The Sun.
London, England, 1835-05-28 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON', Tiiirj-r-IDAY, MAY 28, 1835.

DEVONSHIRE.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PUBLIC MEETING OF THE INHABITANTS
OF DEVONPORT AND STONEHO USE.

ADDRESSES TO THE KING AND LORD JOHN
RUSSELL.-DEFEAT OF THE TORIES.

PLYMOUTH, MONDAY NIGHT, MAY 25.

This evening, a public meeting of the inhabitants of the
borough of Devonport and township of Stonehouse was held,
convened by the parish authorities, pursuant to a requisition
from several of the inhabitants, at the Town-hall, Devonport.
Some time before the hour appointed for the meeting (half-
past six), the Hall began to fill.
On the nomination of Mr. CONDY, seconded by Mr. ORAN,
Mr. R. 0. BACKWELL was called to the Chair. _ _ _

Immediately on the gentleman named taking the Chair,
which was at the precise period appointed, some individual,
supposed to be hostile to the objects of the meeting, moved
that the business be proceeded with, he, at the time, evidently
knowing that the large body of the inhabitants of Devonport,
employed in his Majesty's Dock-yard, could not be present at
the meeting until seven o'clock. This manoeuvre was, how-
ever, instantly seen through by the Reformers present, and a
motion was made that half an hour's grace be given, so as to
admit of the attendance of those favourable to the good cause.
It being seconded, was put from the Chair, and carried unani-
mously amidst applause—the individual alluded to not even
daring to hold up his hand in favour of his own object. The
desired advantage of waiting was fully realized before seven
o'clock, the spacious Hall being crowded to excess. We
should think that upwards of one thousand persons were
present. The object of the meeting, as stated in the re-
quisition, was to consider the propriety of presenting an Address
to the King, expressive of attachment to his Majesty's person
and Government, and thanking him for recalling to his Coun-
cils his present Ministers, being persuaded that they will pro-
pound such measures of wise and liberal Reform as shall tend
to strengthen and preserve the vital institutions of the country,
and maintain unimpaired the privileges of every class of his
Majesty's subjects. Also to consider the propriety of pre-
senting an address to Lord John Russell, expressive of regret
at the issue of the late election for the South of Devon, and
encouraging his Lordship to persevere in that course of just
and constitutional Administration which has procured for him
the approbation of the country at large.
At seven o'clock the CHAIRMAN rose and spoke to the fol-
lowing effect :—lt is highly gratifying to me to be called to
fill the present situation, particularly so, when you are about to
address his Majesty. I have met in this Hall on several occa-
sions, but never on any like the present. I shall only say,
that whatever difference of opinion there may be amongst us,
I shall hear every one—l hope no one will be interrupted—
Reformers should show that they are anxious to hear every
opinion. The Chairman here stated the objects of the meet-
ing, as mentioned in the Requisition ; and on the mention of
Lord John Russell's name, the room was rent with long and
continued cheering. The Chairman explained the reason of
Mr. Buchan's not having signed the notice for the meeting,
which was his absence at the time.

Mr. Bucsurs begged to assure the meeting, that had he
been at home at the time, he should have had much pleasure
in signing the notice convening the present meeting.
Lieut. G. F. SOMERVILLE, R.N., (of Devonport,) rose to
propose an address to the King. He said he could have
wished that it had fallen to abler hands to do so. Mr. Thos.
'Woolcombe was to have done so, but being unexpectedly ab-
sent, was unable to do so. His Gracious Majesty must, in any
future history, be called William the Reformer, and therefore
Reformers are at all times ready to address him on any subject
on which he had made promises when he came to the Throne.
Witness, too, his calling to his Councils Earl Grey.—
( Loud cheers.) Was not that a proof he was a Reformer ?
Look, too, at the way in which he had been opposed—but not-
withstanding which, on every opportunity he had come forward
to meet the wishes of the people. Look at the act of again
calling Lord Melbourne to his councils, by the advice of Earl
Grey. At the time the Tories said their resignations would
not be accepted, his Majesty was in conference with Earl
Grey. At the meeting of Parliament in November last, Lord
Melbourne said he had nothing to complain of in his Ma-
jesty ; he and his colleagues had been removed from office,
why they could not tell—but so it was. The speaker then re-
ferred to Sir Robert Peel's having been again called to office,
and of his subsequent removal. With reference to the Re-
form Bill, he said the Tories were continually complaining
of it, on every opportunity that presented itself. Look at the
repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts—how the Reformers
were opposed in their attempts to procure it. Did not Sir
Robert Peel say at a late dinner in London that they had
been driven to it ? So with the Catholic Relief Bill—l do
say, I am sure his Majesty was glad at the last resignation of
the Tories, for look at his avidity to receive the Whigs. Lieut.
Somerville then referred to the question which occasioned
their resignation. Reformers are taunted with having aided
and abetted Lord John Russell in removing Sir Robert Peel
from office ; but we have it in history that Mr. Pitt was told
by George the Third, that he should only have his support so
long as he deserved it. Was this the case with Sir Robert
Peel ? No ! How could he then expect his Majesty's confi-
dence and support? The Ring, we know, can do no wrong;
and therefore am I surprised at the Tories finding fault with.
his Majesty's dismissing the late Ministry. As other gentle-
men will have to address you, I will not further occupy your
time, but conclude with moving an Address to his Majesty.—
( Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN then read the Address to the meeting (for
which see Advertisement) amid loud and continued applause.
Major CAMPBELL, of Stonehouse, seconded the Address.
He regretted his inability to do so, but said that that which he
wanted in power he would make up in zeal. Part of the
Address related to the recall of Lord Melbourne to his
Majesty's Councils—the recall of a Nobleman who would
search into all abuses in Church and State, particularly the
abuses of the Irish Church. Not being an orator, a fact per-
haps would make up for his (Major C.'s) want in that respect.
Some years ago I was (said he) soldiering on Shannon Bridge,
in Ireland ; the Rector of the parish received from 1,500/. to
2,0001. per year. Now, Gentlemen, there was no Church in
that parish, and, with the exception of the Rector's family,
no Protestants to preach to, beside the soldiers who were sent
there to guard the tithes when collected. The Government
paid the Rector a guinea a week for preaching to these
soldiers. This was one fact, but how many more would the
Church Report show you ? Muse, number 2, is the Corpora-
tion concern. I have, taken from the Report some extracts,
and will just state to you some instances of Corporation abuse.
At East Retford it appears, on the evidence of a respectable
man, that one of the Magistrates fought with a person in the
justice-room and struggled with him on the ground. What sort
of a Corporation must that be ? At Malmesbury the Magis-
trate could not read or write. During the election of 1826
the Corporation expended 10,000/. to return their favourite,
and mortgaged the Corporation property to enable them to do
so. At Berwick-upon-Tweed, property of the value of 6,0001.
was at the control of the Corporation, who thought it a pity
it should lie dormant, they therefore borrowed money on it, and
divided the amount among themselves. This is abuse number
3. Why I have referred to these is because Lord John Rus-
sell has given notice of nis intention to move this day week
for leave to bring in a Bill to remedy Corporation abuses.--
( Loud cheering.) I had almost forgotten to state that the
Exeter Corporation were indebted 13,0001. for sums received
on account of various Charities—the Tories have often said
that they would assist in reforming abuses, only for them to be
pointed out to them. I hope they will assist Lord Melbourne
in doing so. lam no orator as I said, but perhaps neverthe-
less you will take a bit of advice from me ; advice which has
been given by as great a character as Sir Robert Peel or Lord
Brougham. It is this—Register yourselves at the ensuing
registration—the overseers may be negligent from accident or
otherwise, but that will be no excuse for reformers, in case
they are riot on the register. We may have have an election
between this and Christmas ; see well, therefore, to this.
Mr. ROBERT RUNDLE, of Devonport, asked the Chairman
whether he would permit him to make a few remarks before
the Address was put ? lam (said lie) a Tory, yet a reformer,
but no destructive.—( Groans and hisses from all parts of the
meeting.) I will not be put down by hisses. I am a rate-
payer, and have a right to be heard. I ask every man to give
me a hearing, and allow me to propose a counter Address. The
last speaker referred to abuses in corporations ; I am no sup-
porter of them, but before the pruning knife is applied, let us
see if the persons about to apply it are proper ones to do so,
whether they are not those who have by obtrusion taken pos-
session of their present seats in the Cabinet.—( Renewed
groans and hisses, followed by a scene of confusion and cries
of" Turn him out.") As soon as order was restored we under-
stood Mr. R. to say, with reference to the late election for
South Devon, that he would have come from the other end of
the world to have voted against Lord John Russell.—( Here
another scene of confusion occurred, and it was with difficulty
that the Chairman could procure for Mr. R. a further hearing.
Having at length succeeded in doing so Mr. R. proceeded.)
When he told them that the Gentlemen who had spoken before
him were expectants for Aldermanic gowns, they would not be
surprised at their having omitted to state that in the parish
of Marylebone there were seven Middlesex County voters, and
amongst them John Dix and John Russell, whose qualifica-
tions were only 40s. quit-rents. He had heard a great deal
of the rejected of Devon ; he had been called the author of
the Reform Bill, but he was no more so than he was. What
did he ? Why in a subordinate situation, not as a Minister
of the Crown, bring forward the Reform Bill in the House of
Commons.

The CHAIRMAN here reminded the speaker, that he was
speaking on the Address to the King, not to Lord John
Russell.

Major CAMPBELL hoped the Meeting would support the
Chair.

A GENTLEMAN urged upon the Meeting the necessity of
supporting the Chair, when it required Gentlemen to keep
to the subject before the meeting.
Mr. RUNDLE, alluding to this Gentleman, said he supposed
that he was also aspiring to an aldermanic gown. This caused
another scene of confnsion, which was with difficulty subdued.
On its being so, Mr. Rundle continued—l put it to you
whether there must not be something rotten in the state
of Denmark that should have caused this meeting to assemble.
All of you do not know the under-current that has brought
this meeting togetber.—(Tremendous uproar, followed by
groans and hisses.)
The CHAIRMAN said, I am now called on in consequence of
an assertion of Mr. Rundle's. I must flatly contradict what
he has asserted respecting to there being anything rotten in
the state of Denmark to have caused this meeting. It hat
been got up in the most open manner ; no undue influence
has been used ; every thing that has been done has been done
publicly.—(Loud cheers, followed by cries of turn Rundle
out, he has insulted the meeting.)
The CHAIRMAN said, that unless Mr..l/ur4dle confined him-

-0 the meeting, he could not