The Express.
London, England, 1866-05-07 00:00:00

THE REDISTRIBUTION OP SEATS BILL.

(From the OLeerr cr.)

We believe that the bill dealing with small
boroughs, generally known as the Bill for the Redistribution
of Seat',, which will be laid upon the table of the house
by Mr. Gladstone on Monday next, with a view to its being
read a first time, will not disfanchise any borough. It
will, however, take away one member from the smaller
boroughs now represented by two, and in this way a
considerable number of members will be available
for redistrihution among boroughs, counties, and
diviiions of counties, existing or to be created, whose
population exceeds a certain limit that is stated in
the bill. To the smaller boroughs thus deprived of one of
their representatives, and to the other small boroughs now
returning only one member, there will be associated other
boroughs in tae same county, so as to make the population
that is to be represented in parliament by even one member
lamer than it is at present in so many instances. This
will be done much upon the same principle as in
the case of the Ayr burghs and Flint boroughs. After
allowing a proper interval for the consideration of
the Seats Bill, Mr. Gladstone will move that the Fran-
chise Bill be proceeded with in committee. All former
Reform Bills, except that of 1832, which was carried when
the country was on the verge of a revolution, have been
I shipwrecked upon the delicate question of the redistribu-
I tion of seats. In the present case most of the liberal,
and many of the conservative members who opposed the
second reading of the Franchise Bill expressed themselves
desirous to pass a complete measure of parliamentary re-
form. The government will proceed with the Seats Bill,
if they see a disposition on the part of the house to let it
pare into law this session ; but if there are any serious
doubts upon that point, or if proceeding with both mea-
sures will in any way imperil the Franchise Rill, they will
treat the Seats Bill as merely affording to the house in-
formation of what the complete measure is ultimately
to be, and will proceed with the Franchise Bill alone.
There still remains the danger, as regards the Franchise
Bill, that a serious attempt will be made to raise the
borough franchise to SI. instead of 71., according to the
plan of government, and in counties to 20f. instead of 14f.
The government bill is, on the face of it, already a corn-
' promise between W. and N. as regards boroughs, and 14/.
and 2ul. as regards counties. The government have put
forward their bill as a moderate measure, if not avowedly
as a compromise. We therefore trust and believe that
they will stake their existence against any alteration on
those points.
(From the Sunday Gazette.)

Without professing to give an accurate account
of the provisions of the bill for the redistribution of seats
for England and Wales to be introduced to-morrow night,
we believe we can indicate some of its leading features.
The description which has appeared in the Scotsman is
in most respects correct, but we can give some further
particulars. No borough is to be absolutely disfran-
chised. Some will be grouped together; some now re-
turnip* two members will lose one. By this process
about nfty seats will be available, to be divided between
large boroughs and counties. The following boroughs are
likely to be amalgamated, for electoral purposes, in some
instances with each other, or with large existing constitu-
encies, and in others with neighbouring towns now un-
enfranchised ; and by this means, we believe, about eight
or ten seats will be available:—Abingdon, Arundel,
Ilewdley. Brecknock, Caine, Christchurch, )artmouth,
Droitwich, Eye, Frome, Helaton, Horsham, Launceston,
Liskeard, Lyme, Malmesbury, Midhuret, Northallerton,
Petersfield, Rye, Shaftesbury, Think, Wallingford,
Wareham, Westbury, Wilton, Woodstock. The
schedule of those planes which will be docked of one
member each, and at the same time subside into a portion
only of a borough constituency, will, it is believed, in-
clude the following :—Andover, Bodmin, Bridgnortb,
Bridport, Buckingham, Chichester, Chippenharn, Ciren-
cester, Cockerniouth, Devizes, Dorchester, Evesham,
Grantham, Harwich, Hertford, lloniton, Hunting-
don, Leominster, Ludlow, Lymington, Maldon, Halton,
Marlborough, Marlow, Newport (I. \V.), Richmond,
Ripon, Stamford, Tamworth, Tavistock, Tewkesbury,
Thetford, Wells, and Wycomb. Most of these locali-
ties will in future be known as but the designation
of a group of boroughs like the Welsh and Scotch and
some few English—Sandwich and Penryn— at present.
It is to he remembered that the boroughs in the first list
are represented by about an equal number of liberal and
conservative, and Adullam "members, while the boroughs
likely to lose one member each have twenty-five belonging
to the former and forty to the latter category. We have
some reason to expect that the Scotch franchise will be
lowered to the same figure as in England ; and that a rating
of (W. iu boroughs and 10!. in counties will be the electoral
qualification in Ireland.

Mr.. R. YOUNG, M.P., AND REFORM.—Mr. R.
Young, M.P., writes to the Mayor of Wisbech with refer-
ence to the Re• Distribution of Seats Bill, "I think Wis-
bech should not lose a single hour in memorializing Lord
Russell to admit Wisbech into the franchise. I will do
everything in my power to assist in that important object.
You may depend the entire bill will be carried through the
house this session." The memorLdsuggested was despatched
on Saturday.
REFORM MEETING AT BLACKHEATH.—On Satur-
day evening last a numerously attended open air meeting,
chtetly composed of the working.classes from Greenwich,
Woolwich, Deptford, and Plumstead, was held on Black-
heath fur the adoption of measures to promote the passing
of the Government Reform Bill. The Deptford and
Greenwich party, preceded by a band of music, arrived
on the ground at half-past sex o'clock, and the speakers
having taken up their position in a waggon, Mr. John
Bowen was appointed chairman, and stated that letters
had been received from Alderman Salomons and Sir
Charles Bright, approving the objects of the meeting, and
regrettir.g their unavoidable absence, and Sir Charles
wished especially to be informed as to the opinion of the
meeting with regard to the 16th clause, which provided
for the disfranchisement of government workmen. Mr.
Yarhani' of Deptford, moved the first resolution :—" That
this meeting conveys its hearty thanks to the Chancellor of
the Ezchtquer for his defence of the unenfranchised
classes, and to the members of the liberal party who voted
for the second reading of the Government Reform Bill.
That this meeting at the same time respectfully urges
upon the government the withdrawal of the 16th clause
us inconsistent with the principle of the hill, and es unjust
to a respectable class of her Majesty's loyal subjects ; and,
lastly. this meeting pledges itself to give its hearty and
enthusiastic support to the government in their efforts to
secure the passing of the bill into law." The resolution
was adopted. _

REPRESENTATION OF WINDSOR. —On Saturday,
51r. J. Jones, the mayor (who received the writ late on
Friday night), gave notice that the election of two bur-
gesses to represent this borough was tixed to take place
on Wednesday next, on which day the nomination will
take place in the Town.hall. The liberal and conservative
candidates were busily at work canvassing the electors,
and great confidence as to the result of the election is
manifested by the partisans of both parties.
REPRESENTATION OF STAMFORD. —Sir J. C. D.
Hay, who has appeared as a conservative candidate for the
representation of Stamford, will probably be returned with-
out opposition.
THE CATTLE PLsor E.—An analysis of last week's
returns shows that of the counties in England, exclusive of
" the metropolis," two counties remain free from the dis-
ease ; in 17 counties no cases have been reported as occur-
ring during the week. Seven counties show an increase of
315) Cases during the week ; 21 counties show a decrease of
370 cases during the week ; showing a total increase during
the week in the counties of England of 20 cases. "The me-
tropolis " shows an increase during the week of 3 cases.
Of the counties in Wales, 10 counties remain free from the
disease ; in 10 counties no cases have been reported as
I occurring during the week ; no counties show an in-
crease during the week ; two counties show a decrease
of $4 cases during the week ; showing a total decrease dur-
ing the week in the counties of Wales of 84 cases. Of the
counties in Scotland, 10 counties remain free from the dis-
ease ; in 26 counties no CIVICS have been reported as occur-
ring during the week; three counties show an increase of
25 cases during the week ; four counties show • decrease
of 22 cases during the week ; showing a total increase
during the week in the counties of Scotland of three cases.
Of the counties in England, Wales, and Scotland, 22
counties remain free from the disease ; in 53 counties no
cases have been reported as occurring during the week ; 10
counties and "the metropolis" show an increase of 418
cases ; 27 counties show a decrease of 476 cases ; showing
a total decrease during the week ending April 28, in Eng-
land, Wales, and Scotland, of 58 cases, as compared with
the week ending April 21, 1866.
GREAT EASTERN RAILWAY. —This company will
to-day open • new goods station contiguous to the docks at
Ipswich. The directors have appointed Mr. li. Moseley
(who has been for the last 20 years associated with the
company) general manager of the entire system. The direc-
tors have at* secured the services of Mr. S. Swarbrisk,
Maw pars °hist accountant to the Midland.