The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-01 00:00:00

I lISDERL—ON SALE.—Splendid ALBUMS
ILY of WINDSOR and 03BORNE, photographed by Mr.
Disderi, under the immediate patronage and the gracious
permission of her Majesty the Queen. Historical text by
°dyne C. Bell, Earl These Albuma—cite. halt-sheet colom-
big, printed in new type. on exit a thick plate paper —include
thirty -five photogr4phs of interiors and exteriors, mounted
on extra fine tinted cardboard, and moat elegantly bound in
morocco. Price—Royal edition of Windsor and Osborne, in
natural photography. 20 guineas ; coloured, 40 guineas.
Apply to Mr. Disderi, 70, 71, and 72, Brook-street, Hanover-
square; and at Paris, Ft, Boulevard des Itallens.

DISDERE.-ON SALE. - TWENTY-FOUR
STEREOSCOPIC VIEWS of the INTERIORS and
-EXTERIORS of WINDSOR and Twenty-four ot OSBORNE.
I he collection complete, plain,
guinea; coloured, 2 guineas
each set
Souvenir of Windsor or Osborne, Sixteen P 1 ;tea, photo-
graphed by Mr. DiAderi, mounted on cloth, and fo• min&
ba•idsome book, small Bvo . inaludinz the portraits of her
Majesty the Queen and kI.R. Li. the Prince Consort. Price,
plain, 156. ; coloured, 306
Panoramic Views at is.; group of the Orleans Family,
Ics. 6d.

DISDERL—NOTICE.--By a new process of
Mr. DISDE 'WS the CARTNI DE VISITE pox-
TRAITS are ENLARGED on canvas to any size. The
public can th s obtain a photographic draxing by mans of
which skilful artists attached to the hou-e can, on simple in-
dications -ouch as the colour ot the complexion, the eyes and
the hair—obtain a splend d and truthful oil p diving. Mr.
Disderi's new process is valuable in this respect, thit it
avoids the tedFusness of long Sittings, and also • dtls to the
charms of oil painting the great advantages of the truthful-
ness and accuracy of phologrAphy, Saloons and studios, 70,
71. and 72, Brook-street. Hanover-square ; a,d If, Equestrian
Portralts. at Hereford Lolge, Glouc.‘ster-road, Old ilronap-
ton-road ; rads, 8, Boulevard des flattens; Madrid, and
Toulon.

THE BP;sT REMEDY L'uß 1 v DION; sTION.
NORTON'S CAMOMILE PILLS are confi-
dently recommended as a simple but certain Remedy
for Indigestion, which the cause 01 nearly all the diseases
to which we are subject, being a medicine so uniformly grate
till and beneficial, that it is with justice called the "Natural
Strengthener of the human Stomach." " Norton's Pills "
act as a powerful tonic and gentle aperient; ar,-! mild in their
operation, safe 'under any circumstances, and i howands of
persons can now bear testimony to he benefits to be derived
from their use, as they have been a never-tailing Family
Friend for upwards of 20 years,
Sold in bottles at is. lid., 2s. 9d, and lls. each, in every
town in the kingdom.
CAUTION-.

Be sure and ask for "NORTON'S Pius," and do not be
persuaded to purchase any of the various imitations which
chave sopmr uittrN u
p in consequence of the success of NORTON'S
PILLS.

DR. SCOTT'S LIVER AND BILIOUS
PILLS.—A liitVEFt FAILING REMEDY.—Pre-
;erect without any mercurial Ingredient, from the recipe of Dr.
-430tt, of jimmley, (tent will be found invaluable to all who
.utter from bilious tad liver complaints, inligeatten, wind.
4 proms, giddiness, dizziness of the eyes, ko. lt'or habitual
ostiveneaa, as a family aperient medicine, and as a purifier
.11 the blood, they are truly excellent; mild in their opera-
tion and grateful to /he stomach, they create appetite, pro-
note dizestion, and strengthen the whole nervous system.
Prepared only and 8 aid by W. Lambert, Chemist, 8, King
William-street, Charing-cross. London, and by most drug-
gists, In b0xe4,13. lid., and three times the quantity in one,
2s. WI. Be sure to ask for Dr. Soott's Bilious and Liver Pills.
The genuine arc a square greeL package. with " William
Lamhart," vraved ar the stamp.

PRINT ING. —TO PROPRIETORS OF
NEWSPAPERS, PERIODICALS, &c.—The Print-
ing and Machining of Newbpapers, &c., done ou exceed-
ingly favourable,terms. Use of Editorial and Publishing
Offices, if required. Estimates forwarded on receipt of
particulars, with stamped directed envelope for reply.
Address—The Manager "Sun" Printing Offices, 3, Church-
row, Savoy, Strand, w,O

VXHIBITORS at. the PARIS EXHIBITION,
who ADVERTISE in " THE SUN," can have the
SERVICES of A SPECIAL AGENT in PARIS, whose
address can be obtained at " The Sun" Office. He has a
perfect knowledge of French, is also acquainted with busi-
ness, and has good connections. On application to " The
Sun' Agent in Paris, either personally or by letter, he will
obtain every possible facility for Exhibitors, or persons
who may have other business in Paris, or who may go
there for pleasure only.

®.NE HUNDRED and SIXTY-SEVEN
DESTITUTK ORPHANS are being maintained in
the ALBERP ORPHAN AST LUAL Collingwood Conit,
Bagshot, Surrey. FUNDS greatly needed for their support.
CHARLES A. WALKER, Sec.
Offices, 96, Cheapside, E.C.

GREAT NORTRERN 110 S piTAL,
Caledonian-road, ishmiton, v.
Supported by Volunt try Contributions.
This lioepital ti-. 8 relieved 481,954 patients since it was
established at King's-cross in I't6. Patients ar.i admitted
free.
BANKERS—Messrs. Barnett, Lloyds, and Co., 60, Lombard-
street •; Messrs. Ransom and Bouverie, I, P4ll-mall. tioN.
Sze --F. Smith, Esq. GEORGE REID, Sea

►IIHE LONDON FEVER HOSPITAL has
--1- URGENT NEED of FUNDS.—Donations and Sub-
scriptions will be thankfully received by Messrs. Dimadale
and Co., 50, Cornhill ; Messrs. Drummond and Co., Charing.
cross; Messrs. Coutts and Co., Strand; Messrs. Hoare,
Fleet-street ; and by the undersigned, at the Hospital,
Liverpool-road, N.. " CHAttLES FINN. Sea

HELP for the DESTITUTE SICK.—
METROPOLITAN FREt4 HOSPITAL. Devon-
shire-square, City. Instituted for the immediate gratuitous
Belief of the Stet Poor of every Nation and Creed. without
letters of recommendation. FUND. 3 are urgently needed to
maintain its efficiency.
BAN KE as --Messrs. Barnett, bares. and Co.. 62, Lombard-
street, JNO. GURNEY:Mr, , Chairman.

UEO, QttOITON, seiretary,

The Report explained at length the nature of the In-
vestments and the bases of the Calculations, the results of
which, as above shown, are eminently favourable.

The next DIVISION OF PROFITS will take place in
January, 1872, and Persons who effect NEW POLICIES
BEFORE THE END OF JUNE NEXT will be entitled
at that Division to one year's additional share of Profits
over later Assurers.

Prospectuses, Forms of Proposal, tho 11-Tort above men-
tioned, and a detailed account of the proceedings of the
Bonus Meeting, can be obtained from any of the Society's
Agents; or of
GEORGE CUTCLIFFE, Actuary and Secretary,
13, St. James's-square, London, S.W.

EUROPEAN ASSURANCE SOCIETY.
Empowered by Special Act of Parliament.
CIiAIRMAN Gon. Sir FREDERIC SMITH,

- Policies payablo during life, indiTutable, not liable to
forfeiture.

The ROYAL NAVAL, MILITARY, and EAST
INDIA Lifo Department, affording 1-. w culiar advantages to
Officers and others in tho Navy and Army, is under the
especial patronage of
HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY THE QUEEN.
Annual Premium Revenue, upwards of £310,000.
New Premium Income in 1865 exceeded £62,000.
Life, Fire, Guarantee, and Annuities at advantageous
rates.
The European is the only Society authorised by the Im-
perial Parliament to Guarantee the Fidelity of Govern-
ment Officials.
Full particulars of the popular principles of this Society
will be found in the New Prospectus, which will bo for-
warded to applicants, post free.
Offices - 316, Regent-street ; 17, Waterloo-place, Pall-
mall; and 69, Sing William-street, City.
HENRY LAKE, Manager.

ENTRANTS IN 1867 PARTICIPATE IN FIFTH DIVISION OF
PROFITS.
MUTUAL ASSURANCE WITHOUT MUTUAL LIABILITY.
PROFITS APPLIED SO AS TO MAKE POLICIES PAYABLE IN
LIFETIME.
AND SO AS To RAISE SECOND CLASS LIVES, AFTER A
DEFINED PERIOD, TO FIRST CLASS RATES.
BRITISH. • EQUITABLE ASSURANCE
COMPANY,

4, Queen-street-place, Southwark-bridge, London, B.C.
DIRECTORS.
George Thomas Dale, Esq., Bayswater.
Edmund Dunn, Esq., Croydon.
William Gover, Esq., Blackheath.
William Sutton Gayer, Esq., 4, Queen-street-place.
John Middleton Hare, Esq., Forest Hill.
Fountain John Hartley, Esq., Dalbton.
John Smither, Esq., Wellcloso-square.
Joseph Warmington, Esq., Leo-grove, Blackheath.
MANAGING DIRECTOR AND ACTUARY.
illiam Sutton Gover, Esq., F.S.S., F.I.A.
AUDITORS.
Mr. Deputy Obbard, Blackheath.
Charles Brown, Esq., Waddon.
William George Lemon, Esq., Blackheath
BANKERS.
The London and Westminster Bank.
PHYSICIAN.
William Munk, Esq., M.D., F.S.A. (Fellow of the Royal
College of Physicians of London), 40, Finsbury-square.
SURGEON.
Thomas Carr Jackson, Esq. (Fellow of the Royal College
of Surgeons, Surgeon to the Great Northern Hospital,
King's-cross), 3, Weymouth-street, Portland-place.

EXTRACTS FROM REPORT.
In the past three years the New Policies effected were—
Reported in 1865, 1,650, amounting to £270,736; 1866,
2,073, £353,700; 1867, 2,845, £5C1,175. Total Number,
6,568, amounting to £1,125,611.
The New Annual Premiums of past year, £15,318.
In the Four Triennial Periods the gew Policies issued
were—First Three Years, 3,196, for £507,063; Second
Throe Years, 2,926, for £194,066 ; Third Three Years,
3,941, for £629,547 ; Fourth Three Years, 6,568, for
£1,125,611. Total, 16,631, for £2,756,281.
So that the New Business of the last Three Years has
been greater than that of the preceding Six Years.
The Policies in force this day are 11,637 in Number,
amounting to £1,980,238.
The Death Claims and Bonuses paid in the year under
67 polices amounted to £14,199.
The amount paid for Death Claims, and Bonuses paid
since the establishment of the Company, under 399 Policies,
is £64,447.
Tho ACCUMULATED FUND has been increased
during the Year by .no less than Twenty-eight Thousand
Nine Hundred and Nine Pounds, making the amount laid
by in the last three years, Sisty-five Thousand Nine
Hundred and Seventy-Eight Pounds, and now amounts to
One Hundred and Twenty-seven Thousand Nine Hundred
and Seventy-eight Pounds Sterling. The Accumulated
Fund has thus been nearly doubled at the end of each
trienrial perk d.
A Reversionary Bonus of 1i per Cent. per annum on
Sums fissured under Participating Policies was declared.

CONTRACT FOR COALS FOR HER MAJESTY'S
DOCK YARDS, VICTUALLING YARDS, &c.
CONTRACT DEPARTMENT, ADMIRALTY, SOMERSE r
• HousE, April 27, 18.67.
lIE COM MISSION ERS for EXECUTIN G
the OFFICE of LORD HIGH ADMIRAL of the
UNITED KINGDOM of GREAT BRITAIN and IRE-
LAND do hereby give Notice, that on TUESDAY, the
14th May next, at Two o'clock, they will bo ready to treat
with such persons as may be willing to CONTRACT for
supplying her Majesty's Dock Yards, Victualling Yards,
Naval Hospitals, Greenwich Hospital, Royal Marine Bar-
racks and Infirmaries, and the Admiralty, Marine, and
Coast-guard Offices in London with COALS.
A Form of the Tender, with a Distribution of the Coals
and Conditions of Contract, may be obtained at the above
Depaittnent, Admiralty, Somerset House. No Tender will
be received after Two o'clock on the day of treaty, nor
will any bo noticed unless the party attends, or an agent
for him duly authorised in writing.
Every Tender must be addressed to the Secretary of the
Admiralty, and bear in the left-hand corner the words,
" Tender for Coals;" and must also be delivered at the De-
partment of the Storekeeper-General, Admiralty, Somerset
House, accompanied by a letter signed by two responsible
persons, engaging to become bound with the person ten-
dering in the sum of £2O per 100 tons for the due perform-
ance of the Contract. _ _

By Order,
ANTONIO BRADY,
Registrar of Contracts and Public
Securities.

PAINLESS SYSTEM OF DENTISTRY.
Just published, price 31 Post free four stamps.
TOTAL ABOLITION OF PAIN
IN DENTISTRY.
By Messrs. GA.RRICL, the old established DENTISTS,

61, LUDGA Pr.l- u ILL, CITY, LoncLn.
66. HA ttL EY-ST KE r; r, W.,
131, DUKE-STItEEII, I.IVSRPOOL.

THE PREMIER AND MR. DISRAELI UPON
THE REFORM BILL.

Yesterday two Conservative deputations waited
upon the beads of the Government in reference to
the Reform Bill ; the one, formed of working men
from Norwich, waiting upon the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, and the other, comprising representa-
tives from about 20 different Conservative associa-
tions Eat the official resi-
dencexebequer together.
of various parts of the country, upon the Pre-
of the Cbancellor of the Exchequer, in mßoietrh and
ut
thaet
iCo
nh
sa nwcee
rl leo
received
Down-
ing-street.
The first deputation was introduced by Mr. E.
Howes, M.P., and was headed by Mr. A. Goldsmid,
the Conservative candidate at the last election, and
Mr. Read, M.P., and Sir W. Bagge, M.P., were
also present.
Mr. HOWES, in introducing the deputation, con-
gratulated Mr. Disraeli on the success which had
hitherto attended his efforts with regard to the Re-
form Bill brought by him into the House of
Commons.

Mr. AMISS, introduced as a working man, was
the first speaker, and he said he and the other
members of the deputation had been requested, in
the name of Conservative wards of Norwich, and
on behalf of a public meeting held iu that city, to
express the opinion that the suffrage offered by the
Government Reform Bill was the best that had been
would offered
be to theben •cerfiotrekd by
h
i n g men,avi who,having
it placed in their they considered,
power to raise themselves to the suffrage rather than
by having the suffrage lowered to them. He agreed
with the clauses upon the personal payment of
rating and the compound householders, but he
thought that one year's residence would meet the
case. That, however, he said, was a point which
the working men left to the consideration of the
Government, as best able to deal with it, and the
working classes had every confidence in the Govern-
ment.. (Cheers.)
Mr. WRIGHT, another working man, said his class
had the greatest_ admiration for the Chancellor of
the Exchequer; as one who had always advocated
the right of laboui) and though the " other side"

pretended to be liberal, it was, in fact, illiberal.
The Conservative Government had done what no
other Government had offered to do—it had intro-
duced household suffrage, and had thereby shown
its confidence in the working classes.
Other questions followed, and
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCI!EQtTER replied—
I take this opportunity of thanking you for the
honour you have done me in waiting upon me to-
day. I assure you I greatly esteem this honour,
because I see this is a deputation formed of working
men who have arrived at their conclusions from their
own thoughts and experiences, and I value their ex-
pressions of goodwill the more because they have re-
spectfully, and at the same time with frankness,
offered their criticisms upon the Government mea-
sure, which, on the whole, they approve. (Hear, and
cheers.) Gentlemen, your observations will be duly
weighed. With regard to the measures of which
you have spoken, Lord Derby and his colleagues
have endeavoured by it to' restore to -the working
classes the rights of which they were deprived by the
Act of 1832. (Cheers.) We hear very much of our
measure being a ridiculous measure, of a most limited
character, and at the same time of its being a fan-
ciful and revolutionary measure—(laughter)—but
we cannot take credit for the inventions of those who
say this, or plead guilty to the accusations which
have been made against us. (Cheers.) All we have
done is to endeavour to see what is at the bottom of
. the general-discontents in -the conntry :with respectto.
Parliamentary representation, existing more ar less
during the last 35 years. No doubt there have been
evil, designing men, who have taken advantage of
that discontent to promote their own purposes ; but
there is certainly only one opinion with respect to
the foundation for that discontent, and that is that
the real foundation of it is the way in which the
franchise is exercised by the working-classes, espe-
cially in the boroughs. It is necessary to adapt a
measure to the altered circumstances of the country,
and what we are endeavouring to do is to restore the
old borough franchise to the people. (Cheers.) The
" scot and lot" franchise, which had been enjoyed
by generations, and under which this country
greatly prospered, is really the main feature of this
policy, which has been denounced in such dan-
gerous terms. It is an old English policy, and
by it we endeavour to restore the prescriptive
rights of the people. (Cheers.) A man who pays
his rates, and is a bona fide resident, who shares in
the interests, prospects, and feelings of the people
among whom he lives and works, is the man in
our opinion to whom the franchise may be safely
intrusted, as it was intrusted for generations
in past times. That is the principle of our
Bill, and I sincerely hope that it will be adopted by
Parliament. Indeed, Ido believe it will be adopted
by Parliament. (Loud cheers.) And I have no doubt
when it is, it will be found perfectly satisfactory to
the country ; that all these difficulties we have seen
will vanish, and that the representative system will
be found based upon a sound principle. (Cheers.)
There may be many circumstances which may in
some degree interfere with the perfect application
for a time of this principle ; but I have no doubt
myself that this measure will prove perfectly satis-
factory to the people of this country, because it is
founded upon a principle which is popular, which
everybody understands, and which has been recog-
nised in the transaction of our affairs for many ages,
and which, if not peculiar, is at least characteristic
of the people of this country. I am bound to say
myself that the measure is receiving from Parlia-
ment a candid consideration. Produced by a new
Government, in a Parliament not elected under their
auspices, and without a pledged majority of their
supporters, and though there has been an attempt to
divert the exigencies of the moment to the purposes
of faction, the measure has been fairly considered,
and there is no doubt that the opinion of the majo-
rity of the House of dommons is with the measure
we brought forward, as once calculated to clear away
the difficulties of this question. (Cheers.) I need
not tell you that Lord Derby would not have under-
taken the great task in which he has embarked ex-
cept with the determination to carry it to a success-
ful consummation. On the part of the Government
I will place the measure before the house with con-
fidence, and if by any chancewe meet difficulties we
do not at presentanticipate, weshall not give up the
great undertaking we have pledged ourselves to
carry out. We hope, under any circumstances, we
shall bring it to a happy conclusion, because we
have confidence in the strength of public opinion
and in the energy and good sense of the people of
England. (Loud cheers.)
The deputation thanked Mr. Disraeli, and with-
drew.

Shortly afterwards the deputation from the asso-
ciations waited upon Lord Derby and Mr. Disraeli.
This was a very numerous gathering, and was
formed principally of the gentlemen who were pre-
sent at the Conservative Conference of the day be-
fore. Sir W. Bagge, M.P., introduced the depu-
tation, and among those present were Lord Erskine,
Major-Gen. North, Mr. Gorst, M.P., Mr. Powell,
M.P., Mr. liornby, m.p., Mr. W. T. Cox, M.P.,
111 r. Feilden, M.P., Mr. G. S. Beecroft, M.P.,
Lieut.-Col. Sir 11. Edwards, M.P., Mr. C. L. Read,
M.P., Mr. Ferrand Mr. Alderman Rose, the Rev.
Mr. Foy, &C.
Mr. nowtEs, of the Yorkshire Conservative
Union, was the first speaker. He begged to ex-
press, on the part of the working men of Leeds, the
confidence felt in the Government and the bill
brought forward for the reform of the representa-
tion of the people, and he said the working men were
sure this measure would be carried out for the good
of the country. He assured the Government that
Conservative feeling was spreading throughout the
country, a fact of which he had convincing proof in
connexion with 17 associations which the working
men of Yorkshire had joined because they felt that
the party was the true and only friend of the work-
ing classes. As regarded the compound house-
holders, he said it would not be a safe thing to allow
that class the same privileges as the non-compound
householders, and to do so would be raising up a
privileged class in the State. As to the term of re-
sidence, that was a question which it would, in his
opinion, be well to leave is the hands of the Go-
vernment ; and the voting-paper clause he looked
upon as a valuable one, as it would enable a vast
number of persons, such as the sick and disabled
voters, to exercise the franchise. If, he continued,
the adversaries of the Government were sincere in
their expressed desire to enlarge the franchise, they
would vote for this clause ; and Mr. J. S. Mill ought
especially to vote for it, as the women, whom that
gentleman proposed to enfranchise, could only vote
that way without being insulted. In conclusion, he
begged to assure the noble lord that the working
men of the North were prepared to support the Go-
vernment.

Mr. KIRBY, of Birmingham, representing an as-
sociation of 600 members, said his association had
perfect confidence in Lord Derby's Government
carrying the Reform question to a satisfactory issue.
There were some points in the measure upon which
his members were not altogether in agreement, as,
for instance, the residential question, some believing
that a year's residence would meet the case ; but, as
regarded the bill as a whole, they considered it as
honest in its intentions, and as one which would be
appreciated the more it was thoroughly understood.
Mr. MILL, of Wakefield, who introduced himself
as " a bona fide working man," said he represented
600 other working men, who had voluntarily
joined a Conservative Association because they
felt it necessary to maintain the ancient principles
upon which the - Constitution is founded. Ile was
privileged to convey to his lordship the assurance
that the working men would support his lordship's
Government before the country, and he had been
desired to convey the thanks of the working men to
the Chancellor of the Exchequer for his noble
vindication of the Home of Commons. The

. Lord DERBY, who on rising was greeted wit,h seve-
ral rounds of cheers, then addressed the
He said—Gentlemen,—This deputation, as I under-
stand, was originally appointed to wait upon my
right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
and to him, indeed, such a mark of honour is most
justly due, because it has rested upon him to carry
out the measure of the Government ; upon him the
greatest labour has devolved, and upon him has lain
the greatest responsibility in the adoption of the
best tactics, in conciliating the various opinions, and •
in•endeavourir!, while maintaining a firm adher-,
ence to our principles, by a conciliatory bearing to
carry through such an assemblage as thii -Rouse of.
Commons a measure involving matters of no com-
txtuwimportanee—a measure arhiek iv-abeam-4 vist
variety of conflicting interests, and requires all par-
ties to give way to the feelings of others, so that the
object we have in view shall be carried, namely, a
measure which shall settle this question for a con-
siderable time. (Cheers.) But, gentlemen, under-
standing that this meeting, which might have
waited upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer alone,
would feel some satisfaction if I took part in it, I
came up from the country for the express purpose of.
meeting you. (Cheers.) f need not say that in
the arduous task in which we are engaged the sup-
port of all classes of the community is essential for
the purpose of enabling us to carry through a mea-
sure surrounded with no ordinary difficulties, and
in respect to which we have to contend with no
ordinary opposition. (Hear, hear.) I regret the
distinction which was drawn in the statistics of last
year between the working class and other classes of
the community. I think it was an invidious and
unnecessary separation of classes. Now, our object
is not to include so many of this or that class, but
to admit to constitutional rights so many of all
classes that shall be capable of intelligently and
soundly exercising the political franchise. (Cheers.)
As to working men we are all of us working men.
Some of us work with our brains, some with
our tongues, and some with our hands. We have
all our duties to perform, and we are bound to
unite our best service for our common country.
(Cheers.) 1 must say it affords me peculiar satis-
faction, and I am sure it does also my right hon.
colleague, to know how largely Conservative prin-
ciples are extending among those who, hitherto,
have been excluded from the representation, and
who have been erroneously regarded as favourable
to democratic alterations. We desire to extend the
basis of our foundations, but not to break down the
foundations upon which our Constitution is based.
We desire to bring in as large a number as possible
of those who shall be found capable of exercising
the franchise soberly and intelligently ; but how aro
we to draw the line of distinction ? That is the
great question now pending between us and those
who are in opposition to the Bill. I have always
thought it was a mistake in the Act of 1832—al-
though I was a party to it—that the original line of
£lO was fixed as the line; but the abuses that pre-
vailed up to that time made the representative sys-
tem of this country a mockery, and so completely
was the popular feeling aroused that the £lO was
accepted_ as a middle term upon which we might
safely rest. But it is quite clear the rent a man
pays cannot be a test of his respectability. (Hear,
hear.) The £lO was an arbitrary line ; the man
who pays £9 may fairly ask what difference there
is between him and the £lO householder, and the
man who pays £8 may say the same, and so on.
(Hear, hear.) Indeed, there is not a single figure
upon which you can put your finger and say,
" Here is the line between property and poverty
and between respectability and non-respectability."
It is a false measure upon which to proceed, and
that false measure is now that which the present
Opposition is endeavouring to uphold against the
Government Bill. We have thought it much better to
break down that hard and arbitrary line, and to ascer-
tain if we cannot take another and a better basis.
(Cheers.) Now, what are the tests which you would
desire to qualify a man to vote ? Temperance,
frugality, permanence of tenure, steadiness of con-
duct, continuous amount of residence. (Cheers.)
In claiming the privileges of the franchise we think
a man should be bound to take upon himself the
burdens of the Constitution, and to share the rates
which are levied upon all householders. (Cheers.)
We propose to take these two tests. Instead of
taking a particular figure, we propose to take the
personal payment of rates as a guarantee that the
man who offers that payment is willing to bear his
share of the State burdens, at the same that be takes
the privileges of the Constitution. We ask also for
a test of residence. And why ? Because there is
in large towns a vast amount of migratory popula-
tion, who are the least respectable and the least
valuable portion of the community, and who are the
least known to their neighbours, and upon whom
we think it advisable not to lavish the franchise.
We therefore claim a certain period—be it one year,
a year and a half, or two years, for that is a matter
for fair discussion—so that the franchise shall in-
clude all those who are permanent householders, and
exclude that mixed and migratory population which
have no permanent connection with the towns. I
will not venture to enter upon any details of the
measure which is being carried through the House
of Commons surely, though slowly (cheers); and I
will not say anything upon the question of com-
pound householders, which is a question that has
been very much discussed. We are very anxious
that these compound householders, as soon as they
have the power of taking upon themselves the pri-
vileges of voters, should have every facility afforded
them of being entered upon the register. We pro-
pose
.to place them upon an entire equality with
other householders, subject only to this condition,
that if they are omitted to be put on the rate-book
by the overseers they must claim to be inserted
and pay the rates. (Cheers.) Now, I cannot see
that there is any inequality hi this, or, as the late
Chancellor of the Exchequer said, any " fine" iu
that proposal. Then, going to a minor point,
we are desirous of multiplying the polling places in
counties, rendering it unnecessary to transport the
voter for the future a long distance to vote, which has
hitherto been a fertile source of bribery. (Cheers.)
We think great advantage might also be gained by
the introduction of voting papers; that it would be
a great protection to the sick, weak, timid, and the
infirm ; that it will enable men to exercise their
rights without being exposed to the terrors and
the ahu,tes of a riotous inob. At the s line time, we
have taken stringent preeautions against all possi-
bility of fraud. I have ja.st touched upon some of
the principal points of the me:La-ire, and I will not
further detain you than to express upon iny owe,
part and that of my colleagues our gratification that
the feeling of the country is arousing itself ; that it
is looking at this measure, as it was intended by the
Government, as au honest and a bone fide attempt
to settle the question. (Loud cheers.) It will largely
extend the franchise, and, as I believe, larger than
any measure ever proposed by any
Government,
•
but without running; the risk of enfranchising;
toanehising a
•
class which is utterly unworthy and
exercise the important function o
the present, and by
f the constitution.
(Cheers.) By meetings like
wli
such associations at those you represent, the course
of her)lajesty's Government ill be greatly fact -