The Press.
London, England, 1857-04-25 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

upon this vital question. We do not, of course, pledge ourselves to
the literal ac3uracy of the expressions, though these will, in most
cases, he found to be correctly given.

The Duke of ARGYLL is decidedly of opinion that there ought to
be a new Reform Bill, and is willing to prepare one, conditionally on
no one's taking the liberty to alter what he may suggest. Among
other points, he stipulates for reducing the electors of Sutherlandshire
(registered at 207) to 50, and giving them four members instead of
one. He also proposes that the election shall be held in the Great
Hall at Stafford house.

Sir G. C. LEWIS is not prepared to make the subject a Cabinet
question, conceiving it to be of minor importance', but he should not
be opposed to such a renovation of our Parliamentary system as should
assimilate the Legislature to the Amphyctionic Council, with the addl.
Lion of Qtuestors and 4Ediles.
Sir GEORGE GREY will give no opinion whether a Reform Bill is
expedient or not, but unhesitatingly declares his conviction that the
present Premier is not the person to propose one.

Sir CHARLES WOOD thinks that a new Reform Bill is very much
wanted, because the discussions upon it will draw away the attention
of the House from other matters, and will, therefore, permit himself
and others to administer their departments without molestation. Ho
has not much to suggest as to the Bill itself, but thinks that all sailors
and marines ought to have votes, but should be disqualified if they
vote against Government.
The LORD CHANCELLOR strongly objects to the introduction of a
Reform Bill, or any other measure whatsoever which is likely to be
criticised in the House of Lords, and which he will therefore be
expected to defend. A Bill that would reform the manners of certain
law-lords, and prevent them from tearing to pieces the measures
introduced by their noble and learned friend on the woolsack, should
have the warm support of the latter.
Lord CLARENDON thinks as Lord Palmerston thinks, and requests
the latter to be the " old girl " upon the present occasion, and " let the
Cabinet hear his (Lord C's) opinion."
Lord PANMURE thinks that an exceedingly strong Reform Bill is
wanted ; but as he means to retire from the Ministry at as early a date
as is convenient, he will not think of intruding with details. Should
such a Bill be introduced, and he as an independent nobleman should
not support it, he requests that his refusal may not be attributed to
any lukewarmness in the cause of Reform, but to certain Scotch reasons
which it would be difficult to make an Englishman comprehend.
Mr. LABOUCHERE has no very strong feelings on the subject, but
will have much pleasure, should the measure he introduced, of sup-
porting it with any number of speeches of any length that may be
desired.

Mr. VERNON SMITE! ditto to Mr. Labouchere.

Earl GRANVILLE thinks that no Reform Bill is needed. If
Government would only make itself popular, and amuse the people,
and work the Royal Fau.iiy a little more in the way of spectacles and
ceremonials, there would be no bother about Reform Bills. There is
the Art-Treasure Exhibitions, and the,Handel Festival, and Piceolomin:,,
and the Royal Academy, and plenty of other things fur the preseLt
season at all events.

Lord CARLISLE wrote over, intending, it was supposed, to express
his opinion upon the political question, but having got into a long
account of some private theatricals at which he had been assisting,
and in which some Marionettes performed the Trovatore, his Lordship
appears to have forgotten all about the Reform Bill. His observations
on the general beauty of the Irish ladies are, however, very edifying.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL had no leisure to prepare a Reform Bill
himself, and certainly should sanction no such measure from the hand
of any less trustworthy person. Besides, Ministers could not hope to
pass such a measure while he was too much occupied with his Law-
reform Bills to undertake its defence. He would endeavour to gh e
consideration to the matter in the next vacation; in the meantime,
nothing must be promised.
Mr. FREDERIC PEEL was not in a situation to give any opinion.
But there must be something wrong in a system that permitted the
exclusion of such a person as himself from Parliament. He believed
that his noble friend Lord Monck, and his gallant friend Admiral
Berkeley, and his Irish friend Mr. Ball, would be proud to entertain
similar sentiments.

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE is, of course, theoretically a Reformer;
but if one septuagenarian might be permitted to say so to another, he
would remind Lord Palmerston of the meaning of a proverb cited
by Shakespeare, wherein the painter is told to keep to ins nets, and
the fisher to his pencil. Is Lord Palmerston exactly the man to re-
model a representative system ?

Mr. HAYTER said that he had pledged the Government to changes
enough for twenty Reform Bills : he merely mentioned that. As
matter of Whip statistics, he could manage without any Reform Bill
this session ; but he recommended a strong promise for the next,
which Providence might enable them to avoid the necessity of
keeping.
Mr. BERNAL OSBORNE said that the reason the little pigs lie with
their backs quite bare was—everybody knew why ; and the reason the
little Whigs lie, and say they want a Reform Bill, was equally patent.
He did not know that anything was the matter with the constitution ;
but he had come in for Dover, and they might try Dover's powders. He
had heard that he was t.,) go to Ireland. Did they know why Ireland
was the richest country in the world ? Because its capital was always
Dabbling. Why was a Reform Bill like Jimmy Wilson's paper?
Because nobody asked for it.
(Further coruscations in our Second Edition.)