The Sun.
London, England, 1840-12-24 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LEEDS TIMES.

Darrynane Abbey, Dec. 12, 1840.
SIR—In an editorial article is the Leeds Times, of the
sth instant, I find it laid down positively that my plan of a
Reform Convention is decidedly illegal. This assertion is
rather a bad compliment to a lawyer of my long experience.
I fully and unequivocally admit that if such convention
be illegal—the objection to my plan is conclusive.
But althougis I have not here the English statutes, I
have more than once examined them with a view to this
point, and I do venture to assert that the convention I prd-
pose is perfectly legal.
Part of the statute you refer to, 39th Geo. 111. c. 79,
was temporary, as I recollect, and has expired. The rest is
a permanent law. My recollection is, that the clauses pro-
hibiting a meeting of delegates was temporary, and have ex-
pired. It is not safe for a lawyer to trust to his memory with
respect to the details of the statute law, but I am convinced of
the legality of my plan. However, I intend to be in Dublin
on this day week, and I will then look once more into the
English statutes, and communicate to your readers the re-
stilt. If Ibe wrong, I will at once cancliely avow my
error—but I do pretty confidently anticipate a different
conclusion.
If I be wrong, then the meeting of Anti- Corn Law
delegates in London last year was au illegal meeting. You
assert, I see, that Feargus O'Connor's convention of the
working classes was illegal. lam confident von are mis-
taken. Had it been so the Tories would have taunted
the Attorney-General to suppress it, or blamed him for
not suppressing it. He could not have allowed so plain a
breach of the law to continue from day to day—if the law
be as you assert.
However, I will again form my judgment on the law
of the case, and you shall know the result. At present I
have no other doubt on the subject, save what arises from
the positive nature of your assertion.
I have the honour to be, your obedient servant,
DANIEL O'CONNELL.

[We would not have so positively asserted the ille-
gality of the proposed Convention, in opposition to
the opinion of so distinguished a legal authority as
Mr. O'Connell, bad we not previously consulted seve-
ral eminent English anthorities on the subject, and
carefully perus.zd the provisions of the Act to which
Mr. O'Connell refers, and which yet stands on our sta.
bite book unrepealed. The law was enacted by Mr.
Pitt to put down the political associations of fifty years
ago; it prohibited all correspondence between these So-
cieties, all dcputltic,ne- to or from such Societies, and
all contributions of mceTey or other assistance of any
kind. The Act 57th of George 111. chap. 19, which
was passed by the Castlereagh Administration, compre-
hends every political Society. It enacts that " Every
Society or Club that shall elect, nominate, or
employ any committee, delegate, representative, or mis.
sionary, to meet, confer, or communicate with any other
Society or club, or with any committee, delegate, or in-
duce, or persuade any person to become a member thereof,
shall be liable to the penalties of 39 Gco. 3, cap. 79,"
namely Fine, Imprisonment, and Transportation for
seven years It does not, however, extend to delegates
appointed by public meetings, and it is probably in this
light that Mr. O'Connell views the matter. Yet
the meshes of the law would be constantly around
the delegates appointed even by public meetings,
and they never would be a day secure from the machinations
of a tyrannical Government. We believe that " Feargus
O'Connor's Convention" was illegal. We distinctly reee I-
lect that Mr. D. W. Harvey strongly discountanced tho
proceedings of the Convention, on the gillegal round that it was
; and Mr. P. Cobbett withdrew from it,
alleging, we believe, the very same reason. It is also
the opinion of several eminent lawyers, that even the
Anti-Corn-law Association which sat in London for these
last two sessions was illegal, according to the strict con-
siruc,ion of the above Acts. We shall look with interest
for the further communication of Mr. O'Connell on the
subject.—Eo. Leeds Times.

The Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, Duke
and Duchess of Rexburghe, Viscount and Viscountess
110,ick, and a distinguished circle, have been visiting the
Earl of Tinto, at Mint() House.—Edinburgh Advertiser.
DEATH IN GILTSPUIt-STREET PRISON.—
On Tuesday evening Mr. Payne, the Coroner, held an in-
que,t in Giltspur-street Pri..on, on view of the body of
liichard BraithtTaite, aged sixty. From the evidence of
the sr:vcral witnesses examined, it appeared that about three
o'clock on Sunday morning the deceased was found
City policeman No. 267 in a state of drunkenness, clinging
to a post in Warwick- lane, Newgate-street. The police-
man took him to the Smithfield station-house, and from
there to the above-named prison, where be was placed in a
cell and left. At about eight o'clock one of the turnkeys,
on opening the cell door, observed deceased lying on the
atone flooring, and almost insensible. He was immediately
removed to the infirmary ward ; but before the medical
gentlemen belonging to the prison could be summoned—
only a period of ten minutes, he expired, He was in a
11,04 filthy dirty condition ,vhon broucht in. He was for-
merly a ;- !-: tiro City, and 'late to
t;t. thlc vvoikinous..!. Mr. thc surgeon, said
disease of the brain had occasioned the deceased's death.
Verdict, " Natural Death."