The Sun.
London, England, 1832-02-03 00:00:00

NATIONAL POLITICAL UNION.

The first annual meeting of this Union was convened last
night, at their rooms, in Saville House, Leicester-square. The
meeting was more numerously attended than perhaps since its
formation. Among those present were Sir Francis Burdett, and
Messrs. Hume, Warburton, and O'Connell, with many gentle-
men and ladies of rank and respectability.
Sir FRANCIS BURDETT in the chair.

The CHAIRMAN congratulated the Union on the progres-
sive improvement made since it was formed, and of the proba-
bility of its tending in a useful manner to promote the objects
for which it was originally intended—not only in promoting the
paramount object of obtaining an effective alteration in the re-
presentation of the people in the Commons' House of Parlia-
ment, but in enlightening the minds of the people, for whose
benefit the improvement was made, and thereby making them
better enabled to understand its value, and be ameliorated by
its adoption; thus establishing a firm basis of genuine and ra-
tional liberty. He also congratulated the meeting on having an
Administration anxious to promote the same objects as those of
the Union, and of having, at the same time, a King,
whose people's happiness and comfort were his glory and pride.
But he was not pleased with the petition which he saw on the
business-sheet concerning the Reform Bill, charging Ministers
with unnecessary delay, or advising them to take snore efficient
or speedy measures, to hasten its progress ; this he considered a
work of supererogation; for the Ministers seemed really anxious
and desirous to expedite—not retard—the measure—and had
used their endeavours for that purpose. Neither advice nor
censure could alter their pace in progress : it might tend to
delay—it could not forward. The Administration looked to
the people for support against the enemies of themselves, as of
the people; and if they did not get the support necessary from
the people, from what quarter could they expect it ? The Mi.

nisters are equally anxious as the people to carry forward and
hasten the Bill ; but their difficulties are great, and they have
to contend against time and different difficulties. The taxes on
knowledge, he felt convinced, would afterwards be speedily re-
moved. He warmly eulogised the Secretary for having ori-
ginated the design of the library, and said he not only had re_

commended him to the notice of the present meeting, but had
recommended or commended him in the House of Commons,
as endeavouring to promote good and useful knowledge among
the people. Nothing is so difficult to be managed as ignorance,
and none are more easy to be governed than the enlightened.
—(The venerable Baronet was frequently interrupted by cheers,
and occasionally, vet seldom, by expressions of dissent.)
The SECRETARY then read an excellently written report
(we believe by Mr. Roebuck, of the Temple), showing the
origin, progress, and prospects of the Union. It detailed mi-
nutely the difficulties the Union had to contend with in its
formation—not only from the wonted alienation of the Aristo-
cratical party of the community, but from the apathy of the
middle classes—their sycophancy to the great, and their little
sympathy with the lower classes--and from the almost aversion
or disgust of the lower classes of society to join a class of men
whom they considered their oppressors, or auxiliaries to the
Oligarchs in oppression. But happily these difficulties were
overcome, and a society is formed, composed of these ingre_
clients, almost as difficult to be amalgamated as ignited and
aqueous particles—the arrogant assumption of the Aristocracy
not preventing the cordial coalescence of the other two classes,
and of annealing the distrust of the lower with the apathy of
the middle, or of merging both into a concurrent whole. The
renort then remarks on the subsequent jealousy the Union ex-
perienced in its endeavours to extend its principles and objects
by forming local Unions—a difficulty almost as great as that of
impeding its original formation. It detailed the different
plans and proceedings of the Council since its establishment—
and anticipated much good from the measures now proposed to
be effected, or that are in the growth or bud of vegetation—
particularly from the number of tracts distributed, from the
books and periodicals of the reading-room; and this being open
to the members every day, and from the lectures on different
branches of knowledge about to be given by the professional
and intellectual members of the Council or the Union. If,
therefore, the measures of the Union are supported, its sue-
eess (says the report) is certain.
Mr. PERRY moved, and Mr. WAKEFIELD seconded,
that the report be adopted and printed, and that the members
Of the Union be requested to circulate it as extensively as
Possible.

The CHAIRMAN, before he proposed the motion, dissented
from the aspersions cast on the Aristocracy, and considered it
as essentially necessary to have such a body of men in society
as it is to have the cathedral of St. Paul's complete in all its
Parts. The grades of society are as necessary as the parts of
architecture—unless there is a fundamental part, the fabric will
fall. He certainly did not wish to confound the higher or
aristocratical orders of society with the oligarchy of the country.
or the boroughmangering faction that holds in tyrant chains the
liberty of the people. If, therefore, the report by the terni
Aristocracy, which it so vaguely used, merely alluded to this
oligarchy or faction, he felt no hesitation in proposing its adop_ '
tion. The real old Aristocracy of England, he considered,
could neither be condemned nor contemned, however those
might justly be who have usurped the rights and liberties and
taxes of the country.
The motion passed unanimously, the term being understood
as the Chairman wished.

The SECRETARY next alluded to some discrepancies, from
haste or inexperience, that had crept into the rules of the
Union, and proposed their alteration.

TAXES ON KNOWLEDGE.
, The petition on the taxes on knowledge, to which we alluded
'°.trnerly in the Morning Chronicle, as containing a succinct ac-
ccßint of the evils that may be attributed to those fiscal re-
"taints on the Press, enumerating in facts as well as demon-
trative conclusions, their oppressions and evil tendency, and