The Sun.
London, England, 1836-10-15 00:00:00

STOCKPORT.

GRAND DINNER TO H. MARSLAND, ESQ., M.P.
(Abridged from the North Cheshire Reformer.)

The grand dinner given by the liberal constituency of
the borough of Stockport, to their independent repre-
sentative, Henry Marsland, Esq., took place on 'Wed-
nesday, in the Manor Court Room, Vernon-street. The
demand for tickets was much greater than the supply.
The number of gentlemen who sat down was about 250,
being as many as the room could accommodate.
In the absence of the Mayor, from serious indisposition,
the chair was occupied by JONATHAN THORNHILL, Esq.,
one of the borough magistrates. Among the guests of the
evening were Henry Marsland, Esq., M.P., Richard Pot-
ter, Esq., M.P. for Wigan, Thomas Thornley, Esq., M.P.
for Wolverhampton, Charles Hindley, Esq., M.P. for
Ashton, John Howard, Esq., of Hyde, Samuel Stocks,
Esq., of Heaton Mersey, and Thomas Steel, Esq., jun.,
one of the Aldermen for the borough.
The CHAIRMAN gave " The King, the Princess Vic-
toria, and the rest of the Royal Family," " The People,"
" Lord Melbourne and his Majesty's Ministers," " Henry
Marsland, Esq., our worthy, liberal, and independent
Member."—(lmmense cheering.)
Mr. MARSLAND then rose and said—Gentlemen, To
many of you, were Ito recount the events of the last ses-
sion, the result might appear very unsatisfactory. True it
is that the hopes of the Irish people, of being placed upon
an equal footing with ourselves, have been disappointed, and
that the religious opinions of the many have caused their
civil rights to be sacrificed upon the altar of the temporal
interest of a small body of the community. True it is that
the Irish Church still exists in its native deformity, a source
of alarm and uneasiness to her friends, of weakness to the
state, and a stain upon us as a Christian people ; but the
tide has now set in ; from this moment each succeeding
wave will approach nearer the landmark, and shall assist in
washing away the stain of plunder, oppression, and injustice
One would have thought that there was nothing intended
by Parliament towards the Irish Church, but what every
sincere Christian would have been desirous to accept. And
was it not so ? Was it intended by Parliament to restore
to their original purposes the overflowings of the Irish
Church ? Was it intended by Parliament to appropriate
them to the spread and increase of the Catholic religion, or
the religion of any other sect now existing in Ireland ? No.
The Parliament simply declared that what was not required
for the use of the Protestant Church should be applied to
the purposes of general education. One would have thought
that the requirement, that the minds of the Irish people
should thus receive the benefits of education, and be
made to feel its humanizing power, that the support of
all parties might fairly be claimed, in order that a stop
might be put to many of those fearful scenes of outrage
which have so frequently disgraced the history of Ireland.
If there ever was a legitimate source from which these sur-
plus funds might have been taken, one would have supposed
this was it ; that this was a neutral ground on which men of
all parties might have met ; and the Catholic, the Dissenter,
and the Churchman would have hailed with equal joy a
proposal which had for its object to scatter light over that
rock upon which every conscientious believer must sup-
pose his own faith to be founded. But our hopes have
been disappointed. Yet there is no reason for us to de-
spond ; for though we have much to lament, we have not
cause to be entirely discontented. By the disposition shown
by his Majesty's Government to grant to Ireland what is
just and reasonable the minds of the people have been
calmed and conciliated, the turbulence of the peasantry,
arising from a smarting sense of their wrongs has been
abated ; and relieved from a collection of soldiery though
still exposed to the terrible severities of the law, they now
seem more inclined to obey a just but mild and paternai
Government, than rush to those excesses which only in-
jure their cause and alienate from them the minds of so
many of their best friends.—( Applause.) It would have
been hard indeed if the Catholics were to be defied, and
the Dissenters to be insulted at the same time. The Dis-
senters have reason to congratulate themselves upon the
passing of the Marriage Act. There is also the Registra-
tion Bill for births, marriages, and deaths, which breathes
no sectarian spirit whatever. But if there be one Act of
which we have all reason to be proud it is that noble Act
for widening the sphere of knowledge and information, by
diminishing the tax upon newspapers. Independently of the
great mora advantage which may ultimately follow from this

Act, I regard it as a weight and a level by which the people of
this country may be raised to an elevation from which they may
discharge with more advantage all those duties which, as citi-
zens, they may be called upon to perform. I make not these
observations byway of approval of all that has been done in the
last session, for I know you have reason to be dissatisfied,
Much remains to be don.; which might have been done, but
you all know there were obstacles which Ministers could nei-
ther prevent nor overcome in Parliament, in which the Liberal
cause is sustained by so slight a majority. I know not
whether this state of things will long endure. I hope
Ministers will be true to themselves.—(Cheers.) I hope
they will not endeavour to conciliate their enemies by dis-
gusting their friends.—(Cheers.) If we cannot have the
Irish Church Reform Biil, let us not tamper with the Eng.
lish Church.—(Cheers.) Let us not have such a paltry
effort as we saw made in the last Session—let us not sane
tion by any future legislative measures the'payment of sucl
high salaries to the Episcopal Bench—(Cheers)let us not
sanction the transplanting of Bishops to a soil which is not
congenial to their own nature or agreeable to the inhabi-
tants.—(Loud cheers.) I hope and trust that the present
state of things will not be allowed to continue, and that
rather than we should be called upon to waste our time,
and I may say our health, upon such unprofitable proceed-
ings, Ministers will again appeal to the sense of the people.
—(Cheers.) The people arc crying out aloud for a Reform
in the House of Lords. I tell thm they can obtain that
Reform only by effecting a still further Reform in the House
of Commons.--(Hear, hear.) Let the people do this ;
let them elect an overwhelming majority of Members of the
right sort as their Representatives in the Commons, and
this majority will soon teach the Lords that those obstacles
which they now oppose to Reform must be overcome, and
that every abuse and corruption must vanish at the will and
the determination of the people.—(Cheers.) I thank you
from my heart, Gentlemen, for the high honour you have
this day conferred upon me ; and in conclusion, I beg to
propose the toast of " The Reformers of the Borough of
Stockport."—(Cheers.)
Mr. CHARLES BAKER returned thanks, and proposed the
health of " Edward John Stanley, Esq., M.P., the Liberal
representative of the North Eastern Division of the county of
Chester."---(Long continued cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN said the meeting must deeply regret the
cause which had prevented the Mayor from partaking in
the festivities of the evening. He would, therefore, pro-
pose the health of " Thomas Steel, senior, Esq., Mayor of
the borough of Stockport, with our best wishes for his
recovery."
THOMAS STEEL, JUN., Esq., returned thanks. .
The CHAIRMAN proposed " The Clergy of all denomi-
nations."
The Rev. Mr. NEWSHAM, of Edgeley—This, gentlemen,
is the first time I have ever had the honour of attending a
meeting of this sort, and it shall not be the last.—(Cheers)
The reason it is the first time is, that I have been confine
within the closets' of my college, pursuing my literary
hours ; and although I have not previously been able t'ss
sanction meetings of this nature with my presence, I assure
you my very heart and soul has been with you.—(Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN proposed—" Civil and religious liberty
all over the world."
The Rev. Wm. SMITH—" Civil and religious liberty" is
the test of every true Reformer. If there be a man, let
him be of what creed he may, or of what party he may,
who feels not that his thoughts run more freely and his
heart beats more warmly at the utterance of this senti-
ment, then I disown that man as a Reformer.—(Hear,
hear.) " Civil and religious liberty," Sir, ten years ago,
would have met with very few who would have responded to
the sentiment in an assembly like the present. Ten
years ago supporting or advocating such a sentiment
would have branded us all, not with the name of " Re-
formers," but with that of " Radicals." Thank God, the
time has gone by when any individual need be ashamed
of the name of Radical—(Cheers)—which means, not as
our enemies would express it, that we are at the root of so-
ciety, that we are the very dregs and refuse of the com-
munity, but that we go searchingly and heartily, and essen-
tially, to the root of all abuses that exist in ourselves, or
exist in others.—(cheers.) We want, Sir, a further re-
form in the House of Commons. We want a more inde-
pendent method of electing our representatives ; a method
which shall set at nought every attempt at bribery and cor-
ruption, and which shall protect the voters from threat or in-
timidation. We want, in one word, the BALLOT!—(lmmense
cheering for some seconds.) We ask for no more, we
will not be content with less. Give us the Ballot.—
(Cheers.) And as a natural consequence, give our Mem-
bers in the House of Commons an increased responsibility.
—(Hear, hear.) Give us an opportunity of recalling them
more frequently to the bar of their constituency—give us
these things and we may laugh to scorn that " glorious mi-
nority," called the House of Lords.—(Loud cheering.)
These things we want ; and these things, with perseverance
and industry, we shall have. lam sure the meeting will
join me in wishing success to the Government that is
anxious thus to extend liberty and right to Ireland, and in
toasting—" Lord Mulgrave ! may equal laws, and an im-
partial administration of them, be extended to our fellow-
countrymen in Ireland."—(Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN—" Richard Potter, Esq., M.P., and
the Reformers of Wigan."—(Cheers.)
RICHARD POTTER, Esq., M.P.—lt gives me very great
pleasure to meet the liberal and enlightened electors of
Stockport on an occasion like the present ; for I know of
nothing more delightful than the constituent body assembling
face to face with their member, to make any explanation
that may be necessary to the right understanding of each
other. Notwithstanding the opposition of the House of
Peers, we did, as my Hon. Friend stated, succeed in ob-
taining some few measures beneficial to the country. My
Honourable Friend omitted to mention to you the Pri-
soners' Counsel Bill. That anomaly existing recently in
our laws, by which counsel might be employed to speak
against a prisoner accused of any crime, when the prisoner
himself was not allowed to employ one, is now happily removed.
The gentleman who last addressed you so eloquently (Mr.
Smith) alluded to the Irish Church Establishment. What
was it we wanted to do with the Irish Church Establish-
ment ? Only that her surplus revenue should be applied
to the moral and religious education of the people. But
the Lords refused to agree to it, and I hope we shall never
offer them such good terms again.—(Loud cheers.) lam
convinced they are the greatest enemies of the Irish Church
who prevented this arrangement, and we her real friends
who proposed it. I hesitate not to say that I consider Mr.
O'Connell as the Liberator of Ireland ?—(Renewed
cheering.) I believe Mr. O'Connell has done more, and
is doing more for his country than any man who ever lived
upon the face of the earth—(Continued cheering)—and Jam
proud to have the privilege of calling him my friend.—
(Immense cheering.) You are aware that several attempts
have been made by the Tories to thwart and run down Mr.
O'Connell. We were told in the case of the Carlow busi-
ness that Mr. O'Connell would be annihilated, but the report
of the committee acquitted him, and hurled disgrace and
confusion upon the heads of his enemies. Whilst upon
this subject, I perhaps may be permitted to mention a cir •
cumstance in some degree connected with myself, or rather
with my brother, Mr. Thomas Potter. You are aware
perhaps that a paragraph appeared in sonic of the papers,
charging Mr. Potter, of Manchester, with having purchased
Mr. O'Connell's vote upon the Factory question, for the
sum of one thousand pounds. I must apologize to you
for mentioning the subject. What are the facts ? The
factory question was discussed in the House of Commons
on the 9th of May : Mr. O'Connell was not unseated till
the 15th or 16th, and until after those dates the subscrip-
tion was neither heard nor thought of, and it was for the
purpose of remunerating him for the immense expense he
had been at in defending his own seat and that of his
son's. My brother had no more to do with Mr. O'Con-
nell upon the factory question, or Mr. O'Connell with him,
than any gentleman here present.—(Hear, hear.) It was
a weak invention of the enemy—of the Tories—(Hear,
hear)—and I do not regret that they made it because it
shows the desperate state to which they are reduced.—
(Hear, hear.) The question which now naturally sug-
gests itself to the mind of every man of liberal principles is
this, " What must be done with the Lords?"—(Cheers.) I
cannot help agreeing with Sir Robert Peel that the struggle
between the Peers and the People must take place in the
House of Commons—and that it is by union only we shall
be enabled eventually to overpower the Lords.—(Cheers.)
A t no distant time, probably early in spring, a
of Parliament will take place-,--(Hear)—and dissolutionthen you,
Gentlemen, as a part of the constitutency of England, will be
called upon to return representatives to the House of Com-
mons. I have no doubt you will
then fearlessly do your duty,
for it is upon you and upon the liberal constituency of the
country that the cause of liberty must mainly depend........
(Hear, hear.) I hope we shall all be united to effect a
common object, that the Whig will not quarrel with the Ra-
dical, nor the Radical quarrel with the Whig, because if
we begin to quarrel amongst ourselves we shall inevitably
let in the Tories, and ruin and misrule will again commence.
The Hon. Member repeated the toast, and then sat down
amidst loud and continued cheering from all parts of the
room.
The CHAIRMAN proposed " Charles Hindley, Esq,,
and the Reformers of Ashton-under-Lyne."
Mr. 1-1/NDLEv, on rising, was most loudly cheered. We
belonged not to that set of men who are capable of calling
their fellow-men, whether they live in this or other climes,
whether they arc from England, Scotland, or Ireland,
" aliens in blood, and aliens in religion !"—(Loud cheers.)
We belong not to these, and to these we never shall be-
long.—(Cheers.) These are trying times for this country.
These are times when in the contemplation of what may be,
my own heart, I can assure you, has felt many a pang.
—(Continued cheering.) These are not times when
allowances can be mae for timid vacillation, and un-
certainty. Let every man, therefore, understand his princi-
ples—let him be true to them, and depend upon it we shall

obtain good government. I say with your Hon. Member,
that my first anxiety is to see the House of Commons more
closely identified with the people.—(Cheers.) If I were
offered one of two things, an extension of the suffrage with
vote by ballot, or Peerage Reform, I should say " give me
an extension of the suffrage with vote by ballot." I bold
it to be a clearly defined principle of the British Constitu-
tion, that every man has the right of voting in the election
of members of the House of Commons, and if that i ight
were exercised, and the House truly and thoroughly to re-
present the great body of the people, could the Lords then
resist ? I have had a toast entrusted to me which I have
very great pleasure in giving. It is " The Reform Associa-
tion of Great Britain."----(Cheers.) I see a gentleman
whom I have often had the pleasure of meeting in London,
connected with that association, whose efforts in the cause
of Reform have been productive of much benefit. He is
the brother of your worthy Town-Clerk.—(Cheers.) I may
say he is one of the Directors of the political railway. The
Hon. Member concluded by coupling with the toast the
toast the name of James Coppock, Esq., of London.
Mr. JAMES COPPOCK said—ln the year 1819 when he
quitted Stockport for' the Metropolis, he could little have
expected to see a company professing the principles of re-
form—principles the greatest boast and the greatest security
of this country, assembled in such numbers in this town.
Little could he have thought that in the town which in
1819 sent its troops of yeomanry to flash their sabres upon
the field of Peterloo, he should see such a meeting of re-
formers as the present. But contrast Stockport then, with
Stockport now. For all political purposes it was formerly
but a dead weight in the representation of Cheshire—its
voice was then unheard—an occasional visit from the party
representing the county—a mayor feast—a few toasts to
be said or sung, these were the utmost bounds to which
the political feeling of the town extended. Stockport, it
was true, had its corporation—it had its Mayor, whose
highest power was in the vulgar language of the town and
neighbourhood, to dislodge the swine from any dungheap
he might himself choose to occupy. The reform bill of
1832 gave Stockport political importance—the Municipal
Reform Act gave Corporate Reform—and now Stockport
had the right of choosing two members ; it bad its Mayor
with real power, its magistrates, and a free corporation—still
less than this, could he have expected to address his fellow-
townsmen in acknowledging the reform association of England
—an association of which he was the humble, but the zealous
instrument. Long years of misrule had consolidated Tory
power—from the Lord Lieutenant of each county down to
the very parish bellman, each functionary was decidedly Tory.
The Bench of this district bore ample testimony to the
fact, that knowledge of trade and commerce was not deemed
any qualification for the magisterial bench—half-pay officers
were deemed the fitting instruments to dispense justice..
In every county the same mode prevailed, and Reformers
found that by union alone—by a total sinking of individual
aims, and uniting in one common purpose, could reform be
supported against Tory corruption and intrigue. The Re-
form Association was founded upon that basis. Union
among Reformers was the one thing needful, and without
that little could be effected. It was in vain for Ministers
to lead, if the people did not follow—in the hands of the
people was the power, in the hands of each constituency ;
upon the votes of the people of Stockport depended,
whether Reform should have two able zealous advocates
in the House of Commons, or be as at present virtually
unrepresented. Whether it had arisen from a desire to let
the Tories down by degrees, he could not tell ; but Stock-
port had so managed its representation, that if its two
Members had always staid at home, and given the amount.
of cost in attending Parliament to some public charity, t1-4e
town would have benefitted, and the Members saved much
trouble. This surely would not continue. Stockport ~nest
at the next election return two sincere Reformers. But
let not disunion creep in among you—the Tories act as one
man, one impulse moves them. Sink all minor differences,
unite for one common purpose, and let that purpose be the
return of true Reform Members for your town, and then
you will aid the grand cause which has brought us here
this evening, the Reform of all abuse in Church and State.
Mr. Coppock, after some remarks upon the corrupt appli
cation of Corporate funds which had taken place until the
passing of the Corporation Reform Bill, gave Municipal Re-
form, and the Corporation of the Borough of Stockport.
Mr. GEORGE OLDFIELD acknowledged the toast on the
part of the Corporation. It was only by unity and energy
that Reformers could expect to gain the great objects they
had at heart. He hoped the sentiments uttered at this
meeting would be long remembered, and that the principles
by which it was actuated would soon prevail.
The CHAIRMAN proposed Thomas Thorneley, Esq., and
the Reformers of Wolverhampton.
Mr. THORNELEY assured the meeting that he felt highly
honoured by the invitation of the Committee, and that he
had not lost a single post in replying how much pleasure
it would give him to be present. It is not very material
to enter into the question of a reform in the House of
Lords at this meeting—there is another question of a more
pressing character, and that is the election of the next
House of Co nuions. You are aware that this House of
Commons was elected under the Peel Administration.
It is a House not strong enough for a Reform Admi-
nistration like that of Lord Melbourne—it is a House
of Commons which in my heart I believe does not fully
represent the people. I hope Parliament will be called
together in January next. I hope that then a good
measure of Municipal Reform for Ireland will be intro-
duced—that other measures will follow for the general
good of the country, and if they are thrown out by the
House of Lords, I do sincerely hope there will be an
immediate dissolution of Parliament.—(Cheers.) Then
it will depend upon the people of this United Kingdom,
whether a House of Commons is returned strongly imbued
with liberal principles, and it shall be seen whether the
voice of the country answers to the appeal that " these re-
forms shall take place." The Tories say there is a re-
action in the country. I deny it. I totally deny that
the country is or has been opposed to the principles of reform.
After some allusion to the advantage of a Chamber of Com-
merce being established in Stockport, the Hon. Member
stated that in his opinion it was quite impossible the corn
laws, as they now existed, could long continue.
Mr. HINDLEY proposed " The Borough and Trade of
Stockport."

SAMUEL STOCKS, Esq., replied to this toast in an ap-
propriate address. He concluded by proposing the health
of " Henry Coppock, Esq., Town Clerk."
Mr. COPPOCK acknowledged the honour conferred upon
him, and in conclusion he proposed " The Liberal Magis-
trates of the county of Chester."
Mr. JOHN HOWARD responded in a suitable address, for
which we deeply regret the length of the previous proceed-
ings have prevented us from finding room.
Mr. Alderman BROWN replied to the toast of " The
Vice-presidents and Stewards," immediately after which the
company retired."

THE COLD YEAR.—In 1816, it will )e recollected
by many, there was a frost in this country, even in Virginia,
in every month of the year. Has it not been so in 1836 ?
Philadelphia Pvper.

DAHLIAS.—Have any of our readers been able to
raise a light-blue dahlia ? That is the horticultural prize
most sought after. Decandolle, we believe, said it never
could be found.—Edinburgh Mercury.

The potatoes in this neighbourhood are very abun-
dant, and will be sold very cheap ; but tho wheat crop is
short. The barley has yielded well, but its colour is consi-
derably against it.—Sherborne Journal.

A Lille Paper states that a young painter named
Staler has discovered, in an old manuscript, the secret of
painting on glass as it existed formerly. He has, it is said,
already obtained the most brilliant results.
APOTHECARIES' HALL—Names of Gentlemen
to whom the Court of Examiners granted certificates of
qualification on Thursday :—Charles Ray ; Thomas Sou-
thaw Burman, of Stratford-on-Avon ; Allen France, of
Honley, Yorkshire ; James Askeywood, of Uttozeter,
Staffordshire ; James Walford Fillett, of Colchester ;
Henry Weeks, of Barnstaple, Devon ; Richard Robinson
Alderson, of Everingham, Yorkshire ; Hugh Birt, of Stor-
rington, Sussex ; William Kaye Jackson, of Denby, York-
shire ; John Thomas Dolman, of York; Thomas Booth,
of Bradford, Yorkshire; Adoniah Vallack, of Kingsland,
Plymouth ; Marc Antony Bazille Corbin, of Guernsey;
Samuel Day Ferebay, of Gornal, Staffordshire.

The Coal Hole Tavern, in the Strand, is undergoing
very extensive alterations and improvements, preparatoryt )
the ensuing season.

The contemplated marriage between Viscount
d'Haussonvillc, Secretary to the French Embassy at Brus-
sels, and Mdlle de Broglie, (laughter of the Duke de Brog-
lie, and President of the L'ouncil, is expected to be solem-
nised at Paris in the Course of the present month.

The parish t)f. St. George in the East is in a state
of some excitement, in consequence of reports which are
curlett respecting the complaints of the paupers, at the
meagre fare doled out to them by the guardians elected
under the Poor Law Amendment Act, and the deprivation.
of their weekly half-holyday, and of the table beer hitherto
allowed them. The children in the workhouse have been
frequently heard crying for more bread ; and on Sunday
last, when some of the parishioners visited the house, the
inmates complained of their short allowance, and also of
the quality of the soup. A new master has been recently
elected by the Board, the former one having, it is reported,
charged for more rations than there were paupers ; but itis
believed that the food was actually distributed among the
inmates.—Morning Hera.d.
CLIMATE IN THE UNITED STATES.---The sun
is blazing hot to-day, and it is one of the warmest days of
the year. Fruits are very cheap. Peaches for example*
sell for a shilling (a York Shilling) a bushel.—New York
Paper of the 20th ult.