It is quite evident that the country gentlemen are not
going to revolt against the County Government Bill. Their tone in all the meetings of Quarter-Sessions reported this week is one of depressed acquiescence, only two speakers out of about forty advocating resistance. No meeting protested as a body, or declined to appoint a committee to confer with Government on details, the principal one being, of course, the management of the police. It was recognised generally that the measure involved a revolution ; and one or two Peers were urgent that the country gentlemen should stand for the new Councils. That is excellent advice, and its acceptance will depend a good deal upon the Peers themselves. If they will stand, as they ought, considering their stake in their counties, the squires will stand too, and then the Councils will start with men of experience in their midst. What we dread is not the indifference or the laziness of the gentry, but the rise of a caste feeling such as has un- doubtedly impeded the good government of the boroughs. It ought to be a point of honour with the better country gentle- men to sit for their own districts, and not leave their repre- sentation to rural jobbers. We hope to see the Duke of Westminster, who on Tuesday condoled so sympathetically with the squires, Chairman of the County Council of Cheshire. It is of no use to send the family solicitor.
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