The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-24 00:00:00

instead of being subdued. In order to take her
Oht of the line of traffic across the river, seine tug-
boats 'rot round her, and towed he-2 up the river as
far as New Ferry,-where it was decided that an at-
tempt should be made to scuttle her. In the mean-
time the passengers, who, for the most part, were
in their night clothes, were conveyed to the large
shed on the great landing- stage. The boxes and
luggage of these poor people being in the forepart
of the vessel, where the fire is supposed to have ori-
ginated, arc all destroyed, and they are left destitute
of everything but what they stood in. After the
burning ship was brought as close to the shore as the
state of the tide would permit, application was made
to Capt..lMends, of her Majesty's ship Hastings, for
the purpose of having the ship fired into, as the
more speedy and effectual means of scuttling het=
This was done and the vessel was soon sunk, but in
such a position that at lOw water she will be high
and dry. Accommodation will be provided for the
destitute passengers until such time as another
vessel can be got ready for them. The following
letter respecting this unfortunate affair was read
before the Mersey Dock Board yesterday :
" Harbour-Master's Office,. Dec. 23.
" Sir,—l beg to report that, at one o'elock this
Morning, I was informed there was a vessel on fire
in the river, below the Victoria Tower. On going
to the landing•stage I found a steam-tug going to
the vessel, and went on board her. The vessel on
fire was the Isaac Wright, bound for New York.
The steamer's hose was passed on board, and the
force pump promptly set to work. About half-past
four o'clock a steamer came alongside, with two fire
engines and a staff of police, and were soon in
action. About six o'clock, finding the fire was still
raging in the hold, the cable was slipped, and at
half-past six I left her with four steam-tugs. The
pilot intended to take the vessel into Bootle Bay,
ready for scuttling, should they not be able to
extinguish the, fire with the engines.—l am, sir,
your obedient servant,
"T. HODGSON, Harbour-master.
" Daniel Mason, Esq., Superintendent."

REFORM MEETING IN L.

A public meeting of the electors and non-electors
of Leeds was held on Wednesday morning, in the
Town Hall, Leeds. About 1,000 persons were pre-
sent. The meeting was called in accordance with
a requisition, signed by 626 electors, for the purpose
of considering the propriety of expressing. their
opinions on the desirableness of reform in the
representation of the people in the House of Com-
mons, and of petitioning Parliament in favour of
such reform. The mayor (Sir P. Fairbairn) pre-
sided, and was supported by the leading members
of the Reform Registration Association and a large
body of the requisitioniks. Being in the position of
returning officer for the borough, he felt a delicacy
in giving an opinion on the question under consi-
deration, because there would doubtless be a new
Parliament called during the ensuing year; and ho
thought he should best discharge his duty, and most
conscientiously, by abstaining from discussing the
subject. His worship then read a letter from the
Right Hon. M. T. Baines. The communication,
dated from Lancaster, said that the hon. member •
was glad to see that the Mayor had been requested
to call a meeting by a requisition so numerously
and respectably signed. It then added—" I hope
you will permit me to express through you •my
hearty concurrence- in the object of this meeting.
The question of Parliamentary Reform is one which
must receive the earliest consideration of the House
of Commons. Two bills have been already announced
and there may possibly be others. I presume these
bills will be laid on the tables of the house imme-
diately, and consequently every member will have
the opportunity of examining them, and of judging
which bill is most deserving of the approbation of
the Legislature. I can assure you that my own
judgment will be fairly and conscientiously formed.
(Hear.) In the meanwhile, I shall consider it a
great advantage to know the views of my contit.u-
ents with regard to the principles on which a new
Reform Bill should be framed ; and I need_ not
assure you that I shall consider these views as
entitled to my most earnest and respectful:
attention. I will only say at present as to the
principal question—that of the franchise—that I re-
tain the opinion I generally and repeatedly ex-
pressed at the' last election. There ought to be a
large and liberal extension of the franchise. It is
now more than a quarter of a century since the
last Reform Bill was passed. Within that interval
the progress of the people in knowledge has been
wonderful and unprecedented. The franchise then
given would be inferior, in my opinion, to what
might now be safely granted, and be granted also
with great advantage. (Hear.) Acting upon this
view, I supported, last session, the bill of Mr.
Locke King, and also a bill for the extension of the
county franchise in Scotland. It is unfortunate,
though true, that notwithstanding all the efforts
made in progressive education and otherwise, there
still remains a large class of our population wan-
ho
are lamentably ignorant. On this ground I c
not support universal suffrage. There are other
points to which it may be desirable to direct the
attention of the legislature, and I now have to
repeat that I shall be happy
.to know the views of
my constituents on the various points connected
with this important question, and I will thank you
(the mayor) to communicate to me a copy of the
resolutions passed and the petition adopted." Sonie
discussion took place as to the propriety of adjourn-
ing the meeting until the evening, for the conveni-
ence of the working classes, who could not attend
in • any numbers a morning meeting. This was
agreed to, and last evening was fixed,for the pur-
pose.

111 E GALWAY AND AMERICAN LINE
OF PACKETS.

DUBLIN, THURSDAY EVENING.

contains a most -The Freeman of this evening
ample report of a meeting held at the Mansion-
house this day, for the purpose of securing increased
postal facilities between this country and. America
Thehas me
thativniaflnGenatirarlaY.beeneth.
meeting
;sileasre foolirea olOfntgliepenrliOd4.
It represented all sections and classes of the com-
mercial community. The Right Hon. the Lord
Mayor
meeting was addressed at
considerable • .
__ lengthan support of the several reso-
lutions by Lord Talbot do Malahide, Mr. Codd,
Mr. Ennis, M.P., Mr. Grogan, M.P., Mr. Vance,
M.P., and Mr. llatchcll, M.P. Mr. J. 0. Lever,
in obedience to the unanimous wish of the assembly,
also addressed the meeting. The resolutions, which
were passed without dissent, went to express the
necessity that exists for increased postal facilities,
the great advantan-e which the Galway route pos-
sesses for such, anbd the thanks of the meeting to
Mr. Lever for the enterprise and energy he has
displayed in getting up this line. It was also re-
solved to forward memorials to the Lord-Lieutenat t
and the Irish peers and parliamentary representa-
tives for their co-operation in the movement. Sir
James Power, Bart., Jonathan Pim, and John
Jameson were appointed secretaries to carry out
the object of the meeting.