SCOTLAND.
The Edinburgh Whigs met on Wednesday week at the Waterloo Rooms, to petition Parliament for the Ballot. The meeting was called by the Lord Provost, who took the chair. Among the chief persons present, were Sir James Gibson Craig, Sir Thomas Dick Lauder, Admiral Fleming, the Honourable J. Erskine Murray, Colo- nel Skene, Colonel Kinnaird, and several members of the Town. Council. The Lord Provost opened the business of the aseethig, by stating the single object for which it was called ; and be hoped the proceedings would be conducted with regularity and Order. In this ex- pectation the worthy functionary was destined to be disappointed; for, after Sir T. D. Lauder, Bailie Millar, Mr. J. Erskine Murray, and Colonel Skene, had addressed the meeting, and two resolutions had been carried, a Mr. Fraser rose and said that be appeared as representative of a body of Radicals, who had met on the previous evening at the Calton Convening-rooms. It was understood that Mr. Fraser wished to add a resolution in favour of an extepded suffrage ; but be was prevented by uproar, occasioned by one party declaring that he should not, and an- other insisting that he should be beard. The Lord Provost said that the meeting was called to petition and not to discuss. He would not allow any amendment to be put. He had made that a sine qua non when he consented to call the meeting. Jr. Fraser said that the Lord Provost had gone beyond the terms of his commission.
" Here," says the Edinburgh Observer, "the clamour and confusion in- creased. Mr. ]Fraser insisting on his right to be heard ; and after several inef- fectual attempts on the part of the Lord Provost, Mr. E. Moray, Dr. Browne, &c. to obtain a hearing, the Lord Provost took advantage id a partial subsiding of the noise to put the third resolution to the meeting; when a majority of those present held up their hands for it. Mr. Fraser then, as we understood, put his amendment, that the Ballot should be postponed to the question of Extended Suffrage : when about fifty hands were held up. The Lord Provost declared the resolution carried, and Mr. Fraser sat down. There was here sonic pros. pect of a restoration of order ; but that speedily vanished by another person rising up near Mr. Fraser, when the clamour and contusion was, if possible. increased. After some ineffectual attempts to restore harmony, Sir James Gibson Craig moved the fourth resolution ; and Councillor Anderson moved the thanks of the meeting to the Lord Provost, who declared the meeting at an end."
At a very numerous meeting of the inhabitants of Glasgow, held on the 8th instant at the Baronial Hull, Gorbals, resolutions and a peti- tion to Parliament were carried in favour of the abolition of the Corn- laws. The petition to the Lords to be presented by Lord Brougham, to the Commons by Lord William Bentinck and Mr. Dermistoun. One of Mr. Grote's Ballot• boxes was exhibited at this meeting.
Previous page
