The Sun.
London, England, 1834-12-29 00:00:00

to address, and knew the effi3rts making in the City to return
honest and staunch Reformers, he felt convinced that instead
of less being done during the next Session of Parliament, the
March of Reform would be more rapid and effective, and pro-
ductive of greater advantages to the people than the proceed-
ings of any former Parliament.—( Cheers. )
The Resolution was then carried unanimously.
Sir SAMUEL WHALLEY came forward, and was loudly
cheered. He said he had lately had several opportunities of
addressing his fellow-countrymen, respecting the present im-
portant crisis in public affairs. On all these occasions he had
felt confidence in addressing them as the representative of the
largest borough in the kingdom ; but on the present occasion
he could not do so, for while the words were issuing from his
mouth, some men who arrogated to themselves the exclusive
pale of loyalty, had, to serve their own purposes, addressed
the Monarch to dissolve the present parliament—( Hear and
cheers.) The fiat might have gone forth at the moment he
spoke to them, and the public would be again called upon to
elect a House of Commons which would, he (Sir S. Whalley)
believed, with more vigour then the last, carry out those great
principles of which the Reform Bill was the foundation.
This was, indeed, a most important crisis—there was no mis-
take.--( Cheers.) There might have been on other occasions
some little doubt as to who the men and what their measures
might be ; but in the present instance that doubt had been
dissipated.—( Hear.) They knew the men—they knew them
well--(Cheers)—and it required no spirit of prophecy to
'foretell what the measures would be.—( Great cheering.) At
such a time it was a great satisfaction—it was a great delight
• and pride to him ( Sir Samuel Whalley) to see the free-
holders of the county of Middlesex assembled under
the auspices of the Constitutional authorities.—Loud cheers.)
He was delighted to stand between two staunch Reformers.—
( Great applause.) He was proud to see that the Metropolis
of England knew how to exercise its great prerogative of
choosing Sheriffs, in a more judicious manner than their Sove-
reign knew how to exercise his high prerogative of choosing
Ministers.—( Loud cheers.) But the City of London he re-
gretted had not at its head a man whose heart was sound in
the cause of Reform, and yet that disadvantage had not pre-
vented the City of London from expressing its detestation and
disgust at the present change that had taken place in his
Majesty's Councils.—( Cheers.) They had not been ridden
down by a Mayor—( Laughter and cheering)—nor would
they___( Cheers)—and they had resolved to get rid of the
Mayor, even if it was a night mare. —( Cheers and laughter.)
If, then, the City of London had set the example that the
opinions of its head should not influence it, the people of
England would, he trusted, follow up their example, and
show that the opinions of their bead—of their chief Magi-
strate, should not influence them.—( Great cheering.) But
perhaps he (Sir S. Whalley) was wrong in ascribing to the
monarch such opinions—he should rather say such delusions.
—( Hear.) Those evil councillors who pretended to be pre-
eminently loyal, only looked upon the Sovereign as the
head of a faction they loved him and supported
him, only while he supported them.—( Hear.) They had
thrust him forward to serve their own purposes, and unhappily
for him, he had been made their dupe, and by this means they
had deprived him of the hearts and affections of the people.—
(Great applause.) They bad on the present occasion misled
him, and induced him to act in direct contradictiWs to the
wishes of the people.—( Hear.) It was their province, their
duty, and it would soon be their privilege, to undeceive his
Majesty.--(Great cheering.) And he could not advert,
without noticing with the contempt it merited, the cowardice of
the present men, who shielded themselves behind the " King's
name as a tower of strength," and pretended to ascribe to him
the course of conduct which had flowed only from their own
base advice---(Loud cheers.) They threw upon him the
whole blame of the movement, and affected to deny that they
had any hand in pro!lucing the present strong feeling that was
abroad among the peole. Their new Prime Minister—
( Cries of " No," and great MSsing)—having no English feel-
ing., and not liking to reside amu"g them, except in so far as it
might serve his own ambition,was enic7ing himself in Italy, and
he told them that the " greatness had bee:: thrust upon him."
But could they believe that any man of sense wci7 have dis-
missed so unceremoniously his Ministers—would they `oppose
that the Monarch would, without any hesitation, have tiirriCfl
off the responsible advisers of the Crown if he had not known
that there were men ready to take their places ?—( Great
cheering.) They were well aware that the plot had been
long hatching, but he ( Sir S. W.) in his heart believed that
they would cover its concoctors with shame and confusion.—
They (the Ministers), said the Hon. Gentleman, have made a
false step; they have dissolved the House, in the hope that
there is a reaction—that you are sick of reform, and that you
want to go back to the old abuses you so long ago discarded.
—( Cheers.) First comes Joseph Surface, who says I am a
reformer. I have always been a reformer ; but you have been
so dull, that you have never been able to find it out. Sir Jo-
seph Surface, we tell you that we have found it out. You
were, and no doubt you are a reformer still. But what sort
of a one ? If you are not an apostate, you will hold it good and
sound reform to reform the Reform Bill.—( Laughter.) That's
the sort of reform which he will hold to be sound and consti-
tutional reform--e-e. reform calculated to bring back that oli-
garchy domination tzbich you have shivered at once and for
ever from the sway of tLi: country. But, gentlemen, he de-
ceives himself, and I do fee: a proud delight at the aspect
that is arising throughout the country, and at the certainty
that, when the elective franchise has to be exercised again, they
will, as they did before, forget the dangers that hang over
them—disregard the base influences that may be exercised
over them, and although they have not that protection
which they certainly ought to have—vote by ballot,
and the unbiassed exercise of their votes—yet that they will
return
such a Parliament as will make the political existence
of
those men as brief as will be the period of the election.
At the present crisis we have once more to unite together
without letting any little petty animosities break us into sets.
--(Cheers.) Union is strength. We must remember not
nicely to weigh in the balance the merits of every Reformer
now before us, but we must put to them one sure test. Will
you, heart and soul, take the first—the earliest opportunity of
expressing your utter disavowal of the present Government?
Don' wait for the measures, you know the men. The watch-
word has been given you before. Your enemies tell you the
men hole. out to the country a firm assurance of what their
measures will be—tl;at they are not apostates—that they will
go on in the same comic which has heretofore characterized
them, and that they will not ..;:eeive you. At this crisis Ido
regret that we have not with us the Whole of the public press
that we had on former occasions—bui 7e have what is an
ample counter-balance—such a cordial unanlit.l!N among all
Reformers, that in truth we want not any press Co give echo
to our opinions.—( Cheers.) The word has gone forth like
wildfire through the country. It reminds us of the burning
cross that was sent throughout the highlands of Scotland in
ancient times to call together the clans to meet their foes ;
like them, so will we send throughout the country the
prerogative of the people or the prerogative of the
Crown—(lmmense cheering, and cries of Bravo, bravo)—
which is to have the ascendancy—( Hear, hear.) The prero-
gative of choosing Ministers is vested in the King, but it is
vested in the King only in trust for the people—( Loud cheers. )
It matters not to him personal), who may be his Ministers. No
Minisiers will touch his civil list—he has got ample liberty.
The abuses 9f Corporations do not affect him—the duration of
Parliament is of no consequence to him—the oppression that
is exercised over the voter does not disturb him ; but it is
the people who suffer from the bad conduct of Ministers—
( Hear, hear.) It is the people's duty to step forward now
respectfully, but firmly, to offer their advice to the Sovereign
in his exercise of that prerogative which was conferred upon
him, not to indulge his own personal feelings, but to ad-
vance the interests and glory of his people—the cause of
civil and religious liberty—and to place upon a sure basis
the happiness of the whole worlef.—( Immense cheering. )
Union is strength, let Union be our watchword, let us bury all
minor differences, enlist under the great banner of Reform, rally
round it, place it in our front, and carry it on, beating down
all obstacles in the way until we place it in the Temple of
Liberty.—( Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, you heard very sound
principles—in which I entirely concur—laid down in the
first resolution that was submitted to you for adoption.
The want of these principles being carried, has brought on the
evils to which I am about to call your attention in the second
resolution, which I now submit to your approval :
°d.—That any attempt by a Minister of the Crown to impede
the progress of Reform will, in the opinion of this meeting, endanger
the peace and tranquillity of the people, and the safety of the
Throne. We consequently eeelare it to be our determination, in
order to avert such evils, to co-operate with our brother electors
all over the kingdom in returning none but true Reformers to the
next Parliament.
Mr. DAVIS seconded the resolution. He would not weaken
the very powerful appeal that had been made to them by any
thing he had to say, but he hoped the constitutional front they
would present to their enemies would be like a wall of brass,
that they could neither beat down nor climb over.—( Cheers.)
The resolution was then put to a show of hands, and was
carried unanimously amidst loud cheers.
Mr. WEYMOTT then came forward, and was received with
loud cheers. The eloquent speaker who had preceded him
had adverted to the necessity of Union upon this great
occasion. The resolution which he held in his hand
was such that if they were united upon it, it was impossible
that the Tories could ever succeed in bringing back that cor-
rupt system of Geernment which happily the people of
England had at present got rid of ; but if they dissented
among themselves, if, above ai;, they were allured by any thing
like an expectation that measura of Reform would
have be
proposed by the present Administration, f,ey would
to look forward many many years to come for the r'zicovition
of those principles which they hailed in the Reform
( Hear.) It was impossible that the present government
should ever bring forward any measures of Reform—were they
not steeped up to their ears in measures against Reform?—
(Hear, hear.) He would say that if Sir Robert Peal pos-
sessed the mind of a Charles Fox, with all the commanding
eloquence of that great man, with a double portion of all
his zeal and ardour for the liberty of mankind, sur-
rounded with his present Administration, he would defy him
to carry into effect any measure of reform which would be ac-
ceptaisk._ to the pcople.—( Great cheering.) Among other
things, it Nc.:t.S said that the present Ministers, if they con-
tinued in office, e„-:pld put alien ed to the agitation which this
country was troubled would ask who had been the
agitators—who was it created agitation those two memor-
able days that the late Administiatio:. were out of office?
!rard. and
Was it not those very men who now came--
said they were advocates for reform.—( Loud cheer.:
Again, if there had been any agitation since, was it not t'ron;
the Tories opposing all those good measures which would have
been carried by the late Ministers?—( Cheers.) Would the
measures they were now adopting cause agitation to cease ?
Certainly not; it would only increase, and that in a tenfold
degree.-__( Great cheering.) Sir Robert Peel claimed the
friendship of a large body of the country, viz. the Dissenter
and why did he do so, because he had condescended to vote
for the Bill brought in by Lord John Russell, to enable them

to marry according to their own rights ; and because, further,
he had voted for the Bill brought in by Lord Althorp, to re-
lieve them from Church-rates.—( Cheers.) He did not think
the Right Hon. Baronet knew that those measures had been
repudiated by the Dissenters themselves, and was he vain
enough to suppose that the Dissenters would receive that from
his hands which they denied from their old and tried friends ?
Did he suppose that they would think better of him and his
measures, because the Duke of Wellington was joined with
him ? if he did, he could assure them he was most woefully
mistaken.—( Great cheering.) Perhaps he might think the
consolatory language of the Secretary of State for the Home
Department was likely to raise the present Ministry in the
estimation of the public. If he had so, he was as far from
the mark as ever.—( Great cheering.) He was persuaded
that the unanimity which had prevailed on the present occasion
would not only give heart-felt pleasure to the friends of
Reform, but would strike its enemies with dismay.—
( Great cheoring.) There was another point to which
he wished to draw the particular attention of the meet-
ing, and one to which the resolution in particular adverted.
They were all aware of the great expense incurred e elec-
tions, and it could not be expected by any constituency, that
gentlemen could time after time come forward and contest
elections at their own expense, which were solely for the public
good. In Marylebone they had come forward with contributions
for the purpose of returning the Members for that borough
without a shilling expense, and the object of the present reso-
lution was, that such a course should be adopted in the county
of Middlesex. The following was the resolution :-
3d.—That to the non-fulfilment of these conditions as already
stated as laid down at that period, can mainly be attributed the dis-
tress and difficulties to which the industrious classes have been re-
duced by an unparalleled pressure of taxation, from which they
cannot hope to be relieved until those principles are recognised and
acted upon.
Mr. Alderman HARMER then came forward to second
the above resolution, amidst the most deafening cheers.
Being a freeholder of the county of Middlesex, he did not he-
sitate to come forward to express his most decided concur-
rence in everything that had taken place that day.—( Great
cheering.) He was persuaded if the resolutions that
had been passed at that meeting to-day were made public,
the defeat of all the machinations of the Tories was cer-
tain.—( Great cheering.) He had no doubt (with Sir
Samuel Whalley) that at the present moment the Parliament
was dissolved, and such being the case it behoved the meeting
and the public in general to do all in their power to defeat
the Tories.—j( Cheers.)
The Resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr. FARLAR of BrOmpton came forward to propose the 4th
resolution. It was the duty of every freeholder of the county
to go voluntarily to the poll and give their votes to such
candidates as were likely to advocate the cause of the people.
—( Cheers.) The object of the present meeting was to take
into consideration the crisis that was now approaching—what
was that crisis ? It was whether they would send members
to Parliament who would support an administration the head
of which had only given 22 votes in the reformed House of
Commons.—( Hear, hear, hear.) He held in his hand all
the votes which Sir Robert Peel had given since the Reform
of the Commons House of Parliament, and all those votes
were contrary to the interests of the people at large.—( Great
cheering.) The Right Hon. Baronet was against all inquiry
into abuses, and he was for the continuance of pensions. What
therefore had the people to expect from him as a Leader of
the present Administration ?—( Cries of " Nothing, nothing.")
If the votes were to bespeak the individual, the people had a
right to say that they would measure his goodness by his
deeds, and give no attention whatever to his false promises.
The worthy Gentleman then concluded by proposing the fol-
lowing resolution :-
4th.—That an humble address, embracing the foregoing reso-
lutions, be presented to his Majesty by the Sheriff and County
Members. _ _

Mr. LAWRENCE seconded the resolution. It was most gra-
tifying to find, at this end of the metropolis, the same feelin g
against the present Ministry as existed at the East end.
When they found bad men combining against the liberties of
the people, it was the duty of the people also to combine, and
show them what they exactly were when the public mind was
brought to bear against them. They were on the eve of an
eleeton, and every man should feel that he himself was of
the utmost importance on the present crisis, and should strive
by setting a good example to induce others to follow in a good
cause. One good example had been set them by the City of
London. A committee for the whole city had been formed, and
they had got four good Reformers to stand for the representation
of it. They had laid aside all petty jealousies, and had united
themselves in one firm, solid, and compact body, by which their
victory was certain, whereas, had they stood, as on fermer occa-
sions, with but 3 reformers, there was but little doubt the Tories
by their manoeuvring, would have succeeded in sending in
two of their own body. Feeling so much confidence as he
did, he need say no more to them upon the subject, and would
conclude by calling upon the gentlemen of that part of the town
to do their duty manfully. He would pledge him-
self that those belonging to the part from which he
came would not be found backward in doing their's. The
resolution was then put and carried unanimously.
Mr. GODERICH then came forward, and on the Sheriff
announcing his name, there were loud cries of " Lord
Goderich." He said, though not so high in rank,
he was at all events as honest and independent a man.—
( Cheers.) He came. before them as a brother freeholder of
the county of Middlesex, to move a resolution in which he
knew they would all most cordially join, and therefore he was
relieved from the • necessity of speaking at any great length—
it was a vote of thanks to the two Members for the county.—
(Cheers.) Their efforts were well known. They were both
Reformers, and though there might be some shades of
difference between them, still that was not a time
for the splitting of political straws. They must re-
member that Mr. Byng had served them faithfully for
forty years, and that though he had not, perhaps, uon all
occasions pleased them, something was due for old and faith-
ful services. As for Mr. Hume, he required not to say a
single word, his services were so well known ; he would,
therefore, conclude by proposing the following resolution :
Mr. STEVENS said it was with the utmost satisfaction
that he saw so numerous a meeting of the freeholders of
Middlesex. It told him that they were alive to what their
duty was upon the present occasion. He would have been
more ready to have taken an active part that day
had he not seen that there were plenty of gentlemen of the
county who were determined to resist the men who were now
called to be the Ministers of the Crown. It was most pleas-
ing to see that in no part of London were any persons to be
seen who were not ready to put their shoulders to the wheel
in order to send home the question of Reform.—(Hear.)
They had been often told to avoid coalitions of all sorts, but
tile day was now passed—it was the duty of the people and
Reformers of all sorts to goalesce—there must be now no asking
for single votes ; there must no longer be that petty paltry
wish for a triumph, which had heels fravtantly shown by
candidates wishing to be at the head of the pelt...-( War.)
They of the county of Middlesex would coalesce to support their
two members, Hume and Byngses(Loud cheers.) Two more
valuable men were not to be found,havirl duty to their
constituents manfully.—( Hear, hear.) One had voted the
right way, or nearly so ; and the (Aber at all hours, night
and day, was found at his post, watching the public expen-
diture, opposing every abuse, and endeavouring by all
means to promote the great principles of seform.s.ss( cheers,
Their members never considered the Reform Bill tosbe a final
measure. It was ridiculous for any man to consider it such.
It was a measure giving the people more_ power, by the
exercise of which they might destroy existing abuses,
and secure those rights of which they had been so
long deprived—a power calculated to place the Government
of this country more in the hands of the representatives of the
people.--( Hear.) They all admitted the prerogative of the
Crown, but that prerogative exercised without thought and
without reference to the svishee of the people, might be the
boast of tyrants, but was not in character with the British
Constitution, which only invested that prerogative in trust to
be exercised for the good of the country.--( Cheers.) He
would say no inure than call upon them to support
the resolution, and to unite, every one in his respective
parish, and they would again beat the Tories, and settle them
in such a snermer that they would never be heard of more, ex-
cept in the page of history, to excite the wonder of posterity
that Englishmen ever endured such preens to govern them.
Mr. DIXON from the body of the meeting called out that as
a freeholder, he hoped the county of Middlesex would never
disgrace itself by a coalition of any kind. The remark excited
some disapprobation, and the speaker was invited to ascend
the platform, which he did, and proceeded to address the
meeting to the following effect :—I will make no apo-
logies, and I won't remind you of the elegant speeches
you have heard, nor will I say I'm not used to public
speaking, for you've found that out.—( Hear.) lam brought
into the lion's den, but you wont find me a Daniel, yet I have
faith in the gue/d 134110 P which I stand forward to advocate.
Above all things, I hate nothing 111E9 4 coalition i it smells of
something injurious to the country at larger-(l•Sisses and
pheers. ) I would have every man vote according to the dictates
of his conscience, for one, two, three, or four, as may be.—
(,4 Oh toh i") I 4lsvpys thought the Reform Bill was passed
for that purpose, and in getting that we of all wo wanted.—
( Laughter.) I think, as a freeholder I have tt right to speak
mmd. I did not intrude here, but was invited. We
may compare Avg. two Members to a couple of stage horses—
sometimes they have drawn
...the coach together—sometimes
ways.--( stisses epnfusiou.) I shall
you will not hoar me ;----just es' you like.
tullet ey
n palledd um dumb
contrarysheer
if
One of your Members is a good wheeler, only he pokes his
crupper beak, But what does the other want ? Why, we
know he wants to be 11. loader, We, who have read his
speeches, know what he means—it is " Maio i- Chancellor
of the F xehequer."—( Hisses, and cries of " Off.") dentiemen,
you don't seem to know any thing about it.—( Laughter, and
cries of " Off, off.") I want 1:0- Play, and I shan't go. I
stand here as a freeholder, and you are only wasting your time.
I know I can't speak like your member. Lord bless me l I
haverit half the jaw he has got.
The Sheriff here requested the Gentleman not to speak
offensively, to which
Mr. DixoN replied—l am come here not to be dictated to
by you, although you wear a sword at your side.—( Cries of
,s shame i You ought to know better.") He ought to know
better years ago for the county.—( A voice, ‘4 Your langeage
is very creditable to you.") Well, if you don't -like
to hear me, I shall propose an amenjeizst: He
thee read the amendment as follows :--Resolved—that the
',elders of the county of Middlesex arc desirous of being
+be badge of and
ditwheilri
- •
_a m ess unp moot b o
represente try-
impro.v.ement, the
and
Whig or/Tory, who wens
3 I tnlio faction,P ar
t
oppose all measures but such as tend to :.!?
happiness, and the prosperity of the country.—( Is•Sosrp hear.)
I don't think I shall find a seconder, so I shall put it in my
pocket.—(Laughter, and cries of " Do so I put it in your
pocket.")
The SHERIFF inquired if there was a seconder to the amend.