The Sun.
London, England, 1847-07-21 00:00:00

THE WESTMINSTER REFORM

SOCIETY.

On Monday night a numerous meeting of the mem-
bers of the Westminster Reform Society was held at
Stannard's Hotel, Upper Wellington-street, Strand, "to
appoint a Committee to superintend the registration of
voters for the city of Westminster, and to consider cer-
tain reports circulated by r
the agents of M. C. Cochrane
with reference to the society." Mr. Blake in the chair.
The Committee having been elected, and several new
members having been received,
Mr. HUSGETT, the secretary, stated that he had written
five letters (with the printed circular, that had been
sent to all the members) to five gentlemen who were
members of the society, and who it was reported had
given their support to Mr. C. Cochrane, in which he had
particularly directed their attention to the notice of the
circular, " that it was to consider certain reports cir-
culated by the agents of Mr. C. Cochrane with re-
ference to the society;" the circular having iavited their
attendance.
The SECRETARY then, in answer to the Chairman,
said that not one of the five gentlemen were in the
room. But, in a few minutes, Mr. Hallett, who was
chairman of Mr. C. Cochrane's meeting at the Hanover-
are Rooms, entered the room. He however, left
Hanover-
care
the Rosiness he was requested to be present at
came on, and which was delayed while Mr. Huggett
went to ask him to return. This did not take place, and
Mr.H
Huggett stated that in the course of a conversation
between Mr. Hallett and Mr. Rocker, a member of the
society, the former said that he had no charge to prefer
against the society.
Mr. Cox ehserved that in the course of his canvass,
he had heard it stated that the society had received from
4,0001. to 5,0001. from candidates and representatives,
and that Mr. C. Cochrane had vouchers in his possession,
which he obtained at a cost of 1001, proving that the
society had received that sum of money. He knew that
he had not received one farthing, while ho had at various
times advanced money in support of the return of a
Liberal candidate, and he had never heard of any other
member of the society having had money given to him.
—(Hear, hear.) For the credit of the society, a dirsct
contradiction to the slanderous imputations ought to go
forth, as he knew that-the reports had been the means of
Mr. C. Cochrane obtaining some votes.—(Hear.)
Mr. Ilucorrr said that Mr. Cox had been on the
Registration Committee and on the Committee for
general purposes ever since he had been secretary, which
was now nearly seven years.
Mr. Cox remarked that he had been a much longer
period than that.
Some members of the society stated that similar re-
ports had come to their knowledge, and it had been
asserted by Mr. Rogers, a surgeon, who was an
active supporter of Mr. C. Cochrane, that as much as
8,000/. had been received by the society.
Mr. T. P. HEALEY observed that the rumours were
calculated to affect the character of the society, and that
they ought to receive from them the most prompt denial.
—(Hear.) They ought to guard themselves against
these slanders, for it was only by having recourse to
such statements that the agents of Mr. C. Cochrane had
any possible success with the electors.—(Hear.) They
would, therefore, do him a service, while they would in-
flict a serious injury on the society. It was easy to be
shown that the members of that body had acted honestly
and disinterestedly, and with the beat intentions, to
promote the Liberal cause, and that in the selec•
tion of Mr. C. Lushington they have asserted good
claims to the confidence of the constituency.—(Hear.)
It could be proved, without any difficulty, that the
society has been conducted on principles of the most
perfect independence with reference to the candidates
and to those Members of Parliament who had been
returned through its influence, whose conduct, from that
very circumstance, had been enabled to be discussed with
perfect freedom and independence.—(Hear, hear.) The
character of Mr. Prout, who founded the society, and
who had taken so warm an intere-t in its success, was in
itself a guarantee that nothing of a mercenary descrip-
tion would have entered into the councils of that society
—(Hear, hear.) He thought that it was their duty to
show to the public that they hr received no such benefit
as alluded to in the report, and that in the selection of
Mr. C. Lushington they were influenced by no motives to
dictate, but for the independence of Westminster. He
moved the following resolution:—
" Reports having been circulated by some persons who
have given their support to Mr. Cochrane, that this
society has received funds from the representatives of
this city, and that our recommendation of Charles
Lushington, Esq., originated in some such benefactions,
this society, convened for the purpose of rebutting such
calumnies, resolve—
" Ist. That, shortly after the passing of the Reform
Bill, it was seen by most Westminster Reformers that it
could not be final, and in order to uphold the principles
long advocated in this city, it was deemed requisite to
form a society to enunciate and support further reforms.
" 2d. That this society was formed r'so to guard,
purify, and augment the registration of Westminster
electors.
" ad. That all persons being electors, or by the tenancy
eligible to become so, may, upon the payment of five
shillings annually, become members of this sceiety.
" 4th. That with the funds so arising, and with the
occasional pecuniary assistance of one member, who was
the first proposer of this society, and with the gratuitous
assistance of Mr. W. B. West, many years secretary,
and the late William Trott, Esq., in the Revising Bar-
rister's Court, this society has, with the strictest economy,
been able to accomplish its ireeortant functions, but that
on no occasion has the society e.'er added one farthing to
its funds from any of the candidates or representatives of
this city."
Mr. HocKEN seconded the resolution.
Mr. PnouT observed, that in the year 1836, when the
seat of Sir F. Burdett was in jeopardy, on which occa-
sion the society took up Mr. Leader, the canvassing books
were not in readiness. The funds of the society were
then very low, upon being acquainted with which Lady
Evans offered the sum of 10/. in order that the society
might be able to prepare them. But at the meeting of
the society subsequent to the money being offered, it was
resolved that the money should be returned, which was
done, and he held in his hand the receipt of her Lady-
shid in acknowledgment. (The receipt was produced.)
For years they have been able to pay their secretary only
10/., and now they can only afford to give him 201. per
annum, though the services of the gentleman holding that
office were worth at least 50/ a year.—(Hear, hear.) He
had been anxious to keep the society together, and in
that view had from time. to time advanced different sums
of money. It was now in his debt 26/, 12s. 4d., and he
having been owed at one time 89/.33.10d. He was astonished
at the hardihood of some persons, who, with an utter
disregard of truth, had dared to promulgate such un-
foundad charges against the society.—(Hear, hear.) He
was convinced that with every honest man the charges
would have no effect. The proceedings of the society
had always been carried on with a view to promote the
Liberal cause.—(Hear.) Re did not allude to his own
exertions from any personal motives, but to show that
the society had always been deficient of funds, and he
was convinced the great majority of the electors would
feel a_ -ured that the society had acted with an honest
integrity, and for the support alone of the Liberal inter-
est of the city of Westminster.— (Applause.)
Mr. Coppock, Mr. Besley, Mr. Williams, &c., ad-
dressed the society, when thanks were voted to the
Chairman and the meeting separated at a late hour.