The Press.
London, England, 1858-10-09 00:00:00

E PRE S S, OCTOBER 9, 1858.

all political questions irrespective of party cries or party
leaders. That body, it is said, now amounts to about 120
members in the house; and if they were to throw their
whole—l say their whole —weight into one scale or the '
other, the side they aid would preponderate. But they
are without-organization, and the salutary or beneficial
effects of their independence is only shown by the results.
Judging by their votes during the last session, the majority
of them have zealously tried to retrench expenditure, to
prevent centralization, to extend the franchise, and gene-
rally to promote popular rights. I have usually found
myself in the same lobby with them in their divisions ;
but by themselves they are powerless against a union of
the Conservatives, and one or more sections of the
Liberals. Their increase in numbers in the house will
no doubt render the Government by party still more
difficult than it is now; but I have not the misgivings
which some have, that this would 'oe prejudicial to
popular interests. A weighty body in the house, con.
scientioualy resolved to vote for measures and not men,
will surely do more good in prcmoting national progress
than a party Government of reluctant Conservatives or a
Liberal party Government, whose promises hitherto have
not realized the expectations their name implied.

MIL HASTINGS RUSSELL AND COLONEL GILPIN,
the members for the county of Bedford, and Mr.
Barnard and Mr. Whitbread, the representatives of
the borough, have been addressing their constituents
at the Bedfordshire Agricultural Association meeting.
In returning thanks for the health of " The Mem-
bers for the County," Mr. Russell eschew3d politics,
merely remarking, apropos of Cherbourg, that if they
asked him what impression lie had borne away with
him from France, he should certainly reply that, in
his humble opinion, a courteous intercourse was a
more fitting attitude for two great nations like France
and England than sneers and depreciation. Colonel
Gilpin followed in the same course, confining his
remarks to agriculture, expressing his opinion that
the less Parliament legislated upon agricultural
matters the better. There were many members of
Parliament who tried their hands at such legislation,
but he thought that if they had more intercourse
with the farmers of the country, and had made
themselves more acquainted with the system of agri-
culture pursued in the country, they would be con-
verts to the opinion which he himself entertained—
namely, that the farmers were quite able and com-
petent to manage their own affairs. There was,
however, one bill which was not of a party nature
which be should be glad to see brought before Par-
liament, and that was a bill to establish a uniform
system of weights and measures throughout the
country. The remarks of Mr. Barnard and Mr.
Whitbread, in responding to the toast of " The
Borough Members," was also of a non-political cba•
racter.

Nicw QUEEN'S COUNSEL are to be appointed in
Michaelmas term in November next. Mr. Hawkins
of the Home Circuit, and Mr. J. D. Coleridge and
Mr. Karslake of the Western Circuit, are to be
elevated to the dignity. These appointments will he
highly popular with the bar and the public.
MR. ROBERT MONTGOMERY, of the Bengal Civil
Service, has been appointed provisional member of
the council of the Governor General of India.
J. B. DASENT, Est., of the Norfolk Circuit, has
been anointed to the Judgeship of the Northumber
land County Count, vacant by the death of Mr.
Losh.
LEOMINSTER ELECTION.—The only candidate in
the field is the Hon. Captain Hanbury, of the 2nd
Life Guards, who sat in the last parliament for
Herefordshire on the Conservative interest. Mr.
James Wilde has issued an address announcing his
intention of reserving his claims until a general
election.