The Sun.
London, England, 1848-04-13 00:00:00

CHARTIST CONVENTION.

(THIS DAY.)

The delegates met this morning at the usual hour.
UNION WITH THE MIDDLE CLASSES.
Mr. CLARK supported the motion in favour of coali-
tion with the middle classes. He felt fully convinced
that it was impossible for them, unaided by that class, to
obtain the ends which they were seeking to attain, espe
cially as they had not, even now the assistance of the
whole of the working classes themselves.
Mr. WEST was of opinion that the people of the coun-
try were slaves, and he did not think that any associa-
tion with that class which had established the Anti-
Corn-law League, in order to promote their own inte-
rests and oppress the people, would be likely to prove of
any service to the cause of the Charter. The war that
they were bound to wage was a war against the aris-
tocracy of the cow try, and if he could obtain the
assistance of the middle classes in that object, it should
be without a surrender of their principles.
CHARTIST MISSIONARIES.
A DELEGATE brought up the report of a committee
appointed to inquire into this subject. The report
stated that the committee had divided the country into
eight districts, and had appointed two missionaries to
each district.

Considerable disei.vsion took place upon the propriety
of sending any delegates to Ireland. It was emit( nded
in support of the proposition that Ireland was a portion
of the United Kingdom, and ought to be agitated as well
as the other portions of the kingdom. Upon the other
side it was maintained that Ireland was now fully occu-
pied with the question of repeal, and that no portion of
the national petition had been constituted by th• people
of that country. Subsequently, however, three of the
delegates were appointed to go over to Ireland as a de-
putation from the Convention. .

Nearly the whol.e-Oi the missionaries nominated by
the committee either moved for leave of absence, ex-
pressed a wish to go home and see their wives and fami-
lies, or declared in favour of working in their humble
capacities as local agitators in the neighbourhood of
their own homes, and were dissatisfied with the dis-
tricts assigned to them, and a motion was made to the
effect that the delegates upon whom the choice had fallen
should retire, in order to settle their differences.

Mr. CLARK moved, as an amendment, that the dele-
gates should not retire. It was most important for them
to be present, to hear the debate that was to be
resumed.

A DELEGATE said that he did not see the slightest
necessity for the whole of the delegates sitting there to
listen to the same arguments and facts a dozen times
repeated.
The amendment of Mr. Clark was ultimately agreed
to, and the debate upon the motion with respect to the
union of the middle classes was resumed by Mr. Reynolds,
who was followed by several other speakers.
The motion was then agreed to.
ALIEN BILL.

Mr. KIDD brought forward a notion condemnatory of
the Bill introduced by Lord Lansdowne in the House of
Lords on the subject of aliens.
The Convention then adjourned until the evening
sitting.

COMMON COUNCIL.-THIS DAY.

PRESENTATION OF THE FREEDOM OF THE
CITY TO LORD HARDINGE.
At twelve o'clock this day a Special Court was held
in the Council Chamber, Guildhall, for the purpose of
presenting Lord Hardinge, K.C.8., with the freedom of
the City of London. The Lord Mayor and Aldermen
wore their scarlet, and the Common Councilmen their
masarine gowns.
As soon as the Lord Mayor had taken his seat his
Lordship was introduced by Mr. R. L. Jones, and was
accompanied by the Livery of the Merchant Tailors'
Company.
The Chamberlain read aloud the resolution unani-
mously come to by the Court of Common Council, that
the freedom of the city, enclosed in a gold box of the
value of 100 guineas, should be presented to Lieutenant-
General Lord Hardinge, K.C.8., for the distinguished
talent and the energy he had displayed in the administra-
tion of the resources of the British dominions in India and
for the gall Ant manner in which he had conducted the
operation. of the army under his command in the battles of
Sobraon, &c., fought on the 21st and 22d of December,
and for the ;example of ,determination which ;he had
exhibited to the soldiers under his command on these
trying days.
The Noble Lord was then formally presented with the
freedom of the City, and installed a member of the Mer-
chant Tailors' Company. The usual oaths having been
administered; at d
TheCuAsimEnwsz having addressed his Lordship in
a complimentary speech,
Lord HARDINGE, who read his address, said that,
in receiving this token of the approbation of the Corpo-
ration which represented the freemen of the metro-
politan city of the empire, he was deeply sensible of the
honour which had been conferred on him, and felt
correspondingly grateful for the obliging manner
in which that honour had been conferred upon him. It
was a source of gratification to him that the manner in
which ho had conducted the government of India
}Led received the approbation of his Sovereign and of
his country, and he was Wad to say that in his experi-
ence the soldiers of the empire had maintained in India
the reputation which they had is so many fields
acquired. His Lordship then briefly referred to
the transactions in the Punjaub, and iu conclu-
sion, expressed his firm conviction that the sol—
diers would ever be found enlisted on the side of good
order, and, in connexion with the citizens of this coun-
try, would, by their exertions, preserve entire the laws
of the country and the stability of the Government.
Mr. R. L. JONES proposed, which was seconded and
carried, that the address be placed on the records of the
Corporation.

THE PATRIOTIC SOCIETY OF
SCOTLAND.—(THIS DAY.)
A meeting of noblemen and gentlemen interested in
the objects of the Scottish Patriotic Society was held this
day, at the Freemasons"favern, Great Queen-street,
for the purpose of hearing the report of a deputation from
the parent society in Edinburgh.
The CHISUOLM, who occupied the chair, explained
that the association was originated for the purpose of
improving the condition of the Highland peasantry by
encouraging a better class of cottages, and
habits of cleanliness; and also introducing an
improved method of agriculture, particularly of spade
husbandry, on the system so extensively practised in
Belgium and other continental countries. The present
mode of "croft " cultivation was barbarous in the ex-
treme, and therefore the landlords of Scotland, with the
view of improving the condition of the crofter, had
formed themselves into the Scottish Patriotic Society.
There was present a deputation from Scotland, who
would explain to the meeting the progress already made
and the success which had attended the efforts of the
the Association.

Mr. BOND, the Secretary, then explained in detail
that to which the Chairman had only shortly referred.
The object of the present meeting was to found
a branch society in London in connexion with the pre-
sent Association in Edinburgh.
1)r. %l'KENztt•: adduced much interesting information
ith respect to 600 improved
,five• acre farms (which
were cultivated on Belgian agricultural principles) at
Gairloch, in Ross•shire. These he personally superin-
tended, and the result was most satisfactory. He augured
the greatest good to the Highlands of Scotland from the
efforts of this society.
Resolutions were afterwards moved, seconded, and
adopted, pledging those present to support the institution,
and to use their best endeavour to extend its benefits by
presents of seeds, and contributions in money.
Thanks were voted to the Chairman, and the meeting
broke up.