CROYDON REFORM MEETING.—A most numerous and respectable meeting took place
on Wednesday at Croydon the requisition for which signed aned by Mr. Maberly and one hundred and fifty other gentle.. men; both the county members Were present. Mr. Maberly addressed the meeting at considerable length, and concluded by moving a petition • praying for an extension of the franchise in England and Scotland, and for the removing of rotten boroughs. The petition was seconded by
Mr. Mercer. The Rev. Mr. Courtney also addressed the meeting, for the purpose, as it appeared, of proving it to be illegal ; forgetting that in that case it was illegal in himself to be present at it. These people who rake up acts of Charles and James to prove the illegality of meet- ings and processions to petition Parliament or the King, constantly forget that these restrictive acts were all virtually repealed by the Bill of Rights, which declares the right of petition, among others, free to all. The petition was unanimously agreed to, and intrusted to Mr. Illaberly to present to the House of Commons.
MONTGOMERY REFORM MEETING.—A meeting took place at Welshpool, on the 13th, when a number of resolutions in favour of re- form were passed by very large majorities. Montgomery has hitherto passed as a sort of close borough county, and a reform meeting there is equally novel and important. The resolutions, after declaring the in- fluence employed in some and the corruption in other boroughs, and also the influence in counties, pronounce such practices to be inconsistent with the constitution of the country, and call for redress. The aristo- cracy of the county wished the discussion of such astounding facts to be delayed, because it could only embarrass Ministers ; but the Reformers were confident that the discussion would on the contrary give strength to Ministers ; and the flimsy objection was in consequence scouted. Mr. C. W. Wynne, the county member, declared himself not averse to re- form, but objected to the abolition of rotten boroughs. Lord Clive was afraid the country might be displeased that, when it called for relief, the gentry were attending reform meetings. A clergyman proposed, as an amendrnent, that the extension of the franchise should:be such as would give additional protection to agriculture. All these objections were heard, answered, and the resolutions passed.
. CLERKENWELL.—A meeting for reform was held at Clerkenwell Vestry on Thursday; the Senior Churchwarden in the chair. Resolu- tions in favour of vote by ballot were unanimously passed : as were also the petitions founded on them, which were ordered to be intrusted to Mr. Hume and Lord King.
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