On Monday much more progress was made. Dr. Cameron moved
an amendment on Clause 2, the effect of which would be to do away with the present system of voting in three-cornered constituencies like Glasgow ; but Mr. Gladstone, having pointed out that the so-called minority clause would require to be care- fully dealt with in the Redistribution Bill, and that this was not the right occasion for discussing a principle which must be either greatly extended or abolished altogether, Dr. Cameron withdrew the amendment ; and one by Sir W. Barttelot re- quiring personal payment of the rates by every registered elector was negatived without a division. Clause 2 was then agreed to, after an attempt by Sir E. Watkin to insist that every house which confers a qualification shall consist of at least two rooms, had been proposed and withdrawn. Clause 3, conferring what is called the "service franchise," was passed without a division ; and then an amendment by Mr. McLaren to Clause 4, which would have forced an elector at present entitled to vote for more than one county or for a county and borough to choose amongst them for which he shall vote, so that one man would possess only one vote, was negatived by 235 votes to 43, after which progress was reported.
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