The Sun.
London, England, 1851-05-14 00:00:00

escaped being compelled to be a little more explicit
as to the scope and nature of the reform he intends
to propound next session. His scheme is ►till as ranch
enveloped in obscurity as " the great Asian mystery"
itself; and ()nine ignotum pro magnifico. On the other
hand, he may have wished for au opportunity to repel
the insidious averment made yesterday by the limes,
that " extinguishing half-a-dozen boroughs is, perhaps,
as much as we are to expect from the Ministerial
measure of next session." The confession of faith on
the subject of Parliamentary reform issued yesterday by
the Times, is even as comical a manifesto as could well
emanate from a journal which little more than a week
ago was proclaiming the necessity of extensive changes
in our electoral system, and complimenting Lord
John Russell for having mustered courage to at-
tempt to make them. On the score of household
suffrage our contemporary roundly declares that it
" would be simply a nuisance and a burden to the
nnfortunate householder." Men don't want to have
votes: " the suffrage is positively despised;" and "in
the present state of things to offer men votes is to
cast pearls before swine." The re-distribution of the
electoral districts, triennial Parliaments, and vote by
ballot, are cried down by the Times in language quite as
elegant and emphatic as that we have been quoting.
And the Parliamentary reformer that was some ten
days ago winds up by declaring that the great merit of
Earl Grey's Reform Act consisted in its leaving "an
identity between the Parliaments of 1831 and 1832;"
and urging as an insuperable objection to any Parlia-
mentary reform that we can only have " a new Parlia-
ment on the very serious condition of throwing away
the old one." The Times might extend this argument
even to dissolutions. Parliaments, it might say, ought
never to be dissolved; for we can only obtain " a new
Parliament on the very serious condition of throwing
away the old one." The Times enjoys the reputation of
being a trustworthy political weathercock. if we may
judge by the wny it points at present, Parliamentary re-
form is as surely windbound as a fleet in the chops of
the Channel with strong gales from the eastward.

MR. HARD WICK and CAPTAIN SOMERSET.
Mr. Hardwick deserves all praise for his judicious de-
cision iii the case of Captain Paulet Henry Somerset, of
the Coldstream Guards. It will have hero seen, in our
pelice report of yesterday, that this gallant officer was
on Monday committed to the House of Correction for
ten days, for having brutally whipped .a police-constable,
who was endeavouring to discharge his duty. The cir-
cumstances of the case are recapitulated in a few words.
Captain Somerset, on Monday, about three o'clock,
drove rapidly into the park by the Kensington-gate,
disregarding the cry of the policeman stationed at that
spot. Police-constable Griffin, who was on duty on the
road, held up his hands as a signal to Captain Somerset
to stop, while the phaeton was as yet thirty or forty
yards distant from him. To this signal Captain Somer-
set paid no attention. As he continued to drive on,
Griffin endeavoured to explain to him that in accordance
with the orders of the Commissioners he must go by
Rotten-row, and not by the road. Captain Somerset in
answer merely whipped his horses, and the policeman
thereupon, in obedience to his orders, seized the reins.
The gallant officer immediately commenced lashing
the constable about the head and shoulders, and drew
blood from his face. Finally the policeman let go his
hold, and Captai❑ S mierset drove off at a gallop, but
was overtaken and brought back by the mounted patrol.
For this offence he was brought before Mr. Hardwick,
who, having the option of inflicting a fine or sending the
prisoner to gaol, very judiciously committed Captain
Paulet Henry Somerset, of the Coldstream Guards, to
the House of Correction for the space of ten days.
Captain Somerset's conduct was, indeed, perfectly in-
excusable. As a soldier he should have known that the
constable had no option but to obey orders. At any
time he would richly have deserved the punishment in-
flicted upon him; but now,lwhen it is of so much conse-
quence to preserve public order during the progress of
the Exhibition, he was doubly amenable to the stern
justice of the magistrate. It is clear enough that the
payment of a fine is a matter of no consequence to per-
sons in the situation of Captain Somerset, but we have
a strong impression that for the future aspiring young
gentlemen will think twice before they assault a police
constable in the discharge of his duty. If, contrary to
anticipation, it should be otherwise, we trust all magis-
trates will bear in mind the leading case of Captain
Paulet Henry Somerset, of the Coldstream Guards.-
1 Times.