The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-15 00:00:00

Lord GREY has written to an influential friend
en the subject of Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S resolution
which is to be brought forward on the second
reading of the Ministerial Reform Bill. It may
appear strange to many that a noble noble who has
for so many years occupied a seat in the hereditary
branch of the Legislature, should interfere in the
alterations deemed essential for obtaining an
improved representation of the people. Indeed'
in the olden time, such a proceeding might
have been deemed not strictly constitu-
tional, and some vexation and annoyance
might be caused to those who had so far outstepped
the legitimate limits within which they should
have restricted themselves.
Others may think the matter to come within the
purview of the old myth, to be something approxi-
mating to the conduct of that celebrated dog which
is reported to have occupied a manger, in the good
old times, and to have refused to all others the
privileges of which he could not have availed him-
self. Lord GREY is one of the Whig clique, but
fortunately for the nation he no longer pulls either
with Lord PALMERSTON or Lord JOHN RUSSELL.
He works on his own hook, or like " H arry Gow,"
" fights for his own hand." And truly, but that
he is in the wrong position, he might prove rather
an awkward customer to the two ex-Whig

Premiers.
There are many sound truths ventilated in the
epistle of the noble earl, and doubtless they will be
duly considered, not only by Lord ELcso, but by
the entire party of which he is aprominent member.
Is the movement either just or equitable ? Is it one
which will either promote the interests or the wel-
fare, happiness, or prosperity of the people
We believe not. And, therefore, although we
feel that the Government bill does not
at all meet the national requirements, and
that it affords no adequate protection to the humble
voter in the exercise of the franchise ; that it is, in
short, wanting in the most essential point of all
others, we should still gladly witness its second
reading,. and its consideration and discussion in
CommittZe, which is of such vital importance to
the cause of 'Reform.

Lord GREY justly deprecates the course which
his quondam colleague is atout to take. He says
with perfect truth—,, The question of Parlia-
mentary Reform is fast gettinginto a state
very dangerons to the country ; it seems to me
therefore, to be the duty of all public men to give
their best assistance towards settling it, and at all
events strictly to abstain from using it for the pur-
pose of party warfare. But if the settlement of the
question is the object they have in view, I cannot
understand how the party opposed to the Govern-
ment can doubt that they ought to agree to the
second reading of the bill that has been introduced."
It is one that should not be resorted to for factious
or party purposes. Either to eject an Administra-
tion, or compel what we believe every disinterested
and unprejudiced person would believe to be an evil

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THE SUN.
TUESDAY. MARCH 15, 1859.