NEWS OF THE WEEK.
MINISTERS, having safely launched the Bridget, have propounded their Bills to Amend the Representation of the People. On Thursday evening, three meastires were introduced, one by Lord John Russell for England and Wales, a second by Mr. Cardwell for Ireland, a third by the Lord Advocate for Scotland. Simpler and more moderate proposals for "supplying omissions and re- medying defects" in the Act of 1832 could not well have been presented. Their provisions may be stated in the briefest space. Throughout the United Kingdom, the qualification for a vote will be reduoed to 101. rental in counties, and 61. rental in boroughs, and in Scotland the freehold franchise will be reduced from 101. to 51. No boroughs are entirely disfranchised ; but in England and Wales all boroughs which, having a population of less than 7000 souls, now return two Members, will in future ream only one. There are twenty-five boroughs coming within the operation of this provision, placing twenty-five seats at the disposal of Parliament. Lord John gives fifteen new Members to certain populous counties ; creates four new boroughs—Ken- sington and Chelsea Birkenhead, Staleybridge, and Burnley— each to return one Member ; and gives an additional Member to Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, and Birmingham. He also allots a Member to the University of London. There remain four seats—those of the disfranchised boroughs, Sudbury and St. Albans. Mr. Cardwell obtains two for Ireland—one going to Cork County, one to Dublin City. The Lord Advocate obtains two for Scotland—and one is tendered to Glasgow City, the other to the Universities of Scotland. That is the Reform Bill.
It will be seen that Lord John retains all the nomination boroughs, although he deprives some of one Member ; he declines to revive his proposal for the representation of minorities ; he turns away from "fancy franchises ; " and he makes no pro- vision for giving votes to lodgers.
