The Sun.
London, England, 1831-02-05 00:00:00

.of the aovernment. The inconvenient, un-
necessary, and even unconstitutional disconnecting of the
items hitherto composing the Civil List is a subject upon
which we do not now enter. The only immediate and
actual saving appears to be the abolition of what has ge-
nerally been considered a necessary of of Auditor
of Civil List.—Morning Post.
The Reform of the Civil List—the question which gave
the death-blow to the late Administration—was last night
brought before the House of Commons by the Chancellor
of the Ex.,'tequer, in a clear but moderate speech, in
which he stated the views of the Government, and de-
tailed the improvements which they contemplated. Our
readers will probably remember that, on the occasion al-
luded to, it was objected to the Civil List proposed by Mr.
Goulhurn, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, first, that
it comprehended under the name of allowances to the
King for his own maintenance, and for the due support of
the splendour of the Crown, numerous items and charges
which ought properly to have been placed under the gene-
ral head of national expenditure ; and, secondly, that the
total estimate required for the service of the year was by
far too large to be granted under the present circum-
stances of the country. Such, in fact, was the case.
The expences of the King and his Household were
mixed up with the expences of his Ambassadors to fo-
reign Courts—the salaries of Judges—and pensions
and other charges voted by Parliament, with even the
payment of which the King had nothing to do; and
the public was in consequence led to believe that the
whole of the 940,0001. required for the Civil List,
went into the pocket of the Sovereign, and was ex-
pended by him in pensions, or in any other manner
th it inclination or caprice might dictate. We need
scarsely observe that such belief was generally enter-
tained, and that it was calculated, from the enormous
amount of the sum, greatly to prejudice the public against
even Royalty itself. On this ground, therefore, as well as
on those already mentioned, th present Ministers, when
seated on the Opposition benches, objected to the amalga
mation of matters with the Royal revenue which bad no
earthly connection with it : and instead of going into a
Committee of the whole House upon the estimates pro-
posed by the late Ministers, supported the motion for a
Select Committee to revise the whole Civil Expenditure,
which, as our readers will remember, was accordingly
appointed. Let us now see what they propose to do.
1. The expenses of the Crown arc to be separated from the other
expenses usually included under the head of Civil List.
2. A saving is proposed in the former of 20,000/. annually, but
the whole amount nevertheless submitted to the revision of a
Select Committee.
3. The amount of expenditure for diplomatic services, salaries
of Judges, &c. will, by the proposed arrangement, be annually
brought under the revision of Parliament, and increased or
diminished, according as it may choose to determine.
4. In consequence of these arrangements the Crown will in future
have at its disposal, without the future controul of Parlia-
ment, not to the amount of a million sterling, as formerly,
but only about 400.0004
5. His Majesty has been graciously pleased to relinquish on behalf
of her Majesty the Queen, the whole of the sum exceeding
50,0001. which has usually been claimed and granted to the
King, when he had a consort.

conduct

late G

This enumeration comprises, we believe, the whole of
the proposals of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The
proposed saving is trifling ; being merely 20,0001. upon a
sum of half a million ; but theft the whole subject is re-
ferred to a Select Committee—a measure not proposed, or
even spoken of, by the late Ministers--which may see
the propriety of making a greater reduction ; while the
future saving, in consequence of the items of move than
half of the whole sum being annually submitted to Parlia-
ment, will be great in proportion to its patriotism and the
economical spirit which may pervade the country. The se-
paration of the amount granted for the Royal splendour,
from that expended to the general benefit of the country, is
as judicious as it was necessary ; and too much praise cannot
be bestowed on the King for the handsome manlier in
which he has chosen to relinquish claims which every one
expected would have been made. An animated discussion
took place on the expose of the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer, in which several lion. Members took part ; some in
favour, and some complaining of it ; but, on the whole,
considering, on the one hand, that it only embraced a sum
of ahout 400,000 f., and that more than one-fourth part
of it goes directly to the support of Majesty ; and, on
the other, that the whole is referred to a Select Committee,
and, after its revision, will have to undergo the ordeal of
the whole House, we see but little fau:t to be found with it.
Should further reduction appear to be necessary or proper,
we are confident that no one will so readily approve of the
saving as the Chancellor of the Exchequer and his col.
leagues. .Morning Advertiser.

- - --- ---
REFORM MEETING AT WICK.

(From the Inverness Courier.)

A numerous public meeting of the respectable inhabi-
tants of the county of Cait lines. was held at the county
town of Wick, in the old County-hall, on Wednesday, the
19th of January last, to discuss the question and details of
Parliamentary Reform, and pass resolutions and agree to
petition both Houses of the Lrgialature. On the motion
of Mr. JOSIAH SUTHERLAND, Captain MACDONALD, of
Shehster, J.P., was unanimously called to the Chair.
On taking the Chair, the CHAIRMAN read an official

letter from the Sheriff-Substitute of the county, intimating
to the movers and promoters of the meeting, that they
were taking upon themselves a high responsibility, in
calling into action a power which they had no means
of coutrouling ; and that as such meetings could he

legally and constitutionally called by Magistrates alone,
which had not been done in this in,t nice, they would
be held responsible for the consequences. The Chair-
man expressed his astonishment at such a letter having
been written. He could not believe from the known re-
spectability of the worthy Sheriff-Substitute, Ural it could
he his wish to check the expression of public opinion,
and he therefore concluded that some evil disposed persons
had induced him to imagine, that the promoters of this
meeting intended, by seditious speeches, and exciting the
passions of the multitude, to occasion disorder, and induce
a breach of the peace. The Chairman considered the
idea not only unfirunded, but extremely ridiculous, and
he put it to the sense of the meeting whether the assem-
bling together of a body of thinking individuals, to dis-
cuss deliberately the important subject of their public in-
terests, ought to lead to such an absurd supposition, as
that the peace of the community would be thereby dis•
tubed. He, therefore, trusted that all the gentlemen pre-
sent would calmly and considerately proceed in the busi-
ness of the day, preserve order, and in separating retire
reaceably to their private concerns.
The clerk read letters from the Hon. George and Ro-
be' t Dunbar, and T. F. Sinclair, Esq., of Lybster, stating
their deep regret that the melancholy death of a near and
dear relative and friend, would prevent them having the
honour of attending the meeting ; but begging to express
their full concurrence in the propriety and importance of
the proceedings, and wishing every success to its patriotic
endeavours.

The business of the day was then proceeded in, and the
resolutions were cordially agreed to.
An amendment to the sixth resolution was moved and
seconded, proposint, to confine the elective franchise to in-
habitant householders paying 101. rent and upwards; but
it was negatived by the meeting.
The following letter, addressed to the Chair by Thomas
Sinclair, E.q. of Lybster was read to the meeting.
" Sir,—From regard to the memory of a friend and re-
lation, I have been prevented from attending the meeting
to be held this day at Wick, on the subject of Parliamen-
tary Reform. The object of such a ineeting must be ap-
proved of by every one who takes an interest in the mea-
sure now in agitation, which is so vitally connected with
the welfare and prosperity of the country.
" As there cannot be a doubt, that his Majesty's Minis-
ters must experience no ordinary difficulty in maturing
their system ti Reform, neither can there be any, that
they must be essentially aided in their endeavours, by
being put as much as possible in possession of every species
of local information. To attain this end, nothing can be
better adapted than the assembling of such meetings as the
present, where a free and full expression of the sentiments
of the community cm be gathered ;—in short, it becomes
a duty that the people owe to themselves, and at the same
time to a Government that undoubtedly has every inclina-
tion to meet their wishes.

"It seems that a report has got into circulation that
some intention is entertained of connecting the represen-
tation of this county with that of Sutherland : it is to be
hoped this is merely a report, but I know from good au-
thority that it is in existence. The connection between
Bute and Caithness is, in my opinim, comparatively harm-
less ; at a• 1 events, it does not endanger our political
existence—such as it is ; but to be coupled with a county,
almost entirely under the influence of one of the most
powerful families in the kingdom, wou!d, beyond all
doubt, furnish tile power, if there was only time will, to
extinguish us fur ever. The high character of the pre-
sent Marquis of Stafford might furnish a sufficient gua-
rantee that he would not seek to obtain so immoral an
influence over the rights of his neighbours; but •it
is within the range of possibility that a member
of that family might at some future period be iu
existence, who, forgetting, or not possessing, the vir
toes of his illustrious ancestors, might entertain this
guilty ambition. At all events, in watching over the
most important prerogative of freemen, it becomes a duty
to look even to the most remote contingencies, and, above
all, to seek to shield ourselves against the powerful and the
wealthy.
" I hope that Caithness, considering the national im-