Star.
London, England, 1830-12-20 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE JOURNALS.

CHRONICLE.—Though it is true that Lord Grey, in forming the
present Administration, has filled several Important and confidential
situations with members of his own family, and persons connected
with him by other ties, yet, as many false and maggerated statements I
have appeared, from quarters too where the parties are enjoying in si.
necures more than the whole annual reveduc accruing, to the persons
against whom they arc endeavouring to raise a public clamour, we
willingly insert a statement we have received from a quarter, on the
accuracy of which we can fully rely ; as for instance—his son-
ln.law, Mr. Wood, acts, It is true, u his Lordship's Private
Secretary ; but instead of drawing three hundred pounds from the
Treasury, as his predecessor did, performs the most arduous ser-
vices attached to it gratuitously ; but even if he did receive a salary,
who so fit for such a confidential post as one so nearly connected with
Earl Grey. Again, as to Lord Howick the post he tills has invariably
been eonsirlersd as a 'Herat/my step for the sons and connections of
families of high political consideration, in order to fit them for the ful.
filment of more important offices. Again, the Honourable H. Grey
(son of Earl Grey), instead of being a member of
Bmrd, as reported In The Morning Piot, is a lad under fitleen
years of age, and holds no official appointment whatever;
and as to Dr. Grey, Lord Ponsonby, and the Honourable
Harboard Grey, Colonel of the 13th Dragoons, relatives of
Earl Grey, they were all appointed years since under Mr. Canning
and the Duke of Wellington's Administrations. Sir IV. Gordon is
no relation or connection whatever of Lord Grey's, and was also up.
pointed by the Noble Duke; and surely Mr. Ellice must be considered
fully equal to the fulfilment of dudes which Mr. Planta fonnetly filled;
and the Hon. H. Barrington—as • my old naval family, who hare
often distinguished themselves in upholding the honour and character of
the British navy—must be considered as a fit representative—au one,
and the only one of the Lords of the Admiralty connected with the
family of Earl tiny.

PosT.—We have not been inattentive to the proceedings at Liverpool
during and since the late election; hut before giving expression to the
feelings of detestation with %bleb we hare viewed them, we wished to
ascertain what steps were to he taken by that part of the Liverpool
public who had kept aloof from such disgraceful scenes; and in
good truth, taw patience has been put to rather a severe trial, for
it was not until Monday, the very last day on which a petition
could have been recein el against the mum, that one was pre.
tented on the ground of bribery and corruption. The Liverpool Papers
have farther informed us that the public is indebted to Mr. Rigby Wa-
son, a gentleman possessing considerable property in the town, for tak-
ing upon himself the heavy expenses attendant upon such proceeding*.
We have not the pleasure of knowing this gentleman, but we have rea-
son to believe that he is not a brawler for that reform which must end in
revolution, hut contents himself with quietly performiag his duty to so-
ciety by sacrificing a considerable sum in eandeavouring to ap-
ply a Constitutional remedy to an admitted abuse. This is
a reformer after our own heart. We have been led into these re.
marks by observing that a Public Meeting was held on
Tuesday at Liverpool by the Ratepayers, to take into consideration
the question of Reform. Had we not for many years watched pretty
narrowly the proceedings of Reformers, we should have been rather
startled at finding this Meeting postponed until the period of petition-
ing Parliament against the return had elapsed. This, however, did
not surprise us, who have always asserted that Reform was not
really desires! by those who are most strenuous in clamouring for it,
their Eitirf object being to make themselves of importance in the
eyes of the vulgar ; and in the proceedings at the Meeting to which
we hate referred, we find our opinions amply sanctioned by fact,.
In that town there is one if not more of the Reform Soeietiea, the prin.
tips! members of which were not only performers at this Meeting, but
also at Mr. Rwart's election dinner, on which occasion they congratu-
lated the public upon a return which, to all appearance, had been effected
by bribery and corruption. Now what call the reflecting part of the
community think when they find the reformers of the second city in the
Kingdom one day congratulating the public upon a tenon effected
by bribery and corruption, and on another petitioning Parliament
for a general Refonn, on account of the extensive bribery prac-
tised at the same election ; and ,PO far front availing themselves of
the constitutional remedy for the abuse of which they affect to
complain,_ they delay petitioning Parliament on the subj -et until the
time fixed by law for petitioning with effect has dared ? Ad-
mirable Reformers ! We do, however. trust, that when this notable
petition shall be presented, the attention of the notate will be par. '
tieularly called to these facts, which are quite sufficient to show the
true principle which actuates the Liverpool reformers. and not only
them, but, we conscientiously believe, nine.tenths of the reformers
throughout the kingdom.

TIMER --It is plain. from the prevalence of bribery, and the lowers'
of it in the Liverpool ease, that no sound teform of the elective franchise
can be accomplished by a mere demolition of the close boroughs, and the
eatension of the franchise to even ten times as many voters throughout
England as have hitherto enjoyed it. Qualification is of more impor-
tance than any enlargement of the privilege. What would be gained,
for instance, by adding to the 4.000 or 11,01.10 Liverpool freemen, 10,000
or 15,000 more, but that the price of votes would be lowered by their in-
creased abundance, and the majority being perhaps 8000 instad of MO,
the current bribe would be 51. instead of Ibl. or 201? We are not to be
seared by any risk of unpopularity from affirming, that if there be, as
undoubtedly there must be, a great reinforcement to the esissiiised
property and numbers which exercise the right of sending representa-
tives to Parliament, there ought la he annexed to the newly.admitted
numbers some elevation of the standard of property which governs the
power of voting. The electors ought to be at once se numerous, and

hy it staeinn Anil circumstances so rt-s-;re•alt., 'bat corruption on
s tic essti,.l he wt ol:t sett • f sr St • isn, In fact,
the propirty of the kingdoni n •Ist to he reirreser:cd, teal
as well as personal ; and not nice ly t.d A Lie old r at :i•1 :elidea as
land, houses, he. do. hut other and even n ore prti rt 1.: pm.
perty, as education, intelligence, and g.•ntral charterer, :t :Jerre
of which might be drawn at once tern tl:e qualiticaions essenti.l
to whole classes of men in society. 0:1 this prineire. all barristers,
clergymen, physicians. graduates of the Universities, and tetind
officers of the arnty and navy, ought, in oar humble opinism, to he
admitted to vote without regard to any other qualifications, Re
the places where they had fixed their aborts.. It is ridiculers
that apprenticeships to ordinary trades should confer the electis•e Iran.
chile, for the presumption it affords of a certain antount of c'no vier
and attainment, while the highest tests ..t both may he adduAd by
large bodies of educated gentlemen, whme intellectual and moral rower
is wholly without consideration in an cel•ghtened state. We eke:
moved to something less respectful towards the nous:: of 0 T11910E4
than admiration, on seeing the loss of time and logo:oily incnrred
upon t• e wretched question about suspending the %Tit for Eve.-
ham on Friday evening. The transposition of Whigs and Terns%
on that night must have seemed extraordirary to people vho had
not a key to the performance, and were thence without means of knowing
that the grand object of the Tories is to obstruct by all human in lies
within their reach every plan of general or effective refottn cf Perlis.
ment. With such men it is a favourite expedient to throw sops to the
people, and thus divert the national desire. " Let us open Fast It‘t.
ford, and discuss Penryn, and inquire into Evesham, and thros
the old crazy machine togother. until this doteestic stern iv.
passed away. Circumstances will then get up for us a ferviive nor; end
heigh for fresh patronage. and down with retbnn !" Tile -.1(1,, us-
ate happy to believe, will not lend therm:Avis to any such pal:ry
upon the empire. They will not be satisfied with dishanchisitT, fro-
difying a miserable hole like Embalm or East Retford.—no, per I.ver-
poi itself, which merits such a visitation, perhaps more than tiJ •r.
ney will—they must—give us a broad and deep n:foren.