The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-09 00:00:00

MILITIA.

the public
Oil Wednesday last the Sherwood pore I
regiment of militia now
rPeCi'clueljl73ll,'eildnegl °N-tnihl lee ,s heerPrsu' 't hill:
barracks, Glasgow, were
green by Major-Gen. Viscount
jesty!s Inspector of Forces in Scotland. The eorna;
which 'seems to be in • excellent- training-, went
let field operations in a style
through the most comp
tli&t would have done credit to a regiment of the
himself
line.
It is understood that his lordship expressed
highly pleased with the appearance of the
ich thyeg ment,
and. With the. creditable style in whper-
formed their, various evolutions.
---------- ----7--------

A telegraphic despatch from Caen announce that
s tha
at eight o'clock on Friday morning Pascal and Graft, te
murderers of the jeweller Perchard, were executed. Graft
went on foot from the prison to the scaffold, but Pascal was
o affected diat he had to be conveyed to the cart; the for-
mer ascended the scaffold firmly, the latter, completely over-
ll'het,ed, had to be lifted up. Pascal was executed first;
Graft, who was calm to the last, addressed a few words to
the
people. A vast crowd, composed chiefly of females,
had Membkti.to witness the' proceedings. ' •

tion.

PA.RLIAME2

GARY REFORM.

A public meeting was held yesterday evening in
the Vestry-hall of the Marylebone Court-house, to
consider the question of Parliamentary Reform, be-
ing convened by the Marylebone Political Reform
League, the object of which, as eta' ed by itself, is
" To procure the enactment of residential suffrage,
short parliaments, vote by ballot, and equitable elec-
toral districts, in the forthcoming Reform Bill, and
to act in concert with the Political Reform League."
The CHAIRMAN (Mr. J. A. Nicholay) said the
question they had met to discuss was one of im-
mense moment at the present time, and in his
opinion meetings ought to be held throughout the
country to assert the privileges and insist on the
rights of the people. (Cheers.) There was another
association in the parish, the members of which con-
sidered the League premature in convening that
meeting. Differing on that point from those to
whom he alluded, he hailed their declaration that
they intended shortly to convene a meeting them-
selves ; there could not be too many meeting's on
that subject, and if they agreed in the main, he
should wish them all " God speed." They were pro-
mised a reform. By whom ? By the men from
whom they would least have expected such a pro-
mise—the Conservatives. Mr. Bright said recently
at Birmingham, " Let us have a real bill, a good
bill, or no bill at all." He believed that sentiment
would be responded to throughout the length and
breadth of the land. The great manufacturing
towns of Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and
Huddersfield had taken the lead in this movement,
and he thought that great metropolitan parish
would be wanting in its duty to the country; if it
did not follow their example. Let the present Go-
vernment be judged not as men but by their mea-
sures. (Cheers.) They had too long had foisted
upon them the family clique, and it would be a dis-
grace to the country if it ever permitted that clique
to resume the reins of government or to lord it again
as despotically as it had done. (Hear, hear.) They
had had enough of Whigs—they had had enough of
tories—(no, no • keep them in)—but he should be
happy to see them remain in if they would do what
they ought to do. (Hear.)
Mr. PHILIPPS, a working man, moved the first
resolution—" That the people of England are not
fairly represented in the Commons House of Par•
liament ; that class representation has led to class
legislation, to unequal taxation, and to the bestowal
of office and emolument upon privilege rather than
merit ; and that these evils would be best remedied
by the impartial representation of all who contri-
bute to the national wealth upon, the principle of
registered manhood suffrage. ' He said it was a
disgrace to the country that so many men had no
voice in making_ laws which they were bound to
obey, and he quoted at some length from " Cobbett's
Register" in support of this view.
Mr. W. SIBLEY, another working man, in
seconding the resolution, said the working class,
who formed the most numerous class of all, was the
sole class not represented in the House of Commons.
The aristocracy were represented, and the middle-
classes were represented; but was there one man
in the House of Commons whom working men could
point to as their representative ? (Cries of " Nu, not
one ;" responded to by shouts of " Cox," and
" Berkeley. ') Past changes in the representation had
benefited others, but they had not benefited them. He
was one of those who thought that the producers of
wealth ought to be the sole enjoyers of the wealth
they produced. If the working classes were admitted
into the pale of the constitution they would send
members to Parliament who would endeavour to solve
one very great mystery, namely, how it was that
men who were willing and able to work could not
get work. (Hear.) That was a question of vital
importance to the working classes.
Mr. W. T. SWAN, secretary to the League, sup-
ported the resolution. He said the real question at
issue was what kind of measure would be a satis-
factory settlement of the reform question, so that
after it was passed they would be left at liberty to
turn their attention to agitate questions of a social
or religious nature. Mr. Bright's measure included
household suffrage, vote by ballot, and electoral
districts. He thought most persons would prefer
manhood suffrage to household, because it was the
most just in itself and would be most likely to prove
a final settlement. It was not householders alone
who paid taxes. If a bachelor wanted an ounce of
tea, or a glass of ale, he could not have it without
a tax ; why, then, should he have no voice in the
representation ? (Hear.) It was supposed that
household suffrage would be more conservative than
a registered manhood suffrage—that it would intro-
duce more of the democratic element into the con-
stituencies. He was of a different opinion. They
all knew that working men generally became house-
holders earlier in life than men of the middle classes,
marrying between the ages of 18 and 25 ; and he
believed the operation of household suffrage would
be to exclude far more of the latter than of the for-
mer. He could not understand why the Guildhall
Reform Committee had selected Mr. Bright to in-
troduce a reform bill, seeing that he was in favour
of adopting the municipal and parochial franchise,
while the committee in their programme proposed
to give votes to all who occupied apartments. He
was certain that a bill which was based on any
existing franchise would be unsatisfactory to the
people. (Cheers.)
Mr. HEALEY, of Islington, supported the resolu-
Mr. JAIRY hoped the meeting would take a prac-
tical view of the question. What was the use of
golly, for manhood suffrage ? Would they be able
to. get such a suffrage? (Loud cries of_" Yes, yes,"
Mingled with one or two faint " Noes.")
Mr. ELT, of Islington. believed that if a liberal
construction were put on the working of the pro-
gramme of the Guildhall Reform League, it would
not be found to differ very materially from that of
the Political Reform League. The latter was based
on the representation of the man, whereas the
former was based on the representations of the rate-
payer. Manhood suffrage would give five million
votes, and the municipal franchise four millions.
He believed, however, that it was better to settle
such a question on principle than on expediency ;
and, being infavour of manhood suffrage, he should
support the resolution.
The resolution was carried with one dissentient.
Mr. ERNEST JONES, who came forward at the
call of the chairman, said that he regarded that
meeting as an augury of union between the middle
and the working classes. It was the duty of both
to go for the best measure that could be obtained.
In his opinion, the measure of the Guildhall Reform.
League was far inferior to that of the Political Re-
form League. (Cheers.) The Guildhall Reform
League were in favour of a £lO county franchise,
which would, in reality, extend the powers of the
aristocracy. (Hear, hear.) Manhood suffrage
was especially needed in the rural dis-
tricts ; and with a rating franchise the great bulk
of the working. classes would still be disfranchised.
(Hear, hear.) The working classes were willing
to leave the reform movement in the hands of the
middle classes provided their measure embraced re-
gistered manhood suffrage. If the middle classes
would endorse a measure embracing manhood suf-
frage, the ballot, and triennial Parliaments the
working classes would be with them to a man ; if
the middle classes went only for a ratepaying fran-
chise or household suffrage, they would never be
able to rally the amount of power which would
enable them to carry any measure whatever. The
.chartists had waved their demand for ge..ymeyt 'of ,
members and annual Parliaments, and it was for
the middle classes now to meet them ; the working
men of this country certainly should not be deluded
by the cry, " Take an instalment." (Cheers.) He
did not believe every step was a step in the right
direction ; it might have the effect of swamping the
working classes still more than they were swamped
already. He concluded by moving the following
resolution :—" That a more equal arrangement of
the electoral districts is highly desirable, and must
be one of the distinctive principles of any new Re-
form Bill."
Mr. SAVAGE seconded the resolution, which was
put and carried unanimously.
Mr. E. C. WHITEUURST, vice-president of the
Ballot Society, moved, and Mr. BRINSMEAD se-
conded, the following resolution :—" That this
meeting desires to record its conviction, that no
extension of the suffrage will be satisfactory, unless
accompanied by. the vote by ballot."
Mr. VERY, a licensed victualler, contended that
the ballot would in the end be subversive of public
liberty, and refered to Grecian and Roman history,
and to the operation of the ballot in the United
States in support of his argument, which was re-
ceived with great impatience by the meeting. He
concluded by moving the following amendment :
that th,
" 'rhat this meeting, deeply deploring the extent to
which bribery and intimidation exist, are of opinion
ha
only preventative is the establishment of
a ve tenant-right ; that the ballot would be no pre-
ale—that it is alien to the British character,
and if introduced into the election of members of
seriouslyc:xualtdsTmrg
Parliament
liberties," endanger their
been, seconded,
Mr. WIIT:
The resolution hay'
led, and on the question
being put, about half-acTltohzeen hands were held up
eloirtiygin al resolution was
for the amendment, andratii
ier. R. M. Monatr.i.La, seconded
carried
)n t
the
ey
ma
out
iiomninoefn;
by: Mr. 3.HoprEy,it was further resolve That
this meeting approves of the determination of the
genet al council of the Political Reform League to
prepare a'bill, based upon registered manhood suf.,
frage, vote .by ballot, triennial Parliaments, and a
more equal arrangement of electoral districts, and

pledges itself to support by petition the introduc-
tion of the bill in the House of Commons."
A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the
proceedings."

STEAM POSTAL COMMUNICATION
WITH AUSTRALIA.

(From the Melbourne Argus of Sept. 15.)

In our last summary we briefly acknowledged
the receipt of the intelligence that the European
and Australian Company had become bankrupt,
and that the service had been temporarily
undertaken by the Royal Mail Company.
It may be interesting to our English readers
to know what has been done in the colonies
in consequence of that event. Previous to the
arrival of the mail the Sydney legislature had taken
action in the matter. The Assembly had declared
in favour of the Panama route, and had resolved,
by a large majority, that they would not become a
party to any fresh contract to be made by the
British government unless the same was previously
submitted to the colony for approval. After the
arrival of the mail conveying the intellivnee of
the failure of the contractors, an additional impetus
was of course given to the movement in favour of
the Panama route. This movement was all the more
active as the opinion of the Governor-General and
the Executive was strongly in accordance with the
popular feeling. The Governor-General appears to
have taken a warm personal interest in the matter;
and to have, in fact, devised the scheme to which
the colony now stands pledged. Immediately after
the adoption of the resolution by the Assembly in
favour of the Panama route, the Governor-General
prepared an elaborate and very able minute, em-
bodying a scheme of steam communication, which
was afterwards submttted to the Executive
Council of New South Wales. The principal
points of the minute are the following—The Go-
vernor-General states that the Government of New
South Wales never contemplated the establishment
of a separate and distinct line all the way from
England to Australia—a plan which he evidently
considers impracticable; He is of opinion that the
line to Suez is too long for one steamer ; and he is
by no means certain that the work could be done
with regularity were the vessels to sail from Suez
and Sydney independently of each other. • The
voyage of each would then be from 44 to 46 days,
which is longer than a steamer can be fairly ex-
pected to work without a thorough inspection of
her machinery. His suggestion, therefore, is that
Ceylon should be the termination of the direct
voyage from these colonies, in place of Suez, and
that the vessels employed should be in good order
and thoroughly competent for their work. Then,
with reference to the general scheme which should.
be adopted by the colonies in the new arrange-
ment, he sets out with the axiom, that the advan-
tages of a rapid, frequent, and regular communica-
tion with Europe, Asia, and America, are enough
to justify the payment by the colony of a much
larger sum than the amount of postage, He ob-
jects to Governments at both ends of a line of
12,000 miles being parties to the contracts, and
thinks that the work would be much more satisfac-
torily performed by a more ,simple arrangement.
He is of opinion that the object of a frequent and
regular communication would be best attained by
maintaining a line to Ceylon, and from thence to
England and India, on the one hand ; and another
to Panama, and from thence to England and North
and South America on the other. To avoid the
multiplication of parties to the contracts, he pro-
poses that the Imperial Government, in considera-
tion of the receipt of the postage paid in England,
should engage to deliver the Australian letters at
Point de Galle on the first line, and at Panama on
the second line. This, the Governor-General ob-
serves, would add in a very trifling degree to the
amount of the subsidies already paid by the
Home Government, under existing contracts with
the Peninsular and Oriental Company and the Royal
West India Mail Company, and would, on the other
hand, effect a saving of the share of the subsidy,
paid under the contract with the European and
Australian Mail Compano. On the other hand, the
Governor-General proposes that the Australian
colonies should meet the expense of conveying the
mails between Australia and Point de Galle and
Panama respectively, each colony receiving as at
present the postage on its letters, and contributing
in proportion to the number sent from each ; the
contract for the line via Ceylon
.to be made by Vic-
toria, and that via Panama to be made by New
South Wales, each charging a fair share of expense
to the other colonies that may wish to send mails
the communication on each line to be monthly, with
an interval of 14 days between the starting of the
mails. As the temporary arrangement with the
Royal Mail Company terminates in six months
from the Ist of July, the Governor-General recom-
mends that no time should be lost in endeavouring
to effect an agreement on the subject with the
various colonies, and suggests that New South
Wales should despatch a special envoy to Victoria

—and, if successful here, that the envoy should pro-
ceed to Tasmania, while Victoria might communi-
cate iu a similar way with South Australia, for the
purpose of obtaining the concurrence of those colo-
nies. The executive council at once adopted the
minute of the Governor-General, and embodied his
proposals in a series of resolutions, which were
passed ; and it was resolved that a sum not exceed-
ing £50,000 a year, for seven or ten years, should
be placed on the estimates, for the purpose of car-
rying out that of the service allotted to New South
Wales. The council likewise advised that, in order
to secure the co-operation of the imperial govern-
ment,.his Excellency should transmit to the Secre-
tary of State an explanatory despatch, with acopv
of the bill for appropriating the subsidy. Finally,
it was resolved thattenders should at once be called
by public advertisement, for. performance of the
Panama service, and that copies of the advertise-
ment should be forwarded to the Secretary of State,
with a request that, if her Majesty's government
were prepared to co-operate with the colonies in the
matter, they would publish the advertisement ex-
tensively in England and America.
This scheme, it will be observed, did not provide
the colonies with a through line to Great Britain.
Consequently, at the termini at Ceylon and Panama
passengers would have to take their chance in re-
gard to passage by the steamers of the companies
that convey the mails to England. The schemc,was
proposed, and was adopted by the executive council
on the principle that the grand object to be attained
was the conveyance of mails.
The next public movement was by the Melbourne
Chamber of Commerce, of which body a meeting
was called, and was held on the 3d inst. By that
meeting the subject was remitted for consideration
to a special committee; consisting of those members
of the chamber who were supposed to be best ac-
quainted with the overland route and with the ques-
tion of steam communication. On the 10th instant
another general meeting was held, at which the re-
port of the committee was read and unanimously
.adopted. That report embodied a totally different
principle from the scheme of the Governor-General.
The committee evidently considered that the con-
veyance of passengers is of great importance, and
they insisted on the necessity of having a through
line. They, in fact, altogether ignored the proposal
of the Sydney goVernment, and .did not in any way
allude to a route via Panama. One of their conclu-
sions was to the effect that the colonies are not in a
position to• undertake the conveyance of the mails
either for the whole or a part of the distance to
England. But, on the other hand, they think the
colony of Victoria ought to undertake the responsi-
bility of 'providing half the amount of the subsidy.
They agree with the Governor-General in the pro-
priety of dividing the voyage, and recommend that
a separate steamer should be employed to convey
the mails between Galle and Suez." Finally, they
propose that a longer interval should be allowed
between the time of arrival of the steamer in the
colonies and the departure of the homeward mail
ship, in order to give more time to answer the in-
ward correspondence.
It will at once be seen that each of the above
schemes has its advantages. Those who con-
sider it of vital importance to provide com-
fortable accommodation for passengers overland
will agree with the Melbourne Chamber of
Commerce. On the other hand, the' scheme of the
Governor-General provides a rapid and regular
conveyance of mails fortnightly, at an expense in a
very trifling degree -above that already incurred
for the existing through line. This plan seems to
be the most advantageous to the interests: of the
Australian colonies, and would, in all probability,
be most generally acceptable.
In South Australia, the eyes of the colonists have
been turned towards the Island' of Mauritius, but
no definite proposition has been brought forward.
These separate movements indicate the intense
feeling felt by the colonists on this important sub-
ject, upon which the decision of. the British Go-
vernment is anxiously looked for.

•
EXPLORATION BY BALLOONS.—It is grzvely pro-
posed by a correspondent of the Melbourne Argus to explore
the interior of the vast continent of Australia by means of
balloons.
[ADVERTISEMENT.]—Bilious Disorders, Headache, In-
digestion, Low Spirits, and Nervous Debility.—ln an arti-
ficial state of life these complaints are peculiarly common.
They do not affect the labouring classes, with their plain
food and exercise in the open air,• half so much as the
higher orders, who patronise French cooks, and turn their
nights into days. Some of Mr. Holloway's best customers
are amongst the idle and luxurious of the upper ranks, who
have discovered that his pills save them from Many of the
t_leocretyaills and penalties of a fashionable•life. 'Thus 1101-
ii:...o[lly,arstaPceills so,fththoeugwleiaalthfayvoautir(:ttlembeidgi:ibonomof. the. poor for
',utile
palaces
class a diseases, have found their "li-ay also to