The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-02 00:00:00

Th Late Defeat of Ministers.

(From the Law Times: of to-day)
A majority of ten instructed the committee on the
Reform Bill to make provision for the better pre-
vention of bribery and corruption. The Govern-
ment had the best of the argument, that the subjects
of bribery and franchise have never yet been treated
as one, and that it would be better for both to deal
with them separately. But it marks the disposition
of the House towards the bill, that it accepted even
so irrational a proposition because it was likely to
delay, if not to destroy, a measure which the great
majority of the House detest and dread even while
they vote for it.

But the motion gave rise to a short debate on
bribery and its remedies, which will at once
interest and amuse our readers who are behind the
scenes and know the truth of the matter. Mr.
Gladstone affected to doubt its prevalence, and de-
sired the further evidence to be procured by the
commissioners that are about to inquire into the
convicted boroughs. But more proof is not needed.
The plain fact is that bribery has grown enormously
of late years ; that it is rapidly extending ; that it
'prevails more or less in every borough in England
where there is not some predominant interest, or
the combined resistance of the honest electors for-
bids resort to it by making its object unattainable.
Mr. Staniland stated that he knew a constituency
in which 750 out of 1,000 would not vote without a
fee, and that the price was £35 per vote. The case is
by no means uncommon. The alarming part of it
is the tendency to spread. Wheresoever it is once
planted it thrives apace, and cannot be rooted out.
He who has once taken a bribe looks for it ever
after ; and his neighbours soon follow the example.
Even if the voter has a conscience and is reluctant
to sell himself, a wife or a daughter will crave for
a new dress like that which neighbour Smith's wife
or daughter was well known to have bought with
the sovereigns received in exchange for his vote.

But how is this formidable mischief to be put
down ? An extended franchise will but extend
it. Penalties are not enforced; and contrivances
for evasion will keep pace with any stringency of
statutes. Mr. Staniland makes a good suggestion.
He says, let disfranchisement for life follow a con-
viction for bribery. But more effective yet would
be the further provision that when a member is con-
victed for bribery the petitioner shall take the seat,
provided he polls a certain small proportion of the
constituency. We agree with Sir George Grey
that severity of penalties has gone as far as it would
be practicable to carry it. We should now try to
make it the interest of candidates not to bribe.

The subject is of great and pressing importance;
but it demands separate discussion, and distinct
legislation. It cannot properly fotm a p art of a
Reform Bill. •

MARKETS.--=This Day.

~~~.

COVENT GARDEN.
Increased supplies of fruit are on sale, and the show of
vegetables is somewhat extensive. The demand is steady,
as follows:

FRUIT—Pine apples, Os to Os; grapes, 4s Od to 10s ;
cherries, is to 2s 6d per lb ; apples, 2s 6d to 4s 6d ; green
gooseberries, 4s Od to 5s Od per half sieve; oranges, 6s
to 12s ; lemons, 3s 6d to 8s per 100.
VEGETABLES—Summer cabbages, is to is 6d; cauli-
flowers, is 6d to 2s 6d ; horseradish, is to 2s per doz heads ;
greens, 3s 6d to 4s 6d ; turnips, 2s Od to 2s 6d ; carrots,
3s 6d to 4s ad ; turnip radishes, 6d to 1s Od; spring
onions, 6d to is Od per dozen bunches ; rhubarb, 4d to 8d
per bundle ; forced asparagus, 2s to 5s per bundle ; old
onions, 2s Od to 2s ad per half sieve ; seakale, Os Od to
Os Od; mushrooms, Od to Oa Od per punnet ; cucumbers,
4d to is 3d each ; cos lettuces, 8d to is 6d per score ; new
potatoes, 2d to 6d per lb.