At Leeds, on the 31st of August, Mr. Goodman, the
Mayor, gave a splendid entertainment to Lord Morpeth, Sir George Strickland, Mr. Baines, and other Liberal Members of the West Riding of York- shire. Upwards of a hundred leading Reformers of Leeds and the
vicinity were invited to meet the guests from Parliament. After the usual preliminary toasts had received due honour, the Mayor gave " Lord Melbourne and his Majesty's Ministers." Lord Morpeth replied to this toast. He alluded to the disastrous results of the late session- " Our chief retrospect at the close of the present session of Parliament must consist in bewailing the untimely fate of slaughtered bills. And I can imagine my Lord Lyndhurst retiring to his conch like the tyrant on the eve of the battle of Bosworth Field, and seeing the grim array of mangled measures arise before him, scaring his slumbers and banishing his sleep. There would be the grisly ghost of the Irish Corporations Bill ; there would be the bleeding remains of the Irish Church Bill ; there would be the dissevered fragments of the Corporations Act Amendment Biil ; the:e would sprawl the battered Jews ; and there would issue an unfortunate wailing, which, to the parent ears of my honourable friend your worthy Representative, on my right (Mr. Baines), would be recognized as the untimely plaint of the Civil Offices Declaration Bill. (Cheers and laughter.) Difference of opinion there may be—gradations of opinion do exist and ought to exist, as all opinions on matters of such pressing interest to the public weal ought to be well sifted in a sieve together, in order that the soundest and most valuable of them may be retained, and those which are useless, because mischievous, may be cast away. And let not this be im- puted as any exclusive fault to us; for if we look a little sharply, we shall find that those differences penetrate even through the ranks of Conservatism. It befals no less exalted personages than the Duke of Wellington and Lord Lynd- hurst himself; for we find the Duke most candidly and most considerately avowing that it is not his wish to throw out the present Government from office, whilst the fastidious delicacy of Lord Lyndhurst is not so forbearing. But I do not mistake the character of the general policy which you wish to see his Majesty's Administration pursue. You want to see the principle of equal laws extended to every part of his Majesty's dominions, and to every class of his Majesty's subjects. You want to see enlightened institutions cleansed from every remaining abuse, and made more comprehensive and more accessible. You want to see education, knowledge, and religion, more widely spread, more fully developed, and more profitably pursued. You want your Representa- tives—the Representatives of the British People—forward in the propagation and in the pursuit of what they deem right and just ; and then, gentlemen, with corresponding energies upon their part and upon your own, we will not doubt that union and perseverance, acting in legitimate modes fur the attain- ment of legitimate objects, will win their irresistible way, and secure their imperishable reward."
The health of the Members of the West Riding called up Sir George Strickland; who commenced his speech by a retrospect of the political events of the year, in order to show the difficulties by which Ministers were surrounded. He added, that the Representatives of the People were also likely to find themselves in a position of embar- rassment in the next session ; and, to prevent misapprehension, be would state the manner in which he had resolved to vote on certain questions- " It is not unlikely that the question of a Reform in the House of Lords will be brought forward. I think it almost certain that the proposed Reform will be, that the principle of representation shall be applied to that Roam Now, gentlemen, although I may run the risk of not agreeing with all of you, I shall distinctly state, that I must oppose any attempt to introduce election into the
House of Lords. The Government of England for centuries has been composed of those three estates : we have had a constitution founded in that manner, under which we have prospered ; and for God's sake do not let us, for any momentary
disappointment, plunge ourselves into difficulties from which we cannot see our way out. I know that some ardent politicians—some persons loving freedom as well, but no better than myself—have pointed to America, and have said, there
you see an elective Monarchy, an elective Democracy, and an elective Uoper
House of Parliament, all working well. I say, wait a little longer. You have not seen that system of government tried in any other part of the mold. America is yet young ; wait and see what civil commotion may I"° luce when it rises up among them. It has been said that good can never come out of evil. I think we can me the prospects of some evil. I trill ask whether
Ametica can do well under her accursed system of slavery ? I will ask
whether good can come out of such a system? What is that we can con- template under it but a civil war ? Let your voices be heard in petitions to the two houses of Parliament ; let them try the experiment of a new elec.. tion ; let every man who loves well-regulated freedom then give his some to return more Liberal Members ; and, take my word for it, the house of lauds will soon see its error. Gentlemen, I will now conclude by again entlea•ing you not to withdraw your confidence from such a Minister as Lord Marino lie. If you meet with momentary disappointments, take my word for it that his
sound discrimination and ardent love of freedom will guide you safely through
all these difficulties, and in a short time we shall find that the blessing: of C..r- poration Reform shall not be confined to the town of Leeds and to England, but shall be extended likewise to Ireland ; and then I say, that in reality, and not only in name, shall we have England, Scotland, and Ireland united in one common empire."
Mr. Baines's health was then given from the chair ; and that gentle- man took the opportunity of stating his concurrence in Sir George Strickland's views respecting Peerage Reform. He was opposed to any organic change, and relied upon the expression of public opinion to overcome the resistance of the Lords. He also repudiated the notion that little was done in the last session- " There was the Tithe question settled—a question of more importance to the interests of agriculture and the tranquillity of the Church than any mea- sure ever passed on that subject since the Reformation. There was the Mar- riage Bill ; there was the Bill for the Registration of Births, Marriages, and Deaths ; there was the Stamp-duties Bill ; there was the Custoni.duties Bill ; and I find no fewer than 193 bills for railroads, canals, turnpike-roads, docks, harbours, and other public improvements in various parts of the country, passed during that defamed session." Many other toasts and speeches followed ; and the company did not break up till past one.
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