The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-16 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PDBLIO JOURNALS.

TlMES.—Accurate in their periods as any astro-
nomical phenomenon come the autumn banquets, at
which popular members and local magnates pro-
pound their opinions on the great questions and oc-
topics debated during the theGSeivsseinon,
currences of the day,
predict for weeks before what will
summer at home and abroad, and the principal
events of the
succeeding evening of October and November.
one
b e might
said aul me
aoesbt
Colston's-day in Bristol furnishes one of these
gatherings at which the speeches are rather more
readable than usual, for philanthropy does not fuse
all the Bristolians in a flat and unmeaning accord ;
but there are a Conservative Society and a Liberal
Society, each of which reverences the common bene-
factor, while prepared to do on the proper occasion
stern battle with the other. The speeches of the
Liberal Society generally make their way into print,
we know not why, except that perhaps the world
expects our old friend, Mr. 11. Berkeley, to say
something which it would not willingly let die. This
year we have had a very fair speech from Sir Morton
Peto, and a speech which we have endeavoured
without success to understand from the great cham-
pion of the Ballot. Mr. Berkeley, as the senior
member, has the first place. After " dropping
some mental tears," to use his own poetical expres-
sion, upon those Colstonians 'who had been taken
away since the last dinner, Mr. Berkeley made
haste to the subject of the past and coming Re-
form Bills. So far from being surprised that hon.
members, or after-dinner speakers generally, should
at once begin upon Reform, we are rather inclined
to wonder that they should ever leave off,
for no other subject with which we are acquainted
can be talked about for any given length of time
with such ease by any gentleman who takes the
trouble to read the papers. From these not very
recondite sources he can learn all about Yarmouth
and Totnes, the agitations of Mr. Bright and Mr.
Beales, the solemn conclaves and the deter-
mined reticence of the Government, the prudent
retirement of Mr. Gladstone, and feel certain that
he knows as much as any Statesman or any States-
man's private secretary in the kingdom. We do
not complain, then, that Mr. Berkeley should have
talked all the time about Reform, but merely wish
that his ratiocination had been a little more intel-
ligible. He begins by expressing the determination,
in which all but a small minority of the Liberal
party are agreed, to wait for Mr. Disraeli's bill
before joining in any party move against the Go-
vernment. As for Mr. Gladstone's bill of last ses-
sion, he had great doubts whethaeoroeipt
teeoduiltdassuaceseteepd
ywill accept the toon
siotsm
eotwh
inn
~,nO.l ebrei ttst,ora.n d
shoe obtoil
Con-
servative bill. In this Mr. Berkeley is almost osten-
tatiously Liberal. "If Lord Derby should produce
a measure of Reform which he thought even one on-
ward step, it would receive his support," for he " is
for measures, not men." But he greatly doubts
whether he will bring in any measure of Reform,
and, if he does, he believes it will be so hollow and
deceitful that it will fail from the opposition of the
Liberal party. So far Mr. Berkeley speaks the
ordinary and conventional language of his political
section. But then he changes his tone, tells us that
not sufficient credit has been given to the electoral
body as it now exists, and bids his friends " see the
noble struggle which their £lO men had made in
that city against electoral corruption." This, how-
ever, is only to draw the contrast between the vir-
tuous citizens of Bristol on the one hand, who
and vote for Mr. Ber. - struggle against intimidation