Star.
London, England, 1830-07-17 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.

Yesterday a meeting of the Friends of Parliamentary Reform was
held at the Freemasons' Tavern, Joint HERKIMER NIOSCIL, Esq.
M.P. in the chair. There were present also, Sir Francis Burdett;
J. C. Hobliouse, Eng ; Joseph Hume, Esq ; and several other dis-
tinguished advocates of Parliamentary Reform.
The CHAIRMAN said the subject on which they had met was one
on which more had been written and said than on any other. The
difference of opinion that existed respecting it might be ascribed to
two causes—the external attacks from the friends of corruption, and
the schism, jealousy, and suspicion that existed among the friends
of Reform. He trusted, however, that on the present occasion they

••• on id ell be unanimous. Let re. • ite inAituate retormtr be sit .n. 3.-
tized ns • insincere; or those whose vleas eNte:.tleti fut.li t, :es
revolutionary. '1 he necessity of a Reform in Parliament was elmost
universally admitted. The majority of the Members of the House
of Commons were not the Reptesentatives of the people, but were
returned, in spite of them, as the nominees of certain Noble Lords.
We were burthened with an immense catalogue of annuities and
pensions, from which even the most despotic Governments were ex-
empt. It was reserved for a country like this, that boasted of its
free institutions, to be so treated. That model for a Member of Par-
Lament, Mr. Joseph Hume, had done much towards reforming the
system, and stood high in the opinion of the country, and he hoped
would stand still higher in the next Parliament as the Representa-
tive of the county of Middlesex. (Loud cheers.)
J. C. lIORHOESE, Esq. in moving the first resolution, said the
meeting had been convened at a most important crisis, in order that
Englishmen might speak their free and unbiassed opinions ; a small
portion of them only had en opportunity of fairly and freely chusing
their representatives. In spite of all their exertions, it was Im.
possible tinder the present system, that they could be fairly repre-
sented (hear.) He had no doubt but that the people might do
more than they did—it was physically possible that they might,
but it was almost morally impossible that they should. Sup-
posing they had the power, was it judging correctly of human mo-
tives to suppose, that when those who were styled the upper
classes of society, instead of doing their duty to the people, basely
betrayed them, that those who had every inducement offered them to
swerve from their duty, and laboured under every possible disad-
vantage, would not be equally guilty ? He had always voted for
the most extensive plan of reform that could be introduced, as well
as for any minimum of reform their enemies might dole out to them.
He sought the co-operation of all reformers—those who asked for
much, or those who asked for little. By some persona, the vote by
ballot was consult reel the sine qua non of all parliamentary reform.
—(Hear, hear.) After a painful attention to the subject, he had
come to the notion that it was indispensable—that nothing could be
done without it, but that with it, they should be able, even under
the present rotten syatent,almost to do well. That was not anlopinion
formed in a moment, or on the deliberation of s day, but the result
of experience, :old the authority of wise, good, intelligent, and dis-
interested men.--(Cheers.)
Mr. MAHON said, the lavish expenditure at contested elec.
tionsZ for large counties, had ruined the fortunes of whole
families. No man of moderate fortune could afford such ex-
penses mid no pure and independent man would attempt it.
Committees were now in town from various places on the look-
out for candidates, not for the purpose of selecting the fittest,
but the one who had the fullest purse. ( Hear.)
JOSEPH HUIIE, Esq. said, that there should be an extension
of the elective franchise ; that the mode of taking the poll at
elections should be by ballot ; that all elections should begin and
close on one and the sante day ; and that the duration of Par.
liament should not exceed three years. They wanted nothing but
what they saw going on in France at the present moment. (Loud
cheers.) There the people had withstood all the power and in-
fluence of a government almost despotic. He thanked GoD that
places and pensions were to a certain extent coming down, and
that some of the minor streams were cut off that flowed into
the river of corruption, and that they might look for better
times. Mr. Hume concluded by stating, that himself and his
friend Mr. Hobhouse must retire, their duties calling them to
the House of Commons.

A person got up and said, " Mr. Hobliouse has been charged
with blowing hot and cold ; I wish him to give an answer to a plain
question—will he vote for annual Parliaments and universal suf.
(rage ? Nothing short will satisfy the people." (Considerable
confusion ensued, and there were loud cries of " Hobhouse
explain.")
The CHAIRMAN said it was out of order to call on a member of
Parliament to express any opinion on the present occasion, or to
catechise him there for what he had done elsewhere; the proper
place for such enquiries would be the hustings.
Mr. HOEHOUSE said, that although it certainly did not form
part of the day's pioceedings' that he should be questioned as to his
Parliamentary conduct, and although the present was not an as-
sembly of his constituents, yet he was willing to give an explicit
answer to any question any person had a rigli to put. He added
that he had already observed that no plan of reform was so exten-
sive that he did not support it, although he was willing to take all
he could get. He would refer them to his speech on Mr. O'Con-
nell's motion. It was impossible for him to use plainer language
than he did on that occasion.

Mr. Hobhouse and Mr. Hume then retired, amid loud cheers.
Shortly after Sir Flamm's BURDETT entered, and being loudly
called for, came forward. He said it was necessary that the greatest
union should exist among the reformers, they would then be bound
to support the sort of reform agreed to by the majority. After
some observations on the rotten borough system, the Honourable
Baronet said he trusted his present Majesty would see it was not
his interest to support such a system, and that the distinguished
and exalted situation he filled would be more dignified, and a more
worthy object of honest ambition. His present Majesty had al.
ready shown that he was not insensible to public opinion....(cheers.)
It was,vain to attempt any beneficial changes without Parliamentary
Reform.

Mr. HETHERINGTON regretted the change that had taken place
in the tone of the Hon. Baronet's speeches within the last few years.
He did not use such bold and honest language now as he had for-
merly done.
bir FRANCIS, in reply. entered into a long explanation of his Par.
liamentary conduct, which was listened to with great attention by
the Meeting.

Mr. HUNT, Colonel JONES, and several other Gentlemen, after.
wards addressed the Meeting at considerable length; and a variety
of Resolutions, favourable to Reform, were agreed to.
The Meeting adjourned about eight o'clock.