The Sun.
London, England, 1835-04-14 00:00:00

THE SUN NEWSPAPER EXPRESSES„

RESIGNATION OF MINISTERS.
IRISH CHURCH.

LONDON Sus.—An express edition of this enterprisingjatfrf,
nal was again received yesterday by Messrs. Smith and Co.,
news agents, St. Andrew-square, who, immediately on it a
arrival, politely handed us a copy, containing the whole of Sir
R. Peel's Speech on the occasion of his intimating the resigna-
tion of Ministers in the House of Commons on Wednesday
evening.—Edinburgh Weekly Chronicle, April 11.
We acknowledge our obligations to Mr. M‘Phun of Glas-
gow, for an express edition of The Sun, by which vie are en-.
abled to give the resignation speech of Sir Robert Peel at
length.—Paisley Advertiser, April 11.

DEFEAT OF MINISTERS.—We are much indebted to the ElA-
rited exertions of the proprietors of The Sun newspaper, for for-
warding to us an express edition of their journal on Friday morn-
ing, which reached this city about ten o'clock in the forenoon.
It contained the whole of the debate, and the result of the divi-
sion at half-past three o'clock on the same morning !—an al-
most incredible instance of dispatch in the publication and
transmission of intelligence, and one which the public cant=
fail to appreciate as it deserves. The glorious majority of 33*,
which was speedily announced by means of handbills and a.
placard in the window of our office, and at other places, diffused
universal joy—unless we may except a few unfortunate Con-
servatives, who were wofully astounded, and who sought their
consolation in drawing up an address to Sir Robert Peel—
whether advising him no longer to hazard his repose and his
health by enduring the hopeless evils of office. we could not
learn, so snugly was the thing managed. —Kent Herald ( Can-
terbury), April 9.

The Speaker and Mrs. Abercromby gave their
second dinner party on Saturday evening, in Carlton-gardens,
to Lord Dalmeny, the Right Hon. Charles Grant, Lord King,
Colonel and Lady Mary Fox, Mr. and Mrs. Fazakerly, Mr-
Thornhill Baring, Hon. Mr. and Mrs. Fox Maule, Dr. and
Mrs. Lushington, and Mr. Charles Romilly, Secretary to the
Speaker.

The Marquess and Marchioness of Abercorn cam:
from Woburn Abbey, to be present at the marriage of Lord
John Russell with Lady Ribblesdale, and then proceeded to
their villa, Bentley Priory, where they entertained the Duchess
of Bedford and.a party at dinner.
Lord Durham's health is so far restored as to enable
his Lordship to proceed to London in a f4w days.

Lord and Lady Durham gave a splendid ball and
stypper, at Lambton Castle, on Tuesday evening,' to his Lord—
ship's agents, domestics, and their friends, in honour of the'
birth-day of Lady Durham. Upwards of two hundred per-
sons partook of the entertainment, and dancing and other
amusements were kept up until an early hour the following
morning.

The Duke of Cleveland entertained a distinguished
political party last Sunday at dinner. There were present
Lords Howick and Acheson, Right Honourables Edward
Ellice, Powlett Thomson, Charles Tennyson, Sir John Byng,
Sir Ronald Ferguson, Sir E. Codrington, Sir H. William-
son, Messrs. Cayley, Lambton, Fcrgusson, Kemp, Fox Maule,
Dr. Lushington, E. J. Stanley, Hutt, &c.

The Duke of Wellington intends to spend the
Easter Recess at Walmer Castle, which is now preparing to
receive his Grace. During his stay, as Lord Warden, he will
hold a harbour sessiGn, to direct the further progress of the
works for the improvement of the port of Dover. The exten-
sive range of buildings now constructing on the Esplanade
there are to be named Waterloo Crescent, in honour of the
Noble and Gallant Duke, and his former companions in arms.

The Marchioness of Wellesley has taken her depar-
ture for Paris, intending to sojourn for a few weeks at Murice's
hotel.

Mrs. Fitzherbert has returned to Park-lane, from
the Steyne, at Brighton, in consequence of. the delicate state
of her niece's health, the Hon. Mrs. Jerningham.
. .

Sir W. Rae, late Lord Advocate for Scotland, left
town on Saturday for Scotland.

-- -
The Earl of Egremont is recovering from his late
indisposition.
The contemplated marriage between the Hon.
Francis Gordon, of the Ist Life Guards, with Miss Keir
Grant, daughter of the gallant General, Sir William Keir
Grant, will, it is expected, be solemnized at Bath, where the
parties now are. Mr. G. is a son of the Earl of Aboyne.
Lady Macdonald is about to bestow her hand and
fortune on a French gentleman, named, we believe, De Suze.
Her Ladyship is resident at Paris.
At the marriage of Lord John Russell to Lady
Ribblesdale, there were present the Duke and Duchess of Bed-
ford, the Marquis and Marchioness of Tavistock, Marquis and
Marchioness of Abercorn, Lady Georgiana Gordon, the Earl
and Countess of Morley, and other branches of the united fa-
milies. The ceremony was performed at St. George's church,
Hanover-square, by the Rev. Lord Wriothesley Russell, one
of the sons of the Duke of Bedford. A dejeuner ala four-
chette Was provided at Kent House, Knightsbridge, to which
the party pre2ent. at the wedding retired. At two o'clock the
happy couple len town for Woburn Abbey ; and yesterday,
after one short honei-day, Lord John returned to town to
assist his Noble Friend, Lord Melbourne, in getting up his
new Cabinet.
The present Lord Ribblesdale, eldest son of the
Noble bride of Lord John Russell, is in his eighth year only,
and is the youngest Peer of the realm.
Earl Fitzwilliam, on account of the distressed state
of agriculture, has declioed taking the rents now due from his
tenants at Great Gidding, Huifts, a cold and desolate parish.
—Leamington Chronicle.
The veteran Sir John Lade, who for years was con-
sidered the first-whip in the fashionable world, was yesterday
among the pedestrians in the improvements in St James's-park,,
and appeared in excellent health and spirits.
The public arc much indebted to the proper autho-
rities for having, within these few weeks, opened the gale
leading into the Park opposite to the Foot barracks in Knights-
bridge.
DYSART.—The petition which was recently adopted
at a public meeting here against the Church grant, has now
attached to it about 1,000 names, and is to be immediately
transmitted to Mr. Fergus, the Member for the burghs, for
presentation.—Edinburgh Chronicle.
A CHALLENGE.—GeneraI Lopez, on the 17th
ult. received a challenge from Don Louis O'Donnell, the
Commandant of the cavalry of Don Carlos, to meet him with
an equal number of cavaliers, armed oniy with their swords..
General Lopez replied that he not only accepted the challenge,
but would come to the place of rendezvous, whenever it might
be appointed, with 100 men less than his adversary.
LONDON AND GREENWICH RAILWAY.—Last
week the Bishop of Winchester, the Bishop of Exeter, and
several Noblemen and Gentlemen inspected this splendid work.
They were attended by Colonel Landmaun, the engineer and
projector of the company.
The answer which Mr. O'Connell gave, in St..
James's-street, to a gentleman well known in the fashionable
world, is much talked of in certain circles. " Pray what office
are you to have, Mr. O'Connell, in the new Administration ?"
" The privilege, Sir, I hope, of walking the streets without
being asked such questions. You will see me cross over
to the Treasury side of the House, with sixty Irish Members,
and we shall take our places -behind the Ministers without
having made any stipulation whatever, solely because we believe
them disposed to do justice to our country."
THE DUKE OF NORFOLK.—Of all the distill.;
guished men who have opposed the Tory attempt to restore
oligarchical domination in emancipated England, no one, we
believe, has entered into it with more ardour than our noble
townsman, the Earl Marshal of England. He has exerted
himself to the utmost to win the doubtful and secure the wa-
vering ; and we may be well assured that, so long as he can
prevent it by honourable means, a Tory Ministry will never
rule in England. A very slight examination of the lists of
divisions will serve to show that there is a decided preponile-
ranee of wealth, ability, and hereditary honour among thu
party whom the Tories are pleased to call Destructive...
Sheffield Independent.
DOLEFUL INTELLIGENCE.—A special meeting of
the " South Lancashire Conservative Association" was con-
vened for the purpose of forwarding an address to Sir Robert
Peel, imploring him to stand by the " altar and the throne,"
defend the " purity of the temple," &c. When the meeting
was in deep conclave, and at the moment that the celebrated
Mr. Hilton, of Peterloo notoriety, was reading' the draft of
the address, The 'gun express, on its way from Mancliester to
Liverpool, passed through Newton. The proprietor immedi-
ately forwarded a copy to the Leigh Arms, at Newton, where
the meeting was assembled, containing the speech of the ex,
Premier in the house of Commons, announcing his resigna-
tion. The paper was instantly carried into the room, and felt
into the hands of a pious son of the Church, who on opening it,
exclaimed in Stentorian voice, to the horror and amazement of
all present, " By —, we are done !—its all up with u 8 P'--
Liverpool Mercury.
There are two candidates, it is stated, for North
Essex, in the room of Mr. Alexander Baring, now Lord
Ashburton. One is Mr. St. John Mildmay, a Conservative ;
the other the Hon. Mr. Brand, a Whig. Mr. Brand formerly
contested this division. He is the nephew of Lord Dacre,
and is supported by the interest of Lord Western.
The General Order against the use of brass bands
in the depots of Regiments has been enforced with the 36th
in this garrison, and they are now restricted to the old military
music of drum and fife.—Linterich Chronicle.

The General Steam Navigation Company's Mail
Packet, the London Merchant from Rotterdam, anived oft
the Custom-House yesterday.
MATES IN THE NAVY.—By a return made to. the
House of Commons it appears that the number of mates serv-
ing on board his His Majesty's ships, who passed their exami-.
nation previously to March 20, 1830, is 125.
MOUNT ARARET THE LINCOLNSHIRE WOLDS.
—Antiquaries and bibliepoles have had much controversy re-
specting the locality and identity of Mount Araret, on which
Noah's Ark rested after the flood. The question is now set at
rest by the discovery of some rude characters on a post near or
on the Champion's estate at Horncastle, where any person may
read, " Noah rode up here," proving from ancient tradition and
this inscription, that such was the lane through which Noah-
rode when he left the ark.—Lincoln Gazette.
`We hear much of the prosperity, of 'Nei, South
Wales, but facts are stubborn things. In 1816, the farni of.
Molles Mains let for soul. per annum; in 1834, with the ad• - -
dition of 2,000 acres of land, all within 35 miles of--Sydney*, :-
it was let for 50/, per annum,. - - -

./11

34,697

tiro mem-
! towns, or
ro;vards

73. The importance which the privilege of ele(
hers of Parliament has conferred upon corporat,
rather upon the governinr; bodies there, and th
foe political services which are brought within the reach o
the rifling corporators, have caused this function to be con.
sidered in many places as the sole object of their institu.
Lion. In some boroughs this right has survived all othel
traces of municipal authority. The custom of keeping the
unmber of corporators as low as possible may be referred to
this causr., rather than to the desire of monopolizing the
municipal authority, which has been coveted only as the
means of scouring the other and more" highly prized pzivi-
lege.

Hence a treat number of corporations have been preserved
solely as political engines, and the towns to which they be-
lOng derive no benefit, but often much injury, from their exis-
tence. To maintain the political ascendency of a party, or
the political influence of a family, has been the one end and
object for which the powers entrusted to a numerous class
of these bodies have been exercised. This object Las been
systematieally pursued in the admission of freemen, resident
or non-resident ; in the selection of municipal functionaries
for the council and the magistracy ; in the appeintment of
subordinate officers .and the local police ; in the administra-
tion of charities intrusted to the municipal authorities ; in
the expenditure of the corporate revenues, and in the ma-
cagement of the corporate property. The most flagrant
abuses have arisen from this perversion of municipal privi-
leges to political objects. The commissioners have gene-
rally found that those corporations which have not possessed
the Parliamentary franchise have most faithfully discharged
the duties of town government, and have acquired, more
than others, the confidenZie and goodwill of the communi-
ties to which they belong. This has been the case in some
even where the ruling bodies are strictly self-elected, and
where the general character of their constitution is open to
the objections common to the great majority of corporations.
Very few large corporate towns were '..ithout members-of
Parliament, even before the Reform Act, so that many
instances cannot be given from among them. The corpo-
rations of Leeds, Lynn, and Doncaster may be cited as
turning their attention to their municipal duties more _
sedu-
lously than the majority. Among small towns, deserving
the same character, we refer to the corporations of Louth,
Bideford, Maidenhead, &leeks, South Moulton, and Strat-
ford-upon-Avon.

74. Admission into the corporate body has commonly
been sought mainly with a view to the lucrative exercise of
the elective franchise. In those towns where a large body
of freemen return members of Parliament, the years in
which elections have happened, or immediately preceding
those in which they have been expected, are distinguished
by the admission of a number greatly exceeding the average,
even without the confirmation which particular inquiries
afforded, it would have been impossible to avoid connect-
ing the two events. At Maldon, 1,870 freemen were ad-
mitted in 1826, 1,000 of whom were admitted during
the election. The average number annually admitted
since that time. is only 17. The following table, taken
from a Parliamentary return, ordered to be printed on
the 3d of February, 1832, shows the annual number
of freemen admitted in 128 cities and towns from 1800
to 1831. London and Preston are the only towns omitted.
In London, the number admitted varies little ; in Pres-
ton, freemen . are mostly admitted at the guilds, which
occur at intervals of 20 years. The years in which general
elections took place are marked by an asterisk (#). The
years 1813 and 1816 appear in the table as ifthey were ex-
ceptions to the general rule, whereas in fact they confirm
it. The Bristol return for 1813 includes the period from
the 29th of September, 1812, on which day Parliament was
dissolved. In that year, 1,720 freemen were admitted at
Bristol, instead of 50, which is about the average number
of ordinary years. In 1816, elections took place at Glo-
cester and Liverpool ; in Liverpool 487 freemen were ad-
mitted, instead of the ordinary average of 30, and at Glo-
cester, 415, instead of 30 ; making together 902, instead of
CO. These last two are the only instances in which the effects
of particular elections produce a very marked result in the
general table.
Year. I Freemen. II Year. I Freemen. II Year. I Freemen.

-.....-.
1800 1,775 1811 1,441 1821 1,468
1801 2,051 *lBl2 5,918 1822 1,430
*lBO2 5,782 1813 3,285 1823 2,080
1803 1,397 1814 1,357 182 4 2,237
1804 1,254 1815 1,480 1821 2,655
1805 1,473 1816 2,582 *1826 10,797
'lBO6 4,700 1817 1,715 1827 1,337
*lBO7 3,114 *lBlB 8,889 1828 1,404
1808 1,256 1819 1,430 18t9 1,433
1809 1,270 *lB2O 4,605 *lB3O 9,321
1810 1,606 'lB3l 2,569

The numbe'rs of freemen admitted since the passing of
the Reform Act have fallen off in a remarkable manner :
and the corporate officers expressed their conviction that
the fevenue from admission-fees would henceforward dimi-
nish, and in some places would fail altogether.
Parliamentary influence being the principal object for
which freemen are created, it is not surprising that the
franchise should be sought most eagerly by those who
wished to make it subservient to their own advantage. The
most extensive bribery of the freemen systematically pre-
vails at Liverpool, Barnstaple, East Retford, &c.
7.5. The election to municipal offices is often a trial of
strength between political parties. Instances of systematic
bribery, for the purpose of securing municipal elections, occur
at Maidstone, Norwich, Ipswich, Liverpool, Oxford, Hull,
&c. Thus the inhabitants have to complain, not only that
the election of their magistrates and other municipal func-
tionaries is made by an inferior class of themselves, or by
persons unconnected with the town, but also of the dis-
graceful practices by which the magisterial office is fre-,
quently obtained ; while those who by character, residence
and property, are best qualified to direct and coutroul its

municipal affairs are excluded from any share in the elec-
tions or management.
76. One of the principal means by which the ruling par-
ties in corporations have effected their great object of se-
curing political influence, has been the limitation placed on
the-right to admission into the corporation. Whatever may
have been the case formerly, the ordinaty qualifications for
admission to the freedom are now little calculated to an-
swer the purpose of ascertaining that the persons so quali-
fied possess a real connexion with the community, and an
interest in its good government ; whilst the power exercised
by many corporations, of admitting any one at pleasure,
without qualification of residence or property, has-been pro-
ductive of unmixed evil.
GOVERNING BODY.

77. In the few boroughs in which the powers of local
government are vested in a numerous body of freemen, the
general character of the governing body is vitiated by
the defects of its organization, which have already been
pointed out. The exclusive and party spirit which be-
longs to the whole corporate body appears in a still more
marked manner in the councils by which in most cases
it is governed. It has been stated that the members
of these councils are usually self-elected, and hold their
offices for life. They are commonly of one political
party, and their proceedings are mainly directed, to se-
cure and perpetuate the ascendancy of the party to
which they belong. Individuals of adverse political opi-
nions, in most cases, systematically excluded from the go-
verning body. Since the repeal of the Corporation and
Test Acts, and the removal of the civil disabilities of the
Catholics, very few instances occur in which either Catho-
lics or Dissenters, who often form a numerous, respectable,
and wealthy portion of the inhabitants, have been chosen
into the governing body of the corporation. These coun-
cils, which embody the opinions of a single party, are in-
trusted with the nomination of magistrates, of the civil and
criminal judges, often of the superintendents of police, and
are or ought to be the leaders in every measure that con-
cerns the interests and prosperity of the town. So far from
being the representatives either of the population or of the
property of the town, they do not represent even the privi-
leged class of freemen ; and being elected for life, their
proceedings are unchecked by any feeling of responsibility.
The discharge of the functions with which they are entrusted
is rendered difficult by the dislike and suspicion which the
manner of their election inevitably entails upon them.
78. To.this system may be traced the carelessness often
observed in the execution of their duties ; and persons well
qualified for the council arc excluded, sometimes for want
of vacancies, sometimes through the rejection of the electing
body, sometimes through the refusal of such persons to iden-
tify themselves with a system of which they disapprove.
The common council of the city London present a striking
exception to the system of self-election for life, and it af-
fords a remarkable instance of the absence of those evils
which we refer to it. The common-councilmen of this city
are annually elected by a numerous constitueney, yet changes
seldom happen among them. The important requisites of
experience in the functionary, and the power of control in
the electors, are there effectually united, and produce that
efficiency and confidence which are wanting in most other
corporate towns. The history of the common council of
London is that of a body which has watched vigilantly over
the interests of its constitiu nts, and for a long series of years
has studied to impfove the corporate institutions with great
earnestness, unremitting caution, and scrupulous justice.
79. It is part of the general system of close corporations
that all their affairs should be managed with the strictest
secrecy, sometimes secured by oaths administered to the
members of the common council. The inhabitants, who
are subject to the authority of the corporation, have fre-
quently very imperfect infcrmatien as to its nature and ex-
tent ; they are ignorant whether it derives its sanction from
prescription, from charters, or from by-laws ; and the only
mode by which they can obtain information is often throigh
the troublesome and expensive process of an application
for a mandamus or quo zvarranto. •'l he by-laws which are
made, as well as those which are repealed, are seldom pub-
lished, and the public is generally_ unacquainted with the :r
provisions except from common rumour. This ignoranea
is sometimes shared by the members of the corporation.
Hence violations of the charters and by-laws have been
often made with impunity.