The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-03 00:00:00

JUNE 3, 1847.

REPRESENTATION OF WEST-
MINSTER.

On Tuesday a meeting of the electors of St. James's
parish was held at Willis's Rooms, Brewer-street, Go!-
den-square, for the purpose of hearing the political sen-
timents of Charles Lushington, Esq.
Wm. GEEsIN, Esq., one of the churchwardens, occu-
pied the chair, who, before introducing Mr. Lushington
to the meeting, stated that it bad been spread abroad
that the Westminster Reform Association was a clique.
This would lead a stranger to believe that it consisted of
halt a dozen members, who met in some back parlour;
but it consisted of 300 very influential, highly respect-
able inhabitants, and of some of the first working men,
,in Westminster. It was established to protect the eke
tive franchise of the inhabitants of Westminster, and for
promoting, not dictating, the election of two Reformers
to represent the city in Parliament ; also for the promo-
tion of vote by ballot, househo!d suffrage, that each
constituency should consist of 5,000 voters, the repeal of
the 27 Eh clause of the Reform Act (the rate-paying clause).
triennial Pat liaments, a more extensive application of the
funds of the municipal institutions of this country and
of Its land, repeal of the window duty—(the Chairman
called it by its proper nate e, a tax upon the light of heaven)
.--(Cheers)---the repeal of the corn-laws, the abolition
of all pensions not merited by known publi,i services,
the removal of taxes wbieh impeded the advancement of
knowledge among the people, but particularly the repel
of the stamp duty upon newspapers, and the more gene-
ral expenditure of the funds left for the 'purposes of
education. This showed that the society was not a
clique, and that it had been established to promote the
welfare of the city, and therefore he was proud to be-
long to it. It had accomplished the greatest good in
that parish. Now Mr. Cochrane was a man of assertion,
and boasted of the great things which he would accom-
plish when he was admitted within its walls. Cha-
rity was one of the greatest blessings under heaven,
but he did not consider that the giving of
donations of 51. or 10/. to the Foresters, Odd
Fellows, and Cogers—(Laughter)—for the purpose of
promoting his election,- was &achy., .Then what, had
he done? Where was he during the repeal of the corn-
laws?—(Hear, hear.) He (the Chairman) was an old
corn-law repealer, but he had never heard of Mr.
Cochrane, and were they, in 1847, to take the first per-
son who offered himself, and of whom they knew no-
thing? Mr. Lushington had a committee of three hun-
dred gentlemen of great influence in Westminster, but
he had not seen -any list published by Mr. Cochrane.
He hoped St. James's would act as they had done on
former occasions, and elect a man of sterling worth like
Mr. Lushington—(Cheers)---who had been tried, and
whose votes were recorded the right way.—(Cheers.)
Any candidate proposed by the Reform Association was
objected to on the ground that Mr. Leader had not proved
a very acceptable candidate.; but Mr. Leader approved
and pledged himself to support the sentiments of the as-
sociation, and he at first did his work well. They could
not drive him to the House of Commons, neither
could they drive Mr. Cochrane if he felt disinclined ;
but all Mr. Leader's votes were recorded the right way—
(Hear)—and when they found him getting idle they
looked out for another candidate better qualified to
supply his place, and they fixed upon Mr. Lushington
as that person. He concluded by introducing Mr.
Lushington to the meeting.
Mr. LUSIIINGTON then presented himself, and was
received with loud cheers. After adverting to his first
introduction to the parish, when he was soicited to be-
come a candidate. he proceeded to say that when an in-
dividual, who had played a humble part on the Parlia-
mentary stage, which he did, retired from public life,
and after a lapse of five years emerged from his retire-
ment, it was necessary for him to remind those whose
support he sought of the course which he pursued when
he took a part in political life. He was in Parliament
from 1835 to 1841, and among the measures which he
supported during that period were to be found those which
had for their object civil and religious liberty.—
(Cheers.) Over and over again he voted for
the ballot, for the extension of the suffrage,
for an abridgement of the duration of Parliament,
and for the abolition of the property qualification of
Members of Parliament. He always voted for the abo-
lition of the corn-laws long before he thought of standing
for Westminster—(Cheers)—and also for free trade in
all its excellence.—(Hear, hear.) Did he not also bring
forward two substantive motions for Church reform, and
did he not propoie that the translation of bishops should
be altogether abolished ?—(Cheers)—and did he not also
propose to the House, in spite of taunts and jeers, that
it was unfit and unscriptural that the bishops should
hold seats in Parliament?—(Loud cheers.) He only got
about ninety Members to vote with him. He was still
of the same opinion, but he feared that that great mea-
sure was still further distant, because the present Go-
vernment were opposed to an alteration, and were,
therefore, not to be shaken.—(hear, hear.) Education
was not mooted much in those days, but he used to vote
for grants to the national schools and to the Borough
school. It was quite understood that that freedom of
religious opinion should be untouched, but latterly be
found, in consequence of the superior riches of the
Church of England, that nine parts out of ten of those
grants used to go to the Church, consequently great in-
justice was done to the Dissenters, who, although they
were taxed the same, got but one part out of ten t f the
grants, the remainder being devoted to a mode of reli-
gious worship to which they were opposed.—(Hear,
hear.) He twice gave notice that he should propose an
alteration, but the session broke up and it was not
further mooted. Then he proposed that the payment of
21,0001. a year to the King of Hanover, to whose cha-
racter he would not allude, should be discontinued be-
cause it was a payment of the most unjust de.scription.
—(Laughter.) The efflux of time since the passing of
the Reform Bill, and the events which had occurred
affecting it operation—the diffusion of knowledge
amongst the people—in short, the whole spirit of the
times forced upon them the conviction that the stagnant
pool of finality must be disturbed and agitated—(Loud
cheers)—and that a free course must be opened to a
purer stream of improvement.—(Hear, hear.) The
glaring abuses of which they all now com-
plained must be redressed. They might expect
the introduction of many salutary measures into the
next session of Parliament. His opinions were—first,
that the Government scheme of education must he
greatly modified—(Hear)—it was unjust, because the
members of the Privy Council, who were entrusted with
the funds, were members of the Church of England, and
the Dissenters thus had no share whatever in the go-
vernment of the funds ; but he considered that they
should be associated with that board. (Cheers.)
Secondly, he thought that provision pernicious which
provided that where there was a Church of England
school, and no Dissenters' school, that it should be in the
option of the clergyman or schoolmaster to dispense
with requiring the creed or catechism to be used, or
whether the children should not be required to attend
the church. It should not he left to the option of the
clergyman, but it should be imperative upon him, provided
the parents of the child required such a modification.
He was also in favour of more direct taxation, and ap-
proved of the motion recently brought forward by Mr.
Ewart. Every man of humacity must wish to see sana-
tory measures carried out, with justice, however,
at the same time, to claims and rights—
He generally approved of Lord Morpeth's Health o
Towns Bill, and was glad to find that that portion which
had reference to the metropolis (and some of the dis-
tricts were carefully organized and managed with great
propriety) was to be reconsidered. He was in favour of
the abolition of the window-tax, which was connected
with sanatory improvement.—(dear.) That really was
an impost which, without making a pun, bad interfered
much with the enlightenment of the nation.—(Cheers.)
The existing poor-law required very great modification,
as several of its provisions bore harshly on the poorer
classes, and he trusted that something would shortly be
done in Parliament calculated to satisfy the poor that
they were considered more than they at present seemed
to be, and rendered more contented. as far as possible,
with their painful lot. The separation of a man and
his wife was most objectionable—(flear)—and out-
door relief ought to be extended in certain circumstances,
but at the same -time a poor-law must be carefully
considered and cautiously administered, otherwise the
money which would be expended foi the relief of the
poor would swallow up the finances of the nation.—
(Cheers.) He looked upon his past conduct with consi-
derable satisfaction, because he did not repent of any
vote which he had recorded.—(Cheers.) His opinions
had undergone no change since he was in Parliament;
he felt more than ever their propriety and their justice.
—(Hear, hear.) The Hon. Gentleman resumed his
seat after expressing his willingness to reply to any

Mr. BIDGOOD inquired whether the Hon. Gentleman
was opposed to the endowment of the clergy, not only
of the Church of England, but of other denominations?
Mr. LUSHINOTON had no hesitation in saying that he
was totally opposed to the endowment any religion
whatever.—(Cheers.) For several years he was chair-
man of the Religious Freedom Society, and the burden
of his song had always been " religious freedom to
every man, and no endowment whatever." He did not
say he would pull down the Church of England, he was
no destructive; but he thought it would be much better
if it were uphld on the voluntary principle.—(Cheers.)
Mr. THOMAS A'BFc&ETT then proposed the adoption
of the following resolution:—
" That the political opinions and well-known charac-
ter of Charles Lushington, Esq., are fully approved of
and highly appreciate d by this meeting, an -I we, the
electors of St. James's, hereby pledge ourselves to use
our best exertions to secure his return."
He considered that they ought to elect a roan whose
opinions were well known, whose vo:es were always on
the side of freedom, and who did not repeat political
truisms like a parrot.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. Lushington
was a tried man—a man of character; but Mr. Coch-
rane had placed on record a memorable proof how ex-
cellent he was in the art of deception—(Loud cheers)—
and therefore he was unworthy of their support.—
(Hear, hear.) Mr. Cochrane was, as he had said, not a
tried man—(A voice—" Perhaps we'll try him")—and
he considered that in the present state of things a tried
man was the person they required to represent them.
Mr. HENRY BIDOOOD cordially seconded the motion.
He said next session large sums of money would no
doubt be proposed for the purpose of endowing different
religious stets, and the conduct of Mr. Lushington had
shown that he was a fit man to represent their opinion!,
on the subject of such grants.
24r, apgauf said the rum whom they should elect to

PRICE SD.

represent Westminster in Parliament should be a man of
high, character, or consihrable experience, and not a
mere adventurer—(Cheers)—a man of high moral cha-
racter, and not one who wished to build his fame by fair
promises to the industrious classes, which they would
find be would ultimately break. He regretted to find
that there was to be a hard-fought contest between can-
didates who professed nearly the same opinions ; but as
Westminster had heretofore led the political opinions of
the country, he doubted not but at the ensuing electicu
she would not be found wanting.
The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution, which was
carried with but two dissentients.

Mr. LUSIIINGTON briefly returned thanks, and assured
them that if he were eltcted ha should dist.!hrge his
duties with the greatest assiduity. Ile then proposed a
vote of thanks to the Chairman, which was carried
unanimously, and, the Chairman having returned thanks,
the meting broke up.

SUDDEN DEATH. OF DR.
CHALMERS.
(From the .Edinburgh Advertiser.)
A very great sensation was created yesterday through-
out the city; by the intelligence of the sudden death of
Dr. Chalmers. That venerable and distinguished divine
had been seen so recently in his usual health, that the
report•of his having so suddenly expired came like a
shock which seemed to electrify the public feeling. It
was generally felt that an eminent character, a renowned
Master in Israel, had been cut off;—that a champion
had fallen; whose name for the last thirty years had filled
so prominent a space in our ecclesiastical annals. The
particulars of this event, so far as we learn, are the fol-
lowing:—The Rev. Doctor had been called to London to
give evidence before the Site Committee of the House of
Commons, and lied returned on Friday last to his own
residence at Morningside near Edinburgh, apparently in
his ordinary health. On Sunday, though complaining a
little, he attended the Free Church at Morningside in
the afternoon, in company with Dr. Cunningham, and
walked with his friend part of the way home. He called
upon.a lady afterwards, and dined with his family as
usual. In the evening he walked fur a short time in his
garden with another minister from the country, and
conversed with his accustomed cheerfulness and anima-
tion. Before going to bed he wrote a letter to his sister
in England, intimating his•safe arrival from London, and
remarking that such was now the celerity of travelling,
that though he scarcely expected to have the pleasure of
seeing her, he might have the pleasure of seeing her, again.
Business elsewhere had prevented him from taking any
share in the proceedings of the Free Assembly, and in
deed he had of late almost retired from his public
labours, with the exception of preaching. But he had
intended yesterday to have presented the report of the
College Committee to the Assembly which had been
drawn up by Professors Cunningham and M'Dougail.
Being desirous to see the latter gentleman, with the
view of making some slight alteration in the report, Mr.
M.Dougall called upon him for that purpose about eight
o'clock yesterday morning, but was informed that Dr.
Chalmers was in bed, and had not rung his bell. Being
beyond his usual time, the servant then proceeded to
see if anything was wrong ; and, on entering the room,
she perceived the Doctor in a reclining position in bed,
dead, and the body quite cold, indicating that life had
been some time extinct. The immediate cause of his
demise is said to have been apoplexy, or the bursting of
a blood vessel in the head.

Dr. Chalmers was not an old man, nor bad he suffered
much, notwithstanding the tear and wear of a busy lite,
from the infirmities of age. He was in his sixty-ninth
or seventieth year, and had been in the ministry about
forty- five years. Towards the beginning of the century
(1802) he was assistant in the parish of Cavers, near
Hawick. Afterwards, he was presented to Kilmany in
Fife, and this rural parish became the cradle of his future
fame; for it was whilst incumbent there that he wrote
his celebrated article " Christianity," in the Edinburgh
Encyclopedia, which was afterwards expanded into his
Treatise on the Evidences. From Kilmany he removed
to Glasgow, where his eloquence as a preacher reached
the zenith of its fame. The next remove was to the
Chair of Moral Philosophy in.the University of St. t
o theAn-
fdersesw's o
rs,hiin 1823; and ar
tiyn
in
nB2B he
the
• as
University appointed
of
Edinburgh,
Proiuturg h
which he continued to occupy until the secession of 1843.
In that memorable secession he took a leading part, and
we believe we are correct in saying that it derived no
small portion of its influence from the weight and lustre
of his name. Short time has he survived to witness its
progress and effects. If his living eloquence gave it vi-
tality and energy, his loss may well be regarded as one
of its severest calamities. Peace be to his ashes !
Many who, like ourselves, diflered from him in the re-
ligious controversies of the day, will join his warmest
admirers in offering their homage of respect and vene-
ration to his memory. .

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.

BRISTOL, JUNE 1.

STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sa!es are—Great Western,
Quarters, 6 p.—Ditto, Fittho, 71,4 p.—Ditto, New, 41. 35.
9d. p.—Midlaud, New, 3 p.—Newcastle and Berwick, Nov,
21. Bs. 9d.—North Staffordshire, 21A p.—Taff Vale, 139
Ditto, New, 2s. 6d. p.
LIVERPOOL, JUNE 1.

STOCK EXCITANGE.—The sales are—Ambergate, Notting-
ham, Boston, and Eastern Junction, 21s. 3d. dis.—Birming-
, ham and Oxford Junction. 6 p.—Blackburn, Clitheroe.
&c., Preference, 1 4p p.—Caledonian (Clydesdale Junction),
12 p.—Chester and Birkenhead, 49,4—Dittn, 204 Shares,
134 dis.—East Lancashire, New, ih die.—Ditto, New Scrip,
Dar—East Lincolnshire, 176 p.—Great Northern, 1.1,1, dis.—
treat Western, Fifths, 27—Leeds and Thirsk, New, 3 dis.
—Ditto, Preference, 6s. 3d. p.—Liverpool. Crosby, and South-
port, 1% p.—London and North-Western, 177—Ditto, New
Quarters, 10:4 p.—Ditto, Fifths, 1434 p.—London, Brighton,
and South Coast, 54—Manchester and Leeds, 21
32/. Shares, p.—Ditto, ilalves, (late L. and B. ), 114 p.
—Ditto, Fifths (late West Riding Union), 14 p.—Manches-
ter Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, Eighths, 15,4 dis.—Ditto,
201. Shares, 21/2 dis.—Ditto (late Sheffield and 'Lincolnshire),
3 dis.—Midland Stock, 120—Ditto, CV. Shares, 4% p.—
Ditto, New, 3 p.—Newcastle and Berwick, New, 214 p.—
North Staffordshire, 2% p.—North Union (A), 209—North-
Western, 114 dis.—Shrewsbury and Birmilighain,9/. 12s. 3d.
Shares (B), % dis.—Shropshire Union• Railway and Canal,
31s. 3d. dis.—South-Eastern and Dover, New, No. 1, p.
—Ditto, Consolidated Thirds, 1,4 p.—Ditto, New, No. 4, t. p.
—York and Newcastle, Preference, 314 p.—York and North
Midland, Preference, 9 p.—Dublin and Belfast Junction, 12
dis.—Newry and Warrenpint, dis.—Dutch Rhenish,
23A dis. -