The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-27 00:00:00

The Reform Bill.

Sir William Hutt has written another letter on
the subject of his amendment. It is as follows :
Gibside, Gateshead, March 25.

Dear Mr. M'Queen—l have to thank you for your
letter inquiring of me the object of the notice which
I have recently given in the House of Commons.
I wish that all my friends had abstained from
condemning that notice till they had made the
same candid and reasonable inquiry. The sole ob-
ject which I could have in view was to obtain from
the Government some guarantee thatin dealing with
reform in Parliament they would provide for
amending the existing system of local repre-
sentation. My object, though so widely misinter-
preted out of Parliament, and especially down
here, was thoroughly understood in the House of
Commons from the moment the notice was given. I
was, indeed, quickly surrounded by some of the
most earnest and thoughtful of the Liberal mem-
bers, who assured me of their entire concurrence in
its expediency. If you will take the trouble to re-
view the various declarations made by the Govern-
ment when introducing their Reform Bill on the
subject of the re-distribution of seats, you will per-
ceive that they had apparently quite shunted from-
the line of Parliamentary reform on this very import-
ant question. Now, was I, with my strong convic-
tions on the subject, and with the consciousness that
grave political interests were confided to my care
by others, to look idly on and allow this error to be
completed? If my own feelings would have ac-
quiesced in such recklessness, should I not one dal
have been reproached by reformers for betraying
the interests of reform? I took the step which'
after careful consideration, appeared to me to man-
tam those interests as involved in a just distribution
of seats, and at the same time to present no kind o,f,
obstruction to the progress of the Franchise Bill. '
my proceedings be only examined, it will be seen
that both by the stage of the bill which I selected for
my amendment, and the peculiar form of it, the safe
carriage of this bill was solicitously cared for. .f
have really been ill-treated by those whose wishes
was studying to promote, and it has pained me veil
much. Still I cannot regret what I have done.
believe I have thereby effected my purpose. 111. e
Government has seen the expediency of 111°.(11-
lying their policy about seats, and of not persiating
in adjourning sine die that important question. :
Friday last, Mr. Gladstone announced that the Go
vernment would lay before Parliament, while the
Franchise Bill was still in the House of Commons;
a scheme--for completing in regard to it their measure
of parliamentary reform. On the 10th of April
Lord Russell, it is understood, will give other as,
surances on this point to a meeting of the Liberal
members of the House of Commons. By placing
myself in the gap at this crisis of the battle I have
at least contributed to this notable improvelnen
and I know that one day my constituents and 11
old friends the reformers of the North of Bugla.nci!
will do me justice for my exertions.—Believe
me,_ &c. WILLIAM HUTT'

THE LATE QUEEN MARIE AIIELIE.—The obse-
quies of her late Majesty the Queen Marie Awelie
will take place on Tuesday morning next. The late Queen
e
will be buried at Weybridge, in the vault where repose th
remains of her husband, Louis Philippe, King °f the
French. Before the funeral leaves Claremont on of Tuesdal
the
morning a solemn service, at which the members
late Queen's family who are in England will be present,
will take place in the chapel fitted up there
receive the corpse. Yesterday his Royal Highness tbo
Prince of Wales paid a visit of condolence to the Pril3ceS
and other members of the Orleans family at Claremont'
Mr. William Jerdan, the editor of The Literal
itd
Gazette when that periodical was in the zenith of
led
popularity, has a volume of biography in the press,
" Men I have Known." The book will contain ruucal
pleasant gossip about the principal literary, Political::: 1
legal celebrities of the present century, including Per'—:
sketches and anecdotes of Thomas Moors, Thomas o°j';
specially to
bell, the Rev. R. H. Barham, George Canning, bid °tbenre.
Professor Morley is about to give to the world his exT-„f
riences as a dramatic critic, under the title of .beduniol'e
a Playgoer." Both these works will be publi hY
Messrs. Routledge and Sons, of the Broadway, Ludgl"

alarming,
RUMOURS OF CgOr3ioiwNG
evNeVrAyR RETWOI4
dap na__ Or!
alarming, so much so that the trade in Vienna has 1."-
eived a serious check. On the one hand, it appears ce ;
tain that the Kaiser, whether to indicate his resolution
really to fight, has put his army in motion northwards, 11
withdrawn furloughs, purchased horses, and wade just
those preparations on which Governments not hand';
are unwilling to waste money. On the other t
Prussian Government, though aware that Austria is 01°
still threatens, and the peace party, of which the Cluel
and the Prince Royal were the heads, have, it is 581 s
given way. The Italian Government evidently belie
that war is at hand, the Prussian Court has given a gra°,
reception to General Govone, the Italian military eli'v°"'
and has named Prince Frederick Charles commander of
the
tiv
army. The main hope of peace in both countries is
;
extreme uncertainty of the course which the Emperor 0
the French would see fit when hostilities had once cool'
menced. Many of these statements are probably one
stirs
rated, but it seems clear that Austria has resolved to r
no farther.--The Spectator.
PATENT OFFICE MUSEUM, SOUTH KENSINGTON.---
Number of visitors for the week ending March 24, 1,788
total number since the opening of the Museum free
(12th May, 1858), 1,0147950.