The French Chamber on Tuesday voted by 298 to 237
that future Chambers should last for six years instead of four. It is believed that the Ministry, who supported the measure, have secured the adhesion of the Senate in advance; and if that is true the innovation is a most important one. It will immensely increase the eagerness of candidates, it will prob- ably solidify parties, and it will tempt Presidents when dis- contented or aware of divergence between Deputies and their constituents to exercise their right of asking the Senate to dissolve. It will, moreover, tend to economy, the first cause of extravagance in France being the tendency of the Deputies in the last two years of their mandate to bribe constituencies with new buildings, local railways, and costly canals. The change seems to be generally approved, though many see in it a usurpation of the Constitution-making power. There is some truth in that, and still more in the argument that the Deputies are always too advanced, especially on religious matters, and need the restraint prciduced by fre- quent appeals to the people. It is hardly, however, for Englishmen to object either to a Septennial Act or to its corollary, occasional resort to Dissolution.
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