The Sun.
London, England, 1831-05-11 00:00:00

between crimes directed against property, and those
which were attended with violence and bloodshed
Further, he thought it inexpedient that the Attor-
ney-General should be allowed to file ex-officio in-
formations. He thought that no man should be pte
upon his trial until a grand jury bad found a bib
against him. One point more, and lie would
trouble the meeting no further. He confessed that
lie was much surprised with respect to salad had
taken place relative to a gentleman named Lawson,
who had been brought before the House of Lords
for having, as it was said by them, committed a
breach of their privileges by publishing some stric-
tures on the speech of a Peer. He was in the
House of Lords when the question was brought for-
ward, and he heard with astonishment the argu-
ments urged in behalf of the proceedings aga'n.t Mr.
Lawson. They struck hint at the time as being
most singular, and when he went home he took the
best means he could of making himself acquainted
with the legal authorities on which the arguments
rested. He could now most solemnly and conscien-
tiously declare his belief, that the whole branch of
this species of law stood on the most uncertain
ground, and was involved in the greatest possible
obscurity. It rested on the authority of another
case of alleged libel, of the following nature :—A
Paper published at Cambridge, called the Intelli-
sencer, published what the late Bishop of Llandaff
considered an attack upon him. The Bishop went
to the house of Lords, and complained of it as a
breach of privilege. The House was not sitting
at the time, therefore there was no interrup-
tion of their proceedings; but the Bishop said he
bad been attacked by a man sixty miles from Lon-
don, and that it was necessary to bring the offender
before the House of Lords. Was this a proper way
to support the rights of the House of Peers ? Hr
wished the House of Peers to be maintained ;
but when they put forth pretensions to the exercise
of such powers as these, they ought to sa•isfy the
public mind that they rested on good sense arid
justice. When was the precedent to which he re-
ferred established? Mr. Pitt was then in full pos-
session of his power, and might have done what he
liked with Lords and Commons. This exertion of
power on the part of the House of Peers rested on
no authority that he could ascertain, except such as
would justify any proceeding of arty description
whatever. He would now take his leave of the
meeting, congratulating them once more on the
prospect of the boroughmongers being put down
for e'er. The learned gentleman concluded by
nominating Mr. Byng.
Mr. C. CALVERT, M. P. seconded the nomination.
Sir J. SCOTT LILLEY again appeared before the
elec, ors of Middlesex to repeat the nomination of
Mr. Hume, their late Member.—(Applause )
Mr. YOUNG seconded the nomination.
Mr. PORTER wished to put some questions' to the
candidates before they were proposed to the free-
holders. Some rumours had reached his ears, that
it was not the intention of Ministers to introduce
the Reform Bill immediately upon the assembling
of Parliament. He wished to ask the candidates,
and he required a distinct answer, without mental
reservation, whether, if on the opening of Parlia-
ment, an attempt should be made to delay the in-
troduction of the Bill, the whole Bill, and nothing
but the Bill, they would do every thing in their
power to urge Ministers to bring it forward imme-
diately
Mr. BYNG came forward, and was received with
cheers. He was always willing to answer any
question which a freeholder might think proper to
put to him. He could not imagine that Ministers
would be stupid enough to delay the introduction
of the Reform Bill. Life was uncertain ; the King
might be snatched from the country in a moment,
and therefore Ministers would be worse than mad to
postpone the introduction of the measure for a day
longer than was absolutely necessary.—(Applause.)
Mr. HUME presented himself amidst general ap- '
plause. He hoped the answer which he should give
to the question proposed to him would put at rest
the rumours which bad been circulated by the
enemies of the cause, that Ministers were so weak
and so little acquainted with the feeling of the people
as to think of postponing the introduction of the
measure. He was for the Bill, the whole Bill, and
nothing but the Bill, the first thing after the House
should meet.—(Cheers.) If there should be any
delay, he would himself bring the question before
the House, and he had not the least doubt of being
supported.—(Applause.) He had something more
satisfactory to tell the people. He was authorised
by a Minister of the Cabinet to declare tbat.no such
intention as that imputed to them ever existed on
their parts, and that the first business after the as-
sembling of Parliament would be, the introduction
of the Bill, and the completion of the great work
which had been commenced.—(Continued cheers.)
Mr. WAKLEY expressed himself dissatisfied with
the answer given by Mr. Byng, and therefore re-
quested that gentleman to answer the following
questions :—lsr, Would he endeavour to make Mi-
nisters introduce the Bill, if there should be any
delay ? 2d, Would he vote for the disfranchise-
ment of the rotten boroughs 3d, Would he vote
for schedule B. ? 4th, Would he offer any opposi-
tion to any proposed alteration of the clause which
gave to 101. householders the right of voting?
Mr. BYNG expressed his surprise that the gentle-
man should not have understood his former answer.
He could assure that gentleman that Reform was a
favourite measure with him before he (Mr. Wakley)
was born. He would certainty urge Ministers to
introduce the Bill, if there should be any delay,
which, however, it was impossible to anticipate.
He would also vote for schedule A. and 8., and for
giving the franchise to every man who rented a
house of 101. a year. He might give his sanction to
some verbal alterations of the measure, but to no
change of its spirit. He considered himself elected
to support " the Bill, the whole Bill, and nothing
but the Bill."

Colonel JONES, though he felt perfectly satisfied
with the assurance which the candidates had given,
wished, for the satisfaction of an elector, to put
another question to them, namely, whether, if they
should vote on any question contrary to the ex-
pressed feelings of the county, they would resign
their seats ?—(Disapprobation.)
Mr. 111;31E was ready to give a reply to any
question which admitted of a decided answer; but
he submitted that it was impossible to do so with
respect to the question now proposed to him. He
would not admit that he went into Parliament to
do only what individuals dictated to him. lle must
be allowed to exercise his own judgment.
No other person having been nominated, the
Sheriffs declared Messrs. Byng and flume duly
elected.

Mr. BYNG said he started in life with two great
objects i❑ view. One was to establish religious free-
dom in this country, and the other was to effect a
Reform in the representation of the Commons House
of Parliament. When he last had the pleasure of
meeting his constituents on that spot, the first of
those objects was achieved, bur little did he then
think that he should so soon have to congratulate
the freeholders of Middlesex on the certain prospect
of the accomplishment of the second, which wag if
post ale of greater importance than the other. The
Bill was called revolutionary, but he thought it
would rend to promote the peace and happiness of
the country. Those persons were not likely to de-
stroy a Constitution which conferred that privilege
on t.hem.—(Applause.).

Mr. HUME said that he hoped that at the next
election, which he believed would take place in
si
(Applause)—electors would seek fortll
months—
persons to represent them, instead of allowing them.
selves to be canvassed. It was incredible, that any
man who meant to act honestly would spend a for-
tune in getting hirnielf into Parliament. Electors
also should take the advice which had been given
them, and Reform themselves. If they allowed men
to buy them, they should not complain that they
were sold. On the present occasion the electors had
come forward boldly to maintain their rights, and,
with few exceptions had rejectei the bribes ffered
them. The Duke of Newcastle said he might do