The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-20 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

La,t evening a public meeting of the electors of
Westminster, convened by tbe Reform Associa. ion,
wal held at the A lelaide Gallery, Strand,
to take
in to consideration the future representative of the
City of Westminster. Mr. A. Wright was called to
the chair.

Amongst those present were—Gen. Sir De Lacy
Evans and Sir John V. Shelley, Major Lynn, Mr.
Prout, and many other iufluential reformers of
Westminster.

Gon. Sir De L. EVANB, after referring to the cir-
cumstances of thedissolution of Parliament, alluded
to the political principles which it was welt known
be had advocated, and defended his conduct as a
representative of the City of Westminster. Alluding
to the position of parths in the House of Com-
mons, he said—Wieh regard to the Tory party, they
were very mild ; in fact, they were almost Liberals
—(laughter)--but 1. thought, when they threw
down the standard of protection, they had no stan-
dard at all in the Legislature, and his opinion was,
form what they had done iu the session, they
were bidding for positions. Alluding to Mr. L.
King's motion, he thought there was something so
clear in the measure that it required no d:fence.
That bill was stopped by Lord Palmerston, who
said it was not a general measure, but Earl Gran-
ville bad said it was » pity the bill should have been
s!opped. That was something, coming from the
leader in the House of Lords. He regretted that
Lord Palmerston should so have acted; but the
greatest man had his faults, and he thought that,
although Lord Palmerston was the most flexible
Minister, yet he was, under all circumstances, the
best man they could have at the head of the Go-
vernment. (Cheers.)
Sir J. V. SHELLEY, Bart., then addressed the
meeting. Flavin alluded to the votes he had given,
and to his advocacy of all matters that tended to
promote the interest of his constituents, Sir John,
addressing himself to the question of confidence in
Lord Palmerston, defended the conduct of his lord-
ship, not only for the manner in which he had car-
ried the country through the Russian war, but he
thought Lord Palmerston was deserving of every
praise for the manner in which he had appointed
the recent bishops, although they did not suit the
Gladstonites. In. conclusion, he trusted his past
actions would secure his re-election. (Cheers.)
• Mr. STUART wanted to know if General Evans
would allow 70,0001. to be voted on the marriage
of the Princess Royal ?
General EVANS said be should not lend a hand to
anything of the sort. (Cheers.)
In answer to Mr. JACKSON,
Sir J. V. SHELLEY said he voted with the Go-
vernment on the Chinese question, because he felt
convinced the hostilities were called for and neces-
sarSr.

Mr. DEXTER wished to know General Evans'
opinion on the Chinese question.
General EVANS said the question was a most dif-
ficult one. He agreed with most of the members of
the Government that they regretted the hostilities
in China, but sanctioned them as they had taken
place. Therefore, he thought the Government were
perfectly exonerated from •any blame in the matter.
But the Government should have done, when they
first heard the news, what they had done in the
last ten days, in sending: out a proper Government
authority, and a naval and military expedition to
protect the British residents in China. No doubt
they were good Pa7liamentary men, but they knew
nothing of military matters, and it was often that
tardiness and neglect that brought disgrace on the
country. -(Cheers.)
Major LYON wished to ask if it was right for one
of their members to walk out of the house when an
important question had to be decided ?
Geri. EVANS said he had acted in accordance
with the wishes of some of his oldest friends in the

city.
Mr. FLOUT then moved the following resolu-
tion :

" That this meeting having been convened for the pur-
pose of taking into consideration the future representa-
tion of Westminster, and having heard from Sir De Lacy
Evans and Sir J. V. Shelley a statement of their con-
duct during the present Parliament, and a declaration of
their unabated attachment to the cause of progressive re-
form, resolved that immediate steps be taken to secure
their return to Parliament as the future representatives
for this city."
Mr. ROBINSON seconded the motion ; after which
Major LYON, in a long speech, suggested that the
names should be put separately to the meeting.
Mr. BIGGS asked the meeting not to decide the
question that night, as it was not one of Parlia-
mentary reform—it was a question of Palmerston
or no Palmerston--(" no, to," and cheers)—and
at great length denounced the conduct of Govern-
ment in relation to the Chinese hostilities.
After some further addresses, the motion was put
and carried amidst loud cheering.