The Sun.
London, England, 1850-04-26 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REFORM CON-
FERENCE.
The conference resumed yesterday at ten o'clock ;
r,,. Sir Joshua Walmsley, !IP., in the chair.
Letters were read from Sir James Duke, M.P., Mr. J.
O'Connell, M.P., and Mr. Gavan Duffy, of Dublin, apolo-
gising for their unavoidable absence.
In unswer to a question from a delegate. the secretary

stated 21G delegates had attended the conference.
The debate on the third resolution was then resumed.
After a short discussion, in which Mr. Tillet, Mr.
Grossman, Mr. Thwaites, and Mr. Charles Gilpin, took
part, the resolution was carried with only seven dissen-
tient voices.
Mr. CASFEL suggested that' during the remainder of
the sitting the first object should be to get through the
resolutions as soon as possible, and afterwards to give
an opportunity to delegates from the country to offer
any suggestions to the conference which they might think
usefut for practical purposes.
The following resolutions, proposed by Mr. THwArrus
and seconded by Mr. CHARLES GILPIN, were then put
and carried:—
" That this conference believes that the Members of
the House of Commons will be more influenced by a
sense of their constituents were they to institute and
preserve a constant communication with them, stating
their views on the impertaat questions introduced be-
fore the Legislature, and requesting their attendance
and support whenever Parliamentary and Financial
Reform measures are introduced.
" That this conference is of opinion that every means
ought to be employed to enlarge the present county and
borough constituencies to the utmost extent, and that it
is desirable to form in the several localities committees,
with a permanent machinery, to watch and superintend
the registration; and that it be hereby recommended to
the Reform Associations throughout the country, par-
ticularly where established in districts not satis-
factorily represented at the present time in Parliament,
the urgent importance of being prepared, whenever any
vacancy occurs in the representation of any boroughs or
divisions of counties with which such associations are
connected, to nominate thorough Reformers, and thus in-
crease the number of Reform Members in the House of
Commons ; or, at all events, aid the development of
public opinion in support of the principles of this asso-
ciation.
" That it be referred to the business committee to
prepare and issue to the public a report embodying the
results of the conference."
Mr. WILKINSON, treasurer of the National Associa-
tion, wished to make a few remarks on the subject of
funds. He could assure the conference without some
arrangement or effort being made in this department
they would not be able to meet their expenses. He
should call upon the provincial delegates to state what
they could promise to the conference in this respect.
The CHAIRMAN here begged leave to introduce to the
conference a gentleman who had just appeared on the
platform, whom he characterised as the Joseph Hume
of Hungary—Eugene Biosky, who was received with loud
cheering.
Mr. BEGGS, of Norwich, then stated that, on the part
of that town, he could promise the association as imme-
diate subscription of 1001.
Mr. HARDY, of Worcester, announced a similar con-
tribution.
Mr. JACKSON, of Yarmouth, stated that in that town
the Reformers had already raised large sums, which had
been expended in local efforts, such as giving lectures
and distributing tracts, but that they were determined
to contribute something to the general fund.
Mr. Selene, of Norwich, reported that the association
to which he belonged in that town had already spent
2001. in local efforts, but that it would feel it as a privi-
lege to contribute as much as possible to the expenses of
the London Council.
Mr. FLETCHER. of Norwich, confirmed the statement
of Mr. Smith. He suggested that funds might be raised
by the instrumentality of soirees. He hoped that when
the delegates retuned home they would turn their at-
tention to this subject. He thought that in this manner
much good, moral, political, and financial might be done.
They bad a good example in Norwich of this mode of
operation.
Mr. Haywood, of Dolton ; Mr. Hughes, of Den-
bighshire; Mr. Clarke, of Southampton; Mr. Bean, of
Nottingham; Mr. Langley, of Lancaster; Rev. Mr.
Worrell, of Bethnal-green; and Mr. Millwood, of Sy-
denhatn, all spoke on the same subject, expressing their
confidence in the efforts of the local association to raise
funds to carry on the simultaneous operations of the na-
tional body.
Mr. W. J. Fox, M.P., said that he saw a long,
laborious work before the association, and the minutest
details which bore upon the great objects they had in
vie►► were worthy of attention. He did not anticipate
that great and wealthy capitalists would come for-
ward in this agitation as they had done in
the corn-law agitation, because it did not offer as many
advantages to that class as to the working classes. In
fact, the objects of this association were rather
disadvantageous to the capitalists, as it would put
an end to the present boroughmongering sys-
tem, which to him was even more disgusting
than the system before the Reform Bill. The people,
then, must depend more upon their own efforts for carry-
ing out the great objects which were to benefit them-
selves. He thought there could not be too much re-
liance placed upon individual and small sub-
scriptions ; it would be a good thing if
each delegate were to institute a club in their several
districts, with enrolled members, and subscriptions even
to the smallest amount—one part payable to the local
expenses of the society, and another transferable to the
head society in London. These clubs would do much
good in other respects, morel as well as financial, would
do much to shame men out of many of the
vicious pra rtiees which do more to obstruct the
progress of popular reform than anything else.
Such societies would make not only sound politicians,
but weedy, honest, and industrious men. They would
secure cheap elections, which he considered would
promote the people's cause, and would check that tide
of corruption which at present flooded the Legis-
laeure. lie was sure the character of their
President was a guarantee—(the mention of the Presi-
dent was received with loud and continued cheering)—
to all the friends of recorm of the stability and
continuity of the operations of the association.
If they a'l continued firm and united he could prophecy
that at no lung distance of time this country would be a
happy, free, and self-governed country.—(Cheers.)
Mr. G. DAWSON moved the last resolut►on—
" That this conference, in the name of thousands of
earnest Reformers throughout the kingdom, most cor-
dially gives to the President, treasurer, secretary and
council of the National Reform Association its warmest
thanks for the energy and zeal with which they have hi-
therto sustained the reform movement."
He was sure that no better officers could be chosen than
those they possessed already, and he hoped that the
conference would join with him in giving a cordial sup-
port to the resolution.
Mr. HALL, of Hoxton. in seconding the resolution,
suggested to the delegates the propriety of forming
young men's associations throughout the country to
train up a future generation of reformers.
Sir Josntet Weeet-eer said ho deeply appreciated
the co►npliment which the coil-Tenets had paid to
him ; the objects of the assecietion would always
have his earnest and undivided efforts. On the
port of the Council he thanked them, because
he knew that their industry and exertions deserved
such approval. He also thanked them for the manner
in which they had conducted the proceedings of the
conference; they had gone forth to the world as the
deliberations of wise, patriotic, and unprejudiced indivi-
duals. This conference would be the means of drawing
closer the bonds or union between the provincial and me-
tropolitan members. Whatever differences of opinion
there were, he was sure that these would not operate to
the destruction of the unaninitiy of their proceedings.
After a vote of thanks to :be business committee, the
CHAIR3IAN ennounced that the conference was at an
end for all business purposes, and the delegates then
separated.

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.
A special general meeting of this company was held
at the Paddington Station yesterday, at one o'clock, for
the purpose of considering and determining the mode of
raising the capital requisite for the completion of certain
undertakings belonging to, or purchased by, this company,
and for the general purposes of the company. The
meeting was also made special to receive, consider,
and determine upon any matters contained in a report
required by a resolution of the last half-yearly general
meeting of proprietorr, to be made by the directors, with
respect to the several recommamlations contained in the
report of the consultation committee, which Was
th sub-
m
14 itted o the said half-yearly general meeting on the t
February last.
The attendance of shareholders was ;very numerous.
Mr. George Russell, chairman of the company, pre-
sided.
The SECRETARY having read the notice convening the
meeting.
The'Citeraitala rose and said, that at the present
moment he would confine bis remarks wholly to the
subject of finance. They required three-and-a-half mil-
t be raised within four years.
How years.lions of money,
How that was to be accomplished the report about to be
submitted to the meeting would explain. Two millions
would be required to pay
the
expenses of the Wolver-
hampton line six months after it was completed, which
souk' not be before the middle of
to settle the debts
of 1862. The other mil-
lion and a half would be required
in-
cidental on the two northern lines. Before proceeding
to call upon the secretary to read the report, he would
just state that it had been mcntionedtotho w
the com-
mittee that there were several moneyed
interest. It was, men w
lend upon a fixed and regular rate of
therefore, proposed that not more than 1,000,0001. should
ba borrowed at a fixed rate of 41 per cent.
The SECRETARY then proceeded to lay the
meeting ore g
per arnnum..,e
meeting the general report, as follows:
" The directors beg to inform the proprietors that it
is intended to propose, to the special general meeting,
resolutions for creating additional capital not exceeding
3,500,0001., to be applied to the Completion of the rail-
ways referred to in the report of the consultation com-
mittee, and to the purchase of the Birmingham and
Oxford, and Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley
Railways, as well as to pay off and discharge a portion
of the existing securities of the Great Western Railway
Company .
" The additional capital, or so much thereof as may be
necessary, is proposed to be issued from time to time
when requisite, and to bear a fixed dividend of 4 per
cent. per annum, subject to the following conditions:—
" lst. The holders to be untitled to an option within
seven years from the 25th April, 1850, to exchange the
fixed 4} per cent. capital for rateably stock of the same
amount.

" 2d. The company to have thq right, during seven
years from and after the 25th April, 1557, to redeem and
pay off any of the fixed 41 per cent. capital at par, upon
giving one year's previous notice to the holders thereof.
" It will be proposed ti authorise the cooTersioh of