The Sun.
London, England, 1834-12-17 00:00:00

SION OF

DEVON.

.'MEETING of LORD J. fiUSSELL'S ELECTION
COMMITTEE, L 01W JOHN Being PRESENT.
(Abridged fr3m the Plymouth Herald of Saturday.)
Lord John Russell arrived here on Saturday morning,
and in pursuance to notice which had been given, met his
Committee at the Mechanics' Institute, in Princes' Square.
There r.pwards of two hundred electors for the county present.
R. RAYLY, Esq., the gentleman who officiated so ably as
chair man of the committee at the last election, was requested
to cake the Chair. Shortly after one o'clock, the Noble
Lord entered the room, and was received with the highest
enthusiasm.
JOHN COLLIER, Esq., M. P., moved the first resolution.
Feeling satisfied with Lord John's principles, particularly after
reading his speech at Totnes, he was anxious that he should
be re-eletted as their representative—( Loud cheering.)
Dr. COOKWORTIIY seconded the resolution, which was put
and carried unanimously.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL then rose, and several minutes elapsed,
so ardent was the applause which he was greeted with, before
he could be heard. His Lordship said, It was was my fortune
to belong to a Ministry, which, after a long and arduous
struggle, was enabled to carry the Act, commonly called the
Reform Act--(Loud cheering)—and it was the opinion of
Lord Grey, the man from whom the Reform Act had its
source, that instead of attempting at once to push forward
every measure that was desirable, to the full extent of his own
liberal and comprehensive views, it would be better to carry
them forward, after that measnre had been secured and placed
in the hands of the people, with as little agitation as possible.
That may or may not have been good policy Ott the part of
Earl Grey. Those who considered it would have been better
for him to have gone to the full extent of his own views and
those of Lord Althorp, may have been right ;—I merely say
that such was the opinion Lord Grey entertained, and I do
consider myself I should not have been justified in incurring
the responsibility of disturbing the policy of two such men as
Lord Grey and Lord Althorp ; and that it was better for me
to incur even some degree of obloquy, than run the hazard
of exciting or p.romoting dissension in a Government of
which Lord Grey was the chief, and Lord Althorp the
leader in the House of Commons.—( Loud cries of " Hear.
hear," and cheers.) Be that as it may, the time had at
length come when it was necessary for Lord Melbourne's
Government to bring forward several important measures,
which the people looked to as the fruits of Reform. Such
were the intentions of the Government—but those intentions
have been frustrated for the present by what has occurred;
still, I can see no occasion for that alarm which is felt in some
parts of the country.—( Hear, hear.) We are told that it is
the wish of his Majesty to correct abuses, and to increase the
prosperity of his people.—( Hear, hear.) I would, therefore,
say to you, act in accordance with the wishes of his Majesty,
and in the event of a dissolution, elect such men as will sin-
cerely set themselves to correct abuses and promote the pros-
perity of the country. I, for one, shall feel no regret for what
has occurred, if I see the Government steadily proceed with
the correction of abuses; but, until then, I shall not place
much trust in them ; but, if sincerely anxious to correct abuses,
I, for one, shall he happy to see our mutual object attained.—
(Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord resumed his seat amidst loud
and continued applause.
T. BEWES, M. P. for Plymouth, then rose to propose the
following resolution ;
Resolved—" That this Committee having the fullest confi-
dence in the well-known political principles of Lord John
Russell, is determined to use its utmost exertions to secure his
re-election for the Southern Division of the County of Devon,
in the event of a dissolution of Parliament."
WM. PRANCE, Esq., seconded the resolution, which was
put and carried unanimously.
Dr. BALDY asked whether the intention of Mr. Bulteel, the
other Member for the Southern Division of the County, was
yet known, as it was understood it was to be announced at
this meeting.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, that he seen Mr. Bultcel,
who reserved his opinion till a dissolution took place, though,
if he were pressed, he was ready to make a declaration.
Mr. ELMS rose and said, he wished to ask the Noble Lord
present a few questions relative to his opinion as to the Dis-
senters' grievances.

The CHAIRMAN said it was contrary to the object of the
Meeting. This did not, however, satisfy Mr. Elms, who again
rose, when he was interrupted by Mr. Prance, who said he
could speak for the Dissenters in this and the adjoining towns
—they were all satisfied with Lord John Russell's conduct.
Mr. Elms was again proceeding, when he was stopped by the
impatience of the Meeting, who were averse to hearing him.
Lord JOHN RussELL however, rose, and said, after what had
occurred, he would say a few words. The fact was, that as
soon as the last Session of Parliament was closed, at Lord
Melbourne's request ho had had a correspondence with the
Committee of Dissenters in London, with a view to propose
measures for their relief, but the matter was in such a state,
that he could not say what the measures were which would
have been brought forward, but there was every disposition
to
relieve the Dissenters, and that was the end they had in view.
The CHAIRMAN then declared the meeting dissolved.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL whose reception at Plymouth must have
been highly gratifying to him, proceeded to Saltram, the scat
of the Earl of Morley, and from thence, during this week, hr. I
went to Undsleigh—his noble father's near Taristeck.