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Northern Star (1837-1852), 18th August 1849, Edition 3 of 3, Page 7, A-d-r-st 18, 1849. THE NPRT,HERN STAR. '...

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  • Departments (1)
    • _^ THE CHOLERA
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      A-D-R-St 18, 1849. The Nprt,Hern Star. '...

      _A-d-r-st 18 , 1849 . THE NPRT , HERN STAR . ' ¦ - ¦• _¦¦¦ - ¦ i ¦ ' .- _¦*• - •¦ _iilMii-rti 11 ii ii i *

      _^ The Cholera

      __^ THE CHOLERA

      Fan-It.—Return Of Cases Of Cholera Repor...

      Fan-it . —Return of cases of Cholera reported to the : General Board of Health : —London and Vici--oity—Lambeth , new cases , 38 , deaths , 9 ; Bermondsey , new cases 74 deaths , 16 ; Southwark , new cases , 14 , deaths , 8 ; Strand Union , new cases 7 Wandsworth-road , new cases , 7 , deaths , 7 ; other localities _, new cases , 130 , deaths , 45 . Total new eases , 270 , deaths , 90 , England and Wales—Liverpool , new cases 85 , deaths , 35 ; Merthyr Tvdvil new cases , 15 , deaths , 6 ; Dowlais , new cases 32 deaths , 11 ; Portsmouth , new cases , 9 ; Portsea ' new _cises _, 14 , deaths , 6 ; Warrington , newcases ' W , deaths , 3 ; Plymouth , new cases , 13 , deaths 3 other towns , new cases , 105 , deaths , 55 . Total new ease ? , 283 , deaths , 119 . Scotland—Dundee , hew cases , 14 , deaths , 14 ; Arbroath , 5 , deaths , 3 . Total new cases , 19 , 'deaths , 17 . General Total , new cases , 572 , deaths , 226 .

      Satdbdat . —London and "Vicinity—Lambeth , new case 3 , 51 , deaths , 21 ; Bermondsey , new cases 17 , deaths ,- !; _ISewington , new teases , 16 , deaths , 5 ; Southwark . new cases , 31 * deaths , 13 ; Wandsworth , new cases , 12 , deaths , 6 ; other localities , newcases , 132 , deaths , 54 . Total new cas 3 s , 259 , deaths , 103 . England and Wales — Liverpool , new cases , deaths , 21 ; Merthyr Tydvil , new cases 9 , deaths , 7 ; Dowlais , new cases , 19 , deaths , 11 , Plymouth , new cases , 23 , deaths , 8 ; Newcastle-under-L yne , new cases , 17 , deaths , 4 . other towns , new cases SO , deaths , 49 . Total , new cases , 222 , deaths , 100 . Scotland—Dundee , new cases , 28 , deaths , 9 . St Andrews , new cases , 8 , deaths , 8 . Total , newcases , 34 , deaths , 15 . General Total , new cases , 515 . deaths , 218 .

      "Bristol . —The cholera at Bedminster is very much on the increase again . In the city of Bristol it was very much on the increase in the latter part ¦ of Friday and Saturday , but was somewhat better on Sunday . Southampton . —So improvement has as yet taken p lace in thc health of this town . Samsbi * rv . —We are glad to say that the improved state of the public health still continues . Mkbthtr aso NEiGHBocRnoon . —Owing to the number of deaths , and the fears existing among the

      workpeople , who are flying in all directions as fast as their circumstances will enable them to do so , sufficient coals cannot be obtained for the furnaces ofthe Dowlais Ironworks , and they have been obliged to be worked half-time for some days past . It is anticipated they will have to be abandoned altogether , should not some providential arrest ofthe epidemic take place ; in which case it would he fearful to contemplate the effects on the place and the inhabitant- * , inasmuch as they are solely dependent on tie works .

      Vale of _ITeato . —The cholera has broken out in _thebeautifulVale of Neath , and carried off a great many of the inhabitants . _LiVebtool . —The change of the weather to a sultry , damp , close state has probably operated injuriously on the progress of the _disa-ise , which , in the opinion ofthe medical officer of health , can only be considered stationary , instead of declining . Leeds . —Thi 3 malignant disease broke out with the greatest virulence in' ifuns ' et , one of the out townships of this borough , in which , up to Saturday , there had been 70 cases , and 31 deaths . Hull . —It appears that though the attacks of cholera in Hull have not been so numerous during tbe present week , there has been an increase , though not a large one , in the number of fatal cases .

      Exeter . —Great consternation came over the city on Thursday morning , because the military author ities chose to send the 82 nd regt ., -which had been infected with cholera , to Exeter for the benefit of the change of air . The citizens were alarmed at the prospect of having thc disease imported ; and a party of Fore-street tradesmen proceeded to the Guildhall , accompanied by Air . G . W . Turner , who said to thc mayor that be represented a considerable number of persons connected with the trade ofthe city , who thought a wanton abuse of power , bad been cemmittea in thrusting a regiment infected with cholera among a population of forty thousand persons ; with the appliances possessed by the military system r ibese men might have been speedily

      encamped in some healthy place ; or taken to Dartmoor , where large public buildings are lying empty to receive them . The magistrates listened attentively , but could give no redress ; the mayor said he would represent the case to the Board of Health , and iu the meantime would try to induce tbe commanding officer to confine the men as much as possible to barracks , and keep them from contact with the inhabitants . The disease broke out in the 82 nd regiment on Thursday , the 2 nd inst ., at Devonport . from that time up to Wednesday last , there have been about a dozen deaths in the regiment , and on last Wcdne-day morning , while the men were on parade , Captaia Moore was attacked with cholera ; the report here is that hc was buried at six o ' clock next morning . The totnl of deiths from cholera in Devonport were 74 in seven days ; and the deaths in Plymouth 163 down to Wednesday night . Monday . —Return of cases of Cholera reported to

      the General Board of Health : —London and "Vicinity—Lambeth , new ca _« es , 23 , deaths , 20 ; Bermondsey , new cases , 26 , deaths , S ; Southwark , new cases , G 3 , deaths , 18 ; Strand Union , newcases , 90 ; Whitechapei , new cases , 22 , deaths , 12 : Greenwich , new cases , 20 , deaths , 10 ; Bethnal Green , new cases , 18 , deaths , 11 ; other localities , new cases , 215 , deaths , 105 . Total , new cases , 470 , deaths , 184 . England and Wales—Liverpool , new cases , 114 , deaths , 44 ; Merthyr Tydvil , new eases , 35 , deaths , 18 ; Dowlais , new cases , 52 , deaths , 28 ; Plymouth , new cases , 44 , deaths , 24 ; Leeds , new cases , 14 , deaths , 1 ; Newcastle-under-Lyne , new cases , 11 , deaths , 6 ; . other towns , new cases , 23 ? , deaths , 112 . Total new cases , 502 , deaths , 233 . Scotland—Dundee , new cases , 42 , deaths , 37 ; Hawick , new cases , 23 , deaths , 9 ; other towns , new cases , 4 , deaths , 2 . Total , new cases , 69 , deaths , 43 . General Total , new cases , 1 , 047 , deaths , 465 .

      MoaTAtixr is tue "W . A- _*** _Ds- _* vonTii Road . —For some days past a feeling of very considerable alarm has possessed thc inhabitants ofthat part ofthe Wandsworth-roaa comprised within the parish of Clapham , and _e-stendin-j about a mile , in consequence of the cholera having appeared in its most malignant form , and occasioned a mortality unexampled in intensity and numbers , even in the most squalid and illdrained portions ofthe metropolis . . Albion-terrace , a row of second-class houses on the north side of the road , and situated near the William the Fourth , has been more particularly the scene ofthe calamity , in ten houses of that devoted terrace , during thc course of eleven days , there were seventeen deaths from Asiatic cholera , independent of several others

      who left then Louses infected to die elswhere . In one house . So . 6 , no less than five persons died of cholera . The house was in the occupation of the Rev . T . Harrison , a dissenting minister , and with ihat gentleman and his wifo were staying preparatory to a departure of the whole family to Brighton , Airs . Henrietta Roseoe , a very aged lady , and Mrs . Edwards , with a cook and housemaid . Mrs . Roseoe was "first _siezed , and died on thc ith inst . Mrs . Edwards , who had attended upon her relative , was next seized , and on Mr . Harrison returning from the funeral of his aunt , Mrs . Roseoe , on Tuesday last , hc found his wife attacked with the same dreadful disease , and that lady expired early the next morning . It appeared that Mr . Harrison , o verwhelmed

      with grief , fled the bouse soon after bis wife ' s death , in company with a lodger in the next house . On thc same _uioniing that Mr . Harrison left his house Mrs . Edwards died , and the cook was taken ill and died the same evening . On the day following , Thursday , the three bodies were taken to Mrs . Roscoc _' _s grave , in Kensal-grcen , and on the return of the mourners the nurse who had attended Mrs . Edwards was found dead . The remarkable fact of so many persons in one family dying as it were simultaneously , and the head of the house dying from home , created an extraordinary excitement , which was considerably increased by Mr . Milledge , the "undertaker who uad buried the other memhers of the family , receiving the card of a medical

      _jrentlcxaan at Hampstead and a note from the landlord of the Jack Straw ' s Castle , stating that the Rev . Mr . Samson had died at liis house after having his will written out by a young man who had accompanied him . On Friday the young man who had accompanied the deceased from his home called on the undertaker , and wished some boxes of jewellery and other property tobe moved out ofthe house , saying he would take care of it . Mr . Milledge denied him entrance to the honse , Then he threatened to use force , and Mr . Milledge said if he did , hc would give -him in charge of the police . The young man then said he would go and remove the deceased ' s property from the tavern at Hampstead , but . as that -was known to he valuable , the landlord had been cautioned not to part with it . These facts coming

      to the knowledge of Mr . Harrison's relatives _^ they determined upon _eommuBieating with Mr . H 1 _?!? . the coroner for the Duchy of Lancaster , and that gentleman appointed an inquest to be bolden , and a _^•^ rtcm examinationof the body to be made . On Mondava long inquiry was gone into at tlie William the fourth , and evidence embracing the facte already mentioned having been given , Mr . _AfDonough , the surgeon to the parish of Clapham , was examined as to the result of the post mortem ex-• _uiunation he had made . Restated that great mflammation existed in the abdomen , stomach , _£ sc ena and thorax , and tbe heart was very soft . He had and ht lobe of the

      placed the heart , stomach , rig -fiver in separate jars for the -purpose of examination . Mr . _M'Donough , who had pricked his anger in opening the body , which had poisoned it , "was in excessive pain whilst giving liis evidence . —The Coroner said it was highly essential that tliis very extraordinary case should be thoroughly inquired into and the young man alluded to , who would appear to have been with the deceased m his last moments , must be looked after . Toesdat — . Return of cases reported to the Genera ! Board of Health : —London and vicinity—Lam beth _, cases , 120 , deaths , 28 ; Bermondsey , cases , 40 _deaths , 10 ; Rotherhithe , cases , 45 , deaths , 11 ;

      Fan-It.—Return Of Cases Of Cholera Repor...

      Southwark , cases , 36 , deaths , 27 ; Bethnal Green cases , 39 , deaths , 20 ; Strand * Union , cases , 40 * deaths , 1 ; other localities , cases , 207 , deaths . 9 o ! Total , cases , 517 , deaths , 187 . England and Wales —Liverpool , cases , 221 , deaths , 76 ; Merthyr Tydvil , cases , 11 , deaths , 6 ; Dowlais , cases , 19 deaths , 9 ; Cardiff , cases 19 , deaths , 7 ; Plymouth , cases , 2 ? , deaths , 17 ; Mevagissey , cases , 13 , ' deaths ! 9 ; Newcastle-under-Lyne , cases , 20 , deaths , 6 ; Leeds , cases , 15 , death , 1 ; other towns , & c cases 193 , deaths , 98 . Scotland—Dundee , cases 28 , ' deaths , 13 ; other towns , eases , 7 , deaths , 5 . General total , cases , 1 , 091 , deaths , 434 .

      WEuXEsnAT . —Return of cases of Cholera reported to the General Board of Health : —London and vicinity—Lambeth , cases , 14 , deaths , 14 ; Bermondsey , case 3 , 24 , deaths , 8 ; Rotherhithe , cases 7 , deaths , 3 ; Southwark , cases , -15 , deaths , 13 * , Newington , cases , 43 , deaths , 21 ; Bethnal Green , case ? , 36 , deaths , 24 ; Shoreditch , cases , 10 , deaths , 10 ; other localities in London , cases , 261 , deaths , 92 . To t al , cases , 430 , deaths , 185 . England and Wales —Liverpool , Wises , 154 , deaths , 49 ; Merthyr Tydvil . eases . 14 , deaths , 5 ; Dowlais , cases , 20 , deaths , 9 ; Plymouth , cases , 23 , deaths , 13 ; Newcastle-under-Lyne , cases 25 , deaths , 4 ; other towns , cases , 164 , deaths , 73 . Total , cases , 400 , deaths , 153 . Scotland—Dundee , cases , 37 , deaths , 13 ; other towns , Ac ., cases , 10 , death 3 . Total , cases , 47 , deaths , 16 . General total , case 3 , 877 , deaths , 354 .

      Mutiny On Board The Amelia, Of Glasgow. ...

      MUTINY ON BOARD THE AMELIA , OF GLASGOW . ( Fromthe Shipping and Mercantile Gazette . ) _^ We hare received the followingaccount of a daring mutiny on board this _vess-1 , which resulted in the loss of seven lives . The schooner Amelia wa <* on her _passaj-e from tbe coast of Mexico to Hong K <* ng , having on board specie in { -old and silver amounting to abont £ 60 000 . and which led to the sanguinary occurrences _th- > t took place . The Amelia wai commanded by Mr . RobertL . Macnally , a Scotchman ; besides whom a _Span-ard , Bon Ranvm Alva , acted as supercargo and principal master . The crew consisted of nineteen _persons , only two of whom , lad * about _eighteen were Bri'ish subject * , namely . Thomas Gannon and Charles _M'Douald ; the re mainder we _** e Dutchmen , Norwegians , _French , Spanish , Portuguese , and Mexicans . ThTe were bes'des , a ** _passengers , a Mr . and Mrs . Sarah Selina Cooke , and her female servant . The mutiny broke out about two o ' clock on the morning of the 3 rd of

      October last year , and appears to have been whoTy confin <* dtothveeof the crew , Jose Torres , Andres Baldibiza , and Jose Calero . The second mate . Caetano Gomsz , who had charge of the watch , was attacked and _murderei b _** these ruffians , when Mr . Alva came up " -n _d"ck , followed by Mr . Co _* _-ke _, the _passenger . The former was immediately stabbed in severa p _' aces ; he managed , however , to set down into tbe cabin to arm himself and alarm Mr . Macnally , but when endeavouring to force his way upon deck , sword in hand , be was mortally stabbed when _hs had reached the top ofthe comp _*> ni' * n ladder . Mr . Cooke , the _passenger , was theii next victim ; he _ws s ' a _** bed and thrown _ove-board . The mutineers then went forward , called the larboard watch , and showing their bloody knives , told them they had murdered every one aft excep _tor . Macnally , Mrs Cooke and her servant , Marv Hudson ; that thev , the mutineers , were in command of the vessel , and if one of them refused to obev their orders be would be instantlv

      murdered . The remainder of the crew , having no arms to defend themselves , had no alternative but to submit ; large stones and pieces of lead were then banded npon deck For 'he purpose _of-lestrovin-r Mr . Macnally , who was still confined to the cabin . At eight o ' clock in the morning it was communicated t- > him . tbat if be would lay down h s arms and -uibmit quietly , they would not take his life ; these t- rms he refused , but said if they would allow bim and the two women the gig , with the necessaries he required , he would give them no furthert-ouble , and would direct them the course to steer . After a consultation this was promised , and having got from him the course for Valabrigo , orders were giren to p epare theJboat ; the vessel was at this time lying to Trusting to their _fa-th _, he went on deck unarmed , when he was

      seized and _thrown overboard with weights ; the schoon < -r then filled , and made all sail . Tbe npxt proceedings of these ruffians were what _-miaht be expected of them ; they dressed themselves in the clothes of those they had mu dered ; took all the gold and distributed it amongst the crew ; destroved all papers and writings which they considered offensive , with many valuables , which were thrown overboard , and finally got at the wine , and became more or less intoxicated . The following day , the 4 th , J . Smit , a _Dutchman ; W . Peter , a Norwegian ; Frank Geering , of St . Michael's ; Jem Bcrenger , of Bordeaux ; and Joze de Averasturi , a Spaniard , of Bilboa . proposed a plan to recover the vessel that niuht , which they communicated to the rest ofthe

      crew , four excepted , whom they were afraid to trust . Having prepared for their enterprise an adze , the pump breaks , some boardine pikes , & c , a" eleven o'clock Jan Smit despatched Torres and Baldibiza . who who were sleeping upon deck , and then fell upon Calero , whom he overcame after a smart struggle . The bodies of these ruffians were then thrown overboard , and Jan Smit took the command with the consent of the crew , the k' _1 Gannon being engaged to navigate the vessel . Their first intention was to have returned to Maza'lan , but the state of the weather , wbich came on to blow , prevented this , and the course was shaped for the Sandwich Islands _, where , after a tempestuous _passage , she arrived safely at Honolulu , on the 12 lb of Oct ., 1848 .

      The _preceding part of this narrative has been of a _melan-h-ly character : what follows is more pleasing . After the mutineers bad been got rH of , the money which had been distributed among the crew was all bronght aft and _dej-osited in the cabin—a meritorious instance of good faith and hone-ty among so many men of different countries . , Through the . judicious arrangements of Mr . Miller _^ her Majesty ' s Consul-General _fo- * tbe Pacfic Island- * , _residing at Hono _' ulu , specie , amounting to 287 . 684 dollars , was safely landed and taken charge of by him ; a list was likewise taken of the effects of those who hid bpfn murdered ; smd , in fact , everything in the vessel was safely secured _throu-rh the exertions of Mr . Miller , to whom much praise is due . It may be useful to mention that among tho papers found on hoard thc

      Amelia were three bills of lading , with _cirrc-ponding _letters of advice and instructions from Jecker , Torre , and Co .. of Mazatl an ; one for 150 , 000 _dollars , consigned to Messrs . Turner and Co , of Hong Kong , * but for account and risk of Messrs . Fin _' ey , Hodgson , and Co ., of London ; another for 120 , 000 dollars , to Messrs . Turner and Co ., of Hon _? Kong , in payment ibr a cano previonslv ordered for shipment in the Amelia on her . v rival in China . Tbe third bill of lading was for 1 . 379 dollars , in favour of Mr . J . A . Durran , of Macao ; 16 , 304 _doll-rs were landed , for which no hills of lading or other document conld be found . We have now tbe gratification to state that Jan Smit , of Rotterdam , whose conduct on this

      oeca--ion is above all praise , has been _presented with £ 1 . 100 by several of the insurance _companies ; and also with a valuable , sextant , byAshdown _. of Finchlane , with the _following insc iptinn : — " Pres nted to Mr Jan Smii , of Rotterdam , by thc Coporation of the Roval Exchange , the Corporation ofthe Londm , the Indemnity Mutual Marine , the Marine , and the Alliance , Marine Insur-mce Cornpa- ies «* f London , in testimony of their Inch estimation of Mr . _Smii's services , and their especial _apprcia'ion of the fidelity and conras-e displayed by him in rescuing the schooner Amelia , of Glasgow , . end her valuable cargo , -utofthe hinds of mutineer * , du'insr her voyage from Mazatlan to China , in they ear 1848 . " London , Aug . 1 , 1849 . "

      Tej.-Rn. --.Tiox Of Mixes.—The Committee...

      TEJ .-rn . --. Tiox of Mixes . —The Committee of Inquiry into this important subject have now brought their sittings to a termination , and we are informed that , from the evidence which has been laid before them , the views of the committee are not at all favourable to the system of ventilation now adopted in the midland counties collieries . It appears that since the last inquiry , in 1839 , little or no improve ment has been made in the system of ventilation in these districts ; while in the north of England a _sradual system . of scientific improvements is evidently being generally adopted . The report will shortly be published in detail , when facts will sptak for themselves . —Birminoham Journal .

      Thk " _ITatioi * _. " Newspaper . —The question debated for the last fortnight amongst English and provincial journals , whether the government would interfere with the re-issue ofthe AMon , received on Friday week a practical answer . The securities , preliminary to the registration of the paper , and the proprietor ' s declaration , were perfected before the Comptroller-General of Stamps and tho officers ofthe Stamp Office . Mr . Duffy is proprietor and editor ; Mr . Williams , publisher and _Tnanagerof the commercial department ; Mr . Delany , printer ; . and tho journal , we presumo . will appear before tho end of the month . —Freeman ' s Journal .

      Civil , _Libektt under a REr-cuMC . — -La Republique announces the discharge from the prison of La Force of twenty-eight individuals , who have been detained there since the insurrectionary movement of the 13 th of June . ¦ ' . Amongst them is ; M . Charles Expilly , a sub-editor of La Sepubligae , who says that he has suffered imprisonment _--uring fifty-six days for having cried " Vive la Constitution ' . ' " A Bad Leg _cceedbt _Hotiio-w-Ax _' s Oisthest asd Pills afteb Twentt years' Sotiemso . —Extract , of letter from Mr . Andrew Braclc , blacltsmitli , ' Eyemouth , dated August 10 , 184 S— " To Professor HoUoway -. Sir , I have the pleasure to _i-Mor-nyouihatl have obtained a most , extraordinary cure by the use of your celebrated Ointment and Pills . For upwards of twenty years I suffered with a dreadful bad leg , and daring that time I consulted several eminent surgeons , but their efforts foiled to do any good . I then had recourse to your ointment and' pills , which , with the blessing of Providence , have comp letely healed my leg , and made it as sound as ever . ( S _^ _fneo ) _Atmasw Bsacs . " * - -

      Parliamentary And Financlvl Reform Assoc...

      PARLIAMENTARY AND FINANCLVL REFORM ASSOCIATION . The first aggregate meeting of this associ ation wis held on Slonuiiy night in Drury-lane Theatre . The building was crowded in every part ; and upon the stage we observed , among many other members ofthe association , Sir Joshua Walmsley , M . P ., the President ; Lord Dudley Coutts Stuart , M . P ., Lord _Nu-zent , M . P ., Feargus O'Connor , M . P ., * Mr . C . I . ushington , M . P ., Mr . G . Thompson , M . P ., Count Pulszkf , Mr . S . Harford , the Rev . T . Spencer , Mr . W . A . Wilkinson , Mr . AV . Williams , Mr . T . Prout , SirF , Knowles , Bart ., Mr . C . Wordsworth , Mr . Miall , & c . Sir J . Walmsley presided , * and he commenced the proceedings by detailing the order of business . In the course ofhis remarks he read tho following letters , from Mr . Hume , M . P ., and Mr . Cobden , M . P ., who were unable to give their attendance : —

      • Jlr Deab Sin . JosntJA , —I am sorry to be obliged to write to you instead of presenting myself , as I had intended _, at the meeting on the 13 th . but the packets do not admit of my being in London until the evening of the 14 tit . If ybu will offer an excuse to the meeting for the disappointment you wfll oblidge me , as every day 1 live and everything I learn convinces me more and more that there is rio chance of efficient financial reform , nor of any other reform , until the House of Commons shall be reformed , and the power ofthe people in that hou 3 e increased ; and lam satisfied that nothing less than the reform which the bill I propose to ask leave to introduce in the next session will affordit I trust that the notice I have given willinduce re formers generally to consider the situation of the country and the helpless condition in which the industry of the country is placed by the class legislation which has so long

      existed . But as the reform is entirely in the power of the electors . I trust wc shall find them alive to the duty they owe to themselves , as well as to thc non-electors . I shall persevere to urge reform on the government aud on the House of Commons ; but unless we have support from without _, and the aid of the elcctore , we shall not succeed . — Wishing you a good meeting , I remain , yours sincerely , Su- Joshua Walmsley , M . P . _JosErn Hume . Eastbourne , Sussex , August 7 . 1813 . Sib , — "Will you be good enough to express to the committee my regret that absence from town will prevent my being present at the next meeting of the Aletropolitan nnd _I'arliamentary Reform Association . Tou have many years of good work before you , and it will not , therefore , be amiss to keep an army ot reserve tor another campaign . In the meantime you are doing battle heroically : and I remain , Sir , your obedient servant , .. '¦¦ .

      E . Whitty , Esq . RichAbd Cobdes . The honourable Chairman then proceeded to say that ifc was hi ghly honourable to the metropolis that this association had so rapidly developed the necessity for a large , substantial , and permanent measure of reform ; that inthe short space of six months many prejudices of long existence had been removed ; that they had been enabled to give confidence to their fellow-men in the integrity " of their _purpose ; and that they were now standing forth as men determined , by every means in their power , to promote the great and good objects they had set forth . For this efficiency they were deeply indebted to the able , earnest , and zealous labourers ofthe members composing the council . These gentlemen had been told that the middle classes were apathetic , and the masses chilled into indifference . Thev ,

      however , applied the test of public meeting to the assumed fact , and the result had been that no building had been found sufficiently capacious to receive the thousands who thronged to give their adhesion to the cause of freedom and advancement . ( Hear , hear . ) But the great feature which distinguished this movement from all others in the history of political agitation was the momentous fact , that the link that had been broken between the two great classes had again been welded , firmly , and he trusted for ever , for the just purpose of social ; ind political renovation . ( ITear , hear . ) By means of this union the association had already become a "great fact . " But to be trul y powerful for good , the sphere of its labours must be widely and broadly enlarged ; its members must be zealous in support of their opinions , and the principles for which they were associated must be carried out in a fearless

      and an uncompromising spirit . ( Hear , hear . ) Tlie object was worthy of their efforts . They would emancipate their fellow men from the state ol moral degradation under which they laboured j they would restore the spirit of the constitution ; they would place property upon a safe and permanent _baais ; and make that a " fact" which had hitherto been purely a fiction , by causing the institutions of the country to live in the hearts aiid the affections of the people . ( Cheers . ) At present , our political existence was a perpetual turmoil , unsuited to the habits and genius of the people . The masses throughout the country were everywhere sullen and discontented . The middle classesgroaned under the pressure of unequal and unnecessary taxation . ( Hear . ) There was an antagonism between the people and their representatives of a character so extraordinary . that no social , or scarcely any social or political amelioration could be obtained , unless by means of an agitation alike injurious to

      the temper , the interests , and the means of the country . ( Hear , hear . ) A glance at our parliamentary history would at once show the necessity for a thorough reform in the representation . Look only at the last session . The only great national question which had passed the legislature was the crowning-act of free-trade—the repeal of thc navigation laws . But this was not the fault of the representatives ofthe large constituencies . They had continually brought before thehousc great and important measures of reform ; but how they had been treated he left the meeting to say . How had that measure of financial reform , ahno-t the only great subject from which a reduction ef expenditure could be obtained—the motion of Mr . Cobden , for placing the naval and military establishments of the country upon the footing of 1835 , after 20 years of profound peace—been treated ? Why , it had been rejected by a majority of 275 to 78 . ( Hear , hear . ) ilow had the motion of Mr . Hume for an amendment in the

      national representation heen received by the House of Commons ? Ifc had been rejected- by a majority of 208 to 83 . ( near , hear . ) How had Mr . Berkeley ' s motion for the ballot been treated ? It had been rejected by a majority of 236 to 85 . ( Hear , hear . ) Had Mr . O'Connor ' s motion been received with any more consideration ? So ; for it had been kicked out by a majority of 224 to 15 . ( Hoar , hear . ) Sor had Mr . Osborne ' s motion for a committee into that great abortion tbe Irish state church been treated any better , Although many of thc Irish members supported that motion , it was rejected . by a majority of 170 to 103 . ( Hear , hoar . ] In fact , every measure calculated to _l'educe the burdens of the people or to elevate their position had been similarl y treated ; and they would continue to be so treated until the "House of Commons was made—not

      in name only but in reality—the people ' s house , ( Cheers . ) He should conclude by reminding the meeting that tliere were few objects of higher , purer , or more ennobling interest than those for which they were associated . It was for the people of this country to say whether those objects should be accomplished . ( Cries of " They shall . " ) Thoy were of vital importance ; but the cost must be calculated . ( Hear , hear . ) The subject , he repeated , was a vital one ; and it might be embodied in one simple question — whether a territorial oligarchy should be allowed . to pervert and override the spirit ofthe constitution' ( cries of " So , no , " and cheers ); or whether the people , by the exertion of their moral power , should vindicate their majesty , nnd send forth happiness , peace , and contentment to every portion of the empire . ( Cheers . ) The report of the council having been read ,

      The CnAinMAN then said it was intended that this report should be printed and circulated as widely as possible ; and hc need only say , that , if so thoroughly approved , as he fancied it was , by . tho present meeting , they could show to the council that they really and heartily concurred in it , by supporting the association of which this was the manifesto ., ( Cheers . ) He would now call upen tlie honourable member for Westminister to address them . Mr . Charles Lvshinoton , M . P ., then stood foi * - ward , and was received with cheering . Ho said Perhaps the meeting would excuse him for adverting for one moment to thc disadvantage whicli had accrued to this meeting by the absence of Mr . Iluine , who was to have addressed them first on

      this occasion . This privation , however , afforded him ( Mr . Lushington ) the opportunity of paying a cordial though inadequate tribute to the transcendent merits of that excellent man and admirable statesman . ( Hear , hear . ) Mr . Hume began his career of correcting . public abuses at a time when , according to the prejudice of the day , to advocate reform was almost to contend for treason ; but notwithstanding the calumnies of the enemies of liberty , he pursued his course steadily and undauntedly , though reviled by the antagonists of reform in language full ofthe greatest malignity and virulence . Still he pursued his even course , . until after a long lapse of years he succeeded in conferring on . his country inestimable benefits in the shape of extinction of abuses , and reduction of .

      nationalexpenditure . Their gratitude ,. therefore , was emphatically due to that venerable and consistent reformer , Mr . Hume . ( Cheers . ) In the House of Commons a particular seat was allotted to him —( a laugh)—into which , when he was present , no other member thought of intruding ; and lie has thus a public compliment paid to him . The present generation celebrated his devotion , and they must look forward , when his sun should wane , when nature should assert her stern and final decree , and they were called upon to resign him , to the timo , wjion a niche would be assigned to him in the temple of public Gratitudewhere the memory of patriotic

      , deeds was . consecrated and embalmed . ( Cheer * . ) Turning , however , to the immediate business ofthe evening— ( Hear , hear)— this was , he thought , the last meeting of the metropolitan constituencies which had been visited by the Metropolitan Reform Association . " Now , so far from ' considering the delay that had taken place on the part of the association in visiting Westminster , he regarded it as a mark of confidence , because Sir Joshua Walmsley and his council . were sure of them- ' -they knew that in Westminster , reform , whether prompt or tardy , whether ample or scanty—reform in every shape and measure was acceptable to Westminster . He

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      rejoiced most sincerely in th . it exercise of good sense and . manly feeling which had produced a union of sentiment and exertion on the partof the various sections of-. the ' , community ¦ entertaining different political opinions , a union whwh _. _- ' lie might sately assert , not all tlie machinations of tlie enemies of freedom , however tliey mi _* rht conspire , would bo able successfully to resist . ( Cheers . ) me voice of tlie people , speaking from the wise coalition between the middle class and the great oody of the artisans and the population of the country , had proclaimed the approaching doom and early downfall of that offensive and detestable exclusivencss , which had hitherto deprived the great portion ofthe people of tlieir proper share in the

      representation . ( Hear , hear . ) And was not such a combination required ? Was it not indispensable ? look at the H ouse 0 f Commons . How were thc people represented there ? [ A Voice , "Not at nil . " ] wnere were the people ' s friends there ? What were their number ? Why , the largest number who supported one reform motion was eighty-four . Motion ¦ ffi n 1 " ' onfoi , hberal purposes and the _effectua-TrTh 0 J ™* ms w s no Katived bv large majorities _, tion Ih _» nJy ° »« n ; ned the details of tl ? e _representathoi ? wouIdnnd _^ At out of 850 , 000 electors , evenS ; h ff ° /] fle ° f _^ _« P _™« ntation , only one S"H of / hat number belonged tothe nduseou _& _Surely _^ at was an abuse of \ ho _/ tho _-T _i b _S ti > e unanimous coalition ttffW _^ d b _rrefes s ed * _TheXt _?* that the rep _rcsenSoSi , Jt _^ _Vfc _™ !

      was a mockery . Hence , tho people were _thwd _SSSS _^ _rn _^ V hilV _^ "O ' we in the _repie _exDenSr _^ n y fT eXercise no _controller theexpenditure of the country , fed as it was bv thc n " _" _™< - inordinate taxation o which th _£ _oSS _S _? j ie told thc ™ th" * . _'" n 2 the ? _hRwirfi T ° fthe nation at flfty _^ ix millions . 3 H & 111 c _?** tribute thirty-two millions _? _I _^ _ti _^ _, _i _^*™ _- ) Under our present svstem tne _^ _righr of man not to be taxed without his consent was constantly violated . That _m-wit man , that admirable statesman and just lord Chancellor . Camden , enunciated this magnificent principie , eighty years ago , in "lantruaaro that had been treasured up and reiterated by a grateful posterity and the force and truth of which could not bo

      weakened by multiplied citation . Dnvinn * the American war that great man said : — " Taxation and representation are inseparably united ; Cod has joined them together ; no . British Parliament can put them asunder . My position is this I repeat , and 1 will repeat it , and shall maintain ifc to my last hour—taxation and representation are inseparable . Their coalition is founded on the laws of the constitution and of nature too ; for whatever is a man ' s own is absolutely his own . ( Cheers . ) So man has a right to bo taxed without his consent , either expressed by himself or his representative . Whosoever attempts to do it , attempts to inflict an injury ; whosoever does it commits a robbery . " ( Loud cheers . ) Lord Camden laid down tho distinction between liberty and slavery , maintninin-r

      that taxation nnd representation were coeval with and essential to tho constitution . Those were the words ofthe great Lord Camden , one of the most righteous judges and enlightened Chancellors ever known in the English nation . Now , the incontestible fact was , the people of this country were not represented . Nevertheless they were taxed . Therefore , as Lord Camden said , ' they were robbed . ( Hear , hear . ) They were robbed , because they were not allowed to exercise that control over the expenditure which belonged to them , according to the rule of nature and every principle of justice . In the House of Commons seven-ei ghths of the members were opposed to any reform whatever . He ( Mr . Lushington ) had himself been in minorities of twenty and even fourteen ; and the highest minority

      they had ever obtained was about 100 ; but the lowest was when the People ' s Charter was proposed . ( Great cheering . ) He held in his hand a Hst of twenty-one propositions made in the House of Commons for reform , every one of which was negatived by large majorities . Now what was the result ? That the poople , as he had said before , wero not duly represented ; and , what was more , they were left to writhe in compulsory submission to aggravated abuses—abuses flagrant , but unacknowledged ; iniquitous , but unredressed , The Prime Minister—( groans and hisses)—dreaded thc idea of reform , too ; and what was the remedy for this state of things ? They could not rely upon the House * of Commons—thoy must relv upon themselves . ( Cheers . ) They must secure

      the amendment of the elective franchise ; and they must also have universal suffrage . ( Loud , general , and continued cheerng _. ) Universal suffrage was proffered to them by this association , only purified to a small extent to protect it from abuse , and merely to prevent the intermixture of tho class of common boa-gars and common vagabonds . [ A Voice : Where * " is the right of man ' ? " ] With universal suffrage they must also secure thc privilege of the ballot . ( Hear , hear . ) There were many other points which time would not permit him to advert to ; but- he could assure them that he was not aware that ho differed very much—although he must confess he did in a slight degree—from any of the six points promulgated in the report of tho council . Hut let them for a moment examine tho

      operation of universal suffrage . How had it worked in America ? Why , ifc had " thcre introduced peace amongst all men and universal satisfaction . They never heard of any tumult or disturbance in consequence of sedition against the government . No ; because the people were they governors , through their representatives ; nnd the would not rise up against their own authority , or commit suicide against their own institutions . ( Cheers . ) Then , again , let them just look across the water to France . ( Hisses , confusion , and a voice— " Rome _l _. Rome ! " ) ne was merely going to say , - with regard to France , that he thought the exercise of universal suffrage had shielded her from a great deal of evil ; and if in his ardour hc had accidentally introduced any element of discord in his remarks , he hoped ho

      would bo excused . ( Hoar , hear . ) He , in conclusion , had only to ask them to carry out their point steadily and peaceably —( hear , hear)—avoiding the slig htest infraction ofthe law—nnd they would confound those enemies who _misrht still be ' looking out to entrap or punish them . They could only carry out their , plans by a steady adherence : to the law ; and pursuing that course , they could not afford thc slightest pretext for violence . The honest declaration of public opinion , serenely enunciated , according to tho dictates of law , could not be battered down by artillery . ( Hear , hear . ) No six-pounders should lurk in the suburbs of the Horse Guards ,

      the Blues , should repose harmlessly in their barracks , and the cause of the people would achieve complete success , because the sovereignty of the p eople and their inalienable ri g hts would have been constitutionally vindicated . Mr . L . here alluded to the scheme whioh had been formed in London for obtaining the franchise by the forty-shilling freehold qualification . Mr . Fox , an eminent and steady friend of the people , had declared , that one county rescued from the aristocracy by tlio votes of the industrious classes , would be the certain herald af an important degree of parliamentary reform . - ( Cheers . ) -

      The Rev . " Thomas Rpexckr then presented himself to the meeting , and was received with loud and repeated cheering . Meetings of this kind , he said , were called agitation ; but they constituted the natural , order of things in the progress of a free country . If they looked tothe past ,. they-would find that every great measure which the government ofthe day . had carried was by tlie assistance of the people , given at meetings of this-kind . He had attended conferences of the Anti-Slavery Society _, aud he had seen slavery abolished—ho had attended parliamentary committees in favour of the pennypostage , and he bad seen _; thc penny-postage obtained—he had attended banquets and conferences on the subject of the corn-laws , and he had seen the corn-laws repealed ; and , therefore , by looking to

      thepast he took courage for tho future . Sir Robert Peel rejoiced that the corn-laws were repealed , lie said , but for that wo might- ' have Jiad a revolution in the country ., ( Cheers . ) But Sir Robert Peel should l-cnicnibeiv-ind Lord John Russell —( hisses )—should remember , too , that tliere were other things besides ' thc corn-laws—that there were other dangers besidesthe want of free trade—that there were rocks a-head which they should avoid , or elso the country would still be subject to turmoil and insurrection . ( Cheers . ) "Th ' e . ' danger to this country aud to every country in Europe , was excessive taxation , and a monopoly of legislation . ' ( Loudcheers . ) The country had a national debt and an amount of taxation which . it could scarcely bear , and which was not necessary for good government . " On ' the contrary .

      when & ir Robert Peel , said they ; must go to the cheapest , market for their goods , he would find that that was equally , advantageous in tho case of good srovcrnment .. . The empire of Austria had an expensive government which was not good ¦; . the United States had a cheap government , and yet it was a good one . ( Loud cheers . ) There was no need of fifty-four minions to govern the country ; it would be better governed for forty millions . The President of the United States had £ 5 , 000 a vear , and the Secretaries of State had £ 1 , 000 a year each ; and they did tlieir duty . as , well , as , -Lord John Russell—. ( _cheei's ) T _* pi _-.. any ; ., bthe ' f .. ministei _-of . . stalo in this country . He would not reduce the salaries of this

      countryio th at amount —( a voice , " I would ? ' )—but ho would say that all expenses ought to be reduced . There was no need to give Queen Adelaide £ 100 , 000 a year , ( loud cheers ); there was uo need , unless Lord "Brougham could be brought to do them greater service , to give him £ 5 , 000 ayoav —( laughter and cheers)—there was no need to give the descendants ;' , of > the illegitimate < ' children of Charles the Second several thousands a year . Besides the danger from excessive taxation , tliere was a certain source of discontent in everv man not having a vote . ' It "Wits not'iii human nature that 9 ix men Olit of every seven should stand by . and see that they were counted for _nothings It was not in human

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      nature , that at an election , when a show of h-mdwas called for , and the p eople had a majority on the show of hands , when a poll was demanded , on that occasion six men out of every seven were told , you are nobody—you aro not free men , it is only free men who have a _ri-jht to vote—only persons who have a certain qualification . So long as this state of things continued there could not be peace and contentment in the minds of the population ; _solonif as this _coi-tinuod this country was ' like a pyramid standing on its point , instead of on its broad base . ( Loud cheers . ) There were two things united together in this society—Parliamentary and Financial Reform . Hut though they were two " distinct things , both were necessary to each other . Just as a man might say ho had come to mow their fields , and in order to do this he had brought his scythe with him ; or a man might say he was ready to catch the rats

      which infested their houses , and he had broiifht a ferret and his dogs to do it . ( Laughter and cheers . ) They had a fine ferret in the Liverpool Financial Reform _Association—Daughter , )—which had ferreted out many abuses , and tliey had now also many fine dogs —( cheers)—not greedy dogs that could never have enough , not sleepy dogs lving down , loving to slumber , but faithful watchdogs known by the names of Joseph Hume and Richard Cobden—( cheers)—and with the assistance of the ferret and the dogs he had no doubt these rats would in the end be ferreted out . ( Cheers . ) But he would be told that as a clergyman he ought to encourage every man to bo quiet and contented , and not to meddle with men that wero given to change .- Ho would be told that it was his duty io preach peace nnd good order in the country . Well , ho believed that this was tho only way of doing it . ( Loud cheers . ) He was never more sure that he was doiuc his Master ' s work than when lie tried to diminish

      the sum of human misery . ( Cheers . ) Ofall things he was most certain that it was the will of Almighty God to promote the happiness of all mon—lie believed it was his will that men should not bo slaves , but that their hearts should be filled with joy and gladness ; and ho believed he was most doing his will when he tried to remove evil and to promote happiness . When he heard that the powers that he were ordained of God , and that they ought not to resist the powers ' , he believed that they were only to do so so far as those powers made men happy . He believed that it was tho will of God that governments should live for the people , not that people should be for the governments ; he believed it was the will of God that the constitution of this country should be kept . to . Now , the powers of this country

      were the Kings , Lords , and Commons . The King they did not meddle with—they wove good loyal subjects to the Queen . ( Loudcheers . ) Neither did tliey wish to interfere with the House of Lords , but they did say that with regard to the Ilouse of Commons there must be some mistake . Tho powers that be were ordained of God , that tho Commons should represent the people afc large—the working classes , the trading classes , the commercial classes , thc tax-paying elasses , thc men who created the wealth of the country , those were tho men who ought to elect the House of Commons . ( Loud olipcrs . ) What would they say if there was a King upon the throne who had no right to be there ? Surely that could not be one ofthe powers that bc . Or what would tliey say if there were members in

      the House of Peers who'h ad no ri ght either by birth or by creation , to sit on thc benches ? And so what would they say when tliey found that tho Ilouse of Commons was filled with naval and military officer *? , with pensioners , withsonsofthearistocracy , _withanybody but thc commons of tlie realm . ( Loudcheers ?) There was another objection offered to the reform that they desired , and which thev would have . ( Cheers . ) Lord John Russell said " , that all thc people had a right to was good government . Thev had no right , he said to universal suffrage . They had no right for every man to have a vote , but tliey had a right to bo well governed , and it was for them to judge whether tho present suffrage or some modification of it , or whether universal suffrage , would secure good government . In his opinion , he said

      universal suffrage would not do so , but a limited suffrage would . Now , in the first place , Lord John Russell forgot that a great deal depended upon who was to answer the question . He , as a member of the government , thought that a system excluding six out of seven men was the best ; and perhaps the officers of the army and navy , the Queen Dowager , Lord Brougham , and a number of others in similar circumstances , would think the same . But the question was , what did the people of England think ? Let the working men of this country havo this question sent to them , and what would bo their answer ? ( Hear , hear . "All , all . " ) Yes , their answer would be : "All—every man ! " Because then agriculture , labour , merchandise , arts—all would have fair play : and every member of parliament would study tiie wants and wishes of all , and

      government would exist for the good of all . The honourable gentleman then stated that he had beon in the United States at tho time of an election , and all went on so quietly , that if lie had not been told , ho would not have known sueh a thing was going on . Ho proceeded to i ; emind the meeting that there were lately in this country tho directors of certain railroads who snid to tho shareholders—let us alone —hold your tongues , and we will manage your railways for you , but if you begin to question us we shall resign . Well , for a time the shareholders were good boys—they did as they were bid—they did not interfere ; but by and b . _v they began to find out that the directors were playing the rogue , nnd then , as every man had a vote , tliey took tho matter into their own hands . Now the people of England were

      the shareholders—the aristocracy were the directors —( loud cheers)— and they said , leave us to manage everything— -don't you interfere . ( Loud cheers and laughter . ) But the people found out that their affairs were not well mana < rcd , and therefore they wero determined to take their affairs in their own hands . They did not see why the working mon should pay fifty per cent , of their incomes for government , the middle classes twenty-five , and the wealthy classes five . ( Cheers . ) _T' * ey did not see that tho working classes should pay to the government 2 s . 2 d . onovory pound of tea , and that the richest should pay no more . They did not see

      that the grocer should be turned into a tax gatherer . The working classes of England ought not to pay more than iheir fair share of the taxation , but he was sure there was not one of them who would refuse to pay his fair share ; and he trusted that before two years passed away they would achieve this great consummation . ( Loudcheers . ) Lord Di _**> -M"Y Stuart then presonted himself , and was greeted with enthusiastic and prolonged applause , wliich was prolonged by a gentleman on the p latform exclaiming , " Throe cheers for Hungary , " when the vast audience , en masse , by shouts and waving of handkerchiefs , testified then- enthusiasm

      m the cause . The Chairman here announced that Count _Pulszky was on the platform , and this again excited the enthusiastic cheering of the meeting . Lord D . Stuaut proceeded , at length , to say that this was indeed a great moment for him . Thc cheer whieh tho meeting ' had given , not for his own name but for that of Hungary —( renewed cheers )—would resound from tho banks of the Thames to those of tho Danube and the Theiss ; and he prayed that they might urge on the gallant patriots—not only in tlieir struggle against oppression , but . in tlieir hour of triumphant victory . ( Great applause . ) But the meeting had not been assembled to discussany topics of foreign policy , although tho enthusiasm which reigned in their hearts for all who , in

      whatever clime , were struggling for their rights , had burst forth in a noble strain , aud _i ' or a moment diverted attention from the object of the evening . ( Hear , hear . ) Ifc was not for him to return thanks for that noble ebullition of feeling . Thc honourable chairman had announced that there was present'one of Hungary ' s noblest patriots —[ at this point the enthusiasm of the meeting was greatly increased by the chairman pointing . to . Count . Pulszky , who was forthwith called in front of the stage , and accommodated with a prominent seat]—who before they separated would probably express his feelings at this noble episode in so magnificent a meeting . ( Great applause . ) After the many eloquent speeches upon the subject of financial and parliamentary reform , he had not thc vanity to suppose he could

      adduce any new arguments in favo rof these important objects . Every person of reflection in the kingdom must feel that financial reform was necessary , and that the means of obtaining it lay through reform in parliament . ( Hear , hear . ) What need of argument to show that financM reform was required , when every-school-boy ' was awaro that the expenditure of the country was ton millions greater than it was ten years ago . ( Cheers . ) The great evil of this country was unequal and excessive taxation . The remedy for the evil was parliamentary reform . . There must always ¦ bo unequal conditions . But we need not have a system of taxation pressing more hardly ! upon the poor than upon tho rich . ( Hear , hear , ) Wo mi g ht , have a more equitable system ; we nee d not have every article consumed by the poor highly taxed . By tho assistance of a league , similar to that which they were now assembled to promote , the will of thc people

      had been made known , and the . tax upon the staff of life got rid of ; but there were other articles consumed by the poor , which were heavily . taxed—tea , tobacco , beer ( _tlirou-jh the malt-tax ) , and light and air , through tlio window-tax . ( Hoar , hear . ) And he was sorry to add that , in the metropolis , at least , water was also _subjected to a heavy tax—a tax which niight not be paid to the collector of the government but which was- a . grievance that the inhabitants of the metropolis , and of most towns in England , laboured under , and . which ' he hoped , ere long , would be removed . ( Hear ,, hear . ) It was to remove grievances of this sort-that- the association had heen formed . Itwas only hy such agitation as this association would persevere with that they could effect the purpose ot relieving the people from the crushing injustice of unequal taxation . ¦ - ¦ _Ifo-had himself been a strenuous opponent _ofthe incometax , and it might be said , - ' if you mean to take off taxes such as you havo mentioned , money must be

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      raised to meet the obligations of _Ibn '* country , ana you must como to direct taxation . " it was perfectly true that he had opposed the _income tax might mid mini , but he had not-opposed a propertytax . ( _Chem-s ) lie h ., d notheen _wld bv the govci-nmeiit _, We will take off the window-tax , abolish the duty upon tea or tobacco , or enable tho poor man to buy his comforts and necessaries at a cheap rate ; but he had heard t hem sav , "We must have an income-tax of five per cent ., " to meet thc necessities of the state . ( Hear , hear . ) . Let it be remembered that an income-tax was _iiot a property-tax , * but he believed thc beat thing that could be done for the people would be to take off the taxes he had mentioned , and establish , not an income-tax , but an equitable property-tax , ( Hoar ,

      hoar . ) He believed that the same amount of money whicli was now raised could be raised by less oppressive means . Reduce the duty upon ' tea , and the revenue would be equal to its present amount , whilst the poor would be benefitted . It had been so with coffee . The duty had been reduced , whilst tho revenue derived from it was the same , if not greater . So ifc would bc with every other article which the poor consumed . ( Hoar , hear . ) How then , were they to urge financial reform ? By revolution , anarchy , and viol ence ? ( Cries of " No . " ) Such a remedy would be worse than thc disease . The real remedy was parliamentary reform ;—( hear , hear , ) —for until the House of Commons was made what it professed to be , a real representation of the people , it was vain to hope for any amelioration , in our condition . Tins , then , was what the

      association proposed to effect . First , it would extend the suffrage by . extending the right of voting to any man who was rated , however small in amount , or who chose to claim to be rated . He did not know how far such an extension oftho suffrage might give universal satisfaction ; but it would be a great and an important step towards improvement . It would at least effect one purpose ; that , whereas the electoral body was now only a minority of the adult population and the non-electors a largo minority , places would be changed . The electors would become the large majority , whilst those excluded would ho the minority ; and , after all , if this was not found sufficient , it would not prevent the people going further . ( Hoar , hoar . ) Ho had always been

      for progressive reform . Long ago he had voted for what was called the Reform Bill , Sow , he voted for what he called tho Reform Bill of the present day , as proposed by the hon . gentleman in the chair . ( Hear , hear . ) The next point demanded by the association wns the ballot , wliich might he called at once the greatest and the least of the points . It was the greatest because the most necessary , and the most important of all at the present day ; perhaps it would be thc least important after all the others had been secured . Although he had voted again and again for the ballot , and should do so again whenever it was proposed , he confessed he did not like it . no nii . < rlit then bo asked why he voted for it . He woiild say why . For the same reason that he built a wall round his

      garden—to keep out intruders . It was his right to be secured ; it was his right that no man should come in and trespass upon his ground's to Steal and carry away that which belonged to him ; and although he would much rather not bc put to the expense of building a wall—although he had much rather ifc wns not necessary to protect the voter by the ballot , hc was determined that tiie voter should be free . Thereforo it was necessary to afford the voter protection , and therefore he " voted for the ballot . The next point of the association was that of shorter parliaments . On this point he had always entertained strong opinions—stronger than those of many good and earnest reformers . Nothing was more important than to have short parliaments . Tho people could not continue to be properly

      represented without them , for if there was all the extension of the suffrage that could be desired , and they were protected both b y their numbers and b y thc device of thc ballot from improper interference , they would have no security that their representatives , however fairly chosen , would continue properly for any length of time to represent their opinions . Three years was the time proposed by association . Some persons might think that too long ; but he said , "let us try that first . " The fourth point of the association was , that of more equal electoral districts . ( Hear , hear . ) It was not necessary to explain in many words upon that point ; for who could think it right or just that a city liko Westminster should have no more members " to represent it than a little fishing town such as

      Harwich , and other places of no greater moment ? Upon all those points , then , he agreeed ; and he was anxious to promote their being passed into a law . He was also in favour of the other point _urtjed by thc association—the abolition of the property qualification . ( Hear , hear . ) One word more respecting tho association . It had for its object and its effect to unite the working and middle classes . ( Cheers . ) . Henceforth they were united for a common object . Union was strength _; by union they would obtain their object ; and those who would attempt to sow disunion among them were their greatest enemies . ' ( Hear , hear . ) Those who bound the different classes together , and amalgamated them , as far as possible , all into one , were a nation ' s greatest benefactors . But the greatest of

      all enemies , in his mind , were , those who , by promoting class legislation , gavo to one class of the people a right to be banded together in aversion and dislike to another class , who established in a country discontent nnd disunion , not ns a transient evil , but as a lasting and chronic malady . Therefore he honoured this association , and " wished to support it , because it sought to destroy all class _loirislatioii—all legislation for the benefit of one et of men in the country and not for tho benefit of all . The Chairman * next introduced to the meeting Lord Ncouxt , who was very favourably received . His lordship began by saying that he could assure them with the utmost truth that he did not come there with tho slightest intention of _offerinc- any

      observations , nor was it his wish or desire to do so ; but if he said that he met tho call of their worthy chairman with anything but pride and pleasure , he should _be-jin his address to a party of reformers with a lie . " When evil men conspired , good men must combine . " ( Hear , hear . ) Nothing wns to be done in this country but by the union _andcombination of those who were ready to compromise their minor differences of opinion in order to make hc-ad against the combination of corruption , interest , and tyranny , which was now endeavouring . to stop tho course of reform . ( Cheers . ) He had come to tho meeting that night without knowing what the contents of the report they had heard read were to be : but he knew that he should meet friends who had been linked with him for years in the cause of tho

      people , and was satisfied that at an assemblage liko the present his princi p les were safe . But be must confess that in one point hc could have wished to see the report differently worded . The report contended for tlie representation being thrown open to all who paid rates of tho smallest sort ; but he saw no just limit to tho principle of representation ex « cepttng as combined with universal suffrage . ( Loud cheers . ) He had never been able to seethe common sense of what was called money qualification of any sort . ( Cheers . ) All who paid taxes , directly or indirectly , were entitled to the benefit of the princip le that connected representation with taxation . Every man who ate bread contributed , directly or indirectly , to the taxation of the country . And although ' the odious bread-tax now happily

      remained only matter of shameful history , yet so long as any one of the implements of husbandry , or the laud itself on which corn was grown , was taxedso Ions as thc timber was taxed by which tbey made the ship that imported corn—so long , in a word , as any duty was paid on any article that tended either to produce or import corn , let them not be told that bread was untaxed . ( Cheers . ) Everyman , then , who ate broad , the staff of life , paid a tax to the state ; and he ( Lord Nugent ) udopted the immortal words of Lord Camden , before quoted , to tho effect that taxation without representation was robbery . ( Cheers . ) He had no right to use a harsh phrase towards any man because ho did not happen to see a subject in the same light as himself : but ho had a perfect ri g ht to use hard

      words hypothetically against himself . ( Laughter . ) Therefore , if with h ' i ' _s present opinions , he ever found himself voting in the House of Commons for a tax or grant public money , and was not prepared immediately afterwards to support universal suffrage , he should consider himself a thief and a robber . ( Cheers and laughter . ) Now , he could understand how property qualification bore upon the suffrage . It was assumed early in our parliamentary history that a certain money qualification was a _test , very imperfect , but yet some kind of a test , of a certain amount of intelligence and independence . ( Laughter . ) The intelligence and independence were tiie things therefore to have the vote the money being merely the test ; but now we confounded tlio teat with tlio things of which it was the test : we looked not for intelligence and independence in the voter , but merely for th & test that had ceased to bc so—namely , tho money qualification . with

      Then , with reg ard to the ballot , he differed the noble lord who Imd previously addressed them . He confessed that , even if human nature was perfeet , he would have no objection to secret voting . Let a candidate ask him what were his opinions and principles , and . ho would b & ready to avow- them : but if ho asked him for whom-he would give : his vote , he would tell him that his vote . was his property , and tobe administered like every other property , for the general Uenc _3 t . _Jle had as much right to put a ball in tho ballot-box as he hail to keep his will sealed , till it should be proved and ' administered _.-Didthcy not impose an oath of secrecy , in-order to guarantee the juryman -from corruption , oppression ,- or _violonce ? _^ Apply / that , then , toelec . tions whieh thoy applied to juries ; and let thom ' iiofc bo told that it was unmanly or ari-Englishi until wa were disposed to strike trial by jurv out oftho English code , ( Oheera _. ) Now , the * _mwtf _* _" _** M *» avow these principles—they had to combine ; , m support of them * in the face of a powerful opp »

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 18, 1849, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_18081849/page/7/