The Sun.
London, England, 1831-02-02 00:00:00

ROYAL COLLEGE OF kiIYSICII.A(..

The first meeting of the College of Physicians was held
last night. It was attended by a vast number of the
learned and- celebrated of all professions. Among the
more distinguished visiters we observed the Lord Chan-
cellor, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of Lon-
don, Earl Stanhope, Lord Tenterden, the Vice-Chancellor,
the Master of the Rolls, Mr. Baron Vaughan, Mr. Jus-
tice Park, Mr. Justice James Parke, the Attorney-Gene-
ral, Mr. C. W. Wynn, Sir R. Inglis, together with many
gentlemen well-known to the literary world. We should
think that there were pre►ent quite as many barristers as
members of the medical profession. Sir Henry Halford
read to his learned audience a paper, of which the subject
was " the effect of diseases upon the mental faculties."
The dissertation was forcibly and not uneloquer•.tly worded,
and the learned President contrived to render it not only
quite intelligible, but also entertaining to those who were
uninitiated alike in the mysteries and the nomenclature
of medical science. In the course of it, Sir Henry Hal-
ford took occasion to speak of what course he considered
it prudent for the physician to adopt towards a patient of
whose recovery no hopes were to be entertained. He said,
that, for his own part, he always kept in view that it was
his duty to preserve the life of a patient as long as pos-
sible, and that for that reason he did not communicate to the
patient himself the extent of the danger that impended over
him. From the friends and relatives of the patient, how-
ever, Ile never concealed the melancholy truth ; they had
a right to know the worst : but if to prolong the life of
a patient were the duty of the physician, it was obvi-
ously es incompatible with that duty as it was inconsis-
tent with humanity, to alarm the sufferer and to ag-
gravate his disorder by exhibiting to his view the awful
image of approaching death. The Learned President
then adverted, in illustration, to the case of his late Ma-
jesty. The Prime Minister, he ►aid, had been informed
as early as the 27th of April that the seat of his Ma-
jesty's disease was the heart, and that an effusion of water
upon the lungs was to be apprehended. This fact, hew-
ever, was not communicated to the King ; nor was it
deemed advisable, for the sake of the Royal patient, that
the information of it should be disseminated in any way
from which it was likely to be conveyed to him. It was
not until the month of May that he had an opportunity of
explaining to his Majesty the nature of the disease; and
this opportunity was furnished by the inquiries of his Ma-
jesty himself, who desired that be might be informed of
the cause of the sufferings he endured. The King, upon
learning the danger of the disorder, immediately prepared
himself for death. Having set his house in order, he re-
ceived the sacrament, and, from the altninistration of that
holy office, declared that he bad received the greatest com-
fort and consolation. Nothing could he more happy than
this disposition of his Majesty's mind, and he (Sir H.
Halford) then betook himself to explaining, as favourably
as possible, every new symptom which the disorder pre-
sented, By pursuing this course his Aljesty's cheerful-
ness was preserved, and he died without being disturbed
by the prospect of approaching dissolution. Indeed, it
might he said of his Majesty, as it had been said of one
of the Roman Emperors, that he appeared not to have died,
but rather to have fallen into a deep and placid slumber.

MEETING FOR THE REPEAL OF THE
ASSESSED TAXES AND REFORM.

This morning a meeting was held in the Parochial
School-room of Lambeth, for the purpose of petitioning.
the Legislature for the repeal of the assessed taxes, a re-
duction in the public expenditure, and fin• a Reform in the
Commons House of Parliament,
Mr. ROFFEY, Churchwarden, in the Chair.

The CHAIRMAN stated that in consequence of two re-
quisitions having been sent to the Churchwardens for the
petitioning of Parliament for Reform, and for a repeal of
the assessed taxes, which were most numerously signed,
they had called the present meeting.
Mr. FALL wished to know why the notice of the meet-
ing had not been given in the Church and held in the Ves-
tryhall of the parish. It might be supposed that the parish,
containing as it did 75,000 inhabitants, were, not as a
body, in favour of Reform and reduction of taxes.
The CHAIRMAN explained that the meeting was held in
that room, because it was thought that the Vestry-hall
would not be large enougli.
The VESTRY CLERK, in answer to some observations
respecting* the objections t.) holding the meeting in the
Vestry-ball, said that the Rector had refused to allow that
Vestry to be made use of for political purposes.—(Shame.)

Mr. MOORE said, that the subject they were now met to
consider was—a subject which bad for a long time been
pressed upon Parliament; they nos?, he thought, haul
the dawn of relief before them. They hail a Ministry
p!erlgsd to Reform and Retrenchment, and a Monarch
who was anxious to promote the good of the people. The
late Ministry had openly deelated their teeline against Re-
form, and his M tjesty deserved the thsnks of the people
for having dismissed those Ministers.—(Cheers.) He
had proposed several resolutions, which he thought would
meet the object of the meeting. The principal points they
were met to consider were, Reform, Economy, and Re-
trenchment.—(Cheers.)---If our rulers are honest in their
intentions, they would not object to that meeting embo-
dying their grievances in the petition. The Hon. Gen-
tleman then proceeded to point out the abuses of the present
representative system and took a review of the proceedings
in both Houses during the late war, and contended that if
the people had been fairly represented, they would not now
have been burdened with a debt of 800 millions. He
thought that in the times he had alluded to, as well as at
present, there was nn divosition to overturn the British
Government, as had been stated by Mr. Pitt when lie ad-
vocated the necessity of war by putting down what be
called the extension of French principles. After some
further remarks upon the mode of selling seats in the
Commons House, he observed that the borough property
alone was represented in the House of Commons. He
thought the Ministers ought to be supported, as they
would have a difficult task to perform, opposed as they
would be in both Houses, and they should be contented with
any Reform which might be offered. He had omitted in his
resolutions every thing about the ballot. He was one
of those who thought that every Englishman should go up
boldly and vote for whom he pleased, and not go to poke
his head in a hole as if he were afraid or ashamed of what
he did.—(Loud applause.)—lf the full representation of
the people could not be had without the ballot, he perhaps
should approve of such mode of election. He then made
some observations upon the necessity of retrenchment.
The next subject was the assessed taxes, and he described
them as an extremely imperious and impartial. They
pressed upon the trader severely, and tended to increase
bankrupts and insolvents. The King must have his
taxes, and the tradesman suffered. He should be glad to
see the day when an Englishman would not be base enough
to accept the (Bee of a tax collector.—(Great
cheering. )--He then read a series of resolu-
tions, which stated the satisfaction of the meeting at
the change of Ministry—that the thanks of the people
his Majesty was entitled to for such change—that the pre-
ent evils of the porde were owing to the bad constitu-
tion of the House of Commons—that the elections to the
House of Commons should be more free—that the people
would be fairly represented if the right of voting was ex-
tended to persons assessed at 101. per annum—that this
meeting will support the Ministry—that the exposure of
the Civil List has shown the people that the motley of the
State was taken to fatten placemen, &c.—that a large re-
duction mutt be made in taxes, particularly the Assessed
Taxes—that petitions be preaeuted to the King and P4r-
Lament, &c.
The resolutions were then read seriatim.

hlr. FALL hoped the parish would reform themselves,
and moved a resolution to the effect, that in order that
this petition to Parliament may have the more weight
that the parish should reform themselves, by reducing ex-
pence!, abolishing useless places, getting rid of bad ser-
vants, fkc.—(Cheers.)
Mr. MOORE rose to order, and some discussion tools
phice upon the subject of Mr. Fall's 'notion. Mr•
Moore ohjscted to the motion, but Mr. Fall persevered in
his motion, as an amendment to the first resolution.

Mr. DEwEs thought a special vestry should be called for
this purpose
Mr. FALL'S amendment was not put, the Chairman
dechring that it was not in accordance with the object of
the meeting.
_ . •

The original motion was then put and carried unaui
mously,

TURKISH MUSICAL, GUSTO.—A modern
traveller informs U', that the band of an English Ambas-
sador at Constantinople once performed a concert for the
entertainment of the SULTAN and his Court. At the
conclusion it was asked, which of the pieces he preferred.
fie replied, the first, which was accordingly recom-
menced, but stopped, as not being the tight one. Others
were tried With as littler success, until at length the band,
almost in despair-of discovering the favourite air, began
tuning their instruments, when his 'Highness instantly
exclaimed; " Inshallak, Heaven l e praised, that is it!"
The Turkish Prince may be' crewed, when it is known
that at the commemoration of Ilkwnut, in 1784,, Dr.
BuRNEY thought the mere tuning of that host of instru-
ments more gratifying than the ordinary performances to
which he had beep accustomed.—ilannonicon.

4-,
'PARLIAMENTARY REFORk.

(Abstract of the Spectator's Tabhs.)

204 English boroughs return 406 members to the
House of Commons ; 76 of these boroughs (returning 152
members) have a smaller number of voters than 100 each,
and 44 of them (returning SS members) have a smaller
number of voters than 50 each.
12 Welsh boroughs return 12 members.
34 Irish boroughs return 35 members.
66 Scotch burghs (Town Councils) return 15 members.
40 English counties return SO members.
12 Welsh counties return 12 members.
32 II ith counties return 64 members.

30 Scotch counties (parchments) return 30 members.
Nominees. 122 English members are returned by
themselves or their kindred ; 140 English members are
returned by other patron!,
Open Borough.,. 140 English members are returned
for open boroughs.
Patronage of Peers. 89 Peers are patrons of 123
boroughs in Engl uol, Wales, and Ireland, returning 175
members.

Patronage of Commoners. 65 Commoners are patrons
of 70 boroughs, returning 99 members.
Government Patronage. Government has six boroughs,
returning nine members.
Thus it appears that 29:3 members are returned, not
by the people, but by the patron ige of Peers, Commoners,
and the Government—to say nothing of the Scotch re-
presentation, which is thoroughly rotten, and of the
commanding influence of Peers and great Commoners
in the county representation of England, Ireland,
and Wales. When these are taken into account,
it will appear that a very great majority of the
House of Commons (which consists of 658 Members)
is returned by the influence of less than two hun-
dred Peers and Commoners ! It will farther be seen that
of the 204 English boroughs, 76 of them are so insignifi-
cant either in their total population or in their nutnber of
voters, as to have fewer than 100 electors each, and 44 of
these boroughs have even fewer than 50 electors each.
This is a striking proof of the dec ty in the representative
system—the effect of " the great innovator," Time. The
45 Scotch members are returned by between 3 and 4,000
voters in the whole.

When to the glaring defects in the representative sys-
system indicated by the above statements, are added
the bribery and corruption practised, in consequence of
the mode in which the votes are taken—the prolonged
continuance of elections, with all their riot and de-
bauchery—the difficulties of voting in counties, and
the nuisance of non-resident voters—we may well exclaim,
how vast a space is there for reformation !—sec may add,
how vast are the obstacles which a reforming Adminis-
tration has to overcome!

Among the great borough proprietors or patrons, we
find the following 'Bor. Memb.
Marq. of Aylesbury 2 4
D. of Buckingham 3 5
Marq. of Cleveland 3 6

Bor. Memb.
D. of Devonshire 4 5
Earl of Fowls . 3 5
Earl Radnor . 2 3
D. of Rutland. . 3 4
Earl of St. Germai n 's 2 4
Mr. A. Baring . 2 3
Mr. Buller . . 2 3
The Holmes family 2 4
Mr. Pitt . . . 3 4

. -
Earl Fitzwilliam 3 5
Earl Grosvenor . 4

Marg. of Hertford . 4
Earl of Lons4ale 4 6
D, of Newcastle. 4

D. of Northumber-

land . .

. 2 4

Motions on the subject of Parliamentary Reform in the
House of Commons, siuring the last fifty years.
1782 By Mr. Pitt . . . . negatived by 20
1782 By Mr. Sawbridge. • . ditto . . 88
1783 Mr. Pitt . . . . . ditto . . 144
1785 Ditto ditto . . 74
17.10 Mr. Flood . . . withdrawn
1793 Mr. Grey, now the Premier negatived by 214
17.17 Ditto . . . ditto . . 165
1800 Ditto . . . . ditto . . 142
1809 Sir F. Burdett : . . ditto . . 59
1810 Hon. T. Brand . . . ditto . . 119
1812 Ditto . . . . . ditto . • 127
1812 Marquis of Tavistock
1817 Sir F. Burdett . . . ditto . . 188
1818 Ditto . . . . . ditto . 100
1819 Ditto • . . . . ditto . . 415
1821 Mr. Lambton, now Lord Durham ditto . 12
1821 Lord Jahn Russell . . ditto . . DI
18`21 Ditto . . . . . ditto . . 105
1823 Ditto ditto . . 98
1624 Ditto
1825 Hon. Mr. Abercromby • ditto . . 24
1824 Lord John Russell . . ditto . 124
1829 Marquis of Blandford . . ditto . . 74
1830 itto ditto . . 113
1830 Mr. O'Connell . . . ditto . . 306