The Sun.
London, England, 1831-03-15 00:00:00

GLASG OW.

( Abridged from the Glasgow Eoeoing Post of Saturday.)
This forenooft, a numerous and highly respectable
meeting of the merchants, bankers, manufacturers, traders,
and inhabitants of Glaseow, called by requisition, was
held in the Court Hall, for the purpose of addressing the
King, and petitioning both Houses of Parliament in favour
of the Ministerial plan of Reform. Before the hour of
meeting the Hall was crowded. At twelve o'clock the
Committee entered, and were received with applause. Mr.
Colin Dunlop proposed that Baillie Flouting take the
Chair, which was carried with acclamation.
Mr. CuAwroan read the requisition.
Baillie FLzmiNG read a letter from the Lord Provost,
recommending a meeting of the Town Council to support
Ministers, to be held on the 18th, when he would be
home, in order that the petition might be sent up by the
21st. _ _ _

Mr. GRAHAMS, of Whitehill, said Mr. Chairoaan and
fellow citizens, experience has at last produced in the
minds of the great body of the people of Britain, a firm
and decided conviction, that nothing can save the country
from destruction but a thorough and effectual Reform of
the representation in the Commons House of Parliament.
It will be in vain now for any hireling orator, author, or
any corrupt Member of Parliament, to attempt to per-
suade the people that a Reformed House of Commons
would ever impose taxes on this country for the purpose
of restoring to their thrones foreign despots who had been
banished by their subjects, or for preventing foreign
nations from altering or modelling their Governments and
laws at their own pleasure ; or that a Reformed House of
Commons would allow millions from the taxes, wrung
from the suffering people of Britain, to be jobbed, thrown
away in erecting fortifications, snaking canals and other
works for the defence of Canada, or in maintaining herds
of worthless parasites for governing, or rather mis-governing
the Cape of Good Hope, and a boundless list of other useless
appendages—or in multiplying idle and extravagant
sinecurists, under the title of Ambassadors, for the encou-
ragement of despotism in every corner of Europe. I will
not trespass further on your time, by attempting, even
shortly, to allude to any of the other abuses which would
be abolished by a Reformed Parliament. I will only add,
that it never could be made subject of grave discussion,
debate, and deliberation before a Reformed House of Com-
mon', whether British citizens and ships, and these alone,
Klima he entirely secluded from visiting to trade in the
Chimera seas, or with China, the most extensive, most
populous, and retest commercial of all foreign countries,
for the sole beeeht of a set of monopolists, who hold their
meetings in LI idenhall-street, London. Such a Reformed
House of Commons will now be obtained if the measure
which Ministers, with the approbation of their Sovereign,
have lirouelit before Parliament, be carried into effect.—
By this hoot at and bold measure, Ministers have fully and
nobly redeemed all the pledges given by them on their en-
tering into office. It is the duty, therefore, of all honest
men to unite their exertions for giving cordial support to
the upright and excellent measure proposed by Ministers.
..—(Cheers.) He then moved the first resolution.
Professor Myraee, in seconding the resolution, said,
from one end of the kingdom to the other the present
plan of Ministers was considered an efficient and effectual
Be'orm of Parliamentary abuses.—(Great applause.)
Sir D. K. SANDFORD, in moving the second resolu-
tion said, before adverting to the snore peculiar topics of
the present discussion, will you permit me, sir, to ex-
press my delight—my triumph,—at again beholding a
great public assemblage of the Reformers of Glasgow,
graced once more with magisterial presence; graced, too,
with the presence of the two venerable gentlemen who
have preceded me, whom I may take leave to call the pa-
triarchs of liberal opinion in this place, and met in cele-
bration of a victorious cause.—(Cheers.) Victorious I
well may term it, when the battle of argument and elo-
quence has been elsewhere fought and won ; when it has
come to a mere contest of power between the oligarchy
on the one band, and the King, Cabinet, and people on
the other ; and when, such being the conditions of the
combat, there cannot be a doubt of its result.—(Cheers.)
I can ask you now, not for the voice of resolute entreaty,
but for the cheer of grateful acclamation.—(Cheers.) The
charter of completed freedom—the true Magna Charta—
th national Magna Charta—in the honour and advantages
of which all parts of the empire are equally included, is
before you. Sir, it appears to me that by this memorable
act Ministers have stamped the seal upon the bond of their
integrity, and have filled almost to the brim the chalice of
their bounty. Had I but to dictate further wishes, in
or ler to their being accomplished, I scarce know how to
frame them—had I the omnipotent wand of an enchanter
placed within my grasp, I know not for what I should
wave it. We are to thank a paternal Monarch for the
nsble part which he has played in the emancipation of his
s sbjects—(Cheers)—we are to thank a high-minded Ca-
bnct for their prompt and liberal reply to the petitions of
an aroused and anxious people ; we are to imply our gra-
titude to those members of the Senate, who have so ably
striven in defence of the proposed measure of relief.
But oh ! the poor Constitution—cries the patriot member
for Callington—utterly indifferent to the extinction of his
borough--Oh ! the poor ravished Constitution—the perish-
ing Constitution—it was once King, Lords, and Commons,
but it will be henceforth Commons, Lords, and King !
What a frightful violation of precedence—yet I much mis-
take the temper of our Sovereign, if he would not be the
last to dispute the arrangement,—and I can also reply to
the pathetic orator, that King, Lords, and Commons,—
which is the true theory of our Constitution, and which
we have been taught to lisp as such from our nursery drys,
_-has been lately little better than a phrase—that in effect
it has been King, Lords, and Oligarchy, or rather, I might
say, with the triple iteration of an ancient rhetorician, it
has been Oligarchy—Oligarchy—Oligarchy—the first
Oligarchy—the second Oligarchy—and the third Oligarchy
--(Cheers)—an Oligarchy prescribing to the King, an
Oligarchy domineering over the Lords, and an Oligarchy
oppressing and insulting the Commons.—(Cheers.)—So
much for our sympathy with the funeral wailing' of the
bereaved and stricken boroughmongers.
Mr. OSWALD seconded the motion, which was carried
with great applause.
Mr. C. Dunr.oe proposed the next resolution.
Mr. Atents.zsv BAaNATYHE seconded the resolution,
and said i.e saw a better day dawning for Scotland ; and
hoped that their next meeting would be held for a different
purpose, not to petition ha favour of Reform, but at the
hustings to return an able, honest, and enlightened mern-
her to Parliament.
Mr. THOMAS DAVIDSON said—This, Sir, is emphati-
cally the hour of Britain's destiny—the salient point from
which she must enter upon a course of magnificent and
unlimited progression, through the wise and liberal ame-
lioration of her political institutions--or it is the sad and
humiliating hour which shall behold her fall from her
high estate among the nations, and veil her lofty and well
won honours before the insolent dictation of an oveeween-
ing and despicable faction.—(Cheers.)—No, Sir, the
horouglimungering system is now perfectly well un •
derstood, he that runs may read—the mystery of ini-
quity is laid bare to its foundations, and in a few
days, we trust it will he consigned, with all due so-
lemnity, to the tomb where all preceding abominations
have been gathered.—(Laughter.) Well, Sir, are the
Alinistry entitled to our support, and they shall have it—
shall they not ?—yes, we shall rally round the King and
his servants—from the North Sea foam to the Cliffs of
Dover, the people will come into the rescue—on one side
the boroughholders and their partizans—on the other, the
King and the people—Lombard-street to a China orange--
(Laushter)—we shall but have to look them in the face,
and they will give up the ghost with a becoming decency.
(Cheers.) Let us call upon Ministers to pass this measure
whole and entire—no frit'ering down—no discount to be
allowed—(Cheers)—to soothing the spirit of an exasperated
faction--let them lie firm, and the people will be true.
Mr. Davidson sat down amidst loud clteeri
:qr. W. GILMOUR moved the appointment of a Com ,
mittee. He believed the measure had the unanimous ap-
probation of the country at large.
Mr. Duos seconded the motion.
An Address to the King was then read by Mr. COLIN
DUNLOP, and unanimously adopted.
Mr. LUM9DgN proposed three cheers for the King, and

three for Lord John Russell, which having been given with
great enthusiasm, the meeting broke up.

BOROUGH OF READING.
(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
On Monday a numerous and highly respectable meeting
of the inhabitants of the borough of Reading was held
at the Town Hall. The Mayor of Reading WdS cal!ed to
the chair, and was supported by the two Members for the
horough, Dr. Valpy, and a number of the most influential
inhabitants of the town.

Mr. Molief: (the late Member for Reading), in rising
to propose a petition to the House of Commons, expres-
sive of the pleasure and gratitude they felt by the proposed
measure of Reform in Parliament, entered into a long
historical detail of the rise and progress of the borough
system, and warmly eulogised the fill as a measure good,
safe, practical, and efficient, worthy of that staunch re-
former Earl Grey, and of Lord Russell, the successor of
that martyr to the cause of lilierty, who sealed the liberty
of his country with his blood.
Mr. CucutalsT, in a speech of considerable power,
seconded the petition, and passed a very warm eulogium
on the Ministers, and characterised the opponents of
Reform as enemies to their country. He was a fri,nil to
ballot, but he conceived the present measure would in a
great degree supersede the necessity of secret voting. He
entreated the people to support the Ministers, as the only
means of bringing the present question to a successful issue.
The petition was agreed to unanimously.
On the motion that the petition be presented by the
two borough Members having been cat ried, both Members
strongly eulogised the measure, and promised it their most
strenuous support. Mr. C. Russell made a most admirable
speech, which I much regret want of time prevents my
sending to you.
An address to his Majesty was then agreed to after
eloquent speeches of Mr. Vines, T. King, Esq., and the
Reverend Mr. Ilinton. The address expres,ed the loyalty
and gratitude of the inhabitants of Reading for his Ma-
jesty's attention to the wants of his country, and a hope
that he might long live to enjoy the blessings of his people.
The utmost unanimity prevailed among all classes, and all
political differences seemed completely at an end.