The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-28 00:00:00

.SHIPS OF WAR.

At Hong Kong.—The British steamers Arracan, Fisk,
Highflyer, Sparrowhawk, Sydiey, and Zenobia; the gun-
' boata:Clolits Nard.T) Insole*, t•girlinglStanuch,
and Weazel ; the French steamers Derolide and Jarion; the
Spanish steamers Jorge Juan and Reins de Castilla; the
American steamer Hartford and the frigate John Adams.
At Macao.—The Portuguese corvette Dom Joas and the
lorcha Amazona.

At Swatow.—The ,British sloop Acorn and the gunboat
Grasshopper.
At Ningpo..—The British gunboat Algerine.

At Anioy.—Tho French steamer Saone.

At Shanghai.—The Britishateamers Australian, Centaur,
Nimrod, Pioneer, and Urgent ; the gunboat Kestrel ; the
French steamers Forte and Hong Kong ; the Russian
steamer Switzerland ; the American gunboat Saginaw.
At the North.—The British frigates Actaeon and Cam-
brian; the steamers Adventure, Armenian, Assaye, Ata-
lante, Beagle, Bentinck, Chesapeake, Coromandel, Cowper
Cruiser, Encounter, Feroze, Furious, Fury, Hesper, Imp&
rieuse, Inflexible, Magieienne, Odin, Pearl, Renard, Ring-
dove, Roebuck, Sampson, Scout, Simoom, Snake, Sphyrx,
Vulcan, and Waterman; the gunboats Banterer, Bouncer,
Bustard, Dove, Drake, Firm, Flamer, Forester, Havoc,
Janus, Leven, Opossum, Slaney, Snap, Watchful, and
Woodcock; the French frigats Capxicieuse ; the steamers
Alon Prah, Andromaque, Calvados, Dordogne, Driade,
Duchaplor, Entrepenante, Euroveene, Forbin, Garonne,
Gironde, Imperatrict Eugenie, Jura, Kienchew, Loire,
Marne, Marceau, Mogen, NiONTO, Prejent, Perseverante,
Renommee, Rhone, Rhin, Saizon, Teoywan, and Ven-
geance ; the gunboats Avalanche, Dragonne, Fusee, and
Mitraille.

In the Canton River.—The British gunboat Cockchafer;
the French steamer Durance.

TILE M.EMBERS FOR IITINIU.RGI LAND THEIR
CONSTITUENTS.

The members for Edinburgh, Mr. Adam, Black
and Mr. Moncreiff, Lord Advocate, met their con-
stituents in the Music Hall there on Monday, and
the meeting being one of unusual interest owing to
the keen controversy that divides the city on the
subject of the Annuity Tax A& passed last Session,
whereby, though the tax is reduced one half, the
voluntary dissenters will not be able to evade it as
hitherto, the hall was crammed within 10 or 16
minutes after the doors were opened. The number
present was probably 2,200 to 2,400 ; and the meet-
ing seemed nearly equally balanced between sup-
porters and opponents. The members were followed
to the platform by a large number of leading citi-
zens, including Sir W. Gibson Craig, Sir William
Dunbar, Sir W. Johnston, Mr. Wemyss,
M.P., Mr. Maitland, Solicitor General for Scot-
land, Mr. W. Chambers. Mr. R. Chambers, Pro-
fessors Pillans, Christison, and Blackie, Capt. Sir
William Hamilton, Bz.c. The Lord Provost occupied
the chair.

Mr. BLACK was received by the whole assemblage
rising, one half waving the hats and hurrahing,
and the other half hissing and hooting. The up-
roar continued for several minutes, during which
cries of " Order, order," " Turn him out," &c., were
heard. Partial quiet having at length been ob-
tained, Mr. Black said it was not his intention to
imitate these hon. members who during the last
session of Parliament inflicted upon the house
interminable speeches which seemed to have no
other object but to show how long and how often
they could speak, as if they were trying for a
wager. (Hear.) I can assure you that I neither
speak here nor in the House of Commons but with
reluctance, and never unless I think I have some-
thing to say. (Cheers and hisses.) I would not
have troubled you upon this occasion unless I had
suspected you might charge me with want of cou-
rage had I hesitated to defend my public conduct.
(Hurrahs and hisses.) The questions that came
before Parliament last session were so numerous
and so momentous that if I were to make observa-
tions on them all I should exhaust the patience of
the most indulgent. I will only hurriedly glance
at a few of the most important, in order that I may
discuss at greater length the two measure' in
which I took a more prominent part. (Hisses and
counter cheers.) Early in the session Mr. Glad:.
stone, in a wonderful display of oratory, introduced
the question of the French Treaty and the Customs
Bill. (A voice, " Come to the annuity tax.") I
considered it my duty to vote in favour of both, as
I have no doubt they will lead to a great extension
of the commerce of both countries, and promote
the material wealth and the happiness of two neigh-
bouring nations, comprising between 60,000,000
and 70,000,000 of people ; and what I consider of
even more importance than the extension of com-
merce is the tendency of mutual intercourse and the
interchange of commodities to cement the pacific
relations of the two countries—(cries of " Humbug,"
" Shame," and cheers and hisses)—and, instead of
spending countless millions for war or protection
against each ether, I trust they will cultivate the
arts of peace, and unite their sympathies in favour
of light and liberty among the great community of
nations. Another important measure which I sup-
ported passed the House of Commons, but which
I cannot help thinking was followed by very unfor-
tunate consequences—the repeal of the Excise duty
on paper. (" Of course," and laughter.) The
second reading was carried by a majority of 53 in
March; but in the third reading, in May, this was
reduced to 9, and had there been no Scot& mem-
bers in the house it would have been lost by 11.
And when the members began to eonsider the effect
of the expenditure for the war in China, and for

the proposed fortifications of the country, they were

led to regret the loss of the million from the repeal
of the paper duty. This I believe was the cause of
the great change in the division between the second
and the third reading; and it was this that em-
boldened the House of Lords to de what I am con-
vinced was an unconstitutional act—(cheers)—to
reject a money bill—to refuse to pass a bill forming
apart of the ways and means of the Chancellor of
the Exchequer. I agree with Mr. Gladstone
in considering that a gigantic innovation. This
was felt by members on both sides of the house to
be a damaging blow, from which it was difficult
to find any way of recovery. Lord Palmerston
made the best that could be made of it—(No,
no)—and in a very statesmanlike speech moved a
resolution assorting the rights of the Commons,
which met with nearly unanimous support.
Another motion connected with the paper duties
brought on a crisis which threatened the stability
of the Ministry—the repeal of the Customs duty on
paper, which there was a strong impression ought
not to be passed as long as the French prohibited
the exportation of rags. This question was con-
verted into a vote of want of confidence, and there
is little doubt that had it been lost the Ministry
would have resigned ; it was only carried by a
majority of 33 in a very full house, the whips on
both sides having exerted themselves to the utmost.

(Uproar, and signs of impatience.) Coming to the
Reform Bill, he said, like many other men, I have
formed a notion of the manner in which Parliament
should be reformed. This theory I have repeatedly
propounded to my constituents; and, when the
question was before the House of Commons I felt
that I should be guilty of unfaithfulness if, when
the Ministry appeared to be venturing on a danger-
ous course—(hisses and cheers)—I would have con•
sidered myself unworthy of being your representa-
tive—(A voice, " So you are")—if I had refrained
from publicly giving my reasons for differing from
a material part of the bill then under consideration.
(Loud cheers and hisses, and a voice, " Treacherous
Adam." Laughter.) My lord and gentlemen, I
can assure you that I felt it no easy task to screw
up my courage to sacrifice the good opinion of
statesmen whom I admired and followed, and
the approbation of friends whom 1 highly
valued. The theory I then maintained was
the same as I have again and again propounded
in public meetings at home, that the system of
Parliamentary representation is a mere machine—
an instrument for the promotion of good govern-
ment, and that if it get out of gear or defective,
it should be repaired and improved, but that the
proposed alteration must first be proved to be neces-
sary to the well-working of the machine. (" Oh,
oh," and a voice, " You're a high Tory.") I hold
that the franchise is not a right, but a trust. I
maintain that it is a sacred trust to be exercised
for the benefit of the community, and that the only
claim that any class can have for being invested
with this trust must be founded on their qualifica-
tions to exercise it ; and before any change should
be made it should first be proved that the commu-
nity will be benefited by it. Now, here let me ob-
serve that I distinctly and decidedly again and
again declared that I would not pledge myself to
any plan of Parliamentary Reform, but would leave
myself free to be guided by circumstances. (Hear,
hear, and hisses.) At that time, and in the circum-
stances we were then placed, I was disposed to re-
commend £6. And why ? Because, in the first place,
Lord J. Russell had moved and carried a resolution
against Mr. D israeli proposing, among other things,
£6 as the limit of the franchise, and on that occa-
sion I voted with my party in what was really a
party motion—(hisses)--and thus got in some de-
gree committed, although if I had voted on the
other side I should have been worse committed still,
for then Mr. Disraeli, for the Protectionist party,
showed their willingness to offer the bribe to the
Radicals, or to come even lower ; and Mr. Bright,
besides many of those who glory in the name of
Advanced Liberals—(cheers and laughter), would
hardly be content with a £5 franchise, but would
only take it as an instalment. (" Hear," and a voice,
" Quite right, too.") All parties in the House of
Commons appeared to me to be committed to the
lowering of the franchise, and in the circumstances
I was disposed to recommend the highest limit that
was likely to be got ; but when the question came
to be looked at by members more carefully thoy
found that the numbers of the new constituency
would be so great that they would give an undue
preponderance to one class, and that class the
lowest (cries of " Oh, oh !"), and surely he would
be a bold man who would maintain that, for the
purpose of improving the machine, the inhabitants
of houses between £lO and £6 rent would infuse
into it more intelligence and independence than the
inhabitants of houses at £lO and upwards. (A
voice, "So they would.") If they are no more than
equal to those already intrusted with the franchise,
they would not improve, but would most probably
encumber the machine (cries of " Oh, oh !") ; and if
they are not equal in qualifications, then they will
infuse a deteriorating principle into it. (Hisses, 1
and a voice in the gallery, " We are the people.")
About this time that very class of men—the
skilled workmen—indicated the use to which
they would put political power if intrusted to
their hands, by entering into one of the most
dangerous and suicidal combinations (Hear," and
'limas); for a mere delusion they sacrificed the
interests of the public, their own comfort, and
the health and happiness of their wives and
children. (Cheers, and a voice, " Mind the Queen's
Park meeting,") At the same time, Mr. Potter, the
leader of the London strike, in his evidence before a
committee of the House of Commons, testified that
the London Secret Committee of the Trades' Union
could influence 600,000 workmen in all parts of the
kingdom. (A voice, " Prove it," and " That is
false.") • When all these circumstances were fairly
brought to light and considered, many of the mem-
bers, and even some of those who rejoice in the
name of Advanced Liberals, were staggered, and
coincided in my views. (Hisses.) I will only say
that I was convinced then, and am convinced still,
that what I stated in the House of Commons was the
truth—(hisses and cheers)—and I considered it a
sacred duty to declare it, whatever might be the con-
sequence. (Prolonged cheers.) I do not object to a ,
fair proportion of the working classes being ad-
mitted to the franchise, but don't let us be swamped
by them. (Hisses, and a voice, " Resign.") I am
not unwilling to admit a large proportion of the
working classes. (Impatience.) What I say is this,
I consider that a safe plan would be to give votes
to the holders of property yielding 40s. a year,
whether a freehold or not ; and I would reduce the
county franchise from £5O to £lO. (Cheers and
hisses.) From what I have seen of the House of
Commons, I doubt if any party will be able to con-
struct a spick-and-span new Reform Bill. Al-
though the bit-by-bit procedure has been ridiculed,
I am convinced that it is the only one that will
succeed; and if Ministers would adopt Mr. Locke
King's measure for reducing the county franchise,
I have little doubt that it would be carried.
(Hear, hear.) Mr. Black then entered into a
lengthened defence of his conduct in regard to
the Annuity Tax Bill, and in having sup-
ported the Lord Advocate's Bill, which offended
the Voluntary Dissenters, while he suanrifirPd Ma
own bill of 1857, which satisfied them. He said
that, with Parliament showing diminishing majo-
rities for the Church-rates Bill, it might have taken
10 or even 20 years in carrying ; and, having no
chance of carrying his own bill, he gave hls sup-
port to that of the Lord-Advocate, that the impor-
tant advantages which it conferred should not be
lost to the community.
The LORI.- ADVOCATE, after having risen up and
sat down three times, unable to make himself heard
amidst the clamour with which he was received,
at length obtained a hearing by the interposition of
the Chair. After some preliminary remarks, he said
in the last session of Parliament, though there was
not a great deal of Imperial business transacted,
we in Scotland had our fair share of the results.
(Hear, hear.) We carried ten important mea-
sures. We carried, among other things, no doubt,
this Annuity Tax Bill—(laughter, hooting, and
cheers)—but we carried some other things, which,
though not equally exciting, may be equally im-
portant. We carried, in the first instance, the
Prisons Bill, by which we had an opportu-
nity of redressing what I considered a great injus-
tice—l mean the proportion of rates payable be-
tween the burgh and the county. There was also
a bill of very considerable consequence which we
passed for Sheriff Court accommodation. (Hear.)
We passed a bill also in regard to the herring
fisheries, one in regard to the census, and also a
bill for the Industrial Museum in Edinburgh, sna
I am happy to say that the plans for that building
have now been approved, and that it will be con-
structed without any delay.
We passed the Titles
to Lands Bill, a bill for the amendment of the
bankruptcy law, and we passed a bill for the in-
ventory duty on heritable securities. Now, I say
that this, if not a brilliant, is at least a respect-
able budget—especially for a Parliament of which
it is said that they talk much but do little. It is,
at all events, enough to show that we have not
been idle. I hold in my hand a document that

.thcre is no less a sum
,
was up by Mr. A Tatheson,
rindbjlefowr °erxkplgent
of Works, Ifeh shows tha t a.t present in 'the Ta.
ec,:p.
I,vilhin the last two or three
years than the sum of 1...
"228,000. The truth is, it in
not always known how mnah Scotland fetti in that
i way. We don't get more tlu in our share certainly,
and we are obliged to keep a
*pretty sharp look Did
to get it ; but at the came tins e, it is not the cage
.%otland
that Scotland is overlooked ; as d in this document,
though I will not trouble you vr. ith reading it just
now, there are sonic very import Wit matters, such.
as the new Register-office, the Indw.'trial Museum,.
new post-offices in Dundee and Perth,.. improvements
at Holyrood, &c. Now, about the Ha .form Bill—l
don't agree with my hon. friend and col 'league, and
that is almost the only thing on which we don't
agree. I anticipate no danger from that b. ill of the
Government.. I am not afraid of letting the w, orking
classes have the franchise. (Hear.) I think, o,"1 the
other hand, that they must be let into the french. jeep
and I know no better way of making them goo cl
citizens and better citizens. If they are not so goon`
as we wish them--which I don't by any means ad-
mit—l know no way of binding them more closelT

to the classes above them than by allowing then
the mutual advantage and privilege of the franchise;
and therefore in my views of reform I have nothing
to add and nothing to retract from the expressions
I have used on similar occasions. Ever since I was
in office, as far back as 1851, I have maintained the
have no fear whatever of the reduction of the fran-
same opinions, both in public and in private, and I
chise interfering with the bulwark of the Cvnatitn-
tion ; and as to the propriety of introducing agy MOIL
sure on this matter, that depends entirely ren its
prosno,4- ccess, but most assuredly I shall main-
tain for. the ruture the very same principles I ha ve
maintained for the past. (Cheers.) The Lord Adve`-
cate then proceeded to speak for above an hour ma
the annuity-tax quastia, yingcatin hfi:s recent
measure, and showing every !A . id* ieto:c
tained had been borrowed from former bills which
had received the support of those who now opposed
him. lie concluded a very masterly defence
of his conduct in the matter by saying—l value the
honour of the position I hold as the representative
of this great community more than I can toll you,
and there is no exertion and no sacrifice, consistent
with honour and integrity and self-respect, that I
foi:ns
I and
100 oftenwould not make to retain it; but when I know'
that I have now settled a controversy of 30 yearn,
on principles
with
ineip
whateverles
that
youee feelings
maintain, but which have proved unsuccessful in
so many abler hands than mine, I cal only say
that
mstyrupgugltePar'
liamentary life, there is one part of it Ishall always
remember with gratification, and that is that I was
mainly instrumental in passing this Annuity-tax
Bill. (Tremendous cheering and hissing.)
Mr. W. CHAMBERS moved a vote of thanks to
the hon. members. _ _ _

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL seconded the motion.
Mr. THOMAS MENZIES, after some strong obser-
vations, which were delivered amid shouting, hiss-
ing, and cheering;and in which he condemned they
conduct of both the hon. gentlemen as "perfidious,"
moved the following amendment :
" That this meeting, considering the arbitrary
and unconstitutional character of the recent Act,
which professes to abolish, but in realit proposes
to perpetuate, the annuity-tax, and oy f the Rad
taken by the members for the city in introducing
and promoting that measure hereby declare that
the members have lost the confidence of their con-
stituents, and the meeting requests them to
resign."
Mr. A. KERR seconded the amendment.
The LORD PROVOST then proceeded to put the
amendment and the motion to the meeting, amid.
considerable uproar. The numbers were pretty
nearly balanced, and the Lord Provost said he had
considerable difficulty in deciding on which side the
majority lay, but he rather thought it was in
favour of the motion. The announcement was re-
ceived with great cheering and hissing.
On the motion of Mr. BLACK, a vote of thanks
was passed to the Lord Provost for his conduct in
the chair.
The meeting then quietly dispersed.