The Sun.
London, England, 1831-10-11 00:00:00

LONDON,
TUESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 11, 1831.

The debate in the House of Commons last night
on Lord EBRINGTON'S motion that the House should
pledge itself to adhere to the leading principles and
provisions of the Reform Bill, and express its un-
abated confidence in Ministers, which was carried by
a triumphant majority of ONE HUNDRED AND
THIRTY-ONE, will have a most tranquilizing effect
on the public mind. In the metropolis it has already
worked wonders; the alarming spirit so gene-
rally perceptible yesterday, being to-day consider-
ably diminished. The people have now only to
remain tranquil, to ensure the success of their fa-
vourite measure. All depends on them ; their So-
vereign is firm, Ministers and the House of Com-
mons equally resolute. Nothing, therefore, can pre-
vent Reform, but acts of tumult and insubordination
on the part of the people. We hope the great
towns and manufacturing districts will bear this con-
stantly in mind.

Lord EBRINGTON'S motion, we repeat, was car-
ried, but not without the customary amount of
opposition on the part of the Anti-Reformers.
Sir ROBERT PEEL, who is evidently not yet
reconciled to his seat on the wrong side of the
House—which, however, in accordance with his
own repeatedly avowed wish, we pray that he may
long retain—said that he " could not understand on
what ground Hon. Members on his side of the House
could be expected to vote for the motion." We
will tell the Right Hon. Ex-Secretary on what
ground. Because the country is in a most con-
vulsed state; because symptoms, not merely of
disturbance, but of absolute revolution, are
abroad; and because nothing but a pledge from
the House of Commons that it will never thwart
the popular wish, expressed so repeatedly and so
unequivocally on the question of Reform, can save
England from utter ruin. This is the ground on
which all patriotic Members are called on to sup-
port Lord EBRINGTON'S motion. But the Anti-
Reformers cannot understand this ground. To
be sure not ! Who ever expected they
could ? They are mere scramblers for office,
hack adventurers who take to politics as a trade, and
who can understand nothing but what favours their
own interests. As well might one expect to gather
grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles, as to look
for even a glimmering of honesty or patriotism in
such men. Commerce may languish—insurrection
tear its hydra head—every civil institution be put
in jeopardy—provided they retain their places, and,
above all, their pensions.
The opposition, then, of the Ultras to the motion
of last night, we conceive to be the most impudent—
the most disgraceful—the most utterly contemptible
and indefensible act, which we ever read or heard
of. They were called on, not as Members of a
party, but as honest men and good citizens, to assist
in restoring tranquillity to the country, by giving it
the solemn assurance of the House of Commons, that
its interests should not be neglected at the present
crisis. And how do t hey reply to this call ?By some
solemn, canting trash about their not being able to
see the necessity of it ! About their character, their
conscience, their sense of duty, and such like Old
Bailey humbug ! But though they are thus shy, as
patriots, they are marvellously free-spoken as par-
tizans. There is no reserve here ! They declare
unequivocally by their opposition of last night,
that they care not a jot for the country; but are
solicitous only to reinstate themselves in office.
But they may lay aside all solicitude on
this score. Lord ALTIIORP'S manly decla-
ration, that he will not swerve from the
principles of Reform, will blast their hopes for ever,
and convince the PEELS—the GOULBURNS—the
HERRIESES—the CROKERS—the DAWSONS—and
the rest of that wretched crew, that their day is
past and gone. Yes, the age of pedlar politicians is
at an end. A blow from the sledge-hammer of
Reform has knocked out what few brains they ever
possessed.

The motion made by Lord WIIARNCLIFFE in the
House of Lords, that the " Reform Bill be rejected,"
which he was obliged to withdraw and replace by
the more customary motion, that " the Bill be read
a second time this day six months," was stated at
the time to have been made inadvertently. We now
ask, whether the terms of that motion were not pre-
viously discussed at a meeting of the Tories at the
Duke of BUCKINGHAM'S, and made advisedly, as be•
ing the more insolent mode of putting the question.

The united parishes of the Metropolis and its
suburbs assemble to-morrow in Charing-cross, for
the purpose of proceeding to the Palace, and pre-
senting their several Addresses to his MAJESTY.
Immense numbers are expected to assemble.
We have heard it rumoured that upwards
of twothundred thousand people will be in attend-
ance. What will the Tory Lords, and their Re-
verences the Bishops, say to this peaceful (for peace-
ful we can confidently assure them that it will be)
demonstration of public feeling ? Will the Reverend
Bench still contend that Reform is unnecessary ?
We should hope not, for otherwise, it will be abun-
dantly manifest that they are fitter inmates for
Bedlam than the Honse of Peers. Unless the people
meet by thousands, and demonstrate their strength
peaceably, and within the limits prescribed by the
laws and the Constitution, they may rely on it that
the Anti-Reformers will still persist that they are
indifferent to the great question. We therefore
highly approve of the intended meeting for to-
morrow, and trust that it will be as numerous as its
objects are meritorious.

Earl GREY came to town last evening from Windsor.
This day, at one o'clock, a Cabinet Council was
held at the Foreign-office, in Downing-street, which
was attended by the LORD CHANCELLOR, Earl
GREY, the Marquis of LAN§powNE, Lord NIEL,