The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-11 00:00:00

MR. TV. WILLIAM'S AND HIS COASTITUENTS

Last night, at the invitation of Mr. Williams, M.P. for
Lambeth, a number of his constituents met him at the
Lecture-hall, in order to hear from the hoe. gentleman an
account of his Parliamentary conduct during the past ses-
sion. Mr. Williams, on entering the hall, accompanied by
many of his leading supporters, was received with loud
cheering.
Mr. F. DOULTON, who presided, observed that although
all the constituents of Mr. Williams might not approve
every vote he had given, he was sure they would all feel
thankful to their hon. representative for affording them
the opportunity of meeting him on that occasion, and of
ascertaining his opinions upon the subjects which were
likely to be brought before Parliament during the ensuing
session, while they were enabled to express their views
candidly and openly upon any public questions in which
they were interested.
Mr. Weemaets said he had invited his constituents to
meet him in order that, if they thought fit, they might
have an opportunity of demanding any explanation of his
conduct as their representative during the last session of
Parliament. He might state that he had attended in his
place in the House of Commons every day and every night
throughout the session, without a single exception. During
the last session Parliament had done less than during
any session since the passing of the Referee Act to meet
the wants and wishes of the people. The session, however,
had not been a very short one, for it lasted exactly six
months ; but many measures which had led to protracted
discussions had been introduced without any real intention
on the part of their promoters to enrol them on the sta-
tute-book. During the early part of the session the Go-
vernment were occupiedein the negotiations for peace, and
as the sympathies of both houses of Parliament, were with
them very little busiaess was done; but peace was con-
cluded on the 3uth of March, before the time when the
work of the session ordinarily commenced. The negotia-
tions, therefore, had not prevented either the Government
or individual members of the House of Commons from pro-
posing important measures of reform; but there had been
a disposition to procrastinate and to consume time without
effecting these legislative improvements which were de-
manded by the country. Peace had, undoubtedly, been
regarded by all as a most desirable object, and it was a
great blessing ; but iu his opinion there WAS great cause
for dissatisfaction with the peace which had been obtained
lay the sacrifice in two years of 90,000,0001., uud by the
sacrifice also of the finest army that bad ever left the
shores of Ragland, not in contlict with the enemy, but
through the gross and shameful mismanagement of the Ga-
vernineut at home, and of the officers who had been ap-
pointed by that Government to command abroad. (Cheers.)
He would, however, do her Majesty's Government the jus-
tice to say, that he believed the decision of the questions
which ware the subject of negotiation did not rest entirely
with th'Eu, but that the Government of France had much
to du with the ahandonment of those important de-
mands which, in his opinion, ought to have been made
conditions of peace. The armies an, fleets of France an.,
Euieland were nu sooner withdrawn from the territory and
coasts of Russia than she repudiated some of the more ha-
portaut cueditions of the peace. Another Congress was
consequently to be held. Some people were apprehensive
that fresh lostilities might take place, but Russia had not
money tom to war with—(hear, hear)—and, although tie
had no doubt there would be is good deal of talk, he hoped
that a settlement would be effected in accordance with the
principles 'oreuerly laid down by her ;Majesty's Govern-
ment. (Cheers.) Some 120 acts had received the assent of
the Legisia4ure during the last session, but there were few
of them in which his constituents would feel nauchiutereat.
Among these acts was one important measure—the Joint
Stock (joinianies Act—which established the principle of
limited lieeility, and enabled persons of small capital to
embark iubusiness without risking more than the mum
they actualy subscribed. (Hear, hear.) Some objectionable
ine,,dd es Vero thrown out, while other objectionable
measures were passed, and a great deal of mischief was done
by the reje:tion by the House of Lords of important bills
which hadeeceived the assent of the House of Commons.
Among these was the Appellate Jurisdiction Bill, which
was intended to remedy the notorious defects of the House
of Lords to a court of appeal. Another measure, relating to
a subject ii which the great mass of the industrious classes
felt de p interest, was thrown out. The Government
brought in a bill for the removal of the National Gallery,
upon which enormous sums had been expended, from Tra-
fidger-squkre to Kensington-gore. (Hear.) Tuat project
was prounted by Prince Albeit and his party in the Court
—(hear, aid cheers)—it was supported by the Government
and all tiler tools, and it was also supported by the Oppo-
sition, heeled by Mr. Disraeli, and all their tools— (cheers
and laughter)—but the independent members were too
strong even for that combination, and the bill was thrown
out. (Itunswed cheers.) If the bill had teen carried it
would ha`e led to au enormous outlay of the public money
and to tie entire exclusion of the great body of the
people trim the gallery containing those treasures of art
which Nve.e the property of the nation, :or a man would
lose neerl• the whole day iu walking frora Lambeth to the
proposed ate at Kensington-gore and back again. (Cheers.)
Few persnes besides those who kept carriages, or woo
could affrd to pay for vehicles, would, therefore, have
been enasled to visit the Gallery. Ife was sorry to say
that there was a strong desire, which was increasing year
by year, throng the aristocratic class, to keep the people
at as 1;114 a distance from them as possible, and to de-
prive thsmn of enjoyments to which they were entitled,
The Kensington-gore job was one of the grossest of which
he had ewer heard. 3'7,000/. had already been spent in
the pureease of land, and, although he had made inquiries
of the (eovernment, they would not say what further
amount ;buy meant to expend. He could, however, as-
sure hiscoustituents that he would oppose the scheme to
the very utmost of his power. (Cheers.) Thu removal of
the Gallery was defended on the ground that in Trafalgar-
square the pictures were injured by smoke ; but experi-
ments tad been made by Professor Faraday and other
eminent
rs
certainly,.
square.
uc h,
tavn
awoke
duringt deheenaeitre
(Cheers
that
se;
aansutgmgt
portionoliontke.egr
.oa)
rffe affected
fee dt
Househt eh
theree
year pwi
aoc
fs-
and
in thee©;
TraiZaa
Lords %ruck out of the Cambridge University Bill a clause
insertel in the House of Commons, admitting Dissenters to
the Uriversity, and giving them important privileges
(cries of " Sheme !")—and their lordships also threw out a
bill thich had passed the House of Commons for admitting
Jews to seats in that House. (Hear, hear.) Several im-
portant clauses were struck out of the Metropolis Local
Mtuegeuient Bill in
withthe HthoeusLeerodfe,Laomrtelns,dthanedutsh..e
Thhade
disagreeinguhuncahhbilsreen m
rendered the establishment of a police
opinion,
passed during the last
,e
the Counties and Boroughs
:vsotsotisseiitetotenfioollyrhi
objectionable
les:vic tl
Home Secretaryerumeo
t
the power o
force compulsory,
fmaking
k andn gsuch g
conferredre regulations
upontihos
forthe li
the om
government
of the police as in point of fact gave him the entire control
of that force; but the measure encountered so much oppo-
sition that Sir G. Grey withdrew some of the more objec-
tionable clauses. He (Mr. Williams) thought this was a
movement which ought to be cautiously watched, or they
might have such a police as now existed in France, in Aus-
tria, and in Naples. (Cheers.) After the bill was passed the
reason of its proposal became known. The Government was
about to concentrate the army, which was now scattered
over the country in great camps at Aldershot, Shorncliffe,
the Curragh of Kildare, and other places, where, in imita-
tion of the plan punned by continental despots, the sol-
diers would be kept entirely from contact with the people.
No less than 1,600,000/. had been voted during the last two
years for building barracks and huts for the soldiers in
those great camps, and it was stated that aceommodatiou
was to bo provided at Aldershot for from 30,000 to
40,000 men. A splendid pavilion had been erected for the
Queen in the midst of that great camp (laughter)
and her Majesty had remained there with her Court for
days and nights, entertaining the officers at dinner,
and inspecting the soldiers on parade. A few weeks ago
he saw an account in the public newspapers of her Majesty
having gone down to the Pavilion, and having witnessed
in the camp a theatrical performance, the players being
officers of the different regiments. This he thought was a
novel course to be pursued by a Sovereign of England.
Last year upwards of 40,000 men—soldiers of the line and
militia, including artillery, cavalry, and infantry—were
stationed at Aldershot, and the Government obtained a
vote from the House of Commons of 7,300/. to pay the
Hampshire and Surrey police for' taking care of these
40,000 soldiers. (Laughter.) It was reported, and he was
sorry to say with some foundation, that the Government
intended to saddle the country with a much larger army
than had formerly been maintained in a time of peace.
(A. Veice—" We wont have it.") (Cheers.) That would
depend upon the peeple. (Cheers.) It was said that when
the late war broke out the army was totally inefficient,
and so it was, except with regard to the discipline and
bravery of the soldiers, who saved the credit and honour
of the country when the officers alone were incapable of
clischargiu,; their duty. It was said the army would bo
placed in a more efficient state, but ho ventured to assert
that if this country should be unfortunate enough to be
involved iu war within five years from this time the itimy,
as far as the officers were concerned, would be found just
as unprepared for war as it was at this moment, and its
whole management would fall into incompetent aristocratic
hands. After referring to the necessity for a consolidation
of the statute law, and the reformation or abolition of the
ecclesiastical courts, and complaining of the wasteful expen-
diture ofpublic money by Governments, Mr. Williams said
' he would only refer to one more subject—the income tax.
He had always regarded the assessments of the profits of
trades and professions at the same rate with landed property
as ur.ju4t, and he had during the latit AtiSio/1 voted for the

appointment of a committee to consider whether the tax
might not be levied on a principle of greater equality. The
income tax was now 16d. in the pound. It was provided
that that rate of taxation should be maintained for the
financial year after the preliminaries of peace were ex-
changed. The financial year commenced on sth April; the
conditions of peace were signed on the 30th March, but the
ratifications were not exchanged till the 21st or 22d April,
so that the 16d. income tax was thrown upon the people
until 185 g. Now, they must get rid of that tax. He found
from official returns that the revenue for the year ending
30th Sept. last was 71,300,i 01. Now, the expenditure
for the last year of peace, 1853, was 55,400,0001., which
was considerably more than the average of the preceding
20 years, and if the Government would not expend more
during the next year, 1857, than they did in 1853, they
would have at least a balance of 15,950,0001., so that they
would be able to dispense with the 16d. incense tax, which
produced 15,94),000/., and still have a balance of
10,00 J/. to spare. (" Hear, hear," and cheers.) If,
however, Lord Palmerston insisted upon saddling the
country with a larger standing army, and thus increasing
the expenditure of 1857 beyond that of 1863, he would not
deserve the support of the people, and it would depend on
the pressure exercised by the people upon Parliament whe-
ther the noble lord should pursue such a course or not.
(Loud cheers.) After thanking the meeting for the kind-
ness with which they had heard him, Mr. Williams re-
sumed his seat amid loud cheers.
An ELECTOR said that, as the House of Lords had
ejected some important clauses of the Metropolis Local
Management Bill, he wished to know whether it was not
possible to deal with that house as Oliver Cromwell
had done —to abolish the house, and send the members to
the right about ? (Cheers and laughter.)
Mr. WILLIAMS was not aware of any power which
would enable his friend to carry out his wishes. He must
say, however, that the Lords had shown more obstructive.
ness during the last session than on any occasion within
his recollecti._e. ; and they had not only thrown out im•
portant measures, but they had opposed the undoubted
right and prerogative of the Crown with regard to the crea-
tion of life peers. (Hear, hear.)
Dr. Bunter.", observed it was possible that during the
ensuing session a demand might be made upon Parliament
for a provision for the Princess Royal, on her marriage
with the Prince of Prussia. He thought they ought to be
very cautious in dealing with regard to such a matter, with
a State which had been opposed to this country during the
late war. (Loud cheers.) He could not expect a decided
answer, but he would like to know what were the views
of the hon. member on the subject.
Mr. WILLIAMS said he could not, of course, give a dis-
tinct answer to the question, as he did not kuow what pro-
position the Government might submit to Parliament. He
had heard an amount mentioned which, in his opinion, was
perfectly ridiculous. Whenever a proposition was made on
the subject they might depend upon it ho would do all he
could.to protect the pockets of his constituents, for be
thought very little of their money ought to go in the di
rection indicated by the gentleman who had put the ques
tion. (Cheers and laughter.)
In reply to other questions,

Mr. WILLIAMS said that the opinions of his constituents
were so much divided with regard to the opening of the
Crystal Palace on Sunday that he had felt it his duty to
abstain from interfering in the matter. Re approved the
proposition of the Board of Works to borrow 4,000,000/.
on the security of the rates, to be repaid in 50 years, for
carrying out the system of sewerage.
Mr. GREY then moved a resolution expressing the satis-
f iction of the meeting with the public conduct of Mr. Wil-
liams, and their thanks for his exertions in Parliament,
The resolution was seconded by Mr. C. EVANS, sup-
ported by Mr. MURROUGH, M.P., and adopted.
Mr. H. J. SLACK moved and Mr. G. HILL seconded a
resolution declaring that the expenditure of the country
was wasteful and extravagant, and that if the Government
could be forced by the pressure of public opinion to keep
the accounts in an honest, intelligible manner, and cause
them to be efficiently audited, a saving of many millions
a year could be effected, and the income tax might be en-
tirely removed or very greatly diminished.
The resolution was agreed to.

On the motion of Mr. GRIEN, a resolution was adopted
expressing the opinion of the electors of Lambeth, " that
the ensuing session of Parliament will be a favourable time

for the Ministers to introduce a bill for extending the elec.
tive franchise and the taking of ♦ote by ballot, as well as
for a general revision of the taxation of the country and
an amendment of the existing commercial laws, which pro•
tect the criminal while they punish his victims."
The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to th•
chairman.

FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE GOODS STATION
Off THL GREAT NORTRERLV RAILWAY.

Yesterday afternoon, Mr. Wakley, the coroner, held
an inquest at the Queen's Arms, Caledonian-road, Is-
lington, touching the death of a man, named Thomas
Billett, a labourer in the potato department of the goods
station of the Great Northern Railway, at York-road,
King's-cross, who died on Friday last, in the Great
Northern Hospital, from the effects of injuries sustained
by being jammed between the buffers of two goods
trucks, on Tuesday, the 2d inst.
After the coroner had heard some preliminary evi-
dance, he thought that the inquiry assumed 80 important
a character, that he despatched the jury, in charge of
Mr. Tubbs, the summoning officer, to view the place,
and obtain, if possible, a knowledge as to how the acci•
dent occurred.

The Great Northern Railway Company have a large
shed at the goods station, about four hundred feet long
and one hundred feet wide, which is appropriated exelu.
sively to the unloading and sale of potatoes as a whole-
sale market. There are four lines of rails upon which
the potato trucks run. Crossing the lines diagonally are
four turn-tables, upon which the trucks are shifted from
one line to another as occasion may require. The acci-
dent, which occurred in the most singular manner
imaginable, happened as follows : There were two
trucks upon the turn-tables adjoining each other, one
being at rest, and the second swinging round. The de-
ceased was standing close by looking on between the
two waggons, when at the same instant another man, who
attends the market as an occasional dealer, came sud-
denly up to the second turn-table, and the truck, being
in the full sweep round, one of its buffers struck him so
forcibly as to knock him with considerable violence
against the deceased man Billett, which stayed his further
progress. Billett, however, receiving the blow unawares
and unexpectedly from the other man, was driven against
one of the buffers of the first truck, which was in a state
of rest, and, before he could recover himself, the second,
which was in motion all this time, caught him across the
belly, and between the buffers of both trucks he was
jammed so severely as to cause death. He was ulti-
mately removed to the Great Northern Hospital, but his
When
injuries were
the s
jou sr
ye v eyries tt he ad t
thehe e
station,xpi n
rf
.e wFdi
ealyds;
the
company's manager in that part of the station, complied
with the request of Mr. Tubbs, the summoning officer,
and had two trucks placed upon the turn-tables, exactly
in the position which they occupied at the time the acci-
dent to ,k place. From this it was easily seen the rails
and turn-tables being on the same level as the general
floor of the shed, that no precautions in the form of rail
or fence would be of the least utility in preventing simi-
lar accidents in future, whilst such intended safeguards
would greatly interfere with and incommode the ordinary
commercial business of the market.
Upon the return of the jury, the Coroner asked if any,
and what, suggestions could be proposed to prevent a
recurrence of these accidents ?

Some recommended a railing round the turn-tables,
whil-t others, entertaining more practical ideas, thought
that the danger would be greatly lessened by the adop-
tion of a lute fixing the time when trucks were to be
placed upon the turn-tables, and one of the company's
otiicers to stand by and keep persons away until such
trucks as were requned to be shifted had passed the lines.
One of the jury stated that he had been told on the
spot that hundreds of people crowded the sheds (luring
market hours, and the turning of the-se trucks still went
on amidst the ordinary business, and which made the
place extremely dangerous, especially to women.
The Coroner said that some day the question would
be tried in a court of law, by relatives suing for damages
in the case of an accident: when a verdict would be given
that would cost the company as much in five minutes as
the expense of protection would in V) years.
The jury ultimately found the death to be an acci-
dental one, and signed a recommendation to the effect,
that the railway company should adopt some protection
at the turn-tables.
The proceedings then terminated.

NORWICH YARN COMPANY.—A call of 901. is required
to pay off the outstanding liabilities of this company,
which failed some years ago.
NORWICH STEAM POWER COMPANY.—A petition bas
been presented to the Court of Chancery to investigate
and wind up the affairs of this abortive undertaking.
BRITISH AND IRISH GRAND JUNCTION RAILWAY.—
We are glad to learn, from good authority, that the
surveys and plans of the proposed railway between Castle
Douglas and Portpatrick are completed, and that cou-
siderable progress has been made in raising the neces-
sary capital. By a comparatively small additional
effort the important object of connecting Great Britain
may be attained.
Cweitrhtlrieralauildwabyyctohme psahltsseinatepraessstaegdein its success have
liberally agreed to subsidise the undertaking to the ex-
tent of 220,000/., on the condition, however, that, the
rn
heeapital'hyupanirivelayte subscription, if not
210,0004 shall be
raised full amountttainable, within about a month. The
m
subscribed falls little short of two-thirds
amount
er
oauio
o ttd o
otherwisee
already
rl
itsr ofeo a
obtainable,
y
of the required sum of 240,9001., and as the time is
limited within which the rematning third must be forth-
coming, an increase of from 40 to 50 per cent. on the
present subscriptions would secure the desired object.—
. Belfut Nibs Letter.