music, and we should think, at least five
or six thousand people. After parading the streets, the
effigies.were brought to the Market-place, and burned at
the Cross, amid the acclamations of the multitude,--a
young wag tolling the fire-bell in the Town-hall, as a
funeral knell, and the musicians playing "God save the
King." After the conflagration the crowd quietly dis-
persed. We understand another effigy of the Bishop was
burned at Daiston (about a mile from his Lordship's seat)
on the following evening.