The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-25 00:00:00

SPONDENT.

" Sic—ln your City news of Monday last you treat of
Scotch banking ; but in accounting for the increased cir-
culatiou from July to November, especially in this last
month, you lean too strongly to the hers ing fishery as a
cause, tl,e especial cause, of the increase. I have no
doubt it does increase the circulation to a certain
were, but it is more local than general. The herrite?:
fishery at Dnebar is rarely productive, north of Inver-
ness it is often very largely so, and much more
surely; but it is no., the herring fisheries that cause the
great autumn demand for small notes—it is the harvest
wag s. and the great cattle markets cr trysts in October
anu November, the great Falkirk tryst and flellow fair,
assiuted by the runts due at Martinmas and the large sores
which change hands on mortgage at this term, create:a
very great increase to the circulation of bank notes; and,
so far as great tact and experience go, the enormous sums
that change hands at this period, seldom cause any confu-
sion in the arrangements of the banks, which the weekly
exchanges do not rectify. At the same time I agree, as
they are, that they are not a sufficient check on over issues.
" Edinburgh, Jan, 14, 1841. C."
It is very clear, indeed, that the Scotch system of
weekly exchanges would not be a sufficient check on over
issue:. We have shown that fact explicitly, and if the
control of a national bank of issue were taken away,
leaving the trade of issuing notes open to all who
clause to embark in it, its insufficiency would soon
be felt in the most palpable form. It should be
borne in mind by those who advocate competing
issues as the sole cure necessary in our monetary
system, and who found their argument mainly on
the beneficial working of Scotch banking, that
the tendency to over helve is kept down in that
country by the counteracting influence of the Bank of
England ; for we do not believe that the Scotch barkers
are much imbued with the heresy displayed by their Eng-
lish brethren in regard to their connection with the state
Lullion in the Bank of England. Few of the well-
informed Scotch bankers would tell a Committee of the
Howe of Commons that the charge of providing bullion to
pay their notes rested with the Bank of England, and
that they had nothing to do except to supply the local
demand for paper. The Scotch banks are large hold-
ers of Consols, which they keep against their issues,
and they are aware that if the bullion in the Bank
be drained assay, the value of their securities will be
diminished. They know also that if the Bank of
England be drained of its bullion, that confidence in
its stability must be shaken, and that this state of
thir;s must be attended with a depreciation of the
currency, which would even be felt in the most remote
exeemitics of the ialauj. Therefore they watch very
narrowly the operations of the Bank of England, and are
much iufluecced its their operations by the bullion in its
coffers and the state of the foreign ;exchanges. If the
restrictive influence of a national currency were entirely
removed, and thetkaele of paper money open to all
comers, we shouldicave qt the commeecemernent an in-
ordinate :degree of seemin prosperity and inflated prices.
A second version of the bubble fever of 1825, followed
by still more lamentable results; and in a very short
time the whole of the gold in the country would vanish.
The advocetes of weekly exchanges, payable in gold,
would soon find that there were no sovereigns in
the country to settle. their transactions. By com.
paring the state of the currency in 1824 with 1822,
it will he found that there was an increase of nearly
9,000,000/. of paper in the two years. "It was owing to
this state of things," says Mr. flume, " that although the
Bank in the five years from 1814 l to 1825, had coined
28,000,000 of sovereigns, yet within a few months there
was hardly one left to issue; for by the over issue of paper,
and its consequent depreciation, all the gold had flown out
of the country." It seerus perfectly plain that if the views
cf the currency doctors were adopted, and the necessity
of keeping the circulation dependent upon the bullion in
andittheinevitably
b rig
state b
aoek a repetition
thef exchanges
of i
he seguesdsrtegsrt
ed, f
w:
st1h18::5113, and dank, v
ine
that we should find the country inunc.hlNd with
an irredeemable paper currency-.

day,

at the English Mint price of 31, 17s. 10id.
tlitdhaerd gold, gives
TIMES.—The premium on gold at Paris is sf. par
trnhiclico'unweleiefoh; standard gold, gives an exchange of 23. 27,
instant, the
3th6ej
andit follows ltliol ew
es
xtchia' at
ngguelda at
sP.alroi s peenr ee Londont.at lowerab abort
bei. Paris than in
English Mint
London.
poetxecrit:grge
I.ialtnsNtew_,n,tiYloarnkd o; nbLutontthioenli:
pricea
n B
pricey
exchangeooadvisesff gold3 1.0 isff 17s.
r41°123:3. 4PdH,c.raa then murk,
db u
torh gu nhc eo
which,exchange °tfur standard
es atat
at Hanib u r g h on
London at short being 13. 4, it follows that gold is the
stunt, price at Ilamburgh as it, London,
quoted
per cent., and the p;r of exchange between England and
America being 109 .23-40 per cent., it follows that the ex-
chal:gieeciosu.rss7e
New York being for bills at sixtydays'
exchange at sight,
the discount on these sixty days must he deducted from the
afac Etid difference.

-AnrtroheMr.MSaerr(igliciasnt Talfourd,
of Nor-
mathat be had advised her Majesty to remit the remaining
term of imprisonment of :llr.l. Vincent, " on condition
of his finding security, himself i
in 100/., and two securities
in 60/. each, for his good i
l vlbehaviour for the period re-
quired by his sentence. i l be recollected that Mr.
oN
nC Et Nr i
~.1;
a.
y t—,
manufacturers, and
Vincent is now in Oakham Gaol, and the report is that
ARE ii°man'suti
lodge
_
Judges' warrants from otlie W
\iltshire Magistratesusi aAre
public
there against him. Will these now detain him. We
mtrzeidelNLAND BONDING
the merchants, V
bankers,his borough, convened in pursuance of a requi-
sition piesented to the mayor, boroughrceve, and consta-
hies, and churchwardens of Manchester, was held in the
Town-hall, on Thursday morning last, " to consider what
further measures should be adopted to obtain the privilege
of boedieg goods in Mauchester." ,
shall
see
1
The meeting was nu-
merously attended. William Neild. Esq., the Mayor, in
the chair. Resolutions to promote the object of the meet-
i ingiwere unhnimously agreed to.—Ainneltcster Gwtrdiatt.

he al,o was one of six members of Parliament who drew up
the People.* Charter,' telling you to agitate for, and procure
its passing into a law ; when you did as he bid you, and your
agitation had become so formidable as to alarm faction, this
horrible dissimulator turned round, and denounced both you
and Universal ut-Trage, and offered to bring 500,000 Iri,bmen
into E.•gland, to put you down ; to force you to tamely bear
the wrongs and sclferingi which injustice and want have in-
tlictel upon you !
" Producers of wealth !

‘• This is the man whom the classes have engaged to
wheedle you again into their clutches; that, conjointly, they
may again make morchanili6e of you—again sell )ou.
" In aid of this, he and they arc to meet in Leeds on Thurs-
the *2lst.
To frustrate this, a meeting of your order has been con-
vened, in the same town, on the same day.
" At that meeting, it is intendei to tell the middle classes
that their days of betrayal and deceit arc over; that the
workitig classes have • set up in business' for themselves, and
that they will never again give themselves to the guidance or
into the power of any other class.
" It is also intended at that' meeting to tell that mendacious
lump of selfishness and deceit, Daniel O'Connell, of the estima-
tion in which he is hol,!en by the working men of England
and Scotland, and their wives. For this purpose deputies
from every part of those two kingdoms will be present, to • re-
gister a vow in heaven never again to trust him ; never again
to work with him, or have any, the slightest, conneetiQu
with him.

(Teratives of Yorkshire !
To that meeting you are called ! To that meeting you
will come !

" If you love honesty and hate deceit ; if you respect up-
rightness and discountenance dissimulation ; if you teel for
your babes, love your wives; regard with jealous watchful-
ness the fair name of your virtuous daughters, to that meeting
you will come. You will conic and tell the barterer of his
countrymen's political rights for Parliamentary seats—the
cause of the extirpation and death of the donewith freehold-
ers, the refaser of the relief of a good and humane Poor-
law, the seller of the lives of your factory children for 1,000/.,
the traducer of your wives and daughters, the gloater over
the blood spilt by murderous spies at Newport, the doubly-
dammed traitor, who first set you to agitate for Universal
Suffrage, and then denounced you and it, offering 5(X),000
men to put you down—you will come and tell the hideous
monster, who has wrung hundreds of thousands of pounds,
from his miserable, naked, starving, famishing conntrymen ;
and whom he has kept in this condition that he may continue
to suck their blood—you will come and tell him, in terms not
to be misunderstood, that you know him : and that he is wel•
conic to all the execrations which chastity, honesty, and up-
rightness can pour u?on his head ! Come and speak out ;
right out ; and let the betrayer know that his day is gone !"
Another means resorted to for exciting the passions of
the ppulaco has been the puneation of caricatures. One
of them is cleverly done, and with very great spirit. It
describes the place of meeting in the evening, on which
Mr. O'Connell stands, as on the front of a stage, while he
is speaking to an assemblage composed of none hut geese,
who are hissing at him ; and behind him stands Feargu.
O'Connor engaged in depriving him of a very handsome
peacock's tail, with which he is decorated.—The Char-
tists held a soiree in the Music Saloon, South Parade, on
Wednesday evening. There was a very thin attendance.
After tea the Rev. William Hilt was called to the chair.

He said as several strangers from a distance intended to
address the meeting, he would call upon Mr. Moir, from
Glasgow, to f-peak the ssntimcnts of " The people, the only
source of power." Mr. Moir spoke at considerable length.;
he alluded to the time when the 'Whigs aroused
the country from centre to circumference, acid whilst
agitating for the Reform Bill declared out and out
for the principle of Universal Suffrage. At that time he
said thu Whigs of Glasgow memorialized his Majesty Wil-
liam IV., and in a resolution, calmly and deliberately

drawn up, told him that they were ready to arm to a man
for the obtaining of that measure which the Tories had
rej..te,ed. This was the way in which the Whigs of those
days spoke of physical force. At a meeting held on the
green of Glasgow, at which two hundred thousand at-
tended, such a resolution was put and unanimously
adopted. Mr. Moir spoke of another resolution to which
the Chartists of Glasgow had agreed on the Bth instant,
namely, never to agitate for less than the full measure
of justice, and by all means in their povver to prevent
others from agitating for less also. Mr. Moir contended
that the people were as fit at present to exercise the
franchiaa as they will he forty-five years hereafter.--Mr.
John Collins followed, and was received with rapturous
applause. Ile spoke to the sentiment, " The Charter,
may it soon become the law of the land." As he would
have an opportunity of addressing them to-morrow,
and further, as he had complied with a request
to deliver a course of lectures in Leeds and its
neighbourhood, he would not make a long speech to-
night. He alluded to the policy and importance of his
subject, and the folly and impolicy of agitating for an ex-
tension of the franchise less than universal suffrage._ale
was followed by Mr. Mason, of Newcastle. " Frost,
Williams, and Jones, their speedy return to their native
country," was his subject. He eulogised Frost as a man,
a husband, a father, and a patriot, and hoped that, though
at a distance of 16,000 miles, Frost and his exiled corn-
paniona might yet have the pleasure of visiting the land
of their birth.—" Feargus O'Connor," " all the imprisoned
Chartists," " the .Northern Star and the Chartist news-
paper press," and " the memory of Cobbctt, Hunt,
Paine, and the other noble spirits who in less auspicious
days had advocated the cause of the people," were seve-
rally dwelt upon by different speakers. The meeting was
quite orderly throughout. A vote €1 thanks was awarded
Mr. 11111 for his conduct in the chair. lie returned the
compliment, and requested that the Chartists would thank
burn more substantially to-morrow, by meeting him more
numerously. The meeting dispersed shortly after tell
o'clock.
Considering the efforts that have been made for so many,
weeks, I certainly expected that a great demonstration of
physical force would be made by the Chartists. I have
been greatly disappointed, for notwithstanding they had
bands parading the streets all the morning, still they acre
not able to collect at Holbeck-moor, their place of meeting,
more than three thousand persons. I am quite sure I over
estimate their numbers, although I heard a half-drunken
Chartist, who stood beside me on the hustings, declare that
there could not be less than fifty thousand present! This
is, however, a very common mode of calm!latioi‘ret'ininnyst.aiLs
north." The hour appointed for the Cla,r,rtistl.la cx,eept.
eleven o'clock ; but there was not a Ewa! being,
log three females, at that time to be seen near hus-
tings. It was not until one that they came upon the racer,
hemled by their military hands—they call them " the

an honour, not to be gentlemen, but :to du their duties to 20.
eiety.—( Cheers.) H.: was appointed at Birmingham to
represent that town in Leeds during this week. Ile read
the resolution appointing him, and then proceeded to say,
that there was to be a meeting that evening, in order that
!hey might have th,o earliest news of their prot:cedings that
day. They had been told the Reform Bill would be a
stepping. stone to other measures ; and then those whom
they had assisted turned round on theta and became their
opponents : and they, therefore, would not assist
in snaking more enemies to themselves. They asked
fur whet they knew were their rights, and they
asked for no more. As honest men they could not
hear others reproach them with wishing to tyrannise
over them. They were called Destructives, and it was
said they wished for a distribution of property ; but they
who :aid this knew it was a calumny ; for they well knew
that if there was not security for property there would be
no reward for labour. Again, they were made responsible
for the ac's of those who were not of the working classes :
for instance, they were charged with the crimes of the
gipsi.s and ()Oars, who were not more of the working
classes than the parsons were.—( Cheers.) Ile was ad-
monished by the Chairman that ethers were to follow him,
and, therefore, he would give way to them. lie had
waited cn the gentlemen who gut up the meeting at Mar-
shall's-mill, and he found they had abandoned their resolu-
tion upon Household Sulfrage. It was agreed that the
Chartists should have as many speakers as they had. This
was done because it was thought necessary that something
should be done. This showed that those persons were
opening their eyes; and one of them said, that by House-
hold Suffrage he meant a vote for every man who lived
under a roe:.—( Laughter and cheers.) 'fiat working men
were determined to have nothing less than the Charter,

and by the help of that God who smiles upon a lighteous
cringe, they must—they shall succeed.
M. O'NEIL would, he said, address the other meeting
that evening. He should, therefore, content himself with
saying that they were resolved upon abiding by their Char-
ter. For this they had been coerced, and had been perse-
cuted ; end fur this some of them were in prison, and some
over the waves. Ile called on them to uphold their dig-
nity, and to let honour b..' their political god.
Mr. BEASKLY was happy that his countrymen were re-
solve,' to have nothing less than Universal Suffrage, and
the principles of the Charter. To make them triumph
they were ready to suffer with their frienus now in prison
who had been entrii.pped by the Whigs. All they asked
fur wus a fair hearing, and they would give a fair hearing
to their opponents, and they would succeed by fair argu-
ment. As to Household Suffrage, it was only the excuse
for other parties who wished to juin them. As to O'Con-
nell, he said, let them give the beast a fair hearing—
(Cheers)—for he would be followed by Mr. Lowry, who
had gone to ;)Üblin, Nthere be could not obtain a hearing;
but they would return good fur evil. As to the middle
classes, if they did not join thu working men, the working
men would see them dipped before they joined them.
Before the resolution was agreed to, the persons present
took off their hats at the desire of the Chairman, and it
was then passed by acclamation.
Mr. PUTKEIVILEY, of Huddersfield, moved the next
resolution. It was this :

" Resolved—That this meeting cannot leak upon Messrs.
Marshall, itarifeld, and other capitalists, who have dared to
introduce Mr. Daniel O'Connell among us (the most profligate
politician ever known in this or any other age or country),
without feelings of disgust and contempt ; well knowing, as
expressed by their organ, that the said Mr. O'Connell has
' shrunk' from every sound principle, and sold to a corrupt
Uovernment that political power, which the circumstance of
being one of an oppressed religious creed, coupled with the
great ignorance in which his poor countrymen have been sedu-
lously kep., has conferred upon him; thus proving to us that
the contemplated end is monopoly ; as ;the proposed means of
acquiring it are base, bloody, brutal,' and treacherous in the
last. degree.'
Mr. WITIIERIIEA D seconded die resolution. He begged
those who attended the meeting to-night should, when
the brute O'Connell rose to speak, turn their backs upon
him, and give him three groans, tor he had sold the fac-
tory children far 1,0001. Ile would not hurt a bone of
O'Connell, but he would give him three horrible groans.
—( Cheers and laughter.)
Mr. LOWRY said that, notwithstanding their persecution,
they were resolved to persevere ; for he who commenced
labouring for the Charter, and supposed he would not en-
counter persecution, was a fool.—(Cheers.) There was
no distinction between the terms " working mtn" and
" Chartists." The working loan, who was a Whig, had
no light to appear at a public meeting, for his principles
were inconsistent with the declaration. Ile repeated his
opinion, that if there was no s2curity in the cottage there
should be none in the hall. If he was to be imprisoned
for not supporting his children, then he said let Prince
Albert and the Gel mans support theirs also. '1 here
should be no peace in England until the whole inhabitants
were represented in their own Parlitment. It might be
said that they were poor ; but it was they who produced
all the wealth, and, if they had it not, somebody must
have robbed them most villainously. He never prattled
shout constitutions; but his rights were registered in the
court of Heaven, and were as immutable us the source
from which they came. lie said let every man do his
shnrc, and that which was difficult for a few would be easy
for the many, and no power on earth could resist the might
of millions.

'Fhe rctolution pasied unanimously;
Svcral other spoeches were delivered ; but as the time
for the Reformers' meeting was approaching, 1 left the
Charthita still speaking. The following were amongst
the resolu..iow: adopted by them; they also passed an
address to the Queen :

Resolved, That this meeting, constitutionally representing
the w orking classes of Great Britain, is heartily in favour of
a repeal of the Legislative Union between Great Britain and
Ireland ; while they will not stir, aid, or join in any plan for
its aceomplishment recommended by Mr. O'Connell, why,
while he has made it a source of personal wealth, has endea-
voured, by all the artful means in his power, to dater England
from acquiescing in the measure ; apd who, though he blusters,
vapours, and repeats Ins oft-told rigmarole to his stall, has just
now refused to meet Dr. Cooke in fair discussion upon the
question ; thereby proving, either that he is not a friend to the
measure, or that he feels his inability to defend it ; while
ho
must be aware that, if successful, such a triumph would
be
worth ten thousand meetings, where none arc allowed" to
cliy
sent from him under pain of political excommunication.
"4. Resolved, That this meeting considers Govern-
mentth.tenr,,e.,..
of Lord Melbourne as the most cruel,
less, immoral, bloodthirsty, and profligate
that has
office within the memory of man; and
our
therefore, we
ever helld
pledge ourselves to use all the means inu:itry
her Majesty hem the disgrace, and tlic,icau
dinnnstration;
and
power tao.
draerl
gi te• ‘r.
from
of being longer governed by the i presi,
trout this meeting to her Mitijetsitjs,,pl,„
that, in pursuance of such reso unin
I•resent advisers, and
thatress blieerPrA'lsacj'ettsit7yl
may Le graciously pleased 1 to
illsmake the support of universal
call to her councils men . who r
all the horrors of civil war.
the
yitoirfoimi.iers for Oleo, as the only means of
~. Resolved, 'That the address nrydre,raedsebnet:digtioietillebryiNtiht(:
"alpiiiiiinted to present
pre: age
teinawiltlhe(tgeeoUfi Ott'.
jest}' b}' tho:c person• who shall be
addresses on behalf e. Frost, Williams, and Jones, and at the
same: time (that is to say, upon the same (lay), and that this
n'iNdang pledges itself to support the Delegates in this our first
and noble endeavour to open a pure and unsullied channel of
communication between the Monarch and the people."

THE REFORM MEETING.
You will have observed, by looking at the speeches
made at the Chartist meeting, that a sort of compromise
has been entered into, and that there is to be a discussion
between the Reformers and the Chartists. I doubt, how-
ever, that Mr. O'Connell will be !i:tened to by the latter.
I proceed with a description of the place in which I um
writing this. The building in which this immense com-
pany assembled is the new mill just erected by Messrs.
Marshall and Co., !lax spinners, trotiting Marshall street,
Little Holbeck, undoubtedly the largest of any of a
similar construction in the United Kingdom, and pro-

bably in oorld. The a_ cove.:-rather more
than two acres of ground, and consistsoof ono entire
room 132 yards inlength, and 72 yards lit width, within
the walls. It is divided into 66 squares of 144 yards
each, and lighted by 66 domes. Fifty massive iron
pillars support the' dated' roof. The portion of the
mill set apart for the purpose of this. festival, consists
of twenty-four of the c. squares before described, or
an area of 3,456 square yards, neater to Marshall-
street, which is rather more than one-third of the
whole. The form is that of an amphitheatre. The hust-
ings, for the speakers, arc erected on the left of the en-
trance, at an elevation of about five feet from the floor,
the entrance to which is by a flight of steps erected with-
out the principal entrance. The tickets of admission to
this part were 5;., and scats put down for 500 persons.
Immediately in front is a desk running the entire length of
the platform for the accommodation of the reporters, of
whom there are several present from tae metropolis and
various towns in Lancashire and Yorkshire. The centre
of the mill is appropriated to those whose tickets of ad-
mission are 2s. 6]. and Is. (id. Seats for 2000 were
provided for the former, and 1,560 tor the latter. The
• entire n umbar fur which seats have been provi-
ded amounts to 8,000, so that, had the whole room been
fitted up, nearly 24,000 persons could have assembled.
About 2CO tons of timber were required for the un-
dertaking, the value of which is estimated at 1,4001.
Over the chair there were in brilliant letters of gas the
words, "Justice to one and to all." It was at half-past
fur o'clock that Joseph Hume, Esq., M. P., John Wil-
liams, Esq., M. P., Sir George Strickland, Bart., M. P.,
Sharman Crawford, Esq., J. A. Roebuck, Esq., John
Gully, Esq., Thomas Hardy, Esq., of Birksgate,
Middletem of Middleton Hall, Henry Cowper Marshall,
Esq., George Goodman, Esq., Leeds, J. D. Ross, of
Rosstrevor, T. P. G. Thompson, Esq., James Lees, Eeq.,
of [Mph Lodge, Hamer Stansfeld, Esq., Dr. Epps, of
London, Lieutenant C. P. Ladd, R N., of Felmourit, P.
13. Sanderson, jun., Newcastle, William Perkins, Esq., of
Manchester, Councillors Clid, Hall, Shackleton, White..
head, Richardsun,llleasrs.Moie( Glasgow,) Collins, O'Neil,
Deegan, Berstein and Lowry, Chartist delegates ; and
other leading Reformers appeared upon the platform.
They ;sere received by their respective friends on both
sides with loud applause.
It was not until four o'clock that the chair was taken by
JAMES G. MARSHALL, Esq. He was received with ap-
-plause and a few groans, and spoke as follows:—Brother
Reformers—l cannot look around this vast assemblage
and consider that it contains true and ardent friends of
liberty, collected fdons all quarters of Great Britain and
Ireland, from London, Birmingham, Manchester, New-
castle, from Scotland, from Ireland,-north and south, and
from our lurkshire neighbours of Bradford, Halifax, and -
Sheffield, without expressing, in the first place, my high
delight in witnessing such a noble company of Reformers
as that now nict together—Vicar, hear, hear.) The
Members of the Leeds Parliamentary Reform Association
feel that in convening „this-great meeting, they have ie-
currsal no small restvonsihility and it is, 1,. am sure, to
them a high gratification to sec the hearty support and
the sanction given to their important undertaking, by
the attendance to-day of so many distinguished headers
amongst Reformers, both in Parliament and out of it, both
of the middle class and the operatives, as you now see be-
fore you on these hustings.—( Hear, hear.) It is my part
to say shortly a few worth. en the motives that actuated
the Leeds Association in taking so bold and decided a
step as the convening of a general meeting of the friends
of liberty and good government from all parts of the coun-
try. The Reformers of Leeds have, in comnacu, I doubt
nut, with all who hear me, witnessed with deep regret, the
progressive decline, for some years back, of the true spirit
of progressive Reform and popular liberty.—( Hear, hear,
and hisses.) However great may be our disappointment
is the results that have been realised by the pasting of
the last Reform Bill, all Reformers must, I think, admit,
that there then existed amongst the friends of liberty
of all classes of the community an admirable spirit of
energy, of union, of ardent devotion to the great com-
mon cause, that extinguished all minor differences mid
selfiaii interests; and carried triumphantly through a eon.
rupt and boroughmongesing House of Commons, and a
Tory House of Peers, what was, for the circumstances
of the time a very large measure of Reform.—( Cheers,
and cries of "No Whiggery.") Tlisn we saw, in-
deed, a nragnificeht display of the irresistible work-
ing of the moral force, supported by, but controlling and
governing, the physical force of a great people. Thatße-
tom Charter, it cannot be denied, is a failure. Fatally
mutilated when first passed, it has since been abandoned
by to many of its former and foremost supporters, with
unworthy apathy and selfishness, at, unresisting prey to the
corrupt arts and violence of the bitter enemies of popular
liberty.—( Cheers. ) No honest and sincere attempt has
been made to improve and reader efficient the last Reform
Bill, by those who had the power to do it. Here, doubt-
less, Gas a grievous blow and heavy discouragement to the
cause of Reform. To that, in my opinion, is to be attri-
buted the fatal and disgraceful dissensions that have since
divided Reformers, and rendered them powerless for any
great and good parpose. But what is to be done? Is it
safe to fold our hands, sit still, /mil trust to the chapter of
accidents to help us ? Shall we gain our object if each
acction of Reformers wraps itself up in its own plans
and objects, and treats all others as enemies.._(" Give
us the Suffrage and no humbug ?") No, my brother
Reformers ; it is clear that nothing short of the
resturatiota of a cordial union between all sections of
the Libeled party, and abuse all between the middle
end working classes, can again render the cause of
liberty triumphant. To endeavour to effect fiat union is
the special object of the Leeds Parliamentary Reform As-
-B:xiation. They had a choice of difficulties before them.
It appeared extremely difficult in the present divided state
of public opinion, to propose any practical measure that
should command general support. Yet it appeared still
more hopeless to re-excite the spirit and energy of the
Reform party by merely affirming general principles not
embodied in any great practical measures. They decided
upon boldly facing the ditticultics of the former alternative.
They adopted what appeared, on the best consideration
they could give the subject, the largest measure of Re-
form on which a majority of Reformers of all classes
could be expected to unite. And they determined, by
convening the present meeting, to place this subject fairly
before the general body of the friends of liberty through-
out the country, iu order to ascertain how far their own
views were correct, and what measures of reform would
really unite all classes in its support.—( Cries of " Stuff.")
These, brother Reformers, were our motives for bringing
together this assemblage, for the calm and earnest dis-
cussion of this highest of all social questions,
the means of obtaining a just and honest Government.
That such a movement as the present has originated
at; Leeds has been owing, I am willing to believe, to
the fortunate circumstances of the existence in our locality
of more moderation, more good feeling, and right under-
standing between the operative and middle classes, than
perhaps most large towns can boast of.—(Cheers and
hisses.) The increasing numbers and activity of our As-
sociation proves, in a most satisfactory manner that in our
district we have struck a note that is heartily responded
to. If the middle classes in this town have not yet come
forward so largely as might have bean wished and ex-
pected to join us, we may, I believe, attribute that to a
cause nut, I firmly hope, likely to influence them perma-
nently. have been misled and deterred by the hos-
tility to the principles of our Associations of some leading
Reformers amongst us-1 mean the editors of the beds
Mercury. —( Hisses.) However much my personal ft iendship
and regard fur those influential gentlemen may make me
regret, for their own sakes, their altered position, I anticipate
nothing but advantage to our cause from the discussion
they have excited. The very able and high-priucipkd
letters of my excellent friend, Mr. Stansfeld, have already
done much to remove the strange mystiflcationa thrown
about the subject by the editors of the Lards Mir cur, .
-_(Cheers.) The thorough sifting of the various points
of that controversy will, I doubt not, be treated with much
more ability by the distinguished speakers who will follow
ma, than I could bring to the subject had I space to enter
into it. I shall content myself here with a word or two on
what appears to me by far the worst part of that sophistic
argument, and one I fear really calculated to work deep in.
jury to the cause of enlightened liberty and social improve-
ment. Far I perceive throughout that document, with
equal astonishment and regret, the deliberate adoption, by
professing Reformers, of the narrow and exclusive princi-
ples of the determined enemies of liberty.—(Cheers.)
The prejudices, the unfounded fears, and selfish interests
of the middle classes of our town population, are openly
and prominently appealed to.—(Loud cheers.) I see
iu that production nu trace of firnt reliance in the safety
of acting honestly at all times ou the broad eternal princi-
ples of justice, end of Christian good-will and charity to all
men, which applies to the weighty affairs of government no
less than the condnun business of life between man and man:
Yet this Litli is the corner-stone on which must be hurlt•
hu-
man advance in liberty. When the different classes
other ofsocietyl
have learnt blindly and foolishly to regardeackiecp asthen
natural enemies, the smallest Causes servo to
aleuf from each other, or to provoke them tolifoepoenf
phecasctei--
lity. In such a country, farewell the happy
Litherecailsmaand dismalre
fel and well-rewarded industryvearnydwhe
tional enjoyment of liberty'.
anciselfish iliterests ; man set against
civil war of clashing
3 g with remorseless cruelty upon an.
man ; out class
everywhere the of the people arc exposed to
other;
nott nat.ura.llyincidentto their age or
innumereavbel? evils. -
I fear that this is too much for the present
great master cause of it is
country.
the irresponsible government of ruling
state of our country, and the.
the existence of
for their own selfish and exclusive benefit.—(
c,iab'el.cfore, the reform of this evil, the parent of all others,
is the first duty of every man. But how effect it ? flow
remove the ignorance, thee apathy, the selfish tears of the
numerous and powerful supporters of the present system ?
Shall we follow their example, and retort evil for evil,
cursing with cur Ling, and wrong with wrong? No.
surely—for this would increase and perpetuate the
evil. No, my brother Reformers, we have a tar wiser,
nobler, and surer mode of conquering our liberties,
and that is by orercomiug evil with good.—( Cheers.)
Here is, indeed, a difficult course opened to us, but ono
how splendid, how delightful I Lct the people once
fairly uetnenstrate that they deceive, that they know how
to use, liberty, and no earthly power can withhold it.—
(Great cheering.) Let us, then, to vigilance and energy,
in contending on all occasions for our just rights, add the
power of selt.coustraint, of calm, manly, rationaldisschuasu.
sion, with the sole desire of attaining truth. Then
we find ourselves bound together great
in tdheofultibeiorirtoy.
glorious brotherhood, the brotherhoo t
the great pleasure of na W-
and biases.) I Lae now
t whom Reformers have been
ducing to you a g
indebted-ctltics'af'ol for his is indefatigable, and valuable
long and deeply
in supportint, every measure tend-
services in Parliament,lieties or diminish the burdens of the
ng to enlarge the
and' advice in the [:resent critical
peel—whoso. opinions
situatuii
aoans cannot fail to, be extremely welcome to
this ufg.
Joseph Hume, latq.—(Cheers and hisses.)
Let us reineint.er that the eyes of the whole of our fellow-
coulary wen are upon us ; this important meeting is, per-
the first in which the two great sections of the
people, tile middle amid working classes, have met to-
gether with perfect mettlea confidence and cordiality—
frankly and freely to express to each other their own opi-
mcn, without any hostiiity ; but, on the contrary, with
thee sincere wish to meet and conciliate the opinion and
good feeling of other classes of Reformers.—(Chcerf.)

!~ /