The acceptance of this compromise has immensely ac- celerated the
passing of the Bill through Committee. Indeed, by Thursday night, the seventy-first or last clause had been added to the Bill, though many new and postponed clauses, of course, remain to be discussed. It is perfectly certain that the Bill will be clear of the House of Commons long before January 19th, perhaps even almost a week earlier. The malcontents are now the Radicals, as represented by Mr. A. C. Morton, Mr. Conybeare, and Mr. Channing, who are smarting at their desertion by the Government. On the other hand, some of the Conservatives are complaining bitterly of the ease with which the clauses affecting the administration of the Poor-law in London have passed through Committee, which they speak of as a gigantic revolu- tion which may grievously affect London ratepayers. It is said, in reply, that there is no Union in London of which the ratepayers will be indifferent to the economical adminis- tration of the Poor-law, since there is no Union where the advance of the rates will not come out of the pockets of those who elect the Guardians of the Poor, whereas in the country there are many Unions in which those who pay the Poor-rate will be utterly swamped by those who do not them- selves pay it at all.
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