VOL. 74.-No. 4.] LONDON, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22ND, 1831.

REFORM BILL.

Kensington, 18th October, 1831.

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[Price Is. 2d.

count of the interview, was kept a profound secret from the public, until Saturday morning, though a sort of vague paragraph in the Courier of Thursday evening had told us that something of the sort had taken place; but had told it us in such a way as to make me, at any rate, attach no importance to it. But some one of the deputies, apparently very discontented at the result of the interview, communicated the whole affair to the Chronicle on the Friday; and In my last Register, which I closed thereupon the following appeared in the on Thursday evening, I brought my Chronicle of Saturday morning: "On history of the events, as far as my Wednesday night, at about a quarter knowledge extended, down to that even- to eleven, a deputation of seventeen ing; but we now find that something" gentlemen from the different parishes, very material had taken place on Wed- "headed by Mr. Carpue, waited on Earl nesday night, which was as follows. Grey on the subject of the memorial. Deputies from the great metropolitan pa"The result of their interview was the rishes met about eight o'clock on Wed- ascertaining that Parliament would nesday evening, at the Crown-and-An-" be prorogued till after Christmas, that chor, agreed to a memorial to Lord GREY, no more Peers would be made, that a and appointed one deputy from each" conciliatory bill would in the interval parish to wait upon his Lordship im-" be prepared, of a nature to obtain the mediately with a memorial, which me- suffrages of a majority of the Lords morial was in the following words: "The deputies, we understand, assured "his Lordship that the people would be " content with Lord John Russell's bill. "His Lordship answered that it would "be absurd to think of again proposing "Lord John Russell's bill-that Mi"nisters would not think of bringing in "That they bave heard with astonishment a bill which they knew would not be that it is intended to prorogue the Parliament, and not to re-assemble it again till after "carried-that, however, the people Christmas. might rest assured they would support no bill which would not secure to the to a prorogation for seven days, his people their constitutional rights. As Lordship said it was quite impossible "to be prepared with the bill in that time-that the framing of the bill "would require much attention, and occupy much time. This is, we understand, the substance of what passed at the interview."

"To the Right Honourable Earl Grey,

The Memorial of the Undersigned "Sheweth-That your Memorialists are resident in various parishes in the metropolis, and have considerable knowledge, and some influence in their several localities.

"That they should neither do their duty" to themselves, to their country, nor to the Government itself, if they did not assure your Lordship it is their firm conviction, that unless the Parliament be prorogued for the" shortest possible period (not exceeding seven days), and that the bill for reforming the Parliament, which has passed the House of Commons, be there again introduced, and the necessary means be adopted to secure its becoming the law of the land, this country will" inevitably be plunged into all the horrors of a violent revolution, the result of which no one can predict.

"And, therefore, most urgently implore your Lordships' immediate attention to this

memorial."

This memorial, together with the ac

The Chronicle is but one paper, out of several; and, therefore, this disagreeable intelligence was but very partially known on the Saturday, and would not have been known throughout

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the country for a long while, if ever, if" statement so strongly calculated to the following circumstance had not "throw a gloom upon the public mind. arisen to give it publicity. I happened," If the livery forbore to act in such an on the Saturday afternoon, to go to the "emergency, they might be charged Guildhall to give my vote in the elec-" once more with indifference to the tion for Lord Mayor; and a friend, who "passing of the bill, and by-and-by very had been talking with me about this "little more might be heard about interview with, Lord. GREY, suggested" Parliamentary reform." ,the propriety of my remaining to the This report got into the papers of the close of the poll of that day (which was Sunday, and was copied into all the pathen close at hand), and taking an op- pers of the Monday, in consequence of portunity of communicating the intelli- which, and of the great sensation which gence to the immense multitude as had been produced by this extensive sembled in the hall; and in the hearing publicity, the Courier of Monday conof numerous reporters. This I did, and, tained the following explanatory and according to their report, in the following exculpatory paragraph words:"He would avail himself off In the first place, every part of the that opportunity of communicating to conversation at the interview respect"the livery the state of the question of "ing the well-founded complaint of reform as it regarded his Majesty's" Earl Grey at the attempted diotation "Ministers. There appeared in the" of the Memorialists—and with referMorning Chronicle of that day a" ence to the importance of maintaining "publication respecting a deputation "public order is omitted, and on the from the parishes at the West End of subject of the prorogation and the "the town. It stated that Lord Grey" Reform Bill, Earl GREY is represented had intimated to the 'deputation that "to have said that the Parliament would "the prorogation of Parliament would" be prorogued until after Christmas, "continue till after Christmas; per-" and that no new peers would be greated. haps that might be twelve months "We beg to assure the Chronicle that hence (cries of "Oh, oh!"); that "Earl GREY did not so express himself, the same bill, for which the people" and that its informant could only wished, was not to be introduced, but "have inferred what he has stated, from that a bill was to be substituted of a" the general tenour of Lord GREY's modified character, tending to concili- observations an inference with which ate the majority of the House of "some other members of the deputation "Lords, who were the decided enemies" may not agree. Earl GREY could not of reform. (Loud groaning.) The "have said that the Parliament would "Minister also replied to the anxious" be prorogued until after Christmas, "question of the deputation as to the" because at that time, although anxious "creation of new peers for the purpose "for a long prorogation, in order to "of carrying the bill, that it was not "effect with greater ease the plan prothe intention to create new peers, posed for the success of the new bill, (Groans.) He would not vouch for" Ministers had not agreed as to the time, "the truth of the statement he had just " and we are informed that his Lord"made upon the authority of the Morn-" ship merely spoke of the impropriety ing Chronicle, but 'So help me God,'" of so short a prorogation as that re"said he, I believe it to be true.'" commended by the Memorialists, Now, where was the man who, after" without alluding to any particular such intelligence as that, could say " period for the recess of Parliament."that ever the Reform Bill-the people's" In the account which we gave of the "Reform Bill-would pass into a law? interview, we made no comment on

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It was for the meeting to decide upon the abruptness of the intrusion-for "the propriety of sending a deputation "an intrusion it certainly was, no "to Lord Grey, to ascertain from him" announcement of the intended visit "whether there was any truth in a" having been made but as a version

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"of the meeting unfavourable to Earl" prepare the new bill, to afford to the Gny has appeared, we think it right hostile peers frequent opportunities of now to states that his Lordship was convincing themseves of the danger of placed infla situation which might" further resistance to ensure the non*4* have very well excused any reserve on attendance of the bishops, and, perhis-part. On his return from the "haps (but this is mere conjecture), to house-of-al friendy at nearly eleven" create a few new peers some time is "o'clock at night, he found his hall requisite; and we are sure the public *** filled with strangers DEMANDING an will see the necessity of a little pa-it interview. (Not one of these gentle-tience. On the other hand, however, 44men) was personally known to him." it must not be denied that a long re** They ↑ might, for aught he knew tocess may be attended with evils much the contrary, except as to their ex-greater than any which over-haste *ternal appearance, have been a depu- could cause. Of this the Ministry tation from the Rotunda revolutionists are, or ought to be, well aware; for "-or the delegates of a republican.conwithin the last two or three days they * mention ; and reserve, or even rudeness" have had representations on the sub“on the part of the noble Early would "ject, the importance of which was too Mhardly have arrunted surprise The apparent not to produce a proper #deputation, however, were admitted, effect. If Ministers act wisely they in less than two minutes after the ar-" will not think of proroguing the ParMrival of the Premier at his house, to "liament for a longer period than six ~ an interview, of which the Courier of "weeks." Tharsilay gave an account To that *** we now refer our readers; but we

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Monday

Kensington, Oct. 16th, 1881.

SIR,I beg you to have the goodness to insert a few remarks from me on the two following subjects: First, the Courier's criticism of last night on your account of yesterday morning, of the interview between the parochial deputies and LORD GREY, on Wednesday evening last; and, Second, the strange notions of Mr. CUTLAR FERGUSSON and of Sir CHARLES WETHERELL, relative to the supposed crime of refusing to pay taxes in money.

In consequence of this, which ap"think proper to add a fact of which peared, observe, on Saturday evening, we have been since apprised. Earl letter to the Morning Chronicle, which sent, on Sunday night, the following \* GREY heard with astonishment that *part of the mentorial which recom- Appeared in that paper on mends, or rather dictates, a proroga“tion for only seven days, and asked if "the gentlemen wished to drive him “from his Majesty's councils, by re"quiring han to do what was com pletely out of reason, and against his own conviction of the duty which he " owed to the country at large? There is another part of the Chronicle statement which requires explanation. "Earl GREY certainly did say that a *** new bill must be proposed; but he ❝ observed, that if the people would repose confidence in him, and not " embarrass him by requiring what was * impracticable, he had no doubt of "being able to carry a bill quite as efficient as the last. We are assured that the words quite as efficient were used. After what we have said on the subject of the prorogation, we have "no fear of being thought favourable to the idea of a long recess, and will, **therefore, observe that nothing could "be more injudicious than to run into the opposite extreme. In order to

With regard to the first of these subjects, I defy any man living to say that the Courier's criticism damages any one fact that is contained in your statement. That statement amounted to this, in every fair construction of the words-First, that the Parliament would be prorogued until after Christmas; that it would be absurd to think of again proposing Lord JoHN RUSSELL'S Bill; that the bill to be brought in must be such as would be conciliatory,

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REFORM BILL.`

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199 10 40on09msbeim dgid a'zozauo; basiga ni estrgsish to zsiɔsqe taris 992 and such would obtain the suffragestadieu to bearoavthein, mindthe wast of a majority of the Lords ei that there simportance of maintaining public pywould not be a new dreationsof, Peets, dert! nondor,pray Belle, Now, Sing the Courier ddesdnotsdeny lifeyque can, what I were those dangers that Lord Grey saiɖo the Parliament which the hostile veered were 40 lawbald be prorogued until after Christ have an opportunity of seeing what mas; but merely saysgo that though dangers were they eito de in their Lord ONLY anxious for a daigi pro-resistance, as long as publiq.order was Progation held not have stateds the maintainedte La short, Sir, we here period, as the Ministers had not agreed bind nothing but a miserable attempt to upon thatsAs to the second paint, the shuttle away the facts of your inue and Courier says that Lords Gay kays dit plains tale.iv.But again whatarishis Jwill be a bills quite as efficient asdheut quite as efficient se bill quite as effibill of Lord JoHNO RUSSELL (Thengitboiehteld it be quite as efficient in was not to be Lord Jon RussELL'Suppressing the usurpation of the bo5Bvandthat time was required to roughmongers, anshin restoring the peoafford the hostile Peers frequent appor-pple tartbe enjoyment of their rights, why btunities of convincing themselves of the should tie have anything togla in reY danger of further resistance Themas concilings the boroughmangerode it? to the third point, there, might be per-But the truth is, that it may be efficient Haps but this isomere conjectare), dofon bad as well as for good it may be a creation of a few new Peers" ob lao as bill without the two important schedules slud How, then, does this differ from your andt winbout the lol. voting and those account of the matter? Itissubstantially who bring it in may still maintain that the same, and I fon my part, am quite it is quite as efficient a bill sebi vd to satisfied that yours was the correct ac-i So much for the driticism, and now -Count" and this is a mere yarishing for.theounger: against the depu/ation Vover of that which was too ugly to meet clearly expressed in this demigofficial the publie events unvarnished stated defehee of Lord Ganty in which defence But, Swill you be so kind as to help the writer accuses the deputation of an me to discover what times dan possibly abrupt intrusion can tells us that it 10 be required to make a bill as efficient as might have formed a good excuse, hot that of Lord JOHN RUSSELL Dusan itibonly for reserde, but even for rudeness be as efficient without schedules A and unabe part of the mobile Lombwbop when Band without FO// voters/? a These are he came home at elevebooglook at night the things, and the only things that from the house lofsa friend, foundahis the Bishops and the resto ofothes 1994 hall filled with strangers demanding an object to, Alle the rest is of compa-interview" that the adid not know any ratively Rite importance Why, this of them personally, and that they might, scheme was written by Lord Gaer for aught he knew, have bebu a deputasit-and-thirty years ago but, Sirif hetion of delegates from a republican mean to make it conciliatory to borough convention? Now, Sir, in the first mongers, another thirty-six yeafs will place, though not personally known to not be sufficient. Frequent opportuhim, they ought not to have been found ~nities of convincing themselves of the in his hall, in the next place, they came danger" of the bill, they will certainly do solicit and not Job demand, van interChnot want. Bat, Sir, did you not laugh view; they came not to dictate, as this (I am sure you did) when you read in writer says, but to beseeck Jothey were the Courier, that time was wanted to men of property, representing nearly a give the hostile Peers opportunities of million of men, all having property at convincing themselves of the dangers of stake, and all as anxious to keep the further resistance; you must have laughed to see these words put into the mouth of Lord GREY at the very mo ment when he was exhorting the deptu

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peace as bes could be and as to their resembling, or being taken for, a leputation of delegates from a republican convention, I trust that we shall never

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see that species of delegates in England; GUSSON's high misdemeanour, or Sir ut, we should live to see it the hall GHARLES WETHERELL'S high treason. of Doha Greywimagine never be 19 But, it is the combining or conspiring. troubled by an abrupto intrusion from Now, Laminot lawyer enough positively Terdepanation?"I should have passed to say whether a parcel of people actuobver this haughty and insolent language, ally agreeing together for the purpose exceptahit manifestly discovers great of defusing the payment of taxesovpf anger against this deputation; the exact combining together to bear each other egroundofilich anger I must leave harmless and toz thereby induce the you and your readers to surmisestaism main part of the community to imitate of 188 michdfopathes first subject:bnow them; Lamdnat lawyer enough to say bfor the second, Mr. Curuxi Ekets-whether this be strictly legal or not; dog is represented as having said that batsa vam lawyer enough to say this, ip is a highierime and misdemeanour that, if it be illegal, this diss the most for any man to refusedtoipay his direct partial system of Government under the axes and Sir G WETHEREU has gone sun afod that the Quakers have thus -96 far as today thatgif,amencombine or combined and conspired, and have acted conspice for this passosejis being alge-upon the conspiracy, and that, too, in hemp parpoeed they are guilty lotoligh openeddy, for upwards of a hundred reason1990Po be sured this last was said years. Not only do they refuse to pay during sotkeutterance of what Mr.the militia tax, and the tithes, which is 400NELLbover yol aptlowdenominated the same thing as to the argument not seafrolicking rhodomontadebut as only do they conspire for this purpose; where maybe some persons foolish but they openly enjoin it on the whole enough to have their minds influenced Society as a duty to resist such payment by these bold assertionsas letins asee a impmoney they publish annually an acwhittle what iitithesreaholachaud, for in-count of their resistance, and the cost of ostance, have absessed taxes to pay. The itaithey represent the seizures made upfaitakoguthérer ebmes, and I say, I will notson theni as sufferings and they openly sopalylydailand what says the lastsNot make collections throughout their Sonsthar Diam guilty of aomisdemeanonrciety to defray the cost of those suffernot that have committeth any crime dngs. They exhort all men to follow zobut that the taxegatherer shall have the their example; this, therefore, is for power, when he has been duly author a general purpose; and, of course, the nsizedp to donne with a warrant of distress, whole Society is according to Sir idgeizes mylgoodsysands sellothems to the CHARLES WETHERELL, Constantly in the aidahoount of his demand gaand, if I have no commission of acts of high treason, and as goodsy to causegne torbe lodged in jail yet not one man of the hundreds of ill bpay the dmount of his demand. This thousands of Quakers has been prosedis quite tharpnenough quite punish-deuted for this offence in one whole cenment and degradation enough under a tury, though Sir CHARLES WETHERELL glorious & Constitution,which is the has been Attorney-General, during a Je envy of surrounding nations, and the part of that century, islem of age? of admiration of thetoworld, especially of the nonsense and of the impudence bowhen know that a large part of this of these assertions, not another word Suntexist toogo to help to maintain in need be said but, on the motives for luxury Lord and Lady pensioners, while making them I beg room for a short obI am compelled; if bam able, to main servation or two. This, Sir, is the tenntains hot only my own, children, but der part: this is the vulnerable point : viny grandchildren, and great grandchil this is the heel of Achilles, who is every dreng and, if necessary, to sellofor that where else cased in brass or covered purpose the houses over my head, if with ten bull-hides; it is the quiet, it is these my descendants happen to be in is the peaceable, it is the all-convincing enéed of parishy relief Quites sharp argument; and, therefore, Sir, wonder ebbugh this without Mr. CorLAR FER-not, I beseech you, at the extreme a linda w sad taun) Ilusios-bin 287 ad node Jasm

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