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Northern Star (1837-1852), 14th February 1852, Edition 1 of 1, Page 7, Untitled Article

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      FRANCE . The Duke of Bassano , the new French , envoy to the cams of Belgium , arrived at Brussels on Thursday last . It is said on good authority , that one of the demands which Jl . de Bassano is charged to make is the removal of the monumental lion from the field of Waterloo , and the demolition of the pyramidal mound of triumph which it crowns . Soon after the revolution of July the destruction of the same trophy was talked of as a point insisted on b y the government of Louis Philippe , and when the French expedition returned from the siege of Antwerp , in passing over the plain of Waterloo , it was expected that they would have taken the law into their own hands , and hurled the offensive symbol of victorious force from his proud eminence .

      But they were dissuaded from this violent project b y an officer , who suggested that it would be much easier to staap the trophy with ridicule than to overturn it . Therefore , be proposed that they should knock ont the lion ' s teeth , and pare his clsws . This practical sarcasm wa 3 unanimously approved , and the expressive mutilation forthwith carried into effect . The application now made by Louis JJanaleon for the demolition of the trophy makes one recall hh declaration before the Court of Peer ? , when tried for the seditious attempt at Boulogne . He then said : 'I represent as principle the sovereignty of the people , es system the empire , and as action the retrieval of Waterloo . ' The two first points have been carried , and it is certain that no meins will ha neglected to achieve the last . It is a c flied idea' with the President .

      Madame Georges Sand has been some time in Pans , preparing a drama of her composition for representation at the 'Theatre da Gymnase . This celebrated writer solicited an interview with the President , for the parpose of representing on the part of the rural inhabitants of the province of Berry the effects of the coup d ' etat on that part of France . Louis Napoleon ' s aide-de-camp , having answered that the President wonld receive Madame Bind , the latter went , and , daring a long conversation , depicted to him the sufferings endured by the peasantry , in consequence of the

      multitudinous arrests , their terrors , misery , despair , and complt-te innocence of all participation in the insurrection . The President was much impressed with the eloquent description g iven by this woman of genius of the misfortunes of those simple country people whom she ha 3 sketched so happily in her novels . Bat he positively declined to grant the amnesty which she solicited for them . He seemed , however to wish to convey the impression that vast designs of beneficence were rolling in his head ; for he said that she wonld be astonished at what he would do , bat gave no cine for arriving at his mysterious designs .

      The ' Daily News' correspondent says : — ? I hear daily from the most authentic sources instances of the overbearinz intimidation of the government to cow the least show of opposition in the elections . I know that a member of the late Assembly , of the constitutional party , announced to the prefect af his department that he should offer himself as an independent candidate . The prefect , starting at the word'independent , ' Eaid that he only knew of two sorts of candidatnre , that of the government , and that of the

      opposition . If the person who addressed him was not the former , as he supposed he was , the prefect having received no intimation from head-quarters to that effect , he must be ranked as a member of the opposition . In that ca 3 e he fagged leave to give him a word of friendly advice , which was to withdraw his candidature , a 3 otherwise his eighteen cousins , who held different offices in the department , would be all dismissed without exception . For obvious reaions I suppress the names of the parties concerned , but I can positively guarantee the truth of thestory . *

      Same davs a very animated altercation took place between M . deMorny and the'Prince President , ' De Mora ; is said to have complained that expressions had dropped from the'Prince * which encouraged the suspicion that the late Minister of the Interior had dabbled in speculations at the Bourse . 'In such a time as this it was not meet that every nice offence should bear his comment . ' But whether the accusation of an'itching palm'be true or not as ap . plied to De Moray , it must be admitted that some millions of francs , in what manner soever won , have been honestly applied to the payment of his debts .

      On Sunday last the President paid a visit to Versailles . He went in a close chariot , attended by Edgar Key , and with an escort of cuirassiers . The object of his visit was to address the officers of the garrison , who were reported to be extremely disaffected . Humours had been circulated that it was intended to place 200 officers on half-pay in consequence of their Orleanist leanings . Generally the confiscation-decree has proved highly offensive to the armv , from the coarse manner in which they are invited to partake of the spoil . * It is said that the price of the' Monileur' is to be considerably reduced . As the onl y inducement to buy the other newspapers is that they give the contents of the Momteur for a less price , this measure would of course consummate their ruin .

      On Wednesday evening took place , in the old hotel of the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce , the first reception of the Minister of Police . Members of the corps diplomatiqrte and ministry were present . The President ' aide-de-camp , has addressed a letter to Madame Peyronni , announcing that the ' Prince ' Louis Napoleonhas commuted the sentence of her husband , who was condemned to deportation for life . Madame Pauline Roland , a disciple of II . Pierre Leroux , and author of pamphlets on working associations , has been arrested . It is also reported that 8 ixty journeymen printers were also arrested . - The sentence of deportation decreed against Marc Dufraisse and Greppo , ex-representa tives , is commuted to perpetual banishment . -

      GERMANY . AUSTRIA . —The Austrian army is to be immediately increased by no less than 80 , 000 men , and the state of affairs in Italy , where it is not improbable the two powers may come into collision , causes a good deal of apprehension , one of the most curious symptoms of the change of feeline m Austria with regard to France , is the conduct of the press . At first the President had delivered France . He was a greater man than his ancle . 'In short , * as Mr . Micawber would say , < what was he not ? ' Within the last week however , their language bass chafed . « The French potentate is not to be trusted ,- 'England is doing quite nght to unease her coast defences ' - ' Nothing is like fed"g strong , f you Wuh to feel secure . ' And then comes a iMM 1 * " * Pa ' tesofa firm alliance

      K ""* , offenMveand defensive , between England and Austria , &e T » t , 5 Lr , v drcnmst » ce may serve to show the , tate of pnbhcfeeMng in Vienna , as in all countries where he press is shackled the audiences of theatres are particu . larly apt at catching political allngions . A few days since , ' -SS . J ' ? the pieCe looks at him with-ludicrous uspHMon , and reminds him that « in these days when every . 5 ? M Wr *!™ * mU 8 t be Careful leBt the Pel 5 « JraM wish to know how he came by such a red nose . ' i £ P !? , whi <* followed this sally raised almost a tomult m the house , the public applauding , and the nume-• ous officers and friends of the government expressing their assent . J , ext day the passage was said to be struck out , and the play curtailed .

      WURTEMBERG—The « Moniteur' of February the 3 rd contains a royal ordinance dissolving all popular associations throughout the kingdom . HANOVER . —Advice ? from Hanover state tbat a commission is about to undertake the revision of the o'ganielaws , The communal law will first be dealt with , and afterwards the law regulating district representation .

      SPAIN . THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF THE QUEEN . A telegraphic despatch , via Paris , informed us on Friday « n li ! o *^ & ° * sPain ha * been . tabbed in the arm on the 2 nd inst . —the day appointed for her churchingana it was believed dangerously . Subsequent accounts give sne toilowing version of the affair :-The Queen had heard f ™\ ^ Palace chapel , and was traversing a long gal-J ? A . T * J ! \* 8 taircase , from which she would have pro-™ . » a * nrch of onr La ( Jy ° f Atocoa i when an ° 8 ed . SJ ' fcT ^ . " an ecd « s «» fo , aovanced from the crowd and bent his knee before her . Her Majesty , believing he waned to

      present a petition , held out her band to take it , wnue she held her infant with the other ; but , instead of a * m m . * 8 nddenl y drew forth a knife from beneath the ritv * and made a stab at her side immediately mom the hip From the position of her arm , the deed J 3 f , " ^ ha « done ; the arm was wounded , a -d the knife entered under the rib about an inch . The swan attempted to repeat the blow , but was prevented , li ^' iI aUendants w » wounded in the hand . As ( hat 7 v V ™* ' Toma ' Ya ««« tote *! ' ( Take in s « m- * e now 8 0 t eDOn 2 - ) All the accounts concur Jnaini ' I l Qneen w 8 !> the P « on who at the moment fcJS ? " % greatest p ^ ence of mind , When she felt welfhur

      t , the first thingsbedidwas to give her child to teJJS 5 £ S out at the same time IRmaaP l Mi Wall " a V ? t m * daughter . ) She then leant against the with w r * & hand on her side ' which *« «»™ haW ^ MSMsin was at once la 5 d h ° W of by a tma-k * l taken t 0 the alters of the household ^« a , in the Palace ,-where he was searched and interre-JJz ; ^ « ied for wha t object he went to the Palace , effa ^ i !! who w « Present writes that his reply was , 'To as in « , t ° ' ebriam of haxam kind ' *** « nge , " much lovali « eiay . » the criminal ignorance of those who believe provHt !!^ " 8118 ' "" ? KiD g 9 - ' The assassin ' s name to the nn ^ arlin Merino - II i 8 Ea " Aat he is related * ho Sff c . elebrated chief ( alsoapriest ) of the same name , " aiingmshed himself in the guerrilla hands during the

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      Peninsular ] war Some accounts , represent him as a pracnL ^ yT ~?* l' So ™ - i « ° in the 3 . a f , ; ran 8 ferred t ° Pmon . It was with much ? 2 wi ( , t }* Palace « that & troops succeeded in n 3 if , / T Ae f 0 ry ° f the P ° P ulace - The soldiers and Eff- i ? x ? COnSt . antly < Vive h % «« " A bulletin , re-S ^ - / T * 8 COndition - tended t » trai . quali . eth . ttf S II appears tbat wbe » ^ e Qaeenwas conf ™ ** ^ ?"'""**^ swooned away , and remained insensible for near twenty minutes . Her fint words , when she recovered , were to call for her child . The infant princess was brought to her bedside b y one of the ladies in . ! j ° i f - . ¦ Som ! « " » HBM ^ him « ap ™ -

      watting , and she clasped thehaby to her arms and wept . She then expressed her hope tbat no harm should be done to the assassin , 'Don ' t kill him-donU kill him on my account she said . The humane wish , however , was not attended to . Menno was sent before the ordinary tribunals , nn tl 7 ? i . - f T - 8 lrao 8 ! ation , and executed at noon « Md . h f A fe ^ V ^ that the P ° int of rte Mre , JfWM ° Abac ete ' abric . was turned by the whalebone n ft- JT " 8 tayS ' M Wdl as b yher arm . The blade of the knife was very pointed , and the edges sharp , set in a common white horn handle and an iron sheath It was lSZS £ S feared ftat th , Wade ™ v ^; h" th " BiS ^ iacs wound ¦ innoc » ° and her

      fa . d dSppV " i ' ferocion 8 conn tfi » ance of the regicide Ld duSSi I ^ impreE r SiOn ° tbe mind of tb « Q « e « StaiJ ? S ? iw re 8 t < r That ' howe ' » had cotEpletely SS ™ w ei i mB believed that the next bult ^^ ST" * **? " Qaeen was c ompl etely , out of tu ^ " , " " 1 the 8 cene witnessed on the S i ?^ f ' effect ' bled on the 5 th mst . Qaeen Maria Chnstma still remained by the bedside of her daughter . The churches were thronged with faith-£ o 7 WM ° T £ AJm 5 ghty f 0 r hOTin 8 Protected Se ff jf ^ i ? - Tb , e de uties Present at Madrid had attended h . gh mass , celebrated with the same intention , in the church of San Isidro . Telegraphic despatches received from Seville , Saragossa , Burgos , Valencia , Valladolid , and other cities , mentioned that the news of the attempt had everywhere produced the most painful impression .

      The government is likely to have some trouble with that grasping- and insatiable body the clergy . Not content with the concordat they have obtained , the bishops make light of the orders of tbe Minister of Grace and Justice and give decrees of different sorts without obtaining the previous authorisation , while the ultra-Catholic prints approve their proceedings , and the official and semi-official journals are silent .

      SWITZERLAND . The elections for the canton of Tissin have resulted in a decided victory for tho democratic party . In the canton of Berne 17 , 000 persons have signed the constitutional act for procuring the retirement of the present Conservative government . TURKEY . The Liberal minister Reschid Pacha has been .-dismissed He was a minister of acknowled ged ability , whose name is identified with the prosecution of liberal reform and the mitigation of Mussulman bigotry . His successor is a brotherin-law of the Sultan , aged about eighty-seven years !

      SWEDEN . The powder magazine at Loudden , near Lidingobro exploded on the 24 th uU . The shock shattered several thousand panes Of glasa in the city of Stockholm , particularly in the Palace . The magazine contained 2 , 800 cwt . of gunpowder , and the loss is estimated at 115 , 000 thalers . Two bodies only have been found among the ruins . HUNGARY . In Hungary the government are actually pushing things so far as to erect monuments in commemoration of the Austro-Russian victory . A strange victory , which still leaves it necessary to maintain the stale of siege in almost every town , and after which the whole land is still bristling with bayonets from one end to the other . It is well known that a civil war may break out any month in the year oi almost any day in the month .

      UNITED STATES . The New York 'Weekly Sun' has the following : — ' . We notice in a recent letter of John Mitchel to the' Colonial Times , ' dated June 9 , 1851 , in relation to his close confinement , the following passage : " As to your suggestion tbat the inhabitants of the Australian Colonies should petition the Queen of England to pardon the Irish State prisoners , I must take the liberty of requesting in ' case oi such petition being made , that my name may be excepted from the prayer of it . I have no idea of begging pardon or of permitting any one to beg pardon for me , if I can help it !'"

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      From the Jamaica papers we learn that cholera is still prevalent in several places . There had been several deaths in many towns . The 'Raman Journal' contains in Us official part the decision of his Holiness , confirming the determination of the sacred congregation of rites that a suit should be commenced immediately , to settle whether the virtues and miracles of a monk , named Bellesini , who was born in the year 1774 , were really of such a quality and so well authenticated as to warrant hia beatification and subsequent canonisation .

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      HAYMARKET THEATRE . On Saturday Mr . Barry Sullivan , a tragedian who has acquired considerable celebrity in the Lancashire towns , made his first appoarance in London in the character of Hamlet . The first act was enough to convince the audienco that they had before them an artist of clear intelli gence who had made a thorough study of his arduous part . Every line was delivered with the utmost care and with its appropriate gesture , and , though the 3 e gestures were oocaBonally too formal , they were invariably graceful and full of purpose . Nothing was said or done to surprise or wreatly to xcite th « listener , but all was neat , intelligent , and finished . During the remainder of the piece he justified the impression he had made by the first act . There was Btill the accomplished elocutionist , giving every passage its value with logical precision , and with the notion of correctness ever

      uppermost in hia mind . Not a trace of carelessness or timidity was to be found throughout his performance . The taste of Mr . Sullivan is unexceptionable ; rant , or any expression that disturbs the natural quality of the voice , w abhorrent to his idea ; he sustains the same level throughout . But even this steadiness is carried to an extreme . He gives none of those little familiar touches which relievo the melancholy of Hamlet ' s character , and sometimes raise a laugh in the most mournful scenes . All is staid and serious from beginning to end . For the Queen there was Mrs . H Vining , a meritorious actress , who has long flourished on the other side of the water . But after the delut of Mr . Sullivan the most interesting fenture of the evening was the Ophelia of Miss Reynolds , which was exquisitely beautiful from it simple and unconstrained pathos . Every action was in its right place , and yet all appeared easy and spontaneous . Mr . Sullivan was loudly called at the conclusion of the evening , and the announcement that lie would repeat the character was received with general

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      MONDAY , Feb . 9 . HOUSE OB LORDS .-Lord Brotohaw honed tho government would extend the Law of Evidence AmraoW B . 1 so as to provide for . the personal examination ? mem { SSASSBfcjr 01 a ^^ wJSSSi &J& £ ! iSnff £ ^ had *» On the motidn of the Lord Chancellor , tho Common Law Amendment Bill was read a second time . tommon In reply to a question from Lord Sirasgford Earl Ghakvillb said that Lord Palmerston had not sent IKfti 0 there « W" > " " . " lce 8 of foreign powers with respect to the reception given by this country to political refugees Had the noble lord remaioed in ofiKe had Grange ) a haV 9 ^ ^ ""» ^ a 8 he ( Eari meift Bill oSt 8 C e ° S ati 0 a W thG Pat 6 nt L ™ Amend-Their lordshi ps adjourned .

      HOUSE OF COMMONS—After the presentation of Detitions on a variety of subjects , and the usual question ! answers , and notices of motion , questions , The Speaker said he had to acquaint the house that he had just received a latter , dated from theT poiice ? offiBe Bo p 8 y t [« t- ( grm iaughter ) -of which the folfowt g S As I understand it is the practice to commuS ^ o thf / . iL arausaa ^ ssaawaSS «^ KSf « safSfjs £ ?« s and 8 rd of Victoria , c . 47 , s . 18 . 1 t . Hbnby . he ^ rSro ^ The Substitute for Parliamentary Reform —T , nrfl T JtSfJT at fivf minUte / P ? 8 t fi 7 e ° ' clock . « " afull and attentive house , to move for leave to bring in a bill to extend the right of votingfor members of parliament an , uft

      dom tw T ? W . *? the » P" *» nt » tionof this kingdom . The time for taking this step appeared to him Deculiarlv appropriate . Some people thought we ought SStoS for agitation , and tbat it was better to legislate on such a subject when the passions of the people wero roused-dis contenton one side and great fear on the other . He wholly differed from that opinion . " I think that if it is desirable to make any further extension of the right of voting , to . make any amendment in the state of the representation of tbe people , it 13 well to consider such change calmly and in times of tranquillity , and toenaotthenew feanchises , without compulsion , as a . reward for past conduct , andaseculor

      my me iuture institutions of the oountn . ( Cheers ) » LTrw ¦ t ? " " ay . " ^ fcinctly , because it had been asserted-but asserted y ? ithout a shadow of foundation-that it was merely on the spur of the moment , and being pressed S . ? ? t Ml "" h was . madelast year , that he gave notice that he should bring thia subject under consideration during ho !! , S Vi eS 8 IO u ' . He hil ( 1 ° PP ° fled Mr - Hume ' s motion because he thought the time had not come for calm and deelf mJTtU f f ° 1 ?* the , ( lues ^ n ; but in 1849 he him . thonTt fh ^ ., *? eCt m Parllament ' and as ifc ™* then thought that such a measure must lead , before lone to a la T £ S \ $ f ° n 8 ideredadviBabl « nott ° 2 gitin last year and when the question was raised , he nnJUmit

      be fntrnrt , 1 h fh- ** ' T ^ cA ! ltte » ti ° n . » nd would « £ StWi « lh f ' t ^ itwas inconvenient to raise Sn W ^ "l - 1 ?" ,. * ^ S ^ edly stated bis intention , lest there should have- been any '« exasperated SL Xw S aVagant ^ > " as totLnSof h measure he would propose . Having thus prefaced his speech , hivPhnin aStrr ^ " reviem ««> ¦ measures * llich SStek' P k- \ and e mea 5 Ure 3 WilIch have been Proposed on this subject at various periods . I do not mean to enter into a discussion , of the general princi ple * of represent ! M in - T p ? * U " M W « 2 / generally conceded that to claim the Franchise as a nght for every individual is not a claim which

      can U supported by argument (> !) ( Hear , moi lflt - ° - W ta ^ is « ood government ; and a mode of obtaining a fair representation of the people , Etww pe * rf ? T m the - , functi ? ns « f the Houae of Commons Si . ? ? g b r e sou § bt for m any measure we may adopt . 1 he functions of the house being important , it is necessary to be very cautious as to its composition . Mr . Pittas Prime Minister , proposed a matured plan' in 1785 The result of a general motion made by him in 1781 , when there waa great excitement on the subject . In that plan Mr . Pitt proposed that a fund should be set apart , which should be devoted to the purchase , in the first place , ' of thirty-six small boroughs returning members , and that thnsn mPmhOr < i

      should be replaced by members representing counties-in that respect following an idea of Lord Chatham ' s , who thought that what was most to bo desired by this house was an addition to the county representation . He proposed further that a sura should bo granted for the further purchase of boroughs , and that some of the largest towns , tnen without members , should obtain the rights of representation . He also proposed a great extension of Household Suffrage'in some of the large towns .. That proposition was , however , rejected ; and when , in 1791 , Mr . Flood proposed an addition of members to be choseu by the towns , Mr . Pitt declared that , although he had not changed his opinion , he considered that the question should not then be discussed , and moved the order of the day . " Lord John passed briefly over the period of the war , and the first French revolution , and next took up Lord Durham ' s plan in 1 SJ 0 , tor dividing the country into riiatrto . ta « i > iM , W !>

      rejected . "In 1822 ho proposed a plan of Reform , in whioh he proposed that 100 members should be taken from the small boroughs—taking one member from each of the small ones , and giving sixty to the oounties , and forty to the T "ge , u 03 * Mr > L < anni . ng made a most eloquent speech in that debate , and gave him , in conclusion , great houes of success on some subsequent occasion in obtaining a Reform ot the representation , but nothing came of it . From 1823 several unsuccessful motions were made until 1831 , when , " said his lordship , " 1 brought forward , as the organ of the government of the day , a plan of Reform which was afterwards carried in this houso . I hold in my hand the original paper which was submitted to Lord Durham , Lord Dnuoanpon , and Sir James Graham , in December , 1831 , and which is marked , m Lord Durham ' s handwriting , ' Lord John Russell s Plan . ' The plan I proposed was that fifty boroughs should cease to return members , that fifty others should have only one member , and that in cities and boroughs generally a £ 10 Household Franchise should be established . I proposed , also , certain changes with reirard

      to tue smallest , similar to those which were in tho former p lan . That plan was discussed and laid before the Cabinet , m a shape very little modified from the original . It was then thought better to take the limit of population , and it was proposed that all boroughs under 2 , 000 should cease to return members , and tlwt tlioso between 2 , 000 and 4 , 000 , and so on to 6 , 000 should return onl y ouo member . Difficulties arose as to tho boundaries , and , in consequence , Commissioners were appointed to ascertain the facts as to boundaries and number of houses . In the subsequent Reform Bill , as brought before another parliament after tho

      aissoiution , it was proposed not to take , as I bad done , an arbitrary number of limits , or to take the limit of population , but to take the number of boroug hs to bo abolished according to the first Reform Bill , and to take a test of the number of houses and the number of assessments to the assessed taxes as a test of the small boroughs which the bill was to disfranchise . Such was the basis on which that part of the Reform Bill was founded , but it went also on the basis that many of the boroughs were places without any inhabitants , and others with only a few , and having the burgage tenure vested in the hands of tho proprietor , and that therefore nomination , properly so called , existed m that borough . But while proposing the abolition of purely nomination boroughs and the Enfranchisement of the great seats of manufactures , such as Manchester , Leeds , Birmingham , and Sheffield should have members—in proposing likewiseavery considerable addition to the county representation—we did not hide from ourselves that , according to the plan then established , there would be a srieat

      number of boroughs having a small population . We did not go to the extent of saying that no borough having * small population should coaf © to return numbers ; wo only went to the extent of saying that nomination should no longer return menibo- s . " Lord John thought ihe anomaly ot a ' small population , " having as many representatives as a large population , would , instead of being a blot on our system , " add to the permanence of parliament and to tho welfare of the people , because , " said he . there will be a hundred , or more , members from places of three , four , five , or six thousand inhabitants , -who will not , perhaps , immediately represent any particular interest , and who , therefore , may be better qualified to speak and inform the house on great questions of general interest to the community . " [ Of course there would be no chance of findintrsuch persons

      in a large population , " they grow only in " small towns ! " ] what ho did in 1831 he proposed to repeat in 1852 , " because , " said his lordship , " I think that if you were to admit into parliament none but members for counties and very large cities it would be impossible to say that the people were fairly represented . You will no * find that with respect to counties that any other members are selected but such as are generally known , or who are remarkable for their position or their property , and you will find that in very large places many persons are elected who do not immedntely represent the popular opinions , while others quite as well qualified are excluded , and a complete representation of the people is thus destroyed . '' In 1832 he proposed a large and wide disfranchi < ement , becauss some of tho then boroughs could not , in any sense , ba taken to represent

      the people , and large towns of great manufacturing and commercial industry wanted representatives , while it was not desirable to increase the number of members . But that was not tbe case now . " looking to the present state of affairs , I see no such necessity as should induce us to propose a plan of arbitrary and absolute disfranchisement . It appears to me , as I have more than once stated , and , as \ said even at tho pasaing of the Reform Bill , that nothing but Such necessity as the absence of any representation should induce us to propose such a divfranohiscment . What we now propose is to disfranchise any borough in which" it is proved that corruption exists —( Hear , hear , and cheers . )—and in the second bill which 1 shall have to bring forward , it ia

      my intention to propose a change in the present mode of inquiry into the career of corruption in constituencies . ( Hear , hear . ) It is no doubt true that there are now boroughs in which a system of bribery and corruption has become inveterate , and it is difficult for any one to be returned for such constituencies unless they resort to the most corrupt practices . That tendency was increased by tbe nature of the tribunals created under the Grenvill act for trying petitions . As matters now stand , although there is opportunity afforded for unseating members improperly elected , as soon as that is done the inquiry eea&es ; and , while tho right to the seat may be decided fairl y , yet the question of public justice and tho purity of thia house is left

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      uniriquired into . ( Hear , h « ar , and oheerg . ) I propose that upon any address from this house , for any reason it mav choose , be it on the report of an election committ ee be i ' t on tfia report of a select . comraittet appointed by thohousu or be it on merely common fame or notoriety , it shall be lawful for the crown to appoints commission to inquire into the corruption of any borough , and that such commission shall have the same powers as those whioh have been exercised with so much success in the late inquiry at St . Albans . ( Hear , hear . ) By this means thero may be mnny case * in which sufficientevidence will be obtained to enablo the house to disfranchise a corrupt borough . Themembersfortho towns thus disfranchised might then be given to large towns , not to counties . With regard , for example , to Birkenliead and Burnley . If parliament shall agree to disfranchise St . .-,.- ., :-.- , ..- - _

      Albans , we propose to give to eaoh of these two large towns the power of returning the members of the borough so disfranchised . ( Laugbter and cbeerB . ) When I said that this was to be done immediately , I meant to refer to the two seats already vacant for Sudbury , to which will ; be added the others which will be vacant on the disfranchiBement of St . Albnns . " ( Ilear , hear . ) Having Btated all he meant to do in tbe way of disfranchisement , he proceeded to the extension of tbe suffrage . There were , he thought , two grounds on which a wideextension of the suffrage might be proposed both in towns and counties . At tho time of his first Reform Bill it was thought safe not to go lower than £ 10 ; but tbat having worked with safety to the institutions of the country , he thought "it wa < now time to venture to propose a lower qualification . " ( " Hear ,

      hear , " andjloud cheers . ) His lordship coHtinued , " Thoro is another ground for tbo extension of the franchise , which I confess influences my mind very much , and on which I laid much stress , even when I made a proposition for reform in 1822 , and that is the growing intelligence of the people . ( Loud cheers . ) I could , if necessary , and if I wns not afraid of wearying the house , prove by a reference to statistics , and show by such proofs as the inorease of the s ale of newspapers , the increase of tbe sale of books , and tho increase in tho establishment of schools siuce 1831 , the great advnnco in the intelligence of the people . But I do not think that any proof is necessary , for the experience of erery member of this house , I am sure , will induce him to concur with me , and to say tbat tho franchise which was given by the bill of 1831 , may be made more extensive at

      the present time . ( Loud oheers . ) We propose , therefore , that instead of the franchise being enjoyed only by the occupier of a house or shop of the yearly value of £ 10 , it shall be extended to every occupier of £ 5 rated value . ( Hear . ) Looking at the general returns which we have received , I should sny that in point of numbers the proportion of householders rated at from £ 5 to £ 10 , as compared with those ratad at £ 10 and upwards is as six to ten . It is clear then , that when v » e lower the franchise to £ 5 rated value , we add a great number to the persons entitled to exercise the franchise . ( Hear , hear . ) I am of opinion that the franchise can be safely entrusted to them . ( Loud Clieera . ) I am convinced that it is . a class to which such interests can be committed with perfect safety , and whose intelligence entitles them to the exercise of the power which we propose

      to give them . ( Cheers . ) With regard to counties , I do not propose to mako any change in that which has been the general constitution of this house , although the representation of counties has been plaoed on a different basis to that of cities and boroughs . The greatest change in this respect was made in the Reform Act , and which was introduced by a noble lord , then a member of this housethe present Duke of Buckingham . -What we originally proposed was that the principle of tenure' should be preserved , and that 40 s . freeholders and holders of copy , hold tenureB should receive the franchise , not losing sight of the difference between the qualification for counties and cities , the one being founded on tenure , and the other on occupation . But tlio noble lord proposed and carried by a majority of thia house that the franchise should be given

      to occupiers of £ 50 a year in counties . I thought that in that instance the deliberate opinion of the house was not obtained , but as it is I think that that qualification may be lowered to that whioh entitles a man to sit on a jury . A person occupying a tenement of £ 20 rated value is qualified to serve on a jury , and I think that a person qualified to sit on ajuvy'is not unfit to have an interest in tbe elective franchise . ( Loud cheers . ) How far this proposition way oxtend the number of' voters in counties I am not prepared to say , but at leaBt I am sure it will not give the franohise to a class in whom wo cannot place confidence . ( Ilear , hear . ) We propose to reduce the qualification in copyholders and leaseholders from £ 10 to £ o . Another right of voting which , wo propose shall be given indiscriminately to electors either in counties or boroughs ,

      is , that when a voter resides without a borough he may vote for the county , but if he resides within a borough he " shall have a vote for the borough , provided in both cases that he pays any direct taxes as assessed taxes or income tax to the amount of 40 s . a year . ( Hear , hear . ) I do not propose that the possession of licenses shall give this right , because that may open the door to abuses ; but that every person who pays 40 s . in direct taxes snail have tho right of ¦ voting . ( Loud cheers . ) Clauses will l ) e framed in the bill I propose for this purpose . The reason for granting this franchise has been founded on an objection which ba < been made , and not without cause , tbat while all persons ) possessed of freehold property , or are occupying householders , are entitled to the franchise , there is a class of well-educated persons who , being possessed of neither of tliose

      species of property —( hear , hear ) -have no votes , and we hope to bo able to give votes to that class , and to give thorn an nterost in the representation of the country . ( Loud cheevs . ) " Lord John then proceeded to a valorous , if not discreet defence , of the small boroughs , and to combat the idea that the franchise should be commensurate with either property , intelligence , or numbers . " Neither Mr . Pitt nor Mr . Fox contemplated the total destruction of tho srmill boroughs . But I find that at the present time there is a great outcry against these small boroughs , but I believo that that outcry , with the , exception ^ certain instances , is founded on a mistaken notion that all the smaller boroughs are infected with bribery and corruption . I say that this is a mistake . ( Hear , hear . ) I believe that while bribery and corruption do exist in many small boroughs , somothins

      may bo said as to the existence of bribery and corruption in the la' -ger towns —( hear , hear )—and that these will be found not at all peculiar to the smaller boroughs . ( Loud cheers . ) On tho other hand , I believe that thei'e are many of the smaller boroughs in which bribery is not known , and in which elections are conducted with a total absence of corruption . ( Hear , hear . " ) Notwithstanding this purity , however , his lordship could not ignore another awkward fact connected with them , though he admitted it reluotantly . " But it is said—and certainly with truth with regard to many of these small boroughs—that not only doe ' s the influence of property prevail , not only does property influence elections , but that often the influence of an individual by that means becomes so overwhelming , as in some boroughs to cause them to approach the character formerly given to

      those boroughs in which direct nominations used to exist . ( ' Hear , hear , ' and cheers . ) I think it desirable that this reproach should be taken away —( hear , hear)—for though we may for the present leave such boroughs withoutdisfranchisement , Btill , while they are subject to such a reproach and such odium , it renders it doubtful whether , at a future time , they can be retained in the enjoyment of the franchise . I propose , therefore , in a certain number of boroughs where it appears that such an influence prevails , to add . them to neighbouring towns in the same county , or , if necD 3 sary , in another county . The line which will be taken will not be founded on the test which was adopted under the Reform Bill—namely , the extent , of population , the number of houses , or tho amount paid to the assessed taxes , because wo now have more convenient tests . At the

      time of the Reform Bill I stated that , in my opinion , nearly all the small boroughs were supposed to have not less than 300 voters ; but while this was generally the case , it appears tbat fourteen have less than that number ; upwards of thirty more have less than 400 , and several others have less than 500 electors . When lam speaking of electors , I mean permanent occupiers of houses of £ 10 rating , and freemen holding tho franchise" which they retained under the Reform Bill . We propose that all boroughs containing 5 QQ electors should bo retained , hut to add places to all boroughs whioh contain less than 600 householders of £ 10 rating . The number of boroughs to which this principle is applicable is sixty-seven—( cheers )—in England and Wales . ( Hear , hear . ) " Which followed gave the very essence of the bi'l , and proved that the noble lord in

      preparing it had studiously endoavoured to frame it in suoh a manner as to prevent any alteration whatever in the character and composition of tho House of Commons : — " But one observation I must make , because it is founded in truth , although tlie effects of this arrsmgement may be viewed differently by gentlemen of opposite opinions . It is thought that the smaller boroughs , except in Yorkshire , are generally in the southern and western parts of the kingdom , and are situated in agricultural rather than in manufacturing and commercial districts . It follows , therefore , that 1 the places which it is proposed to add to tho towns are of ' the same character , and are not commercial or manufac' turing . Tho effect of this arrangement , right or wrong , ' politic or impolitic , is certainly to preserve the same geno-? ral balance of interests which was established by the Re-1

      form Bill . If we disfranchise these agricultural districts , 1 give the right of voting to manufacturing towns in ' the north , we change that balance , and the agricultural ' interest will be depressed and the manufacturing interest ' raised in a corresponding degree . This may be right , and 1 what many gentlemen may wish to gee adopted , but I will ' fairly say that I am not prepared to make any such ar' rangement . We propose to leave the general interests as ' wo find them , and not to disturb that balance , ' featful that if we did bo we should provok e a fierco struggle of parties in this house and create a strong opposition to this measuro in the other house of parliament . " This was tbe general purport of tho measure , as regarded the Franchise , and he proceeded to other matters contained in the Bill : — " In answer to a speech of a right hon . friend of mine last year I stated that I attached no value to tho retaining of the present property qualification for members of this

      house—( loud cheers)—that it was easil y evaded , that it was introduced into our- system of representation contrary to its general principles , and that for my part I would willingly see . it abolished . ( Loud oheers . ) Maintaining that opinion I have taken the opportunity of introducing a clause into this bill repealing all the aots beginning with the act of Anne relating to the property qualification of members ; ( Cheers . ) I only propose that members for the representation of England and Ireland should be plaoed in the same position as members for Scotland , and I am sure that no one will think that those members are inferior to any whether as regards property or oharacter . ( Cheers . ) There ia another question which I propose to introduce into tho bill , but ' which cannot be done except in a committee of the whole house . It appears to me that the state of the oaths taken at the table of this house is Buch that they can no longer be consistently retained . ( Great cheering . ) In tbe first place , we make it necessary that members should ab-

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      jure Ja » es II . and his descendants , and enter into particulars with regard to the family of the Stuarts , which are not now necessary , whatever they might have been wh en the first prince of the House of Hanover ascended the throne . Next , an invidious distinction is taken between the oaths of Protestant and Roman Catholic members . It appears to me that the oaths should be such as they both alike c : a take , ( near , hear . ) I oannot see the advantage of malrnir * Protestant member abjure the ecclesiastical supremacy of the Pope , W | len we think it sufficient if a Roman Catholio "jjmuer abjures only his temporal and civil authority . nr « ? f ' - # I Nor do 1 fchink there is any advantage in that thVt * l ° whi obliges Roman Catholic members to declare iuat they will maintain the established laws relating to pro-£ / . ?; anrt n . ° t seek to subvert the Protestant relisrion . op

      «««*?»« ¦ , e 3 taMisbed church . ( Hoar , hear . ) Ifc appears to me that such an oath is entirely useless ( Hear , religion ™ ? e ? lber has no wisb to subvert tho Protestant oathi 9 nnn 0 p 00 Ulterfe , re with the established church , the determined r « n ry ; but if he * <« » to the house with a sfin toSiSrofWi , * ^ established church and a decarrWn ^ oursuni , fH - that oath wi » not P'eventhia ^^ srro ? ffi ^* h ^ i . it H «^ gim to its violation , nndI thweforo \ fvTiS ^ * & ** would be better out of ITrclK ^ & tff ™' ^ ter of surprise to the houao i b * L ^" , " m be n ! ™? i which I shall propose , and ^\ m ClSXJ ^ tho same as that now taken by Romin o , th if y ? ' not inserted the word . « o « tho ^ ffl tn ^ fTchrfath ( Great cheering on the Ministerial toi ) i ? i ? S £ SZL

      etewr that those words were not introduced in order to oon flno the right of sitting in this house to Christian' but with another purpose ; and even now ifc i 8 notorious that ths judges of the land are ready to decide unanimousl y on the bearing of those words , and as to how they are applicable to the question of penalties . I think ifc will be better to have one simple oath , which all members can take , and which will bind them to _ allegiance to the throne , fidelity to thesucce 3-biot > , and which shall not contain such objectionable provisions . " Another alteration was to render re-eleccion unnecessary in the case of a member of tho government merel y changing from one place to another , as from the Solicitor to the Attorney-Generalship . His lordship proceeded to express his faith that exteusion of nolitical nower was consU tent

      with safety : — "I have now for thirty years devote ! great attention to this subject—( loud cheers )—indeed it is more than thirty years since 1 fir-t proposed a measum on the question of reform , and ifc is nearly thirty years since I brought forward a bill on the subject , when I was met by the eloquence and ability of Mr . Canning . Since that time I have been successful , under the auspices of the late Lord Grey and his colleagues , in carrying a large measure of reform ; and I am happy to Bay , that bo far from justifying the warnings and forebodings of Mr . Canning , that measure has tended to the happiness and has promoted the liberty of this country —( 'hear , ' and cheers)—while it has m no respect endangered the throne or any of our institutions . ( Renewed cheers . ) 1 trust that , in proceed , ing further in the same direction , taking care to measure your steps , you will contribute still further to the liberty

      and prosperity of the country , while you maintain the frame of the constitution . " ( Hear , hear . ) Two other bills would be introduced as accompaniments , one to pre « vent the manufacture of fictitious votes in Scotland , to establish a £ 20 franchise in oounties , and a £ 5 in cities and boroughs . _ Another relating to Ireland , in which country as the subject had been so recently considered and settled , it was proposed to reduce the borough fru ch se from £ 8 to £ 5 . Perhaps also it would be necessary to add neighbouring towns to some of the existing boroughs . The noble lord concluded with the following peroration : — " St , I trust that when this enlarged franchise is given , we thall next see the government of this country , in whosever hands ifc may be , consider moat , seriously and earnestly tbe great question of the education of the people . ( Loud crie 3 1

      o f / Hear , hear . ) This question of the franchise is not alien from that other one of providing that the instruction , the education of the people , should be in a-better state than , it now is . ( Hear , hear . ) I am convinced , that if after a measure of this kind , in another session of Parliament , thia house shall consider the means of establishing a really national system of education , they will confer one of the greatest blessings-which can be conferred upon this country —( hear , hear)—a measure for which , I believe , the people are now almost prepared —( hear , hear)—and which , after further discussion , I do trust might be carried with very nearly a general assent . ( ' Hear , hear , ' and cheers . ) I do not propose now , however , to enter further into this subject . I have stated the general provisions of the bill

      that I propose to introduce ; and I n joice that in this time of quiet and tranquillity—( hear , hear)—we can fairly consider ttiiit we are not acting under compulsion of any sort—« ( hear , hear)—that wo are not obliged by any clamour to introduce this measure —( hear , hear)—but that we do ifc in the humble and earnest hope that we may contribute something to the power and the glory of our country . " ( Loud cheers . ) A running five of impromptu commentary followed , though the first speech of Mr . Hume wns scarcely heard ia the noise caused by members leaving tho house , and tho buzzing from the general conversation that ensued . Ho complained of the omission of the noble lord ' s scheme , especially as to the ballot and triennial paiTaments . Ag far as the bill went , bo approved of ifc .

      Sir J . Walsh thought no ground had been stated for reopenirg a question which " it was understood had been finally settled twenty-one years ago , and reminded Lord J , Russell of Sir R . Peel ' s prediction , that the first inroad upon the Reform Act would be made not by its oppone nts , but its authors . One of two consequences would result from this constant meddling with our great institutions ; cither the constitution of the country would be changed to a democratic republic , or the House of Commons would ba rendered unfit for the purposes of government . Mr . B . Berkeley gave credit to the noble lord for giving to tho country something moro than an infinitesimal dose of reform , hut repretted that he did not propose to protect the franchise by the ballot . In the course of the future stages he would move the ballot as an amendment . Mr . P , Howard approved of the bill .

      Sir R . Inolis comjilamed that Lord John Russell had introduced into his Reform Bill questions of a religious character , Biich as the admission of Jews to parliament . With , regard to the extension , of the suffrage , he did not dread ifc so much as formerly , since he had seen the utter failure of universal suffrage in a neighbouring country . Ho objected to the abolition of tho property qualification , as introducing a further democratic eleme&t into the constitu « tion , and separating to a still greater extent power from property . Mr . Bright , judging by the intelligence displayed by the ratepayers between £ 5 and £ 10 a year in local matters , believed there was no danger of the electoral body being deteriorated in character by the noble lord ' s plan , but ha regretted that oare was not taken to prevent the exercise

      of coercive influer . co by large manufacturers and others , who bad many of these smaller voters dependent upon them , by introducing tho protection of the ballot . Ho saw no reasons for lowering the county franchise to £ 20 which did not apply with equal force in favour of carrying the reduction to £ 10 . What reatou was there for saying that the man who occupied a £ 10 house in the country was not as intelligent and as vespoctaWe ns the man who lived in a £ 5 house in a borough ? The noble lord bad talked about maintaining the balance of interests , but the preponderance of the representatives of tho land and opponents of the settled question of Free Trade , which he supposed he meant , was uot a balance of interests , but merely a dead lock to the government . He wanted to know why such places as Thetford and Harwich should send two members , whilo such

      boroughs as Manchester , Finsbury , or Westminster sent no more ? A settlement on such a basis could not be permanent , nor ought ifc to be so . He ur ^ ed the noble lord to oon-8 ider between this and the next stage of the bill the propriety of withdrawing the members from those small boroughs he proposod to enlarge , and apportioning them to the large constituencies , or to new constituencies raised from more populous districts . On the subject of oaths he thought it would be far better to abolish them altogether , substituting , if necessary , a simple declaration . With regard to thegeneral question , he ( Mr . Bright ) must regret that the noble lord had not done more than ho had . Tho noble lord had left open questions which he might as well

      have settled—questions that next session , and in session , after tbat , would again and again be mooted . These questions tho noble lord mipht as well have included in his bills and have settlod them for ever . But , however that might be , an extension cf political rigbts would be given by the bill to some parts of the country and to some classes , which he ( Mr . Bri ght ) believed in his conscience , every man who loved his country would bo anxious to support . ( Hear , hear . ) Ho felt therefore greatly obliged to the noble lord that ho had proposed voluntarily , and when he was under no compulsion , a plan which , though it might i ot bo all that he wished , would , he hoped , nevertheless lead to one that should he better and more satisfactory that it was at present . ( Loud cheers , )

      Mr . H . Baiilie , a Conservative member , made a manly and sensible speech , which ought to have shamed some of the so-called Liberals on the other side . He said he was : not at all surprised if those honourable gentlemen on the opposite Bide of tho houso , to whom reform was an article ot faith , experienced some disa ; pointment that so imperfect a measure should have been submitted to them as a satisfactory solution of the great and important question of parliamentary reform . For his own part , he did not think that reform wa 3 necessary ; but surely a minister of the crown after arousing the feelings and raising the hopes o £ great masses of the people , ought at least to have brought forward a measure calculated to givo satisfaction to those whose expectations he had excited . But assuming , for tho sake of argument , that the statement of the noble lord was correct , and that it was desirable to increase the power of the demooracy in this country , ifc wa ^ not a little remarkable that the very first , the moet obvious , and the most

      necessary measure in order to secure that odjco , naa oeen altogether omitted , nay , altogether ignored , in the bill o { the noble lord . He alluded to a measure for shortening tho duration of parliaments . ( Hear , hear . ) ISO more heavy blow could have been inflicted upon the power of the dc mocracy , than the Septennial Act . By extending the duration of parliaments to seven years , the power of the constituencies had become too remote to exercise its just iu ~ fluence over the conduct of their representatives ; an 4 hence they saw members pursue a very different courae at the commencement of a new parliament , from what they were compelled to adopt at the end of an old one . ( Hear , hear . ) This ho might illustrate by referring to the condnefc of many members of the house ; but it would only ba necessary to allude to that of the noble lord at the head of the government itself . The house would remember that for the first four years of tho present parliament his nobla friend tbe member for Montrose ( Mr . Hume ) , had annually brought forward , with great ability and model ation .

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      MARIONETTE THEATRE . Astnat little piece has just been produced at this divertnfVanlfn ^ 'f ^ "f ^ i " Th

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      QUEEN'S THEATRE . A grand military spectacle , entitled " Shaw , the . Lifeguardsman , " has been produced here on a most extensive male . The principal characters are well sustained by Messrs . Mathews and Harrison ( the clown and pantaloon of the pantomime ) who introduce their celebrated docs to give greater effect to tbe dtmummu The character oT Napoleon is ahly personated by Mr . E . Green , the stage manal n r ni ^^ - 1 SS R 7 \ S 1 ) aw > 8 wife , plays with her rw . « if ? # i l pathos - AUth 0 other characters are fntS ^ - V mp ^ ' P ieC 8 ' which ia ful 1 of hSlv ^ S £ m * T-f ° UpinRS ' Operate combats , is "&ISSSLSL pantOffilme alS 08 tm C 0 Dtinue 310

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      ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION i ° w ¥ ihSS 7 ^ r Bt ? lecture was delivered at this S ' tt' «» Music of Many Natrons , with vocal illustrations , by Mr . Pead . The lecture , from the short space allowed was necessaril y compressed ; but , notwithstanding highly interesting . The general origin of music he oons dered to be religious ; for they found that among the early Christian it was principally ' connected with exercises of religion . From the church it proceeded tothe Btaso , andI in that respect had mado great , piogess . Tbe Italian Bcliool wignt be placed at the head of all the musical world , and among the great masters of it were Cimarosn , and his successors Rossini , Bellini , and Donizetti . He took the ; German schoolmxt , and illustrated the character of their musio by giving •« Tha Alnini . TT ., nt < . r » " « t , h

      the German student ' s song , " Crambambuli , " composed by S . F . ioble . Having given an illustration of the French mueio , he passed on to the English , who , haremarked , were said to have no national music , which was Tery far from the truth . Not to say anything of their magnificent cathedral music , the compositions of Bishop , Loder , Macfarrea , Balfe , Wallace , and others , will sufficiently establish tbe fact of their having a national music , and that of a very high character . Mr . Peed , we understand , received his musical education at the Royal Academy of music , and was in the singing blasB of ' Signor CrivelH . Th ' « gentleman is well calculated to lecture on the subject of music at a popular institution of this class .

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      lh JtamuARY 14 , 1852 . > ^^ THE NORTHERN STAR 7 ¦ ' ¦ ¦¦ — ~ r ~ 7——r ~ z—^^ ^ jiiiji ^ ^ sL •¦ " ¦¦ ' Iiffiiirti j ^ =

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 14, 1852, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1665/page/7/