Cbc iftctropott.

in the latest edition of the Spectator last Saturday, we published the following letter trout Lord Durham in answer to a request that his Lord- ship would appoint a day for the presentation of the Westminster Reform Association's address by the Deputation appointed at the meeting.

"Cleveland Bow, 15th December 1838.

" Sir—I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your communica- tion enclosing the copy of an iuldress from the Westminster Reform Associa- tion, and expressing a wish that 1 should receive it from the hands of a deputation.

"I should have been proud to receive the aildress itself, expressive as it is of principles in which I entirely concur, if I had had no cognizance of the proceedings of the meeting at which it was adopted; but these having been reported to the public, I feel it my duty to state, that they entirely preclude me from receiving the Deputation to which you refer. " The Chairman was chosen unanimously, and the meeting voted him their thanks. Ile called upon them to forget strong opinions on the subject of Canada, in order to consider whether they could ' make use of me for the furtherance of their own objects. Other speakers were even more candid in the avowal of their insincerity. Dr. M ade said that, 'as an advocate of Universal Suffrage, he was perplexed; for he did not see how Inc could support an address to one who advocated Household Suffrage.' Yet he did support that address ; and on the ground, as he declared, that I could be made use of as a stepping-stone for the advantage of the Radical party. These senti- ments, and the purposes implied by them, when viewed in conjunction with the address, appear to have been cordially approved. "I have cited the above passages in order that there may be no sort of misapprehension as to my reasons for declining to receive the address. I lay aside, as of no importance, all that passed at the meeting which might be considered personally injurious to me, and confine myself to the manifest con- tradiction between the purport of the address and the objects of the ineetinge The address says one thing, the meeting intended another; and the whole of the proceedings, taken as one act, abounds in evidence of gross insincerity. I cannot be a party, indirectly or remotely, to any such mode of dealing with public affairs. As I ant ever ready to declare frankly what measures Y think desirable, so will I always state my objections to purposes of which I con- scientiously disapprove. If I had merely responded to this address. knowing as I do that many from whom it proceeds entertain opinions and seek objects which I utterly repudiate as destructive to the peace and very existence of society, I should have shared in misleading, not to say deceiving, the public. And that is what I will never do, come what may.

" The address refers to my nnehanged and unchangeable opinions in favour of diligence in the work of progressive reform. This I hold to be the only means by which great natinnal calamities may be averted. I know of no other means by which the true ends of all political exertion may be secured,— namely, the instruction, the respectability and self-respect, and the permanent dignity and happiness of the whole people without distinction of classes. To these great ends, I believe that the stability of the Throne, the security of property, and the prosperity of industry, arc not less essential means, titan the realization lrf those principles which I expressed to the people of Scotland in 1834.

"But I will not pretend igoorance of ulterior designs on the part of those who agreed to the address, which are completely at variance with the objects and principles to ivhiell I have adverted. It becomes me, therofiffe, openly to declare illy disapprobation of them, and my determination to oppose myself as strongly to their execution. as I hope to labour diligently in the cause of safe, attainahle, and therefore efficient reform.

" For these reasons 1 must decline receiving the Deputation. I will not rutt the risk of deceiving any one. There shall he no mistake in any quarter as to toy opinions or objects. 1 cannot inyept support so tendered, or an address so voted. In other circumstance,. 1 should have considered it as an honourable and gratift Mr. marls of piddle confidence. " 1 am..Sir, your most obedient servant, " W. West. Esq.. Hon. Secretary of the Westinin,lir lieform A-smiatioi.''

This letter called forth, on 3Ionday, au explanatory remonstrance from 3Ir. Prom. the Chairman of the 1)eptuation.

" Westminster. :'Cat, sir Ind. tali Peconlier 1838 ".1v Lord—As Chairman of the Deputatihn of the Westminster Iteforni soekt■., appointed to present Cie Address of the Society to your Lordship, 1 Lave tlq. honour to achnowled7.• the receipt of your Lord.Mip's communication of Saturday night. "The Piing:ohm respectfoll- beg to inform your 'Lordship that the Society consists of the electors of Wesimimter. and was formed in the year 1833. for the purpose of attaining 1. nouselmIders Suffrage,

2. Triennial l'arliaments, 3. Voting by Ballot ; and that it never Las ]tad any covert or ulterior object.

"The following are the Pr"lciples mot :kleosiros' advocated IT the West- minster lit.form Society, fully and literally eNtracted from the original pro-

ceidiiis of the Association-

.' rPiXelrI.rs /1:11. MEASrltEF.

" The Vtile he ii1110t.

" %II I'Nte'11 7:1 ..f 111.• So..rra.:.• 10 every thmeadiolder in the Kilf2dom : and omit

r,tornitn.t Ti,, meth! to I'.irtilua•ot ou.:ht to consist or 5,000 electors.

•• • The a.-1-,1 of the 5r11i elm]:" of the .form whieh mikes the payment of rates and 1..•Iiire .1 1.-,;ti. oh, ,Ildi11011 the franchise. " • Tricuoial Parliaments. k•si,a1,iN ■• ref. rot et. 'I....icily:1 Corporations, 1,114,i:111y those and I rvland. •• • .1 repeal of tbo Window all I r■11.11 .0 i!rievonsly liressinzlipou the in- 41401, of the country. • '• The al. not nuyrltscd by known politic sect ie.,. " • The it :ip 01 Knowledtto rotion2,1 the people, loll to st ill.. "tamp-41141y 11140.1 Nenspvers. " • Itelorm of 11.4. Church Estalolisliment. " tic. nols 1.411..v.t. 01i41 in the country fl-T the purposes of Education.

" Yolir loodship, from your long c.perioiee of the proceedings: of public bodie., 1;0,4 I.,• o-,..11 se att. ill,. it is impossilile to pre%clit thceeprcsaioneof nt. it %.trionce w itli ill e mitt rt iind hy a majority of the members : suet t,„• yourrA1,1ii-,o. that if 110. (pinion, of some individuals in a lorLo• moldier are io br cons;i!, r d :is sidlie:ent ground for refusing to receive addl., so- ..ted all but unaninc, l.1, to the collective body, it will always be ill the 1...0 r 01. i eli *Pi 1r11-, .1111.1: froltt coo...it...thins toot he" Or from oil intention, to unllifr the pros: of any Ilaailaa.• lewder large the nii.et-

ing, and 110444.vcr important the proceedings may be to the welfare 441 the couni rv.

"']'lie D. potation appointed by She Westminster Reform Society to Si,present their address to gone Lordship, have direeted a copy of the speech of the mover of the addres,, as taken front the nodes of a short-hand writer, to be forwarded to your LonIship ; and they pia that it Contains the true ground on whirl' the meeting adopted the address. "']'ire Deputation enclose for ■-our Lordship's perusal the Rules for the go- vernment of the society. " I have the honour to subscribe my self your Lordship's most obedient ser- cant, THOMAS PROUT. " To the Right Honourable the F.arl of I-bullion', &c. &c."

(COPY.)-111'1,ES FOR TILE covtatsowsr Or THE WESTMIN.STER REFORM

SOCIETY.

1. That •: a- of W 41111.141.1.,.4.1.1 persons entitled 1.y their tenancy to heCOM41 so, he eligible I, Patal,11..1.■ Ita I, in., nominated nw two members of the society, 2. or not 1.•,- owl shillings per annum p-od by each memlr -i-t wd the tho Treumrer rcceise donations from persons not tieing members. a That a ls• mummy art..int.d; ,Ind that the number of ;mead mec, ieb wt. mein b•., • committ.e ha- given be annually reported to the general body. 4. That m • ecamith.e do eomio of Sr. enty three member.. selected from the differ- ent parishes city and 111,14rty of Westminster. 5. Th.., the C■minintee stall hat .•tbe porter to call together the general body as often as oem -ion may require. 6. licit the C.mmittee have power to appoint a Treasurer from their own body. 7. That the c.immitt..e kwe poier to appoint a Secretary, and of awarding him snob a pad mend for his services from out of the funds of the soeiety as they may consi- der necessary.

'thin on, month after tile 1st of January in each year ; and that the electio t 1)2 v • 9. That the Committee report at least once a year the result of their labours. 10. Tina Ihree members be appointed yearly from the general body to audit the eeouuts of die Tr MIStair.

Lord Durham lost no time in responding to the above.

" Cleveland Row, 18th December 1838.

" Sir—I have to thank you foryour courtesy in communicating to me the Principle., and Measures advocated by the Westminster lijoran Society.'

" I rejoice to receive from you this proof that the insincere, and, in my opi- ion, daavrous purposes avowed by some of those who took so prominent a .art in the meeting to which you refer, are not founded on, or justified by the ublie and recorded declarations of that association. I can, therefore, have no esitatiom after this explanation, in receiving from you an address emanating

the staiety.

" I ton informed and believe, that that society was instituted by honourable nd conscientious men, honestly devoted to the cause of Reform, and of the rue interc-ts of the industrious classes.

" Let we, them take this opportunity of imploring them, at the present poli- ical crisis, to use their well-earned influence with their fellow-countrymen for he purp of deprecating all violence and turbulent proceedings. Let use beg hat they i!I draw the lane of distinction, as broadly as I wish to do for -my- elf, letis honest And sincere Reformers, and those who assume the charac- er with ether and pernicious designs ; that they will inspire thepeople with a lesire Mr practical benefits, and not fir dangerous theories ; aud, above all, that hey will hold1; repudiate all fellowship and communion with those whose • ounsels actions arc not only fraught with danger to the peace of society, ,ut to th anteing even of those whose exclusive interests they profess to

maintain.

" Sir, to thank you personally for the very friendly terms in which row Lave alluded to my public conduct, as I find them recorded in the report of :our speet it, which you have transmitted to me. " Truatia,g e er to deserve your confidence and good opinion, I have the Jammu. to bstvibe ms self; your most obedient servant, DURHAM. " T. Pima, Esq., Chairman, &c. &c."

A letter front Mr. Pruitt, enclosing the address in due form, wound up he etym. ,poudence.

[A few words of continent on this correspondence may be expected 'rum us. It should seem that Lord Durham's first letter was written older a misconception. He assumed, without better grounds than a newspaper report of a few expressions by some of the speakers at the neeting of the Association, that the address was an act of " gross insin- Tritv." Why he should have taken it for granted that Dr. Wade, or %lr.'frott the Chairman, (whose course phrase" make use of " was sus- .eptible an inoffensive interpretation,) spoke the sentiments of the Assoviatioa rather than the address itself, or than Mr. Prout, the mover, toes not appear. It may be conjectured that Lord Durham was eager to rice vent to an tin ire pensie—his resolution not to be mixed up with he Charzh.ts, Republicans, and No-Private-Property-men ; and fancied hat the 'Vest t 'duster address afforded the proper opportunity. The frank leder:16, n that there should be no excuse for mistaking or misre- >resenting his views, is of a kind to win for its honesty the respect if all panics. It stands out in fair contrast with the conduct of the ;miner 'imber of modern statesmen, and more especially of those tow in of.;;!e : would Lord Melbourne, or would Lord John Russell when ,ncoura0;g the Radical advances in 1835, (we do not ask what they you'd do now,) have taken such pains to dispel delusions ? The tem- wrote and business-like remonstrance from the Deputation con- vinced Lord Durham of his mistake ; and the kind tone of his .ecoud letter showed how ready he was to receive correction and to to justice. Taken in connexion with the exposition of the West- minster reformers' political creed in Mr. Prout's communication, Lord -Yourliara's second letter must be viewed as an adhesion to the princi- lles and objects of the Westminster Association ; which, it will be sant. go 'ieyond barren organic changes, and embrace important prac- ical rethrms.]