The Town-Council of Birmingham met on Tuesday, to protest against
the Police Bill for that town now in progress through Parliament. Mr. Watson delivered an energetic speech against the measure ; which he described as the result of "urn infamous compact" between the Govern- ment and Sir Robert Peel. lie defended the conduct of the Council in the appointment of officers. and in recommending Magistrates for the borough. He, defied Sir Robert Peel to pick out persons better qualified for office than those selected by the Connell. As to the Government, he could not conceive what their object was in thus joining with Tories to insult the inhabitants of B:rmingliam- - There could be hut one feeling re :meeting this bill, aial that was of abhorrenee And disgust. The borough of' Birmingham had been for years the most orderly id the country. They had been proverbial for their love of order and modera- tion, and they would I.:wahine an if they had a Government in power who would many hope of relief. If' their rulers liad only held out any promise that they Would do something for the people, or try to relieve their distress, nothing Would have induced them to outreoe the laws ; hut they saw the Government despise all their remonstrances—saw them openly declare against all further improvement—and having lost all confidence it) them, they beeittne the prey of bed men. Ile hoped that Conned would tell the Government that they con- sidered the Police Bill before Parliament a gross insult to the town, and that they would resist it by all mewls in their power. Ile hopial they would take prompt and efficacious steps to prevent the town from being degraded; and, if alter haying done their best to prevent the indignity, they could not succeed, he hoped they would at once, like men who felt and knew their position in so- ciety, give orders to the Town-Clerk at onee to pack up the charter and send It back to Lord John Russell. (Loud cheering.) Mr. Watson moved a petition against the bill ; and received the support of members of all parties. Alderman Sturge said he hardly knew how to express his feelings, or to restrain himself. Other mem- bers denounced the bill as arbitrary, tyrannical, and infamous; and declared they would resist it. The Council-room was filled with rate- payers, who vehemently applauded the strong language of the speakers:-
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