The Express.
London, England, 1867-03-18 00:00:00

NEW ESSAYS ON REFORM.`

Mr. Lowe's speeches have had one good conse-
quence. They have put the advocates of reform
upon their defence. They have compelled them to
re-examine their own case, in the light thrown upon
it by a consummately able and unsparing antago-
nist, possessed by an anti-democratic passion,
which, far from confusing his judgment and per-
ceptions, seems to quicken and elevate them by a
species of mental exaltation such as often accom-
panies strong emotions. This reconsideration is a
gain to all those who can profit by Mr. Lowe's in-
telligence without being spurred by his excitement
into a fervour as vehement as his own.

The writers of the "Essays on Reform," which are
associated in the volume just published by Messrs.
Mactnillan,endeavourto prove, in reply to the small
body of thinkers of whom Mr. Lowe is the chief,
and for the benefit of the much larger class of per-
eons to whom ho has vaguely communicated his
apprehensions, that parliamentary reform in Eng-
land is not necessary only but desirable also. They
wish not to impose it on the reluctant fears, but to
make it welcome to the deliberate reason and true
patriotism of the present depositaries of power.
Though the book finds its occasion in the exigen-
cies of a particular crisis, and in the necessity of
applying a corrective to an unhappy state of mind
and temper among influential classes of the corn-
munity, the range of its subjects, and the method
of their treatment, give it mere than a temporary
value. Many of the essays are contributions of
intrinsic and durable worth to a subject which, in
its diverse applications, can scarcely ever be obso-
lete, and which, in growing communities, must
be periodical. They deal with reform as an in-
tellectual, not less than a practical problem ; view-
ing it in the light of recognised principles of
human nature, of society and of government, exa-
mining the testimony of history, both English and
foreign, and trying existing institutions, and the
changes which are recommended in them, by these
double criteria.

To transcribe the list of subjects and authors
will savetrouble both toour readers and to ourselves ;
and will give a sudicient idea of the scope and con-
tents of the volume. They are the following :
(1.) " The Utilitarian Argument against Reform,
as stated by Mr. Lowe," by the Hon. G. C. Bro-
drick, M.A., Fellow of Merton College, Oxford ;
(2.) "The Political Character of the Working
Classes," by R. H. Hutton, M.A. ; (3.) " On the
Admission of the Working Classes as part of our
Social System, and on their Recognition for all
purposes as partof the Nation," by Lord Houghton,
M.A., D.C.L. ; (4.) " The Balance of Classes," by
Albert Venn Dicey, M.A., Fellow of Trinity
College, Oxford ; (5.) "On the Choice of Re-
prmentatives by Popular Constituencies," by Leslie
Stephen, M.A., Fellow of Trinity Hall, Cambridge
(6.) " Redistribution of Seats," by John Boyd
Kinnear ; (7.) "Analysis of the House of Com-
mons, or Indirect Representation," by Bernard
Cracroft, M.A. ; (8.) On the Working of Austra-
lian Institutions," by C. H. Pearson, M.A., Fellow
of Oriel College, Oxford ; (9.) " The Experience
of the American Commonwealth," by Goldwin
Smith, M.A., Fellow of University College, Ox-
ford ; (10.) "The Historical Aspect of Democracy,"
by James Bryce, D.C.L., Fellow of Oriel College,
Oxford ; (11.) "Opportunities and Shortcomings of
Government in England," by A. 0. Hutson, M.A.,
Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford ; (12.) "The
House of Commons in 1830," by Sir George
Young, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.

• Essays on Reform London : Macmillan and Co. 1867.