The Sun.
London, England, 1859-10-03 00:00:00

PARLIA

!EFO.R.

The following has been forwarded to us for pub-
[cation in our columns :

Parliamentary Reform Committee,
15, King-street, Cheapside, Oct. 1, 1859.
Sir,—The Reformers of the United Kingdom have
been so far successful in their efforts as to prevent
the passing of a delusive and dishonest Reform Bill;
and the ministers by whom it was submitted to the
House of Commons have been, by the vote of the
newly-elected Parliament, dismissed from office as
unworthy of public confidence. Their successors,
with the advantage of this experience, are pledged
to bring forward in the ensuing session of Parlia-
ment a measure of Reform. On its character must
depend the continuance of the present Liberal
Administration, while the extent of the Reform
which is attainable must lae determined by the re-
quirements of the people, and the vigour and ear-
nestness with which they are presented to the
Legislature.
The committee retain their conviction that no
measure of Reform can be regarded as a settlement
which does not include a very large extension of the
suffrage, both in counties and boroughs ; an equity
ble re-distribution of seats, in proportion to the
population and property of the constituencies ;
an assimilation of electoral laws for England,
Scotland, and Ireland ; and such protection to
the voter, by means of ballot, as may effectually
prevent the flagrant corruption and intimida-
tion which have increasingly, shown themselves
during late eections, and which threaten to un-
dermine the political institutions of the country.
They are especially anxious that at the present
juncture Reformers should, with united energy, at
once reiterate these reasonable demands, and be
fully prepared to pronounce how far they are fairly
complied with in the Ministerial Bill, when it is
introduced into Parliament. The evenly-balanced
condition of political parties, the tranquil state of
the country, the establishment of European peace,
and the discussions of the late session, render the
present a most favourable opportunity for combina-
tion among all earnest and sincere Reformers, so as
to secure the best practicable adjustment of this
great constitutional question.
If a committee or association exists in your
neighbourhood it should at once assemble and
declare, by public meeting, the need which there
is for a more faithful representation of the
people in the House of Commons, and the
means by which, according to the judgment of the
meeting, such a representation can be secured.
At such a meeting a petition should be adopted
to the House of Commons, and care should be taken
that the procee,lings are reported by the public
press. Petitions should be signed by the public at
places, or at tables in the thoroughfares, to which
everybody will have access. Two or three earnest
individuals in each town can mike all the arrange-
ments which are necessary.
If a committee or association is not yet in exis-
tence, one should be originated at once, by public
meeting, or otherwise.
Every movement should be adapted to the
locality, and sustained by local ability and re-
sources.
The resolutions and reports of such meetings
should be transmitted to the members of the House
of Commons, with whom you have influence, and
correspondence maintained with them on the sub-
ject of Reform throughout the session.
Silence will be interpreted to mean indifference,
will encourage the opponents of the people's rights,
and render unavailing the most strenuous efforts of
tneir advocates. It is confidently hoped that, in
your district, the committee may rely on your per-
sonal co-operation in the present struggle, the issue
of which cannot be doubtful if popular opinion is
vigorously expressed. They will be ready, on fur-
lier correspondence, to afford you every assistance
.n their power. By order of the committee.
Your obedient servant,

EDWARD S. PRICE, Secretary.
The following are the names of the committee :
W. H. Ashurst, Esq.
Hon. F.H.F. Berkeley, M.P.
Thomas Bazley, Esq., M.P.
John Biggs, Esq., M.P.
J. A. Blake, Esq., M.P.
J. F. Bontems, Esq.
George Bowyer, Esq., M.P.
L. Brabazon, Esq.
John Brady, Esq., M.P.
John Bright, Esq., M.P.
A. R. Bristow°, Esq., M.P.
Chas. S. Butler, Esq., M.P.
James Cain], Esq., M.P.
F. M. Callcutt, Esq.
P. Carstairs, Esq.
J. Chalice, Esq., M.D.
Robert Charles, jun., Esq.
James Clay, Esq., M.P.
Riclid. Cobden, Esq., M.P.
W. Coning-ham, Esq., M.P.
Wm. Connell, Esq.
Lord F. Conyngham.
Wm. Cox, Esq.
Frank Crossley, Esq., M.P.
George Dawson, Esq.
J. H. Dillon, Esq.
L. L. Dillwyn, Esq., M.P.
Frederick, Doulton, Esq.
T. S. Duncombe, Esq., M.P.
J. P. Edwards, Esq.
C. H. Elt, Esq.
Lord Fermoy, M.P..
W. J. Fox., Esq., M.P.

J. P. Gassiot, Esq.
Charles Gilpin, Esq., M.P.
John Greene, Esq., M.P.
Geo. Hadfield, Esq., M.P.
Wm. Hargreaves, Esq.__

James Kershaw, Esq.,M.P.
Wilfrid Lawson, Esq., M.P.
W. S. Lindsay, Esq., M.P.
S. Lucas, Esq.
Duncan M'Laren, Esq.
P. McMahon, Esq., M.P.
Edward Miall, Esq.
Charles Neate, Esq.

Donald Nicoll, Esq.
GuildfordOnslow,Esq.,M.P.
Arthur Otway, Esq.
A. W. Paulton, Esq.
Henry Pease, Esq., M.P.
R. N. Philips, Esq.
J. A. Roebuck, Esq., M.P.
Wm. Roupell, Esq., M.P.
Titus Salt, Esq., M.P.

_
B. Samuelson, Esq.
Wm. Scholefield, Esq., M.P.
J. B. Smith, Esq., M.P.
James Stansfeld, Esq., M.P.
Horace St. John, Esq.
Major-Gen. T. P. Thompson.
L. Waldron, Esq., M.P.
G. H. Whalley, Esq. M.P.
James White, Esq.
E. C. Whitehurst, Esq.
Wm. Williams, Esq., M.P.

2ILE ENGLISH NAVY.

The Illoniteur de la Flotte has been giving for
some time past a series of articles on the Englith
navy, and now publishes the eighth, and apparently
the last, being a summary of the forces it believes we
have at our disposal. In Europe, it says that we have
132 ships, carrying 5,513 cannons, and representing
a steam power of 37,405 horses. This includes the
guard ships. In Asia it finds 46 vessels, 137 guns,
6,683 horse power; in Africa 23 vessels, 224 guns,
3,682 horse power; in America 22 vessels, 440 guns,
and 4,547 horse power ; in Australia, &c., 18 ships,
435 guns, and 2,040 horse power. The Illoniteur de
lea Flotte then makes the following remarks :
" Frcm what precedes, it results that the naval
forces of the United Kingdom, navigating in the
five parts of the world, are composed of about
300 armed war ships, two-thirds of which are
steamers, and more than half ships of the
line or frigates of the largest class, and we own
that it is difficult for us to understand the cries of
alarm of the English journals concerning the pre-
tended inferiority of their navy and the necessity
of developing it to the point of having, as soon as
possible, 100 screw liners and 70 large frigates,
with a corresponding number of corvettes and gun-
boats. A State that possesses the force we have
just enumerated, with a reserve almost as consider-
able, has it not more resources than it needs to
make its territory respected, and to assure the pro-
tection of its commerce on all the seas ; and should
it not be, we, on the contrary, who ought to con-
ceive apprehensions in presence of a maritime
State the development of which increases beyond
measure ?

" If the Emperor's Government has particularly
directed its attention to the increase of the national
fleet, it is because it has understood that the navy
ought to become for France the important element
of power it was in the last century, and resume the
rank whence cruel disasters had made it descend."