The proceedings at the Staines dinner to Mr. Byng were
very briefly reported in the newspapers last week ; but the Morning Chronicle has since published a fuller account, especially of Mr. Warburton's speech, in which the following passage is worthy of attention- " Their cause would triumph under good auspices. By that he meant, that if the Ministry would declare its intention of pursuing such a course as would inspire the Reformers with confidence, they would then cordially unite in sup- port of a cause which they would regard as a common cause, and in that case the Reformers of this county would have no difficulty in defeating their political adversaries. On the contrary, if the Government really intended (as there was reason to fear they did) to offer discouragement and resistance to the further progress of improvements that were held dear by a great and powerful body of Retormers, he should then despair of success at any contest that might ensue ; for that invigorating spirit would he wanting which spurred men on to exertion, and led them to make sacrifices for what they regarded the public good. He stood before the meeting as a Radical. lie was a supporter of the vote by EallGt—(Loud and repeated cheering)—of an extension of the suffrage—not of universal suffrage, but of a seasonable and continually-advancing, extension of the eutTrage—and of a shortening of the duration of Parliament. These were measures which a large body of their coelectors looked forward to as to a pro- mised land, and as the best security for good government ; and so long as they were satisfied that they were approaching nearer and nearer to the attainment of these objects, they were beguiled, and forgot for the time the tedium and vexation of their lung and oppressive journey. The Ministers had avowed their determination to resist all and each of these measures. After that, was it to he expected that those electors by whom these objects were cherished would come forward as they have hitherto done, and expend their time and their property, and expose themselves to persecution, in support of men who stood opposed to them on the most vital principles? Mr. Warburton earnestly hoped that Ministers might reflect upon and consider the probable consequences of their late declaration; and that the iminciples by which they were directed, and the measures they had to adopt, might be such as would enable all Re- formers eordially to unite into one firm and closely-knitted hand, and so defeat, as they had before done, their political adversaries."
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