The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-18 00:00:00

AQUATICS.

CANNON AND RALPIL
The Scullers' Race for 301. a side, between Thomas
Cannon, of Wapping, and Alfred Ralph, of Wandsworth,
took place this afternoon, and, considering the lateness
of the season, a considerable muster assembled on
board the Citizen N., which. was chartered for
the occasion. The articles stipulated that the race
should be rowed from Putney to Mortlake in old-
fashioned boats, the same two that were lately used by
Finnis and Wade, (without any alteration). Up to
the time of starting betting was very brisk, the friends
of Ralph freely laying 6 and 7 to 4 on him.
Cannon having won the choice of station took the Mid-
dlesex side, and at a quarter to 3 a most excellent start
was effected, Cannon getting a slight advantage for the
first two or three strokes, when Ralph, by great exer-
tions, drew his boat nearly a length clear. Cannon,
however, could not be so easily shaken off, and after a
mast exciting race to Crab Tree-point succeeded in again
obtaining the lead, and in crossing the water to Ham-
mersmith-bridge, considerably increased it, being about
four or five lengths a-head at the bridge, and maintain-
ing his lead from thence to Mortlake.
The time to Hammersmith-bridge was 11 minutes,
Barnes-bridge 233/4 minutes, and to the Ship at Mortlake
23 minutes.

PARLIAMENTARY REFORM MAXI-

FE -TO.

An address to the people of the United Kingdom,
embodying a scheme of Parliamentary Reform, of
which a copy is given below, and emanating- from
a committee composed partly of members of the
House of Commons and others of the advanced
Liberal class of politicians, has just been printed,
and is now in course of circulation and signature.
It may not be generally known that towards the
end of June last a meeting was held at the King's
Arms Hotel, Palace-yard, of men both in and out
of Parliament, with the view of enlisting under one
banner, so to speak, as many notable individuals
as possible in all parts of the country in favour of a
reform in the representative system, and of reducing
their views upon the subject to something like a
creed, for which they would be prepared to contend
whenever the question was again brought under the
consideration of Parliament, either by Lord Pal-
merston or any other member. At that meeting,
which was held with closed doors as being only of
a preliminary character, there were about thirty
members of Parliament and others present, includ-
ing among the rest Mr. Roebuck, M.P., who acted
as chairman, Mr. Ayrton, M.P., Mr. Clay, M.P.,
Sir John Trclawny, M.P., Mr. Platt, M.P. (now
dead), Mr. It. N. Philips, M.P., Mr. Gilpin,
M.P., Mr. White, M.P., Mr. W. Williams, M.P.,
Mr. Samuel Morley, and Mr. Edward Miall. The
result of their deliberations was the appointment of
a committee, consisting of several of the gentlemen
already named and others, with Mr. Roebuck at
their head, who were charged with the duty of
drawing up a programme of Parliamentary Reform,
and of submitting it for approval and suggestion to
the leading Reformers throughout the kingdom.
The committee prepared such a project accordingly,
and have lately been engaged by means of corres-
pondence in eliciting the opinions upon it of men
of that class residing at a distance from the metro-
polis, and subsequently in altering and nmoulding
it so as to bring it into harmony with the prevail-
ing feeling on the subject. In this shape it was
finally settled and adopted at a meeting of the com-
mittee held recently at the Guildhall coffee-house,
at which Mr. Ayrton, M.P. Mr. Clay, M.P., Mr.
Gilpin, M.P., Mr. White, M.P., Mr. W. Williams,
M.P., Mr. Edward Miall, Mr. Samuel Morley,
Mr. J. P. Gassiot, Mr. Whitehurst, secretary to
the Ballot Society, and others, were in attendance.
It was not, however, we believe unanimously
agreed to. Mr. Ayrton, for one, it is understood,
took exception to parts of it, and especially to the
proposition for extending the county franchise to
101. occupiers, which he thought would swamp the
legitimate influence of property in the election of
kuights of the shire, and tend to array town against
country in a way to which he was altogether ad-
verse. The manifesto as approved is as follows :
" To THE PEOPLE OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.
" Fellow Countrymen,—Her Majesty's Government
have led you to expect that they will lay before Parlia-
ment, next segsion, a bill for the reform of the House of
Commons. In that announcement you heard the echo
of the determination you avowed at the late general
election. It bids you speak again, and with more pre-
cision. That that promise may not be illusory, it behoves
you to make known the sense in whioh you will accept
it. _ _ .

" You seek Parliamentary Reform in order to insure
Ministerial responsibility. No measure failing of this
would answer your object. Have you a right to antici-
pate tbat with this end in view Government will spon-
taneously offer what you will be satisfied to receive If
disposed to help you, they will be glad of your instruc
tions—if indisposed, it were well to let them know your
demands. In any case you are called upon to say what
will content you, or your silence will surely be construed
into a lack of interest in the subject.
" The existing machinery for the constitutional expres-
sion of public opinion is inadequate, and to a large extent
untrustworthy. The constituent body is needlessly re-
stricted. Considerable portions of it are exposed to the
disturbing action of illicit influences. A large majority
of members is returned by a small minority of electors.
The legal term of Parliaments is too long to insure the
responsibility of representatives to the represented.
These are the main defects of the present system. The
results are class legislation, bad administration, financial
extravagance, and a foreign policy always beyond your
control, and often opposed to your wishes.
" A Reform Bill that will remedy these defects will
no doubt satisfy you. More anxious fora substantially
true representation of your wants and interests than for
a theoretically perfect one, you will not reject a ma-
chinery which promises to do your work because it is not
scientifically exact. But, while, on the one hand, you
forbear to demand what, in the present state of public
opinion, is plainly unattainable, beware ou the other,
lest, presuming on your inaction,the Government should
force upon you a deceptive and inadequate measure.
Should you permit yourselves to be defrauded, of the
advantage which the passing opportunity offers yon, a
quarter of a century may elapse before you, are favoured
with another.
" Fellow-countrymen—We, whose names are here-
unto subscribed, disclaiming all right or deaire to dictata,
but anxious to elicit a definite expression of your will,
and waving abstract rights, recommend you to insist
upon the following leading features of Parliamentary
Reform, as calculated to unite in support of them the
largest number of voices, as capable of being attained by
resolute and united efforts, and, as promising. if adopted,
to secure a real and effective representation of your po-
litical interests :
"1. The extension of the..borough franchise in Eng-
land and Wales to every male person of full age, and not
subject to any legal incapacity, who shall ocsupy as
owner or tenant in part or whole any premises within
the borough which are rated to the re►ief of the poor.
" 2. The extension of the county franchise in England
and Wales to all 101. occupiers at least ; and the assimi-
lation, as far as possible, of the franchise in Scotland and
Ireland to those of England and Wales.
" 2. Protection to the voter by the ballot on a plan
similar to that adopted in the Australian colonies.
" 4. A reappointment of seats, that shall make such
an approach to an equalisation of constituencies as shall
give io the united kingdom a majority of members to a
majority of electors.
" 5. Abolition of property qualification for members.

6. The calling of a new Parliament every three years.
" Fellow.countrymen,—lf this broad outline of Par-
liamentary reform meets your view—if, in your judgment,
it is adapted to the occasion—if it comprehends as much
as you can hope to get and as little as you could be
satisfied to accept—it is for you to say so, and to say so
in time. This business is yours, and if you wish it done
you must do it yourselves. On our part we are ready to
aid you, as best we may, in placing this sketc►h of reform,
properly filled in, upon the statute hook of the realm."