The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-24 00:00:00

Liberal Demonstiation in Essex.

The Maldon Liberal and Independent Club cele-
brated its seventh anniversary on Thursday evening
with a dinner in the Public Hall. The chair was
occupied by Sir T. B. Western, M.P. for North
Essex, who was supported by Colonel Western, Mr.
C. Buxton, M.P., Mr. Greene, Q.C., the Rev. B.
Luard, Mr. Mechi, Mr. R. J. Bagshaw, Mr. T. S.
Western, the Mayor of Maldon, Mr. J. A. Hard-
castle, M.P., Mr. J. G. Rebow, M.P., Mr. G.
Courtauld, Mr. Sergeant Ballantine, and Mr. A.
Trollope.

After dinner the CHAIRMAN, in proposing " Pro-
sperity to the Maldon Liberal Independent Club,"
and, alluding to the Reform Billof the late Govern-
ment, said it was, in his opinion, a moderate mea-
sure, and regretted it was not adopted, because it
would have settled the question for many years. It
had been said—he believed by Lord Derby—that
the Ministry were unwise in introducing a measure
of Reform so early in the Session, and especially,
before they had felt the pulse of the House of Com-
mons ; but he believed that whenever they might
have introduced their bill it would not have passed.
The most fatal blow was struck by members on
the Ministerial side of the house, and it was to
be peculiarly lamented that many of them took
the view of the question which they did. They
had a right, however, to their owu opinions,
and he had no doubt that they acted
conscientiously ; many of them, if not all,
were supporters of the Liberal party, and although
the course which they took upon the Reform Bill
was to be regretted, yet he was not without hopes
that they would again be found in the Liberal
ranks. Now we had Lord Derby and his friends
in power, but he must say that he had not much
confidence in them, looking to the manner in which
the Ministry was composed, and recollecting that
Lord Derby had on former occasions failed to gain
the confidence of the country. He thought, how-
ever, that the Liberal party was bound to give the
present Ministers a fair trial, and not to throw any
opposition in their way.
Mr. T. S. WESTERN, in returning thanks for the
toast of his health, remarked whether the Tories
would remain iu office by doing Liberal work, by
which means alone they could stand in the teeth of
an adverse House of Commons and an adverse feel-
ing in the country, or whether they would owe their
speedy decline and fall to attacks from without, or
a process of " happy despatch" from within, in any
case Liberal outsiders had some consolation in see-
ing and knowing that already one of their most
sagacious followers (Mr. Henley) had sounded the
note of alarm, and had already given significant
proof of the causes of their probable shipwreck.
He thought there could be no question as to
whether honour or honesty demanded the introduc-
tion of a Reform Bill, and he was of opinion that
the late Government could not have pursued any
other course than that which they took after the
treatment which their Bill met with at the hands of
the House of Commons.

Mr. GREENE, Q. C., proposed "the Liberal Mem-
bers of the House of Commons."

Mr. BUXTON, M.P., responded, and observed
that, although we were under the dominion of a
Conservative Ministry, still he believed the strong
Liberal feeling of this country would make itself
felt ; and when the time came—as come it probably
soon would—for the Liberals to bring back with
triumph their own Ministers to sit upon the Trea-
sury benches, it would be found that they would
go back with more power and more facilities of
doing good to the country and carrying out a truly
Liberal policy than had been the case for several
years. (Cheers.)

" The health of Mr. Gurdon Rebow, M.P. for
Colchester," followed.

Mr. Sergeant BALLANTINE, in a speech, in the
course of which he announced himself a candidate
for Colchester, proposed " the Liberal electors of
that borough."

" The health of the Chairman," proposed by Mr.
HARDCASTLE, M.P., and a few other toasts of local
interest, closed the proceedings.

The Home Missionary Society of Philadelphia
has just closed its 30th year, during which the ma-
nagers have been unceasing in their efforts to relieve
the wants of the suffering poor of the city. Thou-
sands have been efficientlyrelieved by the timely aid
rendered to them through the missionaries of this
institution. At a recent meeting the managers
elected Mr. Emanuel H. Tolland as the General
Agent, and they recommended him to the favour-
able notice of the benevolent, and solicit a generous
response to his appeals in behalf of the sick, suffer-
ing, and dying under their care. Their office is at
No. 507, North-street, where contributions in cash,
groceries, or clothing can be sent,