The Sun.
London, England, 1831-04-23 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,-The boroughnaongers and their adherents must,
indeed, be very hold or unaccountably blind men—blind
if they cannot see, and bold if they dare to disregard the
shadows which corning events cast before them. In this
district, formerly one of the most Ultra-Loyal and Ultra-
Tory in the kingdom, the change of sentiment is wonder-
ful, and the aspect of affairs truly alarming, if we are,
under ?resent circumstances, to contemplate a rejection of
the Reform Bill. The influence and power of the
Aristocracy has almost passed away—the lower orders are
in a state of insubordination, verging upon insurrection,
and the so-much vilified middle classes—the " shopkeepers
and small attornies," who formerly marshalled themselves
with so much zeal and alacrity in support of Church and
State principles, and in support of aristocratic property,
now turn a deaf ear to the call of their Magistrates and
ci-derant leaders, and look on upon the outrage and de-
struction which surround this emporium of the north,
either with calm indifference or secret satisfaction. What
is the cause of this state of things every one knows, what
will be its effects no one can guess ? The cause is a
deep and general disaffection towards the working of the
present system, a rooted hatred of aristocratic pretensions
and aristocratic dominion, and a reckless spirit which in
political matters fears not change, from a conviction that
no change can be a change for the worse.
The pitmen, who constitute a considerable part of the
mass of the working population in this neighbourhood,
have lately had some petty disputes with their employers,
and sympathizing with and encouraged by the prevalent
spirit of the district, they have discontinued to work, and
have broken out into acts of violence and insubordi-
nation. They meet in large bodies (ten or twenty '
thousand) to discuss their grievances, and have
attacked and destroyed the works of several collie- 1
ries, and made hostile demonstrations against the
dwellings and private property of individuals, particularly
obnoxious to them. These may be thought no very un-
common, nor very formidable circumstances ; but they
become so when viewed in connection with the total apathy
of the middle classes, or indeed their settled repugnance to
assist in any stray towards the suppression of the disorder.
The Magistrates of the county have in vain endeavoured to
induce the farmers and labourers (many of them their
' own tenants) to assume the office of special con-
stables, and the Mayor of this town has made an
equally fruitless appeal to the inhabitants. He ha in
consequence been obliged to issue out summonses to dif-
ferentpeusi t
penalty
individuals,eoriconsequent
equ e nt
umanypoii
an
nf whom
indictment have,at itnhtel e takenesde,sesai
o the
threat
tsarayf
whichoatlis ratherthan
een
liberallysub jecdteatllti.e themselves v.
Titie, , the
re-
luctance, however, manifested by the parties, and.othnes
stubeppllolrat.yor,soaltfhaorugfrhonnio dtihse.
sontented spirit they have exhibited,f must have convinced
officiousness, which pattern
ttlhieeisrtriceot that
tuernlo absolute wisdom, that
m case of emergency
almost to s must
zealous ook to
alacrity, ot h er
atnsourcesoun t
ifnogr
thehav have
service, exhibited
determined
ttorsmd do the same class of men
former occasions,
no
tn ore
than
ithey
required are allof
complaints
rinoof the law, while many of them
being thus forced into
openly encourage the insurrectionary spirit, and pray that
if the Reform Bill is fated not to pass, we may receive the
news of its rejection
tonight. I shall not venture to
Predict the consequences of such an occurrence—they re-
quire no ghost to rise f '
froth the dead to tell them.
Let the boroughtno ngers only look coolly upon this state
of things; let them
tilnedm by the
consider the tremendous force arrayed
against them in the excited passions of the lower orders,
in the hatred of the middle
h classes, and in the good sense
and good feeling of one• alf of the Aristocracy,—and
they must be mad, or worse than mad, if they continue
to prolong a hopeless struggle, and to incur the '
.i movement" which may
ofindeed ere its termination, prove
baneful to every order society, but the first step of
which must inevitably
crush them into titter and irre-
trievable ruin. S.
Newcastle-u T poll- Ytw, April 21.

-
A general illumination is expected to take
place next. Monday night in the City, in consequence of the
dissolution of Parliament, which will take place this day.

SOUTHWARK ELECTION.

CONDUCT OF MR ROBERT WILSOLV

This morning a highly respectal.hf Pnteting of the der-
tors of Southwark was hell in the ToWt-ball, for HA.
purpose of taking into consideration what steps should 14
adopted to mark t 1 e sense of the electors, as to the Parli,
inentrry conduct of Sir 11. Wihon on the Reform Bill.

The 11tOtt BkILIFF took the chair, and explained ti c
reason why he had postponed the meeting from yesterday
to io-day.

The requisition he meeting was then read.
Mr. Camvert entered the room, and was received avid
very loud cheers.
A letter was read from Sit n. Wilson, in which he ex
presses his determination to withdraw from the repro
sentation of the Borough. The letter was couched it
the same words as the published address of Sir R. Wilson
Mr. al.'s said it would not be necessary for hint to say
much as Sir Robert Wilson hail withdrawn himself fron
the contest. He would, therefore, only say a few words.
Sir Robert Wilson, at the last election, tie:dared that if hi
differed from his constituents he would retire. Sir Robert
Wilson had not acted in pUrsuance of the wishes of Reform
ers, by not supporting the Rafotrn Bill; and it seemed te
him that Sir Robert Wilson had leagocd 1-7ith the wars'
enemies of Reform. The Hon. Gentleman atent on ti
state that Sir R. Wilson had by his conduct perplexed the
Ministry; and as he (Mr. B.) thought Sir R. Wilson had en-
deavoured by his condtlet to gain favour with the Duke of
Wellington, whom it was perhaps expected would hay
been again in power, he moved as a resolution—" That
the electors of the Borough had been called upon to in-
vestigate the Parliatnentary conduct of Sir Rotiert Wilsor,
but that as his 111 jesty had exercised his prerogative, and
in proroguing Parliament had rendered unnecessary ant
mark from the electors, the Parliament try connexion be-
tween the Borough and Sir Robert Wilson had wholly
ceased."—(Cheers.)
Mr. FAR-two: B, as a former friold and supporter of
Sir R. Wilson, now rose with pain to seCvill the motion.
Sir Robert had basely deserted those who had, through
evil report and good report, supported him when he was
neglected by others.—(Cheers.) If Sir R. Wilson had
not gone into Parliament at heart a reformer, he had been
guilty of base hypocrisy after the deciaratinns lie had
made. He felt great gratifica.ion that his Majesty had,
with that firmness so characteristic of him, prorogued the
Parliament. Our patriotic King had said, there are bad
men in the House of Commons, and I will banish them
from it for ever.--(Loud cheers.) After some other re-
marks, he concluded by seconding the resolution, which
was soon afterwards unanimously adopted.
Mr. B. WOOD addressed the meeting at great length,
eulogising his Majesty for the firmness displayed yesterday
in proroguing Parliament. He referred to the conduct of
the opponents of the measure, and concluded by moving a
a resolution declaratory of the warmest thanks to his Ma-
esty, for the promptitude his Majesty had shown in over-
turning the faction of the boroughmongers,
The Rev. Mr. KENNET seconded the resolution. The
firmness of his Majesty bad proved him true heart of oak,
and had also proved that time education of his Majesty as a
British sailor had not unfitted him for a British King.
The vote of thanks was carried with many cheers.
The parties who have been announced as candidates are
Mr. Bulwer, Lord Cochrane, and Mr. Brougham. Mr.
Calvert no doubt will be re-elected.

The meeting was proceeding when our Reporter left.

COURT CIRCULAR.

Summonses were issued between ten and eleven o'clock
yesterday morning to the Cabinet Ministers and the
Great Officers of State, to attend a Council at twelve
o'clock, at the King's Palace, St. James's.
Soon after twelve o'clock the Lottn CHANCELLOR, the
Lord President, the First Lord of the Treasury, the Lord
Privy Seal, the Secretaries of State for the Home,
Foreign, and Colonial Departments, the CHANCELLOR of
the EXCHEQUER, the President of the Board of Controul,
the First Lord of the Admiralty, the Earl of CARLISLE,
the Duke of RICHMOND, the Lord Chamberlain, the Master
of the Horse, and the Groom of the Stole, arrived at the
Palace and entered at the King's private entrance : owing
to the shortness of the notice, the Ministers did not come
in Court dresses.

His MAJESTY held a Privy Council, when the King's
speech on proroguing the Houses of Parliament was ar-
ranged and agreed upon. The Hon. W. BATHURST at-
tended as Clerk of the Council.

The KING gave audiences to the Loan CHANCELLOR
and Earl GREY.

The Court broke up at half-past one o'clock. The
Marquis of HASTINGS was the Lord in waiting.
His MAJESTY went in state at half-past two o'clock to
prorogue the two houses of Parliament. The Master of
the Horse and the Groom of the Stole rode in the state
coach with the KING. His MAJESTY'S carriage was pre-
ceded by three carriages and six ; the first drawn by bays,
the second by light-coloured greys, and the third by the
Hanoverian black horses. The state coach was drawn
by eight cream-coloured horses. The Marshaltnen, twelve
of the King's Footme❑ in their state dresses, and a party
of the Yeomen Guard, walked before the state carriages.
The Officers of the Household and Attendants in Wait-
ing were Llrd HILL (Gold Stick in waiting), the Trea-
surer of the Household ; the Marquis of HASTINGS, as tl,e
Lord in waiting; the Groom of the Robes ; Sir PtilLir
SIDNEY, Equerry in waiting ; the Egon of the Yeomen
Guard ; Colonel RICHARDSON, Silver Stick in waiting ;
Mr. MAsiL, the Gentleman Usher. A detachment of the
Royal Horse Guards escorted the Royal cortege.
The KING returned to the Palace at St. James's at
four o'clock.

His MAJESTY gave audience yesterday to the Lord
Chamberlain, the Master of the Horse, and the Groom of
the Stole.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of KENT entertained
their MAJESTIES at dinner yesterday evening. The KING
and QUEEN arrived at the Palace at Kensington, at seven
o'clock, attended by the Countess of BaowsLow, the
Lady in Waiting on her MAJESTY. The following
members of the Royal Family were present to meet their
MAJESTIES .-The Duke and Duchess of CUMBERLAND,
the Duke of SUSSEX, the Landgravine of HESSE Homnuac,
the Duchess of GLOUCESTER, Prince LEOPOLD, the Arch-
bishop of CA N 1 ERBURY, the Duke of DEVONSHIRE, the Duke
of SOMERSET, the Duke of DORSET, the Duke and Duchess
of GORDON, the Duke and Duchess of NOICTIIU3IBERLAND,
the Duke of BUCCLEUGH, the Duke of GRAFTON, the
Lade CHARLOTTE ST. MAUR, the Countess of BROWN-
LOW, the Earl of LIVERPOOL and Lady CATHERINE JEN—
KiNsow, Lord lit Lr., Hon. Mrs. E. CUST, Sir JOHN and
CoNaor, General WETHERALL, Miss WYNYA RD,
and Miss STEIN.

In the evening the Members of the Corps Diplomatique,
their Ladies, the Cabinet Ministers and their Ladies, were
invited to meet their MAJEsTiEs.

The five Commissioners from Belgium have been intro-
duced to Prince LttoroLn, and have bad a long conference
with his Royal Highness.
The Spanish Minister transacted business yesterday at
the Foreign Office.