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A numerous party of Tories dined together on Wednesday, in the Hall of the Goldsmiths' Company, Foster Lane. Among them were— the Duke of Cambridge, Sir Robert Peel, Lord Stanley, Lord Hill, Lord Maryborough, the Duke of Beaufort, the Bishop of London, Sir Edward Sngden, Sir Charles Wetherell, Lord Prudhoe, Lord Ashbur- ton, Sir Henry Hardinge, Sir Robert Inglis, and many City Con- servatives. The chief speakers were Sir Robert Peel, the Bishop of London, and Lord Stanley. Their language was moderate, and the oratorical part of the entertainment appears to pare been exceedingly fla
The members of the Westminster Reform Society assembled at Stannard's Hotel, York Street, Covent Garden, mi Thursday. The meeting was summoned in consequence of a letter received from Mr.
Leader, explaining a mistake arising from an incorrect report, in the Morning Chronicle of the 22d of June, of a speech delivered by Mr. Hawes at a Reform dinner at Wandsworth. Mr. Hawes was reported to have said, that he hoped and trqted the Reformers of East Surry void(' secure Mr. Leader's services althe next election. Mr. Hawes cor- rected the mistake—he had said nothing which could bear that interpre- tation. Nevertheless, a rumour was put in circulation that Mr. Leader intended to leave Westminster and contest East Sorry; which rumour was noticed in last Sprig/or, with a remark pointing out its absurdity. 11r. Prout said, that as it appeared front the spernstor that the rumour had not entirely ceased, it was thought best to communicate to the electors at large the letter Mr. Leader had written to Mr. West, Secre- tary to the Reform Society. Mr. Leader's letter was accordingly read to the meeting. We quote the chief part of it.
"It is, I have no doubt, the desire of some persons to degrade Westminster into a mere nomination borough for the benefit of the Government ; but the scheme must fail if the electors he but true to themselves. I need scarcely tell you that I shall not, and that I never had, the remotest hitt:1111011 of resigning the representation of Westminster tini that of any other place; null conse- quently, that I Lace not entered into any negotiation fin. that purpose, as I believe eircumstaotially declawd in some newspalfers. Such f conduct, on my part, would be treacherous and absurd,—treachermis to those electors who at the last election placed me in the honourable position of their representative by a majority of nearly 1,2110; and most absurd, to leave a body of electors who honoured me with such a majority, to engage in a desperate contest for a county where the Tories were returned at the last 'election by a large majority. So far Trout entertaining a thought of retiring from Westminster, it is my determi- nation to O'er myself tier a renewal of the confidence of the independent electors of Westminster, and to contest the honour of representing than apinst any candidate who may be set up against DV. And so long as the electors ( If W est m inster prefer an iudepenileiii representative, who will maintain. in the !louse the principles which he professed on the hustings, to a mere parlisan who will sacrifice his principles to serve it party, Is, it Whig or Tory, . I have no fears of being dismissed from the honourable position in which you have placed me."
On Mr. Prom's motion, it was agreed to send a reply to Mr. Leader; which haying been drawn up by the Secretary, was read to the meet- ing. It expressed entire disbelief of the " slanderous reports that had gone abroad," entire confidence in Mr. Leader, admiration of his talent ne hatred of the
1./1 ar■■■ I"' a tictcrmivation to stemma b:— Whigs to the electors of Westininster, and their desire to " Whiggize the city," were declared to he perfectly well knee, ai, but the resolution to oppose duplicity and rapacity, whether emanating from Whigs or Tories, would also be manifested. [From the tone of this reply to Mr. Leader, and the spirit which pervaded the meeting. the Whigs may discover, that to turn out the Refigin 31ember fbr Westminster and re- place hint with a fit colleague for Colonel Evans, their very humble and grateful servant, will not be an easy achievement.] A new club has been formed to secure the registration for the county of Middlesex, called the Middlesex Refiwin Registration Club ; Mr. Poi:lieu Treasurer, and Mr. James Secretary. Mr. Byng, M.P. for the county, has subscribed—liberally, it is said ; and if he did not, we suppose few others would. A Special General Court of Proprietors of Fast India Stock assem- bled on Wednesday, and adopted a resolution authorizing the Court of Directors to prepare a petition to both 'louses of Parliament "praying that the duties now levied on the productions and manufactures of India, be placed on an equitable footing with reference to other parts of her Majesty's dominions."
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