19 JANUARY 1867, Page 2

Mr. Mowbray, the Judge-Advocate, and the D uke of Marlborough

have been speaking on behalf of the Tory party at a great demon- stration at Durham. The tendency of both speeches, over and above a glorification of Conservatism, was to argue for full in- quiry into the facts of the electoral statistics, boundaries of boroughs, &c., and then to let the Tory Ministry compose a measure at their leisure when they have got their facts. This means, we suppose, a proposal for a Parliamentary committee of inquiry. A Royal commission would have been appointed before this. No doubt a policy of delay would suit both Tories and Adullamites best. But the committee's report, when made, would only be said to be imperfect, a blander found in its statistics, and an effort made for a new inquiry. Why not propose at once a chronic Committee of Inquiry, with instructions not to report ?