The Scotch Reform Bill was read a second time on
Monday. The debate was dull, but was marked by one incident. Mr. Laing, speaking, as he said, on behalf of the moderate Liberals of Scotland, offered to accept the Bill if Government would con- cede ten additional members, instead of seven, improve the re- distribution, and prevent the manufacture of fictitious county votes by insisting on residence. Sir James Fergusson, on behalf of Government, said it had never bound itself to stick to seven as a maximum, and the Lord Advocate told Mr. Laing the com- mittee might settle redistribution as it chose ; but nobody con- ceded anything about the non-resident votes. We suspect, how- ever, the Scotch Members will be ultimately allowed their own way, and most of them seem sorely puzzled whether to take what they can get, or help the English Liberals by reopening the question of little boroughs.
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