The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

DEATH OF MR. DALLAS. American advices by the Mricabring Jhe intelli- gence that Mr. George MiShn Dan^ died in Phila- delphia, his birthplace, on the last day of 1884. Mr. rSEas was one of the moat esteemed of American Satesmen, and by his family connection with.several distinguished men in this country, not less than by SSical sojourn in England as American Minister to the Court of St. James, will he be remembered by Sanyfriends among ns with kindly regret and respect, was called to the American bar in 1813, hut his true bent was for politics, and he commenced his distin. nnhlie career as private secretary to Mr. fallatin, who was charged in 1813 tonegottotethe S-, £ "&S the following Mr_ Ganatin was for this Alexander, to whose conr^' upwardg of flfty S ago Having travelled through Europe, for » short time as Secretary of Legation^in Londor> Mr. Dallas returned to the United iwgauiou i Years' practice of his profession SSftS. whicl city he was subsequently mayor. In 1829 he wa^ap- Domted district attorney of Pennsylvania. In 1831 he Selected to the State Seaate, and six years after- wards was sent by Mr. President Van Buren as United States Minister to the Court of the Czar. This post he filled until the Democratic party felt from power on the election of President Harrison, and then returned to private life and the practice of his profession. But in the ensuing Presidential struggle his name was coupled with that of Mr. Polk as a party-cry, and the Democrats elected him Vice-President of the United States in 1844. In 1856, immediately after the signature of the peace of Paris, which closed the Russian war, a difficulty with the United States and England arose, which seriously threat- ened the peaceful relations of the two governments. The "Mosquito question," and the dispute which had arisen concerning the alleged recruitment of American subjects by Sir John Crampton, the British Minister at Washington, gave rise to much angry and dan- gerous feeling. In this crisis Mr. Dallas was nomi- nated to succeed Mr. BuchanaR at the Court of St. James, and the choice of the American Government was at once accepted in England as an earnest of the character with which negotiations would be invested, and a guarantee for the tone in which they could be met. Peace was preserved, and the ripe experience and natural weight of character of the deceased states- man contributed in a large measure to the conciliatory course which brought about the desirable result. Mr. Dallas was a man of polished intellectual attainments, and of high private character.

DENSE FOG IN THE METROPOLIS. Large Number of Accidents. The fog which overhung for several hours the metropolis and suburbs on Saturday has not been equalled in density for many years, and several very serious accidents resulted therefrom. All navigation on the river was completely stopped, but accidents took place to those who were unfortunate enough to be out. About seven o'clock in the evening a man named Richard Edwards, mistaking his road, drove a horse and cart on to the mud bank of the river at Wandsworth. The vehicle was overturned, and the poor man thrown out and much injured, and it was not without considerable difficulty that the horse and cart were extricated. In the Wandsworth-road » collision took place between two vehicles, one of which a carrier's cart, was overturned, and the driver, Joseph Ellis, sustained a severe scalp wound and other injuries. On the line near the Nine Elms goods station a man named Francis Hinton, a poster in the company's employ, was standing, when a train passed, and notwithstanding that he was about fifteen yards off, as one of the detonating fog-signals exploded it struck him in the lower part of his person, inflicting such serious injury that he had to be re- moved to St. Thomaa's Hospital. In the Wands- worth-road a oab was driven against a lamp-post, overturned and smashed'—the cabman, John Edwards, being severely injured. A man named George Shore, aged thirty-five, a driver in the employ of Mr. Riehard- aon, carrier, of Croydon, was proceeding along the Brixton-road, whan, owing to the dense fog, he drove upon the footway near the police station, overturning the, vehicle. The unfortunate man fell to the ground, and a quarter cask of wins coming upon him, crushed and fractured his left arm in a shocking manner. The police did all in their power to watch over the safety of the public, bat in most instances were baffled by the density of the fog rendering them almost power- less to act. In Penton-plaeo a man driving a horse and cart, mistaking his road, came with great force against a lamp near the Manor-house, Walworth, severely injuring the horse. In the north of London, from half-past five o'clock till about half-past nine utter darkness prevailed, and even along those thoroughfares which are on a Saturday night brilliantly illuminated by the innumerable gas and oil lights of the various shops and stalls, it was quite impossible to make way or find out any particular house or offshooting -street. Indeed, all business was at a standstill. A few vehicles persisted in trying to make their way along the main thoroughfares, but a severely cut head and a broken leg reported at the police-stations de- monstrated the rashness of such conduct. I1 rem six o'clock till the fog cleared, the exterior of the stations of the railways presented a very novel and rather picturesque appearance. Here were stationed, ready for the arrival of each train,a constant array of" lint boys," proffering their services to the befogged way- farers, and it must be admitted that they rendered good and very needful services at, considering the diffi- culties and loss of time of finding one's home, a very ■ moderate rate. Even the getting home from the King's- ■ cross station of the Metropolitan Railway to the ■ Hemingford-road, Islington, which is ordinarily only ■ about fifteen minuses' walk, and involves only two turnings, was a feat that ona of the oldest inhabitants ■ failed to accomplish till after an hour's exploration, ■ and then only by the aid of a couple of torch-bearers. ■ Indeed, the stories told as to how people got through ■ the fog in Islington are, now that it is all over, highly H amusing. Considering the density of the fog, and the length of time it prevailed, very few accidents oc- ■ curred in Islington. The fog began to clear away ■ about half-past nine o'clock, and then only it may be, ■ said ordinarily busy Saturday night properly set in. ■ It is generally acknowledged to have been the densest H fog ever experienced even in London. -L.

I FEARFUL COLLISION ON THE GREAT ■ WESTERN RAILWAY. ■ On Tuesday morning anothericollisiom, more serious ■ in its results than either of the accidents of a similar ■ character which line happened during the last few ■ weeks at Pangbourne, Slough, and at Wallingford- ■ road, took place near the Didcot Junction. To avoid ■ the curve in the line to Oxferd, immediately after H leaving that june/ion s. loop line was constructed some time ago, and the Northern trains which are not ■ timed to stop at that station pass along the loop, which is about half a mile in length, and commences just as Didcot-station is leached. It appears that, between two and thrae o'clock, a narrow gauge goods ■ train passed safely down the loop line at full speed, and when it had reached the main line it ran with H immense force into an upper narrow-gauge goods H train, completely catting the train into two parts, and causing an amount of damage which will entail a considerable loss to the company. The up narrow-gauge train was also proceeding at full speed, and should have, been turned on to the up line of the loop, but from some, unaccountable cause the switchman sent the train along the main line, and the consequence was- that the down train ran into it. As ■ it was dark at the time, the drivers of the respective ■ trains were quite ignorant of the approaching danger, and therefore the collision was most fearful. Several trucks were thrown upon each other and shattered to ■ splinters, occupying not more than the space of one truck. The engine itself was forced completely over ■ one of the trucks, and seven bollocks, which were being conveyed to the London market, were dread- ■ fully mangled, and the poor beasts were jammed in, ■ and their groans were pitiful to hear. In this shocking state they were compelled to remain until ■ daylight, when they were drawn out-and put to death. Besides the trucks that were piled high in H the air, eleven or twelve others were smashed, and the engine and tender were completely damaged and H bent about. As in the case of the previous collisions H on the Great Western line, it is perfectly marvellous H thai the accident did not cause the immediate death H of the engine-driver and stoker, who were bruised and H greatly shaken, but not seriously hurt. Immediately it became known that the collision had occurred H telegrams were dispatched to Paddington, Oxford. Swindon, and heading, and a large posse of labourers were sent from Paddington by a special train, and by daylight several hundred men were engaged at the spot clearing the line* under the direction of Mr. Tyrrell, the superintendent of the line, Mr. Kelley, the district superintendent, and Mr. Higgins, the Superintendent at Paddington, but the work was of a difficult character, and the whole of the northern traffic was worked upon the down line, and the trains were of course delayed. The switchman, whose name is Allan, is spoken of as being a steady, respectable man, and since he has been in the company's service he has received a gratuity of £5 for good conduct. He is a native of Harwell, a neighbouring village, and served in the army during the Crimean war. He possesses several medals, and is in the receipt of a pension from the War-office. The contents of the trueks were scattered about and. damaged, and there was quite a pool of brandy, wine, and other liquors which had been thrown out at the spot.

DESTRUCTION OF H.M.S. BOMBAY: Loss of 93 Lives. Admiral BitMOT'S BBPOBT. The following report has been received from the Admiralty, with a request to publish it:- Her Majesty's ship StrOmboli, Monte Video, Dec. 15,1864, eight a.m. "Sir,-I much regret that I have to report the total loss by fire of her Majesty's ship Bombay. "She left this anchorage under sail at seven a.m. yesterday, when I transferred my flag to the Triton. About five p.m. of the same day I received intelligence that the Bomoay was on fire near the English Bank, or Flores Island, about thirteen miles from this place. I immediately dispatched the Stromboli to her assist- ance, and proceeded myself in the Triton, but so rapidly had the fire extended that the ship had been deserted long before assistance could reach them. The ship's company had been at general quarters in the afternoon till a little after three p.m.; the foremost lower deck guns were then told off for divi- sional exercise, but firing had not commenced from them when about ten minutes after the retreat had been beat fire was reported to have broken out in the after part of the ship about the after hold; the fire bell was immediately rung, and with the greatest order and promptness an abundant supply of water was obtained, but the fire appears at once to have spread with uncontrollable rapidity, which gives me the impression that it originated very close to the spirit room, and that the spirit casks must almost im- mediately have burst and ignited. At 3.35 p.m. the was reported. At 3.52, find- ing the fire was quickly gaining, the boats hoisted out. At four p.m. the boats were out with the exoep-, tion of the second launch, when the flames coming up the hatchways, the awnings and sails having been burnt, rendered it impossible for men to work. The sick had already been passed into the boats, and the rest of the ship's company now followed. At a quarter past four the mainmast went over the side, the boats then being scarcely clear of the ship, and many officers and men were still holding on to ropes alongside and to the fore part of the ship, and others floating on the spa.rs,&c. Soon after the mainmast fell, the stoppers of the anchors fell, and it seems many men who were upon or near them must have lost their lives. The ship was under sail, hove to, when the fire oc- curred, steam not having been up. "At 8.25 the after magazine blew up, and the ship sunk in about eight fathoms. Among the officers Mr. John K. Smallborn, assis- tant surgeon, is the only one missing, and who was drowned alongside. "The French mail packet being at this moment on the point of departure I am not able to give a more detailed report; but I am endeavouring to ascertain the number and names of men missing, which, I am sorry to say, amo-tints to abotit ninety-three; bat, the boats having been picked up by vessels proceeding to, different places, we cannot as yet get a. correct return. -I have the honour to be, &a. (Signed) "OSAS. G. J. B. ELLIOT, Bear Admiral, and Commander-in-Chief. To the Secretary of the Admiralty."

DEATH OF M. PROUDHON. The Paris papers record the death @f M. Proudhon. He had of late years lived in almost entire obscurity, though he had at one time an immense reputation as a writer. The paradoxical eccentricity of his later works tired the patience of his warmest admirers. He passed many years of his life in prison for political libels, and some time ago was allowed to go out of prison for a single day in order to be married. He was a member of the Constituent Assembly, and his name is chiefly known in connection with a pamphlet entitled La Propri6te c'ast le Vol," which for years strained against him as showing that he was for the confiscation o all private property. In reality it was an exercitation in the field of intellectual gymnastics, intended to demonstrate in a sensational way the questionable origin of many large fortunes. Although he never rallied to the empire, he had a certain sym- pathy for Napoleon III., and shortly after the coup d'itat wrote to him a celebrated letter, beginning £ do not argue with those who have powerto proscribe," which, to the astonishment of people at the time, was allowed to be published. He was beyond question a man of great talents, energy, and perseverance. From a childhood of the humblest surroundings, and, in- deed, of the greatest poverty, he made his way to a conspicuous position in politics and in literature. Like Franklin, he worked at the printer's trade, and, like Franklin, too, was remarkable for the indefati- gable manner in which he devoted every spare moment to the task of self-education, and for the rigorous economy which enabled him to live independently upon the smallest means. Proudhon was all for reconstruction of the human system. He was for beginning at the very beginning —doing the whole thing over again. Timid people shrieked in alarm. It was a lost fear. Prondhon's expositions were, for the most part, merely an odd combination of truism and paradox. Thoy laid down It platitude, in order from thence to invite the world to perform an impossibility. His impracticable tarn of mind reduced his abilities to nothing. Greater minds than that of M. Proudhon have often felt in France the deteriorating influences of the same weaknesses. He was a very learned man and a great master of style, but his ideas were so eccentric and generally impracticable that he stood alone. He could never have been the leader of a party. He set people thinking, but had no following. His private life was austere, and his practical morality unexceptionable. .<I..t!.

THE BUILDER'S DISCHARGE NOTE. Continuation of the Strike. At a special meeting of the London Central Com- mittee acting in aid of the strike in the midland coun- ties, against the discharge note, held on Tuesday night in Bolt-court, Fleet-street, telegrams were re- ceived from the strike committees in Birmingham, Coventry, Nottingham, Welaall, Wolverhampton, and other towns, stating that no offioialcommunication had been received by any of the committees from the Masters' Association, or from any individual as- sociated employer, as to the withdrawal of the note; and at meetings of the operatives it had been deter- mined that none of the men on strike should resume work until such official notice had been received of the unconditional withdrawal of the discharge note. At Nottingham a deputation from each branch of the trade had waited upon Mr. Wheeler, the local secretary of the Masters' Association, by whom they were informed he knew nothing official on the subject, and had no power to do anything without calling a meeting of the masters, which hewJuld do. In the meantime one of the associated employers in the town (Mr. Wilmott) has given notice to his late workmen that he has withdrawn from the association, and would take all his men back. It is stated there is a strong disinclination on the part of the large employers to take the men back into their employ who have taken a leading part in the strike, and should this be the case there is reason to fear the strike may be in- definitely prolonged, as the men declare their de. termination that none of their leaders shall be thus sacrificed. A large meeting of the building operatives was held in Birmingham a day or two since, to take the present position of affairs into con- sideration, and delegates were present from the men on strike in the different towns. The men express themselves quite willing to meet the masters when asked to do so officially. The London committee having taken the above statements into their con sideration, resolved to recommend the continuance of the weekly levies until further notice, and that the usual amount of relief should be forwarded this week to the districts on strike. They also resolved that handbills should be printed for circulation through the building establishments in London to the above effect, and stating the present condition of the dispute. It was stated to the committee by the collector of the levy on the firm of Douglas and Sons, Kensington, that he' had been discharged from the employ for s3 collecting. If this statement is confirmed, in accord- ance with a previous resolution of the delegates, he will receive pay from the strike fund until he obtains other employment.

A PRISON WARDER PREYING UPON THE SYMPATHIES OF PRISONERS' FRIENDS. Robert Fitzpatriok, an assistant warder in the Mill- bank Prison, was charged at the Westminster Police- court under the following circumstances Mr. Dennis Powell, chief warder of the Millbank Prison, said that he had been ordered by Captain Gambier, director of Millbank Prison, to bring the accused before the magistrate. There were two charges at present against him of attempted fraud, in the first of which he had by some means obtained possession of a letter addressed by a Mrs. Lewis to her brother, a convict in the gaol, and then had, as it was supposed, by collusion with another prisoner, caused a letter to be written purporting to come from him, which was the subject of the charge. Mrs. Sarah Ann Lewis, the wife of a paperhanger, Said that she had a brother named John Knight in the Millbank Penitentiary. The letter now produced was one she wrote to him on the 1st December, and sent to the prison. About the end of December, on the Wednesday after Christmas Day, the prisoner came to her house and brought her the letter which she had sent to her brother, and with it another written in pencil, which he told her she was to read, and he would wait for an answer. The letter in pencil was as follows:— My dear sister,—I received your kind and Welcome letter, and was- very glad to hear that all of you were in health, as this leaves me at present, thank God for it, but I am sorry to say that I do not get sufficient food here to eat. I have got this kind officer to come to you, and I wish you to give himifil and some tobacco, and I shall be all right. It will be a great comfort to me. I may never have another oppor- tunity of sending to you in this way. He is kind to me, dear sister, and as you should see that he is come from me, I have sent back the letter you sent me last. If you give him what I have sent for to-night I shall get it in the morning. So no more at present. Send me a note back." (No signature.) When prisoner gave witness the above letter he said he waa an officer at the prison, and had brought her her own letter to convince her that he had come from her brother, and that the letter in pencil came from him. Witness was exceedingly glad to hear from her brother, and her husband asked prisoner up-stairs, where they gave him something to drink. Witness's husband then told prisoner that he could not afford to send the pound, as he had only jast buried his wife's mother, who died on the 24th of September, and witness wrote to that effect to her brother, and gave it to the prisoner. Mr. Arnold asked witness if she knew whether the note was ill her brother's handwriting1. Witness replied that she did not. Mr. Powell said that both this and the letter in the second case were fabricated by the prisoner. The second letter alluded to was handed to the magistrate, and was as follows :— Sir,—I am requested by John Goron to inform you he has applied for you to visit him, an order for which you will receive in a few days. He wishes you to send him R3 in half sovereigns by return of post. The reason he wishes it so soon is he will fee able to let you know when you visit him that he received it all right. When you come you are to ask him if he received your last letter. He will answer Yes," by which you are to understand he got the money all right. You will also write a few lines to him, which I will hand him with the money. You will understand that In by sending this for your friend I am running a very great risk. I trust you will follow the directions given, and all will be right with both of us. I enclose an addressed enve- lope, so you can slip the note in, and there will be no mis- take. Be sure to write by return of post, and register the letter.—I am yours, ROBERT Fitzfa^bick, for John GORON. The above was sent to Goron's brother-in-law. Mr. Arnold said that the prisoner was liable to six months' imprisonment for the offence of taking letters into the prison (the form of the charge in which the accused had been brought before the magistrate to prevent the necessity of a warrant). The evidence de- veloped a most disgraceful and serious offence, that of preying upon the sympathies of the poor friends of persons in the gaol. He then inquired how long the accused had been engaged in the prison. Mr. Powell replied only eight inoath3. He was a quartermaster-serjeant receiving a pension of 2s. 6d. per day. He could state from his experience of the twenty years he had been thera that prisoner had carried in more tobacco than had otherwise gone in during the whole time he (Mr. Powell) had held office. Mr. Arnold said that the prisoner ought to be pro- secuted for endeavouridg to obtain money under falsa pretences from the friends of persons in the gaol. He should remand the prisoner for a week, and the prison authorities had better obtain the assistance of the Home Office to prosecute the accused with effect. The Prisoner, who did not deny the charges, was accordingly remanded.

ATTEMPTED MURDER. OF A LOVER AT MACCLESFIELD. On Wednesday John Gill was brought before the Macclesfield borough magistrates on a charge of shooting at Frances Leah, his sweetheart, on the 9th inst. The complainant waa brought to the Town- hall in a cab, and while she was in court had to be supported by several female friends. Her head and face, where the pistol shot had taken effect, were bandaged, and it was with the greatest difficulty that she could speak.. She deposed that she had kept the prisoner's company for the past two years. They had quarrelled several times, but until Sunday night week had "made it up again." On that evening she told him that she did not want him. He then asked hec if she intmlded to have any one else. She replied,' "Yes, if I think I can mend myself." Prisoner rejoined, No, you shall not." She tiald him that the things he had given her she would le-av,, at h r mother's house, and that they would be ready for him if she would call at her mother's house on Monday night. She left the presents that he had from time to time made her on the table at her mother's house, to- gether with the following letter, she and her mother deeming it prudent for her to go out of the way:— deeming it prudent for her to go out of the way:- John,—I hope that you will excuse my absence this even- ing. It will be much better for u-3 not to meet again. I trust that this will be sufficient to satisfy you of my in- tention. Do not blame any one: it is all myself. I hope that you will forgive me. You may get some one that you may be happy with. I wish you no harm. I do not wish to see you, as it would only cause us more grief. I once more entreat you to try to forget the past. I must say farewell for ever. All that belongs you I have left on the table, but your books you can take down yourself. I will ee^d you the money for the bonnet at the week end. If I hai~e over- looked anything, you can have them. Good night! God bless you. The complainant fainted several times whilst giv- ing her evidence, and the prisoner was deeply af- fected at several points of the case. It appeared that, instead of calling at the complainant's mother's hoase for the love presents he had made her, he waylaid her whilst returning from a revival service at the Macclesfield Sunday-school, and persisted in accompanying her home. His behaviour was so wild and excited on the way that she charged him with having some dangerous weapon about his person, and intending to do her some bodily, harm. He denied this, and she then put her hands on his pockets, but felt nothing suspicious. Before they ar- rived home, however, his conduct became more strange and excited, and in order to appease him, she told him that, if he would do neither himself nor her any harm, she would have him. He then said that her mother, he was sure, would never forgive him for what he had said to her. Complainant promised, however, at his request, to ask her mother to forgive him. They then both went into the house, and sat down by the fire with complainant's mother, aunt, and little brother. As complainant was crying, her mother told them that the acquaintance should be broken off. that she would have no more such nonsense. Complainant then begged of her mother to forgive John, but she said she should not. The prisoner then pulled out a pistol, shot the young woman on the side of the head, and then ran away. The wounds inflicted were of a dread- fat, though happily not dangerous character. The complainant's mother and other witnesses gave corroborative evidence, and the prisoner was com- mitted to take his trial on the charge at the next Chester assises.

THEJJrnMBERS FOR BIRMINGHAM AND THEIR CONSTITUENTS. On Wednesday evening Mr. Soholefield and Mr. Bright paid their annual visit to their constituents, and addressed a densely crowded meeting in the Town-hall. Both the hon- gentlemen met with an on- thnsiastic reception. The Mayor briefly opened the proceedings. Mr. Soholefield then rose and said It was not often that ho had had the honour of addressing them on the last occasion of an expiring Parliament. It was impossible for him to say what were the intentions of her Majesty's Government. They might content themselves with the budget, and the usual odds and ends of legislation. They might, on the other hand, bring in, if not a great measure, at least some measure of reform for the purpose of going to the country with an election cry. He considered that the Government had culpably neglected their pledges in 1859, but he still felt for them a vague respect for what they had previously done, and trusted that they would at least endeavour to meet the exigencies of the coming elec- tion (cheers). He must admit that the Government of Lord Derby boldly and sincerely brought in a Refdrm Bill, dangerous as it was in many respects, on which they staked their existence, whilst the present Government, in spite of their loud professions, had abandoned their bill, alleging the apathy of the people as an excuse. He believed, however, if Mr. Gladstone would act up to the views which he had ex- pressed last session, the people would at once rally round him, in spite of the alleged apathy, which some ascribed at the time to the example of France and Amerioa. He deprecated any measure of ingenious contrivances, and with this opinion he had always voted for the bills of Mr. Locke King and Mr. Baines, rough and ready as they were. With respect to inter- vention in foreign affairs, he was prepared to lay down the rule that they ought not to interfere in the in- ternal affairs of other countries; but he would not advocate the principle that this rule should be adhered to solely on commercial considerations. There was another subject which he rather desired to avoid discussing on the, present occasion; but, in order that there might be no mistake, he must reserve his discretion if there should arise a necessity for taking Parliamentary action on the question of recog- nising the Southern States (cheers and hisses). In conclusion, he thanked the constituency for the confi- dence which it had so long reposed in him, and which he hoped he should continue to enjoy (cheers). Mr. Bright, who on rising was greeted with several rounds of oheers, said: When my colleague and myself had the pleasure last year of meeting you in this place there was one subject which was pressing upon the minds of all of ufi, and causing us great disquietude we were encompassed by rumours of war. A small Stats in the north of Europe was surrounded by diffi- culties—mainly, I am afraid of its own oreation-and yet was assailed with what was considered almost a savage vindictiveness by a powerful people, comprising one grea,t empire and several kingdoms. We were not disposed to go into that contest and to mingle in the war; and my hon. colleague spoke in the most em- phatic language against the idea that we should enter into n war, first with Germany, and perhaps after- wards with some other states in Europe, on behalf of Denmark, and I said that any Government in Europe tha.t plunged us into war for the sake of the integrity of Denmark would deserve not only the condemnation but the execration of the people (cheers). How we escaped we hardly yet know; some say that the Queen was very much opposed to the war, as doubtless she would be opposed to anv war which she believed could possibly be avoided. For that I am grateful to the Queen (chsers and laughter). It has been said that we owe peace to the younger members of the Cabinet —chiefly to Mr. Gladstone (cheers). If that be true, I tender my thanks to that majority of the Cabinet (cheers). Some say that the unusual speculative monetary engagements and investments of last year made all the moneyed interests of the country lock on the prospect of war as something absolutely appalling and ruinous. If that be so, I tender my thanks to the moneyed interests of the country (cheers and laughter). But during the session the question was incessantly discussed, and the Government exhibited its usual feebleness and the Opposition its usual folly (cheers and laughter). My own opinion is that, taking the events of the last few years—the war in Italy and in Denmark, in which we took no part, coupled with the debate of last session, and the great division which took place on this question- think I am not much mistaken in pronouncing this theory of the balance of power to be pretty nearly dead, if it is not quite dead and buried (cheers). It is impossible to enumerate the sufferings which this theory has entailed on this country. It rises up, as I think upon it, as a ghastly phantom, which during the last 170 years-during which its worship has prevailed in this country—has loaded the nation with debt and taxes, and has sacri- ficed the lives of hundreds of thousands of English- men. It has desolated the homes of millions of families, and it has left us, as the result of the profli- gate expenditure which it has cost us, a double peer- age at one end of the social scale, and far more than a double pauperism at the other (cheers). We may now rejoice that this foul idol—fouler thau any heathen ever worshipped-has at last been kicked out, and that one superstition the less has hold of the minds of English statesmen and the English people. if we are not next session to have the question of Denmark, nor the question of Italy, nor the question of America, what is it that we are to discuss ? It is quite clear, to me at least, that whether we have more disposition or not, we shall have a good deal more time to discuss matters of home affairs. What is the question which, at Torquay-whore a number of noble- men and gentlemen enjoyed a good dinner, and made some very foolish speoebes-Lord Devon, copying the language of his leader, Mr. Disraeli, said was looming in the not distant future ? What is that question P— which will not go to sleep. Let me remind you of this, that really great, questions, which affect the true and lasting interests of millions of men, can never be laid fast asleep, but that, somehow or other, they come up again. There is a startling example of this i-n what is now taking place in the United States. For thirty years past the statesmen of the United States have voted the negro to be a very great nuisance; they would not talk about him, and they swore each to silence. The negro's business was to grow rice, sugar, and cotton, and not to give trouble to Congress: so they determined to bury that question, and they con- gratulated themselves that it was buried. But now you see the North and the South engaged in deadly conflict, and the negro standing forth before the world, rubbing the marks of the branding iron from his forehead, whilst the shackles which have so long oppressed him are dropping from Lis limbs, and every day becoming more and more a free man (cheers). So here there is a question that will not be put to sleep; it is the question of the admission of the people of this country to the rights which are guaranteed by every principle, by everything which is comprehended in the constitution of this United Kingdom. That bill— that question—is not dead; it takes shape again, and somehow or other, the Tories, and those Whigs who are like Tories—(laughter) —entertain uncomfortable feelings, which approach almost to a shiver (cheers and laughter). Now, what is this apparition which alarms them ? They are afraid of the five or six millions of grown-up Englishmen—men who are allowed to marry, to keep house, to rear children— men who are expected to earn their living, who pay taxes, who must obey the laws, who must be citizens in all honourable conduct-they are afraid of these five or six millions, who, by the present system of representation, are shut out, and insultingly shut out, from the exercise of the elective franchise (cheers). I ask you, men of Birmingham, who are a fair repre- sentation of the great mass of the five or six millions, why you should be thus treated in your own land (cheers). You know our boast of what occurs when a I' negro slave lands in England. One of our best poets says that "If their lungs but breathe our air, That moment they are free." Î (cheers) ? They touch our country snd their shackles fall; but what is the case with respect to an English- man? An Englishman, if he goes to the Cape, can vote; if he goes to Australia, he can vote; if he goes to the Canadian Confederation—to our grandest colo- nies—he can vote. It is only in his own country, on his own soil, where he was born-the very soil which he has enriched with his labour and the sweat of his brow—that he is denied this right, which in every community of Englishmen in the world would be brow—that he is denied this right, which in every community of Englishmen in the world would be freely accorded to him (prolonged cheering). I agree very much with the gentlemen at the Torquay dinner as to the apparition which alarmed them, but I hope did not disturb their formidable and robust digestion (laughter)—this apparition is not a pleasant one: this state of things is dangerous, and one which cannot perpetually last. It may happen that the eves of the 1 Ifive or six millions ail over the kingdom may be fixec with an intense glare on the doors of Parliament. It was so in the years 1831 and 1832. There are men in this room who felt then, and who know now, that it required but one spark to the train, and this country would have been in the throes of a revolution; and these men, who are so alarmed at the proposition to give a .£10 vote for counties and a iJG vote for boroughs, would have repented in sackcloth and ashes if they had given a vote against Earl Grey's Raiorm Bill. Acoidents are always happening, not only to indi- viduals, but to nations. It was the action of the French Revolution, in 1830, that precipitated the great movement in this country. There may be accidents again, and I don't hold that to be statesmanlike which allows the security, the tranquillity' the loyalty of a people to be disturbed by aocidents over which they can have no control (cheers). If these five or six mil- lions of people once unitedly fix their eyes with a8 intense look upon the doors of the House of Commons, I ask, who shall say them nay P (cheers). Not the mace upon the table of the Hoitss—not the four hun. dred easy gentlemen who lounge in and out of that decorated chamber under the same roof (laughter)- not a dozen gentlemen who call themselves statesmen, and who doze in Downing-street—not even a power more appalling and more menacing that has its lodg- ment higher up Whitehall. I say that, as opinion now stands, there is no power in this country that can say nay for one single week to the five or six millions, if they are intent on making their way within the walls of Parliament (cheers). I am charged, as you know, with having too little reo. verence for the authorities of this country. Some have even dared in the newspapers to charge me with disloyalty to the head of the executive of this country; but there is one disloyalty which I hold to be worse than this-worse than turning back en the Crown and on the peerage—and this is disloyalty to freedom and the people. If representation be not an art-and who in this country shall say that it isP—what is the use of all these tricks, not to complete represen- tion, but to evade and escape it (cheers) ? What is the representation which we consider the foundation of liberty? If all the five or six millions were as- sembled on Salisbury Plain to deside a public question, the body would be too large for business, and chaos would come. It has therefore been resolved that peo- ple in different localities shall send men to meet at a certain time and place, and to act honourably, in the face of God and the country, on behalf of the true and solid interests of the nation. But if you did de- cide a question on Salisbury Plain, the majority must carry the day; and if you split the nation tip into constituencies, the majority must carry the day (cheers). I will ask you to tell me what the people of Torquay are afraid of. In almost every sentence uttered something is said of our institutions, and it comes out that "our institutions" are ChMMh and State. Now, a man must be a blockhead beyond all power of argument to suppose that in this great community the ministers of our free Churches and of the dissenting sects would be less thought of than t'hey are at present, if their fears should be rea- lised. What they fear is this: they seem to have a notion that some institutions which have come down from the mediaeval ages—from what some people call the dark ages—may not permanently harmonise with the intelligence and the necessities of the nineteenth century in which we live. Our institutions are safe enough, if the Government be in the hands of the in- stitutions and if the peerage and Established Church are to rule in England, I feel sure the peerage and the Established Ch-irch, in their present condition, will be permanently safe (cheers). And so I may say of patronage; if it is GO be dispensed perpetually amongst the ruling classes, they will take care of the patronage. Many men look upon patronage as a holy and untouchable thing. Hosea Biglow says:- It's something like a fulfilling the prophecies When all the first families are in all the best offices." (Loud laughter and cheers.) But I protest against the theory that the people of this country have an unreasonable desire to shake or overturn institutions which they may not theoretically approve of. Do these parties know what they admit by the expression of this fear ? I am also told that the people like the House of Lords very much. I have never thought it worth while to contradict this, for I am content to live under the institutions which the intelligence, the virtue, and the experience of my countrymen, partly represented in Parliament, have determined upon. Is it true that the people are against the Church ? Do they fail to hear with respect any one who acts as a Christian minister ? If it ia the Chureh of the poor man, it is the poor man who ought to know it; and can you imagine that the people, acting through their representatives, would da anything with regard to that Church which would damage its utility as a Christian institution, or make it less honoured or less influential in the spread of Christianity amongst the people of these islands ? Why are they so afraid oi the people P If there should be a million more electors —and I believe that the last bill only proposed to admit half a million—is there any single interest that deserves the slightest consideration which a million electors, joined with the present million, would com- bine in Parliament to destroy? I take it that the Crown—the most venerable of the institutions—is not opposed to the admission of this million for on two occasions the Queen has signified to Parliament her consent to it. I believe that the people are grossly slandered; for since the power of the Crown was limited, 200 years ago, and since the power of the nobles was limited thirty years ago, good Government has gained greatly, that the people, in all circum- stances, are better off; and I am quite sure that their respect to the Crown is more general by far than it was before. But our constitution involves a representation of the people, and in asking for this reform we stand upon a foundation irom which no argument and sophistry can ever remove us. Tho House of Commons is, in reality, the only guarantee we have for freedom Last your eye over the face of Europe. There are only two considerable States that have not any repre- sentative imJtituHon- Turkey and Russia; and Russia is now making progress in freedom equal to the powers of any other State in Europe. Representation is found in Italy, in Austria even, in almost all the Ger- man States, in the Northern States, in Belgium Hol- land, France, Portugal, and Spain. It is found all over the American continent; it is also a firmly settled institution in Australia. Englishmen everywhere but at home are received in the bosom of this great, per- manent,undying constitution and safeguard for human and national freedom; but here'they are slandered, they are insulted, they are reviled, they are shut out. They are invited to have a hundred ways of amusing themselves; but if they stand at the House of Com- mons or at the poll, and see their richer brethren go up to vote, they are not allowed to register their names in favour of principles for which their fathers before them and themselves have sighed in many a bitter hour of disappointment (loud cheers). I would change all this. I speak out of no hostility to any class or to any institution. That man who proposes to exclude permanently five millions of hl" How- countrymen from the rightc which the •vi:;>-i;ih.!tion of his country makes sacred in his eyes, I sav that is the man who separates England into two n v-Ans, and makes it impossible we should be wholly and perma- nently a contented people (loud cheers). I demand this, then, which is but the right of the constitution, that the House of Commons shall be made freely and fairly to represent the Commons and the people of the United Kingdom. I want to know why it is that our people should not be free (cheers). Who is there that will meet me on this platform, or who will stand on any platform, and will dare to sav to an open meeting of his fellow-countrymen, that this million for whom I am now pleading are too ignorant, or vicious, or de- structive to be entrusted with the elective franchise P I, at least, will never thus slander my countrymen. I claim for them the riubt of admission, through their representatives, into the most ancient and venerable Parliament which at this hour exists amongst men, and when they are thus admitted, and not till then, it may be truly said that England-the august mother of free nations—herself is free. (The hon. gentleman resumed his seat amidt loud cheers.) Mr. Alderman Thomas Lloyd then moved the fol- lowing resolution.—" That the best thanks of this meeting are due, and are hereby given, to Messrs. Soholefield and Bright for their addresses; and this meeting also desires to express its unabated confidence in them as the parliamentary representatives of the borough." The motion was seconded by Mr. J. S. Wright, and carried unanimously. The meeting then separated. ——— —;