The Sun.
London, England, 1838-12-17 00:00:00

Cleveland-row, Dec. 15, 1838.
SIR-I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of
your communication, enclosing the copy of an address from
the Westminster Reform Association, and expressing a
wish that I should receive it from the hands of a deputation.
I should have been proud to receive the address itself
expressive as it is of principles in which I entirely concur,
if I had had no cognizance of the proceedings of the meet-
ing at which it was adopted ; but these having been re-
ported to the public, I feel it my duty to state, that they
entirely preclude .me from receiving the deputation to
which you refer.
The Chairman was chosen unanimously, and the meeting
voted him their thanks. He called upon them to forget
strong opinions on the subject of Canada, in order to con-
sider whether they could " make use of" me for the fur-
therance of their own objects. Other speakers were even
more candid in the avowal of their insincerity. Dr. Wade
said, that, "as an advocate of universal suffrage, he was
perplexed ; for he did not see how he could support an
address to one who advocated household suffrage." Yet
he did support that address ; and on the ground, as he
declared, that I could be made use of as a stepping-stone
for the advantage of the Radical party. These senti-
ments, and the purposes implied by them, when viewed
in conjunction with the address, appear to have been cor-
dially approved.

I have cited the above passages in order that there may
be no sort of misapprehension as to my reasons for de-
clining to receive the address. I lay aside, as of no im-
portance, all that passed at the meeting, which might be
considered personally injurious to me, and confine myself to
the manifest contradiction between the purport of the ad-
dress and the objects of the meeting. The address says
one thing, the meeting intended another ; and the whole of
the proceedings, taken as one act, abounds in evidence of
gross insincerity. I cannot be a party, indirectly or re-
motely, to any such mode of dealing with public affairs.
As I am ever ready to declare frankly what measures I
think desirable, so will I always state my objection to pur-
poses of which I conscientiously disapprove. If I had
merely responded to this address, knowing as I do that
many from whom it proceeds entertain opinions and seek
objects which I utterly repudiate as destructive to the
peace and very existence of society, I should have shared in
misleading, not to say deceiving, the public. And that is
what I will never do, come what may.
The address refers to my unchanged and unchangeable
opinions in favour of diligence in the work of progressive re-
form. This I hold to be the only means by which great

national calamities may be averted. I know of no other
means by which the true ends of all political exertion may
be secured—namely, the instruction, the respectability, and
self-respect, and the permanent dignity and happiness of the
whole people, without distinction of classes. To these great
ends I believe that the stability of the Throne, the security
of property, and the prosperity of industry, are not less
essential means, than the realization of those principles
which I expressed to the people of Scotland in 1834.
But I will not pretend ignorance of ulterior designs on
the part of those who agreed to the address, which are com-
pletely at variance with the objects and principles to which
I have adverted. It becomes me, therefore, openly to de-
clare my disapprobation of them, and my determination to
oppose myself as strongly to their execution, as I hope to
labour diligently in the cause of safe, attainable, and there-
fore efficient Reform.

For these reasons I must 'decline receiving the deputa-
tion. I will not run the risk of deceiving any one. There
shall be no mistake in any quarter as to my opinions or ob-
jects. I cannot accept support so tendered, or an address

so voted. In other circumstances, I should have considered
it as an honourable and gratifying mark of public confidence.
I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
DURHAM.

W. West, Esq., Hon. Secretary of the
Westminster Reform Association.

MR. PROUT'S REPLY.

MY LORD,—AS Chairman of the DEPUTATION of the
WESTMINSTER REFORM SOCIETY, appointed to present
the address of the Society to your Lordship, I have the
honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's com-
munication of Saturday night.
The DEPUTATION respectfully beg leave to inform ♦our
Lordship, that the SOCIETY consists of ELECTORS of WEST-
MINSTER, and was formed in the year 1833, for the purpose
of attaining—

1. Householders' Suffrage,
2. Triennial Parliaments,
3. Voting by Ballot ;
And that it never has had any covert or ulterior object.
The following are the " Principles and Measures" advo-
cated by the '6 WESTMINSTER REFORM SOCIETY," fully
and literally extracted from the original proceedings of
the Association :
PRINCIPLES AND MEASURES.
The Vote by Ballot.
An Extension of the Suffrage to every Householder in the
Kingdom ; and that each Constituency returning Two Mem-
bers to Parliament ought to consist of at least 5,000 Electors.
The Repeal of the 27th clause of the Reform Act, which
makes the Payment of Rates and Taxes (before a particular
day) a condition of the Franchise.
Triennial Parliaments.
A more extensive Reform of Municipal Corporations, espe-
cially those of London and Ireland.
A Repeal of the Window and Corn Taxes, so grievously
pressing upon the Industry of the country.
The Abolition of all Pensions not merited by known Pub-
lic

Services.
The Removal of all Taxes which impede the Diffusion of
Knowledge amongst the People, but most especially the
Stamp Duty upon Newspapers.
A Reform of the Church Establishment.
A Proper Application of the Funds known to exist in the
Country for the purposes of Education.
Your Lordship, from your long experience of the pro-
ceedings of Public Bodies, must be well aware that it is
impossible to prevent the expression of sentiments at va-
riance with those entertained by a majority of the members,
and we submit to your Lordship, that if the opinions of
some individuals in a large number are to be considered as
sufficient ground for refusing to receive Addresses voted
all but unanimously by the collective body, it will always
be in the power of some individuals, either from conscien-
tious motives, or from evil intentions, to nullify the proceed-
ings of any number, however large the meeting, and how--
ever important the proceedings may be to the welfare of the

country.
The Deputation appointed by the Westminster Reform
Society to present their Address to your Lordship, have di-
rected a copy of the speech of the Mover of the Address, as
taken from the notes of a short-hand writer, to be forwarded
to your Lordship; and they assure you that it contains the
true ground on which the meeting adopted the Address.
The Deputation enclose for your Lordship's perusal the
rules for the government of the Society.
I have the honour to subscribe myself,
Your Lordship's most obedient servant,
THOMAS PROUT,
Westminster, 229, Strand, Dec. 17, 1838.
To the Right Hon. the Earl of Durham, &c. &c.

(COPY.)—RULES FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF
THE WESTMINSTER REFORM SOCIETY.
Ist. That all Electors of Westminster, and persons entitled
by their tenancy to become so, be eligible as members on being
nominated by two members of the Society.
2d. That a Subscription of not less than five shillings per
annum be paid by each member ; and that the Treasurer re-
ceive donations from persons not being members.
3d. That a Committee of Management be annually appointed,
and that the number of attendances which each member of the
Committee has given be annually reported to the general body.
4th. That the Committee do consist of Twenty-three
Members, selected from the different Parishes of the City and
Liberty of Westminster.
sth. That the Committee shall have the power to call to-
gether the general body as often as occasion may require.
6th. That the Committee have power to appoint a Trea-
surer from their own body.
7th. That the Committee have power to appoint a Secre-
tary, and of awarding him such a payment for his services
from out of the funds of the Society as they may consider
necessary.
Bth. That the Committee be elected at a General Meeting
of the Society, to be held within One Month after the Ist of
January in each year, and that the Election be by Ballot.
9th. That the Committee report at least once a ,ear the
result of their labows.
10th. That Three Members be appointed Yearly from the
general body to Audit the accounts of the Treasurer.

LORD DURHAM'S REPLY TO THE
WESTMINSTER,REFORM ASSOCIATION.