One of the persons who received an appointment after some
questionable connexion with election practices was Mr. Stoner, recently made Judge at Melbourne ; but in consequence of the state- ments this week, of facts previously unknown to the Secretary for the Colonies, the appointment has been disallowed. It does not appear, indeed, that Mr. Stoner was half so fanatical a politician, or was really so much mixed up in political bargainings, as many others; and it is an appropriate result of the crusade on Irish corruption' that the first distinct punishment following this in- quiry should have been attained by other means, and be visited upon a comparatively innocent man, who had acted with unusual fairness and frankness in placing a statement of the very circum- stances along with the testimonials in his favour.
The Reform meetings at Birmingham, Yarmouth, Maidstone, and Brighton, furnish their quiet testimony that the general feel- ing of the Liberals is in favour of the Government Reform Bill ; and at Birmingham we hear the first hint of severance from the dictation of the "Manchester School."
The abandonment of a suit in Chancery to enforce the metage rights of London Corporation against Messrs. Combe, Delafield, and Company, is an earnest that the Corporation is inclined to meet its fate, and to be reformed, with a good grace. The publie out of doors is evidently prepared to assist Parliament in getting on smoothly and diligently with practical business.
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