The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-18 00:00:00

M A RYLEB ONE.

A meeting of the friends and supporters of Col.
F. Romilly, who has addressed the electors as
candidate for the seat rendered vacant by the resig-
nation of Viscount Ebrington on account of ill-
health, was held last evening at the Literary Insti-
tution, Edward-street. The meeting was numer-
ously and influentially attended. Mr. J. A. HankeY
was called to the chair.
The CHAIRMAN said he was strongly in favour of
good blood, and he believed that this was especially
to be found in Col. F. Romilly, whose father was a
leader of the reform movement, and had set the
stone rolling which had gathered, and was still
gathering such great weight. He had great plea-
sure in introducing the gallant colonel, who was not
an untried man, having already sat in Parliament
for the borough of Canterbury. (Applause.)
Col.. ROMILLY, who was warmly received, stated
the circumstances under which he had been induced
to retire in 1854, when the borough was contested
by the late members, Viscount Ebrington and gr.
Bell, and those which induced him 'now to come
forward. As it was only- right that he should place
faily before the constituency his views on public
matters, he would state, on the subject of reform,
that he deprecated any changes of a rash character
which might endanger the constitution and imperil
the liberties which under it Englishmen had hitherto
happily enjoyed. (Applause.) He stood by the three
estates of Queen, Lords, and. Commons. The latter
Apresented, or ought to represent—(laughter)—tile
industry, intelligence, . and respectability of the
country; and he believed that the prevalent feeling
of dissatisfaction with the constitution of that house
arose from the belief that as at present composed it
did not worthily represent the people in these re-
spects ; and some measure of reform had therefore
been rendered necessary. Out of the entire popular
lation of this country only one million were regia;
tered electors, and he believed that justice would
not be done until that number had been doubled.
As they were well aware, there were numerous
boroughs in England with only a few hundreds ea
the roll, who yet possessed a parliamentary repre-
sentation equal to that of Marylebone with its
20,000 voters. Whatever reform bill might be car-
ried, he must express his opinion, that although
there was something peculiarly above board, Eng;
lish, and manly in the system of open voting, and,:
although in a large borough like theirs there might
be fewer objections to its operations, yet those whet
like himself, had seen its working in smaller place;
must admit that it was attended with immoral an
cl
injurious effects, and in his opinion open voting lee'
to bribery, undue influence, and tyrannical our
pulsion. (Cheers.) He by no means advocated secret
voting, and he did not believe the ballot to be alto-
gether unobjectionable, but as the lesser of two evil
he was prepared to accept it ; and he warmlyurgeo
that at least a trial should be given to a system 11
which a man was enabled to vote freely and inde-
pendently, and without asking for any man's per-
mission. (Cheers.) He looked on the present
duration of parliaments as unusually lengthened+
and was opposed to all restrictions of a religious
character, and to compulsory taxation for religious
purposes. On this ground, therefore, he was an op-
ponent of church rates. (Cheers.) With regard to
minor questions, he believed that economy in pub-
lic expenditure was being gradually lost sight of
(laughter)—an evil effect which they owed to the
habits of profuse expenditure engendered by the
Russian war, and which he thought it ought to be
the study of politicians to correct. On the question
of foreign policy his desire was anxiously for peace,
and he trusted that by inconsiderate interference,
we might not be dragged into war. (Applause.)
British sympathies, however, would always be on
the side of the oppressed, and such an addition
ought to be made to our forces as would lend effect
to our peaceful remonstrances. (Cheers.) In con-
elusion he pledged himself to devote his best encl.'
gies to advance the local interests of the borough.
In reply to Mr. BELTON,
Col. ROMILLY declined to pledge himself to ill?
details of any Reform Bill, as the Government haa
undertaken to bring forward the entire question
within the next fortnight. In his opinion Mari
lebone, with its population of 350,000, would De
entitled to a large increase of representation.
Mr. H. PALMER moved—" That this meeting+
having heard from Col. Romilly a statement on the
political questions of the day, is of opinion that he
is eminently qualified for filling the vacancy in the
borough caused by the regretted resignation 01
Viscount Ebrington."
Mr. DIFFANGER, jun., seconded the motion.
In reply to Mr. FIELD,
Col. ROMILLY stated that the ballot had alivag
been admitted to be a most difficult subject to der.,
with. But, as he understood it, it was a system bi
which perfect secrecy was to be ensured, so ths;
the voter, even if he thought proper, would not ha"
the power of proving for whom he voted, because;
if he possessed this power, undue influence would
speedily compel him to exercise it. (Hear.) If
France, where vote by ballot nominally existeal,
two Government officials accompanied any voter
whom they had doubts to the ballot box, and if 11,1
put in his paper folded it was taken for grante.';
that he had voted in a manner contrary to their
wishes. The system of ballot -which he would select'
and which he would support, would be one by
which secrecy would be most fully obtained.
In reply to a question as to whether he would
support manhood suffrage,
Col. ROMILLY stated that he would not sup Pert
a franchise which required as the only qualified
i
tion that a party should have attained the age
wouldo
21. (Hisses and counter-demonstration.) He
ardently support any franchise in which lately
genee was combined with property.
An amendment was proposed by some person ill
the gallery, to the effect that Col. Romilly's dechv
ration of political opinion was not satisfactory t,
the electors of Marylebone, inasmuch as he was not
prepared to vote for residential manhood suffrage
and vote by ballot.. The arguments of the speaker
resolved themselves into a warm eulogy of the
people's charter.
The amendment was lost upon a show of hands'
and amid considerable uproar the original resole'
tion was put and declared to be carried.
A meeting of liberal electors on behalf of some
other candidate, will be held this evening.

THE BURRICANE ON WEDNESDAI

NIGHT.

SHIELDS, Thursday Noon.—The hurricane of
yesterday evening has done a serious amount
injury throughout this district. It swept over the
counties of Durham and Northumberland, from the
N.N.W., and lashed the rivers until they appeared
like arms of the sea. The reaches of the Tyne hal:
a very wild appearance, and small craft had greu..:
difficulty in getting a clear course, especially I) CIL'
Vie bridge, where numerous instances of keels run'
ning foul of each other occurred. A melancholy
accident took place opposite St. Lawrence, about
two o'clock in the afternoon. The ship Marys,,eo
Teignmouth, Capt. Mitchell, was lying off 1%
guano works, and four of the men went in the out:
boat, carrying away an anchor from the vessel'
When they were in the middle of the river the bow,
capsized, and the whole of the men were throl,
into the water, and two of them, we regret to ad'
were drowned. The alarm was given by some per'
son who saw the accident, and Mr. J°ll—
scullerman, who plies between the Ouse-
burn and the opposite side of the river,
mediately pulled off to the assistance of the 111.
fortunate men. One of them he never saw at all'
another was just sinking for the last time wheal
Laws came alongside...A. third man was strumglie°,
desperately to reach the shore, but the wad -W5-
so strong that he was able to make little progress'
and Laws picked him up in a very exhausted stfqe,;
The fourth man had managed to catch hold of tP;
'c
boat, and was seated ou its bottom when he w!,,
are drowned rescued by Laws. The names of the two men oi
are Joseph Ponsford (married), mate of
the Vessel, and Win. Chapman, of Yarmouth. Theis
bodies have not yet been recovered. The gale Wilt
very severe at Sunderland, and many houses les
slates, tiles, and chimney tops. As a company °f
children were returning from school, and wlllle
passing the old walls ••known as the " Magret.'o
opposite Sunderland Church, in Church-street,
whole front wall fell with a tremendous eras,''
burying a boy and a girl in the rooms. After t'l°
rubbish, &c., had been removed, it was found that
the boy was killed, his head being almost tiattencd"
;
but the girl was only slightly injured. The he
5", p
of the boy was instantly removed to the dead-1110
near by, where it was discovered to be that of Jc'Tne
Burn, eight years of age, son of a sailor of the s3io
name, residing at Stamp's-lane. A vessel was
of
nearly ca,psised in the river, and a good dealde_
damage was done. Three houses were nearlY „.0
molished by the gale at Blyth ; and other daulab,
The
is reported in various parts of the country the
telegraph wires were early carried away I.l', ut
storm. We have now mild weather. Wind aucl
west.