The Sun.
London, England, 1836-09-09 00:00:00

METHODISM AT DUDLEY

A meeting was held in Wesley Chapel, Dudley, on the
Ist inst., for the purpose of completing a Union between
those persons who have been separated from the Methodist
Community, in that and the Stourbridge Circuits, and the
Methodist New Connection. It commenced at half-past
two o'clock, and was very numerously attended, the chapel
being crowded with people.
A statement of the circumstances through which the
dissentient Methodists in that part of the country had been
led to their present position, was made by Mr. John
Gordon, by which it appeared that some hundreds of people
had been in fact excluded from the Wesleyan Body by the
agents of the Conference, without any trial of them having
taken place, or any accusation affecting their moral or reli-
gious character having been alleged against them.
Representatives from the different Societies gave in a
statement of the numbers of those who were willing to join
the New Connexion, and they were formally received by a
Deputation,which liad been appointed by the New Connexion
Conference for the purpose of transacting the business. The
whole number of persons so joined was somewhere about
1,600. The meeting was continued by adjournment in the
evening, when most powerful speeches were delivered by
John Ridgeway, Esq., of the Potteries ; James Dixon,
Esq., of Sheffield ; J. Brocas, and E. Hicks, Esqrs., of
Shrewsbury ; and R. Barford, Esq., of London ; the Rev.
Messrs. Allen, of Sheffield, Ford, of Manchester, and
Haslem, of Hanley.
It would be almost impossible to improve either the
character of the addresses made or the feeling they pro-
duced in the assembly. The circumstances of this case
are very generally considered as likely to have a most bene-
ficial influence upon the interests of religious liberty.
Two sermons were preached on the preceding Sunday in
the same chapel for the benefit of the Sunday Schools,
that in the morning by the Rev. Thomas Allen ; and that
in the evening by the Rev. A. M'Combe, when upwards of
.511. were collected.

WIGAN OPERATIVES' REFORM AS

SOCIATION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sir,—ln your paper, of the 3d inst., there is an article
on the Lancashire Operative Conservative Associations.
I read the article at a meeting of the Wigan Operatives
Reform Association last night, and it gave great satisfaction.
A wish was expressed by the meeting that I should send
you a copy of an address, which we issued last week, in
order that you may know that there are in Lancashire
Operative Associations other than those called Conserva-

tive. The operatives who belong to these Associations are
chiefly Orangemen ; in fact, it is the same system with a
different name—and Orangemen hereabouts exist in all
things, as they did before the King expressed his desire
that their societies should be dissolved. Of such like cha-
racters as these the Conservative Operative Associations
are formed.

It is only a month since we established our Association,
and in this short time we equal the Tories tractable tools'
body in numbers ; and from the support we have received
from influential individuals, and the number of voters who
have come forward to assist us, there is little doubt but
another election will send John Kearsley to play his
Merry-Andrew tricks in some other place than the House
of Commons, even should he give away all the beer he
breOss for the next twelve months.

At Warrington there is a most excellent Operatives' Re-
form Association. It has been established some time, is
well organised, and can boast of a News and Reading-
room, such as is rarely to be met with, even in what are
called Gentlemens' News-rooms. •

Should you notice this it may, perhaps, rouse Reformers
in other places to follow our example.
I am, Sir, your obedient humble servant,
J. S. DANIEL,
Secretary to the Wigan Operative Reform Association.
Wigan, Sept. 6, 1836.

The establishment of the Wigan Operatives Reform As-
sociation having called forth the animadversions of different
parties in the town, it has been deemed advisable publicly
to state some of the reasons which have led to the forma-

tion of such a body. By one party the members of the
Association have been described as mere tools of the
Whigs ; by another as discontented Radicals ; and by a
third party they have been designated by the epithets of
rascals, destructives, and revolutionists. In one respect
justice has been done, although unintentionally, by all these
parties to the members of the Association ; inasmuch as
the various characters and principles which are assigned
to them, prove beyond all question the fact that the Wigan
Operatives' Reform Association has not been formed for
the purpose of supporting any party.
Unlike another Association in the town which, under
the dictation of wealthy leaders, has figured rather conspi-
cuously of late, the Operatives' Reform Association has
not been established by the advice, nor at the suggestion, of
any party. Emanating solely from working men who
have united themselves to defend RIGHT against the op-
pression of MIGHT, it is their declared principle to oppose
every species of tyranny, whether it springs from Tory,
Whig, or Radical. Determined to seek redress where any
act of injustice may be committed, and to expose every
public abuse and wrong, they will fearlessly advocate the
cause which they have espoused ; knowing that whilst
they act in conformity to the laws, no power can crush, nor
can any slanderous calumny injure, their Association, which
has for its objects the cause of Truth, Liberty, and Justice.
For some time past the cry of "reaction" has resounded
throughout the land ; and if reiterated statements are to be
relied upon, the great bulk of the people have deserted their
own cause. The enemies of reform may taunt the people
with being such besotted slaves ; but is it possible that the
prosperity of one or two years has obliterated from their
memories the privations and misery which the working
classes endured for twenty or thirty years previously ?
During the war, and up to the ever-memorable debt-sinking
and life-sacrificing Waterloo year, the greatest distress pre-
vailed at different periods, and discontent pervaded all
classes ; but the delusive promise that " Peace" would
bring " Plenty," subdued for a time the complaints of
a suffering people. At length peace came, but where was
the promised plenty ? Did the labouring portion of
the community receive their share of it ? Has the
farmer enjoyed it ? Into what channel did the promised
plenty flow ? Not amongst the productive millions ; for
instead of their condition being improved, they were gradu-
ally reduced to the lowest state of wretchedness and poverty.
Can it be forgotten that during fifteen years succeeding the
termination of the war, distresses followed so closely upon
each other, that the country was in a continual state of fear-
ful agitation ? Thousands of houseless poor were seen wan-
dering from place to place vainly seeking for employment,
and begging for a morsel of bread ; merchants and manu-
facturers, tradesmen and farmers daily becoming bank-
rupts ; trade stagnant ; riot and disorder in the manufactu-
ring districts ; and burning: and destruction of property in
the agricultural provinces. Such was the state of tile coun-
try when the Tories, who are now struggling to regain the
ascendancy in the councils of the nation, and under whose
government these horrors had accumulated, were compelled
to surrender the power they had so long held, leaving be-
hind them that enormous debt which hangs like a mill-
stone round the necks of the productive classes of the
empire.

Contrast with the above picture the present flourishing
state of the nation. For nearly six years we have had a
liberal Government ; and, although it has not introduced
measures which strike at the root of bad Government, nor
supported some very important measures brought forward
by sincere and honest reformers, it must not be forgotten
that in spite of almost insurmountable obstacles, and a fierce
and determined opposition, harassingly carried on by the
Tories, many beneficial enactments have been passed, and
monopolies destroyed, which have given an increased
energy to trade and commerce ; the liberties of the people
have been extended, and many unjust privileges, enjoyed
only by a few, done away with. Through some of the mea-
sures of Government a gradual revival of trade has been
witnessed, and with it an improvement in the condition of
the working classes generally ; and it is acknowledged by
all parties that the country was never in such a settled
state of prosperity as at this time.
Will it be believed, then, that the sons of Britain are so
infatuated as to prefer a Government which impoverished
them, to the one which has paid some attention to the
voice of the poople, and raised them from beggary and
want, to a comparative state of affluence ? Do the hard-
workinr, and heavily-taxed artisans of this truly great na-
tion prefer° meagre Soup doled out to them in charity, rather
than the Roast Beef qf Old England paid for by the earu-
ings of their own industry ? Such a libel on the character
of Englishmen is too contemptible to require refutation.
The support which the Wigan Operatives' Reform As-
sociation has met with, and the number of persons who have
enrolled their names as members, during the short time it
has been in existence, is a sufficient answer to the cry of
reaction," so far as affects the working classes. If any
'reaction has taken place, it is in a determination on the
part of the people to press forward more vigourously the
cause of reform. For this purpose the Operatives' Reform
Association has been formed ; not to flatter the feelings, or
ifnost obtaining
the; but legitimately to assist
of all. And, whilst the Asso-
ainingole prejudices,jllst o
rightsf any
ine
Asso-
ciation will never sanction any proceedings which shall
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justly merit the censure of those who rank in a more ex-
with firmness? 4nq PFirtPlWq a4Y9oatedcalmly but '46041
rtit pr git:a; society
re-
solutely.
August 30th, 1836.

Captain quadieski, of the Russian service, left Ash,
burnham House yestertiv, with 4espatelM f9r 4cr Petersligip