The Sun.
London, England, 1831-12-01 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 1, 1831.

FASHIONS FOR DECEMBER.

(From La Belle AssemblCT.)
DINNER DRESS.

A dress composed of gold-coloured gros de Tours; the co),
sage cut low; it is plain behind, but disposed across the front
in a Grecian drapery. Single bouffant sleeve, of the material
of the dress, over which is a long one of plain white blond ; it
is of the demi-irnbcolle shape ; pelerine.fichu of blond lace ; the
bouquets highly raised, and very rich, are placed horizontally
at some distance from each other, and intersected by white
satin rouleanz disposed in sharp points. It is trimmed round
the top with blond lace in a very novel style, and so as to dis.
play the whole of the throat. The ends are pointed : they crosss
upon the bosom, and fasten on the point at the back of the
waist by a rosette similar to the neck-knot, which is of gauze
ribbon to correspond with the dress. The head-dress is a
velvet beret; the colour, a rich shade of violet. The brim,
very short at the ears, but unusually deep, is ornamented on
the inside with rogues of white gauze ribbon. A bouquet of
five white ostrich feathers adorns the crown'; they droop in
different directions over the brim. Ear-rings and bracelets,
dead gold.

HADDINGTO Y COUNTY MEETING.

REFORM.

(From the Caledonian Mercury.)
On Friday, as shortly noticed in our last, a very

numerous meeting of freeholders, heritors, and

.cuants of East Lothian, tonic place in the County-

hall, Haddington, to express their approbation of
the measure of Reform in Parliament, and their con-
fidence in his Majesty's Ministers, and also to vote
an address of thanks to his Majesty for the zealousq
support and countenance which he gas throughout
given to that measure. Notwithstanding the un-
favourable nature of the weather, there were up-
wards of 500 individuals present, among whom
were a great number of the tenantry of the county.
Among others present, we observed the Earl of Cas-
silis, Sir J. G. Sinclair, Sir D. Baird, Sir David
Kinloch, Sir Thomas Dick Lauder, Mr. Steuart, of
Ablerston, Mr. Grant Suttie, Mr. Bogue, of Wood-
hall, Mr. Cadell, of Cockenzie, Provosts Dodds and
Dunlop, &e. &c.
On the motion of Air. Bogue, Sir J. G. SINCLAIR
was called to the Chair.
The CHAIRMAN said, he could assure them, in a
few words, that he was an old, staunch, and un-
changed Reformer—(Cheers)—and be trusted that
the next time he met them would be as brother_frec7

holders, on the hustings at Haddington—(Loud
climing)—as one of the triumphant party, instead
of being one of the forlorn hope, as at the last elec-
tion of the person who is said to be the representa-
tive of the county of East Lothian.—(Cheers.) Let
all Reformers wait for the result with patience—let
all their proceedings be marked by moderation in
speech, peace of conduct, and unanimity.—(Loud
cheering.)
Sir atvw BAIRD then lose, and said that before
proposing for the approbation of the meeting the
resolutions he held in hand, he would read a letter
he had received from his worthy and excellent
friend, Mr. Ferguson, of Raith, expressing his regret
at not being able to attend. Mr. Ferguson in his
letter said—

" I consider this as a most eventful period. The pas-
sing of the Reform Bill will give tranquillity, and establish
confidence in the country at large. A repeated rejection
of it may probably cause the most deplorable excitement
and confusion. It is now the nun of peace, of loyalty,
and the maintenance of the Constitution which we advo-
cate. The King, the Commons House of Parliament, and
the people, are united, more decidedly than ever, in ob-
taining the great measure of Parliamentary Reform ; and
I feel the greatest confidence that the Peers, in spite of
their recent resistance, will now, in sufficient numbers,
'eel the propriety and the necessity of giving way, and, for
the sake of tranquillity throughout the empire, decide
that the Bills do pass.
(The reading of this letter was frequently inter-
rupted by loud cheering.)
Sir DAVID BAIRD then proceeded—He said, that

if on the few occasions on which he had felt it his
duty to address public meetings he had always felt
a degree of embarrassment and diffidence, he hopr
and expected that they would appreciate those feel-
ings, and extend towards him their utmost indul-
gence on the present occasion; for when he viewed
the spectacle before him in that room—an as-
semblage which, in point of numbers and respecta-
bility, had never been equalled in the county of East
Lothian, he felt, doubly felt, the temerity of his at.
tempting to address them. When he contrasted the
present meeting with one held there in the spring,
connected with the same subject, and which was
composed of 20 individuals, for all of whom person-
ally he felt the highest respect, and with whom he
was in the habit of familiar intimacy—when he re-
collected that the majority, consisting of twelve of
that number, arrogated to themselves the power of
expressing the feelings and "f the county
or bast Lothian—he could not help saying, that the
present meeting was the one alone capable of ex-
pressing the real sentiments of the county at large.
In the novel situation in which he now stood, it
would be useless in him to enter into a particular
description of that system of representation to which
they objected, or the alterations they wished upon
it. They were all equally unanimous in opinion as
to the illiberal, unjust, and exclusive system which
prevailed—as in their approval and approbation of
the scheme of amendment which had been proposed
to that system—(Cheers)—and which, on the Sth
of October last, a majority of the House of Peers
had refused even to allow to be taken into consider-
ation.—(Cheers.) Upon what grounds the majority
of that House considered it expedient to resist the
measure, he could not imagine—a mea,ure which
had beep passed by an overwhelming majority of
the House of Commons—which had the counte-
nance and support of the King and his Ministers,
and the approbation of nine-tenths of the population-
of the empire. But it was of no use to waste time in
discussing that point. He hoped that when the mea-
sure WRS next brought before their Lordships, they
would view it with a more favourable eye, and would
show that they had made good use of the time which
had intervened—that they had discovered the error
of their former vote, and were now aroused to a
proper sense of the danger of a continued resistance
to the tide of public opinion—that they would come

forward like men anxious only for the good of their
country, and abstain from all farther opposition to
the measure.—(Great cheering.) To prove that
there had been signs and tokens of this danger, it
was only necessary to allude to the facts, that a
corps of yeomanry cavalry had refused to act longer
under an Anti-Reforming commander, who waa
otherwise much beloved and respected—and that a
Right Reverend Prelate, who intended to preach a
charity sermon, was obliged to relinquish his inten-
tion, on being assured that his' appearance in the
pulpit would be the signal for the people leaving
him to waste his eloquence on the bare
(Cheers.) He would ask what stronger proof could
be given of the intensity of public feeling in the cause
of Reform, than that even places of public worship
were not exempted from its exhibition.—(Loud
cheers.) He thought all the Reverend Prelates, if
they determined longer to oppose the Bill, ought to
take the advice of Earl Grey,—to go home and set
their houses in order, and be prepared to meet the
storm.—(Cheers.) There were other tokens which
had been given of the danger of longer resisting the
measure—some of which it was impossible not to
deplore and regret. But after the multiplicity of
petitions which had been poured into Parliament,
and the conduct of the opponents of Reform in per-
sisting in their allegations that those petitions did
not express the real sentiments of the people from
whom they emanated, it was really not very extra-
ordinary that some violent ebullitions of public feel-
ing should have taken place; but he trusted these
would not be without their effect—that they would
open the eyes of those who had kept them closed
too long ; and that when the question next came
before the House of Peers, there would not be found
any
.Noble Lord to rise in his place and move that it
be rejected—but that they would all go hand in hand
with the House of Commons and his Majesty's
Ministers in endeavouring to render the measure as
effective as possible.—(Loud cheering.) If, ho.,v-
ever, they again determined on opposition, he would
advise them to pause and consider well the manlier
in which they would conduct it. Let them beware
of applying a match to the slumbering embers of
discontent, which, if fairly kindled among the
people, might rouse them to the reckless madness of
despair—(Cheers)—and which, like the eruptions of
the famous mountain on the Italian shore, might
overwhelm them and all around in one common ruin,
, —(Much cheering.) But he could scarcely enter.

PRICE 7D.

tan a doubt of the final passing of the measure; for
after the experience they had already had of the
patience and perseverance of his Majesty's Ministers,
in the face of the late factious opposition in the
House of Commons, they might loon forward with
confidence to their using every means in their power
for the furtherance of the object to which they had
pledged themselves. in theee sentiments he hoped
the meeting would be unanimous, and he concluded
by reading the 'resolutions.
STEUART of Alderston, said, tha► after the
lible speech they had just heard, little remained for
him to say beyond simply seconding the resolutions,
and which he did with the greatest pleasure and
satisfaction, He could not omit the opportunity,
however, of sincerely congratulating the meeting on
the prospect of soon having the county represented by
a gentleman who entertained the sentiments just e;.,
pressed by his worthy friend, Sir David Baird, and
who had also the ability and talents to express those
sentiments in the manner which be had
(Cheers.) He (`Tr. S.) had more than once had
an opportunity of declaring his undiminished zeal in
the cause of Reform, and therefore it was useless to
trouble them with many words at present—he had
proved his zeal in the cause by the only vote which
it ever was in his power to give, and which he had
given with great satisfaction, in favour of the second
reading of the Reform Bill in the House of Corn-
mons.—(Loud cheers.) It wa, eiot at present ne-
cessary to discuss the principle of the Reform Bill ;
on that subject he believed all present were of one
mind, as from the nature of the requisition he did

not think it probable that any Anti-Reformer would
attend.—(Hear.) It was then merely necessary for
them to express their satisfaction with the general
measure of Reform proposed by his Majesty's Mi-
nisters ; and it was only by means of meetings like
this, that they could constitutionally approach the
throne, humbly but firmly to lay before it their com-
plaints and grievances—and to ask for redress—or
demand it if necessary.—(Loud cheers.) They
ought to do this in an orderly, peaceable, and proper
manner—and not by riot and disturbance.—( Cheers.)
It was such ast-emblages as this, which showed to
Anti-Reform agitators that they themselves were
the only enemies of the country—and from his soul
he believed that they had been at the bottom of all
the mischiefs which had arisen in England.—(Loud

cheering.) There was another good which attended
public meetings. In the House of Commons in the
spring, a declaration was made that Scotland and
Scotchmen were indifferent to Reform ; and what
was the result 7 Why, that the who!e country rose
as in a body, from one end to the other, to give tie
lie to the assertion—and in the late elections exerted

every effort in their power to return Members who
would support a Reform in the representation.—
(Cheers.) And what had occurred since ? Why,
one gentleman had come forward in the House, and

declared himself convinced of his error, and that he
would now gladly give his support to the Bill.—
(Cheers.) Was it therefore unreasonable to expect
that the 199 Peers who recently rejected the B:11

on the ground that there was a re-action, might be
convinced by what they had since seen of their error
—and that the people were if possible more bent
than ever on having Reform—(Cheers)—that wbut
they saw this, even the Right Rev. Prelates them-
.

selves might be inclined to exercise a little Christian
charity, and to act upon the golden adage of " Do as
you would wish to be done by"—(lmmense cheer-
ing)—and that they would concede to the people
some of their privileges, on the principle that they
would not like to be deprived of the privileges they
enjoyed. He earnestly trusted that they
listen to reason while the people were still patient,
and not by their obstinacy and injustice drive them
to acts of desperation, which be trusted never would
asain disgraca the cause of Reform.—(Loud cheer
ing.) Against the first resolution of thanks to our
patriotic King, he thought not one voice could be
lifted in the country. He considered that his con-
sistency of conduct in forwarding this great measure
was beyond all praise, that it must be approved of
by every one—but as Reformers, the meetin:er
was especially called upon to express their deepest
gratitude for the manner in which his Majesty had
supported his Ministers in the glorious struggle
which they had already made in the cause.—
(Cheers.) He trusted that, with the support of
such a master, the servants of the Crown would be
speedily enabled to carry a measure of Reform not
less efficient than the one last proposed, and which
he was sure would make the reign of the King—
and he hoped it would be long—one of peace and
tranquillity. Future ages would speak of it, and
the unbiassed pages of history, in recording the
events of the 19th century, would admit that the
reign of William IV. was marked by an event of
greater importance, and conferred more real benefit
on his subjects, than all the bloody though brilliant
victories of the preceding reigns. On the next resolu-
tion, expressing confidence in his Majesty's Ministee s,
there might be a difference of opinion ; but eighteen
millions of the people had expressed that confidence,
while only two millions, meeting in holes and cor-
ners, were opposed to them.—(Cheers.) He, how-
ever, thought them well entitled to thanks for the
zeal and honesty with which they had conducted
the late contest. Some of their enemies designated
the measure as revolutionary, but for his part he

would rather be found in the ranks with such names
as Russell, Howard, Spencer, and Stanley, sup-
porting the great measure of Reform, than stand
along with certain demagogues who opposed it.—
(Cheers.) That the Ministers would introduce and
carry through a measure not less efficient than the
last, he had not the slightest doubt, and therefore
he was averse to any thing like dictation as to the
manner in which they should proceed. He cordially
seconded the resolutions.
The CIIAIRMAY then put the resolutions seriatim,
which were carried by acclamations.
Sir DAVID KINLOCH rose to propose an address
to the King, founded on the resolutions, and a--
Rued the meeting that if he could not support Lis
motion with the eloquence of the speakers who had
preceded him, it was not from any want of zeal, or
from any Luke warmness on his part in the glorious
cause of Reform—(Cheers)—and that if he had
been silent on former occasions, he had the greatest
pleasure now in declaring his unaltered opinion, and
his hearty concurrence in all that had been said in
praise of Reform. He was sure that, however high
Britain stood in the rank of nations, the completion
of the measure of Reform would raise her still
higher, and would raise her to a pitch of grandeur
never yet seen, or read, or heard of.—(Cheers.) lle
felt that the justice of the measure was its best sup-
port, and would eventually cause it to triumph over
all its enemies. They had already expressed their
confidence in his Majesty's Ministers ; but it was
still their duty, and a delighful one, to pay a tribute
—a well merited tribute—of gratitude to their pa-
triotic King, who had, if it were possible, doubly
ennobled himself by the manner in which he had
supported his Ministers, and had placed his great-
ness on the solid basis of having identified himself
with the wishes and welfare of his people.—(Cheei,.)
Sir THOMAS DICK LAUDER seconded the address.
It was not many months ago since he had occasion
to say a few words in that room, when called upon
to second Mr. Ferguson, of Raitb, in his nomina-
tion of his honourable friend Sir David Baird as a
fit person to represent that highly important agricul-
tural county in Parliament. He did so, as he be-
lieved he had stated at the time, from a conviction
. of Sir David's acknowledged devotion to the [peat
- cause of Reform, to which cause he (Sir T.) had