The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-06 00:00:00

THE .REPRESENTATION OF BANI3URY.

On Saturday evening fast information was re-
ceived in Banbury that our much-esteemed friend,
Mr. Tancred, who has for more than 25years faith-
fully represented this borough, had experienced a
severe attack of illness, by which he was so pros-
trated as to exclude all hope of his being again
able to resume his Parliamentary duties. It was
already well known that there were several gentle-
men anxious to represent Banbury whenever a
vacancy might occur; indeed, the number sug-
gested by rumour was ridiculously large, and the
painful intelligence we have referred to above was
likely to induce some of them at once to present
themselves to the electors. This effect it has had.
At different periods in the spring of the year we were
authorised to announce that Mr. Sergeant Pigott,
the eminent counsel ; Mr. Samuelson, proprietor of
the Britannia Iron Works, and a large employer of
labour in this place; and the Hon. I. F. T. W.
Fiennes, eldest son of the Lord Saye and Sele, of
Broughton Castle, would offer themselves as candi-
dates. Two of these gentlemen are now before the
electors. Sergeant Pigott arrived in Banbury on
Monday-, and issued an address, which was followed
`up an Tuesday morning by an anonymous handbill
calling upon the electors to reserve their votes for a
" real Reformer." The learned gentleman made a
few calls and left town on Tuesday, intending to
return in a day or two, when he • will invite the
constituency to meet him at the Town-hall, to listen
to an explanation in detail of his political opinions.
On Tuesday placards were issued stating. that Mr.
Samuelson would arrive in Banbury on Wednesday
and calling upon the electors to reserve their votes
until they had heard the opinions of the various
candidates. Mr. Samuelson reached Banbury about
midday on Wednesday. By Mr. Fiennes we are
authorised to say that he has abandoned the inten-
tion of offering himself as a candidate. On Wed-
nesday an address was issued by a Conservative
candidate, Mr. Hardy, a highly respectable gentle-
man of fortune, connected we believe with iron-
works in the north of England and whoseresidence
is at Dunstall-hall, Burton-upon-Trent, by whom an
active canvass was shortly afterwards commenced.
A handbill has been circulated to the effect that
either Mr. Cobden or Mr. Miall will be brought
forward. We have no knowledge of the authority
by which such a statement has been made.—Ban-
bury Guardian.

ANOTHER AWFUL COLLIERY ACCI-

DENT IN SOUTH WALES.

This day it is our painful duty to record the loss
of 10 more lives through a colliery catastrophe in
South Wales. Thus, in less than three months,
have no less than 30 colliers fallen sacrifices to the
dangers attendant upon milling operations, and
that within a radius of 30 miles. The full particu-
lars of the distressing accident which we are now
called upon to record have not yet transpired, in
consequence of the colliery being situate in a some-
what backward district, so far at least as railway
communication is concerned. It occurred on. Wed-
nesday evening last in the Cae Colliery, belonging
to Messrs. Davies, Francis, and Co., situate at Mar-
ble Hall, near Llannelly, Carmarthenshire, about 12
miles from Swansea. From the particulars which
have come to hand it appears that in the afternoon
of the day mentioned the men were engaged in their
daily avocations, when one of them suddenly struck
into an " old vein," which had long since been closed,
and which must have become filled with water, for
no sooner was the entrance made than the pit in
which the men were engaged was filled with water,
and the ten men and boys who were known to be'
working there have in- all human probability
perished. Notwithstanding every effort the water
continued to rise the whole of the evening and the
succeeding night, and on Thursday morning there
were no less than three fathoms of water in the pit.
A large engine was with all promptitude put to
pump the water out of the pit, but failed to reduce
the depth mere than a few inches up to the time
our report was despatched.
We have been unable to ascertain the names of
the whole of the men whose lives have been thus
prematurely sacrificed, but two of them—Daniel
Thomas, of Caetyrgarn, and John Thomas, of La-
ncrch—are married men, having several children
dependent upon them for support ; the remaining
eight are either unmarried men or boys.
The colliery has been visited by hundreds of per-
sons, and every means have been adopted to recover
the bodies, but up to a late hour on Thursday even-
ing they had been unsuccessful.

[AnvratztsumENT.l-Itarey's Horse and Cattle Improv-
ing Food is equally adapted to improve the stamina of ill-
conditioned Horses, Cows, Bullocks, Calves, Sheep, and
Pigs. It causes no extra expense, as it contains far more
and better nourishment than its cost of lid. per feed sup-
plies in corn and hay; hence ensures an actual saving in
the keep. But its principal advantages are a great improve-
ment in the digestive functions, the stamina and general
condition of horses enabling them to perform far more
labour without getting distressed. It imparts new vigour
to sick, debilitated, or old apparently worn-out horses, and
it puts rapidly the finest flesh on cattle generally, and im-
proves the milk in cows, as it enables them to extract the
entire nourishment out of everything they feed on. BareY
and Co., 77, Regent's Quadrant, Piccadilly, London.
Packed in tins of about 90 feeds, lls.; in casks of about 450
feeds 505..; of about 1,000 feeds, £5, being about 1/d. per
feed.

REFORM CONFERENCE. fair distribution of seats. He would say to his
A number of Parliaments reformers assembled hon. friend, "Go as far as you can in lowering the
ry
to franchise ; you can't go too far for me "—(hear)._
yesterday at the Guildhall Coffeehouse, for the pur- but the great difficulty. they had to conquer would
pose of conferring as to the nature of a measure
Amongthe gentlemen present were, Mr. Roelnick, be the proper distribution of seats. They had
beubmitted to the Legislature in the next session.
already heard a gentleman express an opinion that
M.?., Mr. Roupell, M.P., Mr. W. Williams,' M.P.,
Mr. Coningham,.M.P.; Mr. Cox, M.P., Mr. White, he knew that that would be the most mischievous
there should be a combination of boroughs. Now,
M.P., Mr. Mall (late M.P. for Rochdale), S. Mor-
of boroughs meant this,—say there were half-a-
ley, Mr. Mintz, Mr. D. Nichol, M.P., Mr. H.
thing that could be entered upon. A combination
Brookes, Mr. Cunnington, Mr. I. Taylor, Mr. Elt, dozen of them, every man who came forward Mint
Mr. P. Carstairs, Mr. T. Atkinson, Mr. Lawrence, have half-a-dozen agents, half-a-dozen committees,
Mr. P. Edwards, Mr. Boyer, &c. Mr. Clay, M.P and he ought to have half-a-dozen breeches pockets.
" (Laughter.) They must so distribute the scats that
occupied the chair.
all members
The CHAIRMAN said he would call upon the see- must represent as nearly as possible an
retary to read a statement of the proceedings of the equal number of .people. He did not, in con-
Parliamentary Reform Committee since its first con- filing to 'Mr. Bright the task of drawing up
this bill, iubsdribe to all his opinions. He
stitution, and when they had heard what had been
done it would be their duty to deliberate what was differed from him in many things, but he had
that confidence in his hon. friend's ability, pro-
to be done. The general principles upon which it bity, and honour that he believed no man was more
was proposed they should act had been stated in the deserving of the confidence which it was proposed
circular convening the meeting, and he hoped the to place in him. There were matters in which he
in him, and he believed
discussion would be confinedto the heads there men-
would not take his udgment, but in this matter
tioned. It was his duty as chairman rather to listen he had perfect confidence
than to take any part in the discussion, and if it that all his friends would go with him when he
were not so, he should. wish to set an example of proposed that Mr. Bright should be requested to
short speeches. There was,however, one of the heads draw up the Bill. (Loud cheers.)
proposed for deliberation that day which appeared
Mr. MULL seconded the motion, and expressed
to him of such great eonseqnence that he could not concurrence in the opinions expressed by Mr.
pass over it in silence,- Ha- alluded to that under Roebuck.
which they were invited to decide whether or not The resolution was then put and carried.
earnest reformers, or rather let him say the Radical Mr. BRIGHT, who on rising was received with
loud cheers,- said he had been previously informed
party—for he liked the old name best—whether the '
Radical party should or should not introduce aRe by the committee by which these proceedings were
lorm-Bill of its own in the coming session. He arranged, that it was their intention to submit
would not presume to anticipate what the Reform these two resolutions to the meeting, and, therefore,
Bill of Lord Derby's Government was likely to be; he did not come down without having considered.
he had no -means whatever of forming an opinion. But he eould say most truly that they placed him
He would not say that the present Government in a position of extreme difficulty. With regard to
were not capable of being reformers, but he thought the first, he did not think now for the first time
he might take it for granted that the Reform' Bill that such resolution was necessary ; he had been of
introduced by Lord Derby would not be such a. mea- opinion for a long time, but especially during the
sure as the Radical party would accept as a perma- last six months, that, if there were throughout the
nent settlement, or even a settlement for any great country as strong a desire for reform as they
length of time. Let them, then, by recording their believed there was,—if reformers were as numerous
opinions, draw a line by which different parties as they supposed,—if their case was as good as
would be distinguished, and it would then be known they believed it to be, that it was desirable at
who were in favour of the Government Reform length that a Bill proceeding from the reformers
Bill and who favoured the people's Reform Bill. themselves, from earnest reformers, should be
In conclusion, he called upon the secretary to read placed before Parliament and the country. He
the report. thought they had had sufficient experience to prove
Mr. E. S. PRYCE, the secretary, read the report that statesmen who had been touching the question
as follows : during the last few years had a very inadequate
"It will be remembered that, on November 6th, in last notion of that which was wanted, and of that
year a conference assembled at the Guildhall Coffee-house
on the subject of Parliamentary Reform, at which an ad- which the re- re
was necessary really to improve p
dress to the peopleof Great Britain and Ireland was adopted. sentation of the people in the House of Commons.
It was entrusted to a committee, to obtain signatures to He had never for a moment suspected that the last
the address, to issue it to the public; and to watch all pro- two Bills`that Were introduced were introduced with
ceedings in the House of Commons on the subject of Re- anything like a dishonest feeling towards the ques-
form, and to take such steps as circumstances might render tion and
re-
expedient to embody the recommendations contained in the and towards He believedwith the country.
address in the measures adopted by the Legislature. One gard to the last, which was introduced in the begin-
year having elapsed since the appointment of the couimittee, ning of the year 1854 by Lord John Russell as a
they avail themselves of the present opportunity to give an member of Lord Aberdeen's Administration, in fulfil-
account of their proceedings, and to ask counsel of their men tof a pledge previously given that he would intro-
friends generally on the course that should now be taken,
to give effect to their programme. duce a measure of that nature, he believed if the truth
"The committee obtained, for the address the signatures were known that he had very lukewarm support
of 36 members of Parliament, and of about 240 well-known from his colleagues in the Cabinet, and that the
earnest reformers in the United Kingdom.. It was eaten- political party of which he was then supposed to
sively circulated by means of separate copies, and by adver- be the chief did not much sympathise with him in
tisement, and wide publication m the newpsapers. Public- his
meetings, unusually spontaneous, and sustained by local propositions. He had been fettered, as every
ability and resources, were held at Bradford, Blackburn, man of his education, position, and class in this
Bolton, Carlisle, Derby, Halifax, Huddersfield, Hanley, country must be fettered—he had been fettered by
Leith, Norwich, Preston, Stockport, Salford, Worcester, the great consideration—" How should he give to
Woolwich, &c., at which resolutions and petitions to Pella- the people of England the full and fair representa-
ment were adopted in favour of the broad outline of Reform •
advocated by the London Committee. At Oldham, New- tion to which they were entitled, and at the same
castle-on-Tyne, Rochdale, the Tower Hamlets, Walsall, time preserve intact, unbroken, and unimpaired the
Nottingham, and some other places, the demand has vast power, if not absolute supremacy, of the here-
bees extended as far as 'manhood suffrage.' The ditary peerage ?" (Hear.) He (Mr. Bright) was
Northern Reform Union, having its head-quarters willin to confess that, unless the people of Eng-
at Newcastle, has especially done good service ; and
and g
I
at Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh, andbecame
less liberal, or the hereditary peerage
Glasgow, there have been movements more or less in co- more liberal, he did not see how that object could
operation with this committee. be accomplished; for be thought so far as they were
"In the House of Commons last session, although no called upon to act they must act under the impres-
eneralg Reform Bill was introduced, the topic was kept be- sion that the people of England would not become
fore the house by the motions of Messrs. Locke King,
less
Berkeley, Caird, Cox, and others, especially by the aboli- .
liberal, that theentitled to • y were exercise a
tion of the property qualification for members of Parliament greater power in the Legislature of the country,
and the successful division in favour of a £lO occupation and they must hope that, whatever changes might
franchise for counties. The debates and divisions were be made in the House of Commons, the hereditary
such as greatly to encourage the efforts of the united Re- peerage would learn from what was passing in the
formers ; and the list of the votes on questions of Reform
has been published for the use of electors. country that it not only could but must make
"At the Parliamentary elections, and at the interviews greater steps forward in accordance with public
between members and their constituents which have taken opinion than it had shown a disposition to do for
place during the recess, Parliamentary Reform has occupied many years past. With regard to the second reso-
a share of attention, and opinions have been freely given lution, for it was in that one that he was more par.
committee. receved in favour of the programme whose fh by this
titularlyinterested,he confessed that he had been
- At Guildford Mr. Onslow, name was
originally appended to the address, has been returned as thinking of it for the last two or three days, not only
member ; and at Salford the late Whig Under Secretary of every hour but almost every moment. He knew the
State has received appropriate information, while visiting tremendous responsibility it imposed upon him if
his constituents, as to the extent of their wishes on Parlia- he accepted the charge they so kindly wished to
mentary Reform. intrust to him. He had no pretensions whatever
" Advantage has been taken of the recess to enlarge the
list of correspondents throughout the kingdom, and to make either to.
lead
the popular party out of doors, or to
needful preparation for the anticipated struggles of next act as a leader in the House of Commons. He had
session and the probable occurrence of a general election. never made any pretensions whatever to such a cha-
The public press, both in London and in the provinces, has ratter, for he knew how much in many respects his
kindly rendered every facility for the transmission of intel- disposition unfitted him for such a place. No man
ligenee, and has discussed with fairness and candour the
changes advocated by the committee. could lead a political party long or successfully who
a Soon after their appointment the committee found it was not very pliant and supple—(a laugh)—though
necessary to obtain offices, and to engage the services of a he might be able in some sense or other to follow
secretary for the transaction of their business. They have the party. They knew he had not been very pliant.
in no case employed an itinerating or collecting agent, and (Hear, hear.) He had always endeavoured to fol-
have principally worked by means of an extensive cone- low what
spondence and the friendly co-operation of the press. In low
he thou ht right in all cases that came
their labours up to the present date, including the prepara- under his consideration, but he hoped le was not
tion and publication of their programme, rather more than unwilling, and he should not be unwilling, on that
£6OO have been expended, the greater part of which has question with which he was more directly con-
been received in subscriptions, limited to a few persons.
nested
The small balance due to their treasurer, together with the ' to make whatever concessions were reason-
provision for the enlarged expenditure for the corning year, able and necessary to promote the object that they
is a topic for the consideration of their friends to-day. had in view. The difficulties, however, were greater
" The committee have hitherto abstained from attempting than those who had but little knowledge of the
on any large scale to evoke popular demonstration in their House of Commons would think. Members of Par-
favour, but they are sensible, from the testimony which has '-
lament were like other people and differed upon
been spontaneously offered, that their 'broad outline' of re-
form has gained during the last 12 months a large asses- he were
every question that came before them, and t y _
sion of adherents, who perceive that by simple conditions not free from those jealousies which sometimes af-
sf franchise it would provide for a real and comprehensive fected minds not constitutionally dishonest, but pre-
representation of the people, accompanied by a compara- vented them from giving that cordial co-operation
tively small disturbance of our present laws ancLinstitu- which was necessary for the attainment of a great
tions. It would admit within the pale of the constitution
end. There were many who would not approve the
our artisan population, subject only to such conditions as .
are imposed on every class of the people, and their enjoy-choice made by that meeting of the person to take
meat of the rights of citizenship will furnish an additional charge of this measure of reform, and would say
assurance of the country's stability and progress. The coin- with reason that it was presumption in him to
mittee reiterate the conviction that the plan entrusted to accept the task ; but he could not but think that
them is just, wise, and practicable, and its adoption by the
w hatever might be the bill that they promoted, and
Legislature must follow at no distant interval its approval
by the British people. They cannot close this statement whatever measure ultimately passed, they must en-
of their proceedings without expressing the hope that the deavour rather to meet the
general
opinion then to
Conference will to-day decide on so bold and wise a course seek a permanent settlement of the question. Upon
of action as must obtain the support of all earnest Ra- the question, of the suffrage and the allotment of
formers, and compel the immediate surrender to the
seats, just demands of the people of a real, large, and comprehen- whatever might be the provisions of a mea-
sive measure of Parhamentary Reform." sure of reform, so many opinions were entertained
Mr. S. MORLEY moved the first resolution, to that it would be vain to hope that any measure
the effect : could be passed to which plausible objections would
"That the Conference having reason to believe that the not be advanced. These difficulties would be en-
views laid before the country by the Parliamentary Reform countered by any person in framing and conducting
Committee have been received with great favour, is of a Reform Bill, and therefore the task, hard enough
opinion that a bill intended to meet the wishes of tho great for a Minister with a majority at his back, for a
body of earnest Reformers throughout the United King- •
dom should be prepared for introduction into the House of t lade cadent member,
priva eor p with no following
Commons, in the coming session." and no power and patronage, no advantage to offer
Mr. DUNCAN M'LAREN seconded the resolution. to the wavering, and who could promise nothing
Mr. TAYLOR proposed an amendment to the effect to those whom he asked to co-operate with ' him,
" That this meeting adopt: the principle of manhood the difficulties were almost
insurmountable. They
suffrage as a basis of the bill to be drawn up." were none of them, in proposing this course, afraid
After some discussion the amendment was nega- of the great body of the people. The man who
tived, and the original resolution adopted by a believed that a vote was a dangerous weapon had
large majority. made but very.little -progress in the study of reform.
Mr. ROEBUCK said, a resolution had been placed When a man had no vote _
he looked for the enforce-
in his hands which he had great pleasure in pro-but give him the
meat of his views. by violence,.
vote and physical remedies were entirely forgotten
posing—it was, • by him. (Dear, hear.) It appeared as though he
"That the Conference believes that it gives effect to the
once lost all power of doing evil and looked for
opinions of the country in requesting Mr. Bright, M.P.
at
after consultation with the friends of the cause with whom the future only to the moral and constitutional
he may see fit to advise, to prepare and take charge of such weapon—the franchise. , Therefore in taking the
a measure." t be actuated
course he was now taking he should no
He could Rot presume to ask his hon. friend Mr. by any fear of any possible
extension
of the suffrage.
Bright to frame and introduce a bill if shackles It was not looking fairly at difficulty to that
the sa
were put upon him. He fancied his hon. friend if you offer one man a vote
every man would be in
in mind that they
was something like him in that particular, if he their favour. Let them bear
ow.
it
had been but
undertook to do a duty he would do it ; he did not lived in a country where till n
that he could have
They
want to be shackled by any man's conscience but a dream with the manworking
his own. He would leave the preparation of the a vote at all. (Cheers.) had a great House
bill to Mr. Bright, and place the responsibility as hereditary legislators Possessing vast property
upon In the House of
upon his shoulders ; his shoulders were broad all over the United
Kind
enough to bear it, and he (Mr. Roebuck) was sure Commons they had the sons, brothers, and nominees
legislators, and in the press they
that his . hon. friend would come out, as he had of those hereditary
of newspapers which appeared
always done, with flying colours. It appeared had a larget ntoum
support the dominant party, and
to him that they were now at the commence- to exist
ibu
doing
a little for the public. And among
oc-
ment of a new era of reform. A -Reform Bill casional y d
had been hitherto the child of aristocratic the publicthey had great merchants, wealthy
professional men who had been taught to
condescension, and they were obliged- to -have bankers,p
who had believe that it was pernicious and hazardous to
faith and dependence upon personsst
wnow they their position that political power should be
been so good to their country.
übring spreadwith any degree of fairness among all classes
were going to choose one of themselves to
in a bill. (Cheers.) They would not ask Lord John of
the people. (Cheers.) In f •
miming aßeform
Mr. Bill and in taking the necessary steps to 't,
this and Lord John the other, but they asked._ . carry i
knew their feel- out,
they must take into '
Bright—one of themselves. He considration not that class
were fit for, and only that had never yet
inns and their wishes, What they
- It was no condescension. ti cal t. cal power for itself,
what they were worth. . but they must also take into
his duty. If his consideration all existing opinions, from the most
on his part, he was only doing
would
give
him
timid and even the
hon. friend would allow him, hewith the
most retrograde to the most
not with the view of advanced
some hints upon this matter,
him. and even most reckless. And it was by
shackling him, but of guiding He
was an endeavouring
to get all they could get, by invoking
hon. friend would allowall
old Reformer ; and if his .
him to allude to the great difficulties h would that they wouldbe able to tP 1' t and
propose o ar 'amen
d • him
have to be overcome, he would be doing ato the country any great and satisfactory measure
favour, It appeared to him that the two great of reform with any. chance of its passing. into
difficulties in the way of reform were the extent of law. He thought the proposition to frame a bill
the franchise and the distribution of the seats— founded upon the principles laid down in the circu-
(hear, hear)—and he believed they would find that larra good one, and he could not therefore refuse
the present Government would bring in a bill with the onerous duty of preparing a measure and con-
a very wide extension of the franchise. They ducting its progress through. Parliament; but he
would attempt in that way to get into popular must not be understood -to undertake the framing
favour i- but there .would not be anything like a of a measure which.should in all its details coincide

exactly with 4_
offered to the pL by any existin,
He took that opportunity of making soiiie
in reference to observations that had been Matte
the speeohes delivered to his constituents at Bir.
mingham. He understood that certain friends of
the present Government thought he had treated
them with less than fairness. But it had always
been his policy to give to every Government a fair
trial, and if at the end of that trial he had been
obliged to condemn he attributeditto the faults-of
the Government rather than to any severity °Line-
tice or judgment on his part. (Hear, hear.) 'they
had no measure of reform from the present Govern-
ment before them, and he thought hewas therefore
justified in warning Reformers against putting their
trust in them, especially as they had unfortunately
been all their lives divided from them.
Some further discussion took-place, after which
the meeting separated.