The Sun.
London, England, 1833-10-28 00:00:00

_,~ :_-

health of the Earl of Durham"—a nobleman whom they
sincerely respected and ardently esteemed.

The toast was drank with 3 times 3 enthusiastic cheers,
one cheer more," and every demonstration of respect
and warm-hearted attachment.
Lord DURHAM rose and was received with the most
enthusiastic applause. When it subsided, his Lordship
spoke to the following effect :

Gentlemen—l should indeed be deficient in all those
feelings which dignify human nature, if I did not feel
deeply sensible of kind and fl tttering—l may say en-
thusiastic—reception which you have given the toast
which has just been proposed by my Hon. Friend, the
Chairman. It is now more than ten years since I last
met you in this room ; and I still have the satisfaction of
finding my friends in Gateshead the same kind supporters—
the same warm hearted and affectionate friends which I
found them then, when they so mainly contributed to the
glorious triumph we then obtained.—(Applause.) Per-
haps, you may hardly think it worth while that, at the
outset, for a single moment, I should allude to the unwor-
thy reception that accompanied my entry into the town.
If you were surprised at it, I was not, knowing the quar-
ter front which it came—and that it was the same party
Iso successfully resisted in 1820, and shall always, to the
last hour of my life, contend against, because I know their
principles are at valiance with rational freedom and con-
stitutional government, of which I profess myself now,
and ever have done, the sincere and zealous advocate ;
and in the advocacy of which I shall never shrink from
any opposition from that quarter, as I know them to be
the enemies of true liberty, and am convinced that we
have but to meet them manfully to scatter them in the
dust.—(Applause.) No more allusion shall I make to
the reception I met from that quarter--except to no-
tice one expression which I have heard an individual
used, and which was not founded in fact—that
expreisions had fallen from me that were unwor-
thy of me to utter and him to bear. The only words I
used were, that I was surprised that his sense of propriety
did not dictate to him the necessity of apprising me that
an address had been voted to me, that I might state to
him when and where I should receive it; and that, en-
gaged as I was to the present meeting, it was not in my
power to receive it to-night, nor would I do so.—(Cheers.)
With this short explanation, I shall dismiss every thing
that appears to have disturbed the harmony of this meet-
ing—a harmony disturbed, perhaps, from feelings not
quite so personal to myself, as to my Hon. Friend the
Chairman, and some of his supporters.—(A laugh.) And
now, as this is the first occasion on which I have met any
of my countrymen assembled together since I left office,
allow me to make some allusion to what has fallen from
my Hon. Friend. He has stated to you, that be pre-
sumed from my attachment to the cause of Reform, I had
a great deal to do with the passing of the Reform Bill. I
will affect no mystery before you. I do not see why I
should.—(Cheers.) I will not conceal from you, that
immediately after the formation of the Government, Lord
Grey did intrust to me, personally, the preparation of that
measure.—(Loud and continued cheers.) I was assisted
by the advice of three of my colleagues, Lord John
Russell, Sir James Graham, and Lord Duncannon ;
and with their co-operation the first Reform Bill
was submitted to the Cabinet and to the So-
vereign. Of that measure I shall say no more
than that if it was not entirely perfect, it was, at the
same time free from many of those imperfections which
attended the passing of the second Reform Bill,—and
which, from accidental circumstances, it was impossible to
guard against. I allude, in particular, to the 501. tenants'
clause, which was forced upon the supporters of the Bill,
by the then Tory House of Commons, and afterwards
inserted in the second measure, although contrary to the
principles on which the first was framed—or, at least,
upon which I framed it,—namely, that independence
should be the security fur a vote—and that no matter how
small the property was, provided the voter could exercise
an independent suffrage, he should be entitled to vote for
his representative.—(Loud applause.) It is needless for
me to tell you, that circumstances to which I cannot, and
dare not, further allude, prevented my attending in my
place in Parliament, during the discussion of the first
measure, and from having anything to do with the forma-
tion of the second. When it did come before the House of
Lords, I supported it to the best of my ability, knowing
that with all its imperfections on its bead, it was one of the
greatest charters of public liberty, and one of the greatest
renovations of the constitution that any Government ever
staked its existence upon, or the two Houses of Parliament
ever ventured to pass into a law.—(Loud cheers.) I
know that much remains to be done—many imperfections
to be remedied—especially with regard to rating.—
(Cheers.) If we find that the non-payment of rates
should tend to disqualify those who have the right of
voting, that part of the measure should be altered and
amended.—(Loud and continued cheering.) Also,
with regard to registration, and the expense of elections,
—these are points which require to be reconsidered, and
with respect to which you have nothing to do hut to in-
struct your representatives to attend to them and they
must be carried.—(Cheers.) And here allow me to ob-
serve, that, in these days, we must not blame individuals,
or Ministers, if they have not carried the principles of that
Bill into execution. The power rests with yourselves now
to instruct your representatives to carry any measures
upon which you, the respectability and intelligence of the
country, have set your hearts, and they will be inevitably
carried.—(Cheers.) When I make this reference to the
part which I have taken with respect to the Reform Bill,
do I mean to claim credit to myself? However I may
have advocated its leading principles, however diligent I
may have been in the formation of it, or however obsti-
nately I may have stuck to some of its clauses—(Loud
cheers)-1 do not. I was but the humble instrument of
carrying into effect the will of one who staked his credit,
and the reputation of a long life, upon the success of the
measure ; and who only took office upon condition of car-
rying the question. The person who possesses this claim
to the gratitude of the people of England is one man and
one man only—and he is Lord Grey. As to the part I
took in regard to the borough of Gateshead, I rejoice that
it fell to my lot to dispel many of the delusions and pie-
juilices that existed, and the false impressions that had
been produced against it. I knew it well: I knew
the spirit of independence which has ever actuated
its inhabitants—that they would never be subject to the
influence, nor submit to the dictation, of any man living ;
and that if an independent constituency was to be formed,
it would be found in the borough of Gateshead. I beg
to ask if the result has not fully justified my opinion ?
(Cheers.)
Whatever feelings may be entertained, or dif-
ference of opinion exist, with regard to the political senti-
ments of our Honourable Chairman, I ask you if any roan
can deny that he was freely and properly elected, free
from the influence of property, vicinity, or any situation
in life in connexion with it.—(Loud applause.) It is,
therefore, with no small satisfaction, that amidst all the
labours of my public life,—which has now been extended
to more than twenty years—l look back to the part I
took, in vindicating the claims of Ibis independent borough
to representation under the provisions of the Bill. Mr.
Itippon has alluded to the present state of public affairs,
as being one of a very serious description; and I confess I
ant much inclined to agree with him in that opinion.—
(Hear, hear.) I believe, and admit, that a spirit of rest-
less discontent is abroad, which requires great prudence,
great skill, great discretion, and statesmanship to allay.
But my opinion is, that the best mode of allaying it—
and the only mode of allaying it—is for the Crown and
the Government to go cordially along with the people.—
(Loud and continued cheers.) I know of nothing
that the intelligence of the country—and when I
speak of the people I speak not of any thing but
the intelligence and education ; not the property,
but the intelligence and education of the country
—I say I know of nothing which the intelligence
of the country has set its heart upon, and which it ought
to possess, that it will not eventually obtain.—(Cheers.)
I therefore say it is the duty of a wise statesman to exa-
mine the objects the people have in view, and what they
are determined to obtain; and when be is satisfied of their
justice he should not wait to be forced into the adoption
of such measures; he should not do it upon ex.
pedieney or compulsion, but grant it freely and cordially ,
for believe me, that the boon granted upon compulsion,
however the object may be obtained, loses half its grace,
and very often all its value.—(Loud cheers.) Perhaps
you may expect, at this meeting, when I have the honour
of seeing assembled round me my neighbours and friends,
for the first time since I left office, that no mystery
should attach to any part of my conduct as a public man
—and I have already shown you that none has attached
to it with respect to the Reform Bill—or to the cause of
my quitting my official situation in the administration ;
and perhaps I cannot give you better reasons for my doing
so than those contained in the letter of resignation I de-
livered in to the Prime Minister, and which, as it is very
short, I will take the liberty of reading to you.—(Hear.)
The Noble Earl here read the following letter :
Cleveland Row, March El, 1833.
My DEAR LORD GREY,—MOTC Than four months have now
elansed. during which—from the severe affliction with which
• - . • • . _ %veil have
I have been Visited, aria tits folio
Veen thoer
intraenre-
saetitl prevented
ganyi niscrm attending
eorialduties,extehee neptCsaubeih:s
business of the Privy Seal. Cr
eoguanr cdiel ss
If I could any longer entertain the hope
of a speedy re.
covery, I might feeljustified in remaining in retirement a short
time longer—but the state of my health has become so Much

ev-v

worse of late, that I cannot anticipate any relief, or even the
chance of it, unless from a temporary change of climate, and an
abstinence from the cares and anxieties of office.
In these circumstances I have no alternative but to beg you
to lay before the King my resignation of the office which I
hold in his Majesty's service. Yours ever affectionately,
DURHAM.
That resignation, so tendered, was most graciously accepted
by his Majesty, and on the very day it was accepted, Lord
Grey communicated to Inc his Majesty's gracious intention
of conferring upon me that additional mark of honour
which you are already acquainted with.—(Cheers.) This
I could have no hesitation in accepting, because it proved
that the confidence with which I was honoured by the
Sovereign was not diminished by my resignation of office
—(Cheers)—and I trust and hope that in everything I
have done, I was not only deserving of his confidence, but
that I have done nothing to forfeit that of my fellow-
countrymen.—(Repeated cheers.) I may shortly say that
never, either in the senate or the cabinet, have I compro-
mised one single principle I ever avowed, but that I have
always endeavour, d, through good report and evil report,
to carry into effect those principles which I have considered
as necessary- for the happiness of the country, and from
which no paltry object of ambition ever did, or ever
shall, induce me to swerve.—(Load applause.) And
now, having said thus much—having, in return for the
marks of respect and affection which you have been
pleased to bestow upon me, treated you with the ut-
most candour, and laid before you every circumstance
connected with my public conduct—as I felt bound
to do ; for when a man stands before those who are
assembled to do honour to his public character, he
is bound to take care that no circumstance upon which
any doubt could remain should be left unexplained—
affirming that the vietvs with which I became a Minister
were to maintain the honour and security of the Crown
and promote the advantage and happiness of the people,
which was ever my invariable line of conduct while I was
in office, which I only left because I was incapacitated by
the hands of Providence, and the state of my health,
fro:n longer discharging my duties—l will only add, that
being now blest with a comparative return to health, if I
am further spared in this world, I shall continue, as
before, humbly, but zealously, to devote myself to the
service of my country.—(Cheers.) I return you my most
sincere and heartfelt thanks for the cordial manner in
which you received the toast proposed to you ; and I shall
always reckon, as one of the happiest hours of my life,
that in which I renewed my connexion with a body of
individuals to whom I have owed so much, and whom I
have so much reason to esteem.

When his Lordship sat down, the whole company rose
and greeted him with a simultaneous cheer.
Mr. HAWKS Said he had seldom had a more agreeable
duty to perform than that of proposing the healths of Sir
Hedworth Williamson and Mr. Hedworth Lambton, the
worthy and excellent representatives for the Northern Di-
vision of the county. —(Cheers.) As an inhabitant of
Gateshead, he was proud to see them under this roof, and
if any thing could add to the pleasure he felt, it was to
witness them partaking in the festivities of the day, and
cordially uniting in doing honour to a noble and thrice
welcome guest. It was the duty of the inhabitants of
Gateshead to feel grateful to both the Hon. Members, for
the attention and respect with which they had invariably
listened to their wants and wishes ; and lie had no hesita-
tion in saying, that they were worthy of the almost
unanimous support they had met with in that borough.
And should the clear stream of their communication be at
any time a little troubled, he sincerely hoped that, in the
long run, the good understanding which at present
existed between the Honourable Members and their
constituents in Gateshead might long continue, and
that each party might grow old together in good fel-
lowship and harmony.—(Cheers.) To one of the Hon.
Gentlemen, this I know to be a proud and a happy day;
for he witnesses a large and most respectable body of
constituents, met together for the express purpose
of endeavouring to evince, as far as lays in their
power, the gratitude, esteem, and respect they feel
for his noble relative, as one of the framers of the
Reform Bill, and one of its most strenuous, ardent, and
eloquent supporters. To Mr. Hedworth Lambton, he
would repeat, it must be most gratifying to see that Noble
Lord, whom the opposers of the Reform Bill, and the
liberty of that borough, represented as the feudal master
and insulter of its population, received, not with the surly
deference the slave pays his master, but willingly, desi-
redly, by invitation, and with all the open-heartedness,
frankness, and joy of a free people.—(Cheers.) And here,
in this room, in the face of the constituency of Gateshead,
without fear of contradiction from his fellow townsmen,
without fear of offending his Lordship, and with a most
perfect conviction that he spoke the honest truth, he
would affirm, that if Mr. Hedworth Lambton had been
of anti-reform principbs, whatever gratitude they might
feel towards the Noble Earl, however they might respect
him, and however personally they might be obliged to
him, the sum of the votes given to that Hon. Gentleman
would not have exceeded the paltry number doled out to
Mr. Braddyl.—(Cheers.) No; the splendid and brilliant
measure of the Reform Bill was not formed with so much
care, talent, and labour, carried through both Houses of
Parliament with so much toil, trouble, and intense anxiety
to make any body of men slaves. Lord Durham would
spurn the base idea with contempt, and the free people of
Gateshead laughed the very thought to scorn.—(Cheers.)
The borough of Gateshead, traduced and vilified by an
interested faction, had, to their horror and consterna-
tion, preserved its virtue and independence pure and
undefiled : it would, he hoped, still sternly pursue the one
only honest and straight-forward course; and that her
good citizens would soberly and discreetly elect their
representatives, both for the county and the borough,
without being influenced, either by any great and influential
noble, or bullied by any arrogant and intolerable demagogue.
—(Loud cheers.) But the people of England, and more
especially of this borough, owed the Earl of Durham much,
and as honest men they could not, and would not, violate
their consciences.—(Cheers.) He hoped a Latnbton
would never be wanting to defend the Just rights and
privileges of the people, and that such a person would
always obtain the support of the borough of Gateshead.
The toast was drunk with three times three, and great
applause.
Sir HEDWORTII WILLIAMSON Said the most gratifying
tribute that could be offi red to a public man was the praise
of the enlightened and educated portion of his fellow.
countrymen. He could fully enter into the feeling of
Lord Durham when he accepted the invitation of so large
a portion of his former constituents, whom he so long
and faithfully represented, through a long series of
years : he could well imagine what his feelings roust
have been in receiving from them such an expression of
their approbation—in which he (Sir Hedworth) most
sincerely and warmly joined—and it must be still more
gratifying to his Lordship to know that this did not
spring from any evanescent or temporary exciterneut, but
was in unison with the settled convictions and feeling of
those who had met to do him honour.—(Cheers.) After
the very eloquent speeches of Lord _Durham, and of
the proposer of the toast they had just drunk, and as he
was very far from well, he would not detain them for
more than a very short time by making any observations
personal to himself. He assured them the only reward
he looked to, fur his exertions in Parliatoent, was the
approbation of his constituents and his own conscience.—
(Cheers.) So lone as he should have the honour of being
their representative, he should endeavour, by every means
in his power, to deserve their good opinion, by advocating
the principles that originally recommended him to their
notice, and which he should ever hold it to be his bounden
duty to maintain.—(Cheers.) When he was fist :eturned
to Parliament, he looked to Gateshead as one of the new
boroughs that would show a bright examrle to the neigh-
bourhood. He heard every species of obloquy thrown
upon its inhabitants by those who either did not know
them, or feared their honesty and intelligence.—(Cheers.)
He was happy to see that they had afforded a most
triumphant refutation to all that was past ; for if ever
there was a constituency deserving of exercising an
influence in the legislature, it was the constituency of
Gateshead. He was also gratified to know that the same
spirit of independence actuated the constituencies of the
rest of the county that animated it in its undivided form—
as was proved by the number of Reformers returned by
them at the general election, which satisfactorily proved
their fitness to enjoy that share of the representation of the
country which was extended to them by the Reform
Bill.—(Cheem)
Mr. HEnwowrit LAMSTON said he felt placed in rather
an unpleasant position ; for they were met to pay Lord
Durham the highest compliment they could offer to him—
to bestow on him the highest proof of their regard, respect,
and gratitude—while he, as his Lordship's brother, was
compelled to be silent as to his merits. But thus much
he would say, that however attractive to public men, as
rewards for public services, titles, and honours might be,
in his opinion, such scenes as he had participated in this
e
ovueunnsi
diidn.enogrpres
then,e n e d
thea far
privilegesuperior
of reward.
giving e
rae
n e re
s.) o
Being
feelings which his noble rel.
Knew he entertained for
,
tCh
debarred,those
nn; to must request the attention of the company while
he said a few words relative to lainiself. Were he only to
hisc
iielpawrencoilnlecclitninagtiotias htehwe
way asitredporewsenn;tabtivutel oief
the northern division of this county. He saw around
him
many of his enlightened and intelligent constituents;
and as he had not had an opportunity of meeting any of

them since the conclusion of the first Session of the
reformed Parliament, he should consider it a dereliction
of his duty to them and to himself if he did not make
a few observations on the present occasion. With reaard
to the labours of the past Session, though he thought
Parliament might and ought to have done more, yet he
was prepared to maintain that it did a great deal that
was worthy of a reformed Parliament. It had given
freedom to the slave population of our colonies ; by its
vote the chains of the negroes had been cast off—they
stood erect in all the dignity of our nature, and they and
their posterity were free.—(Cheers, and some marks of
dissent.) Parliament had also given to the immense
population of our East Indian possessions a good and wise
code of laws, and opened those extensive territories to the
operations of British enterprise, capital, and industry.
Were not these things worthy of a reformed Parliament ?
—(Cheers.) He would not unnecessarily take up their
time by dwelling, in detail, upon the labours of the past
session, but be wished to refer particularly to the exer-
tions of the committees on the state of agriculture,
commerce, and manufactures, and se. that subject which
be regarded as second only to the Reform Bill—be meant
corporation reform.—(Cheers.) Was there one man
in the room who was not an ardent advocate of such a
reform ; or who did not wish to see the neighbouring,
corporation of Newcastle stripped and shorn of its cor-
ruptions, its abuses wrenched and wrested from it,
and its affairs conducted on principles of justice and
public utility?— (Loud cheers.) Having said thus
much of the past, he begged to add a few words on
the future. His wishes, with regard to the future,
[night be compressed into this simple ob,ervation—he
wished to see the Reform Bill a truth, and not a de-
ception. (Loud cheers.) If, hereafter, when any
proposition should be made, at the fit and proper time, and
by men deserving the confidence of the country, that pro-
position should not be adopted, and abuses remedied forth-
with, then the Reform Bill would be a deception—but
otherwise a truth.—(Cheers.) With regard to his Ma-
jesty's Ministers, he would not so far insult the patriotic
names of Grey and Brougham—names which he had ever
been accustomed to look up to with admiration for their
virtues and confidence in their political honesty—as to
suppose, for an instant, that they had any other object
than that the Reform Bill should be a truth. He would
not for a moment believe that they would insult the British
nation, or tarnish their own splendid fame, by cherishing
any other desire.—(Cheers.) He had a right to expect,
and did expect, that the Reform Bill would prove the
means of curing every abuse, and of diminishing those
burdens which pressed upon the country.—(Cheers.)
He was anxious for the Reform Bill—not for the purpose
of placing any Ministry in office, or establishing any party
in power, but solely and entirely—as he was sure was the
object of his noble relation near him—for the welfare and
happiness of the British people.—(Cheers.)
Mr. WILLIAMSON proposed " The Lord Lieutenant."
Lord DURHAM next said—lf it was nothing but a feeling
of gratitude to my Hon. Friend Mr. Rippon, for the kind
manner in which he proposed my health, I should have
great pleasure in returning the compliment; and I am
sure that if I do it with pleasure, you will receive it with
equal satisfaction.—(Cheers.) I am but your guest ; true
an honoured guest; but be is your representative—he is
intrusted with the performance of the most sacred duties
attached to the character of an Englishman ; and I believe,
if I may judge from the countenances I see around me,
and the welcome you have given him, be has performed
those duties to your entire satisfaction.—(Cheers.) I do
not conceive that I am called upon, at present, to go
through a review of his parliamentary conduct as your
representative; and absence from public life, and the state
of my health, has prevented my paying that minute atten-
tion to his parliamentary career which would enable me
to do so. But this I will say, and I am confident you
will go along with me—that every vote he has given was
intended for the good of the country at large and the ad-
vantage of his constituents—(Cheers.) I have already
stated to you, that I considered your choice of him as
your representative at the last election, as one of
the greatest proofs of the justice of my vindica-
tion of the borough of Gateshead in Parliament;
for he had no claims upon you but his poli-
tical principles, and the independence of his cha-
racter : if anything, a prejudice might exist; for he
came from a quarter which could be no recommendation,
although you had onse supplied it with a rector.—(A
laugh.) It is highly to the credit of both, that you over-
looked the prejudice that might have been excited against
him by his living near an individual of whom you could
have no very favourable opinion.—(Laughter.) Your
representative is now amongst you, and I deliver him over
to your tender mercies—(A laugh)--being quite confident
that there is no feeling which animates the breast of any
one of you that does not strike a responsive chord in the
bosom of my Hon. Friend.—(Cheers.) If I know any-
thing of the integrity or talent with which he represents
you, I am quite sure length of time will but strengthen his
claims to your respect and attachment.—(Cheers.) I
propose the health of your respected representative—our
Hon. Chairman; and let us prove by our cheers this
night, that, in electing him, you are not the " basses" you
were told you were.—(Roars of laughter and applause.)
The CHAIRMAN said he must return thanks to the
Noble Lord for the flattering terms in which he had pro-
posed his health, and to the company for the kindness
with which they had drunk it. He must crave pardon
of those gentlemen present who were not electors of Gates-
head, if he took the opportunity of offering a few remarks
upon his Parliamentary conduct ; as this was the first
time an opportunity had been afforded to him of meeting
a body of his constituents since they had returned him to
avmti
igss,nesendeoyotedfr.heanai:aentdhshstduei
.c:dheLtteeo,ol°hti
the House of Commons. He came to this place untried
and unknown. He had no past conduct to refer to—
no character to set before them. He told them frankly,
and without equivocation, what were his political opinirs;
he offered his humble services to them, and they were
pleased to accept them. One session of Parliament was
over, and he now stood before them to receive their vet,
diet of approbation or censure.—(Loud cheers.) Perhaps
one charge might be brought against him, of having been
too silent a representative ; but he could truly assure them
that the great fault of the late session was the extreme
talkativeness by which it had been distinguished.—(A
laugh.) He believed the best course a young member
could pursue was to preserve a discreet and pru-
dent silence.—(Hear, hear.) Another charge that
had been made against him was, that he had not
called his constituents together to explain his conduct
to them. It was contended, in certain quarters, that
it was the duty of a representative to do so at the end of
each session ; but he had yet to learn the reasonableness
and utility of snch a practice. The conduct of a repre-
sentative was fully known to his constituents—his votes
were published from day to day in the journals—and they
had thus sufficient information constantly before them to
enable them to form a comet estimate of his merits or
demerits.—(Applause.) He could therefore sic no ad-
vantage that was to be derived from adopting such a
course, unless it were to afford him an opportunity of
Popular display, and of gratifying personal vanity. He
was too democratic to derive any pleasure from the wav-
ing of banners or beating of drums, and he despised that
purchased parade which was afforded alike to the indepen-
dent and corrupt, and might be bad by every man who
could buy it..—(Cheers.) He would never hesitate to
meet his constituents whenever, or wherever, he might be
required. He was ready to give them, individually or
collectively, any information they might seek. He had
never hesitated to avow his opinions, nor shrunk from
maintaining them ; and he would tell all those who
lt
o
luanhrevnidni
other
oenrtutt
cecl
vhdmtpb,
ee
yerearlari
places,
eto.uitsu}:teel
their
disclaim
measured
opportunity
ryrrtd the , t
professions.—(Applause.)
ry secret enemies
intellgrity
nor ct.tbvpae_yaeernsrtt
yw,(oo)hhnArf,c.i
eesoptaonnomprpp
ndioelreaevnlenuxi
rejoice
eoi re-
vilers,
mbg.nceay)sei
atiaHH:Pneee:listdrhcriaTotil hope he might have been able to give his support
to the Ministers who carried the Reform Bill. They
advanced under three professions—reform, retrenchment,
and peace. He was willing to hope that difficulties stood
in their way which he could not discern, to prevent their
making the Reform Bill what his Hon. Friend Mr. Lamb-
ton, had called it, a truth, and not a delusion. He always
thought there were two courses open to them—one to
sett() headetrhaecy.
The
et hfierspteol
epdl et,
othe
honourother tand
slinkth the national
beind
lst he
a(.
y saw
set themp— pursue a(ott safety—the
utien )
the latter course-
second to disgrace and eventual convulsion.
e
But wenivrAcani r'riiioctheir measures to fit the dinainuti
ar g
e
i
9.-e standard Piwhicnh
'"0 saw them making that
party the arbiters of the ',Mount of abuse they were willing
to yield,--they placed the criminal in the judgment seat—
they pursued a policy worthy of Mezentius by chainieg
the new-born body of popular power the antiquated and
ta to
inted cue,.
se of hereditary coreuption.—(Loud cheers.)
regard to retrenchment, be did expect that all use-
less offices, naediess sinecures, and unmerited places and
pensions would have been done away. Far be it trout him
to say that something had not been done; but he could
not consider it a sufficient following out of that prin-
ciple which every honest government was bound
to enforce.--(Reuewed cheering.) Government was
the• trustee of the public, and if they expended the public
money for any other than public services, they were guilty
of fraud._.(Cheers.) The claims of a man to the public

property rested upon his services to the public, not upon
the partiality of a Prince or the interested favour of a
Minister. The public money should be paid, not given,
and only for services perforrned.—(Cheers.) With regard
to peace, he had hoped Government would have pursued
a more conciliatory course towards unhappy Ireland. But
instead of this, they had determined to maintain that great
and crying grievance, an overgrown and dominant church,
whose doctrines were not in accordance with the opinions
of the great body of the comtnunity.—(Cheers.) When
that measure was brought before the House of Commune,
he felt it to be his duty—though be believed he was
considered by Ministers little better than a madman—(A
laugh)—to assert those principles which he had ever
maintained and ever would—that it was unjust to compel
any man to pay for the support of a form of religion in
which he did not concur, and from which he received no
benefit.—(Cheers.) Religious opinion could not be put
aside, at the bidding of another,•nor by a man's will. He
contended it was the duty of a Christian first to seek the
truth, and then to adhere to the doctrines which the
truth, as he believes, teaches. He had been much suprised
at the extraordinary observations he had beard in the
House of Commons on this subject. He remembered a
worthy Scotchman gravely asserting, one evening,
that " every mon that dud'nt belong to the Church of
England was not a chreestian !"—(Much laughter.)
He had ventured to remind him that the supremacy of the
Church of England was created, not by its creed and
doctrines, but by the preference of the civil power.—
(Cheers.) Other individuals said, that though dissenters
might suffer certain disabilities, these were yet proper to
be sustained by them, as a punishment for their non-
conformity to the principles of the Church of England.
Such were the doctrines held there, and which would
continue to predominate, unless the people of England did
their duty, by calling for measures which would give jus-
tice to all classes of the people.—(Applause.) His Hon.
Friend had congratulated them upon the settlement of the
great question of Colonial Slavery : he agreed that it was
in a certain state of settlement, but he could not concur
in his unqualified commendation of the measure.—(Hear,
Bear.) He voted against the 20 millions, the 15 millions,
and would have voted against 5 millions, because he con-
sidered the whole arrangement little better than a public
robbery.—(Cheers.) The man who stole the unhappy
African bad no right in his blood and bones, and could
therefore convey no title to his purchaser. The miserable
slave could with equal justice demand his liberty at the
hands of the last holder as at those of the ruffian who
snatched him from his country and his hotne.—(Cheers.)
There was one subject to which he would make allusion,
because he thought that without that being done the Re-
form Bill would be a ❑ullity—he meant the repeal of the
Septennial Act.—(Cheers.) He trusted the people would
concentrate their consideration for obtaining this measure,
and would not hesitate to employ the most extreme consti-
tutional means for the obtention of this end, which could
alone secure the permanent freedom of the Constitution.
—(Cheers.) He would not call their attention to the
atrocious conduct of that Parliament which, in defiance
of every engagement, and in violation of every
pledge, voted the continuity of their sittings for a period
of seven years, when they had promised to resign their
holding at the end of three. Thair act was a virtual
disfranchisement of the country for four years. He would
simply refer to the advantages to be derived from a retur❑
to the system appointed at the revolution. He would take
his own else. When he came to that place, he was
unknown and untried. The electors were pleased to
entertain expectations of his fitness, which were afterwards
to be realised by experience. Suppose at the end of two
years, they found him unable or unwilling to discharge his
public duties, would it not be a monstrous hardship tha:
they should be prevented from again exercising their right,
and remaining unrepresented for a period of five years?—
(Cheers.) Other men carne forward, assumed appearances,
and professed opinions, for the mere obtaining of a tem-
porary' purpose, which were thrown off and abandoned
when their end was gained. Shorten the duration of
Parliaments and they would diminish the influence of the
Minister; and as they lessened the means of temptation
they would increase the inducements to political rectitude.
—(Cheers.) Having said thus much on the past, he wished
to make a few observations as to the fu'ure. They were
aware there had always been with him a favourite topic,
which he ventured to broach on the first occasion that he
ever attended a public meeting—which he believed was i❑
February, 1831. That proposition was to remove the
Bench of Bishops from the Upper House of Parliament.
—(Cheers.) They might remember he was arrested,
in the course of his observations, by the authority of
the High Sheriff, incited and urged on by the
Durham Whigs; but he had the satisfaction
of seeing, a few months afterwards, that same
High Sheriff tacitly approving his remarks, and thos-
very Whigs cheering his observations.—( Cheers and
laughter.) He should think himself unworthy to be
their representative, if he clamoured, out of Parliament,
fur the attainment of objects which he hesitated to at-
tempt to gain within it. He had therefore taken upon
himself to move for leave to *ring in a Bill to relieve
the Bishops from their legislative and judicial duties.—
(Loud cheers and laughter.) Two Hon. Friends of his
had given similar notices; but as they thought the
matter in good hands, they had withdrawn theirs, and
had required from him only one pledge—that he should
promise to do it, and do it directly.—(Cheers.) He knew
no principle of reason that would warrant the attach-
ment of legislative duties to the overseer of a Christian
Church.—(Cheers.) He knew not what might be the
present fate of this proposition ; but he was determined,
so long as he enjoyed a seat in Parliament, to agitate
that question, from year to year, and trusted that he
might eventually have the good fortune to witness the
triumph of his proposition for the ejection of the bi-
shops, as the Noble Lord on his right had lived to wit-
ness the success of Parliamentary Reform.—The Hon.
Gentleman concluded by saying that so long as health
and their confidence were afforded him, he would wil-
lingly endeavour to discharge the duties of his office ;
but as he would prefer to yield his existence rather
than sacrifice his independence in word and action, he
would frankly assure them that if the occasion should
arise when he could not conscientiously employ that trust
to their satisfaction, he would willingly and gladly resign
it into their hands—from them he had received it in purity
—to them would be restore it unblemished and unabused.

When the Chairman resumed his seat, the company
rose and cheered him as they had done Lord Durham.
Mr. KELL proposed " His Majesty's Ministers."
Mr. GRANGER gave " The Members for the 'southern
Division."

Mr. HUTT returned thanks on betlalf of Mr. Bowes,
and Mr. PKATTMAN for Mr.

Dr. HEADLAM proposed The Magistrates of the
County."
Mr. WituAnsol; returned thanks.

The CHAIRMAN proposed "The Countess of Durham,
and the family at Lairibton Castle ;" which was acknow-
ledged by Lord Durham in an elegant speech, in which he
warmly eulogized the ladies of Gateshead fur the attach-
ment they had shown to liberal principles.
Mr. BROCKETT proposed "The cause of Reform : may
it move onwards, until every abuse, civil or ecclesiastical,
be swept away !" In the course of an eloquent and witty
speech (which we regret our limits will not allow us to
give), Mr. B. entered into a triumphant vindication of
the charges brought against himself and the Committee of
Management by Mr. Attwood and his associates.

Mr. SOWERBY proposed "Mrs. Rippon and the family
at Stanhope Castle."
The CHAIRMAN returned thanks.

Lord DURHAM_—it it with feelings of the most painful
emotion, that I rise to propose the sentiment to you which
has been assigned to me; and I assure you I fulfil the
duty with the deepest regret. It is to propose to your
consideration the services of that most excellent and la-
mented man, James Losh.—(Applause.) I may with
truth say, that a more deep, or a more irreparable loss,
could not have occurred, either 10 the county of Nortbutn-
berland, or to that of Durham.—(Applause.) His ser-
vices in the cause of freedom extended over a long course 1
of time--his consistency must be admitted by all, e°-en to
win from his adversaries golden opinions—h 3: discretion;
tact, judgment, and sterling hollow were never dis-
puted, and cannot be too
praised (Applause.)
o Is it too much to say, th •
the loss of such Ban is of no
small importance'. We see around us most gratifying
Pr"' of young talent; but we should not forget the bril
tint light shown by that good and illustrious man to those
who were but children when he first fought the battle of
Reform, and whose example induced them to come for-
ward in the cause with zeal and anxiety for its success.—
(Applause.) I give only a very inadequate exposition of
his merits when I say that the loss of James Lush, even in
the present day, is almost irreparable ; and when we
reflect upon the great services he rendered in that contest
to which Mr. Ord has alluded, and which so unfortunately
terminated—that he was foremost in all the great works
which dignify and adorn human nature—we cannot, in
an assembly of Englishmen, met together to support the
cause of freedom, refuse to give expression to, an una-
nimous tribute of respect and admiration of the charac-
ter of that great and excellent man.—(Continued applause.)
Whilst paying this tribute to the memory of that steady
and practical statesman, with whom 1 ever most cordially
acted, and whose talents, though they might dignify
Northumberland, were in a great degree lost to his coun-

trymen, from the too limited sphere in which they were
shown, it may not be inappropriate to make some allusion
—which, had he been alive. he would have done so much
more effectively—to the observations on pubic affairs, and
the conduct of the Administration, which some (I my
Hon. Friends around the have addressed to you, .in,.„., I
had an opportunity of taking part in the proceedings of
this evening. Unconnected with the Ministry, as I now
am, I refrained from noticing the toast which referred to
them—not because I do not feel a deep interest in all
the acts of that great man, my noble relation at the
head of the Government, whom I have followed through
life, and of those who were my colleagues; but I cannot
allow the evening to pass over without recalling to your
recollection, as just and honourable Englishmen, that how-
ever we may disapprove of sotne of the measures they have
introduced to Parliament, and to which they themselves
admitted they were driven by dire necessity, we must make
allowance for the great difficulties which pressed upon
them front all sides. We must remember the great services
they have performed, and not be too ready to believe that
because they do not follow the same track, and with the
same speed and resolution we might wish them, they are
less sincere in their intentions. They have done a great
deal in their ample contribution of the Reform Bill ; and
they did a great deal last session, when they introduced
that important measure which, in my conscience I believe,
will go far to extirpate that pestilential Toryism which,
like the Upas tree, has so long overshadowed the land.—
(Cheers.) By their measure of corporation reform, which
will place in your grasp the power to reform those nests of
corruption which have so long oppressed the country, they
have done much, if they had done nothing else, to entitle
them to your approbation.—(Applause.) They have done
many other things that deserve your gratitude. For one
moment consider the difficulties which surround them :
consider that there is, at this hour, a majority of fifty in
the House of Lords, which the leader of the Tory party
can bring against them, in twelve hours, upon any question
on which he may be inclined to oppose or damage them.
—(Hear, hear.) Consider, also, that there are other
difficulties, not quite, perhaps, so apparent, but which
come up to the knowledge of every practical statesman,
which require great management and circumspection on
the part of the Ministry.—( Hear.) It is your duty to
consider these things, and when you have done so, to
support 'Ministers while they do right, encourage them
whenever they falter or hesitate in their course, and oppose
them when they are unfortunately in the wrong. At
the same time, pay them the just tribute to which their
character, and especially the character of the illustrious
once I in have a
elitiisemcfknehbd
individual at the head of the Government, entitles them ;
give them credit for good intentions, and do not suppose
that, in a moment, they would abandon their de-
termination to consolidate and confirm the rights and
liberties of the people, of which they have given such an
earnest in the Reform Bill.—(Hear, hear.) You, era
your part, have duties to perform. You must not
confine yourselves to lamentations over what they have
done or ought not to do. You must press upon your
representatives the consideration of those important topics
on Corporation Reform, the improvement of the Reform
Bill, Reform in the Church—(Loud cheers)—and, though
last not least, call for, strenuously, firmly, and not
sparingly, a national and liberal grant, towards aiding
the great cause of national education.—(Cheers,) If
you wish to reap the fruits of the Reform W. 1., and to
derive advantage from it, you must take effectual means
to make those individuals upon whom the elective franchise
is conferred, sensible of the duties which they are called
upon to discharge.—(Cheers.) By doing this—by en-
couraging Ministers, anti giving them the advantage of
your power and influence, when they hesitate in their
course, the country will derive those great and lasting
benefits which were intended to be conferred upon it by
the passing of the Reform Bill.—(Cheers.) In making
these observations, in introducing the sentiment I have
proposed, I trust I need offer no apology ; as I consider
them fully appropriate to the toast, for had my lamented
friend been present—and would to Heaven be had !—.
I feel confident (and I appeal to my Hon. Friend
near me—Dr. Headlam—who fought the battle of
talpisitoohnrcetauuar nsti
irritatingii,
otkytnheooi
dsff
Reform along with him) he would have expressed the
same sentiments that I have uttered.—The Noble Lord
concluded by saying—l may not have an opportu-
ni•y of addre-sing you again for many years ; for it is
suchreteaihd;:aeestndoaonwcf
tittuthhahi al
asl goldenytowc occasion,h alacrityuie rhrt
heodlec
occurred—of
occurs.on lonly
meeting you, as every man of proper feeling would have
andal,rvidone.gehaaaseil
sttdelagainst,
bringingie:railtinthlng: itisnhv eeeNi wvdnaetrhtotr
oe openrg,rpar collisionteisfeyn mt
ey( i t
feelings,
i t
me,h mb
but,
ta, powerfula
t every
risk,
I
and, by accepting
your invitation to meet you on this occasion, to evince to
you my gratitude for the kindness and support you have
always given me, formerly as a candidate for your favours,
and now as a public man.—(Loud cheers.)
" The memory of James Lush" was then drank in
silence by the company.

The CHAIRMAN, in proposing " Corporation Reform',
observed that it would tend t r restore confidence in the
public mind. He trusted it would be firmly persevered
in ; for if measures of Reform were too long delayed,
public contempt was excited, which was as fatal to a
Government as popular detestation. After urging the
people to petition Parliament on this subject, he s.id he
considered it their duty to call their representatives
together, to instruct them as to their intentioas and
wishes. If a representative hesitated to obey the call, he
was unworthy to represent a free people, for he proved
himself to be wanting in that independence of soul and
spirit without which the character of a man was but a,
hlank.—(Cheers.)
In the course of the evening the following toa."ts were
drank :—" The Freedom of the Press ;" "?4r. Ingham,
and the Reformers of South Shields ;" "M.r. Ord, and the
Independence of Northumberland ;" " rile Cause of Na-
tional Education ;" " Dlr. Hutt, and the Reformers of
[lull ;" " The Reformers of StrAerland ;" The Repre-
sentatives and Town of New"eastle ;" " The Reformers of
Winlaton ;" " The Trade ;" " The Vice-Presi-
dents ;" " The Stewards of the Dinner ;" and "'I he
Ladies."
proposing an::, in reply to these toasts; but the length to
Sever al excellent speeches were delivered in
which report has already extended, and the late pe-
riod of the week at which the dinner was held, preclude us
c.corn not only giving but even preparing any report of them.
The Earl of Durham left the table at a little after 11
o'clock, amidst universal acclamations, and the company
immediately broke up.

RUTAL OUTRAGE.-COMMITAL OF
FIVE MEN ON A CAPITAL CHARGE.—On Thursday last five
young men named David Tilley, John Openshaw, Thomas
Cork, John Willings, and George Armstrong, were brought
before J. F. Foster and L. B. Hollinshead, Esqrs.,
in a private room at the New Bailey, charged with
a violent assault (involving a capital crime) on the per-
son of a girl of seventeen, named Mary Ann Howey,
who, for the last nine years, has worked as a piecer in the
factory of Messrs. Birley and Kirk, Oxford Road. It
appeared by the evidence that, between six and seven
o'clock, on the evening of Wednesday, the Oth instant, as
'Lowey-, who lives in Great Mount-street, was going an
errand for her mother, she was accosted near the engine_
house of Messrs. Marsland, in Car Abridge-street, by two
of the prisoners, Titley :(who worked in the same room
with her) and Armstrong, who wanted her to go with
them on the new road leading from Oxford Road to the
Stretford Road. She refused, and they then pushed
her before them, into a piece of waste ground behind the
waterproof cloth manufactory of Messrs. Macintosh and
Co., where they threw her down, and were then joined by the
other three prisoners, who are capitally implicated in this
charge. We can only state that the evidence represents
the treatment of the poor girl, (who is of rather weak
intellect), as having been most shockingly atrocious mid
brutal. The next day (Thursday) she went to work
and in the evening told her sister what had occurred.
She,, however, continued at her employment at the factory,
which is only working short time, till Saturday night,
when she became too ill to work, and has been ever since
confined at home 111-ider the care of Mr. Oilier. The pri-
Soners were all apprehended by Mr. Scott, deputy con-
stable of Chorlton.upon-Medlock, on the morning of Thurs-
day week. Cork, on being taken, expressed a wish that
they had killed the girl, and Openshaw sP.id "We didn't
know this then, or else—," The poor girl was not
able to give her evidence before Thursday last, when a
very long examinatiott took place before the above-named
magistrates which terminated in the committal of all the
prisoners to:Laneaster, charged with the capital of
Mr. Foster said that if they should be convicted, they were
liable to forfeit their lives for this offence. Whether they
would be convicted or not was not for him to say; but a case,
more brutal or horrible never was heard its any court. He
wished them to take this piece of advice from him—to
think seriously of this matter between their committal and
their trial. They were then removed into the gaol, and
were conveyed to Lancaster yesterday. We have already
said that Titley worked in the same room with the girl ;
and
we understand that Cork also worked in the
have l bee
but in another room. The other three prisoners
employed in factories as carders or piecers ; but l
.
at the
Otyznshal,,e
of this outrage, were not in any employment,
whose conduct was brutal in a more horridt degree than
that of the rest, appears to be about tweu *-four
or twenty_
s once or twice wing the examina-
or twenty. Cork shed tear
-a but thQ other three conducted
lion, and Armstrong faius—;
d.
two and dogged itlerence. The poo,
girl themselves with a su
„ character for steadiness, and decent; trio-
girl beara,i, • .
ps
five years of age; the others are not
during
than eighten
be restored, M least to Partial health, in a few weeks,