The Sun.
London, England, 1831-03-18 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

The Berkshire meeting, held on Wednesday at
Abingdon, both in its proceedings and issue, may
probably be taken as a fair sample of the. other
county meetings on the same subject. The persons
present, of all kinds and shades of opinion, were
unanimous for Reform ; but its enemies professed
only their objections to certain parts of the Bill pre-
sented to the House, and of course mean to attack it
in the detail. But we should beg leave to'ask,
whelce it is that they who but till yesterday were
hostile to the slightest change, are now disposed to
make such concessions ? They are no voluntary
converts, and therefore must be watched, as de-
serters usually take some occasion when in battle,
arid when their defection can do most mischief, of
going back to the enemy. It would have been
matter of regret, and probably of injury to the great
cause and to the country, if we had not arrived
at a crisis at which the present Bill was necessary;
but we are convinced that if there had been pre-
viously the least disposition to concede any thing
just to the people, the question of general Reform
might have been eluded, arid We should have gone
on patching for many years more. It was only the
determined defence of every thing crazy, rotten
and corrupt, by a mere oligarchic faction,—
the insolent rejection of claims, however reasonable,
—that made the people unanimous as one man
in demanding a total abrogation of the borough-
mongering system, and a proptr extension of the
elective.frauchise. And now our enemies turn upon
us and say, " We always thought you had a right
to so much : we never meant to deny that there
was a great deal requiring alteration." Why did
not you give us, then, so much ? Why did not
you make the requisite changes ? You have had
power enough to prevent, obstruct, and defeat the
very minutest attempt at Reform, in spite of the
people; and therefore, with the people to back you,
might, with the greatest facility, have carried those
improvements which you now tardily and unwillingly
acknowledge to have been DO more than our just
due, and what the Constitution, even in your view
of it, required. Such an unbought, unprompted
unanimity of sentiment never prevailed in this or
any other country, as now exists here on the sub-
ject of the Bill before the House of Commons.
Counties, towns, boroughs, parishes, hamlets,—all
unite in calling for its enactment. The King joins
with his people in the wish. He sees, in truth,
where the Royal strength lies,—not in the selfish
and effected devotion of a corrupt faction, which
has obstructed the free exercise of every prerogative
of the Crown, but in the love and attachment of his
subjects. The meeting of the county of Hants took
place yesterday. In short, we might dedicate our
whole journal to these expressions of the public will,
and should still want space. The Bill. has been in-
juriously and stupidly styled " a corporation rob-
bery," and Mr. Monck properly enough wiped off
this aspersion. It might, with perfect justice be
designated—a recovery of stolen goods, from cor-
porations who have received and retained them,
knowing them to be stolen.—Times.

A great meeting was held in Dublin on Tuesday
last, at which the Lord Mayor presided, and where
a resolution in favour of the Reform Bill, moved by
the Duke of ',duster, and seconded by Mr. La-
touche, v,act left by the latest accounts far advanced
in i:s progress towards a nearly unanimous accept-
ance by the meeting. The fact of the opposition to
it being set up by, Sir Harcourt Lees, and defended
by the Rev. Baronet on his own very peculiar prin-
ciples, may be taken as an earnest of the fate which
was about to befall it. We do not yet find that
Mr. O'Connell's complaint of unfairness towards Ire-
land in the authors of the Bill has gained much ground
in that countmy. The Learned Gentleman re-
proached Ministers for not having given Ireland a
large augmentation of her county Members, England
having received an increase of fifty-five. In sup-

port of this claim, Mr. O'Connell pointed out some
counties—Cork and Tipperary amongst the num-
ber—which he stated to be more populous than any
or most of those counties at this side of the water
which are to profit by the additional representatives,
It is possible that there may be more inhabitants
in Cork than in Cheshire; but we should like to
ask what description of-,inhabitants are they?
Does Cork contain as large a number of individual:
possessing 10/. a year freehold, or paying 501. per
annum on a lease for yews, as the counties with
which he has compared it ? If not, according to
the principles of the Bill, which contemplates pro-
perty as the qualification, and dismisses numbers,
the extra population of the Irish counties is a pauper.
population, and ought to be treated like that of
England,—that is to say, not intrusted with the pri-
vilege of voting for knights of the shire. But, Rays
Mr. O'Connell, the county representation of Eng-
land has been increased by fifty-five Members, anti
that of Ireland not at all. We answer, look at the
amount of taxes paid by Deland generally, and see
how she fulfils the terms of the Union contr:rct.
By that treaty she ought to contribute towards the
revenue of the empire three parts out of seventeen.
Taking the whole revenue of the United Kingdom
at 48,000,0004 in round numbers, three-seventeenths
would be something near 8,500,000/., whereas the
revenue raised in Ireland has not for some years
pa=t, as we hear, exceeded 5,000,000/., or there-
abouts. Yet Ireland has retained the whole of LI
representatives, though she has fallen short of her
revenue by more than a third. But if England has
gained fifty-five county representatives and thirty-
five or thirty-six others, let it be remembered that
she has surrendered 168 borough members ; so tha'
the comparison Letween English and Irish repre-
sentatives before the passing of the Bill and after it
is as follows :

In the former case, England had 513
Ireland

Excess 413
WLereas, after the Bill—
England will have 436
Ireland

Excess .

333

Ireland thus gains by the Bill, in the proportion
of 413 to 333; that is, England loses of her majo-
rity not less than SO votes. We trust, therefore,
that Mr. O'Connell will be more at ease respecting
the impartiality exercised towards Ireland in the
preparation of this great measure.—Times.

The French papers of Monday and Tuesday, from
which we gave extracts yesterday, are full of inte-
rest, though they contain no news of striking no-
velty. They afford strong indications of the grow-
ing uneasiness and agitation in France, and of the
general state of anxiety—insecurity—fear of change,
and preparation for war, all over the Continent. As
the watchword of revolution end the example of
popular triumph went forth from Paris after the
" glorious week" of July, so Paris has since become
the centre of revolutionary movement,—the sense-
rium of revolutionary intelligence for the whole of
Europe. Hence the National Guard of Warsaw fra-
ternises with the National Guard of the French ca-
pital, and old Lafayette is arrayed in the garb
of a defender of Polish freedom. Hence volun-
teers, who fought the battle of July in the streets
of Paris, are equipped by Committees of French
revolutionists, to assist the Piedmentese in diffusing
liberty over the north of Italy. Hence the popu•
lace of the suburbs insist that Austria shall not re-
pel the proselytising aggressions of the " Italian
Union," and are prepared to break the windows of
Count d'Appony, as they have broken those of
Pozzo di Borgo, should Austrian troops cross the
Milanese frontier. Hence long descriptions of all the
political insurrections which occur, and of many
which do not occur, are greedily received and in-
dustriously propagated. Though the party for in-
ternal order and external peace seems now to have
' got the ascendancy in the King's Council., there
appears rather to be an increase than an abatement
of this disaffected, revolutionary, and warlike spirit.
On pretence that the constituted authorities of the
country and the powers of the general Government
are not directed with sufficient zeal or energy to
maintain the national sovereignty of July, or to repel
foreign aggression, an association has been formed to
resist the Bourbons and the stranger. The members
of this society give the'r names, and 2d. a month
to insure the independence of France, and the
perpetual exclusion of the fallen dynasty ! In addi-
tion to this liberal subscription they pledge their
lives and honour in the same glorious cause. But
though the apparent means may be insignificant—
even including the life and honour of the sub-
gproealitticeanldagpirtaotpioosae,d,
or tahsea aksisioilci ioa-f
tsicornib, eirtss—a ffoocrutshoef
complement to the power of the ultra-liberal press,
must be of extreme importance. The class of per-
sons who will enter it, the increased impulse which
it will give to ultra-liberal projects in the capital,
and the dangerous action which it will exert, by
affiliated coteries, all over France, may be inferred
from the places to which the subscribers are invited
to send their_ signatures, and the organs which they
will be able to employ in disseminating their prin-
ciples. The offices of the Constitutionnel, of the
Courrier Francois, of the National, of the Journal
du Commerce, and of the Tribune, are axed
upon as the subscription-rooms for this new uni-
versal club. The other ultra-liberal Journals will
follow the example. The muster-roll will become
nearly co-extensive with the number of readers
whose passions are inflamed, or whose opinions are
directed by the liberal press; circulars, addresses,
and manifestoes, will multiply and find a ready
mears of extensive propagation ; and in a short
oacfgsaaubai against
et t
an
nhoi
political
si
una-
nimous Pirci
al-
ready time, if the club is not checked at its commence.
ment, it will command public opinion, direct the
electoral colleges, domineer over the Chamber, and
possess more power than the Legislature and the
Crown put together. As the first intimation of this
intended society appeared only in the papers of
Tuesday, which arrived last night, we do not know
how the proposal will be received by the public, or
be treated by the Government. Its objects being
legal and laudable, it is only the probable perversion
changeionih)'asn 3‘eyul.
esr al
en
'The
vt,'ocehereeeducstBo:
nchs.
of its power that can excite alarm or justify inter-
s
ference. Journalism was considered under the Vil-
lele and Polignac Ministry as a new species of Go-
vernment,—or rather as an antagonist authority in
the state, and, following out the same idea, we may
say that this universal club will compose the army of
the new- sovereignty. It is easy to see that it will
rbiet-r directed,Cabinet injhu
asot:fheefcoonfir;rdsteet instance,taitld. Teieshlsiiesd
branded with disgrace by the ultra-liberal
nor; p oAi nu tgmu es nt
1829,0 f t e
asPtoilliiganatevhAilcih-
tits:ointter/P,e,riheirnattsid
altiisiafuriletsn,dsantdo
hesitates dislike ;" the Courrier Francais boldly
announces its distrust and aversion ; the Journal du
Commerce declares open hostilities; and the Revo-
lution, the 7ribune, the National, and the Globe,
foam with absolute rage. M. Cassirnir Peder is
calumniated as the friend of the fallen dynasty, and
the enemy of the late revolution. Baron Louis
supplies as many weapons against himself as he has
exhibited inconsistencies in politics. M. d'Argout
is denounced as the negociator between Charles X.
and the Hotel de Ville ; M. Scbastiani is declared
as the enemy of liberty, because he has refused to
declare war against Russia on account of the invasion
of Poland; and Admiral de Rigny is only pardoned
for becoming Minister of Marine on account of the
laurels of Navarin. We are not addicted to poli-
tical prophecy, but, from a knowledge of the power
of the French press, and the recollection of the
causes which have within the last few years given
so many changes of Ministry to France, we should
predict, that the new Cabinet will even be more
short lived than the last, unless it changes its prin-
ciple:, and yields to the popular current. In order
to put its system to the test, it will be immediately
called upon to decide on the affairs of Italy. The
notices in the German Papers leave little doubt that

ant
fAr,
ounstt ain a tnrdo o
hp
as have
Tintes.
There was a numerous meeting yesterday at tl/1
Chancellor of the Exchequer's in DOWlliDg'streetl
the
Members of the House of Commons friendly to tr
1
plan of Reform brought forward by Lord J°ll,
e
Russell. Lord Althorp stated that his object ,
vv entered alreatdhyepdauscsheyd of th
jel
requesting their attendance was, to request that te''
as friends of the measure, would, out of the 11°"ei
make known to ins Majesty's Grovernmeut, 0104
himself Lord John Russell, or any Cabinet INlMiistißetdri,
(In it views as to any modifications in the ue":0,
compatible with the strict maintenance of the I)ri ,
eiple of the Bill, of which they might think it 6:lble
ceptible. Lord Althorp further pointed milth g
danger that the whole measure might run a' "e;-n-,
defeated, if the friends of the measure were to
forward alterations in detail, while the 00°11etilh'e5
.'ere contending, against the principle itself; m 1 eri
>ther hand, that, by private communicat;on,
reasonable modilicetion might receive considerao
without disturbing that unanimity in th°,14t1551:
both at the second reading and when the 13'11 s'asalt
Committee, which could alone ensure trittal-il:t
success. The feeling among the Members P/I„fit'evi
at the meeting was unanimous in adopting the ed
taken by Lord Althorp, and mere than one declAr-
his determination to support the whole -rnees„uirtel;
to • her titan press modifications incompatible
the principle, although, by so doing, they miglit l
eolatt
cur the risk of displeasing constituents before Isoo
they should have again to offer themselves.
county Member declared that, so convinced "'ot
of the necessity of supporting Ministers in this ggoit
end patriotic measure, that he should, for the riy
time, act with the thoroughgoing zeal afa in
man. Lord Altborp expressed his confideoee se
the passing of the Bill, and in reply to an inquir,,fnee
to the day of its being committed, said that, ref,elc- 'd
' being had to the importance of the measure, De 1,11
not think that an earlier day than the first oreild....-
after the Easter recess could possibly be tise".
Herald. s li
We said yesterday that Lord Broughat”
5'
watchful obstrver of public -opinion. He ,1.-;pt
feels its weight and its effect upon his ha°l"l:fie
scheme. The alarm is sounded. In his Pl'icepd of
Noble and Learned Lord pathetically compla'll"ite a
" damage and danger to his Bill," and forth'erit
regiment of secretaries, purse-bearers, train-beat
el,
and philosophical followers, more active alaii,eirtee
more numerous than " the Septuagint," tin es.
field in its defence. 'lO the charge of icrease' the
tronage the Times and Chronicle reply, that
Judges, Registrars, and Clerks "ere not at tie
posal of the Lord Chancellor," but are to ,L
pointed by the Crown; and the Chronicle adds, the
Lord Brougham will not accept the patronage °1
country Comm'ssioners—they are to be name( 05
the Judges who go the circuits!" Such stateale
are hardly calculated to impose upon the ale`;.,,n.ts
understanding ; and we will, with a few plain
ryebi
break through these defences "of fine did
woven." In the first place, the original Big to
to
authorize the Lord Chancellor, in express leOlhe
appoint the registrars and chief clerks; but iniott
amended Bill, printed and issued on Saturdat -the
after publication of our exposure of the scheille'l
proposed enactment is " cunningly" altered
"use the expression," of course, " according t° t
,the
ancient rather than the modern understandieg °doe
word"), and the power of appointment i 9
ferred, nominally, to the C'rown. We saYl",jor
tinily, because it is well known that whateve,ft4e,
vial appointments in England are made by piper
jesty are so made on the recommendation eit,,:feio
the Prime Minister or of the Lord Chancellor. ''.eed
of this patronage is at the disposal of or even e°Bll,iff
in the Cabinet, as the Chronicle appears igrof said
to assume; and between the Lord Chancellor ill
the Prime Minister their distinct privileges are;tt'
understood and defined. fis
The Bankrupt ,e`llr
naent,lVlaster.hips in Chancery, &c., like b'soie
jesty's Ecclesiastical Benefices, under a e,e,;041
value, are in the absolute and uncontroulled Prier,
of the Lord Chancellor. To the puhlie'O,e
doubtedly, it matters not whether the patronaedilt
the twenty offices in question is to be ve'ternett
Lord Grey or Lord Brougham ; but if the
Lord can now acquit his Noble Colleague of hip
-
that, and is willing to relinquish in his favc/e:se',
wen undoubted privileges, let him graceft"
nounce the fact in his place. The sacrifice 013Y.,;:(°,
be borne by his Lordship—there will reil,(o3
him " thirty official assignees" and the 01,1,7"-e 10;
number of eighty country Commissioners. " -503
elude the latter, notwithstanding the assertilo
the Chronicle, because, according to the terra' °„t of
clause, at page 11 of the Bill, the appointat'''oll)
country Commissioners is really and v.ll°lB°l'ol
vested in the Lord Chancellor.—The Judge°: per
several circuits are to return lists of etiiifie- 011'
sons; but the Lord Chancellor is to appraveti.ned.,l
nate, and appoint. An accidental error aPPe4e.er
our statement of yesterday. The sum of
was printed instead of 41,000/., the sum prvlT-00(
mentioned. Correcting this error, the new,.'
ti
evgaleueo
........
...... .
.... .... 411
In London, 50 Offices, of the annual value of ...........•y' 04, '1
of
In the country, 80 Conunissionershi fotiVe ..
31.1)-31>/`
Total, 130 Offices in the patronage of the Lord CW.0,1
cellor, of the total annual value 0f... ......................
—Morning Post.

On Tuesday a meeting of the frieods, t °I.
subscribers of the Association for the Encouragenlionpur'
Literature, was held at the British Coffee-house, Cc)°,o,g,e;
street, for the purpose of electing a committee of °,tb
A
ment, and transacting other business connected;lloo/r,
Society. Amongst those present were Sir
PHILLIPS, Bart., Sir GEORGE DUCKETT, Ord of
CAMPBELL, the poet, Dr. GRANVILLE, Folt'S"afreOCAtta
CONOLLT, of the London University. In the "n
his Grace the Duke Of SOMERSET, who e1,%e,,16,P—,;;
preside, the chair was taken by W. A. illAcxlSTyre.e-rt
F.R.S., author of " The Rise, Progress, en'he refit
State of Public Opinion." The Chairman rota
citacoleo:o
of the Provisional Committee, and from that 171 Abe
and a series of resolutions which were ad°P,t
b Wpb'
meeting, it appeared that the objects contemlo,teti
by to
Association were to raise a capital of 10,0001.4 arjelirid
scriptions of 501. each, from 200 gentlemen, of°"„iii;
be enabled to publish works of merit, the autht°pol)*o #
:night not be able to sustain the expense 0' le'rgeeco
their productions ; that in cases of peculiar en' ttsver
suns not exceeding 1001. should be advanceALW iye of
class of persons ; and that authors should receproPt to
centage, varying from 50 to 90 per cent. on t))e,t fggfilie
the sale of their publications which should be °don: .stied
world under the auspices of the Assoeilpeci"in of
Chairman also stated, that the finances of tl'e Aleovi
were already in a very prosperous condition,° bieoo
eept
3,0001. having already been subscribed by 13 AoU f ei
gentlemen who approved of the undertaking'preoeo
the former were the Duke of SOMERSET, the2t peril° OP
LONDONDERRY, and the Earl of DUDLEY. scoi°ole°,
Committee, amongst whom were the Duke ° , vizot
the Earl oe;ftaaDruit(e•ins LEI-, and Sir GORE 01-T°l'ef°e° Os)
ath,pavpvooi nsgteecairli w
been
na
(UrnCommitteenn..ed t e
CAMPBELL,ofit.
eGt enuge.rall%,:lari
jr:11.:1 Ai,go
oel,
DIED.—.III figeff,',ll't
86, Mr. JOHN BELL, proprietor of Beir,
of the British Library, Strand, and push
Poets," " British Theatre," &c.
- ladr
, the j.
BIRTHS. qr.
On the 15th inst. in Baker-street, Portmao-4 ,of '
W. Corrie,
hail of a daughter. to
On the 13 st. in Northam ton-square:
H. Seabrook, of a daughter. P 'll4
MA RRI ED. Mick.'" 1,404'
On the 15th inst. C. Atkinson, Esq., of the cd ~4.
Miss H. Swinley, of Lower Grosvenor-streetiv,ipe,e:ros,
On the liith inst. at St. Pancras, Mr. J• late J. g'
sßtuearf.yl,ptiaco le?lßenioe, youngestsury daughtctot the laEsq.,
On the Fah inst. at Clapham, J. Jones,,,,, to
14'
Merionethshire, and Finsbury-square, Lonau"
ter of the late J. Gilliatt, Esq., of Cltipliain. .11: l'°°
1003 blj'
DI ED. 61, 1101-
On the 15th inst. Thomas Payne, Esq., - of "
seller, in his 79th year. vkrporl: Pg. (.1.
11
On the 14th inst. at Streatham; .T. ••1 - O.
sati
house Academy, aged 78. ,„„). the "
On the 14th inst. in her 611th year. ' toe
per
court, Esq., of Bermondsey.
On the 15th inst. Mrs. Logan, of York-Place, felt
in her 54th year. A
thi the tail inst. at Great Marlow, 1301514cflrie
On the 16th inst. in Upper Baket-stree
Marie, wife of Mr. J. H. Brown, aged 26. At
YOLjl.l6'
PRINTED AM) PUBLISHED RV IWO.
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