Clic Country.
There was a numerous meeting of the inhabitants of Newcastle, North and South Shields, and Tynemouth, in the Guildhall at New- castle, on Tuesday, to present addresses to Earl Grey on his retirement from office. Earl Grey, accompanied by the Earl of Durham, arrived
at the appointed hour, and licth were heartily cheered. The addresses were presented with short appropriate speeches ; and then Earl Grey replied in a speech of considerable length. After some preliminary Remarks, he referred to his exertions in carrying Reform- - To this question my early attention and early enints in Parliament were directed. Thorte efforts were afterwards suspended. under circumstances whieh made me almost deqair of success; but the cause was never abandoned by me. My efforts were resumed naikr happier auspices, and they have at length been brou4ht to a happy and trium- phant result. But when I say this, do not thibk I am so yam and presumptuous as to assume to myself any exclusive merit for w hat I have done. I was assisted by many urea alAer than myself—one of whom I am proud to see present on this occasion—men without %those assistance my humble efforts would have been fruitless. I was sup- ported by the confidence of my Sovereign. But all these advantages would have been insufficient, hail I not been carried triumphantly through the midst of opposition and dculty by the energies and the spirit of a brave and enlightened People."
This great measure was a means to an end : it would secure all zaticmal and salutary reforms, if pursued with moderation and wisdom— trust you will not think it too great a liberty if I add, that having obtained a full mid fair representation —(A file cries qf t• No. no ! "; —I nm sorry to hear any interrup- tion. I trust nothing will pass on this occasion which will give additional advantage So the enemies of Reform to say that their predictions have been fulfilled—that if a large measure were given to the People, it would not cause satisfaction, but would lead to still further encroachments. Those predictions will not. I trust. be verified through the imprudence of any by WhOSP exerti (((( s this Reform was obtained. I It 1,Ve said that further reforms are required, but that they must be pursued with moderation. Having obtained, I niteat, a lull anti fair representation, it will not do to be proceeding in a eontinual course of agitation. Reform is necessary ; but in the pursuit of this neces. sary work, you must act 141 the spirit of moderation and peace, and consistently ssith the authority of a regular and settled government. Reform. I say, is necessary. This i:s the conviction on which the present Administration, of which I was lately a mom- bet, has always acted. This is the foundation on which that Administration rests. It is interwoven with its existence, and it cannot exist without it. But if, by depart. ing from this principle of moderation which I have mentioned. you are led by restless- ness and impatience into hasty and inconsiderate measures, give me leave to tell you, that the cause of Reform itself will be endangered ; and, like the machinery si hich the ingenuity of the present age has brought to such perfection. if the regulating and controlling power be withdrawn. the increased velocity will cause the wheels to take Ire. and Reform itself will be prevented by combustion and destruction."
Earl Grey then proceeded to defend Ministers and Parliament from the charge of having done but little in furtherance of the ends of Re- form ; and concluded his speech in these words- .. Gentlemen, I take leave of you once more, by expressing my heartfelt thanks for your kindness. Many men have served you with more ability than I have done; none with purer or more disinterested motives. In answer to all the calumnies which have been heaped upon me. I desire my countrymen to view me in the situation in which I stood belbre I entered office, awl compare it with my present situation--they will then see that my motive was not to obtain any thing for myself. I retire from office w ith the only reward—but certainly with the best I could possibly receive—the confidence and good-will of those before whose attention my conduct has passed. I have had misay expressions of this goodwill; but I can assure you with the utmost truth and sincerity, they have come from none from whom they could have carried greater honour, or have been received with greater pride by me, than from the present numerous and respectable assembly, who have not only been acquainted with my public conduct, but also with my private life, It has been said that I have served the public half a cen- tury. It was in the year 1786 when I was first returned the representative cf the:county a Northumberland: a period of forty.eight years has since elapsed, of which period something less than five years have been spent itt offer. I retire with that best reward. the approbation of my countrymen. I do not enjoy any other of which any living an has a right to complain. Here I might expatiate at great length ; but I really feel so much overpowered by your kindness, so grateful for the honour you have done
• that I am unaole to proceed."
There was a loud call for Lord Durham ; who came forward and spoke as follows.—
" I assure you that on no occasion in my public life have I hi-en more gratified than at the present, where I have found justice done, not so much to my noble relation, as to yourselves. You have proved to the world, that in spite of all the calumnies which have been heaped upon him even in this district—notwithstanding all the attempts which have been made to lower him in your estimation—you have seized the first opportunity to declare to the world your sense of his great merits, and your determina- tion to show that at least you did not join in those calumnies. I am also happy at this opportunity to address you, from the circumstance that there is not one word which has fallen from my noble relation, in which I do not heartily and cordially agree. I thank him as an individual, and as a man of public life, fur the advice which he has given us, I shall take it and act upon it. and with as much patience and moderation as he wishes; but I will never lose sight of the end—namely, the attainment of all necessary reforms —I will not say the conserving but the preserving of the rights of the people—that this country may be enabled to show its head foremost amongst the nations of the world, however bight they may advance in the scale of civilization. In the full sense of the atIv'efe he has given. I can readily make allowance for the difficalties in which lie has been placed, both by the opposition of enemies and indiscretion of friends ; and I may so readily state to you, sun! I am sure you will heartily agree with me, that whether or are lie could have gone to a greater extent in the measures he has brought forward, he boa nevertheless always had one object in view—namely, that of restoring the consti- tution to its original purity and consistency. My noble relation has disclaimed, with his characteristic modesty, the merit of passing the Reform Bill. I now openly state. as I have formerly said it behind his back. that that measure would never have been proposed. and I am sure it would never have been carried, had it not been for him, I Earls Giey and Durham then took their departure for Lambton Castle, amidst the cheers of people. A dinner was given at Cambridge on Wednesday, by the Conser- vative party, to Sir E. B. Sugden. In the course of the evening, several speeches were made, abusive of the Whigs and the present Government; and Sir E. Sugden retaliated the charge of bribery which had been thrown out against him by his opponents, whom be in return accused of using certain secret funds for the purpose of cor- rupting the voters. He recommended Churchmen to unite in the same manner as the Dissenters were united in support of their cause; and he expressed his confidence that at the next election one of the Whig Members would be thrown out ; and he promised to come forward again as a candidate for the suffrages of the Cambridge electors. The bealth of Sir Robert Peel was drunk with a "galloping nine ;" which signifies repeated acclamations till the lungs are exhausted, and several either Conservative toasts were drunk with loud cheering. , Mr. Frankland Lewis has announced his intention of retiring from the representation of Radnorshire. It is reported that Mr. Walter Wilkins, of Maeslough Castle, will come forward as a candidate in his place.
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