The Sun.
London, England, 1832-05-11 00:00:00

ALARMING STATE OF THE COUNTRY.

NATIONAL POLITICAL UNION.

Another general meeting of this Union was convened last
night, and was equally well attended, and had almost as many
new members as on the preceding evening. About eight o'clock
Major REV ELL was requested to take the chair.
On the motion a Mr. Muffenv seconded by Mr. CHURCHILL,
it was resolved unanimously, that the following petition be pre-
sented to the House of Commons :
" That your petitioners, believing there is yet time to save the
country from a frightful convulsion, and that the means are in
your hands,) urgently implore your ilonouaable House to take
such measures as may be necessary to induce the return of Earl
Grey to the post he has quitted, sufficiently empowered to carry
the Reform Bill unmutilated. And, as one means of arresting
the impending mischief; to put the supplies in the hands of Par-
liamentary Commissioners, to be applied only on the certainty of
the Reform Hill becoming the law of the land."
Colonel JONES, in moving that the petition be intrusted to
Mr. Hume, to be presented this evening, warmly enlngized the
conduct of Lord Grey, who, he said, had fallen a victim to his
own honour and integrity, betrayed by those who seemed to give
him assistance. _ _

Mr. HOWARD ELPHINSTONE seconded the motion.—
Carried unanimously.
Mr. SAVAGE then moved, and Mr. EVANS seconded, that if the
majority of the House of Commons do their ditty to the country
and themselves, the success of Reform, and the tranquillity of
the country will be assured.—Carried nem coo.
Mr. D. WAKEFIELD moved, that if the House of:Com-
m/me should dishonestly or timidly neglect their duty, the suc-
cess of Reform is still insured from the energy and determina-
tion of the people
This motion was seconded by Mr. R. R. NOEL, and carried
unimously.
Mr. T. WAKLEY then moved that the Council be requested
to arrange preliminary matters for a general meeting of the
Union and parochial districts, on a particular day, in the
suburbs of London.
Mr. SAVAGE seconded the motion.

The motion was acceded to, and the meeting adjourned at a
late hour, its proceedings being characterized by good humour,
unanimity, and enthusiasm.

PROCEEDINGS IN BIRMINGHAM
ON THE RESIGNATION OF MINISTERS, PUBLIC
MEETINGS, &c.

(PROM OUR OWN REPORTER.)
THURSDAY, MAY 10.
As soon as the news became known, some spirited Members
of the Union hastened to the houses of the Members of the
Council, and apprized them of it—the consequence was, that at
nine o'clock almost all the Members of the Council were pre-
sent. The large Union room was thronged to excess, and seve-
ral thousand persons were standing in the street. The Rev.
T. M. M`DONNELL addressed the Members, exhorting them
to continue their confidence in the Council; and the cheers
with which his advice was received are the best proof that it
will be followed.

Mr. CHARLES JONES congratulated them upon the pre_
sent crisis, and declared that better days were at hand.

31r. HADLEY pledged himself again to the people's cause;
he cautioned them against violence, and read a letter from the
Rev. Dr. Wade, who declared that he would stand by the Cows.
cii to the last.

As soon as the News-room was opened, it was filled with gen-
tlemen, who, though Reformers, had not joined the Union.
Seeing the dreadful crisis which had arrived, and knowing that
their country needed their aid, they immediately drew up the
following declaration.

" We the undersigned inhabitants of the town and neigh-
bourhood of Birmingham, who have hitherto refrained from
joining the Birmingham Political Union, deem it our duty to
our country, at this awful crisis to come torward and join that
body for the purpose of promoting the further union, order,
and determination of all classes in support of the common
cause of

" PARLIAMENTARY REFORM."

At ten o'clock this declaration was printed and posted on
the walls; copies of it were left for signature at the News-room
and at the public office, and by half-past ten, at the News-room
only, seventy signatures of the leading men of the town were
received. Mr. Haynes proclaimed the fact in the Union rooms,
where it was received with deafening cheers.
G. F Muntz, Esq., was received by the Members of the
Union with the greatest enthusiasm. Mr. Salt, who had early
in the morning gone to Mr. Attwuod's country house, to inform
him of the news, and to request his presence, arrived onlhorse.
back, accompanied by Mr. Attwood's sons, and announced to the
vast multitude which had assembled, that Mr. Attwood (the
chairman) would arrive immediately. Whilst Mr. Hadley was
reading Dr. Wade's letter before alluded to, the Rev. Mr.
M`Donnell addressed the people in the street from the windows
of the Union rooms : he exhorted them to continue their con-
fidence in the Council, and drew forth their hearty cheers by
reading the declaration made by the gentlemen, lawyers,
bankers, merchants, &c. at the News.room.
At eleven o'clock, T. Attwood, Esq., arrived in Great
Charles-street, and made his way to the Council.roorn through
the immense crowd, accompanied by - Redfern, and
lloultbee, Esqs. The cheers with which Mr. Attwood
was received in the street and the room were tremendous.
A messenger was despatched to the News-room, to announce his
arrival, and a deputation from the gentlemen who had signed
the declaration came to present it.

The deputation was headed by J. PARKES, Esq., who im-
mediately mounted the table, and, having described the nature
of the document which he held in his hand, presented it to
the Council. We cannot, of course, insert the names of all
the gentlemen, but, by order of the Council, they have been
printed on a placard, which has been widely circulated. Mr.
Parkes stated, that the gentlemen had not only given their
names, but would also give what money should be wanted.
Upon looking over the names, we find that the declaration
has been signed by upwards of twenty merchants, two bankers,
by several independent gentlemen, surveyors, and solicitors,
with many of the most wealthy manufacturers of the town.
A vote of thanks to those who signed the address was im-
mediately carried, amidst loud cheering, and their conduct in
the hour of trial was highly eulogised.
The proceedings of the Council having been announced to
the thousands in the street,
Mr. ATTWOOD addressed the meeting. He :should
hare been with them sooner, but he waited to read the news-
papers cautiously over, that he might be competent to judge
what steps ought to be taken. In alluding to the resignation of
Ministers, he said it was only temporary, the force of public
opinion would certainly restore them to office within a fortnight.
--(Cheers.) The crisis which had now arrived would secure the
triumph of their good cause. It would roll up the minds of
the people into an irresistible mass, and, as the declaration
which they had just received fully proved, good and sensible
men from all quarters would hasten into the ranks of the
Unions. After praising the gentlemen who had signed the de-
claration for their patriotic and spirited conduct, he urged the
people to keep within the law, and declared that the Council
would be found at its post. lie then recommended that until
the Reform Bill was passed into law, each member of the Union
should wear upon his coat the small Union Jack, which is at-
tached to the medal of the Union.

On the motion of Mr. HADLEY, seconded by Mr. JONES,
it was resolved unanimously :—That the Members of the Poli-
tical Union, and all the friends of the country and of the sacred
cause of Liberty, be invited to wear upon their breast a riband
of the Union Jack, and to continue to do so until the great
Bill of Reform has become the law of the land, and
that until ribands of the Union Jack can be obtained
in sufficient quantity, all persons are invited to wear a piece of
blue riband in lieu of the Union Jack. It was also resolved
that the people of the whole United Kingdom be respectfully
and urgently invited to adopt the same honourable badge of
patriotism in their country's cause. At twelve o'clock, the
multitude, which had assembled in the street was immense,
and the crowded state of the council.room rendering the trans.
action of business difficult, an adjournment to New-hall-hill,
or to Paradise-street, was called for. It was, however, deemed
proper that the meeting should separate; that the Council
should sit in deliberation upon what steps should be adopted,
andthat at three o'clock a meeting should be held on New_
hall hill. Before the meeting separated, Mr. Attwood said
that the conduct of the Union in this eventful crisis must be
,vise and prudent, as well'as brave and patriotic. Many might
think that the case was desperate, and that the time was come
when the last resource was necessary. That would be wrong:
the people must still remain within the law, and it would be
round that success awaits them. They must not depair ;
Lord Ebrington, one of the best men in the House of
commons, had given notice of a motion for an ad-
dress to his Majesty :*,id I,lr A call of the House.

That address would no doubt call upon the King t.,
create Peers, and not to part ‘4 jib the present Ministers, ami
the call of the House was certainly that the Members of the
House should agree to that address. It' the Comnons would
do their duty, the people were safe; the people must therefore
wait and see whether that House would be recreant or true.
Lord Ebrington's motion would be brought forward that very
night, and therefore they would not long be involved in sus-
pense. If the Commons agreed to such an address all would
be right: if they proved recreant, why then, that Council
must deliberate upon other steps. After some other observa_
tions upon the necessity of being true to each other, and upon
the dreadful consequences which would result from Wellington
coming again into power, the Chairman concluded by de-
claring that the members of the Council would remain true to
the people, and that they would sink or sail in the same boat.
The resolution of adjournment, until three o'clock, was
then passed. Mr. Edmonds addressed the crowd in the street ;
and in less than ten minutes after the decision of the Council
was made known, the immense assemblage peacefully and
entirely dispersed. In the early part of the day the following
placard seas widely circulated by a printer in the town :

" NOTICE—NO TAXES PAID HERE UNTIL THE
REFORM BILL IS PASSED. MAN- 10m, 1832."
We have heard that it is the intention of the people to place
this placard in their windows. No breach of the peace has
occurred ; the people are orderly but firm ; the public mind
is much excited, and groups are standing in the streets. Their
peaceful and loyal conduct, and their brave and patriotic reso-
lution proclaims in a voice which cannot be resisted—" WE
WILL, WE WILL BE FREE :"

LATEST PARTICULARS.
SEVEN O'CLOCK.
The meeting at New-hall-hill has been held. It was attended
by nearly the whole of the population of Birmingham. Strange
as it may appear, in a few hours, without any advertisement or
placard, more than a hundred thousand persons assembled. A
petition to the House of Commons, which we insert below, was
unanimously agreed to, and a deputation was appointed to
proceed with it to London immediately, and place it in the
hands of Mr. O'Connell, for presentation, and to request Mr,
Hume, Lord Ebrington, the Members for Warwick and the
county of Stafford, to support it.
The number of signatures attached to the declaration, which

was published in the morning by the bankers, &c., at the
News-room, is now more than 500. They have sent in their
subscriptions. The Council has declared its sittings permanent.
Amongst the fifty banners which we saw in the procession,
we noticed those belonging to the Unions at Walsall, West
Bromwich, Wolverhampton, Darlaston, Brierly Hill, and

Dudley, Bilston, Hales Owen, Harbone,: &c. One very hand
some flagon which were the words " Long live the King," had
those words covered over with black crape!—and several per-
sonsiwho wore the medal of the Birmingham Union were called
upon to pull it off, because it bears a similar inscription.—A
black flag was also conspicuous ; it bore the inscription, " God
arineth the Patriot."

For some time before the procession moved towards the
place of meeting, Great Charles.street was crowded, and the
large space at the foot of New-hall-hill was, nearly all pre-
occupied. Waggons were prepared for the Council, many
horses, gigs, and carriages were on the ground, and most of
those who signed the declaration were first on the ground.
Immediately over the principal waggon was a bundle of sticks
tied closely together, and bearing the inscriptin—" United
we conquer."

Mr. Arr WOOD having been called to the Chair, he con-
gratulated the immense assembly upon the powerful refutation
which they that day gave to the calumny that the public mind
was indifferent to the great cause of Reform. The defeat it
had sustained was merely temporary. Having detailed the
particulars relative to the News-room declaration, he said it
was cheering to find that defeat made them stronger. Yes,
said he, our defeat is but a short triumph for our enemies.—
(Loud cheers.) Every heart was anxious, and every arm was
nerved in the sacred cause of liberty.
In consequence of Mr. Attwood's hoarseness, arising from a
cold caught at the meeting on Monday, the resolutions agreed

to at the meeting of the council in the morning were read by
Mr. EDMONDS. The resolution inviting all persons to wear
the Union-Jack had been adopted that their friends might be
known from their foes, if any foes to the sacred cause remained.
They were to wear it on their breast, nearest to their hearts.
The people of England had it in their power to carry the Bill,
and a better bill than that which the Lords had so superciliously
rejected, provided only that they were peaceful and kept within
the law. He had been• asked, "But how long are we to wait?"
He answered, that mighty events were springing up, which
must at no distant period achieve the emancipation of the
people, if the people would remain true to themselves and
to the sacred cause of Law and Itelonn.—(Cheers).
He then read the petition to the House of Commons.

This petition having been moved by Mr. EI)MONDS, and
seconded by T. SCHOLEFIELD, Esq., was adopted unani-
mously, with three enthusiastic cheers. In seconding it, Mr.
Scholefield observed, that as it was desirable that that petition
should be immediately forwarded to London, and as he under-
stood that he and some others were appointed to proceed there
with it immediately, he should not detain the meeting.
Mr. ATT WOOD said, that by sycophants and others—by
the minions of the Court, the King had been prevailed upon to
cause and receive the resignation of Earl Grey. But (said Mr.
A.) we will carry him back into office upon the shoulders of
the people. Lord Grey had fallen for a time—he had fallen
because he would not consent to any mutilation of the Bill,
and because the King would not create Peers. It might be
supposed that the cause of the people was lost ; but though
fallen, they were not dismayed ; and in a few days the restora_
tion of Earl Grey to office, would convince them of the justice
of their cause, and of their power to obtain by constitutional
means those rights which had been so long withheld.—(Cheers.)
Crippled as the Constitution is, sufficient means were left to
enable the people to regain those rights without having re-
course to arms. It was necessary that they should have re-
course to them. They would not break the law ; but if the
law should be broken against them, why then, with the law
they would &fend themselves.—(Loud cheers.) Whilst they
kept within the law they were omnipotent, and the minister
who could put them down was yet unborn.—(Cheers.) They
could not be put down by the law, and the House of Commons
would not pass a new law for the purpose as long as the law was
their limit. If such a law should be passed, their Constitution
would be at an end.—(Loud cheers.) But it was not
come to that; twice had the House of Commons done its duty
by passing the Bill with a triumphant majority. It would do

its duty again : it would call upon the King to restore the rights
of the people, and if the heart of the King should fail bins,
the House of Commons would be the refuge of the people.—
(Cheers.) The Commons had in their hands the means by
which constitutionally to coerce the House Peers.—(Hear,
hear.) They might refuse to pass the Mutiny Act, and then
the hundreds of thousands of brave men who constituted the
British arm would fall into the rank of citizens—the arm
of their strength would be withered, and no man would have
snore, nor, perhaps, so much command of them as himself.—
(Loud cheers.) The Commons, too, held Ilse strings of the
nation's purse. They might draw up those strings, and no
army, no navy,-no dividends, no pensions, could be paid until
the manifold wrongs of the nation were redressed.—(Numerous
cheering.) Mr. A. then alluded to Lord Ehrington's motion,
and said he did not doubt we should have as a recommense for
this short defeat, a better Bill—a Bill which would confer
greater benefits upon the millions.—(Cheers.) He illustrated
this by repeating Lord Brougham's celebrated allusion to the
Sybils's book. He rejoiced in the patriotism which, in a mo-
ment, in the twikling of an eye, hod brought ea many thousands
together. If the proceedings of Monday last did not strike
terror into the hearts of the oligarchs, surely they must tremble
before a display like the present. The Reformers"would go on
n the glorious career, rolling up and concentrating the
public opinion from every large town—from Dublin,
Leeds, Wolverhampton, Glasgow, and Manchester, and
woe to the enemy which first broke the law against them.—
( Loud cheers.) The enemy might perhaps come and kidnap
him and the Council; they might carry them off and throw
them into prison.—(Here the whole meeting unanimously ex-
claimed, " Never, never ! They never shall.") Thank you,
said Mr. Attwood, for your generous enthusiasm. If I break
the law, I am willing to be corrected by the law ; but again I
say, woe to the man who first breaks the law against us.—
(Cheers.) That portion of the wealth and strength of the
town which had, as it were, long stood aloof from the Union,
had that day enlisted under its banners, and all was scenic.—
(Three cheers were here given for those who had joined the
Union.)
Mr. EDMONDS proposed, and Mr. BOULBEE seconded,
a resolution, appointing a deputation to take the petition to
Mr. O'Connell, for presentation, and to request the Members
before mentioned to support it.
The Membersiwere suggested by Mr. PARKES, who declared
that he cordially agreed in every sentiment contained in the
petition.

We are here compelled to postpone the insertion of the rest
of the proceedings (including Mr. Attwood's concluding speech)

1 te.morrow.

The following was the petition agreed to :
THE HUMBLE PETITION OF THE INHABITANTS OF
BIRMINGHAM TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,
AGREED TO BY A LARGE AND SPONTANEOUS
PUBLIC MEETING, TO THE NUMBER OF ONE
HUNDRED THOUSANDPERSONS, AT NEWHALL-
HILL. THIS lOrn DAY OF MAY, 1832.
Sheweth, that your petitioners have been struck with surprise
and alarm at the awful intelligence which has this day reached
them, respecting the dissolutionlof his Majesty's Government,
at this anxious and perilous crisis, on account of their perse-
vering in supporting the Bill of Reform, as twice passed bY
your Hon. House.

That under these extraordinary and unexpected circum-
stances, your petitioners are of opinion that the lite and property
of no man in England are safe, and that the only possible way
of giving safety to all, is instantly to pass the Bill of Reform
into a law.
That your petitioners must now look upon your Hon. House
as the last remaining stay which binds together the existing
Constitution of the country ; and in theawfulsituation in which
they find themselves and their country placed, they ,ppeal to
our Honourable House not to shrink from the great duties

' before you, but manfully and to fearlessly support the right,,,
the people and to adopt whatever measure may be necessary ,
the safety and liberty of the country.
That it is only by the manly and patriotic exercise of the gre.i,
duties which the Constitution has imposed upon your HonouraM.
House that your petitioners can now see any hope that the
.1114
and sacred rights of Englishmen can be recovered in any Nt'it
except by means which will break up the fabric of society ant.
endanger the fortunes and the lives of millions. That your pc.
titionets find it declared in the Bill of Rights that the people I
England may have arms for their defence—(Here three tre-
mendous rounds of applause were given,)—suitable to their con-
dition, and as allowed by law. And your petitioners apprehen-
t hat this great right will be put in force generally; and that the
whole of the people of England will think it necessary to have
arms for their defence in order that they may be prepared Ll-
any circumstances which may arise.
Your petitioners do, therefore, most anxiously pray that your
Honourable House will forthwith present an address to his Ma-
jesty, beseeching his Majesty not to allow the resignation of hi:
Ministers, but instantly to create a sufficient number of new
Peers to insure the carrying of the Bill of Reform unimpaired
into a law. And that your Honourable House will instantly
withhold all supplies—(Here the further proceedings of tin-
meeting were interrupted for some minutes by the loud cheer-
ing)—and adopt any other measures whatever which may be ne-
cessary to carry the Bill of Reform, and to insure the safety and
the liberty of the country.
And your petitioners will ever pray.
The meeting dispersed immediately ; we have not heard of
a single accident or a breach of the peace. Many of the lead-
ing members of the surrounding Unions have arrived in Bir-
mingham. All is quiet. Thousands assembled round the
news-offices, in Union-street, to receive the intelligence brought
by the Morning Papers. A gentleman read from the balcony
the proceedings in the House of Commons on the preceding
evening. The whole was listened to with eagerness. We
shall lay before our readers the latest intelligence, every
evening, as long as the excitement lasts.

- RYE, MAY 10..

"► ~+~:

dignity of independent feelings; and to enjoy those blessit,g-
, which he intended for all, and net exclusively for your oppre.s.
castle ;
sorts. \\'e
have he foundentold that an Englishman's house is lots
wide difference between theory and
• practice. The collective wisdom have found it convenient t.•
suspend the Habeas Corpus Act, and they may do it again; and
hence it is possible, under these circumstances, for a man to 1.._
sess honesty, and be blessed with a wife and family—surrounded
by friends—and yet end his days in a dungeon! if he happens I
incur the displeasure of those lords of the ascendant.
We would next draw your attention to the ravings of a Wel.;
lington, a Lyndhurst, a Wynford, an Eldon, and other membersi
of the same family, about our present glorious Constitution I
Yes, it is a glorious Constitution to such as are enjoying the loaves;
and fishes. The Noble Duke has One Hundred and Eight Thou- t
sand reasons for opposing the Reform Bill—Lyndhurst has Isis
Seven Thousand reasons equally sound—and the amiable Eldon'
can boast (a string as long as a Welsh pedigree) of his Thirty_
three Thousand lawful reasons. But how does this system wot k
for the Nor starving artizan, who has to work night and day, in
order to support his half-fed, half-naked family, and at the samel
time contribute a large portion of his hard earnings to what is
called the exigences," or rather, the excrescences of the State?:
To such a man, the effulgence of the Constitution is waxed thin,'
and its glory is departed!
As Unionists, we feel desirous to throw back on its author thi,
vile imputation cast on a numerous Nxly of intelligent members
of society. To our calumniators we would say in the name and
on the behalf of the united millions, that we will by all legal :ma '
constitutional means, continue to persevere in our humble efforts,;
till we procure a restoration of those civil rights which distalguish the freeman from the slave, by being admitted a share in
the choice of Representatives, and the framing of those laws by
which we are to be governed.
Our abhorrence of anarchy will exonerate us from the foul and
malignant aspersions of time-serving, place-hunting men. N\
hope to live to convince these slanderers, we are nor that " sat:.
guinary rabble" which they would persuade the public to belii•ve
—but are a part of a brave and generous people—determined to
be Free !!
By order of the Committee.

LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY.

The following placards have been issued and posted through.
out the town :
" ADDRESSS OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE PARLIMENTARY RE-