The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-16 00:00:00

Itn+

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 16, 1859.

ITRACHAN and CO.'s Celebrated Domestic
Black TEA, at 3s. 2d. per lb., or 3s. in original packages
of 40 and 801bs. This Tea is particularly adapted to large
consumers, as it possesses extreme strength and roughness.
26, Cornhill, London, opposite the Royal Exchange.

ECONOMIC LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY,
6, New Bridge-street, Blackfriars.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Extraordinary
GENERAL MEETINGS of this Society will be held at Rad-
ley's Hotel, New Bridge-street, Blackfriars, on SATURDAY.
the 19th March, and SATURDAY, the 2d April, at Two
o'clock precisely, for the purpose of declaring a Bonus, and
on other business. ALIEXR. MACDONALD, Secretary.

BANK OF DEPOSIT,
Established A.D. 1844,
3, PALL MALL EAST, LONDON.
Capital Stock, £lOO,OOO.
Parties desirous of investing money are requested to ex-
amine the Plan of the Rank of Deposit, by which a high rate
of interest may be obtained with ample security.
Deposits made by special agreement may be withdrawn
without notice.
The interest is payable in January and July,
PETER MORRISON, Managing Director.
Forms for opening accounts sent free on application.

ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITU-
TION.—The ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of
this INSTITUTION will be held at the London Tavern,
Bishopsg,ate-street, TO-MORROW, Thursday, the 17th inst.,
at Two o'clock precisely.
In the absence of his Grace the Duke of Northumberland,
President of the Society,
The Right Hon. Sir JOHN S: PAKINGTON, Bart., M.P.,
First Lord of the Admiralty,
has kindly consented to take the Chair.
RICHARD LEWIS, Secretary.
14, John-street, Adelphi, March 16, 1859.

V.R.-TOWER.-SALE OF SADDLERY, HARNESS,
WOOD, AND OLD STORES.

BY Order of the SECRETARY OF STATE
for WAIL—TO BE SOLD BY PUBLIC AUCTION,
at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, on Monday, the 21st of
March, at 11 o'clock in the forenoon, precisely, the follow-
ing stores:—Saddlery, Harness, Wood, Files, ;Leather, Cloth-
ing, Stoves, Canvas, Rags, and Miscellaneous Stores.
May be viewed, from 10 to 4 o'clock, on the three working
days previous to the sale, and Catalogues obtained at the
War-office, Pall-mall; at the Tower ; and Royal Arsenal,
Woolwich.

ROYAL ARSENAL, WOOLWICH.—REFUSE WOOD.
WAR-OFFICE, PALL-MALL, S.W.,
7th March, 1859.
1-OTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, That Sealed
Tenders will be received at this Office, on or before
Thursday, the 24th instant, for the purchase of the under-
mentioned Wood, now at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich,
viz..—

5 stacks of OAK, containing 223 cords.
3 stacks of ASH, containing 77 cords.
6 stacks of ELM, containing 86 cords.
1 stack of BEECH, containing 8 cords.
1 stack of FIR, containing 27 cords.
3 stacks of REFUSE, containing 169 cords.
The person whose Tender is accepted, will be required to
pay for the wood before removal, and any remaining in the
Royal Arsenal, after ten days from the datd of acceptance of
tender, will be forfeited.
The Tenders must be made upon the proper printed form,
which may be obtained on application at this office, or to the
Principal Military Storekeeper at the Royal _Arsenal.
THOMAS HOWELL,
Direttor of Contracts.

HANDEL COMMORATION.—TICKET
NOTICE.—The Office at Exeter Hall will be opened to
the Patrons of the Festivul, and the Public generally, from
and after Ten o'Clock this Day, for the issue of Vouchers
for Tickets, which for the present may be selected from the
Numbered Plan.
Immediate application is requisite to secure the best seats.
Exeter Hall, March 16th.

MR. T. MASON JONES (late of Trinity
College, Dublin) will deliver his Second and Third
ORATIONS, at WILLIS'S ROOMS, on the following
Evenings :—TO-MORROW, THURSDAY, March 17, subject
—MILTON, the PATRIOT, STATESMAN, and WRITER.
TUESDAY next, March 22—GRATTAN, and the WITS
and ORATORS of the IRISH PARLIAMENT.

Commencing at half-past 8, and terminating at 10 o'clock.
Stalls, ss. ; reserved seats, 3s. ; back seats, ls.—At all the
principal music warehouses and libraries, and of Robert W.
011ivier, 19, Old Bond-street, Piccadilly, W.

LONDON CRYSTAL PALACE, REGENT-
CIRCUS, OXFORD-STREET and GREAT PORT-
LAND-STREET.
This magnificent building is NOW OPEN to the public, for
the SALE of all kinds of USEFUL and FANCY ARTICLES.
The Photographic Establishment, Aviary, Conservatory,
General Refreshment Room, and Ladies' Private Refresh-
ment Room, with Retiring Room attached, are replete in their
several departments.
ADMISSION FREE.

ARGYLL-ROOMS, Windmill-street, Piccadilly.
These popular and celebrated rooms are open every
evening, with R. R. Bignell's Grand Orchestra, conducted by
that great composer, Mons. Antony Lamotte, of Paris.
Leader, Charles Hall. Mons. Boulcourt, the celebrated cornet-
.-p player,' performs nightly, with other talented
artistes. Selections from Rigoletto, Il Trovatore, La Traviata,
Huguenots, Robert le Diable, and the new opera Martha.
Manager, IL R. Bignell. Doors open at half-past 8, close
ten minutes before 12. Admission, ls. to Promenade.

••-•
N.B.—All applications for the above band for Concerts and
Balls, to be made to Mr. William Price, treasurer, at the
Rooms.

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ROOMS
(formerly Casino de Venise), HIGH HOLBORN.—Mr.
W. M. PACKER'S GRAND ANNUAL BENEFIT BAL
MASQUE will take place TO-MORROW, the 17th March,
at this magnificent establishment, being POSITIVELY
THE LAST THIS SEASON.. The distinguished visitors
who honour this grand fete with their presence are respect-
fully informed that the Ball Room will be tastefully and
elegantly decorated ; and the Celebrated Band, under the
direction of Mr. W. M. Packer, will perform a series of
Novelties arranged expressly for the occasion. The supper,
which will combine every delicacy in season, will be served
at one o'clock. No gratuitous adfnissions will be given.
Gentlemen's tickets, 108. ; Ladie's ditto, ss. Supper, ss. each.
Doors open at half-past nine; overture at ten punctually.
N.B.—Mr. Nathan, Castle-street, Leicester-square, is ap-
pointed sole costumier to the Bal.—Tickets may be obtained
at Mitchell's, Royal Library, Old Bond-street; A. W. Ham-
mond's (Jullien and Co.), Regent-street ; J. A. Turner, 19,
Poultry; and of Mr. Packer, 218, High Holborn.

HOWES AND CUSHING'S GREAT
UNITED STATES CIRCUS.—The ALHAMBRA
PALACE, Leicester-square.
Last week of the Rocky Mountain Wonders. These cele-
brated California perfomers, six in number, have never
appeared in England. Their performance is so wonderful that
it cannot be described.—Sprites of the Silver Shower.
The celebrated horse Cruiser. "Black Eagle," the horse
of beauty.
Pit, ls. • Boxes, 2s. ; Reserved Seats, 35.; Stalls, 58.; Private
Boxes, £2 2s. Children under Nine years of age, half-price.
Gallery, 6d. •
Two Performances Daily at two and quarter before Eight
p.m.

WHAT are the Wild Waves saying? Keep
up your Channel Fleet, and buy, your Teas of the
East India Tea Company, where sound Tea, Black, Green, or
Mixed, can be bought, in 61b bags, at 2s. per lb., and Coffee, in
the Berry, at 10d.—Warehouse, 9, Great St. Helen's-church
yard, Bishopsgate.

EPPS'S COCOA.—Epps, homoeopathic chemist,
London.—This excellent preparation, originally pro-
duced specially for the use of homoeopathic patients, having
been adopted by the general public, can now be had of the
principal grocers. Each packet is labelled James Epps,
homoeopathic chemist, London.

ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL, Gray's-inn-road.
Open to the Sick Poor Night and Day.
During the past month (February) 10,585 persons were re-
lieved.
During the last year, 40,403.
Since the foundation, in 1828, to 31st December, 1858,549,088.
The Hospital is wholly dependent on legacies and volun-
tary contributions.
The AID of the benevolent is urgently solicited.
Contributions may be paid to Edward Masterman, Esq.
Treasurer and banker, Nicholas-lane, Lombard-street, or at
the Hospital, from 10 till s.—By order,
STANFORD S. SMITH, See.

PRESENTATION TO MR. JOHN VANDENHOFF.—A
large number of gentlemen assembled at the residence of
Mr. Mayer, Liverpool, on Saturday last, for the purpose of
presenting to Mr. Vandenhoff, who has now retired from
the stage, after a career of more than half a century, a
testimonial of their esteem for him as a gentleman and n
artist. The chair was taken by Wm. Preston, Esq., the
mayor, and, at his request, Mr. Dignan, editor of the Liver•
pool Chronicle, read a complimentary address. The testi-
monial was a splendid silver candelabra, manufactured by
Mr. Mayer. After the usual proceedings Mr. Mayer in-
vited the company to a draught of wine from a cup which
formerly belonged to David Garrick.
[ADVERTISEMENT.] SIGHT AND HEARING. SPEC.
TACLES.—POWERFITL TELESCOPES.—OPERA, RACE, AND
PERSPECTIVE GLASSES..— Messrs. S. and B. Solomons,
opticians, 39, Albermarle-Street, Piccadilly. Observe—
opposite the York Hotel, W.—Opera, Race-course, Field,
and general Out-door Day and Night Perspective Glasses,
very small, for the waistcoat pocket, each containing 12 and
18 lenses, constructed of German glass. Will show dis-
tinctly a person to know them at two-and-a-half and three
miles, and an object from eight to ten miles distant. Her
Majesty's Coast Guards are making use of them as day and
night glasses in preference to all others ; they are also pre-
ferred for deer-stalking by sportsmen, gentlemen, and
gamekeepers. Telescopes 31 inches long, by which a per-
son may be clearly seen and known at 31 miles' and an
object at 12 to 14 miles' distance; and with an extra astro-
nomical eye-piece, Jupiter's moons, Saturn's rings, and
r the doutle stars are distinctly seen. All the above can be
had of larger and all sizes, with increasing powers, and
are secured by her Majesty's Royal Letters Patent.
The Royal Exhibition, 1851. A valuable, newly-
invented, very small, powerful Waistcoat-pocket Glass,
the size of a walnut, by which a person can be seen
and known one and a half mile distant. They answer
every purpose on the Race-course and at the Opera •
houses. Country scenery and ships are clearly seen
at four to six miles. They are invaluable for shooting,
deer-stalking, yachting, to sportsmen, gentlemen, game-
keepers, and tourists. Price 30s.—Spectacle Lenses of the
greatest transparent power. Tho great advantage derived
from this invention is, that vision becoming impaired is
preserved and strengthened, and very aged persons are
enabled to employ their sight at the most minute occupation
—can see with those lenses of a much less magnifying
power, and they do not require the frequent changes to the
dangerous effects of further powerful assistance. Persons
can be suited et the most remote part of the world by send-
ing one of the glasses out of their spectacles in a letter, and
stating the distance from the eyes they can read small print
with it, and those who have not made use of spectacles by
statmg theirage. Deafness.—New Discovery.—The Organic
Vibrator, an extraordinarily powerful small newly-invented
instrument for Deafness, entirely different from all others,
surpasses anything of the kind that has been, or probably
ever can be, produced. Being of the same colour as the
skin, is not perceptible. It enables deaf persons to hear
distinctly at church and at public assemblies ; the unplea-
sant sensation of singing noises in the ears is entirely re
moved, and it affords all the assistance that possibly could
be desired.-39, Albemarle-street, Piccadilly. Observe—
opposite the 'Yea gotta, W.

THE GOVERNMENT REFORM BILL.

FINSBURY.

A meeting of a portion of the inhabitants of the
Borough of Finsbury was held last evening at the
Mechanics' Institution, Southampton-buildings, to
consider the Government Reform Bill.

Mr. D. M'DoNNELL took the chair, and said that
the meeting had been called by the Finsbury Par-
liamentary Association, whose principles were re-
gistered manhood suffrage, vote by ballot, and a
more appropriate distribution of the electoral dis-
tricts.
Mr. WALLACE, a working man, moved,

" That the Reform Bill, as introditeed by her Majesty's
present Government, is utterly valueless, if not insulting to
the nation, as it fails to recognise the claims and rights of
the working classes, who are called upon to support the
Government, to contribute their share to the expenses of
the State, to man the navy, to recruit the army ; and that
the only basis upon which a Reform Bill should be founded
is that of residential registered manhood suffrage."

Mr. WALL, another working man, seconded the
resolution, and said that if the Government could
not pass a satisfactory Reform Bill the working
classes must take the subject into their own hands.
(Cheers.)
Mr. ELT spoke in support of the resolution.
Mr. Cox, M.P., was called for and received with
cheers. He apologised for the• Etbsence of Mr.
Duncombe, and said he was desirous of calling the
attention of the meeting to the question as to what
was to be the conduct of the constituencies in the
event of the Reform Bill being read a second time.
Lord John Russell was a very old stager, but,
although he (Mr. Cox) had been a citizen of Lon-
don for 15 years, he had never once given that noble
lord a vote. He did not believe Lord John Russell
to be a friend of the working classes, nor to be a
Reformer at heart. (Cheers.) That noble lord, if
again in office, would, as in 1832, bring in a bill to
increase the power of the Whig aristocracy, caring
nothing for the people. The only object Lord John
Russell had in proposing an amendment on the
second reading of the Reform Bill was to get the
present Ministers out of office, but it was his (Mr.
Cox's) intention- so to vote that Lord John Russell
and Lord Palmerston should be pinned to some
certain course, that, in the event of the present
Government being displaced, the interests of the
people might be advanced. (Cheers.) The time
had come when it behoved all real Reformers to
speak out, and declare that they would support
no Ministers, whether calling themselves Conserva-
tives or Liberals, who were not willing to grant to
the people their full and fair share in the represen-
tation of the country. (Cheers.) He assured
the meeting it was no pleasant thing to sit below
the gangway in the House of Commons to repre-
sent the people, and there to be sneered at and
scorned by the sons and nephews of dukes and
lords. (Cheers.) But he was not to be disconcerted
by aristocratic taunts, and it was his determina-
tion to tell Lord John Russell and Lord Palmer-
ton that neither the one nor the other would ever
become the Minister of this great country unless
the full rights of the people were fairly, properly,
and honestly, granted. (Cheers.)
After a few words from Mr. HYDE, the resolu-
tion was unanimously agreed to.
On the motion of Mr. JACOB, seconded by Mr.
RAYNER, the following resolution was unanimously
adopted : _ . _ _ ... .

" That, for the protection of the voter, it is essential the
votes of electors should be taken by means of a carefully
devised system of ballot ; that, as under the present exist-
ing law gross inequalities occur both as respects population
and electors, recourse should be had to a fair and equitable
distribution of electoral districts ; and, for the purpose of
electors having more frequent opportunity of choosing their
representatives, a shortening of the duration of Parliament
is required."
Petitions to Parliament embodying the foregoing
resolutions were then agreed to; and, after a vote
of thanks to the chairman, the meeting broke up.

country starting forward in a fresh direction, in.
the direction of progress, and intelligence, and
knowledge—(cheers)—for it is by the know-
ledge and experience of the past that we are
enabled to legislate wisely for the future. (Hear,
hear.) What is this sudden outcry of alarm at the
idea of reform, which, as the witty Examiner
says, is not confined to the Tory party ? The
Examiner says,—" To decry reform is now as
much the fashion as crinoline"—(laughter)—
and not exclusively in the Tory coteries ; for
some of the old Whigs would be well pleased at the
success of the proposed sham measure. It will be
for the constituencies to keep a *sharp watch on
members of this sort. They are easily distinguish-
able; they are full of professions of fair play, and
abhorence of anything like faction ; and, above all
things, they abominate John Bright." (Cheers.)
There is an old proverb which says, " A word to
the wise ; " I say, " A word to, the constituencies
of Great Britain ;" for I can tell them that unless
they express their opinions in no unequivocal terms,
you, the people of England, will find yourselves
jipped by the contending parties within the walls
of the houses of Parliament, and you will find that
instead of flinging out this disgraceful anti-Reform
bill of the ministers which they have had the audacity
to introduce, you will find some transaction by which
the interests of liberty and of the people will be
compromised. (Hear, hear.) Do you not see
letters from eminent members to their constituents
raising the bugbear of a threatened dissolution ?
Do you believe, gentlemen, that the Tories dare
dissolve on the Reform cry ? (No, no.) No, not
for their lives. (Cheers.) Why, gentlemen, I
assert that if they dare to dissolve on such a
question as that, they would have a Reform Parlia-
ment such as England has never seen since the time
of the Long Parliament, to which my hon. friend,
Mr. Alger, alluded early in the evening. (Cheers.)
Do you suppose that the English people are
degenerating or have degenerated, that they are
to be bamboozled by false pretences such as these ?
(No, no.) The species of disfranchisement,—l beg
the right hon. gentleman the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer's pardon, disqualifications—(laughter)—
proposed in this bill amounts in some of the counties
to even 70 per cent. In Middlesex it is 70 per cent. ;
South Lancashire, 00; North Cheshire, 25; North
Durham, 45, and so on, making a total of no less
than 95,471 persons. Now, sir, this question is
intimately connected with one which has been very
much discussed, and which the Chancellor of the
Exchequer the night he brought forward his Re-
form Bill ventured to taunt the Liberal party with
not having answered. He said, if we were to have
a readjustment of members to population, that the
counnties, quoad population, were entitled to a far
larger share of representation. But he forgot, sir,
that it is property—the great landed proprietors—
and not the population, which is represented in
counties. (Hear, hear.) It was quite right, as a
means of waging war on this vast feudal monopoly
which has been handed down to us from past ages,
that the freehold land societies were established.
Working men were encouraged to invest their
savings, not in Savings'-banks and Three per
Cents., but in land, to give them a vote for the
county. It is an attack upon property,
gentlemen, to propose to disfranchise the freeholder
—and this from the Tory party ! (Laughter.) But
when the Tories take it into their heads to com-
mence innovation they are generally reckless in
their proceedings, so long as they can serve party
purposes ; and it is to serve their base party pur-
poses that they have undertaken to bring forward
such a scheme as this. (Cheers.) They have
treated you as they treat dogs in seine foreign
countries, they have flung you poisoned meat to
stop your barking ; but I trust you will undeceive
them on that point, and give them, as I said before,
in no doubtful or dubious terms iyour opinion of
this bill, that you will tell them this poisoned
meat is not to your taste, and that you neither
like them nor the food they offer to give you.
(Hear, hear.) And you may depend on it that
if the constitnonciog do hut do their duty whon
Lord John Russell brings forward his resolution in
the House of Commons, which is virtually throwing
out the Reform Bill, that amendment will be carried
by a large majority, and they will be compelled to
resign. (Cheers, and "So they ought.") Why„
sir, we turned out a Liberal administration not so ;
very long ago, because we thought they had be- I
trayed the honour of the country—(hear, hear)—
that they had madd^_ corrupt appointments, and had
forfeited your confidence. (Hear, hear.) They
were the professed friends of the people ; many of
them had rendered eminent public services, and
throughout a long life had been advocates generally
of broad and Liberal principles ; and if we meted
out to them so stern a measure of justice, are we
to treat these Tory occupants of office with
more forbearance and with greater toleration ?
(Cheers, and cries of No, no.) I trust that
this meeting, held in the largest town in the
south of England, will have no inconsiderable
influence on the destinies of the Reform Bill.
(Hear, hear.) I can only say I should view with
great regret the population of this country lapsing
into a state of political apathy which should allow
such measures as this to be proposed by a Govern-
ment which actually seems to address the members
of the House of Commons and the public at large
with its tongue in its cheek. (Hear, hear.) It
makes a joke of the whole thing. It is constantly
putting on a new face, and we see as many changes
of position as if it were a band of charlatans
instead of statesmen. (Hear, hear.) Was it not
enough that last year we passed over the Malmes-
bury letter to the French Government after turn-
ing out Lord Palmerston for not being spirited
enough ? (Hear.) Has not the Charles et Georges
affair been almost a compromise, as disgraceful to
this country as the Conspiracy Bill ? (ear, hear.)
Are you prepared to tolerate such things and
such Ministers ? (No, no.) I say the honour of
this country will be seriously compromised if
you do not put a stop to these things—(hear, hear)
—and nothing short of turning Ministers out will
satisfy the public indignation. (Cheers.) There-
fore, gentlemen, it is not only because the 40s. free-
holders are to be disfranchised and there is to be
no extension of the borough franchise that we are
to throw out this bill ; it is upon every ground.
(Hear, hear.) I forget whether I pointed out to you
sufficiently that in the counties it is the great land•
owners who arc represented —not the population.
(Hear, hear.) But because in the counties where
property in reality alone is represented and where
the possessors of the freehold franchise are allowed
to vote, that is no reason why they are to come
and swamp the borough constituencies which
alone maintain the fight against those feudal land-
owners ; it is not for them to come and swamp us
with the 40s. freeholds. (Hear, hear.) lam most
strenuously opposed to that. (Cheers.) At this late
hour of the evening, gentlemen, I will not trespass
on your patience any longer. I thank you very
heartily for the kind and friendly manner in which
you have listened to me, and I only wish my capa-
city were equal to my desire. There is one reform,
gentlemen, which I cannot help taking this oppor-
tunity of pointing out to you before sitting down,
which I think a most important one, and one which,
I really believe, would tend more to improve our
system of legislation than any other reform I know
of ; and that is the reform of the hours of the House
of Commons. (Hear.) Here and everywhere you
see the streets placarded with the early closing
movement. Well, I would say to them, " For God's
sake come up to Westminster and placard our walls."
(Laughter.) Here are we, the unfortunate members
of Parliament, at an hour when everybody else has
done his day's work and it is time to go
home to dinner and :spend the remainder of the
evening with one's wife and family ; then after a
hard day's work the mere remnant of a man's time
is to be devoled to the most important business in
the country, that of considering not merely your
interests, but interests which affect those of the
whole civilised world—(hear, hear)—and we are
called on positively to devote the dregs of the day
to the consideration of those momentous questions.
(Hear, hear.) The result of it is that the govern-
ment—and an unscruplous government particularly
epnoineinntg
olpegpiosnl aetnitosn, tnonad late_it:ehour,el pge
refteseitlyd
of blyn cpoonsst-
a(
Hs s
euarre,dht
ehaart.
) post
T That
aptr
wa nhdi te'ah/lwe legislation i sr leaqt
require
s notle
gt e
sl
abtei sotn.
carried on in the early morning hours, when men
bring the whole of their intelligence and clear.
headedness to bear on the momentous interests of
the nation. (Cheers.)
Mr. DODSON addressed the meeting, denouncing
the bill. _ _

---- ---
Col. CAVENDISH said that a bill was wanted ap-
plicable to all classes, not such a bill as Disraeli's
--(cheers)—and he would also add, that they did
not want such a 13111 as Bright's. (Renewed cheers
and hisses.) Bright's bill was as dangerous to the
class for which it legislated as for any class in the
kingdom ; it was not the bill required ; but they
wanted a better bill, and they could get one.
(Applause.) Our Constitution and Government
might be faulty, but look far and near, and where

PRICE 4D. STAMPED, SD.

could they see such an order of things—such pros-
perity, security, and happiness under rule? (Cheers.)

WORCESTER.

WORCESTER, Tuesday.—A public meeting was
held at the Guildhall in this city last night, in pur-
' suance of a requisition to the mayor, for " consider-
' ing the provisions of the Government Reform Bill,
and adopting such resolutions concerning it as shall
be agreed on thereat." The chair was taken by the
Mayor (Mr. Hill), and on the .platform were the
two city members, Messrs 0. Ricardo and W. Las-
lett. The hall was nearly filled, andthe proceedings
were conducted with great good humour throughout.
The MAYOR having opened the proceedings, and
expressed his sympathy with the present move-
ment against the Government measure, the follow-
ing resolutions were severally moved, seconded, and
carried almost unanimously :
" 1. That this meeting, having carefully considered the
measure of Parliamentary reform introduced by her Ma-
jesty's Ministers, pronounce it most useless and unjust;
useless, because containing only one liberal clause—viz,
the extension of the franchise to £lO rentals in counties, and
because it would, in effect, deprive many freeholders of the
franchise which they have hitherto enjoyed; and unjust,
because the measure does not recognise the claims of the
working classes to the suffrage, and as such it deserves our
strenuous and unqualified opposition."
"2. That no scheme of reform will be entirelysatiAfactory
which does not abbreviate the duration .of Parlia
meats, make some provision for the more equal distributio
of seats, by disfranchising many small boroughs,, And
removal of one member from many places. OM returning
two, extend the franchise to all duly registered occupiers of
the whole or part of any house rated to the relief of the
poor; also to £lO rentals in counties; and afford protection
to the voter by means of the ballot. That a petition, em-
bodying these resolutions, be signed by the Mayor on be-
half of the meeting, and forwarded to the city members for
presentation to the House of Commons."'
The speakers in support of the above resolutions
were—Alderman Padmore, Mr. Joscland (grocer),
Mr. Longmore (gentleman), Mr. Southall (attor-
ney), and Mr. \reale (accountant). An amendment
was moved by Mr. Pegg in favour of manhood suf•
frage, but, on being put to the vote, only a few
hands were held up for it, and it was declared to be
lost. The two members then addressed the meeting.
Mr. 0. RICARDO, M.P., was received with great
cheering. He said he came down to Worcester to
learn what were the opinions of his constituents on
the great question of Reform: His own opinion
had been made up long ago. He thought the Go-
vernment measure was the most unjust bill that had
ever been framed. (Cheers.) In the first place, for
no reason that he could understand, it was proposed
to deprive the 40s. freeholders in boroughs of their
votes for counties, and as a set off the Government
professed to give the counties a £lO franchise.
They knew they could not refuse that; it had been
carried last year. The' bill was called a " bill
for the Amendment of the Representation of the
People," but he contended that it was a perfect
sham. Did it give votes to any of the working
classes ? (No.) Their names were not even men-
tioned, and if they were to have a vote it gave them
no protection for exercising it. (Hear, hear.) Mr.
Disraeli professed to disfranchise no one, and so he
had not disfranchised the small boroughs, but he
had not given sufficient representation to the large
towns. He (Mr. Ricardo) could not foretell what
would be the issue of the measure, but hoped it
would be thrown out on the second reading—
(cheers)—and that Lord John Russell's amendment
would be carried. But the moment that Lord John
had given notice of his amendment in the House of
Commons up jumped Mr. Disraeli and gave up that
identity of franchise which was the principle that
the Government had founded their measure upon.
He had not yet seen the Government clauses, but
he believed the principle of them was that the sons
of the present 40s. freeholders should be disfran-
chised. If Lord John Russell carried his amendment
it was a question whether the Government would go
on with the bill, but if the bill should pass the
second reading he trusted clauses would be intro-
duced in committee for giving to the working classes
their just rights. (Cheers.) They ought not only
to have their just rights, but to be protected in the
exercise of their rights. As to shortening the du-
ration of Parliaments he had no objection to appear
before his constituents every three years. He should
act according to what he considered was his duty
in representing them, and should be ready to give
them an account of his stewardship when called
upon. (Cheers.) They had been told that if the
bill should hot pass the Parliament would be dis-
solved. He (Mr. Ricardo) was ready to take the
consequences of that step, and should again appear
before them with confidence. (Cheers.)
Mr. LASLETT, M.P., observed that this was the
largest meeting he had ever had the honour of ad-
dressing in that hall, and it showed the interest
felt in; the matter before them. He concurred
in what had fallen from Mr. Ricardo that the Go-
vernment bill was a measure which could not be
acceded to. (Hear, hear.) He must say it was one
of the cleverest performances of the kind—
(laughter)—that he had ever seen. They were all
agreed on the policy of giving the franchise to £lO
householders in counties, but it was proposed to
counteract that by taking it away from the 40s.
freeholders in boroughs who had previously exer-
cised the right of voting in counties. But that part
of the b'll he now undrstood they found it neces-
sary to withdraw. There were masses of the work-
ing classes who were unenfranchised, and who he
considered ought to have the .franchise ; but he
would not enfranchise the idle and dissolute : there
must be some test of fitness, and he thought
that the idle, the dissolute, and the drunkard ought
not to enjoy the franchise equally with those who
by their industry had reared families in respecta-
bility and saved themselves a little money. He con-
sidered the industrious classes, instead of being,
what they were generally called, were Conserva-
tives. Many of them were become reading men and
many of them were more competent to appear in
his place than he was. (A voice, " Good," followed
by loud laughter.) Their intelligence and the im-
portant place which they occupied in the country
demanded that they should have a right of choice
of their representatives. (Cheers.) He was one
who did not come to conclusions hastily, but he
had come to the conclusion that he thought they
must come down to household suffrage. The bill
went further, and proposed to enfranchise lodgers
paying Bs. a week. If they had placed it at 4s.—
(A voice, " Grub and all, followed by loud laughter,
drowned the rest of the sentence.) They wanted
to extend the franchise, and wanted no:limit, except
the exclusion of the dissolute and the drunkard.
As to triennial Parliaments, he would advocate the
plan to the fullest extent—viz., that they should
not be less than three years, and that members
should not be subject to the threat of a dissolution
if they did not pass some Government measure of
a Minister. He would tell them that th it threat
had a great effect on men who had not much money
in their pockets. (Laughter.) As to the ballot ho
thought that the last election for East -Worcester-
shire would have persuaded him to it if nothing
else had. He rather liked the plan of voting by
letter, as the voter could then do away with all
canvassing by saying he had voted. Ho could not
see much good that the Reform Bill of 1832 had
done, for taxes had increased and jobs had been
perpetrated just as before. With a few further re-
marks the hon. member sat down.
A vote of thanks to the Mayor closed the pro-
ceedings.

MANCHESTER.
On Monday evening an outdoor meeting of the
working classes to protest against the Government
Reform Bill was held in Stevenson-square, Man-
chester. A heavy rain had been falling most
of the day, and owing to the inclemency
of the weather, but few people were present—pro-
bably not more than 200. Mr. Ernest Jones, Mr.
w. P. Roberts, and other speakers addressed the
meeting, and a petition was adopted for presenta-
tion to the House of Commons against the Govern-
ment scheme.

Mr. Cobden arrived at New York, by the Ca-
nada, and was staying at the Brevoort House. The New
York herald of the hat says:---4, 'Mr. Cobden comes
amongst us ostensibly on private business ; but viewing the
importance of the discussions which this new reform bill
will involve, it is not unlikely that his principal motive for
visiting this country is to study anew our institutions, and
to found the observations that he make here modifications
of Mr. Blight's scheme. It is many years—we bel!eve
nearly a quarter of a century—since this distinguished
orator and statesman paid his first visit to this country ' -
and it is natural that on the eve of a contest which may
lead to important political changes, ho should dhsire to re-
new his acquaintance with
.the workings of our own sys-
tem, and thereby Prepare his mind for the maturing of a
measure in which he naturally feels a deeper interest than
he has taken in any of the other questions which have atr
tention during his Parliamentary career."
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT DEPTFORD.—The
well-
)nown hostelry, the Plume of Feathers, situate in Church-
street, Deptford, was discovered to be on fire yesterday
morning between the hours of three and four o'clock. The
premises belonged to Mr. J. Lightfoot, licensed victualler.
The discovery was made by a police-constable of the R.
division, who at once sounded an alarm. The inmates were
successful in effecting a retreat, but not until they were
nearly suffocated by the heated smoke. lfer Majesty's
dockyard engine was promptly on the spot, and set to work
from a good supply of water. The fire was not extinguished
until the building, which contained eleven or twelve rooms,
was nearly destroyed, and the roof partially burned off.