The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-08 00:00:00

and rapid developments of the social structure,
and of social wants and conditions, a continual
multiplication of the forms in which human neces-
sities present themselves, and they must consider
how those demands were to be met in a spirit of
Christian charity. It did not appear that there was
in this metropolis any other institution precisely
adapted to the object which the conductors of this
refuge had in view. If there were such institutions
they might well believe that in a population of
three millions there would be abundant space for
many. He might state that although almost
entirely excluded on account of other pressing en-
gagements from attending much to such matters,
yet that within the last fortnight he had had a case
under his notice of singular interest and difficulty,
with which without the assistance of the refuge he
should have found it impossible to deal. This was
a case fresh and recent, hut upon grounds that com-
mended themselves to all lie urged that the purpose
which this institution had in view was as eminently
rational as it was unequivocally Christian, and with
this conviction he supported the motion of the
noble lord, and he trusted there would be given to
this institution a warm, steady, and practical sup-
port. (Cheers.)
The resolution was put to the meeting, and una-
nimously adopted.
The Archbishop of YORK, in moving the second
resolution, affirming the necessity of increased sup-
port to the refuge, referred to some of the cases in
connection with the metropolitan workhouses, and
remarked that some years since it was considered a
hopeless thing to deal with criminals and outcasts,
but now the case was altered, and it was found that
success attended well directed efforts for such pur-
poses. He expressed his fear that it would be long
before poor-law administration was improved.
Mr. CHILDERS, in seconding the resolution,
said he had been over the refuge, and found that
everything was in the best order; indeed it was
like the main deck of a smart man of war. (Hear,
hear.)
The resolution was agreed to.

On the motion of the Bishop of ELY, seconded by.
the Rev. E. D. TINLING, one of her Majesty's In-
spectors of Schools, the retiring members of the
committee were re-elected.
A cordial vote of thanks was, on the motion of
Admiral RYDER, awarded to the Earl of Powis for
presiding.
The Archbishop of York dismissed the meeting
with the benediction.

SPIRIT OF THE IPITBLIO JOURNALS.

TIMES.—The Game Laws question is not one for
legislation, as it seems to us, but for discretion and
mutual consideration. On the one side there is a
grievance, much exaggerated ; and on the other, a
right—nay, more than a right—a national taste,
equally exaggerated. The grievance will be suffi-
ciently met by a little moderation and the occa-
sional exercise of tact on the part of game preservers.
There is something almost ridiculous in allowing
wild and wasteful animals, such as hares and rabbits,
to overrun and devastate a district possessing high
cultivation, expensively manured, ploughed, har-
rowed, and harvested with costly machinery, studded
with fine farm buildings, and with the steam-engine
rendering its multifarious assistance. All this for
hares and rabbits ! Well, that is absurd on the very
face of it, and the absurdity is not the less even if
the farmer has ample compensation. But, on the
other hand, what do people own land for in these
days? Certainly not for profit. They cannot get
more than half the interest for their money that
they would from first-class securities. They look
for two returns, in fact—one, a very poor one, in
money ; and another, in what may be called terri-
torial privileges, such as the mere pleasure of a fair
possession, influence and amusement. The last on
Mr. M'Lagan's showing, is the chief bait, and no
doubt it is, in fact, the great inducement to many
capitalists to become landowners, to spend great
sums on their land, and to reside with more or less
advantage to the estate and the people on it. Talk
as we will—and, of course, as politicians and as
economists, we, shall continue to :talk about game
preservers, comparing them to the depopulator of
the New Forest, to the Aineers of Scinde, to Red
Indians and aborigines in general—we all know,
and we most of us hope, that game will be pre-
served in this country, and that sport will be kept
up. But cultivation will also be kept up and im-
proved. The two things must be kept up together,
and the only way to do it is to keep the wilder and
more aggressive of the two within the limits sug-
gested by common sense and mutual consideration.

rl HE WESTMINSTER GAZETTE ON " REFORM."—
The spirit of Reform, it appears, is at length
about to be satisfied. That unruly genius that
for so many years has agitated peaceful commu-
nities and unsettled men's minds, that seemed
to delight in popular turmoil and civil commo-
tions, and that gloried in those tumultuous mani-
festations of moral force, fully calculated to pro-
duce physical dread, is at length to receive his
quietus. The rival champions of Reform and no
Reform have engaged all their energies and mar-
shalled all their forces, not in opposition, but to
outbid, as it were, each other in catering for a
constitutional banquet of sufficient dimensions to
appease all the cravings of the hungry multitude.
To speak more plainly, and, perhaps, more truly,
the great political battle of party, with Reform
inscribed on the banners of both combatants; is at
this moment being fought. With place, power,
and predominance as the prize of individuals, Re-
form for all is to be the grand result. An infu-
sion of the working class interest, that is of the
popular and democratic element, into the electoral
body, is intended to correct and diminish the
monied, the aristocratic, and the territorial influ-
ences complained of, as pressing unduly in the
present state of the law on the representation of
the people. By an extension of the electoral fran-
chise so as to include some 400,000 voters, chiefly
of a class inferior in social position to those now
in possession of a vote. An increase of the de-
mocratic, and a corresponding decrease of the
aristocratic interest will, it is expected, accrue to
the House of Commons. Such would appear to be
the substance of the intended measure of Reform.
Taking for granted the justice of the complaints
so long, so loudly, and continuously made, as also
the constitutional rights and fitness of those who
lay claim to a participation in the privileges of
the extended franchise, it may be well to con-
sider how the proposed end is to be attained by
the projected measure. Theoretically, indeed, mat-
ters seems sufficiently clear, and the parchment on
which the law is engrossed will exhibit in a perfect
and constitutional arrangement, in admirable
order and adjustment, all the varied classes, and
interests, and elements of which the political body
is composed. The theory of a system enjoys,
however, but an abstract and intellectual exist-
ence, its practical working encumbered, and
affected, and influenced by the passions and inte-
rests, the frailties and corruption of individuals
often presents results directly the reverse of those
desired and contemplated. In matters of election
we are enabled and entitled from experience of
the past to pronounce a judgment on the future.
The general records of Parliamentary Committees
on bribery, recent investigations and scandalous
revelations, the knowledge of all men at any time
connected with elections, all testify to the fact
that, especially amongst the constituencies of towns
and boroughs, the influence of bribery and cor-
ruption is universal and paramount. And to
these, be it remembered, the numerical superi-
ority of representatives belongs. Such being the
case, if, at the present higher rate of qualification,
individuals are bribed, will voters of a lower
social status prove more virtuous? By increasing
the numbers, may it not be said that fresh and
more easily-worked material for the process of
corruption will be supplied? If, as has been
already proved, the present voters paying rentals
of £lO, £l5, and £2O are not ashamed to sell
their votes, will it be more difficult to purchase
the interest of a poorer and more humble constit-
uent? Taking, then, the prevalence of bribery as
an established fact, may it not fairly be argued
that the greater the increase in the number of
voters and the lower the qualification required,
the greater also will be the facility for the ex-
clusive election of monied candidates, and that
consequentty any such measure of Reform,
instead of correcting, will, indirectly, at least,
serve to perpetuate and systematise the abuses and
grievances it purported to remedy.

NEW AMERICA.—A fifth edition of Mr. Dixon's
"New America" has just been issued by Messrs.
Hurst and Blackett. "There are few books of this
season," says the Pall Mall Gazette, "likely to excite so
much general curiosity as Mr. Dixon's very entertaining
and instructive work on ' New America.' None are more
nearly interested in the growth and development of new
ideas on tho other side of the Atlantic than ourselves.
The Mormons, the Shakers, the Bible Perfectionists, the
Spiritualists, the Tunkers, the Free Lovers, &c., are most
of them of English blood, though they are born on United
States soil. The book is really interesting from the first
page to the last, and it contains a large amount of valu-
able and curious information."