The Sun.
London, England, 1831-06-30 00:00:00

COURT OF CO‘IMON COUsc:l,

Yesterday a Court was held for the despatch of busin as.

TILE REFOILDI BILL.

Mr. RICHARD TAYLOR said, that as he saw two of the

\lembers for the city in the Court, he felt anxicus to put a
luestion relative to a subject on which they Were all
leeply interested. He alluded to the new Reform Bill,
into which one clause had been introduced which had
caused some degree of alarm amongst his neighbours, and
no doubt amongst those who belonged to o.her wards in
the city. That clause went to deprive all persons who did
not pay their rents half-yearly of the right to vote at elec-
iona, and was calculated in a great measure to frustrate
the avowed and real object of the great measure. It hap-
opbe
Iniegtel
dththate ttheen
aunntesx
tpoi unexpired
yl etahsee r orfenvtass tlnnuain.itley.rrlys of;
slion
tubs east
not only small tenants, but very large ours, would, if the
clause remained unaltered, be denied tie very privilege
which the Bill was intended to secure for their.. He
wished to be distinctly understood as not meaning to east
Cie slightest imputation upon his Majesty's Government by
expressing his anxiety on the subject ; but he thought
that some communication should be made to Ministers, as
soon as possible, relative to the clause.—(Hear, hear. )
Alderman WOOD was sure the attention of the House
would be called to the subject in due time. He could,
vithout fear of contradiction, assert that the clause re-
quiring the half-yearly discharge of rents was never in-
tended to operate against those tenants who paid quarterly,
but merely pointed at such tenants as paid weekly, and
who, of course, were not to be included in the con-
stituency.—(Hear, hear.) He thought it, however, his
duty to call the notice of the Court to another clause which
..iertainly appeared to him to be rather an extraordinary
ine. It appeared that several of the freeholders of the city
of London would be allowed to vote as constituentslor the
county of Middlesex, and of course, according to the prin-
ciple of the Bill, which went to interdict the voting of
one person for two places, a leaseholder at 101. a year rent
would have a vote for the city, while the freeholder would
lave no vote there. If, however, the house happened to be
only of the value of 40s. then the freeholder would have a
vote, while the leaseholder would not possess any privilege
of the kind. He looked upon such a regulation in the
Bill as calculated to affect the city of London very mate-
rially, and he intended to have a communication with his
Majesty's Ministers on the subject without delay, confident
of their disposition to introduce any necessary remedial
,Isuse in a Bill which was to do so much fut. the rest of the
community.
Mr. STEVENS felt convinced that the first clause quoted
must have arisen from error. He wished the Committee
to watch the proceedings of the Reform Bill with care.
Be was far from rising to express the most remote suspi-
cion of any., thing like deception upon the part of Minis-
ters—(Cheers)—but while the clause existed, there would
exist a very strong sensation throughout the city, and he
should therefore move, that copies of Lord Russell's Re-
form Bill be laid before the Committee appointed to watch
the Bill, and that the Committee should report thereupon
to the Court.

Mr. TArtoc. serondel the mai ill, which v. as agr to
unanimotbly.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sla,—Your Paper has uniformly been characterised by
its literary taste, as well as by its merits as a political
journal. Perceiving and admiring this, I tender you the
first of a few passages, in connection with polite literature.
I will pen them with as much precision and neatness as I
can command. You have many intelligent readers to
whom a literary passage would be peculiarly reheating.
My uniform aim shall be to embody valuable sentiment in
accurate expression.
I remain, Sir, with much respect, T. W.

THE EXCELLENCES OF THE LATE MRS. SIDDONS,
A SHORT PASSAGE PENNED AFTER HEARING OF
HER DECEASE.

An eye of fire—a brow of massive thought,
And mind of giant-reach, are gone for ever !" A NONVMOUS.

A very general and powerful impression has recently
been produced on the public mind by the decease of this
unrivalled tragic actress ; and while there are many indi-
viduals of taste and discrimination living to remember her,
or any recorded memorials of her powers in existence, the
genius she displayed, and the prodigious effect she secured,
will not be forgotten. The acting of Mrs. Siddons was
like the poetry of Milton—sublime, awful, and over-
' whelming ; there was no tawdriness—no tinsel—no mere
display : it was not polish only or principally; the term
prettiness would not apply to it ; but there was great ma-
jesty, peculiar and electric power, and an amazing deve-
lopement of eloquence. Possessing a fine person, a com-
manding countenance, and an eye of lightning, she had
much to fix attention; and when her profound acquaintance
with Shakepeare—her mastery over the passions—her im-
pressive and majestic elocution—her developement of deep
and elevated thought—her intense and impassioned feeling
—her sound and discriminating judgment—her sublime
imagination, are contemplated, it is apparent that there
was a combination of qualities amply sufficient to ensure
her a deathless reputation. Her personation of Queen
Katherine and Lady Macbeth produced an impression
which no time can obliterate ; and her representation of
several characters which are so exceedingly touching, was
so natural, so vivid, so powerful, in the pathos and sensi-
bility developed, that the exhibition given by this extra-
ordinary woman, not only affected and subdued, but
paralysed and overwhelmed the mind; sow that Mrs.
Sid lons has departed this life, we feel that (by thousands
who could appreciate her excellence) a loss has been sus-
tained which can scarcely be estimated too highly ; for a
range of thought so lofty, imagination so majestic, and
feeling so profound and impassioned, we cannot surp.se
will be surpassed, if rivalled ngain.

The sun Ni; lost his fire,
" And stars can only shoot their beams."

There is one thing however associated with this inimi-
table tragedian, on which I uniformly feel much pleasure
in dwelling, namely, the excellent and unblemished moral
character which she was enabltd, during life, to exemplify
and ma;ntaim Among her family she was most highly
esteemed, and by a widely-extended social circle she was,
for her admirable qualities of mind and heart, peculiarly
beloved. Every thing about her in private life was hind,
amiable, and exemplary. Now, when her unrivalled lime
is contemplated, this is almost wonderful. The life of a
popular actress, especially if there be any fascination of
person, is almost one unvarying scene of temptation.
Snares are laid to seduce and entrap ht r from every quarter,
lures of the most dangerous and bewitching kind are con-
stantly held out to her, and that female who is unwilling
to yield, must be the possessor of much soundness of prin_
eiple, and be characterised by great firmness of purpose.
Now, these enviable qualities were exemplified by the late
Mrs. Siddons ; she was encircled by innumerable poll.,
but did not fall into them ; and though the mast illus-
trious personages were lavish in the expressions of their ad-
miration of her transcendant genius, her modesty, her un-
assuming deportment, her excellence of principle, wero
preserved inviolate, till the period of her decease—

gg And is not this her brightest crown ?"

What a happy thing it would be for the stage if all our
actresses, in this respect, resembled the late Mrs. Siddons!
But, unfortunately, the British Stage has been materially
degraded and injured by the irregularities of its female
performers. Many of them develope exquisite talents, but
cultivate abominable principles; and their levity—their
boldness—their wantonness—perfectly disgust every person
of correct thought and feeling. It is a pleasing circum-
stance, however, that there arc several ladies now living
whose moral character and deportment are unblemished,
and among them Miss Stephens and Miss Fanny Kemble
stand out_prominently. Long may they continue thus to
shine, not like dark, wandering, baleful stars, but resem-
bling planets of pure and brilliant radiance, without being
defaced or obscured by any thing which encircles them.
England can scarcely expect to witness another Mrs.
Siddons ; but I hope several will arise to develop some,
thing of her commanding powers; and as her relative,
Miss F. Kemhle, has exhibited so much talent already, I
trust tbo public as she advances in years will have that
development of original and lofty intellect, which will
remind us in some degree of the almost superhuman energy
and elevation which Mrs. Siddons in her best days ex-
emplified. But, whatever should occur, may the moral
character of the deceased Mrs. Siddons never be forgotten.
The genius of an actress may be great,

" But the charm lies here."

INTERESTING NEW PUBLICATIONS.—TiIe
following are just published by Messrs COLBLTRN and
BENTLEY, New Burlington-street Dr. Paris's Life
of Sir Humphry Davy, 2 vols. Bvo. " A very va-
luable addition to the stores of biographical literature."—
Spectator. 2. Pin Money, by the Authoress of Manners
of the Day, 3 vols. " This is a novel of extraordinary
Merit. The authoress has an admirable acquaintance
with the habits, the foibles, and the vices of the society
she bas delineated."—Morning Post. 3. The Life of
standard works that are calculated to maintain the purity
Fuseli, by Jour; KNOWLES, E-q., 3 vols. "As (ine of the
of English literature, we strongly recommend le
tiful volumes to the publie."—MonthlyaßALie
Ell. 11
, yob..
Corbet, or the Emigrants,
'— Spectator,
and excite the sympathies, it is this arrest the ettent:(.ll,
" If ever a didactic work vas made