The Sun.
London, England, 1831-01-20 00:00:00

DEPARTURES.

The Duke of Devonshire, yesterday, for Brighton; H. G.
Knight, Esq., for East Rettord, Nottinghamshire; Capt. and
Mrs. Simpson, from Dover-street, for Bath ; Mr. and Mrs. It.
Grant, for their seat in Lei;!estershire ; Captain Locke, from the
British Hotel, Jermyn-strect, for Portsmouth ; Johx Fisher,
Esq., from ditto, for Oxford ; Captain and Mrs. Higgins, from
Brook-street, for Dover ; John S. Earle Sawbridge Drax, Esq.,
and Mrs. Drax, from Marshal Thompson's Hotel, Cavendish_
square ; Henry Gilliat, Esq., and .1. Gilliat, Esq., from ditto ;
T. Coltman, Esq. and J. Coltman, Esq., from ditto ; Colonel and
Mrs. Bishop, from Mivart's Hotel, Lower Brook and Davies.
streets, Hants ; Major Hughes, from ditto, for Melton; Count
Redern, from ditto, for Berlin.

Yesterday the LORD MAYOR gave a grand
entertainment to twenty-two members of the Court of
Aldermen and their Ladies, and to several of the first mer-
chants and bankers in the city. To-morrow, one of the
dinners to the Corporation in lieu of the Guildhall dinner,
which an accident caused to be postponed, will be given at
the Mansion-house ; and on the 26th the second will take
place. Invitations have been sent out in the names of the
Loan MAYOR and Sheriffs.

In the list of our causes, this week, before the
Edinburgh Court of Session, an action of divorce appears,
at the instance of Lady LENNOX, or MA ILI ANN PATON,
as the lady calls herself, against her husband Lord WIL-
LIAM LENNOX.—Edinburgh Evening Post.

A meeting of the St. Katherine's Dock Com-
pany was held yesterday, and a dividend of 1 per cent.
declared for the last half year.

It is r►ot, perhaps, very generally known that
the present King of the FRENc:ir offered himself to ➢lr.
PITT, in 1805 (the year preceding that statesman's death,)
to be placed at the head of affairs in Mexico.

We learn from the Stirling Advertiser that
the Ex-King of FRANCE was last week enjoying the hos-
pitality of a noblema❑ in the ❑eighbourhood of Falkirk,
along with several members of his family and Court. A
number of the surrounding gentry, we understand, met
them at a grand ball, which exhibited more than the
brilliancy which a falle❑ dynasty may be supposed to dis-
play. it is said, that so pleased are the Ex Royalists
with the 'Vale of the Forth, that they have been looking
out for a suitable residence there, in which to spend their
spring.

CHELMSFORD, JAN. 17.—1 n the parish of
Ovington, near Clare, forty acres of rich land have been
given up by Mr. LONG WELLESLEY fur the benefit of the
distressed agricultural labourers in that district. Twelve
acres have already been distributed; and the Rev. Mr.
Fishes, the clergyman, has agreed to relinquish his tithe
upon the land which the generosity of the owner' has
thought fit to iclieve from rent.—Chelmsford Chronicle.

The important events on the Continent, the
death of his late Majesty GEORGE IV., &c., caused a great
excitement in the public mind. One vendor of London
Newspapers (AV. 11. SMITH, 192, Strand) issued to his
customers, in the year 1830, no less than 1,664,000 news-
papers ; 338,792 were sent by the early morning coaches
or by special express ; 112,021 were delivered in London ;
and 1,213,181 sent through the General Post office, or
in parcels by the Royal Mails. The special express sent
by NV. If. S. with the intelligence of the death of his late
Majesty GEORGE IV., was the first to convey it to thirty-
three towns, and preceded the Government messengers in
Dublin, &c., by several hours.—Morning Chronicle.
At the seat of the Duke of RICHMOND, at
Goodwood, in Su'sex, the family vault in the chapel has
over the entrance the inscription Ultima Doinus; i. e.
the Last House, which gave rise to the ensuing sarcastic
impromptu :
.. Did he who edified this wall
Not read, or not believe St. Paul,
Who says there is, where'er it stands,
Another house not made with hands
Or may we gather from these words,
That House is not a House of Lords."

YOUNG AND HIS BOOKSELLERS.—ToNsON
and LINTOT were both candidates for printing a work of
Dr. YOUNG'S. The Poet answered both letters the same
morning, but misdirected them. In these epistles he com-
plains of the rascally cupidity of each. lie told Totisos
that LINTOT was so great a scoundrel that printing with
him was out of the question ; and writing to the latter,
decided that TONSON was an old rascal, but, es:c., and then
makes his electio❑ in his favour.— Taller.

THE SCOTCII PRESBYTERY.--A meeting
of the Preshytery was was held yesterday, at St. An-
drew's Scotch Church, Commercial-road, when the case of
the Rev. Mr. IRvING was again discussed. A Report of
the Committee appointed to investigate the question at
issue between that Rev. Gentleman and the Preshytery
was presented and adopted. A proposition was made that
the whole of the proceedings, in answer to the declaration
recently put forth by the Rev. E. IRVING and the Elders
of his Church, should be forthwith published, which,
after several gentlemen had expressed their sentiments in
support of this measure, was carried unanimously. The
Rev. Mr. JARDINE, who had begged to stand neutral, as
he had but recently become a member, expressed his fear
that the proceeding would be attended with evil conse-
quences to the Church of Scotland, and the cause of Re-
ligion generally. After the Rev. Mr. MILLER. had re-
plied in support of the proceedings being made public, the
locating broke up.

It appears that report has been premature in
assigning a certain Duke as the original of the character
of Lisborough in the novel of " Mothers and Daughters ;"
a character which might just as fail ly be appropriated to a
noble Marquis whose domestic happiness is known to be
of a very questionable nature. Much of the disrepute i❑
which the marriage state in high life has fallen is attri-
butable to the too often sordid nature of alliances in that
class ; and it may be shrewdly guessed that the author of
this new work has himself been a personal sufferer from
Om arts of female match-makers. If this be so, he has
taken a severe revenge.

SPANISH POLITICS.—Affairs in Spain,
under King FERDINAND, seem to be conducted much in
the sime manner as they were more than a century ago
under Pamir V. Don FRANCISCO DE VELASCO, having
presented a petition to the King of SPAIN, received no
answer to it. He then presented one to the Cardinal DE
Pon-roe:A anEao, which was equally neglected. He ad-
dressed himself in the third instance to the President of
CAsTir,E, who said he could do nothing. At length he
applied to the Duke D'HARCOLIRT, the French Ambassador
at Madrid, who refused to interfere. " What a Govern-
ment!" said VELASCO " here is a King who will not
speak, a Cardinal who will not hear, a President who
cannot do any thing, and a French Ambassador who will
not do any thing." This description of the Government
soon became a by-word in all companies.

REFOItM

WEST KENT.

011 Tuesday last a meeting, pursuant to notice,
of the inhabitants of that part of the Wesrein
Di-
vision of the county of Kent, which is comprised
within the North Division of the lathe of Ayles-
ford, was held at Rochester. The meeting: was most
numerously and respectably attended, and there was
a considerable number present of the neighbouring
farmers.

SAMUEL BAKaR, Esq., having been unanirrioftsly
called to the Chair, stated the vast importance of
the subject about to be discussed.
Mr. BENTLEY then addressed the meeting. He
congratulated them that the united voice of the
people had at length so imperatively demanded the
Reform of the House of Commons as to render it
hazardous for that House, or any Ministers, longer
to oppose it. Fortunately for the country, there
was no reason to apprehend any opposition from
the men at present in power, as some of them had
long since expressed their conviction of its neces-
sity, arid all had taken office under the pledge of
endeavouring to carry it; and though woeful ex-
perience had taught them how little dependence was
to be placed upon the professions of public men,
still, when the novel arid momentous circumstances
under which this pledge was given were considered,
as well as the disastrous consequences that wouhi
result from from its violation, it might for once, he
thought, be safely relied on. Of the disposition of
his Majesty to promote Reform he entertained no
doubt. The concurrence of the other two branches
of the Legislature might, with reason, be ques-
tioned, as no instance was known of any body of
men voluntarily dispossessing themselves of power;
but he begged to remind them that a power exists
in the present day, which, if properly directed by
the almost irresistible influence of the Press, would
prove more than a match for the unconstitutional
power of the Oligarchy—he meant the power of
public opinion. This power, which, till lately, was
comparatively unknown, had effected as great a
revolution in political, as the steam-engine had in
mechanical science. It is this power (said Mr. B.)
which will encourage the timid, and confirm the
wavering reformer. It is this power that will break
down the usurpation of the boroughmongers, and
teach those gentlemen that they are no longer to do
what they will with their own. And it is this power
that will proclaim, both to the Lerds and Commons,
in language not to be misunderstood, that the na-
tion is impatient under their misrule, and will tole-
rate it no longer. In preparing the petition
which he was about to propose, the framers
of it had confined themselves to the prayer for Par-
liamentary Reform only ; not that they under-
valued the importance of other reforms, such as the
abatement of taxation, the economical expenditure
of the public money ; and, above all, in his opinion,
that Reform which he had often advocated, and
which he should continue to advocate whilst he had
the power, until success crowned his exe: tions—
the alteration of the tithe laws ; but because they
considered, that if the House of Commons be once
reformed, if the citadel of corruption be once car-
ried, the demolition of all the out-works of pro&
gacy must necessarily follow. Neither had they re-
commended any particular scheme of Reform ; not
that they were indifferent to the merits of the
various ones that had been proposed, at the head
of the list of which was the ballot—(Loud cheer-
ing)—and the arguments in favour of which ap-
peared to him incontrovertible; but because, as
there existed some little difference of opinion
amongst the friends of Reform as to its details, it
was judged proper to insure unanimity by intro-
ducing those topics only upon which all were agreed.
If I am asked, (added Mr. B.) what is the cri-
terion of an effectual representation, I answer, un-
hesitatingly, when the House of Commons become
the faithful guardians of the public purse. hen,
and not till then, may the Reformers con,ider their
labours complete.—(Repeated cheers.)—Mr. Bent-
ley then proposed and read the petition.

"TO THE HON. THE COMMONS OF THE UNITED
KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, IN
PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED.
" THE PETITION OF THE OWNERS AND OCCU-
PIERS OF LAND AND OTHERS, INHABITANTS OF
THE NORTH DIVISION OF THE LATHE OF AYLES.
FORD, IN THE COUNTY OF KENT,

" Humbly showeth,---That your petitioners beg leave to
express to your Honourable House the grief they experi-
ence at the present disastrous and agitated state of the
empire: the poorer classes are, in some parts, totally desti-
tute of employment; in others, most inadequately remu-
nerated for their labour; whilst the enormous weight of
taxation, imposed upon every portion of the community,
is becoming insupportable, and daily aggravating the
general dissatisfaction and distress.

- 4C Your petitioners plainly avow what they implicitly
believe—that had the people of this country been fairly
and properly represented in Parliament, the evils of which
they now so justly complain would have been averted ; for
your petitioners cannot regard the conduct of former
Houses of Parliament, without the conviction, that as, on
the one hand, systems of Govermreent too expensive ar.d
influential have been invariably supported—so, on the
other, the real interests of the country have been mani-
festly neglected.
i‘ Your petitioners affirm, that the state of the repre-
sentation is most defective, depriving the possessors of pro-
perty and intelligence of almost all share in the election of
those to whom the office is entrusted of protecting and
promoting the welfare of the empire ; they being, under
the existing system, principally and most unconstitutionally
nominated by Peers, wealthy Commoners, and close Cor-
porations ; or elected too frequently by means of practices
gross, degrading, and corrupt.
" Your petitioners receive, in common with the coun-
try at large, the greatest satisfaction from the repeated de-
clarations of the present advisers of the Crown, of their
determination to act, upon all occasions, with the most
rigid economy ; yet your petitioners are convinced, that
nothing short of such a Reform in the Commons House
of Parliament as shall secure to the nation a full, free, and
equal representation, can afford a certain and permanent
remedy for the present evils.
" Your, petitioners, therefore, earnestly pray your
Honourable /loose to take immediate steps for the at-
tainment of this most esential object, as the only means
of alleviating the distress and allaying the dissatisfitc-
tion which now so unhappily prevail over the United
Kingdom, and of reviving our industry and restoring our
national tranquillity."

Mr. H. PRENTIS, in seconding the petition, con-
gratulated the meeting upon the rapid and imnor•
tant change that had taken place upon the subject
of Parliamentary Reform.—(Hear.) The public
opinion now was, that not only should there be a
Reform, but that the period had actually arrived
when that Reform should be effected; and it was a
memorable one, for we had just seen a Ministry
driven from its place of power by the mere force of
public opinion, because the head of it had declared,
that so long as he was at the head of it, there
should be no Reform of the abuses in the state of
the representation.—(Cheers.) The great argu-
ment used against Reform is, that the present sys-
tem works well, and that the people are virtually
repretented. He denied both propositions.—(Hear.)
Mr. Prentis then referred to Lord Grey's cele-
brated petition in 1793, and the table appended to
it, and asked whether the system had improved re-
cently ? It had been stated in the House within a
few years, and not denied, that the majority of
Members was returned by less than 3,000 electors ;
and 140 boroughs returned Members to Parliament,
forty of which had less each than 5,000 inhabitonts,
and the remaining 100 less than 3,000 each ; and
it had been very lately stated, that the majority of
the whole House had been returned by the nomina-
tion and influence of less than two hundred per—
sons.—(Loud cries of " Shame, shame.") Corn-
wall returned forty-four Members to Parliament, and
the population of the whole returning boroughs did
not equal that of a good sized manufacturing town.
Nottingham, for instance ; and Scotland, with its
extentocuntry, [its wealth, population, and intel-
ligence, returned only one more Member than the
single county of Cornwall.—(Shame !)—And in
Scotland even the decent appearance of an election
was hardly preserved. It appeared, indeed, from a
statement made only last week, that a borough
election in Scotland was a degrading and disgusting
mockery. Mr. Prentis then referred to a speech of
Lord John Russell upon Reform, in 1822, and read

an analysis of the divisions then lately made by Loid
Milton and Lot d JOlOl Resell upon popular (pies-
tions, from which it was evident that the akrebers
for populous places were outvoted by those foe small
bormiglie. Here, then, would he take up his posi-
tion, and say ihere was positive proof that the people
were nemt fairly represeetedz. -that the Government
of this country trusted too little to ptlic opinion,
and too much to influence anti p itronage.—(liear2;
The country writhed beneath taxation; but we !mist
be taxed on, because, if majorities were kept toge-
ther by influence and patronage, that influence
and 0 ,fronage twilit only be efflerielutte by money
taken from the pockets of the people.—Tear,
hear.) It was impossible, then,. fur any
nstry to do justice to the country under the pre--
sent system. Lord Althorn had declared " that the
day for goveming this country by patronage wax
past."—(Hear.)—He really thought, that if matters
did not mend, the name of the House of Commons
should be changed—call it a Legislative Assembly,
or the Lower House of Parliament-, or a wise or
au honest House of Parliament—(No, no)—but
do not call it the Commons House of Tarifa-
meat, for ihat it is not.—( Cheers.)--He did not,
however, confine his notion of Reform to merely
transferring the franchise front small and curt-opt
places to populous towns; he considered that no Re-
form would be sufficient that did not reach the pre-
sent mode of electioneering even in open places ; it
had long been bad, and it was gradually becoming
worse. Ile verily believed, that if some alteration
did not take place, it would in a few years be im-
possible, morally impo;sible, for any man possessing
the feelings and principles of a gentleman to engage
in a contest, either as a candidate or partizan.—
(Hear, bear.)—lf the triumph of principle, as it was
called, was to be found only at the end of a course
of corruption, debauchery, extravagance, and riot,
he would leave the House open to profligate and
political adventurers, and it would be for the man
of honour to serve his country it) some moee cre-
ditable but less ostentatious station.—(Cheers.)—
He agreed with his friend Mr. Bentley, that it was
not politic to suggest any plan; but he could not
help offering his own opinion that that Reform
would be beneficial which placed the elective fran-
chise upon a simple, certain, and extended b:sis.—
(Cheers.)—Mr. Prentis then referred to county
elections, which were too often mere questions of
money, and spoke of the Yorkshire election in 1826,
when, as was stated, 100,0001. had been spent by
the four candidates, without a contest ; and argued
in favour of giving eopyholders and bow: fide lease-
holders the power of voting for Members of Parlia-
ment. Before he concluded, he had a word to say
about the new Ministry. His friend (Mr. Bentley)
was suspicious of public men—not more so than
himself; he had seen so much hollowness, nicking,
and shuffling in public men—such a profusion of
professions when out of place, and such a lack of
performance when in—(Hear, hear)—that he was
slow to give his confidence to a Ministry merely be-
cause it was new, and had the current of popular
opinion in its favour. lie could not, however, dis-
guise from himself, that, in the present Ministry he
saw considerable talent—(Hear)—unity of opinion
—(Hear)—and not a little of that weight which
attaches to the integrity of private character : he
remembered also that they stood pledged, fixedly
pledged, to the adoption of plants of peace, retrench-
ment, and Reform. They mu't not, cannot shuffle
with us; we have then) (continued Mr. P. with much
energy) before the high tribunal of public observa-
tion—(Hear)—bound, indissolubly bound, to the
adoption of those measures which they, over and
over again, when out of power and place, declared
to be the only measures that could effect the salva-
tion of the country.—(Hear.)—Those pledges have
been again and again renewed ; they have declared
that the effort shall be made ; and by the success or
failure of that effort they would stand or fidl.—
(Hear.)—But they have declared further that they
rely upon the support and confidence of die people
(Hear)—and that they will not fall without a direct
appeal to the people.—( Hear, and cheers.)—Let
us then come forward and support them with meet-
ings, resolutions, and petitions ; let us show diem
that we will give them prompt and vigorous assist-
ance and encouragement in effecting a sound,
thorough, and constitutional Reform in Parliament.
We ask for a fair Reform, and we seek no more.—
(Hear, hear, and :cheers )—Mr. Prentis concluded
by seconding the petition.
Mr. LARKIN—Ever since 1 was capable of forming
an opinion, I fancied I saw a great anomaly in what
was called the representation of the country. I ob-
served that the opinion expressed within the House
of Commons was generally in direct opposition to
the opinion without, and that the Members spoke
the sense of the people of Japan or Constantinople,
as much as that of the inhabitants
serl
observed petition
of
tion, this country—
afterpetition
(prileseeanr.t)e—d,lcohma‘p'elaming of grievances, without ob-
taining any redress. 1 have seen the Habeas Cor-
pus Act suspended, Gagging Bills passed, the Six
Acts followed ; but for tine last thirty years, I have
never recognized tt single act of grace or kindness
emanating from either House of Parliament towards
the middle or lower classes of the community, or a
single inquiry instituted 11 I order to ascertain the
cause of their distress.—(Hear.)—One uniform
system has been acted on by the Government—
n'amely, to advance the interest of the few at the
expellee of the many.—(Hear.)--Lord Chatham
was so convinced ot• time sad state of the House, that
he declared, that unless they reformed themselves
within, the people would refotm them without, with
a vengeance.—(Hear, hear.)—Mr. Pitt, before be
became warped by office, declared, that, nhile the
House was so constituted, no honest Minister could
serve his country. Mr. Burke, before he became
a pensioner, expressed the same opinion. Thus,
fifty years back, the wisest of tnen thought Reform
necessary for the salvation of the country. For the
want of it at that time tine nation was plunged into
a ruinous war, which has entailed upon the country
a barnhen which weighs down the strength and
cripples the energies of the nation. The cause of
Reform was retarded for a time by time lamentable
occurrences which sprung out, of the said French
Revolution, and tarnished an event which, in the
first instance, was hailed with enthusiasm by Eng-
lishmen. It soon revived front its dormant state,
and is now demanded by a voice so loud and so
general that no Minister can disobey—(Hear)—
and when obtained, I sanguinely look forward for
instantaneous relief to the labouring classes. Dis-
trcee, beyond the power of human beings to bear,
exists beyond. contradiction. Numerous causes
have been assigned—some have ascribed it to over
production—(Hear, and a laugh)—some to over-
population—(Hear, and a laugh)—but if they were
honest, they would tell the people that it mainly
was caused by over-taxation—(Cheers, and a
laugh)—and as a proof I will relate a few facts.
In 1817 a Finance Committee was formed, at
the head of which was Lord Castlereagh, and they
reported that the establishment of 1792 M as the
standard to be approached, as sufficient to protect
the interest and maintain the dignity of the country.
Now observe how near they have approached that
standard. In 1792, the entire Revenue was about
seventeen ; iu 1829, fifty-six millions; in
1792, the whole charges of the Civil and Military
Government (exclusive of debt) was 6i- millions; ,
to 1829, twenty-four millions. The charge of col-
lecting was, in 1792, one million; in 1829, four
millions. I will now appeal to the landowners and
farmers whom I see around me: they have been se-
verely pinched, and although I feel for the distress
of all, yet I fear if they had not felt, we should not
have had their support as Reformers.—( Hear.) I
say t
no reproach ; I am happy to find they
are actinghias in unison with their fellow-subjects in de-
manding a change in that system which has worked
mankind.—(Hear, hear ) In 1792,
sswot
tbritldidl for
of quarters of corn, at 40s. per quarter,
have produced a sufficient sum to have dis-
charged all the claims on the country. In 1828,
19 millions of quarters, at 31., would have been re-
quired. The great cause of the distress is taxation,
and the remedy is a thorough Reform in the Com-

mans House. I understood my friend, Mr. Prentis,
to say that he doubted whether any immediate
relief would he afforded. This is the only ob-
servation he made that I (Flier with : a reformed
1-iort.e evuuld insist on a very large reduction
in the enortncus establishments kept up for the
purposes of providing for the junior branches of the
Aristocracy—(Hear)—and the re.lations of borough-
mongers ; a reformed House of Commons would
nay td!orf the existence of those shameful Pension
Lists on whiCh Pukes and Ear;s are mean enough
to quarter their triUtt:e7e, and sister—(Shame,
shame)—although they knovt- the money is wrung
from the sweat of the poor man's brow.—
These great reductions would allow taxes to be
taken' off frean those articles that affect the produc-
tive classes emplopnent would be more plentiful ;
the demand for labour ittcreaed, and the middling
ant v7orking classes become again content-. Let us
remember that it was not formerly the fashion to
reckon the Aristocr?f:y a nation e. strength.—(Hear)
—lt has been justly said, that the breath that made
them may make others ; but that
" A bold peasantry, the nation's pride,
If once destroyed, can sever be inipplied.'
. .

It affords me Vera sathffaction to know that we
have now Ministers VA id have made !I declaration in
favour of Reform--; Rearjand we are blessed
with a King who has given it his sanction. But
difficult es will arise,and Ministers will require the aid
of the people.---(Hear.)—The boroughromgers,
pensioners, and placer trt will unite for the preserva-
tion of abuses. The Minister tan manage them if he
proposes to lop off a few under-cierks---(Hear)—
to discharge a few hundred mechanics from the
dock-yards; their relations are not candidates far
those situations.—(A laugh.)—But let him carry
his retrenchments into the upper regions of office,
then these gentlemen will endeavour to manage
him. The Ministers must, therefore, be supported
by the people, or Reform may be retarded, although
it must eventually be obtained. Although I have
alluded to the Aristocracy, let it not be understood
that I have any wish to bring their order into con-
tempt. lam a friend to the Constitution, and I
wish to see them considered as the Corinthian ca-
pital of the pillar. I only want them to remember
that the people form the base—(Hear, hear, and
cheers)—and if that is not preserved the pillar must
fall, and the capital would crumble to atoms.—
(Cheers.)—If the Aristocracy is not held in such
respect as could be wished, I fear it is the result of
their own conduct. I believe the people of this
country by no means desire to pull down the order,
or to disturb the property that they have legiti-
mately acquired—(Hear, hear)—but if by their
capital they have purchased the birth-right of the
people—(Hear, hear)—and poisoned the fountain-
head of public happiness—( Wear, hear)—if they
claim the representation of the people in the Lower
House as property—(Hear)—then I say of such
property, and such only, would I despoil them.—
( Hear and cheers.)

Mr. PRING then rose t move a resolution in fa-
vour of the ballot, witho► which he contended that
any Reform in the electiv franchise would be in-
effectual. Ile dwelt fore y upon the evils of the
present system as affectit the lowest tradesman,
and after alluding particularly to the cases of Liver-
pool, Queenborough, Stamford, and Newark, pro-
posed the following resolution :

" That this meeting is of opinion that the tnost effica-
cious mode of pieserving the purity of election is the
vote by ballot."

Mr. ScusEum,LlE, having seconded the motion,
Both the petition and resolution were unani-
mously carried.

Mr. BENTLEY then moved that the petition to
the House of Lords be entrusted to the Earl of
Darnley, to whom he considered the compliment
was due, not only as a resident in the neighbour-
hood, but from his having always expressed himself
in favour of Parliamentary Reform. lie oberved
that his son, Lord Clifton, while in the House of
Commons, had also voted in support of liberal
measures.

Mr. LARKIN seconded the motion, which was
carried with applause.

The Rev. Dr. JOYNER, a Magistrate for the
county, in proposing that the petition to the
House of Commons should be presented by Thos.
L. Hodges, Esq., one of the Members for the
county, in the course of an able and eloquent speech,
observed that he was certain that the petition of
that meeting could not be placed in the hands of a
better advocate ; one who had long been a consis-
tent friend to Reform, who had advocated the mea-
.,ure front his early youth, through good report and
through evil report, and at a time when the ques-
tion was unfashionable.—(Hear.) The situation
of the question of Reform at the present time was
far different from what it was in former years ; for.
merly it was covered with obloquy, but now it is
attended with glory ; even Princes and Nobles were
changing their sentiments, and adopting opinions in
favour of Reform. The Rev. Doctor, after some
eloquent observations upon the recent events in
France concluded, amidst much cheering, with some
animated remarks upon the present distress of the
poorer classes, which he attributed to the intolerable
weight of taxation upon the industry of the
country.

JAMES Swill, Esq.' seconded the resolution,
which was carried amidst cheers.

The CHAIRMAN, after complimenting the meeting
upon the unanimity of its proceedings, made some
very sound and able observations upon the causes
of the existing distress, which he contended, arose
mainly from want of employment.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman having been
unanimously carried, and for which he returned
thanks in a suitable speech, the meeting was dis-
solved.