The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-15 00:00:00

a casting down of prejudice and such a union for action as
would combine in one compact phalanx those who believed
that, through their exertions, despotism was destined to
perish. The tendency of things in England was obvious.
They had heard from the platform most powerful arguments
for the extension of the suffrage. He would urge upon the
upper classes, he would urge upon the House of Peers, nay, he
wculd urge, with becoming respect, upon her Majesty, that the
question cf extending power to the people ceased that day
to be a debateable question, and assumed an aspect im-
portant alike to the ruling and the ruled classes.—(Loud
cheers.) The power of the aristocracy as a distinctive cor-
poration was dead and gone. He would put it to Lord
John Russell, or the distinguished leaders of the Whig or the
Conservative party, whether they could reckon on fifty
rising young men of title to whom the business-like, shrewd
and energetic, middle and working classes would like to
commit the Government of this country. When death had
swept off a few illustrious names that might be mentioned,
the ancient families would be powerless without a hearty
constitutional union with the great body of the people.—
(Hear, hear.) The tendency of the country was democratic.
Nor must men be alarmed at this fact, for to quarrel with
democracy was to quarrel with Christianty, which taught
that God made all the nations of the world of one blood, and
which was more democratic than the constitution of that so-
ciety, or even of the people's charter. He was pleased to
hear Mr. Hume refer as he had done to the Peel monument
in Punch. It showed that he was not, as some had ima-
gined, only a man of figures; and it reminded him that on
one occasion that gentleman himself was represented in the
character of an Ethiopian serenader, playing his banjo in
Downing-street, while Lord John Russell, represented as
an elderly lady, with a broad-bordered night-
cap, asked, "Who's dat knocking at de door?'—(Great
laughter.) It would ultimately be found that the music
played by that veteran Reformer had found an overpowering
echo in the heart of the nation.—(Cheers.) The recent
changes in the commercial policy of the country had done
much to ensure ultimate success to the cause of reform. In
his travels in Suffolk some of the farmers had said to him,
" Don't you think we shall have protection back?" and
when he replied "No," they rejoined, "Well, at all events,
we must have the taxes down."— (Hear, hear, and laughter.)
As to the feelings of the agricultural labourers they were
well e::pressed in his presence the other day by a Yorkshire
labourer, who said, " Eh! this be a grand change I There
was a time when we used to cut a slice off the loaf for the
children and then put it away, but now we put the loaf on
the table and it's cut and come again."—( Laughter and
cheers.) The tendency to cut down sinecures would do
much to advance the good cause, and he firmly believed that
ten or twenty years hence England would be one of
the most enlightened and democratic, yet conservative,
countries in the world. Never was there such a general
conspiracy of intellect and conscience against darkness and
despotism. The other day he visited the Mayor of South-
ampton, to ask him what sort of reception he would give to
Kossuth.—(Cheers.) The reply was, that he should have
t such a reception as had been given to no man who had ever
; visited this country. The sound of liberty was abroad, and
if they were 200 years in advance of many continental na-
tions, they must give these nations the benefit of their coun-
sel and experience. For his ow❑ part, he had cast his for-
tunes with the democracy of the world, nor would he ever
cease to exert himself until the people w.re in full possession
of their rights.—(lmmense cheering. )
The CHAIRMAN (referring to Mr. Vincent) said—That is
one man from the ranks of the people.—(Hear, hear, and
cheers.) There are thousands as good as he; be it ours to
Isend such to the House of Commons.—(Cheers.)
A working man, named Ingram, connected with Mands-
lay's factory, then came forward and gave an account of the
rise and progress of a branch Reform Association in Lam-
beth, which he said was going on most satisfactorily under
the auspices of the industrial classes.
The CNAIR3IAN announced that lie had just received a do-
nation of 101. from a gentleman at Twickenham towards the
funds of the association. This example, he trusted, would
be followed by gifts from many others, as an association of
this nature,could not possibly be carried on without funds.
A resolution was then brought forward, not in accordance
with the principles of the association, and the Chairman,
after taking the sense of the meeting upon the subject, ab-
stained from putting it.
Mr. HOME proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman.
Mr. GEORGE Tliomrsos seconded the motion, stating that
he should not make a speech upon this occasion, because he
considered it would be a work of supererogation and an ex-
penditure of time which circumstances would not justify.
He could only observe that the association had been very
fortunate in obtaining the presidency of Sir Jo,hua Wahns-
ley, who was striving with all his talent and means to pro-
mote the advancement of their interests (Cheers.)
Sir Josntra. WALMSLEY, in returning thanks, said he
should ever do his utmost to preserve the good feeling of his
fellow-men, and especially of that class whom it was his first
and great object to place in that position which he thought
they were entitled to hold.—(Cheers )
, The meeting then separated with three cheers for the Na-
tional Reform Association.

TIIE GREAT PLATE ROBBERY CASE.
LIVERPOOL, MONDAY.—Yesterday the two detective
officers from Scotland-yard, Inspector Lund and Sergeant
Whitcher, arrived in this town from London, bringing
with them four large packages of plate, jewellery, and
watches, found upon the premises of Sirrell, the refiner.
of Barbican, and supposed to be the produce of robberies
in different parts of the country. Several burglaries
having been committed in this neighbourhood of late,
particularly in the immediate suburbs, by a gang of
thievt s who successfully carried on their operations, and
escaped the vigilance of the police authorities, for some
months, having in the mean time disposed of a great
quantity of silver and other articles which the police
have as yet been unable to trace, it was thought not im-
probable that some of it might have found its way through
Liverpool agents to the receiving-house of Sirrell. The
plate brought down by the London officers was accord-
ingly exhibited at the central police-office to-day for exa-
mination and identification. It covered the whole of a large
table and the magistrate's desk; and included every
variety of pattern, some cf the articles being evidently
of for, ign manufacture. The room was crowded at in-
tervals from ten in the morning up till the time of our
correspondent's dispa'ch at fire in the afternoon. All
Liverpool seemed to have been robbed, and there were
few who had not lost a spoon. One old gentleman who
had been deprived many 3 ears ago of his silver snuff-
box presented himself, and would fain have identified
one in the hands of the officer, but, on °peeing it, it was
found to contain a mixture somewhat more pungent than
the would-be claimant was in the habit of taking. The
mejority of the visitors had lost watches, and as there
was a great variety of these in gold and silver cases it
was found necessary to make a list with their names and
numbers, iu order to facilitate identification. There were
upwards of 200 sets of works alone. The collection 01
plate included spoons, forks, tankards, fish-knives, ladles,
teapots, cream jugs, salt cellars, pepper-castors, snuff
boxes, and other articles too numerous for enumeration.
Amongst other things were the following, which may
probably be recognised:—
A silver tankard, splendidly embossed. A shield on
each side of the vessel has been engraved, but an attempt
has been made to obliterate the names. As far as it can
be made out the inscription reads thus, " W. G. Liver-
pool, to G. Darrill, 1847—A small token of respect for
faithful and honourable services." A silver half-pint
cup, barrel shape, engraved, " Sidney Knott, the gift of
Captain Amos." A child's silver mug, with an inscrip-
tion on the bottom, " Ana Witherston M'Diarmid, born
Ist July, 1847. This mug was presented by her god-
mother, Mrs. Elizabeth, Porogden, on the. day of her
ehristening, the 25:h Oct., 1847." A silver tea-caddy,
with a crest (a stag's head) and the ins ials, A. R. An
Odd Fellows' medal of silvsr,:engraved,'." No. 4 Lodge of
Odd Fellows, commenced March 6, 1811," and on the
other side is a Prince of Wales' plume, "Francis Fel-
lows, P.G., September 25 1847." There are also seve
ral other ornaments belonging to the order of Odd Fel-
lows. The tankards and spoons include almost every
combination of initials, and the crests are numerous.
It should be observed that a great deal of the silver is
old, and such as might have been disposed of on that
account by the rightful owners. There are compara-
tively few articles ct modern pattern. As yet nothing
has been identified in Liverpool; but it may be interest-
ing to describe the articles spoken to in London, and
hich clearly prove Sirrell to have acted with a guilty
knowledge:—
The first is a fish slice, identified by the proprietor of
Dolly's Chop-honey; the slice is a very weighty one,
and has the name "Dolly" engraved across the handle.
A spoon, stolen from the Rainbow Tavern, has .4. Rain-
bow Tavern, Fleet-street," engraved along the handle.
A sp ean, stolen from Mr. Martin, 30, Argyle-place, Re-
gent-street, bears the initials " T. M. M."
Sirrell, with the two Liverpool men, M'Guire and
Nl‘Auley, will be brought up before the magistrates, for
further examination, to-morrow morning, when they
will doubtless be committed to take their trial; but
should the evidence with regard to the Liverpool rob-
beries fail, it is understood that, besides the London cases
above eoumeratt.d, there are other cases against Sirrell
from Glasgow, Coventry, and even County Down, in
Ireland, His papers show that he has had transactions
in almost every part of the United Kingdom. The pri-
soner M•Auley, who was apprehended by the Liverpool
officer Bates, is well known to the police, having been iu
custody on a charge of forgery.

EVADING THE TEN HOURS ACT.
Several disturbances of a very serious nature have
taken place at Saddleworth and the neighbourhood
during the past week, in consequence of several mill-
owners having attempted to evade the Ten Hours
Act, by working by relays. The disturbances can
scarcely be said to have been caused by the factory
operatives in the neighbourhood of Saddleworth them-
selves, but by operatives from other places, who have
insisted the Ten Hours Act should be adhered to.
Last night week a mob of from 500 to 600 persons
went from Oldham to Saddleworth with a view of
putting a stop to the practice of working by relays
by physical force. The first place they visited was
the cotton factory of Messrs. Hilton and Brothers,
at Quick, in Saddleworth, where they broke 48
squares of glass by throwing stones at the win-
dows ; they also turned out the whole of the
hands, assaulting and kicking several of the work-
people. They next proceeded to Mr. Wrigley's cot-
ton-mill at Ludgate, where they brokebetween 20 and
30 squares of glass. They then proceeded to Mr. T.
Nield's mill, at Quick Edge, where they broke 137
squares of glass ; they turned the hands our, kicked
the manager, and struck several of the workpeople
with stones. In consequence of the above outrages a
meeting of the magistrates was called, the result of
which was the issuing of placards to the effect that all
parties found congregating together should be appre-
hended as rioters. The magistrates also ordered that
the parish constables should remain on duty at Spring-
head day and night. The spinners of Oldham ha%e
had several meetings during the week, and intimation
had been sent to the operatives at Saddlew•orth to the
eff,ect that the mob from Oldham would again visit
the mills in the locality and turn the hands out of the
mills that were working by relays. These threats
had not as yet been carried into effect. Oa Wednes-
day night the danger of a serious outbreak seemed
imminent from the fact of the hands at the mill of
Messrs. Shaw and Andrew, at Springhead, having
turned out, but fortunately nothing serious resulted
from the occurrence, and the neighbourhood up to a
late hour last night was, we are happy to say, in a
tranquil state.—Manchester Courier.