6 SEPTEMBER 1856, Page 2

Although payment of Members of Parliament has not passed into

law, it is rather encouraging for the advocates of that plan that the first Member to receive an honorary revenue from his constituents is Mr. Roebuck, who can vie with Andrew Marvel in spotless independence—the last of the paid Members. It is not, indeed, that the purse of a thousand guineas which was handed to Mr. Roebuck as tribute to his high character was collected only in Sheffield ; but there is probably no other Member of the House of Commons who can more truly be said to have con- stituents in all constituencies. If he is still a leader without that independent party in Parliament which he desiderates, it is a cheering fact for our dull insouciant day, that his unflinching public-spirit operates wholesomely on other parties besides his own nonexistent following. To this influence an interesting tes- timony was given at the Sheffield Cutler's feast, on Thursday, in the genial speech of the Duke of Newcastle—a patriot who has added to independence the still rarer virtue of self-sacrifice.