The Sun.
London, England, 1831-03-01 00:00:00

REFORM MEASURE.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL took his seat on the Treasury
bench at five minutes before six, and was loudly cheered
from various parts of the House. Shortly afterwards
he was called upon by the Speaker, but the confusion was
SO great that he could not proceed.
The SPEAKER having heard a Member complain
that his place had been taken by another in his
absence, said he could only observe that Honourable
Members must be aware that seats which had been occu-
pied by Hon. Members, were considered as kept for them
in their absence, when they had retired, to prayers and
until they were displaced by r. division of the House.
He wished also to observe that when he came down
at three o'clock to-day, he never in his life had seen
the House so full ; anti that when the House came to
the ballot the rapers stuck up on the back of
the v
ever
r sootsbeh e l
were infinitely
hear, hear.)
a.ora itely more numerous than he had
JOHN RUSSELL again attempted to proceed,
bet was unable.
The SPEAKER said he heard the complaint re-
nerved' d to which he could only repeat the observa-
e
tion he had already made in reply, but it might
require • the consideration of the House whether
when Hon. Members had retired to prayers, and had been
sent for by the Serjeant at Arms, with the mace, re-
quiring their presence at the ballot, and they had not
appeared in the House, their seats were equally to be
considered as kept. After a short pause the Speaker
again called upon
Lord JOHN RUSSELL. His Lordship having pre-
sented himself once more on the floor, and silence having
been obtained, thus proceeded.— Sir, I rise with feelings
of the greatest anxiety to bring forward a question of
unparalleled interest, which is likewise a question
of unparalleled difficulty, nor is my apprehension in the
least removed by the reflection that on former oc-
casions I have brought this question before the
consideration of the House ; for if on the other occa-
sions I have invited the attention of the two Houses
of Parliament to this consideration, it has been
upon my own responsibility, and involving no
one in the failure of the attempt with my-
self, though I have been often completely gratified
by partial success. But, Sir, the measure I have now to
bring forward, is a measure not of mine, but of the Go-
vernment of the country in whose name I appear—(Hear)
—the deliberate measure of a whole Cabinet, unanimous
upon this subject, and resolved to place their measure
before this House in redemption of their pledge to
their Sovereign, to Parliament, and to the country.
—(Loud cheers.) It is, therefore, with great anxiety
that I venture to explain their intentions to the
House upon a subject, the interest of which is known by
the crowded audience which is assembled here, but still
snore by the deep anxiety which is felt by millions
out of this House—(Hear, hear, bear)—millions I say,
who look with anxiety—who look with hope—who look
with expectation—to the result of this day's deliberations.
—(Cheers.)—Sir, I am sure it is not necessary that
I should say
any more to do away with a notion, which
an Hon. and Learned Member opposite endeavoured to
spread, that this question not being brought forward by a
Member of the Cabinet was not the measure of the
King's Ministers,—(Hear, hear. am sore the House

.410

will be convincel that what I air pro;i 'r4
measure which the khig's Minist,r.s have determined upon.
)—The measuke itielf was formed by the Noble
Lord who isat the pregen t time at the heat; cf the Government;
he formedit in his own mind—he communicated iZ to the
colkaguest was communicated to me, and I have ever

been constilting, either severally or collectively, with
the Nletribers of hi,' Majet,ty's Cabinet upon it.—
(Cheers.) I only wish that the :Noble Lord himself
"bo is at the bead of his M.jestv's Government, could he
he permitted by any law or .het of Parliament to haveeiplain-
ed tWs rw,aso re to the House in his own proper person; but as
that is impt.ssihle. I trust that the House will favour
me with its indulgence while I endeavour to per-
form this task, I ant afraid very inadequately,
lint I am sure, with a sincere and earnest desire, that our
efforts may be attended with soceess..—(Hear.) Sir, much
cavil has been raised upon an expression of the Noble Lord
whom 1 have alluded to, that he wotdd endeavour
to frame such a measure its must satisfy the paklic
mind, without at the sante time endangering the
.ettled institutions of the country• Do you meal says
one party by the settled institutions of the country,
the close and rotten boroughs ? I think we will show
in the course of explanation we are about to mike, is not
the close and rotten boroughs which were intended by the
settled institutions of the eountry.—(He6r, hear, and ••
loud cheers.) What sail the other party ?-allow
can you pretend to settle and quiet the public mind
without endangering. the settled institutions of the
country. If you do settle ti e public mind you must
shake the settled institutions of the country--(Hear,
hear.) Sir, we are of the reverse opinion ; because
in attempting to quiet. the public mind, it is Hat laces-
sire that we shoull bring into danger the settled institu-
tions of the country.—(Hear.) We are of opinion that
those institutions, resting as they have heretofore done in
the confideise and love of Englishmen, must c,n-
tinue to rest on the very same foundation
and while we discard the notion of complying with extra •
vagant and violent remarks, we at the same wish to please
the clear measure before the House that every reasonable
inau, both in and oat of the House, and in the coantry,
may be satisfied with, if it should pois into :t law.
W wish to place ourselves, therefore b 2 tween the two
hostile parties; neither agreeing with the bigotted on the
one hand, that no Reform is necessary, nor agreeing with
the fanaticisms of others, that only some particular
kind of Reform can by any weans be satiscae-
tory to the people or wholesome, but pleasing ourselves
between the two, and ,t,ting what I hope to be a film
and steadfast ground between the abuse we wish ti amend
and the perversions which we hope to avert.—(Cheers.)
It is not recess try certainly that on this occasion I should
go over the grounds which have so frequently
been gone over in striting the arguments in favour

Sir, there can be no doubt that the representative in this
House as it now exists, is not a representative fittting the
country at this crisis. I need not go into the changes and
alterations which have taken place in the representation
of later years. It is sufficient for me to say that it
is not a real representation.—(Cries of " Hear,
hear.") And I have no heeitetion in ;saying, that it
will be impossible that the House, as it at present exists,
can stand. I think, if the Reformer: of ancient days were
now in existence, and were to see that a green mound
or a broken wall sent two Members to Parliament, they
would be greatly astonished. They would, Sir be still
more astonished were they to go into the northern
part of this country, and were to see flourishing
towns containing immense manufactories and depositories
of every sort of merchandi,e. I think, Sir, they would
be still more astonished were they to know that
these places sent no representatives to Parliament. But
I will not stop here, Sir ; they would be still more a•tu-
nished were they taken to a great and opulent town
—I may mention its name, Liverpool—and were to
be told that the manner in which general elec-
tions were there conducted 9 was on a system of
popular election.—(Hear, hear.) If he were taken there,
Sir, he would see bribery to the greatest extent.—
(Hear, hear, hear.) He would see men there
paid—openly paid—for their votes; and he would be
astonisl.ed that a nation whose representatives were
so chosen, should he at all competent to perform the
functions of legislation. Sir, if the question be
one of right, or of reason, in both instances it would
be favourable to reform. What, Sir, is the case as it ,
now stands? The people, Sir, cell loudly for Reform.
saying that whatever good existed in the Constitution of
this House—whatever confidence was placed in it by the
people, is completely gone.—(Cries of No and Hear, which
lasted for several minutes.)—l say boldly, Sir, that
whatever may be thought of particular Acts, the confi-
dence of the country in the constitution of this
House is completely gone. (Tremendous cries of no,
no, answered by cries of hear, hear.) I will sr) snore, Sir,
I will say that if such towns as Leeds and Manchester are
not to have representatives, when such places as Gatton
and Old Sarum have, it is impossible to say that the
representation is fairly and properly carried on. And
that unless such places are not allowed to have repre-
sentatives, the confidence which once existed between
this House and those whom Honourable Members cal
their conssituents is wholly lost. Sir, I end this argument
by saying, if the case be one of right, it is in favour
of Reform—if it be a question of reason, it is
in favour of Iliform—if it be a question of expediency
—expediency I.)utfly calls for it.—(Hear, hear.)—
Sir, I shall now proceed to the snore difficult
part of my subject, namely, an explanation of the mea-
sures which, representing the Mintstere of the
Crown, I am now about to propose the House.
Sir, those Ministers have felt—and in my opinion rightly—
that it would not be sufficient to grant a passive and insuf-
ficient Reform by lopping off some few straggling branches.
(Lxrr SPIAKING.)

LONDON MARKETS.

HUNTING INTLI.LIGENCE.

APPOINTMENTS FOR TliE PRESENT WERE.
Ills Mak-sty 'a Stag Hounds meet on Monday, at the Crooked
Billet, at Iver Heath ; and Friday, at Hengrove_pita, Iledfont•
lane—at half_past ten.
The Warwickshire Hounds meet on Tuesday, at Brailes ;
Thursday, at Ufton Wood; and Saturday. at Swacliffe—at halt=
past ten.
ihe Brighton Harriers meet on Monday, near Patch :m ; Wed-
neaday, near the Itace Course; and Friday, near the Dyke—at
half_past ten.
The Brookside Harriers meet on Monday, at Newmarket;
Wednesday, at Ashcombe, (the alternate Wednesday at the
Kennel, I ItOrd) ; and Friday, at Telescombe Tye—at half-past ten.
Lord Yarborough's Hounds meet on Monday, at Weelsby
House; Wednesday, at Goxhill Cross Lanes ; Friday, at El-
kington Cow Pasture; and Saturday, at Great Limber Cover—at
eleven.

The Worcestershire Fox Hounds meet on Monday, at the
Red Lion, Molt; Thursday, at Himbleton Village; and Satur-
day, at Whittington—at half-past ten.
The Shropshire Hounds meet on Monday, at Pradhoe ; Wed-
nesday, at Harley Village; and Friday, at Lee Bridge—at half-
past ten.
The Surrey Stag Hounds meet on Tuesday at Purley; and Sa-
turday, at the Rose and Crown, Riddlesdowns.
Mr. Jolif&'s Fox Hounds meet on Monday, at Boxhin ; and
Saturday, at Chepstead Church.
The Surrey Fox Hounds meet on Monday, at Harnse,green ;
Thursday, at the Half Moon, Godstone.road ; and Saturdiy, at the
King's Arms, Westerham.
The Sanderstead Harriers meet on Monday, at the Rose and
Crown, Riddlesdowns; Wednesday, at Warlingharu ; and Satur-
day, at Purley Oaks.
The Cambridgeshire Hounds meet on Monday, at Downing
Arms ; and Friday, at Waresley Gate.
Earl Fitzwilliarn's Hounds meet on Monday, at Hammer...on
Gorse; Wednesday, at Elton New Close; and Thursday, at Sutton
Wood—at ten. . . . .

•
Mr. Mure's Fox Hounds meet on Monday, at Stetchworth
Park ; Thursday, at Hicket Heath ; and Saturday, at Barrow
Green—at half-past ten.
Lord Lonsdale's Hounds meet on Monday, at Burley; Tuesday,
at Grimsthorpe Kennel; and Thursday, at Holywell—each day at
eleven.
Mr. Freeman's Hounds meet on Tuesday, at Welton Mill ; and
Thursday, at the Kennel—each dry at half-past ten.
The Royston Harriers will meet on Tuesday, at Melbourn Bury ;
and Thursday, at A shwell—at half-past ten.
Mr. Hall's Hounds meet on Monday, at Piper's Inn; Thursday,
at Cannard's-grave ; and Saturday, at Keinton.
The Martnek Harriers meet on Monday, at Crewkerne; Thurr-
day, at the Kannel ; and Monday, at Barrow's-hill.
The Cadbury Harriers meet on Tuesday, at Cucklington ; and
Friday, at East-hill.
The Somerset Subscription Foxhounds meet on Tuesday, at
Crowcornhc-park ;and Friday, at Buncombe-bottom.

Mr. Wicki:ted'sFox Hounds moot on Tue,day, at Wistaston ;
and Friday, at Hankelow—at half-past ten.
Sir H. Sutton's Hounds meet on Monday, at Thorney Hall
Tuesday, at Staplerord Moor; Thursday, at Manton House; and
Saturday, at Faidingworth Grange—each day at eleven.
The ilLackmoor Vale Hounds mect on Tuesday, at Leigh-
common ; Saturday, :at Batcombe-wood; and Wedneiday, at
Stock-House.

PRICE OF PO'PATOE.S.—Feb.
Kidneys _ 01. Os. to 41. Os. per ton.
Scotch Reds 31. 15s. to 41. Os. ditto.
Marsh Champions 4l. Os. to 41. 10s. ditto.
Oxtiobles and Shaws 3/. 5.1. to 31. 10s. ditto.

PRICES OF LEATHER.
Per lb. d.tod. Per lb. d.tod.
80tt5,........50 to 561 b.... 15 22 Tanned Horse Elides.,. 13 18
Ditto---80 to 6010. 16 23 Spanish Ditto . •20
Dressing Hide 5—........ 14 16 Per dozen.
Fine Coach Hides —..... i 6 18 Calf Skinsw. 3(i to 4(lb. 13 18
Crop Elides, 35 to 401 b. 13 141 I)itto —......... 60 to 7011). 20 26
Ditt0............-40 to 454 14 16 I)itto .......,.70 to SOll3. 18 =,I
Ditto .........16..........--,—... IS Small Seals. G rcenland 201 211

COAL MAl%Kl;l'.—Fcb. 28
Ellison small —.---. 178.6 d. p Tyne small 19s. tkl.
-.hips at myrket, ,o1(1. 11A ---lin4olkl. 312.

RAW HIDES.
Per Stone. s. d. to s. 1. Per Stone. s. d. to s. d.
Best Helton's& Steers 3 0 3 2 Ordinary 110 9 0
Middlings 4 2 6 Market Calf 6 6 each.

SHEEP SKINS.
Long Wool 3s. 6d. to ss. Od. I Short Wool— 3s. Od. to 7r. Od,
Os. 04. toes. ad.