The Sun.
London, England, 1831-10-20 00:00:00

CAMBRIDGE, OCT. 19.

A most important public contest is coming on for the
county of Cambridge. The representation used to be
divided between the Duke of Rutland and the Earl of
•Hardwicke. The county turned out the nominee of the
latter in 1810, and elected Lord F. G. Osborne. In 1830
Lord Hardwieke coalesced with the independent party,
and threw out the nominee of the Duke of Rutland, and
expected by that means to get half a Member, but Mr.
Adeane supported the Reform Bill and incurred his dis...
pleasure. Lord F. G. Osborne, from indisposition, has
accepted the Chiltern Hundreds, and his friends have
nominated Mr. Townley, a- gentleman resident, and well
known for his consistent, liberal, and independent prin-
ciples. The Duke of Rutland's party and Lord Hard-
wicke's have determined to bury all former differences, and
unite in throwing out a Reformer. These, with the
Clergy and Anti-Reform party of the University, who
call upon their tenants and tradespeople and ask them
whether they support the College or Mr. Townley, form
a powerful phalanx for their protege, Captain Yorke. We
may also add, that an attempt is made to gull the poor
farmers by predicting the repeal of the Corn Bill and their
inevitable ruin ; but there is a fine feeling of independence,
and in despite of threats and intimidation, and the
Charles-street subscription, the Cantata will shew the
men of Dorset how they ought to have acted.

.IEDBURGH, OCT. 14.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,-It was with mingled emotions of surprise and
concern we read in your valuable and spirited Journal
that a majority of the House of Lords had the confidence
to throw out the Reform Bill, defied our darling Monarch
and his advisers, and insulted the understandings of the
majority of the people of Britain.
I am sensible, Sir, how difficult and how dangerous a
task it is at this present moment to touch upon the great
political question that has agitated this country and its
senatta for many months, without arousing in our bosoms
feelings of indignation at the conduct of those individuals
whose vote declared all Reform to be unnecessary. Yet
considering the dreadful state of Europe—the difficulties
and political dangers that appear to rise in dreadful climax
above each other, threatening to burst with volcanic
force and shake the whole country even to its very founda-
tion—it surely cannot be improper to make known what
appears to be the feeling of a formidable majority of this
part of the country on the present vote.
It is impossible for my pen to do adequate justice to the
sensation that pervaded almost every individual in this
loyal burgle on the announcement of the news of the Re-
form Bid being unceremoniously kicked out. There was
no demonstration of angry feeling—uo disposition to riot
or break the peace of our beloved Monarch. On the con-
trary, sorrow was' depicted in every countenance, and in-
dividuals appeared as if they bad lost their dearest friend.
In terms of a most respectably signed requisition, the
magistrates and town council (with arse exception of the
provost and town clerk, two apostates from the cause ot
freedom), called a meeting of the inhabitants, on Thursday
evening, at six o'clock, for the purpose of taking into con-
sideration the propriety of addressing his Majesty at
this momentious crisis. Long before the hour fixed
numbers had taken their seats in the Town-hall, and
shortly after the bells ceased to ring it was crowded to
suffocation. That tried friend of the cause of freedom, old
Provost Helson, now Dean of Guild, was unanimous )
voted to pre-ide. amidst immense cheering. After several
gentlemen had successively addressed the meeting in au
eloquent and energetic strain, the address to his Majesty
as well as a memorial to Earl Grey and his colleague,
were unanimously agreed to, amidst thunders of arplause.
But it would be impossible to paint the scene—indeed
the burst of enthusiasm beggars all description when tha
venerable old man who possessed the chair rose, and in a
manner peculiarly his own proposed four cheers for " our
beloved William." In a twinkling young and old sprunc
to their feet, and manifested their attachment to the
greatest of Monarchs that ever graced a throne by Us,
most tremendous buzzas ever witnessed within the walla
of the hall. Let the opposers of Reform think of this
'and reflect, that if a at: uggle should take place between
them and the Government, aided by a devoted people, the•
struggle will not be long or doubtful. No, Sir, they must
yield, let their support he what it may, and the Constitu-
tion must be preserved.
And here it must be remarked that the conduct of the
provost and town clerk has been any thing but consistent.
They attended the first meetings of Reform, and acted
with seeming zeal for the cause, but as matters have
turned out their language and behaviour was that of arti-
fice, hypocrisy, and delusion—such absurdities as, these
would provoke merriment in a case of leaf. consequence ;
"but they protrolie indignation in a case where the interests
of our King and country are so deeply concerned.
Before concluding I would only ask the enemies of Re-
form to look into the great cities, the emporium and chit f
support of the whole kingdotn. Inquire of the merchant-,
the most valuable subjects of the realm, whether trade
does not stagnate? Take a view of the country, and ask
the farmer and grazier whether they do not severely feel
the effect of late administrators ? Ask the laborious ma-
nufacturer whether be does not suffer grievously for want
of employment? In short ask every man of what condi-
tion soever, who dare speak out, whether he does not
labour under some present distress, and under strong ap-
prehensions of greater? Nay, I wilt venture to say that
scarce one of a thousand of those very men who talk and
act the most vigourously in public against Reform, who
does not in his conscience feel the strongest sentiment of
uneasiness at this portentous period, but are compelled to
act by the powerful magnet of self interest.
Trusting that we will yet gain our object, and have a
thorough Reform conceded us in spite of,this obnoxious,
this now almost universally detested majority of 41, com-
patible with the interests of our King and country,
I remain, Sir, your's most respectfully,
A ZEALOUS REFORMER.
P.& It is rumored that a spy in the pay of a noted
conservative party in our metropolis is at work about this
uarter !

THE WORKING CLASSES.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)

Yesterday morning a deputation from the Eastern
Branch of the National Union of the working classes had
an interview with Lord Melbourne at the office of the
Howe Department, and which arose out of the following
circumstances :—lt appeared that at a general meeting of
the Eastern Branch of the National Union of the Work-
ing Closes, held at the Pitt's Head, Bethnal-green-road,
on Tuesday night, it was unanimously agreed to address
his Majesty, praying that Lis Majesty would not exer-
cise his prerogative in the creation of any more Peers;
on the contrary, that his Majesty would be gra-
ciously pleased to bringinto operation the authority and
power with which his Majesty is awned by the Consti-
tution, in older to lead to an abolition of the House of
Lords. The Address further implored his Majesty to re•
commend to the House of Commons, that they would pass,
without further delay, a Reform Bill based on the prin•
ciples of unise rsal suffrage,
.annual Parliaments, vote by
ballot, and no property qualification for either the electors
or representatives. The Address also requested his Ma-
jesty would be pleased to order that an inquiry should be
forthwith instituted, having for its obj-cts the ameliora-
tion of the present condition of the working classes. At
the meeting alluded to it was also agreed, that a de-
putation of four members should convey the Address
to Lord Melbourne's office, and yesterday morn-
ing his Lordship very politely received them. The
deputation presented the Address, which his Lordship
read very attentively, and seeing the name of ooe of
them signed, •' William Carpenter," his Lordship
instantly and anxiously inquired if he was Mr. Car-
penter,
the publisher ? " No, my Lord," said Mr. Car-
penter (who was on the deputation), " lam the man,
and the gentleman to whom you allude is no more than a
namesake of mine, and is the talented writer who is now
immured in the walls of the King's Bench Prison." Mr.
Carpenter then presented his Lordship with the printed
declaration of the rights, as well as the principles of
government under which the National Union is di-
ec His Lordship requested Mr. Carpenter would
favour
him
m
leaving him the copy a to which Mr.
Carpenter readily assented. liis Lordship, then, on ar-
riving at that part of the address which alluded to the
k4PrPssion of the House of Lords, emphatically observed
to the Giminittee, that they required of the King to do
that which be was not by law entitled to do_namely,
that of suppressing the House of Lords altogether—that
be. could not think of presenting such an Address to the
ration
nKing, and would feel equally as justified in recommending
his Majesty to hang a man without trial as to suppress the
Peers. To this the Committee said, that the Lords had
been tried, and were found wanting at their posts, and
proved to be traitors to their country, and therefore ban
a right to be removed from their having any share in the
Legislature of this country." To these observations Lord
Melbourne
liou
agreeingrotldeind athkeinritobiflaitiny iolifnghaisssie.notr,dsahnid the Depu•
'lance, left the office, carrying hack to their bropt'lisere°wuour
men the Address, which his Lordship refuted to present.