NEWS OF THE WEEK.
ON the opening of the recess, " a dreadful stillness first invades the ear" ; and in the quiet, even a single election makes a noise. The electors of Derby could not be persuaded out of their com- mon sense, and they have reelected Mr. Strutt. A very curious opposition had been got up ; Sir Digby Mackworth being the antagonist. The testimonials to his qualification rested princi- pally on his military achievements; his special mission was to defend " the Protestantism of England," which he construed to be in danger. He disdained ordinary political objects—disdained even the title of politician : he is not, it is to be presumed, a Railway Reformer, not a Protectionist, not a sharer in any of the contro- versies of the day ; but he is active solely on behalf of a question that was discussed some months back—the enlargement of the Maynooth grant; and on that ground alone he opposed Mr. Strutt. Now the electors could not be brought to believe that Protestant- ism and Maynooth were on the carpet. The question really sub- mitted to them was, whether the fitness of their representative, on which they had before decided, had been diminished by his accept- ance of office. Incidentally, too, they might well have taken occa- sion to pronounce an opinion on the new Railway Board, of which Mr. Strutt is to be the President ; but that seems hardly to have been honoured with an allusion. Still less directly, the electors might have felt called upon to pronounce judgment, not on the deeds of the new Ministry, for they are as yet little more than supposititious, but on Whiggism in general. That topic, however, was not raised by Sir Digby, and it was perhaps too abstract for a Parliamentary election. So, too, was his figthent about perils to Protestantism; and he could not oust Mr. Strutt : to the just appretiation of a tried repiesentative Derby adds esteem for high personal worth and gratitude for generous local benefactions. A. large majority have sent him back. to Parliament.
