Star.
London, England, 1830-03-17 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN POLITICAL UNION.

Yesterday the Metropolitan Council, appinted at the
great radical reform meeting Leld at the Elgle-t went,
City-road, on the ?itll inst. held their (list meeting at the
Globe-tavern, Shoe-lane.—About twelve Daniel
O'Connell, Fag. M.P. entered the room, and w:ts :seived
with the most enthusiastic cheers.

Mr. HUNT moved that Mr. O'Connell da take th.• ann.

Mr. O'CoN NELL utoved that Mr. Hunt do take tho
chair, upon the grounds that he was limited to tiie,
and had a few words, in the shape of admonitory ad%
to offer to the council through the chair. Mr. Hunt then
took the chair.

The CHAIRMAN opened the proceedings, and observed
that the Secretary would read letters from Mr Hume,
Mr. Cave, and Mr. Dawson, apologising for aeir non-
attendance. He was, however, proud—and it reflected
•the highest possible credit to the political integrity of Mr
O'Connell, to s.ly that he was at hi: pis!, and he firmly
hoped that, under the guidance and asr.i.,tance of such a
man, the Hopi,- had every right to Liol: far ultimate su
cess.

The letters were then read as ftilow :
" Bryanstone--quire, March 15, DUO.
"Sir-- I have to acknowledge the h. ceipt of your letter of th.•
mst. informing me that 1 tea; elected one of the political coo— ii of
the Meitopolitan Union at a public meeting on the B.h f u.. 4
questing tity attendance at a me?ting of the council to be held oh
Tuesday next, the Itith instant.
"I request you will state to the committee, who propo•ed the
public meeting, that the duties I have to pertorm in Parlimient
render it impossible for me to attend the council appointed, and that
it is a rule long ago laid down, for my own conduct, not to accept of
any trust when I am unable to perform the duties of that trust, and
on that account must decline to accept the trust as a member of tie
political council to which the public meeting appointed me.
" I have been, and shall continue to be, a friend to every mea-
sure that can in any way increase the
.popular power in the House
of Commons, and I am convinced that it is only by a reform in that
house (and that a radical one) that the interests of the majority el
this country can be beat attended to ; and the council may depend Cr
my exertions in every situation to forward the objects whic'i t}.;
Political Union have In view.

" At present the government of this country is carried on for tic
benefit of the few who belong to the privileged class2s, and the it,
terests of the million are negleved I approve of the union of tit •
middling and labouring classes for the important objects stated in tit
printed statement sent in your letter; and hope that persevcrone.
and prudence will be manifested until there shall be obtaim-d
full and fair repres2ntation of the people in the Commons' House of
parliament. M ith a reformed House, and voting by ballot, I should
even in my own time expect to see England once more the seat of
plenty and happiness, instead of being at present a melancholy ex-
ample of starvation and wretchedness, amongst the labouring classes
of the community. I ant, &c.
" Mr. Charles Reilly, Secretary to the
Aletropoltan Political Union."
" No. 8, Suffolk-street, March 15, 1830.
" Sta-1 beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the
13th inst. and request you will 62 so good as to express to the gentle-
men with whom yuu set the very high honour which I feel has been
done me by the manner in which my name was alluded to at the
great meeting of the Bth Inst.
" In the sound and reasonable views contained in the printed pa.
per you have enclosed to m 2 on the subject of Parliamentary Re-
form, I most heartily and ardently concur. I look forward san-
guinely, also, to a salutary and speedy result from the effut ts now
making throughout the country for the establishment of a political
union and co-operation in this greatest of all national and constitu-
tional causes.

"JOSEPH H UM E.

" The public mind Is now) becoming sensible of the odious
and grievous abuses of the existence of the non representa.
tire system. Whatever the distresses of the country may be,
they all clearly originate in the manner in which the House
of Commons is constituted, and those who so frequently have
to witness in their place in that house the shallow subta-
fuges, the plausible hypocrisy or effrontery which arc per.
mined complacently to pass current, as a defence of the evils
of which we complain, are not the less likely to participate keenly
in the hopes now begun to be expressed by the great body of Intel.
ligent persons • out of doors.' For tha present, however, Ido nut
think, situated as I am, that I should best contribute to the COlll.
mon object by accepting of the honour of being one of the Council
to which your letter refers.-1 am, At.
" Mr. Reilly, Secretary."
" 22, Downing-street 13th March, IMO.
" Sir—l had the honour of receiving your letter of the MU nist.
informing me of my being nominated a member of the council art
the Metropolitan Union.
"I feel a sincere gratification at this distinguished and sponta-
neous mark of confidence and esteem. A substantial reform in the
representation of the people is, indeed, of vital importance, and of
urgent necessity to the power, prosperity, freedom, and happiness.
of the united kingdom.
" It shall always have my warmest support, but I fear, that it will
not be in my power often to be an attending member of the
council. I am. &c. "ALZX. Dawsox_
" Mr. Reilly, Secretary."
Mr. Q'Cow ELI. then moved that the letters then read
be entered on the minutes.—Carried unanimously.
Mr. O'CONN ELI. then said, that having had the honour
of presiding over the grand radical reform meeting on the
Bth inst. from which the council emanated, and seeing the
manner in which he was received by the peaceably congre-
gated thousands then assembled, iie would but badly requite
that enthusiastic confidence so lavishingly bestowed upon
him, did he for a moment entertain, or harbour the idea,
of deserting them in the glorious struggle in which
they were engaged, in peaceably, legally and constitu-
tionally, endeavouring to obtain a restoration of their
just and inalienable rights. He lamented to see so
much despair in England, for to him it appeared
apathy had got such possession of them, as that even
hope had not left a gleam behind ; and when they- were
asked the reasons, the answers invariably given were
that exertions were useless. He also lamented that
the people of England in general looked more to- the
higher ranks (as they call themselves) who may become
the advocates of a cause than to the cause itself. He con-
cluded a powerful appeal by moving, " That the receipts
and expenditure of the council be published."—This
being put, was carried unanimously.
Mr. HUNT hailed it as an auspicious day when Itlr.
O'Connell came to offer them the powerful advice of
his great legal and constitutional knowledge ; and he
was well aware that his suggestions would not be idly
thrown away upon the council : for his part he per-
sonally thanked him ; and, in the name of the coun-
cil, he thought he was also justified in thanking him.
Mr. O'CON N ELL (on his departure) recommended
constant petitioning. Old Sarum, Coife Castle,. and
other Inch places, afforded than plenty of materials ;
and if they wanted any, he could furnish them with
twenty such cases from Ireland. He thought that s.l tla
constant drops pouring of life's water would ultiniatelv
penetrate the hardest rock. The honourable pent!emau
then left the room.

" B. ()TWAY CAVE.

The council tben entered into other business as (rn-
neeted with the arrangements of their union, after u Lich
the meeting separated.

Too LATE toa DINNER.— Why does a huLituy man,
•trlio bap )ttat been dbappointcd of a good dinner, remind lug of
Warren s Redd Japan 7--Beesuse he lecke very black.'.
It appears from a Parliamentary Return that the num-
ber of parsons somaskted for debt to the acme, Jails of Iceland
during the year IMO was 6,617; of Miloll/ 1,179 were within the
city And liberties of Dublin.

.RMEXCHANOIL, MAKILLA re& itaacw. 17.
There has been no fresh arrivals, shoos illonday, and the piers
remain nominally the wine as on that Qay, t smiting Flour, which,
as the gloving of Monday's market 11111 with an advance of 3s. per
sack, io consequence oda irriallaisalsnd
COALtEXCHAT4BII, biases' 17 .
Forty.cme new ships were at market so.day sad the Funty of
Coal was very a vmsels beyoad the tleitead.• There were
.
penalty buyers at the Ettebtarge.
/Z/fl Way'',lipea 'WM dee Lae* ap—Thuias like week. 214. •
4Uah
Otkr owls 26 4dt •
at Yeah" 1741. •
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