The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-11 00:00:00

I\ 0. 2( ,504.)

LONDON, T

PUBLICATIONS.

GR,P,AAN,TEL,'sIc..
WESTERN
ETic-kets to RJerlselTajnd Guernsey,AY.
via Weymouth, ars now issued at the Paddington Station, enabling
passengers to break the journey at Chippenham, Dorchester, or
, Weymouth. _ _

NOT ItE,

CA RDIAL WISEMAN'S PERSONAL RE-
COLLECTIONS of the LAST FO, •R POPES, in I vol.,
with Portraits, will be ready on Monday, March 1 5, and those who
desire early copies are requested to give their orders immediately to
their Booksellers.
Hurst and Blsckett, Publishers, 13, Great Marlborough-street.

Fares, Rail and Boat: —3ls. and 21s.
Further particulars can be obtained on application at the Com•
pany's Offices.

LONDON and NORTH-WESTERN
RADA% AY.—CHEAP EXCURSIONS between LONDON and
PETERBOROUGH until further notice.
These trains leave LONDON and PETERBOROUGH DAILY
(Sundays excepted) at the following hours :
Leave Easton Station.
1 • Leave Peterborough.
6.80 6.45 a.m.
7.30 „ 9.15 „
12. 0 noon 11.45 „
3.30 p.m. 2.30 p.m.
5.15 ~ 1 5.30 „

LADY SCOTT'S NEW NOVEL,
" THE ONLY CHILD," is now ready, in 2 Vols.
" 'Twas a brave thought to think that thou could'st tear
The idol from its shrine;
And rear a nobler, purer imatre there,
Than that old love of mine."—FABER.
Hurst and Brackett, Publishers, success,rs to Henry Colburn, 13,
Great Marlborough-street.

The FARES by these Trains for the SINGLE JOURNEY-

Now ready, in 2 vole., with Portrait of neorge IV.. price 215.,
ItECOLLECTIONS OF WEST END LIFE;
With Sketches of S'oc:ety in Paris, India, &t.,.

Closed Carriages.... 2s. I First Class .... . • • 3s.
For the DOUBLE JOURNEY. Tickets available for SEVEN
DAYS--

Closed Carriages .... 3s. First Class .. • • • • • • ss.
The tickets are not transferable, and the attention of holders is
especially called to the notice at the back. By Order.
General Manager's Office, Euston Station,
Ist March, 1858

'I,..4IVERPOOL, BIRKENHEAD, CHESTER,
WARRINGTON, PRESTON, WIGAN', MANCHESTER,
STOCKPORT, STALEYBRIDG F.:, GREENFIELD, OLDHAM,
HUDDERSFIFLH, DE .v6BURY, BATLEY, and BIRS fAL.
Reduction of Fares by London and North-Western Railway.—
i:eturn Tickets by all Trains, nem ding to Class, are now issued to
or from Euston-station and any of the above stations.

2d Class. Ist Class,
Available for Seven Days .... 12s. 6d.
Available for Twenty-Eight Days.. 17s. Od. 375.
For further particulars, see hand-bills.
Euston-station, Ist March, 1858. Ey Order.

. ,_ - - , --4 .. - :s rl "-t 7 -'I I'', . • _
4 .
... . .
. , '1 ! ~
. ~,,',e<::;i: • - .
. . .._ .
o•-- ~.- - -•:- .‘
f.•
w- i.. irt
'kW
, .. .. • . - - -
~._
.„,,,_ ~
..... . .....„ .
R:
Pi „-.
ti.1_,,,..,..,.. .....t.._,
~ ~..., - ~. ~- . . - ,-- ~,.
..4f4 . .t.;': -,'. - - I -.... , : ::?fl.'-7.0 :r.,it.-,r.i I
, , .. Sk ' '.
le'''. '• ' :6* ... r- . • ' .
1 '
N.,
,;„41/4_,-,, ~,,,.. . ip00k...i,-,, •,, 41.,„,' '. 4 jr.:,142,ii,‘ NI" ---.4,7:,'-.'f • .. ,---- -- . ,
:'''' - ! - ~.I*_ --../, „,..,--- ', ''.,:. - -,. II _ , , • 411111 , .
,fi '?'"'','N . , '',.. —;
'1:::, •-• _ • , - . Wl' ''''''-‘- _, ~.,,
I ~. i 1 5,A.:_.,,,,,
~, Nief-.' , - - 4
.0 • ON. .0. N..-- :
_ .-,-.:,-7,-. • - ~..., :me,: . . ,:, 4
... i..!).1,...40.&.
_
.-..
s.". • -- --.;":"' '-'.... v:". ''' 1,1_14111.-.. 77:.; -"--air' Ili • , ".7!:- , ' •
~.
. _
. -
... . , ~'. ... ,1111 •• .-:.- ': iti"Ar. ~ ..,- *...... - ..
_,.. - ~:. _, - ' . 'Efigor----,.• ~. ....,:•,. :-...
• ..
. .
. .
. . ,
, .
. . . : .

'_;) 2 -
27
_OOO

//~

)17 e.

7 G r`l

.Vlillllp

r

a II TAELE.

) 111 r

[pßioll 4D. STAMPED 5P •]

his distressed literary brethren F Will the world believe
that Mr. Dickens has adopted such a course, and that,
as our readers may see from the summary of Mr. Bell's
speech, which appears in another part of our paper, the
pamphlet he has published is not only in its spirit din.
ingenuous, but fake in its most important particulars
Yet, as it would appear, this is the mode which Mr.
Dickens has adopted, in order to bring about, what he
is pleased to term, a reformation in the management of
an old-cstablished Charity, whose books and papers are
open to him, whose system of management is fully
known to him, and whose officers, by their own avowal
yesterday, are ready at any moment to adopt sugges-
tions which appear to be advantageous to the general
efficiency of the charity.
But there is another, and, if possible, amore objection.
able attitude assumed by the minority of 14 against 70, in
reference to which we may say a few words. Mr. Dickens
and his friends assume to themselves the pre-eminent
rank of the Literary Men of England. If the question
were not so serious, we should be disposed to laugh. The
literary status of England must, indeed, have fallen very
low if it can find no better representatives of its scholar-
ship, its learning, its philosophy, than are embodied in
Mr. Dickens and those who have supported him on
these occasions. Without in any way wishing to de-
preciate that branch of literature with which Mr.
Dickens is exclusively identified, it would be mani-
festly absurd to igin ra the great r ar.d more sub-
ctantial claims upon the country ef men whose lives
have been devoted to studies from which the present
and subsequent generations may derive real knowledge
and sound instruction. The value of all knowledge h
relative, and must depend entirely upon the advan-
tages mankind derive from its possession. Ti,at which
ennobles the mind and chastens the heart--that which
teaches us our true position in the scale of humanity
—that which, in fact, tends to make us wiser and
better, is more worthy of cultivation, and has a higher
claim upon our intelligence than that which is de-
signed merely to amnse. Thus to arrogate to them-
selves the position of the literary men, of England is,
as we humbly think, on the part of Mr. Dickens and
his friends, to commit a great mistake—to place them-
selves, as they would place the Society, in a false
position. But throughout the entiro proceeding there
is no rational and unprejudiced man who cau enter-
tain any other conviction than that the aim has been
directed more to the material injury of the Charity,
than to the establishment of a system by which its
resources may be more effectually developed.
With a sincere and friendly feeling for every effort
made in behalf of literature, we are not disposed to
remain silent in the presence of such events. We regard
this vexatious opposition carried on year afteryear with
a trumpery minority, as diegrace.ful to those engaged in
it and derogatory to the character of the literary pro-
fession in England ; but at the same time, we must
avow our belief that with such triumphant facts at their
disposal, as set forth yesterday by Mr. Bell, the corn•
ruittee is open to much and deserved censure for tt,,t
having at the outset met these paltry accusations in a
formal and complete manner, and so placed the facts
before the world as not only to refute, as was done
yeterday, the mie-statements of the minority, but to
shield the corporation from the possible injury it may
receive from one of the most malicious attacks a
charitable institution has ever encountered at the hands
of its subscribing members.

Al 4 st IP

r marvellous 061nbittitioi. -We de not apprehend thaL
Lord Derby willencOunter much serious opposition
from the Rouse of Cc:l4moms • but should faction triumph
liaVageembly the Prirrieiliaiater:tpay'itafely appeal
trilider country. That is his great atroUgheld ; the,.
his character is understood and his great merits are
appreciated. The people have learned many wholesome
Lasona since 1852, and know what sacrifices the.want
of good government has entailed. Of course Lord John
Russell will renew his agitation on reform• The-at-
mosphere of the opposition benches does not suit-him;
and he will doubtless bid high for place, The member
for Lonicu has, however, been tried more than once,
and his failure was on each oecasicn complete. AlthoUgh
disturber of patti,:-:s and breaker up -of -Cabinets this
leg stator has slwal s prove 3, whenever great opkitualies
cave been within h's grasp, u•terly inctpable. IL, ma y
use big words, and talk largely of what he intends to
do, vet for all that, in power, he always proves to be
Lard John the Unready.

REFQ.R3I MEETING AT MANGEY, S'
FORDSHIRR. •

On Tuesday evening last 3 public meeting-was held
n the Town-hall, Hanley, on the subject of Parlia-
ntery reform, and also to an exposition of his
views on the present crisis from Mr. J. L. Ricardo,
M. P. for the Parliament try borough of Stoke-upon-
Trent. The meeting had been called by the Mayor
(Mr. J. Ridgway), in pursuance of a requisition
signed by 400 persons. The hall was crowded.
The Mayor presided. The prceeedings were unaui-
inous throughout, and the following resolution was
adopted by acclamation :
"That any measure of Parliamentary reform, to
be acceptable to the people, should at least enfran-
chise, in boroughs, every person ratedeto the poor,
and in counties every 101. householder should give
to every voter the protection of the ballot, should
abolish the property qualification of members of
Parliament, should as equitably as possible appor-
tion representatives to population, and shorten the
duration of parliament to three years."
A separate resolution in favour of the ballot was
passed, declaring that " any measure of parliamen-
tary reform which did not give the voter its protec-
tion would be disadvantageous to the country and
unacceptable to the people."
A petition to parliament in favour of the above
programme was also adopted.
The MAYOR opened the proceedings in an ani-
mated speech, in which be -argued that there was
no such thing as "finality" in parliamentary reform,
any more than in personal or any other kind of
reform. He attributed in a great measure the
repeal of the corn laws, and also of the navigation
laws, and the general enlightenment of the nation,
to the reform bill of 183.1. He thought there could
be no doubt that a large extension of the suffrage
WAS needed, and he believed that the nation would
so demand it that no government dare refuse it.
Mr. RICARDO rose and was received with deafen-
ing cheers. After a few introductory remarks he
said that his belief was that the representative
system was the great guarantee of the liberties of
the people. It was by that system that public
opinion passed into the public will, and the publio
wid passed into public law. A previous speaker
had spoken contemptuously of Lord Derby'sgovern-
ment, and he confessed that he felt ineinel to agree
with him. He deeply regretted that for some time
past political men, and especially the representa-
tives of the people, appeared to have forsaken
principles, and to have become mere followers of
Lord Derby, or Lord John Russell, or Lord
Palmerston, or some other lord. Men did not act
as if they were sent to parliament to fight the
battles of the people and to serve their country, but
to become the tools of a minister. (Cheers.) He
had always told his constituents that they must
not expect that sort of thing from him. He had
resolved always to follow an independent course,
and therefore it was that he was one of the 99 who
stood forward to declare that the laws of England
should never be altered at the dictation of a
foreign despot. (Loud cheering.) He did not
mean to say that the French government asked any-
thing very unreasonable, but their demand he con-
sidered to be one of a series which would have been
made, and by which the liberties of the English
people would have been endangered. (Renewed
cheering.) There was no amount of jealo esy—
there was no amount of vigilance—which the repre-
sentatives of the people ought not to exercise in
guarding against the first encroachments of the
liberties of this nation. It was the restraint which
was the cause of the weakness of the French em-
pire ; and he did not feel at all surprised at the
people attempting to take the power into their own
hands and to break off their chains. With regard
to the charge of factious voting which had been
made against the majority which ousted Lord Pal-
merston, he would say, what he had said many
times before, that he had never given a vote in
which he did not honestly hope that he might not
be in a majority. The minority of ninety-nine be-
lieved that they wore representing the views of the
people of England, and so it turned out, and then
the majority longed for some opportunity of retrac-
ing their steps, and Mr. Milner Gibson gave it to
them. (Laughter and applause.) As to Lord
Derby's ministry, he thought it occupied a very
unconstitutional position. It was to be a govern-
ment by a minority. Lord Derby intended to try
to govern upon a representative system, without
having a majority of the representatives in his
favour. At the same time he did not regret that
Lord Derby was to be in office for a short time, for
that would lead to great popular advantages if the
people would only be true to themselves. (Hear,
hear.) He confessed that he never expected a sa-
tisfactory measure of reform from the late govern-
naent—for the men who could bandy the people
about from pillar to post, and put them off year
aftyr year as they had done, ou pretexts,
could not be sincere. As to the reform bill pro-
inisel by Lord Derby, Mr. Disraeli had given them
a hint as to when they might expect that. In address-
ing his constituents the other day, he said that the
government of Lord Derby had the question of re-
form under consideration. Now he could tell
them that when any government talked about any
subject btiug under consideration, the public
might rest assured that it would stick at consi-
derati,Ju, unless it were compelled to go forward.
, (Laughter.) Mr. Disraeli, too, gave them another
hint. He said that the country did not ask for a
Reform Bill. Then the cry of reform must be
raised. (Loud cheering.) The Government must
be made to understand that the people meant to
have it—that having been bamboozled so long,
they meant to stand it no longer. (Renewed
cheering.)
nLleett tthheeniGobreerenamileedntupboenptuotshuopwon,
nut
defence,
the man who was worthy of the franchise, but to
(rive a good reason why every man should not have
it. The franchise was the birthright of Englishmen
—it was a legacy which they left to their children ;
and he thought the working classes, as a body, were
quite as capable of exercising it with discretion as
any class that now enjoyed it. For himself, he
would rather be elected or rejected by the people
of the Potteries as a body than by his present 2,000
constituents. Mr. Ricardo then spoke warmly in
favour of the ballot, and ridiculed the objection of
its being un-English. He had himself been elected
by ballot into. Brookes' and the Reform Clubs, and.
so had Lord John Russell, whose pet objection
this was. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) He was
inclined to think that an extension of the suffrage
would be almost a curse, if unaccompanied by the
nconcluded by
protectionofthebaslalyoingi
ballot. (Atpiaptlaaufstee.r)
listening Mr. Ricardo
to
some of the speeches made that night by working
men,
th
en andet aft
er e
wonderedseeing h te
anyt d
man
wou
would
venture to say that there was a single man in the
room who was not entitled to the franchise. (Loud
cheering.)