The Sun.
London, England, 1831-03-02 00:00:00

r"1 •

LONDON,
WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 2, 1831

The KING arrived in London this morning,
and at one o'clock held a Levee at St. James's
Palace. After the Levee his MAJESTY will hold
a Privy Council at which the RECORDER of
London will make a report of the convicts now
under sentence of death in Newgate.

In our anxiety to supply our readers with in-
telligence, full, early, and authentic, on the all-
absorbing subject of Reform, we inserted last
night the whole of Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S me-
morable speech (containing six columns) in an
edition of The Sun, which at a late hour we
forwarded by express to all parts of the kingdom.

The Ministers have nobly redeemed their
pledges. They have brought forward a plan of
Reform extensive and uncompromising, simple,
yet perfectly efficient, indeed, fully equal—and
we know not that we can give it, higher praise
—to Lord BROUGHAM'S sweeping and masterly
Chancery Reform Bills. There is not a man,
who has the real welfare of his country at heart,
who can object to Lord J. RUSSELL'S proposal
for amending the state of the representation.
Particular portions might perhaps be altered for

the better, but the tenor of the whole is so libe-
ral—so decisive—so encouraging—so wholly

in accordance with the wishes and necessities
of the people—that he must be a churl in-
deed who can refuse to give it his zealous
support. Ministers having thus done their
duty, it remains for the people to do theirs. A
formidable struggle—we augur this from the
temper of the House, which was last night very
unequivocally displayed—will be made to de-
feat the plans of Government, who must in con-
sequence be supported by the firmness—the gra-
titude—the energy—and, above all, by the una-
nimity of the people. Let the country bear this
in mind. It has now, for the first time, got
Ministers willing to hazard all in its behalf—will-
ing even to die at their posts in the discharge of
their sacred duties. Such a Government must be
supported. It were a foul—an indelible stain
on the English character to suppose otherwise.

Let meetings, then, be forthwith held in every
county, city, and town, throughout the kingdom,
for the purpose—first, of thanking Ministers for
their exertions ; secondly, for expressing perfect
confidence in their integrity and patriotism ;
thirdly, for assuring them, in the event of any
necessity arising, of the hearty and uncompro-
mising support of the nation. If something of this
sort be not done ; if Government be left to fight
single-handed and unsupported, against a des-
perate army of Cossack Boroughmongers, while
the country looks on till the fight be ended, and
then, and not till then, steps in to claim its
share of the victory ; we can only say that a
shame will attach to the name of Englishman,
which no after effort of patriotism will have power
to wipe away. But we anticipate nothing of this
sort. Government will fight the battle, and
the country will second them. The one
will say bow they wish to be assisted,
the other will promptly afford that assistance.
But caution—caution---caution—this is the
first—this the second—this the third talisman
of success Even now the Boroughmongers are
marshalling their forces ; even now they are
arranging their plans for a last deadly blow at
Reform. They Must be met then with equal
energy—with equal skill. Neither the Minister
nor the people—and with what pride of heart
we link the two together !—must know a mo 7
ment's repose, nor think any thing gained, till
all is gained. Vote by Ballot, Triennial Par-
liaments, we implore the people not to stand

ut for these just now. They will assuredly come
in their season—and that is no distant one—
but at present they will peril all. First let Re-
form be carried, the rest will necessarily follow.
The remarks of Lord J. RUSSELL on this
point are full of hope and encouragement.
As respects the Noble Lord's plan, we refer
our readers, for more minute particulars, to his
own admirable expose on the subject, as also
to the summary inserted in the articles of our
Morning Cotemporaries, which will be found in
another column. Suffice it here to state, that
the plan may be divided into fbur parts. 1. The
changes introduced by the total or partial aboli-
tion of the franchises of certain boroughs, and
the transfer of their rights in part to the larger
towns and counties. 2. The changes in the
qualification of the voter in boroughs and coun•
ties. 3. The change in the mode of securing
the purity of the electoral lists, and of taking the
poll in counties and towns; and 4. The changes
in the representation of Scotland and Ireland.
In addition to this alteration, the Noble
Lord proposes to reduce the House by 62
Members, so that instead of 6.58, it will in