The " General Convention of the Industrious Classes" have pub-
lished an address to the " Middle Classes," which contains some whole- some truths, albeit unpalatable to the privileged portion of the people. As a specimen of the style of this document, take the following
passages- " It unfortunately happens that the credulous among your class still hope for some amelioration of the evils that afflict our country from the House of Commons as at present constituted. But experience does not justify their hopes and expectations. Does the recent conduct of the Members afford them stuy encouragement? Did not more than one-half of them vote a"ainst any al- teration in the Corn-laws ? Did not 335 Members of the l-Iouse also vote against the Ballot ? And if those Members who did not vote on the occasion were all in favour of the Ballot, and had attended and voted, that luestion would, notwithstanding, have been hopelessly rejected. Will a better flas at- tend your endeavours to procure the remit of those obnoxious laws which -a the interest of your class? It is absurd
re considered as peculiarly af feeting
to expect it. The same patutid reflection attends us upon every question of importance. Mark the opposition which the grant of 30,000/. for educational purposes receives as compared with a grant of 70,000/. for the Queen's stables. Observe, also, how unequal is the taxation imposed by a House of Commons re- presenting but it small portion of the people. * * * * If our brethren of the middle classes would calmly and barely consider the slender opportunities for information possessed by the workint, classes, and all the adverse circum- stances under which they have laboured, they will be compelled to admit that the dissensions and errors they complain of are infinitely has than could have been expected. We, therefore, invite your coilperation. Be reasonable—bc just. Aid the present movement to invest with the elective franchise every limiest and industrious man, and then mutual good-will and confidemee will displace the distrust and suspicion which now unhappily exist. Then NVill the peaceful and moral efforts of a united people compel the adoption of all their reasonable and just demands."
The "address" is signed by W. Carpenter and It. Hartwell, and is evidently the production of a practised writer.
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