The Sun.
London, England, 1832-02-03 00:00:00

REFORM BILL.

Mr. D. WAKEFIELD, jun. again proposed his petition,
urging the House of Commons to recommend his Majesty's
Ministers to take a speedy and efficacious mode of passing the
Reform Bill. It laments the incapacity of Ministers for busi-
ness, though it gives them credit for sincerity of sentiment, and
integrity of intention.
Mr. T. MURPHY seconded the adoption of the petition. He
did not shrink from condemning Ministers for the delay which
they allowed during the last eighteen months since their acces-
sion to office—not merely did he censure their delay on the
Reform question, but their conduct on another question, which
he considered in public importance second only to that measure.
When they might have allowed a parochial Reform to exempt
them from the oppression of Select Vestries, they turned their
backs on the people and gave their support to their's and the
people's enemies. So too, when it is necessary to project or
forward one of their gagging Bills, or require a suspension of
the Habeas Corpus Act, so as to make the British Constitution
nonentity, very little time or consideration is necessary,
but when the salvation of the country is to be effected, then
delay is necessary, or insuperable. He thought it better Mi.
sisters should have avoided the:necessity of the advice, and
trusted their energy would do thatwhich otherwise people must
do for themselves. They must be in earnest, and the people are
determined they shall.
Mr. HUME thought that the measure proposed might mar
the end designed. He was glad to see the energy and spirit the
Union displayed in an anxiety for the speedy passing of the
Reform—but he thought that " slow and steady wins the race."
Ministers are doing all that can be expected from them, con-
sidering the nature of the difficulties and the obstinacy of the
persons which they have to encounter. To the language of the
petition he strongly objected, and said such expressions would
not be allowed in the House e►en from a Member. The
petition should be so worded as to prevent the possibility of its
being rejected.

The CHAIRMAN disapproved of the petition in toto, from
its non-necessity and untimeliness. He yielded to none in his
anxiety for Reform; but he did not wish that those who had so
spiritedly come forward to aid the people in the acquisition of
their rights should be branded as incapables or imbeciles. If
the petition was to be put to the meeting, he would not be the
person to put it.—(Great uproar, and " turn him out," but the
worthy Baronet very prudently took the liberty to decamp in
time.)
Mr. HUME was then unanimously called to the Chair, and
requested the support of the meeting. He regretted Sir Francis
had mistaken the views of the petition, which was to support
Ministers, not to reproach nor revile them ; yet the Council felt
it necessary manfully to state the truth, not hide it from any men
or Ministers; and if such were the view, he hesitated not to
propose the motion, that the petition, when properly worded
according to etiquette, should be adopted.
The SECRETARY then proposed that Messrs. Hume and
Tooke be appointed Auditors, and Mr. Fox Smith the Treasurer
for the ensuing year.

The thanks of the Union being then proposed to all friends of
Reform, particularly all of the Unions throughout the country,
Mr. O'CONNELL rose amid loud cheering, and said that the
meeting had caught him in their net by their motion. He, in
the name of the friends of Reform connected with the National
Union returned thanks, and though he was both prosecuted and
persecuted by the present Government for not obeying a pro-
clamation, yet he must, in the present instance, act as the
Counsel for the Government. He thought them entitled to
credit, not reproach—and if the people were aware of the de-
lays occasioned by the liberty which Hon. Members in the House
have of repeating their motions for adjournment, and, Animus_
like, acquiring new strength or desperation from their falls or de-
feat, they would not be so hasty to censure. He was glad to see
that the people were aware of, and clamorous for their rights
—but he thought their sentiments should be expressed rea-
sonably and seasonably. He was no flatterer of the Ministers ;
for, in the language of his own country, he owed them no com-
pliments ; yet he desired that justice should be done them not
merely for sincerity of purpose, but capacity and determina-
tion. He regretted, certainly, that by a creation of Peers they
did not make assurance doubly sure, and remove the appre-
hensions of Reformers, as well as subvert the anticipations
of the Antis; yet he thought that, since in one fleqk of the
present Session they had done as much as in six weeks of the
last Session, they were justly entitled to credit and the grati-
tude of the country. He trusted that, whilst he, as counsel,
gave the Ministers a lift—though all would be willing to give a
lift of a different kind to the Tories—(Great cheering, when he
accompanied his expression by peculiar gesticulation, as if he
seemed going to dance the Tyburn jig)—he trusted none would
be found willing to assist them in restoration to office, which,
however it might affect this country, would inevitably cause
the standard of revolution to be hoisted, and be the signal for
bloodshed, and misery, and desolation to Ireland. He was
loudly and warmly cheered throughout.
The thanks of the meeting were then voted separately to
Messrs. Warburton, Hume, and O'Connell; and the meeting
adjourned at a late hour, more pleased at its termination than
its commencement. The feelings of the meeting seemed to be
be in favour of Sir Francis remaining, even if he did not act as
Chairman; and full credit was given him for his former
struggles in the cause of the people and of Reform. One act
not relished cannot cancel former favours.

COURT-MARTIAL ON CAPTAIN W. H,

WARRINGTON.

We have received a report of Sir Charles Dalbiac's summing
up in this important trial, but as the Gallant Officer's address
would (if given at length) occupy nearly a page, we shall defer
giving the particulars till to-morrow, more particularly as Par-
liamentary and other matters have greatly restricted our limits.

NEW REVOLVING CARRIAGE BOXES.

A striking improvement has lately been introduced, in the
structure of these boxes. By means of it, the amount of friction
is greatly lessened, and the necessity which has hitherto existed
for taking off the wheel from week to week, for the purpose of
filling the boxes with oil, is superseded altogether. In point of
fact, by the invention to which we allude, the absorption of the
oil is guarded against altogether; and until the wheel itself shall
be worn out, it need never be taken off. We saw, the other
day, a wheel constructed on this principle, (which had tra-
velled, in twelve months and twenty days, a distance of
2,656 miles, without having been removed from the axle),
taken off, to be examined in the presence of two noblemen,
skilled in the mechanics of coach-building; and the oil that
was enclosed, when it was first filled, bad not been sensibly
lessened in quantity. On applying to Mr. Birch, the inventor,
we find that the invention consists of a cylinder, divided, (or
rather two cylinders, with a ring between them,) placed between
the axle and the box of the wheel, which latter is pxovided with
a chamber on the inside, and a concave screw cap on the out..
side, as reservoirs to contain oil. The cylinders are case-
hardened, and the whole so accurately fitted as to prevent the
admission of grit ; and, by securing the absence of friction, to
add greatly to the velocity of the wheel's motion. The same
wheel has performed nearly 2,000 miles since the above was
written, and the principal advantage is, that the improvement
can be fitted to any common axle at a small expence.
The application of this improvement to railway carriages
would be of very singular advantage.

FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE.