Mr. O'Connell attended a numerous meeting of the Anti-Slavery Society
at Birmingham, on Monday. Mr. Sturge, a Quaker, and Mr. O'Connell, each delivered speeches, advocating the necessity of doing away with the Apprenticeship-clauses in the Emancipation Act, and conferring real freedom on the slaves in return for the twenty millions. Mr. O'Connell was very sarcastic on Lord Stanley's wavering and ignorant legislation on this subject. Mr. Sturge was • complimentary in his remarks on Mr. O'Connell, and the meeting pledged itself to aid him zealously in his efforts to obtain justice for Ireland.
In the evening of the same day, the Non-electors of Birmingham gave Messrs. Attwood and Seholefield a grand dinner, in the Town- -hall ; at which Mr. O'Connell was present by special invitation. It is said that the company exceeded two thousand in number. The deco- rations of the room were the same as at the dinner of last week. Mr. George Edmonds was Chairman, and spoke very energetically. In the course of his speech he called upon all present solemnly to pledge 'themselves to " stand by O'Connell." The whole assembly rose, and amidst tremendous acclamations entered into the " covenant." When Mr. O'Connell's turn for speaking came, he reminded them of their " covenant," and advised then, to retract it if it had been hastily made ; but if not, to renew it. Again the multitude rose and remained cheering for several minutes, in token of the "renewal." There was a good deal of oratory, and many Liberal toasts were given ; but this was the striking incident of the evening.
Captain Pechell bad a meeting with his constituents at Brighton on Monday. He told the electors that he had been sent to the House of Commons to follow up the great principles of Reform ; and he added, that
Since he had been in Parliament, lie had learned that the principle of one party was to concede nothing to the people, but that which it would be dan- gerous to themselves to withhold ; while the principle of another party was to deny nothing to the people, which they had a just claim to possess. These latter were the principles on which his Majesty's Ministers acted ; and to .those Ministers he should give his undivided support, in maintaining the honour and dignity of the Crown, and upholding the institutions and welfare of the people.
The Guildford Tories celebrated the triumph of their " principles " in the recent Municipal election for that borough, by dining together on Tuesday. Lord Grantley, Mr. Baring Wall, and Mr. R. C. Scar• lett were present.
On the same day, the Liberals had a meeting at Guildford, for the purpose of establishing a Reform Association for West Surry. Mr. W. J. Denison, Mr. Mangles, Mr. Crawford, Mr. Leech, and Mr. Long, the unsuccessful candidate at the last election were present. Mr. Denison delivered a very Liberal speech. It was agreed to bring for- ward Mr. Long at the next election. That gentleman expressed his dissatisfaction at O'Connell's plan of Peerage Reform ; but highly eulogized the general conduct and politics of that gentleman.
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