The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-12 00:00:00

National Reform League.

A very crowded meeting of the North London
Branch of the Refoim League was held last night
at Myddleton. Hall, Islin3ton, to promote the
organisation of that district. The chair was taken
by Edmond Beales, Esq., who in an animated ad-
dress denounced the present system of representa-
tion as corrupt, and also the conduct pursued by the
opponents of the Reform Bill of the late Govern-
ment. That that corruption existed to an appalling
extent he need only refer to the disclosures lately
made at Yarmouth, at Totnes, and at Reigate. But
the country was now in earnest on the subject, as
had been shown by the meetings which were being
held throughout the United Kingdom. He expressed
his belief that they would in the end achieve the
object they had in view, namely, manhood suffrage,
protected by the ballot. (Cheers.)
Mr. WALLARGE moved the first resolution, which
was to the effect " That in the opinion of this meet-
ing the recent Reform demonstrations in London and
the provinces show that the nation earnestly desires
an immediate and satisfactory settlement of the
question ; also the Adullamite and Tory opposition
to the Franchise Bill of the late Government proies
the necessity for an organisation of Reformers
throughout the country powerful enough to deter
them from again impeding the progress of the
people's enfranchisement." In reference to Ireland
he deplored the manner in which the country had
for ages governed that portion of the United King-
dom, but he rejoiced that the dinner now about to
be given in Dublin to Mr. Bright would unite the
patriots of Ireland with the Radicals of England.
The announcement was received with loud cheers.
Mr. G. 11. MANTLE seconded the motion, and de-
nounced the present Parliament as the most corrupt
and venal that existed. Mr. Lowe so described the
working classes of this country, but he ought to re-
member he was himself no more than a political con-
vict—(a laugh)—and he would further remind the
meeting that no measure of Reform or improvement
was carried within the life of any man among them
without encountering the opposition of Parliament
and the Government of the day. He denounced the
present system as giving the small and rotten bo-
roughs of England the privilege of electing one half
the House of Commons, while such boroughs as
Lambeth, the Tower Hamlets, and Finsbury, that
contained a larger population, only returned six
members. In reference to the deposition of their
chairman from his position as revising barrister, he
said the course pursued, especially by the Tory press,
was mean and contemptible. (Cheers.)
Mr. C. H. ELT supported the resolution. Ile was
a veteran reformer of that locality, and had travelled
nearly a hundred miles that day to be
.present on that
occasion. He believed it was not exclusively a
working man's question, but a national one. There
was that part of the borough of Finsbury in which
they were now assembled, which had 14,000 electors,
and yet such places at Lotnes, Yarmouth, and Rei-
gate returned as many members ; so that large con-
stituencies were absolutely swamped by these small
and venal boroughs. (Cheers.)

The resolution was put and carried unanimously.

Mr. LI:CRAFT (hon. secretary) proposed the next
resolution, which was :—" That, to carry into effect
the opinions expressed and agreed to in the first re-
solution, this meeting pledges itself to support the
North London Branch of the National Reform
League, who intend holding a public meeting every
Monday evening in the Temperance Hall, Windsor-
street, Essex-road, Islington, for the enrolment of
members and the discussion of Reform and other
political questions, a proper understanding of which
will assist the people, when enfranchised, in choos-
ing representatives best qualified to legislate for the
interest of the entire nation." They had taken a
Temterance-hall, at which a meeting would be held
on every Monday evening during the winter, for the
enrolment of members, and to discuss questions of
Reform. He implored those present to attend, and
in this way their organisation would be most perfect
and the question they advocated greatly advanced.
Mr. J. APGILCURIST seconded the resolution, and
in reference to Scotland, said that only one Tory
was returned in any of the boroughs of that coun-
try. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. DYMOND, of Exeter, supported the motion,
after which it was put and carried.
The Chairman then vacated the chair, which was
taken by Col. Dickson ; and a resolution, expressing
sympathy for Mr. Beales in being deprived of his
office of revising barrister, was carried with applause.
Thanks were next given to the Chairman for his
conduct in the chair, after which the proceedings
terminated.

The late Gale—Lifeboat Services.

HAYLE, CORNWALL, Tuesday Night.

During a strong gale from the west yesterday
afternoon (says W. 11. Holmes, Esq.) the Nicholas
Harvey, of this port, bound from Llanelly with
coals, stranded on our bar. The vessel had been in
collision with another craft in the bay, and had
damaged her main-boom and broke her pumps ; and
soon after she stranded she filled with water, and
the crew were seen to take to the rigging. The
lifeboat Isis, of the National Lifeboat Institution,
was therefore at once manned and launched, and
proceeded through the very heavy ground sea on
the bar to the vessel. After some difficulty, a com-
munication was effected with the wreck, when the
whole of the crew, eight in number, gladly got into
the lifeboat and were safely brought to shore. This
is the first service performed by this lifeboat, which
was placed on this station in April last by the Na-
tional Lifeboat Institution, the cost of the boat
having been defrayed by members of the University
of Oxford.

LYTHAM, Tuesday Night.
A fearful gale has been raging here since last
night (reports Mr. Joh,p Edmondson). During the
height of the gale the lifeboat of the National Life-
boat Institution was taken out for her quarterly
exercise, and as a message had been brought by
the Blackpool and Lytham Railway Company that
a large ship was very near the sand banks off this
coast, the lifeboat was taken out a long way to be
in readiness, if required, to rescue the crew of the
ship; but, fortunately, the vessel eventually got clear
away, and the services of the lifeboat were not re-
quired.

TILE SEASON IN SWITZERLAND.—The season has
been most unsatisfactory in Switzerland both for
tourists and hotel keepers. The war at first kept many
persons at home, and, when that finished, the increasing
stream of tourists was met with such a counter-current of
rain that many returned or diverged in quest of less plu-
vious latitudes. In most parts of Switzerland nearly the
whole of July and the greater part of August were wet,
cold, and altogether unseasonable.
Mr. Clarence _Holt, of Australian celebrity, has
appeared this week at the Theatre-Royal Haymarket with
groat success in the character of Master Walter, in the
" Hunchback." lle has certainly proved himself a perfect
master of his art, as well as a most accomplished actor.
He is announced to appear at the Theatre-Royal Adelphi
on Monday next for one night, only preparato, to his en-
tering upon a lengthewl engagement at the Theatre-
Royal, Manchester.