The agitators for Parliamentary Reform continue their labours; but as
yet the public appears to respond but languidly to their ap- peals. The Reform meeting held at Manchester this week was purely missionary in its character. The principal performers were strangers; the declaration adopted by the meeting ziginated with an association which has its local habitation in London, and which is perhaps as little identified with the inhabitants of the:Metro- polis as with those of Manchester. Neither of the Members for Manchester deemed it necessary- to attend the meeting, and Mr. Cobden also sent an apology. However desirable Parliamentary Reform may be, the public is not at present earnestly bent upon its attainment. The new Reform movement is factitious ; it is not vigorous and diffused enough to promise efficient support to a Ministerial Reform Bill, much less to compel Ministers to make their measure an effective one. Matters standing thus, there is little to be gained by canvassing the details of the Little Charter now offered for public approbation. Until the movement become real, the discussion is merely theoretical, and the theory of Par- liamentary Reform is clear enough. Meanwhile, the higher level to which settled public opinion has unobservedly risen throughout the community upon this subject, is marked in a very unexpected place. ihe Corporation of Lon- don is at last setting its house in order—actually preparing to re- form itself. The liberal proposals of a Committee to give the municipal rights Of freemen to all occupiers paying scot and lot, has found favour from a considerable majority of the Common Council, and will probably become London law.
