The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-28 00:00:00

the sons and relations of Peers—from the House of
Commons. He, for one, never dreamed of such a
thing,: where they were the people's choice. Let them
have the qualifications to recommend them, and they
would find their way there, and deserved to do so ;
bat what Was complained of was, that they were sent
there as the nominees of Peers from paltry boroughs,
twenty or thirty of which would not number as many
voters or people as should entitle them to a single re-
presentative.—(Cheers.) It was not the place a man
was sent for, but the class he belonged to, that mainly
influenced his opinions. If a number of Quakers sent
a naval ormilitary officer to Parliament, did he become
a member or friend of the Peace Society therefore ?
Did he not look rather to the interests of his comrades
in molls and vote that the profession might flourish ?
Therefore it was that he wished that the middle class,
and the operatives even, should have persons of their
own class to represent them.—(Cheers.) They were
told the people who had possession of the people's
house were chosen and sent there. Chosen by whom ?
Bye one male adult out of seven, of persons under
influence, the line of exclusion being drawn according
to rent, and not of brains, so as toinclude shopkeepers
and tenants-ta:will, but to exclude the sturdy intelli-
sev
srent operative, who was really the most independent.
Looking
enteaetnthe
wasof
register,the workingitseem e d
class,that so that the only one voter
in
electoral system, in fact, gave only one out of 105 as
the tvorking man's proportion. That was by
whom they veere chosen. Where were they chosen ?
By little places such as Thetford and Arundel,
whera a couple of hundred voters returned
Members to Parliament, while Manchester and Lie
verpool did no more.— (Hear, hear.) The big and
little .were jumbled together without system, like
looking through different ends of the telescope at
them. It was as if you were looking at a flea and
an elephant ; one way the flea was as large as the
elephant, and the other way the elephant was as small
as the flea.—(Cheers and laughter.) And they were
chosen by a septennial revel of the grossest corrup-
tion and debauchery. We talked of our Constitution;
why, if this was it, the banner of the British Consti-
tution was a bank-note, and its basis a beer-barrel.-
-(Cheers and laughter.) In returning them for six
or seven irresponsible years we seemed to forget the
homely maxim that short reckonings made long friends.
They asked Lord John Russell to remedy these times.
If his Reform Bill would achieve this they would re-
ceive it with thankfulness; if not, they had to tell
him their system would do it, and he ought to
come to them. 'What was the natural result of
such a system ? Unequal taxation—taxation which
in spirit was like the corn-laws, where the poor
man's bread was made to pay the landowner's
rent, taxation bearing upon the necessaries of life
rather than on property. What were the results of
this system but a monopoly of office for clans and
classes of people, and even for families, so that when
one leader of a party went out of office he advised her
Majesty to send for the leader of the other aristocra-
tic faction ? We read the effects of this system in
the diversion of all our institutions from their proper
objects. We saw it in the. Church; we saw it in the
colonies; we saw it in keeping a large army at home
that there might be a change of service in the colo•
pies. A large portion of our army answered no pur-
pose but that. How was it these troops were wanted
in the colonies ? It was because we do not give them
constitutions, nor allow them the command of their
own purse-strings. To the colonists of the Cape of
Good Hope we had been promising a constitution for
a quarter of a century, but at last instead of a consti-
tution we had given them Sir Harry Smith, who was
playing antics with the Kafir chiefs, and was en-
gaged in a war with them of which it is impossible
to estimate the cost. It was to check these results
that we called for a 'different representation of the
people. We wanted a statesman who understands
the true character of the. Saxon race, and who
would deal with them frankly, confidingly, and gene-
rously. In the times of serfdom the people were al-
ways ready to follow the barons who led them on to
win charters which laid down principles that secured
the heritage of freedom to their posterity. In later
times there had been nothing like the spirit mani-
fested in this country by the industrious classes. What
invention' had they not seized ?—how marked had
been their progress—they had founded new empires
—they were still founding them—at the very anti-
podes. In every moral and religious work they had
shown themselves equally forward. The middle and
working classes carried the Reform Bill and the re-
peal of the Corn-laws; and to them we should owe
another Reform Bill.—(Loud cheers.) We wanted
a Reform Act which shall adjust the representation
to the population, and the property if you like. Hap-
pily, it comes to the same thing, for where
there is most population there is most pro-
perty all the kingdom over. After referring
to the pleasure he felt in standing in the
company of so many veteran Reformers, the Hon.
Gentleman concluded by
saying----" We are no inno-
vators, we are not new-fangled constitution-mongers
—we are not revolutionists—we adhere to principles
which have been asserted generation after generation,
and which are the real constitutional principles of
this country—which, while it has one house of here-
ditary legislature, should have another house of re-
presentative legislature—a House of Commons, no-
minated by the commons of England.—(Loud
cheers.) We have nailed our flag to the mast ; it
was not lowered for Pitt, Castlereagh, Peel, or Wel-
lington, and it shall not be stained or dishonoured for
a Grey or a Russell.—(Prolonged cheering.) We
ask you to work, to help us to win for the people the
great and permanent good
of real representation.
Then may you say to your children, we helped to
reform abuses, this magnificent temple of order and
justice we helped to build, and we now leave you the
heritage we received from our forefathers, not only
unimpaired, but improved and carried forward to
perfection. Do you the same, and you will have the
consolation which we now feel of saying
that we
leave the world better than we found it."—(The Hon.
Gentleman resumed his seat amid loud and prolonged
cheering.)
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr. THOMAS WRIGLEY moved the next resolution.
He said, common sense and common prudence would
dictate him to be very concise in anything
he had to
say on this occasion, after having heard a gentleman
of such eloquence and power of mind as Mr. Fox. It
could not but appear strange to those who had given
the matter any consideration„ that in this country,
where there is a representative Government,
the good
which we desire and require for the improvement of
our condition had to be wrung from them by the exer-
cise of almost physical force. Everything we have
had, everything we have earned, was obtained by the
determination of the people out of doors, by the force
which the people brought against the powers who had
possession of the State. All remember that recent
act of legislation—that recent but greatest of ! all
blessings which this country ever obtained from Go-
vernment—the repeal of the corn-law. He remem-
bered the cost and labour at which that act of justice
was obtained, and he hoped they would all remember
with gratitude the name of Richard Cobden as long
as they lived.—(Great cheering.) They were now
met to demand from the Legislature that justice which
should come of its own free will from Government—
a reform of the representation of the people. The
the previous resolution •
and he had no doubt that if the same union, the same
and calm resolution, were manifested by
good sense
the case of.
It achieved in the case of the corn-
the people, the result principles had been stated in
j laws
the reform in
The resolution he had to
' Parliament.—(Cheers.)
propose said—
imperatively requisite. That the
union and energetic action of all
would ltdheb
the National Parliamentary and
principles advocated by
Association
merit the supportofthe
great
Financial Reform
of this
t body of the peoplekingdom ; and this
grea
' • of Reformers of every shade pledge
meeting, consisting
Reformers are now
well-dir t d Ise
ec e e orts of that
' themselves to sustain t
association." have no objection to anythin
He was sure he could
by the terms of the resolution
that was put forward _
had to guard against was this—
but the danger they h
the countr
that at the present moment asexperi-
unexampledw'
coring a degree of prosperityat t' history;
and it was natural to fear, Imes, that that very
bring about an apathetic indifference
prosperity might
to that which is in the future.
While the opportunity
was afforded it was the duty of prudent
. men to take
d that which was their right,
a stand, and to demand this
The terms of the
and which was only true
resolution which he had just read were all more or less
question of the suffrage was, perha
important. The
that of the greatest impel'.
tance.-0-lear.) B t
fi d with the he
must confess he was not satisfied
twish to
triennial Parliaments,
eino
with thoego
indis-
creetly to work, and was impressed opinion
not effect the purpose
that triennial Parliaments would
for in shortening the duration of
those gentlemen asked
• l in b dre
Parliaments. The great source of evil a presenta-
tion arose from the sources of tnat representation being
that constituencies were bought
corrupt. They found
and _
it was only such
and sold in small boroughs,
Lancashire, where the
places as the borough of
bad not time to be people were numerous and
cor-
rupt, that nullified to some small extent the corruption
cordial rade ;haile achieved
in
of distant places. He would destroy the Septennial
Act and come down at once to annual Parliaments;
because in so doing they would make it impossible
for any man to attempt to corrupt his neighbour.

THE COLLISION AND SINKING OF TIIE
PASHA STEAM-SHIP.
STATEMENTS OF VIE COMMANDERS.

The following are the depositions of the comman-
ders of the Pacha and Erin steam-ships, regarding
the extraordinary collision between those fine vessels,
taken before Captain Barker, of her Majesty's ship
Amazon. The unfortunate event, it will be recol-
lected, took place in the Straits of Malacca, and many
lives were sacrificed. The circumstances excited
considerable sensation ; it has no parallel in the chap-
ter of steam-boat accidents. The explanation of the
commanders of the vessels have been looked for with
much interest.
Mr. Robert Douglas Millar sworn, states,—l was
captain of the Peninsular and Oriental Company's
steamer Pasha. I left Singapore in command of her
at one o'clock P.M. on the 21st of July, bound to Pe-
nang and Calcutta. About half-past six o'clock that
evening, or it might have been a little later, we were
abreast of the Carimons, then about mid-channel. I
sent for the chief officer and told him that I wanted
to steer a straight course up the Straits N.W. by W.
As the chief officer had been accustomed to
the compass, I asked him if there would
be any error in thus doing. He said he did not
think there was any local variation of the
compass. I remarked to him that in the table of
errors I had on board it was given five or six degrees
to the eastward. He said again he did not think
therewas any error. From that time up to seven
bells (half-past eleven) I had been constantly on deck,
quarter deck, and the bridge, I went below for a few
moments occasionally to look at the chart. Although
I had been told that there was No error in the com-
pass, I still felt very anxious on that point. I fancied
the ship had gone in more on the Malacca shore than
I wished. I was under no particular apprehension.
I was on deck myself, and intended to remain on deck
all night. I mentioned this my intention to the doc-
tor about ten o'clock. At seven bells, or a little
after, I was standing at the foremost binnacle com-
pass, chip's head then N.W. by W., and at that par-
ticular moment a light was reported by the third
officer. To the bast of my recollection it was the
third officer who was standing on the starboard side
of the bridge. I immediately went on to the bridge,
and thence on to the paddle-box. I then saw a light
about a point on our starboard bow, or thereabouts.
I had to get over the mainyard, which was
lowered down, before I could get on to the paddle-
box. When I first saw the light it struck me
it must be a steamer's light, and I remarked,
" That it was a steamer's light." I was just
about to order the helm to port, but considering for a
moment, I called out starboard, saying at the time,
" We can on no account go in shore of the other ves-
sel, for I am afraid we are already too close in to the
land." When the helm bad been put a starboard we
brought the light about four points on our starboard
bow; the light then suddenly disappeared. This was
three or four minutes after I first saw the light, and
as near as I could judge it did not appear for five or
six minutes. In consequence of this sudden disap-
pearance, and not seeing it again immediately, I be-
gan to think it was a light on board some ship or boat
anchored near the shore. I made this remark just
before the re-appearance of the light. I had hailed
them aft, to bring her head to again, as she was then
out of her course ; her helm had been put to port, and
she was in the act of coming to when the light re-
appeared. The bearing of the light at this time ap-
peared to be one or two points on our starboard bow,
but as the ship's head was lying about, I immedi-
ately, on the re-appearance of the light, called out
" starboard." Shortly after this I went on to the
bridge ; the third officer left it and went aft. At
this time I hailed them aft to keep the light well
on the starboard bow. I frequently asked how
her head was. I was told W. by N., and W. N.,
and, I think, by W. I cannot say by which compass
he was steering. There is a difference of half a point
between ,the standard compass and the other. The
light was about three points on our starboard bow,
and had been so from the time we kept away on the
second occasion. I then ordered a blue light to be
burnt. This was about twenty minutes previous to
the collision. The blue light was burnt, and shortly
after the other vessel answered it by burning one. I
was then confident that the light I had seen was a
steamer. At the time the other steamer burnt a blue
light I could see her mast head. I then went aft, feel-
ing anxious about the steering, and by the standard
binnacle compass her compass was fast. The third
officer, who was aft, made some remark, and which I
do not recollect, but I remember answering him by
saying, " That ship will never come near us ; she
surely can see which way we are steering." I
desired the man at the wheel to pay particular at-
tention to his helm. I got on the rail to look
at the light, and it bore then bard on our
starboard bow. I then for the first time saw
her port (red) paddle-box light and same other
lights, probably in the engine-room. I think I
saw the green light for a moment, but I cannot be
sure, judging from circumstances, the way our head
was, and bringing the other ship so far on our bow.
I had not the least idea we should go near her. I had
got off the rail once or twice to look at the compass.
The night had been pretty clear till about a quarter
past eleven. Stars had been out, but it was then
getting somewhat cloudy. About ten minutes before
twelve it became misty. Up to this time I had no
idea of danger; she appeared to be abeam, or even
abaft the beam. I thqjght she might pass close, but
not nearer than 100 or 200 yards, but had not the
slightest idea of stopping our engines. I wished to
keep away from her, when all at once it appeared as if
she put her helm to port, and endeavoured to cross our
bow. Up to this time she had appeared to be coming
end on, but in an instant I saw her broadside ; she was
then within two or three ships' lengths of us. I called
out to the Erin, " Hard a-starboard ; where the deuce
are you coming ?" I did this twice. I immediately
saw that a collision was unavoidable. There was
not time to shift the helm, the helm being then hard
to starboard, when she came upon us at an angle of
45 or 50. I thought there was a chance of passing
us, but I could do nothing to save the collision;
my helm was half-a• starboard. When the helm

came close I called out to the chief engineer
to stop her. Somebody was aft, and I heard
something about lowering the boats. I called out, in
reply, " Lower away as fast as possible." I was on
the rail when the Erin struck us, and the shock was

so great as to pitoh me off the deck. I then went to
the break of the poop, with the intention of going
forward, as I beard those on board of the Erin calling
out, " Come on board, you are sinking." At this
time the Erin's bow was well over our deck. I

jumped into the saloon, partly to call up those who
might be there, and partly to get a box containing
tne ship's documents, seamens' register tickets, and
some of my own papers. When I got down I called
out as loud as I could for every one to go on deck.
The steward was th 9 only one I met below. Ins
name is Harper. He was saved. I tried to open
the drawer to get out my papers, but could not do
so. I always had a diffictlty in opening the drawer.
I was down only an instant, and went on deck, and
went on the bridge. I heard my name called b
some one on board the Erin. I believe it was they captain. At this time the Pasha was gradually settling down. I got hold of the Erin's bower anchor, which-
was catheaded and fished. The Pasha instantly went down, head first, leaving me hanging
on' they
Erin's anchor. In going down her uarter d my leg. Her foremast fell over the Erin' graze s fore-
castle, obliging the men to run aft. When they
returned a rope was thrown over to me, and I was
hauled up. 1 saw many of the Pasha's, people for-

ward on the Erin. I saw several taken over her bows.
hlewfoarse hanging on ownotshtehraonwenh oorvetrhrteoe
more. foI had
minutes
some
difficulty in getting aft. As soon as I got there I
saw the boats being lowered ; indeed, I think they
were already down. Everything was cut away and
the boats lowered as expeditiously as ssible. The
Erin was very much down at her
Po
*
er head. Her bows
were driven in. From the time of my first seeing the
Erin's light up to the time of • • •
the collision I consider
myself to have been responsible for the charge of the
vrssel. All orders were given by me and promptly
seeing
obeyed. From the time of • the Erin'san
light
we
had steered aW. N. course about four miles. After
the Erin's light was re-hoisted she ap eared us as if her course had altered. By the compasse
nearsh
appeared to be drawing aft, and I thought she would
pass us well on the starboard side. Till I saw her broadside she appeared to be running S.S.E. I saw the land just before the collision, about seven bells--
the land above Mount Formosa by indifferent bear-
ing N. by E. When I saw the Erin's light I fancied
myself about five miles from the shore. I did not see
the low land. I calculated the Erin to be six or seven
miles off when I saw her light first. Upon a sudden
meeting I should have ported the helm, but as she
was so far off I never thought of her going near us.
The Erin did not appear to come round gradually,
but her broadside appeared as if by magic. I
think everything was done on board the Erin that pos-
sibly could have been done under such circumstances,
and she was kept near the wreck as long as it was
prudent to do so. Captain Trouson spoke to me on
the subject, and spoke of running her ashore. We
were afraid she would not survive. I have been
through the Straits three or four times. Latterly the
Pasha steered well, being in good trim.
(Signed) ROBERT DOUGLAS MILLAR.
Mr. Thomas Treason sworn, states—l am captain
of the Peninsular and Triental Company's steamer
Erin. We passed the Water Islands about nine
o'clock ram., on the 21st of July, within two miles
and a half or three miles; we were going at the rate
of nine or nearly ten knots, with a flood tide in our
favour. About 45 minutes past ten o'clock I saw the
low land about Mount Muar for a minute—the officer
of the watch was on the paddle-box. He did not see
me come on deck. I then went into the cabin and
lay down, and came out again a little before seven
bells (half-past eleven). I then saw Mount Formosa
distinctly. It bore N.E. by E. We had been [steer-
ing S.E. by E. from the Water Islands. I was walk-
ing the port side of the quarter-deck, and heard the
officer of the watch who was on the paddle-box, call
out "port." I looked over the port side of the
quarter-deck to see why he did so, and saw a light.
Shortly after we saw a blue light burning, and
a steamer's paddle-box lights, both of them,
and also the mast-head light. I suspected it was the
Pasha, as we expected to meet her. The light then
bore about two points on our port bow. As we drew
near I saw her three lights, and I thought she wished
to speak us, and I sent word to stand by the engines.
It never occurred to me for a moment, meeting so
directly opposite, that she would put her helm to star-
board, as the rule is for steamers, when meeting,
always to put their helm to port. Steamers in the
Straits frequently do speak to each other. We still
neared each other, and, thinking we were approach-
ing too close I kept telling the man to port the helm.
I could not see the hull of the Pasha an account of
its being a dull night, until I thought the Pasha's
lights unusually close ; they were still all three in
sight. I then ordered the helm to be hard to port,
and assisted myself in putting the helm ;up, at the
same time calling out " Stop her." About this time
I heard some one on board the Pasha call out " star-
board," but whether meant for our vessel I could not
tell ; but it would have been too late—our helm was
already hard to port. I then ran, intending to go
forward, but before I could reach thel paddle-box we
struck the Pasha. I saw the Pasha was gradually set-
tling down forwards, and I called out to Captain Mil-
lar to order every one forward as fast as possible, at
the same time telling the engineers not to move the
engines, knowing that the wheels would be used as
a means of getting on board. I called out at the
same time to open the paddle-box doors, and for men
forward to throw rope. ends over the bows, or what-
ever else they could get hold of. I also 'ordered the
boats to be lowered. The reason of my telling the
engineers not to touch the engines, was because I
thought people might be climbing up by them. As
soon as the Pasha sank I went aft. All five boats
were down, and pulling in all directions. kAfter a
short time the boats returned, bringing in some people
whom they had picked up. They went away again,
and they were pulling about for upwards of an hour;
and it was not until that I found the fore hold was
filling that I recalled them. We then hoisted them
up and cleared away the wreck of the Pasha's masts,
&c., and our own rigging, and got a sail under our bow.
While this was being done, an officer and several men
were making everything ready for leaving the ship in
boats, in case she should sink, as also constructing a
raft on the forecastle. At that time the fore hold was
full of water, and our only chance of safety depended
on the holding of the bulkheads of the engine-room.
Whilst this was going on the Pasha's crew were
mustered to see who was missing; it was at first
said to be 12 only, but afterwards it was found
16 was the number missing. About this time Capt.
Millar called his officers together, and a consultation
was held as to what had better be done. We deter-
mined to run close in shore, and if possible into Ma-
lacca, which was only 40 miles distant. Immediately
the engines were set going and the pumps going, it
was found that we gained much on the leak, and after
running half an hour towards Malacca, finding that
we gained so much on the leak, a consultation was
again held with Captain Millar and his officers, on the
propriety of turning towards Singapore, and we de-
termined to do so. In about two or three hours after
we had borne up to Singapore, we had pumped nearly
all the water out of the hold, which I attributed to
the pressure of the water against the sail under the
bows preventing its running into the hold. I was
pretty confident of my position at the time of the col-
lision, having Passed through the Straits so many
times, and that during the night. I considered my-
self seven or eight miles from the shore. The appear-
ance of the land is very familiar to me. I never had
the least conception of the danger of a collision till it
took place.

(Signed) THOMAS H. TROUSON.
Strange to say, not the least vestige of the wreck of
the Pasha can be found. She had on board nearly
halfa million of specie, besides several chests of
treasure.

'NT to the ROYAL MAIL STEAM-

SHIP AFRICA.
LIVERPOOL, MONDAY, OCT. 27.—At seven o'clock
this morning the British and North American royal
mail steam-ship Africa, which left this port for New
York on Saturday last, returned to her berth, having
met with an accident when only a few hours out, by
running aground near the Copeland Islands during a
dense fog, at about ten o'clock on Saturday night.
We are happy to say there has been no loss of life,
and that, beyond the damage done to the hull of this
noble steamer, the disaster is unattended by any serious
results.

The particulars of this unfortunate occurrence, so 1
far as we have been enabled to ascertain them in the
confusion consequent upon the catastrophe, are as
on
though tot ugh reef
fromof - therocks
follows :—About two o'clock in the afternoon the
pilot was discharged, and a dense fog soon after set
in, so dense, indeed, that it was impossible to see
half the length of the vessel. Captain Ryrie iin,
mediately slackened speed, and proceeded
slowly
on his course ; but, notwithstanding the pre-
: entrancetaken,
to
BelfastA fri ea struckLough,
easy rate at which the engines were m •
ovmg the con-
cussion was but slight. The; engines were •
ncaeuartiothnes
ately reversed; but the tide, which was runningimmedi-
ately
a
rapid rate, carried her some distance on thebrocks, and
rendered the backward movement of t e engines
fruitless. After every effort was made
Ryrie and his crew to liberate the slf bY
Captain
ebbing fast, signal guns were I, and the tide
red for as-
sistance, but it was nine o' 1 k before any arrived, when twocec
next morning
from Belfast, and shortly afterwards steamers arrived
a third made her
appearance. At low water, the
Africa, from midships, was highentire fore part of the
and dry, but the sea
being very smooth at the tie, se did not strain
much, and it was found that she scarcelyi made any
r
water. As soon as the tide began
tions were made to get her
off;
rop e
so wiwenrge,
made
p fastaa
to the three steamers, and, being
aided by the en-
gines of the Africa, succeeded in getting her into deep
water. After she had been released, Captain Ryrie
resolved on returning to Liverpool, where be arrived
this morning at seven o'clock, attended by one of the
steamers which had assisted in getting her off the reef.
The Africa was taken into the north graving-dock
this afternoon, for the necessary examination and re-
pair. No blame can, it is admitted by the best judges,
be attributable to any person, as the occurrence was
beyond all human forethought.

MEETING OP THE PASSENGERS.

Immediately upon its being made known tc the
passengers that Captain Ryrie intended to return to
Liverpool, a meeting of the whole took place in the
saloon, on Sunday afternoon, when a committee was
formed to prepare such resolutions as might be deemed
expedient under the circumstmes, The committee,