The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-25 00:00:00

THE BIRHINGHAM RIOTS.

Mr. HORSMAN said ho wished to know whether the
Government had received any information on the sub-
ject of the part the volunteers took during the late riot at
Birmingham. He understood that Major Ratcliff had
forwarded a communication to the Secretary of War,
and he thought it was Qnly just to that gentleman that the
purport of his communication should be mado known.
Sir J. PAKINGTON said he thanked the hon. member
for thus affording him an opportunity of doing an act of
justice to Major Ratcliff. (Hear, hear.) He had first to
say that it had transpired that the paragraph in the Times
was entirely erroneous. Major Ratcliff,without waiting
for a communication from the War-office and without the
least delay, at once waited upon him and stated the whole
of the steps that had been taken. It appeared that there
is a large room at Birmingham, called Bingley Hall,
and amongst other purposes for which that place was
used was a store for the arms of the Birmingham
volunteers, which was one of the largest corps at present
formed. It was in consequence of a communication from
the magistrates that it would be of the highest importance
that these arms should be 'guarded, that he would give
a portion of the letter of Major Ratcliff—it stated that on
receiving the intimation from the magistrates Major Ratcliff
took with him about 110 of the volunteers, not oven in
uniform, to guard the arm., which amounted to over 1,200
rifles. He was on duty day and night, and never quitted
the place until he was quite certain all was perfectly safe
and secure. Whilst there Major Ratcliff was applied to by
a Roman Catholic priest for assistance, but he told him he
could not give him any, as he had but one duty to perform.
The rev. gentleman urged as a reason that his chapel
might be attacked, but Major Ratcliff told him it was
impossible for him, in his character of major of volunteers,
to give him the assistance required. Major Ratcliff, in
his (Sir J. Pakington's) opinion, did no more on the occa-
sion than was strictly his duty. (Hear.)
REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE BILL.
The hourte then went into committee on this bill.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in refe-
rence to the motion, which had occasioned some observa-
tions the other evening—viz., the appointment of the
Boundary Commissioners, said the Government had recon-
sidered the matter, and proposed that the Commission should
be constituted as follows: —Lord Eversley, the Recorder,
Sir F. Crossley, Sir J. Duckworth, and Mr. Walters. It
might bo said that the arrangement gave three Liberals
to two Conservatives, but he had not been animated in
the endeavour to secure the most efficient means by party
views. (Hear, hear.)
The consideration of the clauses of the Reform Bill was
then resumed.
On clause 40 being proposed an amendment was moved,
to the effect that no person should give more than ono
vote for any one place in respect of the possession of more
than the qualification. The amendment was ultimately
agreed to, although the division bell had been rung, and a
great number of members had made their appearance.
Mr. HARDOASTLE moved another amendment to the
same clause, with a view of enabling him to introduce
words disfranchising "freemen."
Mr. LEEMAN objected to this amendment, and said he
had until that time believed the bill wag one for extending
the franchise, and not diminishing it. (Hear, hear.)
Yet now it was proposed to disqualify " freemen,"
although the bill gave the franchise to the owner of every
small hovel, and to a lodger who paid 4s. a-week. He con-
tended that the "freeman," whose associations of a life-
time had been connected with some particular boroughs,
was more entitled to a vote than the occupier of a cellar in
some of our towns. The amendment proposed was a most
important one, because there were 90 places and 40,000
Persons who would be affected by it.
The amendment was withdrawn.

An amendment proposed by Mr. HOLDEN, to the effect
that the person entitled to vote for any borough by reason
of the occupation o any building (not being a dwelling-