The Sun.
London, England, 1838-09-15 00:00:00

NORTH DEVON REFORM
ASSOCIATION.

ged from Besley's Devonshite chronicle.)
The'Annual General Meeting of this Association took place
at Saunders's George Inn, Soutlimoulton, on Wednesday,
pursuant to advertisement. The assembly, although not so
numerous as we have been accustomed to meet upon these oc-
casions, was attended by many of the most zealous and opulent
Reformers in this division of the county.
The business of the Association commenced at one o'clock 1
the Hon. N. FELLowEs in the Chair. Much discussion arose
upon the course which it was desirable should be pursued with
regard to the future representation of this division of the
county.
At half-past three the company sat down to dinner ; the
llon. Newton Fellowes in the Chair, supported on his right
by Lord Viscount Ebrington, M.P., &c. Asc., and on his left
by J. VV. Buller, Esq., &c. &c. The cloth being removed,
the Chairman proposed the health of the Queen, which was
drunk with due honours ; this was followed by that of the
Duchess of Kent. The Chairman then gave the health of the
Duke of Sussex and the rest of the Royal Family resident in
England, which was received with every demonstration of
satisfaction.
The health of Lord Melbourne and her Majesty's Ministers
Was then given by the Chairman, which was received by the
meeting in the most enthusiastic manner.
Mr. Feet.owEs then said, that as ho was suffering from a
severe cold, he hoped the meeting would allow him to make
a few observations as he sat upon the toast they had just
given. Although there be many who thought Ministers
had not done enough, he felt considerable obligation to them
for what they had done, and had been allowed to do ; for
be felt satisfied they would have done much more for the
people, but for the opposition they had against them in the
House of Commons. The truth is, the people out of doors
must make a clear demonstration of what they wish and what
they want ; there does not appear to be good grounds for com-
plaint against the Administration, opposed as that Administra-
tion is by another house..—( Great cheering.) Let the people
express themselves temperately and firmly upon those points
which are approved by the general body of Englishmen. Al-
though there may be some who doubt the sincerity of the pr e-
vent Ministers, it is unreasonable to expect more from them
with an unreformed House of Lords, who are not the repre-
sntatives of the present Crown, but of one that has passed
.awn
•—( Cheers.) s It is dearly the duty of the people to
show the Ministers whether they are with them or against
them, upon those questions of policy which arc of perma-
nent interest.
The next toast was the health of Lord Fortescue, the
Lord Lieutenant of the County, which was received with loud
cheering,
Lord Viscount EntuxoToN, on the part of his noble father,
expressed the gratitude he felt for the manner in which his
thhealth had been received ; and he had great pleasure in stating
at he has not for years enjoyed a better state of health than
e now does, and that he is at this moment a much stronger
nun than most men of his age.
lThe Cualasnits then gave the health of his Noble Friend,
:hiord Ebrington, their long tried and consistnt representative.
s was received with shouts of applause by the company.
As soon as the cheering subsided;
Lord Viscount EimesoToss said—Gentlemen, I heartily
Wish I could feel that I was deserving the cordial ex-
pressions which W:towed the introduction of the last
Ilittrijaaorssktes to your tiotice ; and could do justice to those
of tindness which have just been evinced by
wh':,m I have the honour of addressing. I trust I
thLY accept these expressions as proofs that you do not
,n 1:.• I have neglected your interests. in the discharge of my
by your duties.—(Great cheering.) It was truly stated
.1 your Hon. Chairman that the Liberal party in power have
to contend against more than common difficulties; and al-
though) they may not succeed to the extent which may have
been wished by many of their friends, that failure is to be attri-
buted to the composition of the House of Commons in the last
general election, the majority in the House of Commons being
Very inconsiderable, while the majority in the House of Lords
is against a Liberal Government. The result of the last
election, was occasioned by the want of that union and
spirit among the people, by which those great and important
Measures of Government might have been assisted. I
cannot, however, but think that the measures which
have been been passed have been greatly under-
rated ; and I think if they are fairly considered, they
Will be found to tend towards the well-being and good
of the country. Upon Ireland, those measures which
were passed will, I have no doubt, have a most bene-
ficial effect, tending as they do to remove many of
those grievances, which a strong party are using their
Th.ost powerful grasp to retain.—( Cheers.) The Irish Poor-
law Bill, will, I hope, be productive of much of those advan-
tageous fruits which I every day see produced by the new
th! s temi
ng in this country. I believe it will have the effect of
abihe labouring, classes of that country more provident
htlt ; and to the landed proprietors of that country it will ,
give. more interest in the well-being of those for whom they
IgetaXed• One of the most valuable effects produced by the
xiersdiPeooand
r-law is, the intercourse which arises between the
higher classes in the Unions ; and in Ireland
tu
tihese advantages will be greatly increased ; and I shall be
natluy disappointed if I do not see the same results follow in
acia:a7ientry which I have witnessed in this. We have, at least,
ilea ;
not o.ne step towards the settlement of the Tithe ques-
reason wi; indeed, as I could have wished ; because I see no
y the Overgrown Church of Ireland should not be re-
the reasonable wants of the people for whom it was
Seesetattalished ; and the surplus applied to the instruction of every
chin ndhdenernination in that country ; and particularly that
The questionwieh we had
e majority in that country.
to forms so lay g a decide in the last session of Parlia-
lnent, in reference to the tithes of Ireland was whether it
was desirable to remove the tithes from the ashould of h il
poor occupier, and put them upon those of the ers
t e
thought it best as a step to take this course, landowner..althourshlwal
aware that this law could not put an end to the tithe' questions
In thP.l. country ; to the resistance to tithes, and to the calls for
those reforms which are necessary for the Church of Ireland ;
!E., would not put an end to resistance, or want of Reform, but
that recistance would be made in a constitutional manner ; and I
Wr?uld be made by a poor and ignorant peasantry, who were
became
to lawless violence upon the one hand, of which they
° eame the victims upon the other. In this case of Ireland I
jretookf.._ what I thought best for the general interest, without re-
e??allee to particular parties. These measures form t'se prin-
lc features of the long and tedious session which has just
..„_°_ssed- 'Whether the state of parties will allow the
"'`:e.
ntnt Government to carry on the business of the
munas rY for another session I am unable to say ; but it
..i,. t be a matter of great difficulty for any party so to frame
-'n'tlrElieacsatitires as to avoid collision with a very large minority ;
deep; not but fear that by pressing extreme views we may
pa,Ply Injure the cause of liberty and good government, and
' e the w for
latish._ ay a change which may remove the accom-
I hat'.:ennt of what you wish to a greater distance than ever.
0,, 0 personal object in supporting one Government more
thons.another; but I do wish the Government administered by
st;.ts.?, who have established the great principles of our Con-
thebtyhehe amendment of those corruptions produced by
pa j'aP eof time. I think it desirable that we should bear
t n c;iatlny disappointment of a Government which is unable
n ,4r..Ye.through those measures which they wish ; and exercise
inaiu.cint tous forbearance, while we see the march of Reform
in 1" g progress though by slow degrees. Even in the execut-
z.cgtrotu;rrl;lorbesent eat
-laws we have an advantage in a Liberal Govern-
ereas, if a change were to take place, not only should
liberty grade in the progress of Reform, but the friends of
of tho 3 w,°uld see a wide difference in the administration
thgokire 'avt's which now exist. His Lordship concluded by
health the meeting for the cordial manner in which his
the
ch_tvc,ll been received, and drank all their healtbs. After
/,nrci" l'ing which followed his address had subsided,
tr' rsnarso
led trio ' rest gave the health of their old, liberal, and
Pellowe eu of the cane, their Chairman, his Hon. Friend Mr.
"sir. ~' When the cheering had ceased,
.0 r Ent owEs
' espres. , . rose, and said he was unable to find words
but he .' nls feelings for the compliment they had paid him ;
on hi_
le to have a word or two with them, while he was
3 IC s
'ee each
g‘,:i c He hoped they had not met that day merely to
'tee that .',Ln. rs' faces ; but that e.ey would all take care to
d
that ,zia” 'nem arms were dry and their shot ready. They had
I,acl tho" Put into the hands of trusty persons that authority
eause r "leans which were necessary for the success of that
4,3 use tl,l, v`hieh they were embarked. It would be of
teg4lro's eotifine themselves to merely looking at their own
114 t triskt' they must also see that their enemies had
"e do, let " then). " Let us have no foul play, what
taeaos letus do fairly and fully, and if our enemies try unfair
thesis them b
s, ein the G 0 exposed." Lord John Russell had told
reap! evernment had put the staff in their hands—let the
their (31.1tt_n.a0:0 it; and if the Tories put in fictitious votes,
eunntry..L7 to hold them up to the scorn and contempt of the
114 'lO like Cheers,, ) " D in't" said the Hon Gentleman, " let
tere thin_s: t,lon. Baronet in the parish of Worlington ; and
i.egiish...2s,,dn.oad•eirbtyeelnvodko.ie often, but they are not called un-
rtneztirikac.
t(( Cheers)—but they bate the Ballot, it is because
sv!lat
is Eton not for one divi :I.oButn theuf t
isiveli ocl,eniduetpycnudneidv upon
but
vjteonbruertirietoyrswviosudllviredaeldl tbbye
an
n-bole family of Devon ; alth nigh the
t!..0 _d
ti.e:ci
iouud2dot
to.
„own the svere.outnited they could
of Parliament, they, the Ite-
!eparated in interest, and as at the time
could carry two Reformers for the
eth,
errn.,,,the
R. ip,rseoseinfttaltie, y were active acd. united could they
yes of the too divisions. Mr. Fellos,es
a sho'rt Art of Parliament which had been in_
tAn.ard
~i.rit he Elouse of Commons by Mr. Lefevre and Sir
Nvatcliboll relative to the rating of Fofits to the Poor
the f • If the preent attempt at rating were to be established
th CRnd would pay two parts to on ofthe • 1 owner;
ii,
&rattier' one for the fee, and anothere for the profit of the
ee- • It Was .h
f4ry
an, to
.. therefore t
earbefore the duty as well as the interest of
el rtels' 1° Put once:teout the
for this Bill of Mr. Le-
thatii:erutitaih
ce.voewrlibeersi ate nd to this new attempt onthe p a r t
rutoa.isbteabd!ishTthhee
Amroeshtdei an
cqouni s ist (t)er ipahl
esii)ss stem
laelicn,..glY say ;the
pod so
fairare not to be oar) and if their
0111 L" "as stO
count
pe so. a Bill, he (Mr.
1,1 e called
the full
errV't 'houldy meeting, that the burden might be put upon
upoenrst. Upon Ireland be would observe, that they
out of their pockets for the soldiers
rift wt're ['quire; pay
;T0,.,,. rvo
_,:i to
kce-
wh.lrnr:.lEt.'l.otlWlssrtel'ileunirgennvoe Othutelal lye from
l: o
p up a system, which, if properly
„,.`: he described as anew this cvvounßtvu.ller,
man to them, but who, he would
diti Vvss a true ma •
Rot, °t do ~,z)
__ u , and although lie shied at him once, he
its d Nee in "ROT!. Although he (Mr. Fellowes) had gone a
lle°lr4l 4 Paee aentelorm ; he felt assured Mr. Buller would go as
meronttisnued for several ti.,,orr,er. ,i,,,,,
cheerio
he proposed his health as a good
which followed this was tremendous,
era minutes ; when it ceased—
grater incEstte rose and said, Gentlemen, I feel extremely
Pro u for the manner in which you have received the toast
P"ed frora the chair ; and if your Hon. Chairman and the

( Abrid,

Noble Lord feel it diffieplt to express their feelinus, ho':; much
thore must I feCI that diffieulty, being almost a stranger among
you adequate thanks for the handsome and
cordial manner in which you have received my name.—
' (Long continued cheering.) I look upon the present meeting
at one of no ordinary importance, as alt ctiritt,•ollr future re-
' presentation in Parliattlehn and t fully agree with what has
fallen ?rein 3. slut lion. Chairman, that it is through the ressis-
' !ration that a great pitblin restilt it to be worked out. I feel
assured that it is by registration alone that the effect is to be
produced andl am quite sure that our opponents will leave
eneocthir
dinl undone
iytoseteo
among
gish their objects.
this
higmyresp I r
ectabletjomiceeeteinxg-
adt vde idsut a l induceda xnidst exists as
bring :
ai mustnvbnolol
f nct la
commonne h b
cause unione
;
his
,sautexertions
cA
to
icbrcieradr
everyiau toyinn
doubt, after a careful examination of the returns which have
a bringpplau s ern..
e)
been laidehefore me, that with proper exertions their cause
before
hope tylioeuc
ai circumstance uam st
candidateane is v very
the cause of liberal and good government, cannot fail to tr;-:
fuamrPdliSt—an(tltmhmate‘nviell
your suffragcs—( Great applause)—but whenever that does
occur I will not conceal ft om myself or •If from you the difficul-
ties which will have to be encountered. From all that I can
learn, cur opponents have a candidate ready for any vacancy •
and lam confirmed in the im • p_ression by the information I
m
have received, as well as from the character of our opponents;
when, therefore, the ti •
medoes arrive, we must be prepared
for a severe struggle.
For that struggle shall
and it is my opinion that •
, it is the duty of every person litho
w •
wishes
(11 to the cause, that they also
the struggle that will take place. While discussing those
points of the registration,
it is much to be regretted that a
short Act of Pttrliement7 calculated to amend and remove
many of its difficulties, brought in d •the last Session of
during
Parliament, was not allowed to become law ; we are, therefore,
left again
to work out the present system. In expressing to
this • meeting my views of public questions ; among the most
important of these questions is one to which the Noble Lord
has alluded, that of Ireland, the sister kingdom
; and on the
Established Church of that kingdom, I have come to this
conclusion, that for its own welfare and preservation, it is ne-
cessary that some alteration should take place.--( Immense
cheering.) It has become an overgrown Establishment ; the
uses for which it was established having ceased, it is high time
that some alteration should take place, particularly when we
see that there is so large a mass of the people of that country
without any means of spiritual assistance.—(Cheers.) I look
upon the religious Establishment of this country as a scheme of
religious institution intended for the benefit of all, and not to
be confined to:a few. In Ireland a contrary result has arisen—
an arrangement indefensible in principle, and one which cannot
too soon be altered. I rest my argument upon that gene-
rally acknowledged principle of our common religion, that
we should do unto others as we would be done unto. I
feel assured that if the situation of the two countries
were reversed—if England were Ireland and Ireland were
England, and the Catholic majority of Ireland tried to pursue
the same course towards Protestant England which they had
witnessed on the other side—they would feel every drop of
English Protestant blood in their veins rouse them to oppose
it —(lmmense applause.) Not by violence and bloodshed ;
for thanks to the Church Establishment in this country, I
believe we should never descend to the enormities which we
have too often seen in Ireland ; but with a union and energy, •
and a spirit that would ensure us redress, we never should be
satisfied until we had removed such an overbearing grievance.
—(Tremendous applause.) While then we feel and acknow-
ledge with thankfulness the state of our own country, and see
the advantages of an established religion in the order and
good conduct which are produced, we must not forget that by
an established religion in Ireland are produced consequences
directly the reverse ; where the clergy are not looked upon as
the fathers of their flocks, but are perpetually in collision
with the people, causing bloodshed, demoralization, and
every concomitant evil. Looking therefore to the state of
Ireland, and its population, I have no hesitation in saying that
I regret exceedingly that any Bill should have passed the
Legislature relative to the Church of that country without
the clause which should appropriate some portion of the public
property to the purposes of moral and religious education,
without. distinction of religious persuasions ; for I am convinced
that there is not a single individual whom I have now the
honour to address, nor a single Member of her Majesty's Go-
vernment, who does not believe that such a principle ought to
be introduced.—(lmmense cheering.) One point more with
regard to Ireland, and the consistency of the minority in the
House of Commons upon the Irish Municipal Reform Bill ;
they first of all told us the Irish were not fit for municipal re-
form, and that they ought to have no municipal bodies. They
have now found that in many of the large towns they are fit for
municipal freedom, and they have receded so far from their ori-
ginal proposal. Let us hope that in another Session they will no
longer resist a measure worthy of a British Parliament to offer '
and of the Irish nation to accept. Thus much for Ireland :
to 'return to our own country. There are many points to
which the public attention may be directed ; there is one, how.
ever, of paramount importance, and which has engaged consi-
derable attention—l allude to the question of Church-rates.
—( Great applause.) That system has long been under the
consideration of the Government ; it having been the general
feeling of all parties in the House of Commons, of men of all
opinions, that it was necessary to change the present mode of
raising this fund. There was but one opinion upon this sub-
ject. The first plan proposed was, that they should be paid
out of the general revenue of the country ; to this arrange-
ment I could by no means agree, because I thought it would
be relieving the land from a burthen it had borne from time
immemorial, and fixing it on the great revenue of the country.
and therefore I would not consent to a plan of legislation which
I thought would prove to be both mischievous and dangerous.
_.(Applause.) The plan proposed in the Session befo. o
the last has my complete concurrence, because it contem.
plates by a regulation of the Church property, to raise the
funds necessary for the purpose from the Church itself. There
may be some difficulty in meeting peculiar cases, but I see
none, which, now that the old system is condemned, may not
be removed by attentive consideration. One point of a per-
sonal nature I will just notice ; it is a point upon which I have
been greatly misrepresented. In every case where I have had
power and influence I have always thought it my duty to pro-
tect the landed interest; not because my own dependence is
entirely upon that interest ; but because I believe it is for the
general good of all, that the agriculture should receive our
Primary attention ; from that interest arises the best and safest
mart for our manufactories, the home trade.—(Cries of
" Hear.") lam quite aware that fortunes may be made
by foreign commerce, but I feel assured that upon the
prosperity of agriculture mainly depends the prosperity of
the manufacturer and the tradesman I—(Cheers.) The
question I was called upon to decide was chat was the best
mode of protection for the farmer : whether the present plan,
that of a fluctuating duty, and a doubtful and fluctuating
price, operating upon the averages, which could be, and have
been made up fraudulently, so as to enable the holder of
foreign corn
to keep it back until he could throw it at once
into the market. At this time of the rear speculations were
always going on, and having watched the effect with some
attention be had reason to doubt whether by the existing law
the best protection was cfforded to the farmer while it intro-
duced a spirit of monopoly and gambling. I never voted
for the repeal of the Corn-laws ; my object was to obtain
a Committee to inquire whether the present system was
a system that ought to be continued.—(Great applause.)
I have thus laid before you my views upon these leading
points of politics; in consequence of the requisition I received
from a very large number of electors to become a candidate
for the representation of this division, and I will now repeat,
that I shall be ready at any time, should you think me a pro-
per person to represent you, to use my best exertions to dis-
charge faithfully the high and honourable trust of your Repre-
sentative.—(The cheers which followed this announcement
were tremendous, which were kept up for some minutes.)
The next words we could catch were—While we push forward
the cause of Reform, it is desirable that we should not persist
too strongly in extreme measures, by which we may alarm the
timid, or alienate the wavering, of which our enemies will not
fail to take advantage. I cannot but lament the present state
of the House of Commons, because with a larger and firmer
support we should see it act upon that other part of the Con-
stitution upon which we .cannot now make any impression.
—( Cheers.) I have no doub', should the majority of the
House of Commons be increased, we should witness again
the same effects we had seen, when those who had been
the most violent to oppose in one session, would not ob-
ject to reconsider their opinions, and adopt the measures
they had rejected, in another. We should not then see cer-
tain parties playing with a power which is accidentally placed
in their hands; and those who now resist those measures in-
tended for the general gond, in a wanton, and even contemp-
tuous manner, would be the first to give way to the resolutions
passed by a decided majority in the House of Commons. To
accomplish this victory all cur energies must he directed : and
although I am happy to say the returns made are most satisfac-
tery to me, I would still remind the meeting that those who
value the cause of Reform must not relax ; our opponents arc
active and vigilant, they will leave nothing undone to accom-
plish their purposes ; but I am quite satisfied that if the eke-
tion be lest, it will be lest by the supineness and indifference
of the Reformers themselves.—( Mr. Buller sat down amid the
most hearty and long-continued cheers we ever heard.)
Some other toasts having been given and acknowledged,
The CHAIRMAN gave the people, the source of all power,
which was received by the mcetirg- with shouts of applause,
which were kept up during the time Mr. Fellows, Lord Eb-
riegton, Mr. Buller, &a. &c. were leaving the room.
The meeting then separated.

An accurate Engraving of the Doncaster Cup will
he given in Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle of
Sunday Next, Sept. 16. The price of Bell's Life in London
is Eivepence, now increased to 24 columns, being- the largest
folio Journal printed in London. The publication of the
Country Edition of Bell's Life in London will, on and from
Sept. 9-.), commence at twelve o'clock on Saturday noon, by
w:iich arrangement the papers can be forwarded by the two
o'clock Birmingham trsin.
Last tight, about nine o'clock, a dreadful explosion
occurred in the shop of an oil and colonrman, at the corner of
Spencer-street, St. John-street-road. A boy had incautious!),
conveyed a light among some gunpowder, and a parcel con-
taining a pound exploded, blowing out the front cf the shop.
and forcing the lad into the street. He was picked up in a
mutilated state, and conveyed to St. Bartholomew's Hospital,
where it was found that he was scorched in such a manner that
he
is not expected to survive. The explosion was heard at a
considerable distar.ce, and caused great alarm. The engines
arrived soon afterwards, but the fire was subdued before they
reached the spot.
. On Thursday the wife of a person named \Viber,
heliving,
lolrvinmghorn n
ar at Brighton, was safely delivered of three children, all
and, with their mother, doing • 11
Brigto "e
Guardian.