The Sun.
London, England, 1831-10-24 00:00:00

NORTHUMBERLAND.

(Abridged from the Northumberland Advertiser of Tuesday.)
On Wednesday last a numerous and respectable body of free-
holders and other inhabitants took place in the New Court
House, Morpeth, to deliberate on the steps necessary to be taken
in the present state of the Reform question.
G. SILVEitTOP, Esq., of Minster acres, took the chair as
High Sheriff of the county.
C. W. BIGGE, Esq. of Linden, said, Gentlemen, Mr. B.
said the Bill has been defeated by its opponents, but I am
sure you will agree with me that it is not irretrievably lost,
and that it has not yet gone to the tomb of all the Capulets.
The Bill, if I may use the expression, which I certainly do with
great reverence,—the Bill " is not dead but sloepeth." Success
is certain in the end. It is a question of time only. Gentlemen,
I shall now propose the resolutions, and also that there be
founded on them an humble address to his Majesty, praying him,
in the present eventful crisis of the country, not to withdraw
from Ministers that confidence with which he has hitherto ho-
noured them. I have further to propose, that an address to
Earl Grey be agreed upon—to whom, for his great exertions
on this, as, indeed, on all occasions when the object was to
secure public liberty, I consider the nation owes a large debt of
gratitude—humbly but strongly requesting him not to be dis-
heartened under the present seemingly adverse turn of affairs—
not to withdraw from the councils of his Sovereign, but to con-
tinue to lend his great and splendid talents to the support and
benefit of his country.—(Great applause.) Mr. Bigge concluded
by reading the resolutions (seven in number) ; they were se-
conded by Captain C. B. Grey, of Styford. The High Sheriff
then proceeded to put them singly, and had read the first, when
Sir C. M. L. MONCK, Bart. of Belsay Castle, observed—Mr.
High Sheriff, although I do not doubt that a large majority of
the present company regret exceedingly the loss of the Reform
TIM, I am not disposed to feel any hesitation in declaring that I
happen to be one who regrets it in no degree whatever.—(Dis-
approbation.) Gentlemen, I suppose liberty of speech is allowed
here.—(Hisses and cries of " yes.") If, as you say you do, you
:
hatntvthe House of Commons to be the reflected image of the
people, then you surely allow that freedom of speech which you
are so desirous the House of Commons should possess. I object
tßeform Bill, because it goes to shift the representation

out of thoSe lands which hold the' property of the country,
and place if ifirhands which do not hoki the property of the
countrY...--4Uproar.) •
JAMEkI LOSH, of Jesmorid, kNq.ilrose;amidst kind cheers,'
and said—What are we met for,? :,Sfsch, Of up" are friendly to
the excellent.apd,admitable Bill which been rejected:
are mettoaprove of it. Such asithink it nang.certainly have,
a right to say so. An opportunity will soon be offered for put_.
ting an end to all doubt upon the, subject, as far as the opinions
of this meet* de Concerned. .
G. T. DUN N, Esq. of Nekeistle, begged 'that the word
"dismay," tiled In the reielution before them, might be
amended. He proposed, that instead of:saying we viewed the
rejectiodwith " regret and dismay,'t to use the" expression with
" regret and indignation." The Alteration, was received with
applause. , The-Chairman then put the first resolution, and Sir
C. Monck's hand being the only one against it, much laughter,
hissing, Vic. ensued. •
- The second resolution having been read, Sir C. MONCK
rose and saldhe opposed it more earnestly than the former.
The resolution was then put and carried, Sir C. M.'s opposi-
tion being received as before.
On the third resolution being- read, Sir C. Monck
if this resolution merely goes to hope that Ministers, whosover
they may be, 'will again submit the question of Reform to the
consideration of Parliament, I assent to it ; but if it refers to
the reintroduction of that Bill which has already been before
two branches of the Legislature, then I dissent from it (disap-
probation). The resolution was carried as before.
M. W. RIDLEY, ofßlagdon, Esq., next addressed the meet-
ing, and said.--:Gentlemen, The third resolution requests his
Majesty to sanetion flits Bill, this-whole Bill; and-nothing but
this Rift, which will certainly admit of some improvement,
alterations, and amendments ; while the fourth pledges the
meeting to any Bill that may be brought forward in future. I
am an advocate for the opening :of boroughs, the extension of
the franchise, and a full and fair representation of the people in
Parliament, but I could not.pledge myself to support the whole
Bill, and nothing but the Bill. I therefore object to its being
recommended in the third resolution, more particularly when
his Majesty's sanction of any future Bill is inconsistently re-
commended in the fourth.
Mr. LOSH thought that two or three ,ivords Avould.relieve
the Hon. Gentleman out of his difficulty.
RALPH CARR, of Dunston, Esq., would fete for the third
resolution, for he confessed his partiality to the Bill as it. stood.
He would also rote for the fourth.
The fourth resolution having been put,
Sir C. MONCK had never heard of so mad a request as to
urge the King to pass any future Reform Bill that might come
before him.
Mr. CARR suggested that the words any "safe and efficient"
Bill might be added.
Mr. LOSH said, if sir Charles Mond( will be satisfied by the
addition of a few words to the resolution, well and good.
Mr. BIGGE, respecting the latter part of the clause objected
to, had no objection to use a few words if they would overcome
the difficulties of the case—for instance there might be inserted
after the words any Bill " grounded upon the principles of the
late rejected Bill," in which case there would be no doubt as
to the meaning of the resolution.
The resolution, as amended, was then carried, as was the
succeeding one, without comment.
HENRY WITHAM, of Lartington, Esq., said, the House
of Lords has neglected the firm and constitutional language—
the universal and determined feeling of the people upon this
great question. Their Lordships have suffered public disgrace
by theirpresent proceeding. They have shewn themselves more
attached to corruption than liberty--more attentive to their own
interests than the wishes of the people; whilst the fact is, that
if they would have lost any thing by passing the till, it would
have been a mere surreptitious advantage, which they had no
right to. They will, however, be made to disgorge their plunder,
for the people have acquired'a knowledge of their rights, and
dare to assert them. Mr. Witham concluded by reading an
address to his Majesty, which was seconded by J. JOPLIN, of
Newton Hall, Esq., and carried with the customary exception.
G. BAKER, of Eleniore, Esq. observed, :although I. have
turned 79 years of age, I have thought it my duty to come here
this day and move an addreis to Lord Grey—the greatest man
Europe ever 'produced, for so I must call him when I consider
his eminent services and acquirements. .No man can wish his
country better than I do ; and I recommend you .to be firm and
temperate, and this Bill, or an equally good one, must be
carried to your satisfaction at last.--(Applause.)
The Rev, C. BIRD seconded the address. The question has
often been asked, " What would the Lbrds do ?" They have
rejected the Bill, and the question now is, " What will the
peopled° ?" Why they will have the Bill; they will never for-
sake the Bill nor its authors, nor let any other person run away
with the honours justly due to Earl Grey—(Loud applause.)
They shall not take the wreath from his brow and put it on
that of Lord Eldon.

ROBERT INGHAM, of Wcstoe, Esq., alluded to the
unanimous feeling of regret with which the news of the Reform
Bill having been lost had been received at Shields ; and then
animadverted upon the indignation with Which Sir C. Monck
had repelled the assertion, that the opposition to the Bill
was factious and malignant. There was a remark made by
the Hon. Baronet, that this Bill tended to shift the repre-
sentation from persons of property to persons who had none.
This impression, he (Mr. T.) thought must have arisen in the
Hon. Baronet's mind from an imperfect study of the measure;
for, as he understood, it would admit several classes possessed
of infinitely more property than the 40s. freeholder, but who
had been previously deprived of any such right.—(Applause.)
In answer to a very general call, JOHN GREY, of Milltield,
Esq., came forward, and went the full length of the Bill which
had been so unhappily rejected in the House of Lords.
\VAL L. SMART, of Trewhitt House, Esq., then moved a
vote of thanks to the High Sheriff for his upright and impartial
conduct in the Chair, which was seconded by C. W. Bigge,
Esq., and carried unanimously.
Nine cheers were then given for the King, and six for Earl
Grey, and the meeting broke up.

LEITH.
(From the Caledonian Mercury.)

On Tuesday, a numerous and respectable meeting of the in-
habitants of Leith took place in the Exchange there, called by
requisition, for the purpose of addressing his Majesty on the
subject of Parliamentary Reform, and expressing their entire
confidence in the present Administration.

Bailie SCEALES, who was called to the chair, briefly stated
the object of the meeting, when
Mr. JAMES B. scour said that he would simply read the
resolution entrusted to his care.
Mr. CASSELS, in seconding the resolution, said that there
was scarcely an Anti-Reformer in Leith, and as they were thus
all of one way of thinking as to the great cause, every thing
went smoothly with them. He did not feel much surprised that
their Lordships had rejected the Bill, because they had kept
themselves aloof from the people, and knew little or nothing of
their wants and feelings. It had been remarked, that the best
rulers in a nation had mixed, in some period of their lives,
with the people. As an instance of this, he would mention
Russia, which had originally been an Asiatic power, and never
could have arrived at that degree of importance in the mercan-
tile world which it had obtained, but for the exertions of Peter
the Great, who mixed with the different handicrafts amongst
whom he had travelled; and he had worked in Holland as a
ship-carpenter to acquire the knowledge of ship-building, to
advance the interests of his country ; and thus it was that she
became a great European Power. Again, the head of our pre-
sent Government was nothing the worse for having mixed with !
the people in his younger days; and there was little doubt but
that many of the feelings of his Majesty were engendered when
he wore the tarry jacket of a midshipman. There had been no
argument in the House of Lords of a particular nature—the
positions were always general, such as that the measure was re-
volutionary, and a more absurd argument, it had been repeat-
edly proved, never was advanced. If the Lords had ventured
to consider the situation of one place after another, they would
have found their arguments of no avail. Could any one, for
instance,or 7,00( ;
i hnahvaebni
taamn
tesd,
whei
ctownd onf
oLeith, share consisting stihs tei negl
ecotfi `2:30,000f a
representative to Parliament, without feeling ashamed at the
weakness of the position which they attempted to hold ?
Captain CARNEGIE moved the second resolution, which was
seconded by Mr. HARVEY.

Mr. MORRISON proposed the third resolution, and alluded
to what would have been the state of the country had Earl Grey
given up the helm of affairs when the Bishops and others had
deserted the cause of the country. The people felt that their
cause was in good hands, and, although delayed for a little, the
Bill must ultimately triumph.
Mr. GILLON seconded the resolution.

Mr. PERKINS, in proposing the fourth resolution, after in-
quiring who the Lords were, and what placed them in their
high situation, said, that if the indignation of the people were
excited against the Lay Lords, what must it be against the
mitred aristocracy ?—those should-be messengers of peace, who
had taken up the fire-brand and thrown it into the midst of the
people—for such had been their conduct. No sympathy had
been shown towards the people. He had little doubt, however,
that the doctrine of expediency would work an effectual cure
before the next meeting of Parliament ; and he trusted not a
little also, to the warning just given by the French Chamber of
Deputies, in voting a hereditary Peerage useless.
Mr. MITCHELL, jun., seconded the motion.
It was then agreed, that the address to his Majesty should be
forwarded to his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, with a
request that his
Royal Highness would present the same; and
that James Sceales, Esq., Chief Magistrate, should sign it in
the name of the inhabitants of Leith.
After a vote of thanks to the Chairman, Mr. MITCHELL
moved that three cheers should be given for his Majesty, three
for his Ministers, and three for the Reform Bill, when imme-
diately the hall resounded with the most rapturous acclamations,
accompanied with waving of hats and handkerchiefs.
If dlr. M.

. the ministry of Lord GREY be upset in
London, let them beware of the pavemerit3 !—Le Corscurc.

Mr. Woovw.aan said it dropped, and peace was re-
mtored in the Watd.—(Laughter.)
The CHAIRMAN-I have no fear about it; if this
meeting order me to get the resolutions advertised, I will
cheerfully pay the expense.—(Cheers:.)
Mr. WOODWARD again pressed on the Chairman that it
was an enormous crime. He produced the Act of Par-
liament for the government of the Ward, and said that by
that Act a fund was authorized to be raised to pay the
wages of watchmen and beadles, " and other charges inci.
dent thereto." The expense of advertising public meet-
ings could not be incident to watching the Ward, and
therefore the Deputy would be liable to an indictment for
misapplying the funds.—(Laughter.)
The CHAIRMAN again stated that he did not fear
indictment for doing what the meeting ordered him.
Mr. KNAPP said that by Mr. Woodward's own showing
the Deputy was justified in paying this expense, for the
object of this meeting was to preserve public peace and
tranquillity.—(Cheers.).
Mr. WOODWARD-Why, this 421. would find an extra
watchman for a whole year.
The CHAIRMAN said if the country continued in its
present agitated state, they would require many extra
watchmen.—(Cheers.)
AIGENTLEMAN stated that Mr. Woodward was opposed
to the Reform Bill.
Mr. WOODWARD denied it; he had not interfered with
the Reform Bill one way or the other.
The resolution was then carried, Mr. Woodward being
the only dissenting party.
On a vote of tbanks to the Chairman being agreed to,
that gentleman acknowledged the compliment in a neat
speech. He said he had been a Reformer ever since the
year 11792, when Lord (then Mr.) Grey presented the
celebiated petition of the " Friends of the People" to the
Hotuieof Commons. A Reform was absolutely necessary

to save the country from worse horrors. It was to a
-iystern of taxation, without representation, that mast of
the evils which now afflicted the country were owing. It
was that pernicious system which cauied a separation from
England of a large portion of the British dominions--
which portion was now a flourishing republic, and in
which there was no House of Peers nor Bench of Bishops.

WORKSOP, OCT. 17.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sza,—Will you have the goodness in your next Journal
to contradict an assertion Mr. Wake made in his letter of
the '7th October, as to what the Duke of Newcastle said
respecting the Reform petition presented by the Duke of
Norfolk from Worksop. Mr. Wake, with that sarcasm
and assurance so peculiar to himself, has reflected upon the
veracity of the country correspondent of the Noble Duke,
but why he best knows, at all events his having done so
has strewn both a want of good sense and good feeling ;
however, it must be allowed that such conduct rendered
it doubly incumbent upon him to speak the truth.; but I
am sorry to find that since he submitted to a recent ac-
cusation he thinks lightly of the word. Now to prove
that he has written an untruth, I only beg to draw your
attention to what fell from the Duke of Newcastle, as
stated in the very Paper Mr. Wake has referred to, the
Morning Post of the sth October, and it will there be
found that the Dissenters, with whom Mr. Wake seems
all at once to wish to be classed, were not mentioned by
the Noble Duke; at all events, it is stated in the Morning
Post, that his Grace said the petition was signed princi-
pally by Catholics, and not as stated in Mr. Wake's letter,
entirely by Catholics and Dissenters.
With regard to the Vicar of Worksop, I lament exceed-
ingly that I omitted to say, when I sent the declara•
tion of the inhabitants of Worksop against the Bill to Iris
Grace, how the Vicar of Worksop had disposed of his name,
for by not having taken that precaution I appear to have
led the Noble Duke into an error, and for which I sincerely
beg his Grace's pardon, but so attached is that Reverend
Gentleman to the House of Norfolk, or the living of
Worksop, which is in the gift of the Duke of Norfolk, and
it must he remembered that the Reverend Gentleman is
verging on '7O, and has an only ,son brought up to the
same profession, that with that Noble House he must and
will go ; but the petition also bore the signature of a gen.
tleman of Worksop, the Vicar's intimate friend, and who
frequently assists in the Church service, who immediately
declared on hearing that his name was to the petition in
favour of the Bill, and with some warmth, that if that
were the case it was a forgery. Perhaps as Mr. Wake
attended this petition so closely he will say how this gen-
tleman's name, and the infant Richard Gilbert's, nearly
twelve years old, got upon it, but if he cannot, perhaps he
will apply to the other gentlemen who assisted in carrying
it round the country. Mr. Wake is a Catholic, in saying
this I mean no reflection, hut I do think, as well as some
other gentlemen, it was a little selfish to keep the petition
exclusively in the possession of Catholics, for I believe, out
of a committee of about a dozen, all workers, there was
only one gentleman out of the pale. I must confess I
scarcely understand why Mr. Wake should say he has yet
to learn why Catholics and Dissenters should not have an
equal interest with Church of England men in the Reform
Bill, fur I never said they had not, nor to the best of my
recollection has the Noble Duke, but on the contrary I
should say they have, or think they have, a much greater.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
J. BEARDSHAW.

Miss PORTER'S new tale of "The Field of
the Forty Footsteps " has been called the triumph of her
genius. She has shewn the reader what may be done by
some of our London legends, and, taking one of the most
striking of these for her theme, she has evoked the dark
spirits of CROMWELL'S time, and revealed to us in the
midst of their mysterious and unhallowed plots, the Pro..
tector himself, IREfON, FAIRFAX, HARRISON, President
BRA OSHA NV R, and the other Regicides. CHARLES I. ap-
pears among them in sad but dignified guise, and the
strange destiny of his young scn HENRYis traced in the
most curious and impressive manner. The whole subject
is sacred to human sympathy and to romance.
SHIPWRECK AT ARDMORE.—On Monday
letters were received in this city announcing the loos of a
homeward-bound vessel, about 400 tons burden, laden with
a valuable cargo, at Ardmore, in the county of Waterford,
and about four miles to the eastward of Youghal. The
particulars have nut yet transpired, but report states that
part of the cargo consisted of silks, and that one of the
country people was shot by the military while in the act of
plundering the wreck. We hope to be able to give full
details in our next —Cork Constitution.

The author of the successful and piquant
novel of " Sydenha►n" is, we understand, about to publish
a sequel to that story, under the title of " Alice Paulet,"
the object of which is to exhibit the satirical hero in his
new condition of a married man, and thus to enable him
to make his caustic observations on scenes and characters
which would necessarily have been excluded from his
scrutiny as a bachelor. If the appearance of this novel is
dreaded by many, as indeed may be expected, it will no
doubt be welcomed by more.

• Friends and Fellow-countrymen !--At the same time
that we show confidence in the King and in his Ministers,
and a fixed determination to preserve the law, let us show :s1
no weakness, no timidity, no lnkewartnness in the cause of
liberty. Let all be united as one man, in the enthusiastic s,
and determined support of this great, this holy cause. Let J,
Political Unions be formed instantly in every town, in
every district, and in every village, where they do not
already exist. Let the nation stand forth in its strength,
and in peaceful and is commanding majesty express its
will, and that will is certain to become the law of the land.
Friends and Fellow-countrymen !—Be patient. Be
Pe• arsful Be firm. Be united. Be determined. Place
you. confidence in the King and his Ministers. Until
these shall deceive•you there can be no fear for the liberties
of England. ,
Friends, Countrymen, And Brothers !—Listen to us.
The sword must not be drawn in England. The terrible
knell of the tocsin must Mit sound.—The tears of the wi-
dow and the orphan must not mark nor course. These
are the last dread alternatives of an oppressed nation. Ile
influence of the oligarchy, aided by a corrupt and dege-
nerate bench of Bishops, has obtained a ioomentaiy tri-
umph in the House of Lords. By the power of the King
and of the law, we will humble the c!igarchy in the dust.
Our gallant neighbours, the French, effected a glorious re-
volution by lifting the barricades cemented with the best
blood of the nation. We will have no barricades. With-
out blood—without anarchy—without violation of the
:aw,—we will accomplish the most glorious Reformation
recorded in the history of the world.—God bless the King.
THOMAS ATTWOOD, Chairman.
By order of the Council,
BENJAMIN HADLEY, Secretary.