The Sun.
London, England, 1831-04-21 00:00:00

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SPIRIT OF TIIE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

After the vote of Tuesday night, Ministers had
tto longer a choice whether or not Parliament should
be dissolved. We knew the course they would
pursue. We knew that they would nobly redeem
heir Oedges. We have now the satisfaction of
being au:e to announce, that a dissolution has been
teee,miveil no, and we can confidently assure our
readers that an immediate dissolution may be
,ounted on. We knew that the reports, so jocks-
riottsly cireolated, of a determination on the part of
his i'dejesty not to consent to a dissolution were
.without foundation; for the choice of a Ministry
who ac c-pted of office only on the condition of being
.uuthor;sed to propose Reform, and the approbation
of their plal of Reform, necessarily implied appro-
bation of the constitutional means which might be
requisite to give eff,ct to, it ; and therefore, we
could not fer a moment en ertain the supposition,
so injurious to the reputa.ion for sincerity and-good
faith of a Sovereign who bas always been sop-
posed to possess t base virtues in a very eminent
degree, that be would allow his servants to feed
the country with • hopes of a Reform which he
was yet determined should not be ()brained with his
good will. They xi ho voted in frvour of the mo-
tion of General Gaseoyoe, in the hope of any such
indispcsition to Reform entertained by his Majes-y,
will be miserably disappoitured. They must, pre-
pyre
.to face their constituents, for they will soon •
have an opportunity of exp'aining to them their
motives for opposing a measure, which, more than
any other-in the history of this country, may be said
to be one on which tie people have set their hearts.
We 1:now, that to all but the men r ho nish to live
on tin- plunder of ttine people, the int( lltgence of the
good under sta,uding- betweAr his Maj: sty and his
servants, stud of the piospert which such an under-
standing holds out of a ceraio and speedy Reform,
purchased 'by no unnecessary agitation, no intertuns
t:on of the public will be tidings of joy
and gladness. The people were morally certain
that Reform could not by any possibility he with-
held.; they knew that the moment they Ivad•dettr-
mined nit Refurtn they mast obtain it ; but they
might %yell be eXcu ed for their anxious wish, that
the blOssing ,should be pure and unalloyed; that
cc rrtupt and in.erested. men might not, in further-
-once of their hose views, succeed -in interrupting
the public tranquillity. The country is, generally
eow p csperons; the industrious classes
ere all employed; but of these bles-iugs we :night
soon be depti*ed, by the wickedness and folly -of the
enemies. to Ref, em. The productive tlasses—the
employers • and the -employed—cannot, like t

licit, escape tie consequences of confusion, by
%vithdra lug to othi r countries. They must 'main
winre their lot has b: en cast. It is, therefore,
of paratnount imporizetce to them, that the Re-
form shalt be peaceful. Tt-c fin"n"st.l(l)tfet;ifiitlilisttoll"y":
the cordiality with which his Majt s y supports.them,
will give to item the grateful assurance thot every
thing will succeed itecordi,g to theit
itivitl.s,arsisoon(s.ia:lcud,se.sw‘ittiototallehat‘lencii;teioen
people; but they have to view his 'Majesty in
the more pleasing light of a sovereign, with whom
the welfare and tappiness of his people is the first
and most anxious consideration. The list of the
majority and minority, which Mr. Ridgway has
plinfed in tl:e distinct manner of :be last, and of
which a copy will be found in our columns of this
day, will point out to the country the meet who
ought to be exc!uded- from the next Parliament.
Every man who toted for the; motion of General
his
Gascayne, no matter what
of Reform. Let a'maik be set. on that man. All
who did not vote for the motion of General Gas-
coyne, box who -did not vote against it, ought to be
called to a severe account. Except in the case of
severe illness or some accident rendering absence in-
evitable, 4):),shotild be no indulgence. To be ab-
sent was inexcusable on such an occasion. As AF-
nis•ers have done their duty, it will remain for tha
people to do theirs.— g(hroniele. •
We now call upon England to unite as one man.
The crisis is arrived ! it is clear to demonszration
that no Reform Bill still be Npsed by the in.esent
Flouse of Commons ! It is an enemy to Reform.
At first we were sorry that a majority should have
been obtained ag.tinst Ministers upon a point Mild-.
seemed, though coming from the kiends of borough-
mongerage, to propose an addition to the populn,r
reresentation ; but it is obvious that this was all
trick, and nothing else. It is, therefore, clear that
Parliament means to resist Reform; arid mi=st to
dissolved, or there is an end of all hopes of Reform
The cup is dashed from our parched lips; and the
sale of in the House of Commons, like bullock-
stands in ; and the noMination of men--
bers to act as our represeniativts ; and the aggran-
dizement of great farailies- from their Patliamen-
tury influence, at Llteexpense of the people, and in
defiance of tnedest all must continue,
HI the State, and its noblest institutions, sink into
one common ruin. A dissolution only can stay
the evil, and a .dis=olution is now (jailed
for and deterinined on unanimously by Mi-
nisters. This Ilort.e is an enemy to Iteform!
It is worse than a rancorous enemy—it is 'a subtle
one. It has shuffled of the question of Reform by
a stratagem. What, then, are the people of Eng-
land to do to regain a glimpse of their beloved Re-
form, otherwise lest—lost perhaps forever ? Let
them now prepare themselves to petition for a di,-
solution, unless, indeed, which is most probable, the
dissolution shall be immedia.e. The King, it is
certain, will not hesitate to take this deeisk,e step:
Still the people, till tit; y know that the dissolution
is decided on, should call meetings and combine in
resolutions and petitions to the throne foe a dis-
solution of Parliament. In fact, we see England
in motion at this moment, and every t hing that
we have hitherto observed of county, and borough,
and ,Parish meetings, for Reform, is the still-
ness of private life when compared to the fervid

bustle now excited for the dissolu►ion of - that

House of Commons which has put its veto on Re-
form. " If," we siy to our countrymen, " you
Live ever grieved over the scandal of a mock repre-
sentation,—if you have ever sighed for your just
rights, and a Voice in your own House of Par-
liament,—if you have ever met and resolved, and
re-resolved, and screwed up your courage to the
sticking point, that your wealthiest and noblest
towns should have representatives, and the mere
nominees of Peers he banished from the Commons'
House of Parliament,—that Gatton and St. Mawes,

and Boroughbridge, and Old &iron), and scores of
Other depopulated ruins, should be erased from the
list of Parliamentary boroughs,—now is the time to
follow np the blow, and to call for the immediate
assolwion of that body which says, in mere than
words, that these abominations shall exist in spite
of you." If a new Parliament sanctions them,.then
will vve become anti-reformers too.—Times.

We had little thought that,.in the very conflict of
the Reform Bill, a subject should have occurred, in
which we had some interest, calculated by its conse-
quences almost to divide the public attention. That
subject is the appearance of our.printer.st the bar of
one of the Houses of Parliament. He appeared
here for the snood time last night, by a Petition
and apology hich the Lord President of the
Cunt 61 declared to be satisfactory, and which
sse
are sure was intended tto be sa:isfitetory. But the
ease still stands over foitc4ight, and rite print,or is
still in custody. Here, therefore, we mast 'eke leave
of the House and its pro, e.:til,ngs..• But the House
oorreCticoaT:vmoitn.i3sissos;al.fdort: zbace"tlrledi'i'Pge"tioe'Stl(;)"tt:4tf
fey the people, tl:r,ntrh
t.lstewCon e
nos,l%!ttsitt!eo,u.,-nitti tls„teri,t.otsce,ort long kciu►►'tt+ ttt~rt7 of

,;


iti Mettibers are the mare-nominees of torch
and other wealthy persons, working by votes and
speeches for the aggrandizement of those person-
and families who sent them into Parliament. Let
us, however, suppose (a supposition, we admit, au
but impossible) a House of Commons so arbitrary
and tyrannical as, contrary to all, yrecedent, and in
♦iolation of all justice, to imprison and fine some
British subject dragged to its bar on a charge of
breach of privilege, and to sentence, or rather ti
condemn, the same subject farther to an indefinitt
imprisonment till the fine were paid; the aggrievef'
man would of course have his remedy by an appli-
cation'to the Court of King's Bench, where the law
would have been laid down in all preceding time,
that the House of Commons could not fine and im-
prison at will. But suppose a Chief Justice of that
Court to spring up, so unacquainted with what
every other well-read man in the kingdom knew,
as to assert that the Lower House could so fine
and imprison; good God ! to what a state would
British freedom be reduced, and what a destructive

change would be operated in the very essence of
the Constitution I If there were such a Chief JlB-
tice,—if there were a man in that elevated station
labouring under such an error,—of what infinite
importance is it that he should have been put right,
before a case occurred in which such dreadful con-

sequences might spring. from his mistake ! And the
necessity that a right judgment should be implanted
respecting the question is the more striking as the
ca'e would not probably be subjected to the unbend-
ing integrity of a jury, but would come before the
court upon an argument. A great public advantage
is therefore attained, if a Judge has been enlight-
ened upon this important point of the privileges of
the Lower House, without the positive process, or
the injury actually inflicted on a suffering individual.
—Times.

Though it is quite dear that the object of the
mover and principal supporters of the motion on
which the House divided yesterday morning was to
defeat the Reform Bill, and that in carrying that

motion they may imagine their object to have been
attained, yet it by no means fellows that such either
need or will be the case. The only real effect of
the motion thus carried is to restore the number of
English Members to tha! of which the present
House of Commons is constituted ; which, we be-

lieve, is a proposition quite in accordance with the
sentiments of many of the warmest and most in-
telligent supporters of the Bill, both in and out of
P.•rliament. Instead, therefore, of taking this de-

cision in dudgeon, or even looking upon it in the
shape of a defeat, Ministers, we think, may with
perfect consistency, readily adopt it ; and then the
only question is how the new Members, which it
provides for, shall be engrafted on the Bill ? Some
Members of the Government have said that should
the motion be carried, the result must be that the
addition would be made by extending the franchise
to other large towns. This, though a.fir argument
to be held in lerrorent towards the enemies of the
Bill, is by no means conclusive; and we should
think that the difficulty may be met in a much
simpler way, and the amendment engrafted into
both the letter and spirit of the Bill, by restoring
to the remaining boroughs, in schedule B. the one
Member each of which it deprives them.—Morning
Rerald. •

v;

The salvation of the country from revolution and
anarchy bangs now, we verily believe, on the firm-
ness of his Majesty's Ministers, and the patriotism
of the King! Can we doubt 'either ? Is not the
honour of Earl Grey and his Noble Colleagues
intact and unimpeachable ? Can there be any
doubt that they will play the only part which it
now remains for them to perform ? And who shall
so far slander his Gracious Majesty, as to imagine
for a moment that he will not sanction those con-
stitutional means which it has now become abso-
lately necessary to apply, in order to carry a meast ra
previous to its introduction, received his Ma-
jesty's sanction ? We scout the idea, as we observed
on Monday last, as equally dangerous to the peace
of the country, and injurious to the fair fame of the
King. We rely on the word of his Majesty, and the
firmness of his Ministers with unabated confidence.
—Morning Advertiser.
No event within our recollection has ever af-,
forded more general and unqualified satisfaction to
the public than the vote of the House of Commons
on Tuesday night upon the subject of the alarming
revolutionary measure introduced by our present
hopeful Ministry—a.rneasure which if not met by
the wise and spirited opposition it has experience],
would not have failed ultimately to bring destruc-
tion on our most sacred institutions and ruin upon
the country. Its discomfitted authors could not con-
ceal their dismay. In their hopeless slate they all
eaaly assembled in Downing-street, to deliberate
on what was best to be done. Resignation of
office, without a last desperate struggle, was out
of the question with men who avail themselves
so extensively of the advantages of official situa-
tion; and it was therefore determined that they
should proceed in a body to St. James's, for the
purpose of using their utmost endeavours to per-
suade the King to consent to a dissolution of the
Parliament, as the only means of en&bling them to
retain for some time longer that Ministerial power,
of the possession of which they have on all occa-
sions proved themselves so utterly unworthy. It is
understood that they so Jar succeeded in the object
of their visit as to induce his Majesty to give a con-
ditional assent to this their last expedient, and so far
to countenance their forlorn hope as to agree to dis-
solve Parliament in the event of the failure of the
nest desperate effort to be made by them this day
in the House of Commons. Thus, instead of sup-
porting their master, do these incompetent men look
to him for support, and for the purpose of remaining
in office, care not how much his sacred character is
abused. We fearlessly repeat that the fate of the
a'recious Bill may already be looked upon as vir-
tually decided. The motion of General Gascoyne
aimed, it is true, at one principle only of the mea-
sure; but it was previously announced by the Mem-
bers of his Majesty's Government in the House of
CCMMOTIP, and the fate of the whole Bill rested
upon the decision of the House in regard to the
single point then under discussion.
" I beg all those who are friends to the measure," said
Lord Althorp, " not to be deceived as to the consequences
of this proposition, nor to think it of small importance to
the object. If it were carried it would effect such damage
to the Bill, it would be such a blow to it, that it would
be fatal to the success of the measure !"
After this announcement, officially made, it would
be foolish to doubt the consequences of Tuesday's
majority;—the " damage" has been effected—the
" fatal blow" has been successfully aimed ; and
" the Bill, the whole Bill, and nothing but the Bill"
is lost, we hope, for ever ! Under these circum-
stances, we think we may safely assert that the
official existence of Earl Grey and his colleagues
is fast drawing to a termination, After the wretched
affair of the Budget, it was morally impossible
for them to retain even the small share of public
confidence which they then possessed, without re-
sorting to some artificial plan of popular' exciter
anent. The question of Reform fortunately came to
their assistance ; and upon this question, and upon
this question alone, have they contrived for the last
two months to rest their reputation. At length,
however, even this forlorn hope has departed. The
Bill is now openly denofauilnucrdev.en by its quondam
friends as a miserable
of
ra.dieea;linstnighbt after night has
this precious bantling
all rallies, uonfetilltat kicked, and
li
cuffed, and buffeted by
ac
happily arrived at the final stage prematureaward
dissolution. Placed, therefore, in awkward
situation, and deprived thus suddenly of the only
plank which floated them amidst the raging of the
storm, Ministers ought, in all reason and propriety,
to resign that trust they have so grievously misused. ,
A more dangerous manoeuvre could not at the present
moment be resorted to than a dissolution of Parlia-
ment. Is the country prepared for such a desperate
line of policy.? Are the people of England, or are
the people of Ireland,:insa fit state to meet the con-
fusion and the excitement of a general election
?
Setting, aside, howeer, sill considerations. of pro-
.

lence, lit us ask wheiher it be proper that the
Whig Ministers should shield themselves, even for
t short time, under the shelter of a dissolution ? '
['he Duke of Wellington retired because he saw
hat the Members of the House of Commons did
got choose to afford him that hearty support which
to was conscious of deserving. Let Earl Grey imi-
ste ti,is honourable example. If he find that the
epresentatives of the people are averse to his po-
iey (and we believe there is little doubt upon tha
toint), then the Noble L'rd, as an hottest man and
is a faithful servant of the Crown, is bound to re-
ire the place which he so unworthily oceupie=.
'ltice more, then, we repeat that the consequences
)f Tuesday's division cannot be mistaken : the atro-
•ious Biil is lost—Earl Grey is defeated—England
us safe !—Morning Post.

Mr. ALDERMAN SCALES and the JACKASS.

COURT OF ALDERMEN.

CONTEST FOR TIIE PORTSOKEN ALDERMANIC GOWN.

On Tuesday the public curiosity to witness the pro-
•eedings in this singular case was greater than it had been
previously. The rush to get into the Chamber WAS tre
inendous, and there was a great difficulty in pres,rving si-
lence, which certainly received more interruption from
laughter than any thing else.

After some preliminary matter was gone through,
The next charge entered upon was, that which ascribed
to Mr. Scales the offence of having sold a donkey for veal.
Thomas Wheel, of Romford, carrier, said—l was em-
ployed by Mr. Scales, for whom I then worked, some years
ago, to kill a jackass; I did it, and we hung it in the back
part of the slop and dressed it as we would a calf ; Mr.
Stubbing was the first butcher as looked at it, and he
didn't know what it were—(Laughter)—it was not for sale.
Mr. Stubbing (the Common Councilman and a butcher)
•aid—l was passing by Mr. Scales's shop at five in the
morning, and he called me, and we went backward toge-
ther, and he showed me an ass dress and blowed like a
calf.—(Loud laughter.) He asked me what it was, and I
did'nt know, but I thought it was a buffalo—(Laughter)
it was not amongst the animals for sale; when I told him
I did'nt know, he said, " Go along, you fool, it's an ass"—
(Loud laughter)—l told him he was an ass to have such
a thing in his shop, and he said he'd sell it in an hour.
Mr. ALLEY (Counsel for Mr. Scales)—Did you not say
it was a kangaroo ?—(Laughter.) Mr. Stubbing—Never.
Sir PETER LAURIE (to Mr. Stubbing, who is a large
nian)—Pray, was it a fat ass or a lean one ?--(Loud
laughter.) Mr. Stubbing—l don't understand anything
about it. He told me he'd sell it in an hour; and I said
I would not for 5001. that it was in my shop, for I knew
it did'nt ought to be in such a place.
Cross-examined by Mr. Ar.LEY—I think he did it out
of a banter; I don't think so ill of any man as to think he
would kill an ass for the selling on it.--(Laughter.)
J. Lilly—l have been a butcher, but was unfortunate.
William Scales showed me the ass, and asked me if I'd
buy it. I had laid out many thousands with him. The
ass was dressed like a calf, and blowed out. I did'nt buy
it, but he marked it as sold, by sticking a skewer iu the leg.
Mr. ALLEY—Did'nt you call it a Bab ; and did'nt he
correct you, and call it a Ned ?—(Loud laughter.) Wit-
ness—No ; he never said it was a Ned. He pointed it
out to me as a calf, and asked me to give him a crown for
it, but I would'nt buy it, for I didn't want it.—(Laugh-
ter.) I remember it, for it was the ruin of me.
Sir P. LAURIE—Of what value would a calf of the size
be? Witness—About ten shillings.—(A groan of "Oh
Lord !" amongst the butchers in the Court.) I believe it
was sold to Sparks, the soap-boiler. I had a good busi-
ness, hut, under the idea of buying the jackass and selling

it for veal, I lost all my customers.
Alderman GA RRATT—Who reported that? Witness—
It was reported by thousands. Mr. Scales himself said
he sold the Radical to Jack Lilly—(A roar of laughter)—
so that I went down with the public.
Wheel was again called, and said the jackass weighed
about ten stone, and a calf of the size would have cost 21.
It had been ill, and when it would not recover Mr. Scales
told us to kill it, as we could kill it with more kindness
than they could at a slaughter-house.—(Laughter.) Mr.
Scales kills with wonderful ease in five seconds, and he
received the thanks of a public body for his humane way
of despatching. He wasn't at home when we killed it,
and the men offered me a half pint of gin to dress it like a
calf. We bad many to look at it, but nobody knew what
it was, and I took it afterwards to the soap-boiler's.
The RECORDER—Upon your oath. did not Mr. Scales
himself desire you to dress it like veal? Witness—He did,
my Lord.
Mr. Carter, the Common Councilman, heard Mr.
Scales threaten Mr. Blackburn on St. Thomas's Day, and
say to him, " I hate and detest you, and I shall expecto-
rate upon you."—(Laughter.)
Mr. BODKIN—Did you hear him say any thing about
the Recorder ? Mr. Carter—l heard him say theßecor-
, der was a cadaverous wretch.—(A laugh.)

The RECORDER—Is it possible that that can form a
ground of complaint? Very probably I did look cadave-
rous: It might have been after a severe illness.
Mr. Bilton, an attorney, proved than he had got a ver-
dict against Mr. Scales to the amount of 5/. for an assault
in a vestry- room, at Bow.—Aijourned.