There have been several meetings of Liberal Members with their
constituents within these few days. Yesterday week, about a hundred
of the principal electors of South Durham dined with Mr. Pease at Stockton ; Mr. Bowes, the other Member for that division of the county, being absent in France. Among the company were Mr. Hutt, Sir lledworth Williamson, and Mr. S. Crompton. A letter was read from Mr. Bowes, declaring his opposition to the project of reforming the House of Peers, and dwelling on the necessity of having a larger Liberal majority in the House of Commons. Mr. Pease spoke at considerable length in reference to the proceedings of last session, and the state of the country ; which he maintained, prospered under the Liberal Government. The operation of the New Poor-law had leen very beneficial to the agriculturists ; and commerce was generally flou- rishing— " I urn assured by an individual connected with the cotton trade in Man- cluster, that the number of mills now building in that district must be conai. dered to exceed those already in existence. But has the agriculturist no par- ticipation in those advantages ? If yon complain of the inadequate payment of corn, what do you say of the price of stock ? Where do you suppose the cattle and sheep are driven? Allow me to turn your attention again to figures. I find that the shipping from all parts of the world, entered inwards, in 1833 was 27,7:30 vessels, while in 1835 there were 28,860 ; that the number of men employed in the former year was 223,855, while the number employed in 1835 was :340,027. here is a proof of the increase of foreign trade, and this is the result of the prosperity of manufactures. The export of manufactures—its de- clared value—was, but year, 56,44-1,000/. ; in 18;35, it was 41,649,000/. It is this that gives to the manufacturing districts their present state of prosperity. This prosperity must also operate on agriculture."
Sir II. Williamson, Mr. Hutt, Mr. Witham, and other gentlemen addressed the company : but their speeches are briefly and imperfectly reported.
The supporters of Mr. Handley in South Lincolnshire, gave that gentleman a public dinner, at Grantham, on the 17th. The Tories have been threatening to ruin Mr. Handley by election expenses, if they could not unseat him in any other way : but it appears that he is extensively popular in his county, and the dinner last week is re- presented as a formidable demonstration in his favour. Grantham was chosen as the place of assembly, in defiance of Belvoir Castle and the Duke of Rutland on one side, and Belton and Earl Brownlow on the other. It is intended to give Mr. Handley a series of dinners, Boston being the next place of meeting. At Grantham, Sir Montague Cholmeley was in the chair. The Town-ball was crowded with guests, and the proceedings seem to have been very spirited. The practice of intimidating the yeomanry was declared to be the common mode of electioneering among the Lincolnshire Tories. The Liberals of Newport in the Isle of Wight dined with their Member, Mr. OM, on Monday week. Mr. Ord delivered a spirited and discreet address to the company. Ile remarked that great praise and many thanks were slue to the Ultra-Liberals for their conduct during the last session ; and enforced the necessity of continued union among all classes of Reformers- " Ministers have been manoeuvring in the face of a powerful army—an army which has sought to rouse all the antiquated prejudices of the nation against them. That union is strength' was never more forcibly demenstrated than during the last session of Parliament. If the Ilefiwniern had not kept in a body, they would have been beaten in detail. Mr. O'Connell, in a manner highly honourable to himself, suspended the agitation of the great question of the Repeal of the Union, at the risk of injuring his own popularity throughout Ireland, because he would not impede the measures of Government, believing Government to be kindly-intentioned towards that country. He believed that the destruction of the legislative union would be a great calamity both to Eng- land and Ireland : the agitation of that question was, in his opinion, the forlorn hope of an almost despairing party ; but things were changed—justice would be done to the oppressed, and injuries would be redressed. Yet, could he be- lieve that justice would be denied to Ireland, or could he imagine that the iron hand of Orange tyranny was again going to lay waste her fertile lands, and sow discord among her sons—he was not prepared to say, if such should be the case, how he should vote, and whether he should not consider the former a less evil than time latter."
The healths of Lords Grey, Mulgrave, and Durham, were among the toasts best received at this dinner.
The Salisbury Registration Society had their anniversary dinner on the 16th instant. Mr. Brodie, M.P. for Salisbury, defended the con- duct of Ministers, and the " much vituperated O'Connell," who wanted nothing but justice for Ireland : but Mr. Brodie contended, if O'Connell were all that his enemies described him, Ministers would act like fools if they refused his support to just and beneficial measures. With regard to O'Connell, however, he utterly denied that he was the bad man, the designing politician; he was represented to be by his reek.. less opponents. These, remarks of Mr. Brodie elicited loud applause
Mr. Feargus O'Connor addressed an assembly of about 1000 persons at Leeds, on Wednesday sennight ; recommending the establishment of a society to obtain Universal Suffrage, Annual Parliaments, Vote by Ballot, and the abolition of all property qualifications for Members
of Parliament. Resolutions in accordance with Mr. O'Connor's re- commendations were passed unanimously, and the society was formed. Prom Leeds Mr. O'Connor proceeded to Sheffield, on the same errand.
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