The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-07 00:00:00

COLONEL TYNTE, M.P., AND MR. A. W.
KINGLAKE, M.P., AT BRIDGEWATER.

An enthusiastic and densely packed meeting was
held in the Town-hall, Bridgewater, on Monday
night, to hear addresses from the members for the
borough to their constituents on the political topies
of the day. Mr. J. L. Sealy presided.
Colonel TYNTE, M.P., was heartily greeted: He
remarked " that there never was a time, perhaps,
When there were more important interests about to
come before Parliament than at the present junc-
ture. Our foreign relations and the state of Europe
in general were subjects for most anxious conside-

ration. The hon.-member alluded at length to
the events connected with the Italian war, and
strenuously maintained the right of the Duchies to
expel their despotic sovereigns. "It was of the
greatest importance," he continued, "that England
should be properly represented at the forthcoming
Paris Congress." (Hear, hear.) He should like to
know what Englishman, of whatever politics he
might be, would like to see the brave Italians, who
had fought for their liberties and were ready to
fight again, compelled to receive back the despotic
rulers they had righteously expelled. (Applause.)
He wanted to know whether they had not the same
right that we had, at our great revolution, when
we sent away a king unfit to govern us, and by
virtue of which our present valued Queen occupied
the English throne. (Hear, hoar.) He wanted to
know by what right any Congress could send back
the deposed Princes to peoples discontented and
opposed to their tyrannical sway? (Hear, hear.)
It was the duty of Esglishmen to speak out and to
boldly state that they expected the representative
of Great Britain at this Congress to perform his
mission manfully—(hear, hear)—for much would
depend on the energy and resolution of the British
Minister whether Italy, was to be free or not.
(Hear, hear.) Our assistance ought only to be
given with the view of securing to the chivalrous
Italians the rights they justly claimed. (Cheers.)
Referring to the necessity of this country being
speedily placed in an efficient state of defence, the
gallant colonel said that no one unacquainted
with the scenes on a battle-field could
imagine what a fearful thing war would be in this
country. The Duke of Wellington said it would
be too horrible to contemplate. With the feverish
anxiety every one appeared to entertain as to what
might possibly take place it behoved us to be ready
to defend our country against any hostile Power.
He claimed their support in the votes he should
probably have to give on the army and navy esti-
mates to be submitted during the approaching Par-
liamentary session, for he could not place his hand
on his heart and say he had acted honestly as a
member of the House of Commons if he did not vote

for estimates calculated to place the army and navy
in a fitting position to insure the safety of this
country. (Loud applause.) But at the same time
he contended they had a right to find fault with
him if he did not, so far as he could, as a member of

the Legislature and as their representative, see that
the money liberally voted was properly expended.
(Hear, hear.) The watchful eye of the people
should be also turned to the expenditure of the
taxes they had to pay, in order to ascertain that
the large sums they provided were strictly and
judiciously applied. This country was too great,
and our interests in it were too dear, not to be
thoroughly defended on the field or on the ocean.
(Hear, hear.) Conscription recruited the armies of
foreign States, but we trusted to the courage of
volunteers; and he rejoiced to say that with regard
to the navy of England the pressgang would never
again have to be appealed to to man our vessels.
Greatly to the credit of the present Government,
they had instituted a naval reserve, which he hoped
and believed would be permanently successful.
Give them a good Channel fleet, and no enemy
ought to be ever allowed to touch our shores.
(Applause.) In the absence of an enormous
standing army we had now throughout England
an enormous army of volunteers. (Cheers.) Every
man would become a defender of his country,
and in a short time would be able to use the
deadly weapon, the rifle, with a fatal precision
against a foe. The famous exploits of American
riflemen in former days against picked British
troops could be equalled, if not surpassed, by the
riflemen of England, and he sincerely and heartily
wished the movement the utmost success. With
respect to the question of Parliamentary reform,
they well knew it was much wanted and must come.
(Cheers.) During the last 10 years they had had
three Reform Bills brought into the House of Com-
mons, and anoth©r suggested by Mr. Bright; they
had had three Queen's Speeches recommending re-
form, and they had also had the responses of Go-
vernment and the sanction of the House of Com-
mons. The Sovereign, the Government, and the
House of Commons were pledged to a Reform Bill.
The men now in office would be disgraced for ever
if they did not bring forward such a measure as
would answer the reasonable expectations and
wishes of the people. (Applause.) He voted against
the sham Reform Bill brought in by the Derby
Government because it did not enfranchise the
working classes, so called, who were entitled to a
voice in the expenditure of taxation to which they
contributed so largely. There had been a discussion
recently as to who should be the representative of
the British people to meet the scheming diploma-
tists and wily ambassadors about to assemble at the
Paris Congress ; and it had been said that the only
man who could acquit himself satisfactorily of the
onerous task was the statesman who was never
abashed by the celebrated Metternich and never
outwitted by the still more famous Talleyrand. He
meant Lord Palmerston. But it appeared that his
lordship was not
going to the Congress, and he
sueh introduce
a m measure
erefe promptlyr
the intoam amendment
Henotu ofse theof
represen-
tation therefore, that the Premier would be pre-
pared faithfully to perform his duty at home, and
to
of the people as the unenfranchised intelli-
gent population of this country desired and claimed.
)1
Mr.
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Au s.
W. KINGLAKE, on
rising to
speink,m w
( A
received with tremendous applause. He said—
Gentlemen, it sounds natural, I think, that atthis
time my hon. colleague and myself should, in some
oaliss