The Sun.
London, England, 1834-12-23 00:00:00

LA NGB 0 URNE WARD.

SIR JOHN KEY'S EXPLANATION OF HIS RE
TIREMENT FROM PARLIAMENT.

The ten old members were unanimously re-elected.
After the other business was gone through, a vote of cen-
sure was moved by Mr. Gibson, and seconded by Mr.
Harwood, on the Lord Mayor, for having refused to call a
Common Hall, to give the citizens of London the opportu-
nity of expressing their sentiments on the dismissal of the
Ministry, and unanimously passed. A vote of thanks was
then passed to Mr. Marchant, for his great attention, as
Commissioner of the Sewers, to the local interest of the
Ward. A vote of thanks was then passed on the old Com-
mon Council. A vote of thanks was then moved by Mr.
Gibson, and seconded by Mr. Stubbing, to Sir J. Key, for
his conduct as Alderman of the Ward, and for the manner
in which be had discharged all his duties, which was unani-
mously carried.
Sir J. KEY returned thanks, and entered into a long
explanation of the circumstances attending his resignation
as Member for the City of London. He said—lt was
from no dereliction of duty—from no disappointment given
to the expectations of my constituents ; but I fell a victim
to one of the most disgraceful and vindictive conspiracies
that had ever been formed against any individual, con-
cocted by a few rival tradesmen, jealous of the popularity
I enjoyed for the effectual services I had rendered to the
obtaining the passing of the Reform Bill ; and, like the
Ephesians of old, exasperated that through my means the
exorbitant gains which they had for years obtained from
the public had for ever been put an end to. Some sixty
years since an Act of Parliament was passed, that if any
Member of Parliament, either directly or indirectly, sup-
plied goods either to Government, or to any person, with a
knowledge that it was intended for Government, he should
not only be obliged to vacate his seat in Parliament, but
also be subject to a fine of 500/. for every day he sat there.
Gentlemen, of the existence of such an Act of Parliament I
was perfectly ignorant. At the period at which it passed it
might have been a necessary Act, when a corrupt Tory Go-
vernment were in the habit of giving in private extensive or-
ders to their favourites at the most exorbitant prices, without
any competition whatever, thus rewarding their subserviency
by enabling them to realize, at the expense of the public,
immense fortunes by their unjust and exorbitant charges ;
but the case is very different now. Every Government
contract—l refer particularly to that for stationary—is
done by open competition. Before any contract is entered
into, it is advertised in all the papers three weeks before,
inviting every tradesman or merchant throughout the king-
dom dealing in the article required, to tender for it, and the
person who will undertake the contract at the lowest price,
always obtains it. The public, therofore, are materially
served, when individuals possessing capital will undertake
these contracts at low prices, as a very considerable saving
is thereby effected. The Hon. Baronet then entered into
various details, the object of which was, he said, to show
that he had been the means of saving to the public, in the
contract for stationary alone, nearly 40,000/. per annum ;
and he declared that it was for this cause, and this cause
alone, that he had fallen a victim to the shameful conspi-
racy which had been formed against him ; and concluded
by thanking the Wardmote for the patience with which
they had listened to him.
This address was received most favourably, and the Ward
adjourned.

[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.]
The Times some days since stated as an evidence of the
change of public opinion, that in the Ward of Bishopsgate,
which was described as being heretofore the rallying post of
the Reformers, there would on St. Thomas's-day be 14
Conservatives started to turn out the Radical Representa-
tives. In another column will be found a statement of
the proceedings at the wardmote. We are informed that
some half-dozen persons, in their private characters honour..
able and influential individuals, as if stimulated by the en-
couragement of our contemporary, showed their faces at
the wardmote, where no sooner did their noses appear in
the meeting than instead of being elected common council-
men, they were chosen inquestme!a and constables ; and the
prophecy of the Times as to their elevation to office has
been realized in their appointment to the dignified station of
nightly Dogberries and daily pot peepers.

Mr. Tennant, author of " Anster Fair," and other
works, has been appointed Professor of Oriental Languages
in St. Andrews, in room of the late Dr. Scott.—lnverness
Courier.

THE KING OF THE CHIMNEYS.---At Runcorn
the chimney to a soap manufactory has been erected, which is
72 feet higher than the famed Monument which, though lately
gilt, may now go and hide its diminished head. Trade in this
country has a fit emblem here. Depend upon it the factory
will overtop the proudest Corinthian column and the highest
church steeple.—Literary Gazette.
St. Petersburgh journals to the 6th announce, with-
out comment, under the date of Nov. 6, from Tauris, the news
of the death of the King of Persia, Felk Ali Schab, who, as
our readers are already aware, died on the 20th of October, at
Ispahan. Exchange on London,