The Sun.
London, England, 1836-04-28 00:00:00

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rather than submit to see such laws on 4a ur statute book in rc.
Bard to the press.
Dr. Bowntrio assured Lard Melbourne that, clogged with
such conditions as were proposed by the new Bill, the reduc-
tion of the stamp duty would not be received with gratitude
by any portion of the community. The Bill was calculated
' to bring the Government into universal odium; and feeling
as he did deeply anxious to support the present Administra-
tion, he implored them not to commit themselves to this un-
popular course.
Mr. WAKLEY said, that if Government would not abandon
the new Bill, perhaps they would consent to introduce two
distinct Bills, one for the reduction, and one containing the
objectionable clauses, which might be separately discussed.
He wished not to be understood as desiring to throw out any
menace, but he felt bound to state his abhorrence of those
clauses was such, that, if the forms of Parliament would
allow it, he would not only debate every clause, but divide the
house ten thousand times in order to prevent their becoming
law. The liberties of the country were involved in the liberty
After
of the Press, and if that were gone all would be lost.
rotahelren3giethmbeneerds
tookan part,d
animated conversation, in which
several
Lord MELBOURNE said, that, although he had listened with
great attentiJn to the various statements which had been
made, he was bound in candour to say they had not produced
such an impression upon his mind as to induce him to make
any alteration in the plans of Government connected with this
subject, which had been already announced. He had certainly
remarked when he received the last Deputation, that the
financial part of the question was the least to be considered;
but had not intended to convey the idea that the Government
ought not to avail itself of this source of revenue when it could
be done without affecting injuriously the interests of the com-
munity. Notwithstanding all that had been observed he could
not see that the retention of a penny stamp duty ought -to be
considered in that serious light in which it had been repre-
sented by the deputation. With respect to the case of Mr.
Lavelle, mentioned by Mr. O'Connell, he (Lord Melbourne)
thought it highly imprudent that the responsible publisher of a
newspaper should leave his publication in the charge of other
persons to travel himself upon the Continent. He was much
gratified by the interest which had been expressed in the ad-
ministration to which he belonged, and begged to express his
thanks to most of the gentlemen present for their support in
the House of Commons.

The deputation then took their leave. The interview was
characterized by a stronger display of feeling than •)n any
former occasion, and terminated leaving a more unfavourable
impression of the views of Government with regard to the
ent►re liberty of the Press than had previously prevailed.
Several of the members observed to each other tkrt the ob-
ject would only be accomplished by supporting an rnstamped
press, since arguments, petitions, and remonstrances were alike
disregarded.

PUBLIC MEETING AT BRISTOL.

A most numerous and highly respectable Public Meeting
was held at Bristol on Monday the 25th inst., in the Guildhall
of the City, convened under a requisition to the Mayor, signed
by a large body of influential citizens, which has completely
set at rest the question of the alleged impropriety of the Go-
vernment not choosing to admit the " foolish and fading" Tory
Mr. ex-Alderman Daniel and his party subordinate, to the ho-
nours of the MP.gistracy. The reader will recollect, that after
the ungentlemanly attack of Sir Richard Vyvyan on Lord
John Russell, which drew on him the censure of the
whole House of Commons, an attempt was made by
the Standard to palm off upon the Public the meeting
held in the counting-house of one of the rejected, by a
few disappointed Tories, as a public meeting; attended by
" all the respectable inhabitants of Bristol." Since which a
Tory majority in the Town Council, consisting of aldermen
and the rejected magistrates, who had the decency to vote for
themselves, agreed to demand from the Government the rea-
sons which actuated it in its selection of gentlemen as Justices
for the borough, and with a singular inconsistency, while
by this application they admitted their ignorance of the mo-
tives of Lord John Russell, to thank Sir Richard Vyvyan at
the same time for having charged the Noble Lord with
corrupt motives, and this they resolved to do in defiance
of public opinion, as expressed by the minority in the
Council who represent a majority of four hundred voters more
than the Tories, and arc only a minority because of the
unjust division of wards which gave six Councillors to the
Tories, who ought to have been given to the Liberal districts;
and of the treachery of one professed Whig who, when under
all the disadvantage arising from the injustice committed by
Barristers, the Liberals had succeeded in carrying a full half
of the Council, by ratting to the other side, gave to the Tories
by his single vote the power of nominating thirteen out of tho
sixteen Aldermen.

So long as this folly was confined to the brazier's counting-
house, and the falsehoods of the Standard were promptly ex-
posed, the citizens of Bristol found in it matter of amusement
merely ; but when the Town Council so far forgot its duties as
to lend itself to this rancorous party attack upon Government,
it became matter of serious consideration how they should di-
vest themselves of the disgrace of the act, and a public meeting
was called in the manner stated, to consider of the steps
proper to he taken. The Tories threatened to throw
the meeting into confusion, and great exertions were
made to come down in strength for the purpose, but
they utterly failed. The Hall was crowded to excess;
hundreds went away unable to gain admittance. The
Tories shrank from the contest, and of the few who had
gained a place at the upper cud of the Hall, in the hope
of a row, and who were afterwards compelled to remain
witnesses of the unanimity and good order which prevailed,
but one had courage enough to hold up his hand against the re-
solutions, and he confessed that he did not know any reason
for his doing so, except that he was told to do so. The chair-
man was William Leonard Thomas Pyle Taunton, Esq., Bar-
rister at Law ; the speakers S. Waring, T. J. Manchee, J. Ad,
dington, H. Visger, W. Harwood, F. R. Bruce, R. Bruce, F.
R. Bligh, W. Herapath, R. Ash, and J. W. Hall, Esqs., and
the Rev. F. Edgeworth. The resolutions moved and seconded
by these gentlemen deprecated the conduct of the Town Council
as an attack upon the Royal prerozative for a mere party pur-
pose, and strongly censured Sir Richard Vyvyan for not hav-
ing had the courage to push his charge against Ministers if
true, or the gentlemanly feeling to retract it if unfounded.
They affirmed also the injustice by means of which the Town
Council were enabled to compromise the character of the city,
and to act in diametrical opposition to the wishes of the citi-
zens; and directed copies of the resolutions to be transmitted
to Lord John Russell, to Sir Richard Vyvyan, and to the
Town Ccuncil, in order that the Home Secr,tary might be
satisfied of the disapprobation of the citizens with the proceed-
ings of the Town Council, and be made acquainted with the,
means through which men professing to represent the city
practically misrepresent it; and that, Sir Richard Vyvvan and
his fiends might be officially acquainted with the feelings of
the Bristol constituency, as a warning against what may be
expected at the next election. The speeches delivered were
of a most constitutional character, and several allusions to the
house of Russell were enthusiastically received. The meet-
ing, which lasted with unflagging interest for nearly four
hours, broke up in excellent temper, after several tremendous
rounds of cheers for Lord John Russell and the Melbourne
Administration.

The following were the resolutions agreed to at the public
meeting held at Guildhall, on Monday, the 25th instant:—
BP.ISToL, APRIL 26, 1836.

At a most numerous and respectable meeting held at the
Guildhall, on Monday, to consider the propriety of the pro-
ceedings of the Town Council of this Borough, on tin 18th
of the present month, and to give an opportunity to the citi-
zens to express their sentiments on the appointment of Ma-
gistrate:, and on the conduct of Sir Richard Vyvyau in Parlia-
ment relative thereto—

It was moved by. SA mu EL WA Al NG% Esq.,seeonded by T. J.

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MANG II EE, Esq., and carried with one dissensieut only,
Ist. That this meeting has heard with surprise and indignation
that a factitious majority of the Town Council of this city, disre-
garding the most. strenuous opposition of the repres:.:ntatives of a
large majority of the Burgesses, have travelled out of the line of
their municipal duties, have converted the council chamber into
an arena for political discussion, and Nave presumed to interfere
with the undoubted prerogative of the Crcwn in the nomination
of Magistrates for this borough ; more especially as, in this instance
it is based on the statute vfbich called the Council itself into exist-
ance : and this meeting is the more indignant, that the exercise of
the prerogative on this occasion sliculd be questioned by the very
party which, by an alteration of the principle of the measure as
originally passed by the House of Cow:ruins, vested the appoint-
ment of the Municipal Magistracy in the Crown.
Moved by JOHN ADDINGTON, Esq., seconders by the Rev. Funs.
EDGEWORTH, and carried with one disseCtient only.
2nd. That Sir Richard Vyvyan's conduct in the House of Com-
lion of the
mons,—imputin_g corrupt motives to his Majesty's Secretary of
H State for the ome Department, in making the sele,.
Justices of Bristol under the Municipal Reform Act, an ,1 refusing
either to substantiate the imputation by evidence, or to re 'Tact it,
after it had been pronounced false and calumnioe!:,—was highly
unjustifiable ; and the mi;ority of the Council, by approving of such
conduct, have manifested the spirit of partizanship by which ti:leY
were actuated.

11orcd by II aIIA\ VISGEP., Esq., seconded by RICHARD BLIGH;

Esq., and carried with one dissensicnt only.
3rd. That the existence of the above majority in the Town,.
Council has resulted solely from the injustice inflicted by the un-
fair division of the city into Wards, and the unequal apportionment
of Councillors,' which it has been demonstrated were widely at
variance with the principle on which such division and apportion-
ment were ordered to be founded.
Moved by ROBERT BRUCE, jun., Esq., secondod by _ WILLIAM

IlAttwoon, jun., Esq., and carried by acclamation.
4th. That toe cordial thanks of this Meeting be given to the
Gentlemen who constituted the Minority on the above occasion, for
theirable,
so improperfirm, andeonsistent conduct in resisting the introductions
of subjects
in thernstives and so irrelevant to the duties
of the- Council.
Moved by WILLIAM IT ER AF AT 11, Esq., seconded bv Jou WESLEY
HALL, Esq., and carried unanimously.
sth. Resolved, that a copy of the above Resolutions be forwarded
to the night Honourable Lord John Russel!, the Secretary of State
for the Home Depa.trnent ; to Sir Richard Vyvyan ; also to Mr.
Sergeant Wylde ; and that the Chairman, in handing the Resolu-
tions, request that they will take an early opportunity of impressing
on Parliament the practical evils that have resulted from the in-
justice Which has been inflicted upon the city.
Moved by T. J. MAN C r.F., Esq., soconded by H. VI-SCE:I, Esq.,

and carried -unanimously

6th, Resolved, that the Thanks of this Meeting be given to the
Mayor for the use of the Hall ; and that he be furnished with a
copy of the above Resolutions, with a request that it may be laid
before the next meeting of the Council, that the.meinb?rs may be
officially acquainted with the sentiments of their constituents as ex-
pressed in public meeting.
(Signed) :W. L. T. P. TAUNTON, Chairman.
The Chairman having vacated the chair, the same was taken by
William Herapath, Esq., and it was
Moved by ROBERT BRUCE, Esq., seconded by T J. MA NGHEE,

Esq., and carried by'aeclamation ,
7th, That the cordial thanks of this Meeting be given to W L
T. P. Taunton, Esq., for his kindness in taking the chair on the
present occasion, and for his most able and impartial conduct in pre
siding Over the business of the day.