Star.
London, England, 1831-04-19 00:00:00

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dourness of thole sentimcnts,weee yet willing to believe the narrower mea- •
sures were still evidence of honesty of purpose, and that their success
would bee great benefit to the community. From that applause must
have arisen Alr. Hunt's error. He must have concluded that because
all that be said of universal suffrage and vote by ballot was favourably
received, the people were opposed to any thing that fell short of these
polnts—a palpable now sequitur, as we think, but such as we will not
say, whatever other persons may say, could not be honestly arrived at.
Had Mr. Hunt attended any of the public meetings that were held
to discuss the ministerial measures, he would not have fallen into
this error. In the evening of the Thursday there was, indeed, a
meeting, the proceedings of which might have convinced him that
a strong feeling prevailed in favour of those measures, had he not
been carried away by the inference he bad drawn from the ap.
plauses of the larger bodies he bad previously addressed. The
party which met to have his company in the evening, though
consisting only of one hundred and fitly individuals, might be said
very fcirly to represent the opinions of the reformers of Blanchester,
and there, not only was there nothing said against the bill, but there
was a most decided expression of opinion in its favour. The Chairman
Mr. Grundy, in proposing " the health of hie Majesty's Ministers, and
thanks to them for their attempts to destroy the domination of the
Boroughmongers," said, that he thought the thanks of the meeting
werejustly doe to Blinisters for the measures they had bronght for-
ward, for although the reform coutemplated was not all that reformers
wanted, it might be regarded as a star in the east, promising the
dawn of a better day. The toast was drunk with enthusiastic cheering.
Mr. Hunt afterwards remarked that it was votnewhat incongruous, after
drinking " Radical Reform," to drink " His Majesty's Ministers,"
whose reform was any thing but radical. This drew from Alt.
Prentice, who asked leave to give the next toast, the observa-
tions that " the thanks expressed to his Majesty's Ministers, were not
because they granted all that the reformers asked for, but because their
bill would effectually sweep out the dirty nests of the cormorant bo-
roughmongers." (Loud cheers.) The opinion of the Manchester
Reformers was expressed in a resolution of the Political Union, which
he had read at the late public meeting, and which was to the effect, that
though they had associated for the purpose of promoting Reform on
the principle of Annual Parliaments, Universal Suffinge, and Vote by
Ballot, and although they thought that no scheme of reform would
be complete which did not embrace all these points, they nevertheless
rejoiced in the proposal to do away with some of the most odious parts
of the present representative system, and thought ministers deserved their
hearty support in what they were attempting to do." "These," continued
Mr. P. " were the opinions of the Manchester Reformers," and cheers tee.
tied that in expressing the opinions of the mass of the reformers, he had
expressed the opinions of that meeting. Mr. Whittle also took occasion
to speak in favour of the ministerial measures as far as they went, and
to express his belief that the public, though they did not regard the pur.
posed measures as a perfect scheme of reform, were yet disposed to tail
them as a great amendment of the present corrupt system. These
things, we repeat, might have convinced Mr. Hunt that a strong feel-
ing in favour of the ministerial measures prevailed amongst the most
decided reformers, had he not been carried away by the erroneous in.
Terence that the enthusiastic expression of applause which he bad heard
at the mention of the broadest reform, was an evidence of positive disap-
proval of all more limited measures.
So much for Mr. Hunt's opportunities of ascertaining the state of
public opinion in the country—opportunities we repeat, except the last
named, most unfavourable for the formation of an accurate judgment,
and that exception even, not favourable, occurring, as it did, when the
erroneous impression seems to have been already made. We shall
now state on what grounds we draw conclusions directly contrary to
his.
There have been meetings held In almost every town and village in
this county, at all of which, resolutions have been passed in approval of
the conduct of his Majesty's Ministers, and at which petitions have
originated, praying that their measures may become law, without in.
jury by concessions to the botough-owners. These were not bole-and.
corner meetings, secretly got up, but meetings publicly convened and
publicly held. Nor were they confined to owners of land or houses, or to
freeholders of counties, but open to all the inhabitants of the places in
which they were held. In 3lanchester, here, we hadsuch a meeting, and
if it be true that all those to whom the franchise will not be extended,
are again.: the bill, how was it that not one of the excluded class,
amounting in this town to perhaps twenty thousand, comprising in
the number thousands of intelligent men able to give expiession to
their discontent ; how was it that not one of those thousands came
forward to say that he was opposed to the bill because it did not give
him a vote ? At Ashton also, a town where all are in the ranks of
the excluded, for it has not been proposed that it shall be represented,
Low was it, that at their meeting, which was entirely in the hands of
those who are called radicals, no man came forward to oppose the
prayer of their petition ? At Oldham, too, another entirely excluded
towel, how was it the prayer for the ministerial:measures, uninjured by
mutilations, was also carried ? And at Bury, another excluded town,
and like Ashton and Oldham, as we think, not justly excluded, how
was it that the reformers, with Edmund Grundy at their head, an old
and consistent reformer as Mr. Hunt declares him to be; bow was it
that at excluded Bury not one word was said against the pro.
posed measures P We might enumerate fifty other places where re-
formers of all classes united in favour of the bill.
Tut RAILWAY.—On Saturday last, the Sampson and Goliah, two
of Mr. Stephenson's engines, undertook to convey a thousand bags of
New Orleans cotton from Liverpool to Manchester. They started urge-
thee from Liverpool at eight o'clock, and proceeded at a brisk pace to
the foot of the inclined plane, eight miles from Liverpool, the tamp-
son dragging a train of thirty loaded waggons, and the Goliah twenty.
seven. The Goliah was then detached from its load, and assisted the
Sampson up the inclined plane. The latter then proceeded on its jour-
ney, and arrived at Manchester at half.past eleven. The Goliah being
left without assistance, carried its load up the inclined plane at three
trips, but reached Manchester at half-past one, having been delayed by
a alight accident to the machinery. The progress of both the
Sampson and the Goliah was impeded by a strong north-east wind,
and by the extreme slipperiness of the rails, which had bean wet by
showers of rain in the mottling. The total number of bags of coital)
hrought by the two engines was 1036. Of theme the Sampson brought
549; and as each bag of American cotton averages 4cwt. the following
may be considered a correct estimate of the Sampson's load :
Tons. Cwt.
549 bags of cotton, at 4cwt. each
Tares of 30 waggons 42 15
Weight of guards and other persons on the
train
Weight of the engine

Total ........ ..... 181 11
Besides the weight of the tender, coke, water, tke. amounting to several
tons more.
Four inhabitants of Oldham—Messrs. Mellon, Halliwell, and
Bamford—who were deputed to London, to obtain, if possible, the ex-
tension of the elective franchise to this town have returned in great
hopes that their request will be complied with, as Earl Grey assured the
deputation that he did not previously imagine Oldham to have been a
place of so much consequence.
At a general meeting of the manufacturers and others associated to
obtain a repeal of the excise duty on printed cottons, Robert Intleby,
Eaq. in the chair it was resolved unanimously-- That this meeting is
desirous of expressing the deep obligation they feel themselves to be
under to Lord Stanley and John Wilson Patten, Esq. the members
for this county, for the strenuous, able, and unremitting support afforded
by them to the deputation from Manchester, during the time the repeal
of the duty on prints was in agitation. That the best thanks of this
meeting be given to forty other members of parliament, for their atten.
Son to the deputation, and for their support of the measures taken for
the repeal of the excise duty on printed cottons. And that this meet-
ing feels itself under the greatest obligations to Joseph Brotherton,
FAR. for his personal exertions in forwarding the views of this As.
iodation.
The death of Mr. W. Harrop, of Watls-upon-Hearne, was occasioned
by a fungus in the eye. It covered the greatest part of one side of the
face, depressing the eye-lid below the nose, and bled at various times
most profusely. It resembled in its appearances cluster of grapes, and
when extirpated, after death, it weighed about a pound and a half.—
Doncaster Gaulle.

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On Monday last, s meetintr of the freeholders of Stockport and its
vicinity was held, " for the purpose of expressing the grateful send.
manta entertained by the •fteeholders generally, of the honourable and
satisfactory manner in which Mr. Egerton has, for the last nineteen
years, acquitted himself of the important trusts confided to him as one
of the representatives of the county of Chester." Mr. Cheetham, after
a very able speech, moved, as an amendment, " That this meeting
views with regret and indignation the parliamentary conduct of Wil-
braham Egerton, Esq. as he has upon many occasions voted contrary to
the interests of the town of Stockport, and upon nearly all occasions
against the general welfare of the country, and particularly on the re-
form bill now pending in parliament ; and that in consequence thereof
we do now pass a vote of censure upon him."
Mr. Clarkson seconded the amendment,
Mr. Howard, of Hyde, then addressed the meeting, mud said he was
very happy to approve of the conduct of Mr. Egerton, in looking after
the interests of this town upon so many occasiont, but he did not come
there for the purpose of moving an address or seconding any. He one
there to offer* is opinion on his conduct, sod he was sorry that he could
not spoon of his general conduct. Indeed, who could approve of •
man that voted against such a measure as the Reform Bill ? He
should now enter his protest against the address, as his (Mr. Egerton's)
conduct Mr. Howard could not approve of.
The chairman lien said he should not put the amendment to get quit
of the address, and then he abruptly beets up the meeting without
putting the motion or amendment, and made all the baste possible out
of the court house, as he was well aware that the amendment would
have been carried. In consequence thereof Mr. H. B. Cheetham gave
immediate notice that there would be another meeting on Wednesday
morning for the same purpose.
A public meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants was held
in the Political Union Room, on Wednesday evening, and was attended