TOPICS OF THE DAY.
THE LITTLE BILLS!
THE Anti-Reformers have at length screwed their coUrgge to the sticking-point; a preternatural birth has taken place, in the shape of two little Reform Bills, after eighteen months' severe labour. The twins are acknowledged by only a part of the family, as wo understand that the Duke of WELLINGTON and his party will not countenance the monstrous productions. The first Bill admits a partial—a wee-bit disfranchisement ; and authorizes the Speaker of the House of Commons to direct returning officers of decayed boroughs to inquire of the voters if the burthen of representation is too severe for them,—that is to say, whether they will refuse the wages of political corruption ;- and who, used to the sweets of biibery and treating, will volun- tarily Si r:ender them? It is needless to state, that the quantumz of disfranchisement is ridiculous, and bespeaks as much contempt of public opinion as ignorance of its demands.
The second Bill is one of enfranchisement, retaining all the unpopular parts of the Ministerial measure, and none of its good points. The franchise is regulated by a political thermometer, a " graduated scale." The large towns are to have 20/. house-rent voters; the smaller towns, rent voters varying from hol. to f5l.,—a franchise cunningly devised to be the slave of the aristocratical property men. There are to be no town freeholders, no Metropo- litan districts; and Schedule B is still to return two members. This artful contrivance of the enemy, it is vainly imagined, would reconcile the country to the loss of the real Reform Bill and the present Ministers! Lords Hmutowas- and WHARNCLIFFE, we hear, disclaim, in public, all connexion with the vile thing; and Sir ROBERT Htty-way* (at whose house it is alleged to have been concocted) denies all responsibility of parentage. Two or three little lawyers are said to have contributed towards this second abortion. Printed copies are industriously carried about, shown in confidence, and wavering Reformers are daily sounded on the merits of the notable scheme. The Bit-by-bit party are charmed with the device, and flatter themselves that this wonderful " con- cession" would "satisfy the country." Do these owl-sighted poli- ticians really deceive themselves by the belief that the Nation would accept their small measure of Reform? Do they conceit that the People will ever again be hoodwinked by the system? No! the scales have dropped from the eyes of the million; the mockery of representation stands exposed, and will never again command obedience.
Another week, when we have room, we may, for our readers' amusement, give at length the drafts of these" two nice little Bills." They are curiosities worth noting: they serve to mark the dark- ness of these mite-like politicians, who cannot see those about to eat them up. The Boroughmongers are in agony, and know it not—their brains have gone before their breath; they utter words whose meaning they are unconscious of, and conceive themselves patriotic as persons going to be banged believe themselves pious.
• ii wamcnewn tars/act at Tainworth.
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