10 AUGUST 1867, Page 3

The Star of Friday says, "After the debate of last

night Lord Aberdeen's t conundrum,' minority representation, must stand indelibly branded as one of the poorest political whimsies ever evolved from brains half-addled by apprehensions of democracy or refined into futility by the morbid consideration of political minutiss. Yet it was nevertheless adopted. A majority declared against the principle of majorities. By adopting it the House of Commons have consented at this moment simply to monument in our history one of the most evanescent and unworthy moods of political opinion into which an over-luxurious society was ever betrayed." That is the kind of thing which the opponents of national representation believe to be argument.