The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-08 00:00:00

4 Witt-14 :Zit&

The Costumes by Mr. Palmer aad Miss Biggs. The extensive
Machinery by Mr. Adams.
The whole produced under the Direction of Mr. T. Thompson.
'Naosvas.

Christmas, Mr. S. Jones; The Spisit of,Jolau.liash, Mr. Darcie
The Spirit oCHigk Tragedy, Mr. J`: Itarryl, the Spirit. of Punch
miss Ennice ; Spirit of Mother Goose, Gulliver, flarou Munclaausen
&c., &c., by &0., &c. , .

•
MinTALs
Good Queen Bess, Mr. B. Romer; if-nyAobSart, Mr. G. Watson ;
Ear Lovely Aabby, Master Butter The orcat Earl of Leicester,
M. Deulin ; The Little-Earl- of- ESsdX, Mr. Iferiry ; The Unspeak-
able Lord Barleigh, Mr. Johnson; The Rasher Lord 13acen, Mr.'
Barry; The k Smoky Sir Walter, As.leigli; Mandersonl The
Dancing Lora-Chat/cellar` sir Hatton, Mr. Chapin° ;
Maids of Honour, Pages, Beefeaters, Guards, Morris Dancers,
Jesters, Wildmen, Dragoons, and othbr Ileges,l by,the rest of the
company. u . • L
CHB,PSTWAS- COMM tu E 71W
T ONCE • A , _

Bat aithongh•he comes in snow, he still hopes to megewith a warn
reception—bot,where is ? YMYYZIPAr yearly visit to
the Spirit of -John,Rfeit, in rhie-
GHOSTLY CITY OF DEPARTED FUN.

This city is composed of the Tombs of the by-gone Pantomimes—
" Who's dat knockin: at der door ?"—Come and see —" J. Anderson's
my Joe, John," and " I am Rich," that's more than every one can
say ; we wish they could—How to make a Pantomime ?—" that is
the question"—but the answer, it is hoped, will boiktisfactori—
Poor Tra-ge-dy meets with no clemency, so we fly by night" to
A SPLENDID HALL IN THE PALACE OF GOOD
QUEEN BESS.

We now come to Historical Facts, therefore„ as the Clown at
Astley's would say, " Let us be serious." It is an historical fact,
that the Earl of Essex loved, or pretended so, Good Queen Bess,
therefore he hated the Earl of Leicester, and thenee arose a conspi-
racy—Sir Walter Raleigh fears his pipe will be pat out—Bacon gets
quite in a frizzle, and Lord Burleigh shakes his head—but there's
nothing in that, whatever they may say to the contrary.
It is an historical fact, that Good Queen Bess was assisted at her
toilet by many of her noblemen, therefom the

E.ONDON, TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 18:30.

The National Reform Association is now a " great
'act." Within a few months it has achieved a psi.:
Lion similar to that occupied by " the League" min ie7,
diately before the. close of its labours. Thexe is on
every side the :same zeal 'and energy, the same
enthusiastic devotion that was so conspicuous when
the popular deMind was
.for free and, unrestricted
trade, and Cheap:and.untaxed food. The'accoMplish-`:
went of ri:great, but tardy act of justice—the purl&
cation of the, Commons House" of Parliament—,the
extension of the snffrage to those who, although heavily_
taxed; are I'stiA ;unrepresented—the strengthening
of- the Y CciOtitution,.. -by -placing 'it - on a
broader superstructure than that on which it is now
based and supported, and the attainment of more
righteous and equitable laws by the removal of- the
corrupt and enervating influences that now taint and
emasculate the sources of legislation, are the objects
for which the British nation is now prepared to enter
on a course of peaceful agitation. There is no want
of the necessary materiel for carrying on the contest.
The people rush to the standard en madBe, anxious to
participate in the glories that must await the
victors when the inevitable triumph is achieved.
All those who had lent their assistance in
the overthrow and destruction of monopoly have
already inscribed their names on the muster-roll,
while new recruits, day by day, flock to the banner
of reform on which the magic symbols are inscribed
—"Extension of the Suffrage—Vote by Ballot—
Triennial Parliaments—Equalization of Electoral
Districts—the Abolition of the Property Qualifica-
tion for Members of Parliament."
When the soldiers are forthcoming, when the
hews and sinews of an army are fully made up, but
ittle remains to be done. Tried and experienced
generals are seldom wanting to devise judi-
cious means for the employment of their
cohorts ; or if, through any strange accident,
there were none of established reputation
to fill the chief position, the exigencies of the
moment would produce new and unexceptionable
candidates for the post of honour and of difficulty.
In the present case, however, there is no such neces-
sity. A staff is formed of faithful men, who
have already afforded the most unquestionable evi-
dences of their ability and judgment in directing the
popular exertions ; and there is every reason to sup-
pose that any amount of money that may be
required will be placed at their disposal. It is
true that thousand pounds subscriptions, such
as those that so abundantly testified the
sincerity and devotion of the Corn-law Abolitionists,
have not as yet been effected ; but many hands make
light work, and were the great majority of the
people are arrayed on the same side, it is scarcely
possible to suppose that such heavy sacrifices will be
required from individuals. And if the occasion should
arise, and that liberal contributions should indeed be
required, we venture to say, that they will not be
withheld.
Ministers are already exhibiting that duo sense of
the pressure from without for which the Whigs are so
notorious. We are told, :on semi-official authority,
that a liberal extension of the suffrage, both
in England and Ireland, is to bs brought
forward by the Government at the very com-
mencement of the next session of Parliament.
The doctrines of finality are, it appears, to be aban-
doned, and perhaps a few more demonstrations may
induce the Cabinet to extend the measure, and to add
a few more of the required alterations thereto. So
be it. The people will accept whatever may
be offered as an instalment of justice, and as affording
them additional strength to struggle for the remain-
der—but they never will relinquish their exertions or
abandon their agitation until every one of the "points"
inscribed on the banner of the National
Association be conceded. It must be no mock
extension of the suffrage ; it will not
now be sufficient to add a few hundred thousands to
the number of those possessed of the elective fran-
chise. The Parliamentary voters must largely out-
number the workhouse paupers. Every man occu-
pying a tenement, and rated to the relief of the
poor must be placed upon the registry of electors.
By such means the several constituencies will, at
least, be quadrupled, and the people contented, until
the period when the spread of education, and the in-
creased intelligence of the age, shall justify
a further concession, and every adult male,
not under any legal disability, shall be
entitled to a voice in the election of the
popular representatives. In other words, when
universal suffrage, in its most extensive signification,
may be adopted.

But it is no less necessary to place the franchise
upon a broad and suitable basis: than it is to provide
for its free and independent exercise, and to insure
that salutary control over the chosen representatives
that will prevent them from violating their pledges,
or deceiving the reasonable expectations of their con-
stituents. For that purpose, the adoption of the
principle of " the ballot," and the " limitation of the
duration of Parliament" to three years at the utmost,
are almost as essential as the extension of the
franchise. A more equal distribution of the electoral
districts is also indispensable. The existing anomaly,
which enables the representatives of a few insignifi-
cant boroughs that obediently follow the dictates of
some wealthy aristocrats to outvote the members
for the great marts of trade and commerce of the
metropolis,
of Liverpool, of Manchester, Birming-
ham, and many other populous and wealthy districts,
must also be removed; and although last, perhaps not
least important, every constituency must be free to
select as representatives those who may ap-
pear most competent to carry out their
views and wishes. It is not a pecuniary
or territorial qualification that is required in mem-
bers, but those of honesty, integrity, activity, zeal,
geneenregrayny, anmdordeeveostpioecinaltloy the cause of the people
of those
have been selected to fill
suchhighby whom
and portt he
a nyt
situations, to make wise and enlightened laws for the
government of a free nation.

A paragraph, which will be found elsewhere in
this evening's impression, announces to the public a
further reduction in the amount of Sunday labour in
the Post-office establishment. yadditional
glimpse obfained into the innovations projected by
RowL.triD dempnstrates yet liiore aid

.

w 4Y:.'

The Commissioners for the Reduction of the Na-
tional Debt held a quarterly meeting yesterday, at
the official residence of the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer in Downing-street. There were present the
Governor of the Bank of England, the Accountant-
General of the Court of Chancery, and the Deputy •
Governor of the Bank. Mr. Higham, Secretary and
Comptroller-General to the Commissioners, was in
attendance.

Captain Henderson had an interview with Earl
Grey, yesterday, at the Colonial-office.
The Marquis of Lansdowne (Lord President of
the Council) arrived in town yesterday, from his seat,
Bowood Park, Wilts.
Dispatches from the Governor of Malta were re-
ceived yesterday at the Colonial-office.
Dispatches were sent off last evening from the
Colonial-office for the Governors of Hong. Kong anti
Ceylon.

PRIVY COUNCIL AT WINDSOR CASTLE, THIS DAY.
—This morning, at eleven o'clock, the Marquis of
Lansdowne, Lord John Russell, Earl Grey, Viscount
Palmerston, and Sir George Grey, accompanied by
the Duke of Norfolk, Master of the Horse, and the
Clerk of the Council in Waiting, Mr. Charles C.
Greville, left the Paddington terminus by special train
for Windsor-castle, where her Majesty was to hold a
Privy Council at one o'clock, for the purpose of fixing
a day for the meeting of Parliament, which stands
prorogued to the 19th inst., for the dispatch of busi-
ness. His Royal Highness Prince Albert attended
the Council, which it was understood would order a
proclamation to be issued, to appear in the Gazette of
this evening, summoning Parliament to meet on the
31st inst. The order authorising transportation to
the Cape of Good Hope to be revoked, was understood
to be also part of the business to be transacted at the
Council. The Ministers, after partaking of a dejeaner
at the Castle, will return to town at four o'clock.

PLOUGH MONDAY AT THE MANSION-HOUSB.—The
Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, according to ancient
custom, entertained the gentlemen connected with the
several official departments of the corporation at dinner.
Covers were laid'for sixty, and the party broke up at
about eleven • o'clock. Before leaving each gentleman
was. presented with a service, consisting of cake and
sweetmeat, for the younger branches of their several
families.

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