The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-21 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 1857.

The assemblage of Buckinghamshire farmers,
yesterday-, at the ordinary at Newport Pagnell,
may exercise considerable influence on the future
legislation of the United Kingdom. Very im-
portant questions were ventilated at that social
gathering, by one who, generally speaking is cer-
tainly no "ordinary" man. Mr. DISRAELI put
forward a confession of political faith, of vast
consequence at the present crisis. Although not
quite so clear and distinct as we might have
wished, it contained many matters deserving of
mature and attentive consideration, which, as he
himself remarked, required to be thoroughly
" read, marked, and inwardly digested." It
was not merely to the sturdy bucolics who
listened to his words that the remarkable
address was directed. It had a wider
scope, and was intended for every electOr and
non-elector throughout the length and breadth of
the land. The Right Honourable Gentleman
manifestly thought that the time had arrived
when the great question of Parliamentary Reform
must be brought before Parliament—when :the
existing anomalies in the Legislative system must
be raised and modified. He has recognised the
necessity in due time. He acknowledges that the
nation will shortly be called on " to consider great
changes in the political constitution of the coun-
try," and he has very properly appealed to public
opinion as to the nature of those inevitable changes
—so clearly "looming in the future." This is
all that we desire, all that we demand ! Truth
must be advanced by discussion, and we are re-
joiced to see the Right Honourable Gentleman
resorting to the proper tribunal, and callling on
the people generally to express their views and
sentiments on the all important topic.
It is something to find such a man as the re-
nowned leader of her MAJESTY'S Opposition calling
for inquiry, and putting forward a clear common
sense view of the matter. It is satisfactory to
witness the performance of Mr. DISRAELI, in his
first appearance on, any stage as a Parliamentary
Reformer. It is true that he has not touched
on all the phases of the question ; but when we
find that he has taken the preliminary plunge—
that he has accepted one, though perhaps the
least important, of " the five points"—that he is
a convert to " the equalisation of electoral dis-
tricts," we may easily conceive that the same
train of reasoning will carry him onwards to thei
extension of the suffrage, and to that which alone
can afford protection to the voter in the legiti-
mate exercise of hie franchise— .which is the only
mode of averting every undue and corrupt
influence—" THE BALLOT." These will ne-
, ces3,p.rily follow from the opinions which
he inculcated on his auditory ; for, although
it may not be convenient for him as yet to pro-
fess himself a convert, intelligent men will natu-
rally follow his argutnent3 to their legitimate
results ! Another social revolut:on is inevitable,
and ninking men must ponder on its extent and
probable operation !
It is unquestionably a grievance to the rural
population that they should have but a minor
weight iu the scale of representation. But this
evil is the natural consequence of other matters,
and both must he dealt with at the same time.
Permit an Englishman, we care not, whether be-
longing to the urban or rural population, to take
an independent and honest view of the merits
of the several candidates, and of their political
opinions, and we shall respect and bow to his ver-
diet, although it may not be in accordance with
!
our own wishes ; but when landlords or employ-
ers can intimidate, or wealthy men can purchase
his vote, then an adequate guarantee must be
I be given to the State that it shall be really given
in accordance with his conscientious impressions.
We are quite willing, with Mr. DISRAELI, to
" appeal to that sense of fairness which pervades
the great bulk of the people of this country ;"
but we want it to be faithfully expressed, to be
their own sense, and nothing but their sense.
We woull have no political cyphers.
The man who contributes in any de-
gree to the revenue of the country, has a
constitutional right to be heard by himself, or his
representative, in the making of the laws by which
he is bound. There should, in fact, be no taxa-
tion without representation, and that representa-
tion should be founded on the free and unbiassed
expression of the popular will, and 'no mode has
ever been even suggested of obtaining that expres-
sion save by "secret voting," or, in other words,
by the intervention of "the balloting box."
Mr. DISRAELI declares that he has not, as
expected, a Reform Bill " ready cut and dry" in
his pocket. So be it ! Let him carry his
own arguments to the legitimate results,
and we shall be contented. We shall
at least obtain the Equalisation of Electoral Dis-
tricts, a considerable Extension of the Suffrage,
and, more than all, full Protection to the Voter
in its exercise. These would, indeed, form a
dainty dish to set before Parliamentary reformers.
The abolition of the property qualification would
be a fitting adjunct, and with these even the most
strenuous Chartist may rest contented. They
will, at least, be a great instalment of what is
required by justice and equity, and pave the way
to the full and fair representation of the people
of the United Kingdom.

Middle Row, Holborn, it is gratifying to
know, is at last virtually removed. This we have
for years maintained to be one of the most essen-
tial of our Metropolitan Improvements. After-
wards we shall in time, no doubt, obtain the
companion change-for•the-better—almost equally
desirable—in another of our great trunk thorough-
fares. The razing to the ground, we mean, of
that huge, unsightly block of houses, compactly
massed together, between St. Clement Danes and
St. Mary-le-Strand ! So that that abominable
and disreputable lane, called Holywell Street, may
become as utterly a thing of the past as any other
of the foul plague-spots of London already re-
moved for ever from the light of day—such, for
example, as the squalid slunis of St. Giles's, and the
"drunken, hungry dens" of Alsatia, that favoured
haunt of yore of the cut-throat and the prosti-
tute. We have still, of course, to begin from the
very beginning with regard to the obstructive old

tumble-down houses in the Strand. But we are
more sanguine than we have ever been yet as to
its removel, now that we have actually arrived,
as already observed, at the virtual " end" of the
equally obstructive block of houses in Holborn.
The very name of the last mentioned eyesore and
stumbling-block demonstrates clearly and unnais-
tik-eal)ly the folly of it. Middle Row, Holborn !
It is happily useless now, however, to waste any
further indignation in expatiating upon the ab-
surdity of a monstrous impediment to our metro-
politan traffic, now to all intents and purposes
done away with. It merely remains to consider
for a few moments the comparatively trifling ex-
penditure with which that very obvious and really
extraordinary improvement can at length after
all be accomplished. The entire Outlay, as ex-
plained in the Report presented to the Metro-
politan Board of Works by the Committee of
Improvements, turns out (after all we have
heard about the ruinous cost certain to be
entailed by any such extravagant under-
taking), positively to be something consider-
ably under 50,0001. altogether 1 To explain
this clearly, so as to place it beyond the pos-
sibility of any misapprehension, the outlay re-
quired for the whole of the necessary purchases of
property is estimated at 42,8051. Besides which,
there are set aside, in the same comprehensive
and not by any means stinted estimate, 4,280/.
more, by way of 10 per cent, for contingencies:
There will be 3401. needed, after that, for paving
—3401. ensuring that that paving of the vacant
site shall be really good and serviceable. All of
which three items, taken together, make a total
of just 47,4251. Bearing in mind, however, the
probable, or rather, we should say, •the certain
return of some 8001. upon the sale of old mate-
rials—this total of 47,425/. will be reduced (the
Report of the Committee says this, observe !)
to a net cost of 46,6251. Otherwise
exactly 3,375/. less than 50,0001. A most
moderate expenditure, we maintain, considering
the locality and the magnitude of the improve-
ment. Fancy the clear sweep there will then be,
immediately Holborn Hill is ascended (after
crossing New and Old Farringdon-streets), right
on, without any of the old impediments and ob-
structions at once to view and traffic, past Furni-
val's-inn, past Gray's-inn-lane, past Chancery-
lane, in one broad direct line, into New Oxford-
street, into (Old) Oxford-street, on—far away—
out of one of the grand western extremities of the
metropolis. There, at least, will be one of the
great arteries of London Traffic, without a stric-
ture upon it—strangling as it has done hitherto,
almost time out of mind, the flow of the
general circulation. Other benefits of a simi-
lar kind will inevitably follow, if only by
the mere contagion of a good example—other
comprehensive and kindred improvements.
Those ridiculous old turnstiles, leading from
Holborn into Lincoln's-Inn-Fields will find them-
selves ultimately widened into bye-streets. The
Strand itself, influenced by an honourable spirit
of emulation, will, in due course, be rid at last of
the brick and mortar incubus weighing upon it
between its two picturesque churches. Fleet-
street even may, in spite of the amiable weak-
neas of Mr. PETER CUNNINGHAM in favour of
Temple-Bar, remove (as we may call it), that
Modern Relic of Old London to some spot where
it may be less of a Bar and more of an Ornament.
And if the City must needs have a gateway there
to satisfy its ancient pride and sustain the memory
of its antique prerogative, why, it may then, an
it' list, build for itself a gateway worthy
of it, wider and loftier, grander
and gloomier, if it will—but at any
rate one through which the Traffic upon the
World's Highway may pass and repass without,
as now,-incurring the continual liability to a dead
lock, or the almost momentarily recurring cer-
tainty of some blundering impediment. Ulti-
mately, the site of Fleet Prison may be turned to
some good account. St. Paul's may be opened to
the Thames. The river itself may be glorified
and beautified by a regular series of embankments.
BUT—we are not altogether observe I when we
say this, merely speculating in. nubibus, building
castles in the air, dreaming day-dreams.
Middle-row, Holborn, is to be abolished !
It was so decided by a division of twelve
against nine, upon Monday last, at a special
meeting of the Metropolitan Board of Works,
held in the Council-chamber, at Guildhall. And
after the final abanclonmvat of a favourite old
Hobby like Middle -row, Holborn —Why, we
really do conceive that we may look forward with
confidence to the realisation of almost any of our
other long desired improvement,.

ThE ROYAL FAMILY.

SOUTHAMPTON, WEDNESDAY,
QUARTER TO 8 P.M.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales has just em-
barked from the docks in the Fairy steam yacht, Master
Commander Welch, on his return from the Lakes. The
Hon. Mr. Cavendish, Mr. Gibbs, and Captain Crispin
were in attendance on the Prince. His Royal Highness
was received by Mr. Hedger and Mr. J. Levy on the
part of the dock company.
The young Prince appeared in the best health, and
was loudly cheered by the spectators, who had assembled
in large numbers to witness his embarkation.

The Fairy immediately steamed out of dock for
03borne.

The Alelamptis frigate, stailoned off the military hos-
pital, near Netley, fired.a Royal salute as the Fairy
paSsed.

The young Prince Alfred is ex7eeted to pass through
here on Thursday for Osborne, on his return from
Germany.
The Portsmouth and Ryde United Steam-packet Com-
pany's vessel the Prince of Wales, Captain Beazley,
embarked their Serene Highnesses Prince Edward of
Saxe Weimar and the Prince of Leiningen, yesterday
afternoon, at half-past 2, from the Royal Victoria Pier,
and conveyed them to Ryde, on their way to Osborne,
to visit her Majesty and the Prince Consort.

A. Cabinet Council was held yesterday afternoon, at
the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury
in Downing-street. The Ministers present were Vis-
count Palmerston, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville,
Esrl of Harrowby, Sir George Gray, Earl of Clarendon,
Mr. Secretary Labouchere, Lori Panmure, the Chan.
teller of the Exchequer, Sir Charles Wood, the Right
Hon. R. Vernon Smith, Lord Stanley of Alderley, the
Right Hon. M. T. Baines, and the Duke of Argyll.
His Excellency the Russian Minister and the Countess
Chreptowitch have issued cards for large dinner parties
at Chesham House on the 3d proximo and on the 17th
proximo. The Countess will have assemblies after the
dinners on each evening.
The Duchess of Inverness has arrived at the Bedford
Hotel, Brighton, from Kensington Palace.

The Duke and Duchess of Manchester are on their
way from Berlin to London, where their graces may be
expected to arrive on the Ist proximo.
The Countess Frances Waldegrave and Mr. Har-
court, M.P., entertained at dinner, last evening, at their
mansion, in Carlton-gardens, the Earl of Aberdeen, the
Earl and Lady Constance Grosvenor, the Earl and
Countess of Abingdon, the Earl and Countess of Cork,
the Earl and Countess Grey, the Viscount and Viscoun Less
Barrington, Lord and Lady Elcho, the Bishop of Oxford,
Lady Seymour, Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Gladstone, and
Mr. Fortescue.

The Earl and Countess Spencer entertained at dinner
last evening, at Spencer House, the Countess Dowager
of Morley, Viscount and Viscountess Enfield and the
Hon. Miss Byng, the Bishop of London and Mrs. Tait,
Hon. F. Byng, Hon. A. Ponsonby, the Speaker and
Lady Charlotte Denison, Sir G. and Lady Grey, Mr.
and Mra. 11. Seymour, Mr. Cole, Lady Sarah Spencer,
and Lord Althorp.
The Countess of Dunraven will give a ball at her
mansion in Belgrave•square, on Tuesday. the 26th inst.
The Countess Dowager of Essex and Miss Johnstone
have arrived in Belgrave-square for the season.