3 1 6 Literary and Philosophical Society. 



years afterwards, the pernicious system of changing the 

 functionaries at every presidential election being then 

 unknown to the republic. It is to be hoped that the 

 atrocious crime perpetrated on General Garfield will rouse 

 the people of that great country to the establishment of 

 some less corrupt system of appointment to diplomatic and 

 civil offices than that now in use. 



* In 1830 Mr. Dyer was delegated, with Messrs. Mark, 

 Philips, and Alexander Kay, to take the contributions of 

 the town of Manchester to Paris, for the relief of the 

 wounded of the Revolution of July of that year, and to 

 congratulate Louis Philippe on his election to the throne. 

 As chairman of the Reform League, Mr. Dyer was enabled 

 to set on foot public meetings in the other large towns, and 

 so call forth an outburst of public opinion in favour of the 

 immediate recognition of Louis Philippe by the British 

 Government, which influenced the Cabinet to reject the 

 overtures of Russia and Prussia for a joint war to restore 

 Charles X., for which purpose the former Power had given 

 orders for the mobilisation of its troops. This was justly 

 considered by the Government of July as a most impor- 

 tant service rendered to France, 1 and the Manchester 

 deputation (which had been joined in Paris by Dr. [after- 

 wards Sir John] Bowring and Mr. John Silk Bucking- 

 ham) was received by King, Government, and people with 

 the highest distinction. 



* For the next two years Mr. Dyer was chiefly occupied 

 with the struggle for Parliamentary reform, and in connec- 

 tion with the Liverpool and Manchester railway. It was 



1 In after years I have often heard Frenchmen of distinction maintain that 

 the preservation of peace at that time was chiefly due to J. C. Dyer's prompt 

 action in England. F. N. D. 



