The Sun.
London, England, 1835-08-11 00:00:00

CORPORATION REFORM

MEETINGS.

GREAT LINCOLN MEETING.

Immediately on receipt of the intelligence that the Peers
had determined to hear evidence, in order to defeat the
Bill by delay, a requisition was signed by 79 most respect-
able inhabitants, calling on the Mayor to convene a public
meeting in the Guildhall. His Worship, after taking time
to consider, refused ; whereupon the requisitionists on Fri-
day called a meeting themselves for the same evening in
the large Butter Market, which was filled by an immense
multitude.
Alderman Watccutsworrx was called to the chair.

Dr. BEATY proposed an address to the King, after a
powerful and sarcastic speech upon the Lords and their
ally, the Mayor of Lincoln, who, like them, thought, no
doubt, that the atmosphere would be as hot in the Lin-
coln Guildhall, as it was in another distinguished place where
noblemen, like aldermen, sometimes forgot they were gen.
tlemen, and showed that the temperature of their mind was
oven hotter than that of the atmosphere.—( Excessive
laughter and cheering.) He, however, was proud of meeting
in that place, as it was there his fellow-citizens had done him
the honour of deputing him to represent their interests in
London, where he met with some of the best patriots in Eng-
land. After an eulogy upon the monarchical office and the
Governments of Earl Grey and Lord Melbourne, as most
likely to support that office, by surrounding it with the affec-
tions of the people, and giving a history of the purposes of the
Reform Bill and its necessary result, the present Municipal
Measure, the Learned Doctor concluded, amid loud cheers,
with proposing the following Address, and that the same be
presented to his Majesty by Earl Ripon, the Recorder of the
city
_ _

To the King's Most Excellent Majesty.
The humble, dutiful, and loyal address of the undersigned alder-
men, councilmen, merchants, traders, and other inhabitants of
the City, Bail, and Close of Lincoln.
May it please your Majesty,
The undersigned are deeply impressed with the most grateful
feelings towards your Majesty, for having called to your Majesty's
councils those wise and patriotic statesmen who introduced the
magnificent measure of Parliamentary Reform, and their succes-
sors, who have introduced the equally magnificent, beneficial, and
necessary measure of Municipal Corporation Reform.
The undersigned most humbly represent that they take the
liveliest interest in the support of the monarchical office, and have
theia most loyal and dutiful affection towards your most gracious
hesty.
eeling the greatest alarm that the consequences which may
arise from the impediments which obstruct the measure of Corpo.
ration Reform, introduced by your Majesty's Government, and
carried by your Majesty's faithful Commons, will endanger the best
interests of the country, the undersigned most humbly and earnestly
implore your Majesty to continuo in your councils the present
-Blexnbers of your Majesty's Government ; and to take such race-
cures as to your Majesty shall seem meet, wise, and constitutional,
10 enable that Government to carry to a successful conclusion the
tasis they have brought forward for the better regulation of the
funicipal Institutions of your country.
Mr. NORTHHOUSE (Editor of the Lincoln Gazette), amid
loud cheers, rose to second the address, which he did, not be-
cause he Imd any fear for the success of the Bill, as of that or
a stronger measure they might rest assured, but because he
apprehended danger to the public peace if the insane obstinacy
of their Lordships were persevered in.—( Cheers.) He corn-
Merited in very strong terms upon the dishonourable conduct
e,f the majority of their Lordships in contracting to merely
near Counsel without occasioning delay, and then letting in
the evidence of all the town-clerks, and other creatures of the
tYstem, who by it lived, moved, and had their being.--(Loud
laughter.) So far as the Duke of Wellington was concerned,
this was not surprising, for the conqueror of Waterloo, the
Hero of a hundred battles, exhibited his idea of good faith
au keeping contracts, by permitting the illegal and unjustifiable
isturder of the gallant Ney.—(Great cheering.) From him,
therefore, more honourable conduct was not to be expected ;
but what should be said of the representatives of the aristocracy
and chivalry of England, the chevaliers sans peu et sans reproche
--what should be said of their violation of a solemn compact
le suit a mere party purpose, soiling their ermine with the tricks
of Jew salesmen, and being willing to murder the measure be-
'Pe them with the cowardice of bullies and the shroud of
Ananias ; seeking its destruction by artifice, because they dared
not to strike it to the heart openly.—( Great cheering.) The
Inost humble of the artisans who heard him, would, if charged
With similar bad faith reply, not with his mouth, but with his
bands, and knock down the calumniator who so traduced him.
Vet such was the conduct of the illustrious and high-born
peers of England.—( Cheers.) What did they want with
further evidence ? Every one knew the fairness, fullness, and
minuteness with which the inquiry was conducted by the Com-
.'issioners in that city—nothing could be more open, nothing
„..11mre impartial. It was the same everywhere else. Where,
then, was the necessity for further evidence ? The whole pro-
ceeding was an idle and wicked mockery, and would recoil
UPon the heads of those who adopted it most terrifically._
(Cheers.) What had the peers to do with the Corporations,
* the corporate property of England It was confessed on all
harids that the Corporations and corporate property existed
In trust for the use of the common people. Those who held
it in trust, and those for whom it is held in trust, are both re-
Presented in the Commons' House of Parliament. There
'there every interest is represented, no division takes place on
the principle of the Biii—the parties who alone have anything
do with the matter are perfectly satisfied, and only disagree
'Pon details. What right, therefore, have the Lords, who have,
'lf ought to have nothing.; to do with Corporations or corporate
Property, to interfere with what does not belong to them ?
(Great cheering.) Are their Lordships wise in setting such
an example of interference ? Would their Lordships like the
nnons to retaliate, and interfere in what solely belonged to
their Lordships ?—( Hear, hear, hear.) They all knew him
(Mr. N.) to be moderate in his views, and to respect the rights
property as being the basis of the greatness and glory of
ugland. What, therefore, could he think of the sanity of
ten of great property, who set such pernicious examples
nf interference, and furnished such provocatives for
spoliation ?—( Loud cheers.) He then went on to des-
tribe the conduct of himself, Dr. Beaty, and the other
Deputies for the corporate cities and towns in London, and
aXelted a strong feeling by an affecting picture of the exer-
tiOts and death of the late Mr. Shelley of Yarmouth, who
IPA perished in the cause of the people.--( Cheers.) They
Lincoln
threatened with a counter petition from the freemen of
•Lanicoln ; but how came it to pass none of these freemen
Would come here ? This was an open meetino•—every free-
lath was invited, what then kept them back? Surely the
numerous body who had just received their two sovereigns
each for their votes for Col. Sibthorp, and were fortified with
Plenty of Canwick ale, were not afraid to meet their fellow-
tiz4ns•—(Laughter and cheers.) The pious hands of the
Colonel's brother, and electioneering agent, had been most
benevolently employed in relieving their distresses—if they
Were sick, or said they were—if they were poor, or said they
Zer▪ e--there was the money for them, provided always they
voted for his brother—( Great laughter)—nay more, if
o.ll°'
eY were vicious, bullies, ruffians, idle, or debauched, it was
, Matter ; plumpers, like charity, " covered a multitude of
1-----(lmmense laughter and cheers.) (Here a freeman
of ,
s• •
name of Jenkinson, alias Jinks, interrupted the proceed-
kir by shouting out, " that others beside the freemen would
Te takn
hemsheir money if they could have got it."—Cries of
urn out," among which a voice was heard to say—
" Jinks, Jinks,
The money clinks."
'lncreased laughter. After which Mr. Northhouse pro-
teeded to second the address.)
The CHAIRMAN put the affirmative. Every hand appeared
to be held up—the negative, not one.—( Immense cheering.)
14r• HF.BB rose to propose an address to the House of Lords,
and in doing so commented upon the inconsistency and in-
4:tice of their Lordships, in attempting to defeat a measure
with which in fact they ought to have had nothing to do—
Which, had been passed by a large majority of the House of
Commons, where the principle of the Bill had been generally
admitted, and which was loudly demanded by a great body of
thet people. He concluded by proposing the adoption of the
Petition to the House of Lords, and that the same be presented
by Viscount Melbourne.
Mr. Common Councilman BLYTHE seconded the proposi-
tion,.which was carried unanimously. The following is the
Petition :
Te the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in
Parliament assembled.
The humble Petition of the undersigned aldermen, common coun-
cilmen, merchants, traders, and other inhabitants of the City,
Bail, and Close of Lincoln.
theby Shevreth,—That your etitioners viewed with delight
Bill introduced by his Majesty's Government, for the better re-
Nation of the municipal institutions of the country.
That your petitioners can and do bear their honourable testimony
the fairness, fullness, and impartiality, of the inquiry that took
Place in the city of Lincoln, regarding the corporation before the
ecriunissioners deputed for that purpose by his Majesty.
From the fullness and minuteness of the inquiries made at Lin-
'tt, and as your petitioners have heard and believe at all other
corporate towns,—your petitioners were alarmed at the institution
th:crnishing inquiries by your Lordships, lest the same should delay
teitssing of this great remedial measure, disturb the peace of the
ft
trY, and endanger the existence of its most valued and most
suable institutions.
fat
petitioners, therefore, most humbly and earnestly entreat,
fo,Lteur Lordships will, with the least possible delay, pass the Bill
..._a.reeregulation of municipal corporations, unmutilated, and un-
Py din all its leading previsions, and your petitioners will ever
r. NETTLESHIP, after a few eloquent remarks, in which
enforced the necessity of every one doing his utmost to
"wu In,l?port the principle of tile important measure now threatened
11:! defeat in the House of Lords, proposed that the follow-
ing petition to the House of Commons be adopted, and that
,ro• Bulwer, Esq., M. P., be requested to present it :
the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland in Parliament assembled.
~.'rehe humble Petition, &c.
,10/1 weth—That your petitioners formerly addressed your Ho-
„ urable Ho • . that your Honourable House would
House, praying
introduced by his 31ajesty's Government for the better re-
..'",sl,on of Municipal CorporatiOns•
setistelat your petitioners felt the live:est delight and the profoundest
satisfa6ef gratitude on your Honourable House having so fully and
torily responded to their prayers and the prayers of the
ualtry.
4alha:, your petitioners have since viewed with apprehension and
talin. he impediments which have been thrown in the way of the
`,lllhg of this great remedial measure into a law.
that your petitioners consider Corporations and corporate pro-
That
to belong to or to be held in trust for the common people,
'""h that none but the Commons have any thing to do with them.
et That your Hon. House having never divided upon the principle
1,„-n!s great measure, but on the contrary having unanimously ac-
tirrledged its necessity, your petitioners viewed with equal asto-
to3La ent and alarm the obstruction of others who have, or ought
Tha, no interest connected therewith.
yo ur petitioners apprehend the greatest danger from the
rl3: le of interference with property by others than its legal
'wars, or their elected representatives.
That your petitioners are alarmed for the quiet of the oc•tuuel