24 APRIL 1880, Page 2

The Times publishes a curious analysis of the classes which

have furnished new Members to the present Parliament. There are 257 new Members in all, or considerably more than a third of the whole House. Of these, no less than 150 are merchants, manufacturers, or engaged in commerce in some way ; while 52 are lawyers, 44 being barristers and 8 solicitors. There are 6 journalists, 7 engineers, 5 bankers, 2 brewers, 3 doctors, 6 tenant-farmers, 4 publishers, engravers, or printers, 3 clergy- men (past or present), 30 officers of the Army, and 2 of the Navy. Of course, most of the military men are also land- lords, and many of the barristers have other occupations ; but out of the whole number, 172 belong to the strictly trading or professional classes, and only 85 to the country squirearchy in its various forms. The new House is believed to be far better educated than the old, and to contain a much larger proportion of men who will not be content to be classed as "fine brute votes." It is noteworthy, however, that of the professions, the only one heavily represented is the legal, though, as is the case already in all free countries except England, the journalists are arriving in some numbers. There will in all be fourteen of them in the new House.