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too long worshipped, the altar of that god who accepts only of human sacrifices, and let them build an altar to the true God, that God they all may worship and adore-the God of love; let them worship there, and unite in a long and strong pull for the social condition of their common country. Ireland will become—

"Great, glorious, and free,

First flower of the earth and first gem of the sea.'

Happy homes and altars free! And the poor Irishman, who too long has been restrained in that march of progress which distinguishes the nations, will be able to sing

Ut cernis ille permisit meas errare boves,
Et me ludere quæ vellem calamo agresti.

"Loose him and let him go."

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CHAPTER XIV.

REMARKS ON LORD JOHN RUSSELL'S NEW REFORM BILL.

16th Feb., 1854. 17th Vic.

A BILL TO EXTEND THE RIGHT OF VOTING FOR MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, AND TO AMEND THE LAWS RELATING TO THE REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE IN ENGLAND AND WALES.

THIS bill would accomplish the following objects: make changes in certain boroughs and counties. Thus it would enact-Certain boroughs to cease to send members to Parliament; certain boroughs to return one member only; certain counties and divisions of counties to return three knights instead of two.

Another feature of this bill is the influence it would give in the representation to persons having money and not land; also the place it would give to learning. Hitherto learning is imperfectly represented. Lord John would enlarge this influence by giving the franchise to the Inns of Court; also a representative for the London University. This is in the right direction, and we could wish to see Lord John go much

farther, and embrace all the suggestions thrown out by A. G. Stapleton, Esq., in his able work, “Suggestions for a Conservative and Popular Reform in the Commons House of Parliament. London, 1850.”

This gentleman would give representatives to the different bodies in the empire distinguished by learning.

In the law, for instance, there are four Inns of Court; also the Law Association. Let each of these five bodies return two members. The College of Physicians, the College of Surgeons, and the Company of Apothecaries ; let each of these have the power of returning two members. Let art and science also have their representatives. Give two members to the Royal Society, and two also to the Royal Academy, combined with the Chartered Society of the British Artists, the Chartered British Institution, and the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Enlarge likewise the present University representation, without, however, interfering with existing privileges; give to every layman who has taken a degree at either, and who has not a vote under the present system, the right to vote for two representatives-two for Cambridge and two for Oxford. Give likewise to graduates of the London University, composed of University College and King's College, the right of electing two; to Durham, one; to the Scotch Universities, Edinburgh and Glasgow, one each; to Aberdeen and St. Andrew's, united, one; and to the Welsh University of St. David,

one.

The clergy of the Church of England have a claim to be represented by members returned exclusively by

themselves. Let ministers of Church of Scotland return four members; give two members to the ministers of the Free Church. Should the bill be presented again, pass into a law and extend to Ireland, like privilege should be given there as in England and Wales.

This gentleman would recommend special representatives of the poor.

To prevent the too great increase of members this would occasion in the House of Commons, it would be well in every instance to substitute one of the aforesaid elected in place of the proposed third member for counties.

In the present state of the franchise, the additional member would only add to the power of the aristocracy.

It is surely no unreasonable proposal that the learning and education of the country should have a real share in the representation of the House of Commons. So reasonable is it, that Lord John Russell assumes it as one requiring no proof. "I trust," said the noble lord, "it will be granted to me that the knowledge and intelligence of those most remarkable for knowledge and intelligence ought to be represented." Would that he only would carry out effectively the principle which he thus distinctly propounds!

The other important measure proposed is the lowering the franchise to £5.

From her Majesty's speech, delivered at the opening of Parliament in February, 1852, it would seem that it would take but one step more to bring us to universal suffrage.

"It appears to me that this is a fitting time for

Q

calmly considering whether it may not be advisable to make such amendments in the Act of the late reign, relating to the representation of the Commons in Parliament, as may be deemed calculated to carry into more complete effect the principles upon which that law is founded."

The principles of the Reform Bill of 1852 were the re-adjustment of the right to return members and of the mode of voting; but chiefly the extension of the franchise by the creation of the ten pound household suffrage for the cities and boroughs, and the fifty pound tenancy for the counties. The "carrying into more complete effect" of this latter principle, as appears from the Bill of 1852, as subsequently introduced, was made to consist in extending the suffrage to five pound houserenters, for cities and boroughs, and to twenty pound renters for the counties; and the words her Majesty was there made to express relative to the proposed measures, the appellation of them as "such amendments as may be deemed calculated to carry into more complete effect the principles upon which that law (the Reform Bill) was founded," show that the extension of the suffrage then proposed was only part of a system prospective as well as retrospective. The idea of the new extension, being a finality, was carefully excluded by the measure being designated as one calculated to carry into more complete effect the former one. It is manifest that, had it been viewed as a finality, or otherwise than as a part of an uncompleted system, the word "more" would not have been used. The use of a comparative in this way, while it excludes, never fails to

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