Mr. Gladstone commenced the debate on the second read- ing
of the Reform Bill on Monday with a long and very elaborate criticism on the details of the Government measure, expressing incidentally a certain almost tender regret for the ill used "ten minutes" Bill, in which be saw a better basis for a settlement than in the proposal of Household Suf- frage as qualified by the caprices of hundreds of Vestries. The Bill of the Government arranges the borough constituencies, said Mr. Gladstone, "into what I venture to term a hierarchy of five classes,"—(l) dual voters ; (2) the ten-pounders who need only one year's residence, and are qualified by shops and warehouses, as well as dwelling-houses ; (3) the less-than-ten-pounders, who pay their min rates, who will need two years' residence, who cannot be qualified by any premises but dwelling-houses, nor by part of a house rented at the requisite value, as a ten-pounder can be ; (4) the ten-pound-and-upwards compound householders, who will have to claim to pay their rates as under the existing law, but are not to be asked to pay the " full " rate, but only the rate paid by the landlord for their house ; (5) the less-than-ten-pound compound householders, who are to be both fined' and mulcted in trouble, in order to obtain the franchise. Mr. Glad- stone ridiculed these distinctions, and also made a powerful appeal for the lodger franchise. The speech was too de- tailed for effect—for which, however, Mr. Gladstone has to thank his party. Last week, on the first reading, they criti- cized his speech as too strong and comprehensive ; this week it was too mild and circumstantial. The truth is, many of Mr. Gladstone's followers in Parliament are not willing to be pleased with him ;—they must take care lest the country should show a certain similar reluctance to be pleased with them.
