The Sun.
London, England, 1835-08-13 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENTN',. AUGUST 13, 1835

rested in continuing the present system ; it was, therefore,
the duty of every one to come forward on the present oc-
casion, and express their opinions on the subject. Man-
chester had done its duty nobly—he hoped 17)2:: every town
—aye, every village in the kingdom—would deluge the
House with petitions similar to those they were about to adopt.
Mr. C. DIXON, in a long turd animated speech, supported
the motion, which as then put from the Chair, and carried
unanimously, amidst bursts of applause.
J. ELMS moved the adoption of the petition to the
liousa of Lords. He thought it necessary, that they might
not think they, the meeting, Were satisfied with, the course
They might otherwise pursue. As Englishmen, they knew
their rights, and were bold enouc.,h to maintain them. Mr.
E. here read the petition, which was as follows:
°' To the Right Honourable the Lords, Spiritual and Temporal,
of the United Kingdom of Great and Ireland, in
Parliament assembled—
" The humble Petition of the undersigned Inhabitants of the
Town of Devonport, and Palish Qf Stoke Damerell, iu
the County of Devon.
" May it please your Lordships,—That your petitioners hailed
with the greatest pleasure, the passing by the Honourable- the
House of Commons of a Bill now before your Lordships, intituled
A Bill to provide for the Regulation of the Municipal Corpora-.
tions in England and Wales'—the necessity of immediately passing
which Bill into a law has been clearly shown by the Report of the
Corporation Commissioners.
" Your petitioners have learnt with the utmost regret and alarm,
that the progress of the said Bill is likely to be impeded in your.
Right Honourable House, by your Lordships' determination to re-
ceive further evidence on the subject.
".Your petitioners entreat your Right Honourable House to con-
sider that the attention of the British pecple is directed with intense
anxiety to the accomplishment of those improvements which your
petitioners believe this Bill is calculated to effect in the manage-
ment of existing Municipal Corporatioes, the majority of which are,.
notoriously corrupt ; and that to disappoint their reasonable expec-
tations, by delaying or in any way mutilating this practical measure
of Reform, would have a tendency not only to excite. the utmost''
indignation and resentment throughout the empire, but would go
far to destroy any attachment which the people of this country may
have towards your Lordships' House as a Legislative Assembly.
" Your Petitioners therefore, most earnestly implore your Lord-
ships not to endanger the peace of the British Empire, or the sta-
bility of the Throne, by any unnecessary delay in the passing of
this so long and highly approved measure, in all its integrity, into
a law, your Petitioners being satis:led that great benefits to the
community at large will be the result of the accomplishment of this
grand measure of reform, in the original and liberal principles with
which the same was introduced by his Majesty's present Ministers.
"And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever
.pray,
Mr. ELMS proceeded—Considering the Petition to be
couched in a firm, yet respectful tone, he conceived the Lords
would easily understand it. lie did not consider it too strong,
Lut if any gentleman present did so, it was open to observa-
tion as well as to alteration by the meeting, if they .thought
proper.
Mr. PINSENT regretted that he could not give his assent to
the Petition just produced, fraught as it was with such intem-
perate language.
Mr. RIDER generally thought a petition to the House of
Lords thrown away ; but that one was necessary on the
present occasion in order that the feelings of the people of
Devonport might be known. The petitions from other large
towns were just in the same terms. If they went to the House
of Lords at all they must speak in language which should be
understood. The people of England were determined to have
that Bill—that should be made known to the Lords ; he there-
fore most cordially seconded the petition, which was then put
by the Chairman, and carried nem. con.
Mr. R. 0. BACKWELL hoped that if the Bill should be
thrown out by the Lords, those present at the meeting would
prove themselves to be Englishmen, by persevering until they
should obtain it to be passed by the Legislature. He then
moved a petition to the House of Commons as follows :
" To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland in Parliament assembled—

" The petition of the undersigned inhcbitants of the town of
Devonport, and parish of Stoke Damerel, in the county of Devon—
" Humbly sheweth,—That your petitioners hailed with the
greatest satisfaction the introduction of that most important Bill
into your honourable House by his Majesty's present Ministers,
intituled, 'A Bill to provide for the Regulation of Municipal
Corporations in England and Wales;' and are proud to find that
the same was read by your Honourable 'louse a third time in its
unimpaired state without a division.
" Your petitioners therefore earnestly pray that your Honour-
able House will not sanction any alteration that may be made by
the House of Lords in any manner impair;m4- the efficiency of the
provisions of the said Bill, or itt the least subverting any of those
liberal principles upon which. the same is funded.
"And your petitioners s ill eve.. lway, &e."

. .
Mr. AXFORD seconded the motiori. Corporations at first
he conceived had be'en establid for the benefit of the
community at large. Why then, Ivrsons should now talk of
vested interests, when it was fout-A that they were by
process of time centin2d to the few L.ste4d of the many, lie
(iiew not.

The CHAIRkIAY then put the rcFelution which was carried
unanimously.
Mr. RIDER moved the address to his Majesty be forwarded
to Lord John Russell for oreseetatiou, Plid the petition to the-
House of Lords to Lord 'Brougham. raid that to the House of
Commons to the boroult Member for presentation.
This being seconded by Mr. 13i, :.ex MORE and put from the
Chair, was carried nevi. con.
After thanks had been given to the Chairman and three
cheers for Lord Melbourne and the rest of his Majesty's Mi.
nisters, the Meeting separated.

TAVIS7'OCK.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDI:NT.
Tuesday Morning, Aug. 11.
The recent proceedings in the House of Lords with regard
the Municipal Reform Bill has caused a great excitement
in this town. A public meeting of the inhabitants is to be
held this evening, in order to make known their views and sen-
timents on the occasion. A numerous meeting is anticipated.

for which but more than twenty or thirty hands were held up ;
acct the original motion was carried by a complete forest of
h :ills, amidst loud cheering.
Mr. M. BROWNE, solicitor, then stepped forward, and in a
few words, proposed the next resolution:—
" That this meeting resolves to petition the House of Lords to
pa 3 the Corporation Reform Bill without delay, the principle of
which has received the unanimous assent of the Commons' House;
:Ind at the same time respectfully to state to that Right Hon. House
that if they fail to accord with the views of the Commons, thus
constitutionally expressed by their representatives, and resist the
passing of a measure, dictated not less by justice than by sound po-
licy, that in such case it is the deliberate opinion of this meeting,
4.liat they will awaken in the public mind, so great a distrust of the
wise exercise of the powers of the Lords, as will endanger the eon-
t;nuance of the privileges and prorogatives of their House."
At this moment a short interruption occurred from an ass
driving a sand cart attempting to pass through the crowd ;
several were for turning him back, but he obtained a ready
passege on the observation—" He's a burgess, let him pass."
Lord RANCLIFFE then stepped forward amidst loud cheers,
and alluded to the right of the people to good govern-
uu2.,t, which no House of Lords could take from them,
and if the House of Lords rejected the wishes of the people,
he would advise them to take care of themselves.—( Cheers.)
Ili, Lordship then proceeded to allude to his dislike of those
oh! women in petticoats, the Bishops, sitting in the House of
Peers.—(Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord then proceeded to
eulogize the character of Lord Melbourne, as the best Mini-
ster England had for a long time beheld ; in face of a great
orijority in the House of Lords against him, and the back.
stairs' influence of the Court, he had declared his determina-
tion to abide by the Bill, and on their heads would be the re-
jection or mutilation of it.—( Cheers.) The Noble Lord then
moved—

That this Meeting tenders to his Majesty's Ministers its
wa:.n,,st testimony of approval, for having introduced the measure,
the final passing of which this Meeting is assembled to promote,
end that they be respectfully requested to continue their uncompro-
mising resistance to every attempt to lessen its efficiency, assuring
them, that while they rely on the support of a just and enlightened
people for power to pass their measures, they will not rely in vain."
Mr. SAMUEL Fox briefly seconded the motion, which was
put and carried unanimously.
Mr. T. KNIGHT, Long-row, then proposed the adoption of
a petition, founded on these Resolutions, to the House of
Lords, to be presented by Lord Melbourne, to whom also a
copy of the Resolutions should be transmitted.
Mr. JoHN BRADLEY seconded the motion, in a speech of
some length, which was imperfectly heard, from the low tone
of voice.

The Resolution was then carried unanimously:

Dr. PIGOT proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman,
which was seconded by Mr. T. BISHOP, and carried unani-
mously.
Lord RANCLIFFE then proposed three cheers for Lord
Melbourne, which were most heartily given, and the meeting
separated.