The Sun.
London, England, 1832-05-05 00:00:00

REFORM MEETING AT LEITU.

(Abridged from the Scotsman.)
Yesterday a public meeting of the inhabitants of Leith,
augmented by various public bodies from Musselburgh,
Portobello, and Newhaven, was held in front of the Ex-
change Buildings, where hustings were erected The meet-
ing having been called by the worthy Magistrates of Leith.
the different trades resolved to walk in procession, and
the grand display they made in honour of this great occa-
sion, was perhaps never exceeded in any town of equal
dimensions. About one o'clock the public bodies assem-
bled in the Links, and arranged the order of procession.
The spectacle here was extremely imposing, its magnifi-
cense being enhanced by a bright sun, and the multiplicity
of gaudy banners that waved above the assembled thou-
sands. Thedeputations from Musselburgh and Fisherrow
were headed by Gabriel Wilson, Esq. formerly their chief
Magistrate, who rode in a car bedecked with elegant flags
and appropriate mottoes. The procession having been
tnirshalled, proceeded from the Links, enlivened by the
spirited airs of various bands of music.

When the head of the procession reached the hustings, th e
Incorporation of Carters divided, and the members of the
Trinity House took up their ground facing the centre of
the hustings ; the maltmen took their place on their right,
and the bodies, as they severally came up, placed them-
selves alternately on the right and left, the Carters keep-
ing the flanks clear. The whole of the large area in
Bernard-street was crowded from end to end, and Consti-
tution-street had to lend nearly half its length to accom-
modate additional thousands. The windows in the vici-
nity were also crowded with spectators, and even the house-
tops were garrisoned with Reformers. Although the
mighty multitude of King's Park had a more imposing
appearance as to numbers, the scene presented at Leith
was undoubtedly a gayer spectacle, owing to the immense
number of flags and insignia concentered on the spot. We
were glad to see the honest fishermen of Newhaven again
lending us a pull at the political oar.
The Leith Printers brought a most significant imple-
ment to grace the meeting. In addition to their limners,
they sported a handsome letter printing press, which was
placed upon a cart and drawn to the foot of the hustings
by a lively looking horse. Two young men, with white
aprons, plied away at their work upon this machine, and
distributed, as they were thrown off, copies of the resolu-
tions, and a spirited Address from the printers to their
fellow townsmen. The address concludes with the em-
phatic words :—" The Liberty of the Press is inseparably
connected with the Liberty of the People. Ever since
the discovery of the art, the world has progressed towards
happiness; and this mighty engine will continue still to
point
not
out corruption
remaina s
ywoiotphhntahet
on the fa
finger ofscooe of this fair
world." till there
shall
world."

The Ship Carpenters carried four models of ships in
their various stages of construction. The Coopers carried
a nun•buoy, plainted light blue, with the inscription,
"My Lords, when you're at it, hoop it well." A beauti-
ful model of a steam-engine was also exhibited. The
Bakers carried several loaves of bread, and each of the
members had heals of wheat in his left breast. Among
other emblems, they carried a large crown of crimson
velvet, the arches of which were jewelled with crisped
rolls. The Potters, among other emblems of their craft,
exhibited a huge " Reform jug." And one device was a
large gilded figure " 9," surmounted, we believe, by a copy
of the actual "Bill." The Carters wore blue bonnets, and
their horses were gairishly decorated with ribbands. There
Perseverence will gain our Rights," " Success to the
swoemr e
e o f upwards of a
which
bore
following
banners nienros t before
tmottoes
: the hustings,Unity
Grey-beaded Administration," " The Ten-pound Clause,"
" Great is Justice, and must prevail," " A Free Press, a
Free Parliament, and a Free Port," and many others
equally expressive and appropriate. At each side of the
hustings were flags, one bearing the words " Royal
William," the other " Royal Adelaide." The number of
persons now assembled could not be fewer than from
15,000 to 20,000, who joined in three hearty cheers,
when the first speaker rose to address the meeting.
Mr. CASSELLS, hanker, rose and said, he was happy to
see such a fine assemblage of people before him, and
begged to congratulate the inhabitants of Portobello,
Fisherrow, Musselburgh, and his fellow-townsmen, on
their meeting together there that day.—(Cheers.) For
the purpose of preserving good order it was necessary that
Ableog
re t e
) Previous to the chair being taken, he would
briefly make a few observations. The town of Leith had
30,000 inhabitants, among whom were many gentlemen
ocbdairt.h
(Cheers.—at
their eir chairman
worthy should
Chief
of great wealth, talent, and enterprise; but up to this day,
appointed,
sptp n
should and
take beptrhoepse
in the election of a Member of Parliament to express our
wishes and guard our interests, we have had no more to
• usesrschatka. But a brighter
prospect has now dawned upon us—(Cheers)_we have
the hope, nay, almost the certainty of getting a Member
of our own, conjoined with the inhabitants of Mussel-
burgh, Fisherrow, and Portobello, and I trust we shall
cordially unite and join our voices in electing a Member
who will do us ample justice.—(Cheere.) We have been
told that, as reformers, our measures are revolutionary ; but
as we do not trench upon the privileges of the Upper
House, why should they interfere with ours ?—(Cheers.)
We merely say to the House of Lords, give up the
practice you have unjustly assumed of sending your
Members to our House of Representatives ; and is there
any injustice on our part in this ? Another extraordinary
objection has been made. A Noble Lord, who took a
notable part in resisting the people's wishes for Reform,
said that he objected to the measure, because it would
throw the franchise into the hands of the bigotted Presby-
terians. This language was used by a Peer of the realm,
a nobleman who sat as Judge in a high Court of Law,
whose duty it was to dispense equal justice to all persons
of whatever persuasion or denomination. Can we ima-
gine the possibility of such ignorance in such a quarter,
when he should know that we are, most of us, members
of the church established in the land, acknowledged and
protected by the King himself, through his representative
in the General Assembly ? It has also been said that Re-
form will have a bad effect upon the morals of the coun-
try. I deny it.—(Cheers.) Hitherto the possession of
wealth and integrity gave no title to a vote in the repre-
sentation. But the new measure holds out to every one
prospect of becoming an elector, it will be an incentive to
the industrious, the economical, and the prudent artisan,
to aim at acquiring the right, and I may say the birth'
right, of every man to participate in the elective franchise.
—(Greet cheering.)
Bailie SCEALIIII, on taking the chair, said, it gave him
sincere pleasure to see so vast an assembly gathered toge-
ther on so interesting an occasion.
Mr. MANSFIELD, of Midrnore, said, that it was with pew
culiar pleasure he rose to move the first resolution, which
was to convey to his Majesty's Ministers the gratitude of
the nation for the manner in which they had introduced
and adhered to the plan of Reform, if Reform was ne4
cessary for England, what must be said as to the repre,
sentation in Scotland ? He had never found a man hold
enough to say that Scotland had even a shadow of it•
Look at Edinburgh, the representation of which was in the
hands of thirty-three individuals, the majority of whorl'
were elected by each other. Was there a man living who
would come forward to say that the representation in Edio•
burgh was perfect ?—(Cheers.) And look at Leith—tile
people of Leith had not even the fractional part of a repre'
sentative.—(lmmense cheering.)
Mr. HUNTER was a staunch and steady Reformer fron'
Portobello.—(Cheers.) Scotland had till now been re'
garded as a mere province, and her voice had never beeo
heard. And should it be said that Scotland, the land
the brave and of the free, was to be so longer ?—(Cheers.)
Had the spirit of the Wallace and the Bruce for eve'
fled, and had the honour of Bannockburn sunk into fbr,
getfulness ?—(Cheers.) No ! that could never be;
Sooner should the sun cease to throw his blessed ligbt
upon them. He seconded the resolution.
Mr. CRICHTON moved the second resolution.
Mr. GABRIEL WILSON, lately Chief Magistrate 9f.
Musselburgh, seconded Bailie Crichton's motion.
Mr. Peas:lns said, he had been often asked what the
Bill was to do ? He would tell them what it had do 1
It had congregated together thousands in Leith, wher
hundreds could not have been congregated before. It bad
brought Musselburgh and Portobello to join in one cool,:
ninon cause with Leith, in demanding the rights whieL2
they were entitled to receive. The first banner that 1!.
noticed bore the words, " Unity and perseverance ',qt
give us our rights ;" this could only be attained by keel'
ing their eyes steadfastly fixed upon the rights %Wel'.
they were entitled to enjoy, and to persevere in their at;
tainment without turbulence and confusion, which or!;
all their enemies wished. He saw another before bir
with the words, " King, Lords, and Commons "
there a heart in that assembly that did not exult and fee
the warmest attachment to King William ?•-•-(Cheers.
As to the Lords, he would say that they bad behaved le
the last occasion uncommonly
well, and he was no
going to be friendly to them. After noticing two '
three other banners, Mr. Perkins concluded with movie
the third resolution.
Bailie SCOTE said, he looked with peculiar delight';
the 101. clause of the Bill, because there was not an irel
vidual here but would have a voice in the election of a
presentative. Mr. Scott concluded by seconding the foulresolution.
Mr. PHILIP proposed that the petition be forwarded I-
the Lord High Chancellor, with
a request that his Loe

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