The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-06 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Slll,—ln your paper of yesterday you say " extension
of the suffrage without the ballot is but the extension of
'serfdom.' " I fear this is too true.
Your ebservations on Sir H. Dryden's speech in South
Northamptonshire induce me to state a few facts con-
nected with that electoral district, which I think prove
your position to be correct, and show why the Tories of
the present day are advocating what is called "Reform
in the Representation of the People." In the year 1831
the representation of the county of Northampton was
contested by Lord Althorp and Lord Milton as Liberals,
and Mr. Cartwright, the father of the lately elected re-
presentative of the southern division of that county, and
Sir Charles rnightley, the father of its other member.
On that contest the fate of the Reform Bill was con-
sidered to hang. The electors of Northamptonshire did
their duty nobly.
In an extensive and numerously populated parish, now
included in the said southern division, there was but one
voter at that time, and he voted for Lords Althorp and
Milton. The Reform Bill conferred the franchise (as
now appears by the register of voters) upon upwards
of seventy of the owners and occupiers of property in
that parish. Although there is not any extensive land-
owners
resident in the parish, great influence is exerted
by gentlemen who reside in its immediate neighbour -
hood. Mark the working under these circumstances of
an extension of the suffrage. At the first contested elec-
tion after the passing of the Reform Bill that parish
eent, I believe, one voter (a working shoemaker) to poll
for the Liberal candidate ; the remainder (Whigs, Ter,e,,
Liberal, Radicals, Churchmen, Wesleyans, and Dissen-
ters)—there were some of all these classes amongst
thew,—voted for the Tories who were of the Dryden
school. After the close of the poll this poor shoemaker
went home and found his house all but a wreck. The
Tory reward for independence. He had no redress.
At the contest in 1847, when Lord Henley was a
candidate, some five or six of these voters were induced
to vote for him—the remainder " sticking to their
colours and voting blue," as it is termed by them.

_ -
In 1857, some 14 or 15 of these men were induced
under very peculiar eircumetances to vote for Lord
Althorp, and about 50 of them voted for the " blue can-
didate," one gentleman marching them to the poll, and
afterwards paying for the dinner and other refresh
ments supplied to his troop.
In the late contest I have been informed that the
voters for Lord Henley, from this parish, dwindled down
to sor 6. Ido not pledge myself as to the exact num-
ber of votes recorded at the above-mentioned contest,
after the passing of the Reform Bill, as lam writing from
memory only; but the general correctness of the above
statement, lam able and willing to prove. Let reformers,
who fancy everything is to be gained to their cause by
an extension of the suffrage, as the late Mr. Hume did,
consider these facts. If they will make inquiries, I fear
they will findmany more such cases.

It shluld be kilown that the Sir H. Dryden you
refer to is the gentleman wbo. upon the hustings in
South Northamptonshire, in 1847, told tho electors that
thelcattle murrain waqsent as a judgment upon the coun-
try for its political offences—meaning the preference for
a liberal to a tory government.
A SOUTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
ELECTOR.
London, March 5, 1858.

CONFERENCE OF ITALIAN DELEGATES.

The conference met at eleven yesterday morning ;
Signor Borromeo, the president, in the chair. Letters
from almost every part of Italy were read by the
secretary of the conference, Signor Correnti, congratu-
lating the delegates on the firmness they exhibited in
supporting the movement of so much importance to the
welfare of Italy. Also various letters from gentlemen
tendering their support to a movement which eventually
might promise to become a reality, the most important
of which were from several members of Parliament and

two peers of England, offering to support any movement
which, carried on by peaceful agitation, might tend to
advance the interests of the various states of Italy, in
securing for them a constitutional form of government.
The PRESIDENT congratulated the delegates on the
inauguration of a movement which promisee for Italy
the realisation of its brightest hopes. He had felt
assured, when consulted by his friends from Italy, the
very fact of the opinions of the true patriots of his
country being uttered in a land that invariably showed
itself the true supporters of liberty, that it would be im-
possible to utter such sentiments as had been enunciated
at the conference ever since it had been held, without
drawing forth the expressions of kind esteem and senti-
ment that had met them on every side. The conference
meeting in London had established its principles through
the medium of a press ever willing to support the cause
of truth and justice, especially when it was founded on
what was considered a practical basis.
Il Cavaliers CASTINR moved : - " That the friends of
constitutional government in England and in the other
countries of the continent of Europe, be at once invited
to co-operate with the National Italian League."
Signor FARINI offered some observations on the above
resolution, and it was subsequently carried.
Signor LITTA, before he read the address which the
committee were delegated to draw up the various Courts
of Europe, desired to offer thereon an observation or
two. It was natural, in the first instance, that the
address submitted to them should undergo many alters•
tions, but it had been founded on the principles he had,
in concert with his colleagues on the committee, adopted
as the solemn pledges of the conference they were sent
to support. In the next instance, many might imagine
the grounds taken were not sufficiently general ; and
others, that the exposition of their claims was urged in
language of too strong a nature. If such were the case,
he and hie colleagues had agreed to submit without a
murmur to the decision of the general conference, feeling
assured the only prospect of their country's regeneration
lay in their unity. (Cheers.)
Signor LITTA then read the address, which was of
considerable length, but which we refrain from giving to
our readers, owing to numerous alterations suggested by
several of the delegates. The discussion respecting it
lasted till past eight o'clock, when the conference ad-
journed.