TOPICS OF THE DAY.

" HELP YOURSELF AND THE KING WILL HELP YOU."

THE Parliamentary struggle between the Ministers and the Boronghmongers is postponed until the second reading of Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S Bills. So be it; since delay is favourable to the cause of the nation, which, as yet, has scarcely had time to make known its will and display its power. But we are told, on all hands, that the Bills will be " frittered away " by Sir ROBERT PEEL'S party. Be that so also, we say ; since it is plain that an early General Election would be of great advantage to the country. The infatuated Boroughmongers are frightened out of their wits; and, in the excess of folly which their alarm has engendered, they imagine that the Ministers and the Nation will allow the Reform Bills to be altered for the worse. Speaking for the Nation, Sir ROBERT, we tell you plainly, that not one word of the Bills shall be altered. Come forward to-morrow, and propose the Ballot, of which a majority of the Nation approves—to do that would be much more dangerous than to oppose the Bills altogether ; for the People have declared for the Bills, the whole Bills, and nothing but the Bills ; and they know, that the insidious proposer of " amendments " is more their enemy than that honest but crazy opponent of all Reform, Sir CHARLES WETHERELL. Everywhere, and spontaneously, the People have declared their intention to support these Bills, and nothing else: the Ministers and the King agree with the People : what chance then have the Borough- mongers of" gaining a victory over the whole Nation, from the King down to the veriest Radical of Stockport ? None eventually; but unless the Oligarchy of this country. be unlike all others,— unless one reads history to acquire false views of political motives, the virtual Government will not give up its supreme authority without a hard struggle. When or where that struggle may end, we are not so rash as to foretel ; but that it will begin with harass- ing divisions against the Ministry on the details of the Reform Bills, there can be little doubt. In that case, which indeed appears inevitable, we have a General Election. Then let the Nation pre- pare for the second act of its struggle with the Boroughmongers !

At all events, as we said last week, we are on the eve of a General Election ; for the Ministers, it is evident, are resolved to be guided by public opinion, and clever men, such as they, must be well aware, that the fond feeling of the Nation towards the Reform Bills is wholly of a political kind, being affection for favours to come ! The excellent judgment which the Nation has displayed, by its unqualified approval of the Government measure, is also a proof that the Nation approves of the Bills, not for the words which they contain, but for the good effects which they are expected to produce. At all events, then, we are on the eve of a General Election—Let us make ready ! The Times recommends, that " committees should be every- where formed without a moment's delay, for managing the elec- tions of known friends to Reform, in all counties, cities, and open boroughs throughout both islands." The Globe suggests the for- mation of a society like that which, in France, under the name of "Aide toi et le ciel &lidera," was of infinite service to the nation, by promoting the return of deputies opposed to the Congregation of Jesuits and the system of Charles the Tenth. We rejoice in being able to state, that a Society of that description is already formed in London ; and we trust that it will take the name sug- gested by the Globe, viz. " HELP YOURSELF AND THE KING WILL HELP YOU." The allusion to the French society which that name contains, would be expressive of the objects in view, and of the great difference between the French and English struggles for good government. But, at all events, let the Society act without delay. Deliberation now would be a waste of time, for the national will is precisely embodied in the Reform Bills ; and all that the nation requires for the present is, members of Parliament who will support those bills—every word of them!

Our first impulse on hearing Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S statement of the King's measure of Reform was to lay before the public the names of gentlemen highly qualified to serve the nation in Parlia- ment; and according to our promise of last week, we have pre- pared a list of persons coming under that description. This list, however, is by no means complete, but will be continued, at inter- vals, so long as there may be a demand for good candidates and we can find the means of supplying that demand. If the " Help yourself and the King will help you" Society should not waste time in useless or childish deliberation as to its own objects and means of attaining them, it will soon relieve us from the office of labouring in this most useful and necessary work. Meanwhile, we shall spare no pains to assist the honest electors of England in their choice of worthy representatives ; and if the Society, owing to its numbering too many fine gentlemen amongst its members, should prove an abortion, we shall extend our researches to Scot- land and Ireland.

The first object of the Society and the people at large should be to make arrangements by which to secure the return, for counties or open boroughs, of reforming members, the present nominees of reforming borough-owners ; so that those persons heir'g still in Parliament, other Reformers may be returned to vote for the Bills. We mentioned Mr. CHARLES BULLER last week as an ex- ample of this sort. If he were returned for Southwark, or Col- chester, or Rochester, in the room of Lord VILLIERS, or St. Al- bans, in the room of Lord GRIMSTON, his family might return some unknown but stanch _Reformer for the condemned borough of West Looe, which is their property, and for which, if it shouldrsu please them, they might nominate COBBETT, or ST. JOHN LONG, or HORACE Twiss.

Towards the less immediate but equally pressing object of the Society and the nation at large—that of selecting new candidates worthy to serve the nation in Parliament—we have laboured this week by preparing the following list of able and honest men. At first, we were inclined to suggest that every member of the House of Commons, who shall vote for the Bills and against every amend- ment, ought to be returned again ; but considering that many will so vote merely that they may be returned again, it now appears to us that the qualifications of every future candidate, whether a former member or not, ought to be carefully examined by the proposed Society, and by the press. The names which follow have been selected from a much greater number, rather as examples than as intended for a complete list. In selecting them, we have had but one object—that of serving the cause of good government, and injuring as far as possible the faction which hopes to determine the question of Reform by a civil war.

MR. GEORGE GROTE, "

A banker in London ; author of the best * of the late pamphlets! on Reform ; a man of talent, who has bestowed much time on the study of public economy, and is therefore an enemy of monopolies ; rich, liberal, judicious, and bent on improving the condition of the great body of the people. Our promise of last week to lay this list before our readers has brought us a number of letters, many of them recommending. the same person. Of such letters the greater number concur in praises of Mr. GEORGE GROTE. Why does not this gentleman at once declare himself a candidate for the City of London? At this crisis of our country's fate hesi- tation is weakness. There is a time for all things, and now is the time for action.

* We say" the best," not having seen one by Mr. Banns', author of Essays on the Formation of Opinions and the Pursuit of Truth.

MR. HENRY DRUMMOND,

A banker in Westminster, and an excellent magistrate of Surry. This gentleman has strong religious feelings, and is eminently charitable in every sense of the word ; has a host of affectionate friends ; desires a cheap government ; longs to see the great body of the people happy ; and has a knack of succeeding in nearly every thing that he undertakes. To him the public is indebted for having importuned the late Government into a belief that it was politic to destroy the licensing system and repeal the duty on beer.

THOMAS CLARKSON,

The originator of the crusade against Slavery, who prompted WILBERFORCE, and spent a fortune in the cause of the Abolition- ists. His virtues have not saved him from the lot of ordinary men who live three score and ten years. But though his head be gray, his mind is still vigorous, and his heart as full as ever of love to- wards his fellow-creatures. The next Parliament must be a short one at all events ; and Mr. CLARKSON is personally known to the people of Ipswich. They would do themselves honour by return- ing him once; so that his last public act might be a vote in Par- liament for the abolition of Slavery throughout the dominions or

WILLIAM THE REFORMER.

MR. BICKERSTETH, The eminent King's counsel ; a friend of the people when to be so was unfashionable and dangerous ; as a LAW-REFORMER, second only to Lord BROUGHAM, who not long ago was far behind Mr. BICKERSTETH in that career. The boldness, the integrity, and the great talents of Mr. BICKERSTETH, would insure his return for Southwark, if some of the electors should at once propose him against Sir ROBERT WiLsoN. This hint will not be lost on the " un-English, Italian" electors of Southwark.

GENERAL JOHNSON,

Formerly member for Boston, and late High Sheriff of Lincoln- shire. General JOHNSON, though not a speaker in Parliament, was constant in attendance, and always voted right. He rejected the offer of being again returned for Boston, on account of his dis- gust at the venality of the electors. Let them now vote for this honest man, their country, and themselves.

MR. PLACE,

Formerly a tailor at Charing Cross, where he still resides. Like Lord TENTERDEN, the late Sir ROBERT PEEL, the present Master of the Rolls, and many other distinguished. living persons, Mr. PLACE was born one of what HORACE Twiss calls "the lower classes," and has raised himself by his own energy and virtues to a most respectable station in society. To the public he is known as a Reformer since his boyhood, and the leader, it may be said, of that organized body which liberated Westminter and preserved its independence of the Dukes of Northumberland and the Court ; he writes ably, and is the author of a prophecy of Reform, in the Westminster Review. Amongst his friends may be mentioned Mr. WARBURTON, Mr. HUME, Sir FRANCIS BURDETT, Mr. Hos- HOUSE, Mr. MILL, and JEREMY BENTHAM. The integrity, talents, energy, and perseverance of Mr. PLACE, would render him a valu- able member of Parliament : and he has two more strong recom- mendations,—first the immense number of cases in which he has been named executor, trustee, and arbitrator, which proves great worth and capacity for business; secondly, the deep interest which he takes in the wellbeing of the working classes, his exten- sive and accurate knowledge of their condition, and the unbounded confidence which they repose in him. The time for despising an able and honest man because he has been a tailor, is gone by for ever in England. Mn. RosCOE.

The name ought to suffice for Liverpool ; and assuredly, when every word of Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S Bills shall be law, neither that incapable and prejudiced old Tory, General GASCOIGNE, nor that most conscientious young gentleman who declared upon his honour to the House of Commons that he was ignorant of any bribery practised on his behalf at the late election for Liverpool, will represent the most civilized town in England. The Lord Ad- vocate JEFFREY would be a fit colleague of Mr. ROSCOE, and a representative worthy of Liverpool. After the passing of the Bill he will represent the Modern Athens.

COLONEL JONES,

Author of the Letters in the Times signed " Radical ;" an un- compromising friend of the people, although for a long course of years constant in his attendance at Brooks's Club ; not certainly a deep thinker, nor much qualified in other respects to originate laws ; but no pretender, an honest map, industrious, bold, pertina- cious, and possessing a fund of information as to the details and working of that system of government which Messrs. 'rims and CROKER adore. His great and successful exertions in Marylebone against the Select Vestry plunderers of the parish will insure his return for that metropolitan division. Meanwhile, if Mr. BYNG should speak or vote against a single word of the Reform Bills, let Colonel JONES instantly declare himself for Middlesex. In that case we would answer for his and Mr. HUME'S return without expense.

MR. HUME.

But for the inconvenience of the thing, Mr. HUME should be returned for half a dozen counties, to do him honour. His most judicious speech on the Reform Bills was of infinite service to the Government, or rather we would say, to the country, which de- mands that the Bills should pass without alteration of any sort. Mr. O'CONNELL and Mr. HUNT, for having followed the example set them by Mr. Hums, deserve to be returned again.

COLONEL P. THOMPSON, A proprietor of the Westminster Review; author of some of the best articles in that journal, and of the admirable " Catechism of the Corn-Laws," which has done more than the writings of all the other Economists towards the removal of prejudices against Cheap Bread. Colonel THOMPSON is one of a Committee ap- pointed to draw up the rules and regulations of the Society "Help yoursey and the King will help you."

. MR. PAGET,

Candidate for the representation of the county of Leicester at the last election, but defeated by a combination of the Aristocracy. Mr. PAGET has many recommendations; but we have room to mention only his independence, integrity, talents, and inflexible attachment to his country.

MR. WALTER,

A proprietor of the Times newspaper, and late High Sheriff of Berkshire. Mr. WALTER is called " the Poor Man's Justice." His principal recommendations are—fortune, boldness and perse- verance in protecting. the poor, accurate knowledge of the condi- tion of the peasantry in the part of England where he resides, high respectability of character, and his connexion with the bo- rough of Reading, where his exertions and his purse have for many years been of the greatest use to the Liberal party. We know not whether Mr. WALTER be wanting in energy of charac- ter; but if not, he will at once declare himself a candidate to suc- ceed Mr. RUSSELL as one of the members for Reading. That constant friend of the people, Mr. FYSHE PALMER, must not be disturbed.

MR. PETER AND MR. RASHLEIGH

Are known in the county of Cornwall as eminently qualified to serve the nation as members of Parliament. May they succeed two of the nominees of Lord FALMOUTH, or Lord MOUNT EDGE- CUMBE, Or Lord ST. GERMAINS MR. BAILEY, Of Sheffield, author of Essays on the Formation of Opinions and the Pursuit of Truth, and of a late pamphlet on Reform, " by a Yorkshire Freeholder," of which, though we have not seen it, we dare to say that it is second to none. Mr. BAILEY'S Essays, though as yet known only to that class of persons who may be called the Thinkers of the community, will be read with delight after nine-tenths of the literature of this day shall have perished. We are informed, that, besides his extraordinary powers of re- search, thought, and expression, Mr. BAILEY possesses in a high degree all the other qualifications of a useful legislator.

MR. COULSON,

A barrister, and writer in the Globe newspaper ; able, moderate, highly-instructed, .prudent—nay, we will add, wise; thoroughly independent, consistent, industrious, and possessing, personally it may be said, the confidence of that great body of respectable and intelligent readers whose opinions are represented by the Globe; an excellent man in every respect; and the first (be this remembered) to suggest the formation of a society for aiding the people in the approaching electioneering struggle with the Boroughmongers.

MR. WARBURTON,

It is to be hoped, would be re-elected by his present constituents of Bridport without the influence of " money." But we trust that he will never buy another seat; and that if there is the least risk of his not being returned for Bridport, he will be put for. ward, without delay, for some more important place. His quali- ties as a member of Parliament are of the very first order. If his own modesty stand in the way of his being at once declared a candidate for the City of London, let some of his numerous friends take that step for him. We make no exception in saying that no man is better qualified to represent the great " Commer- cial Interest" of London. A close union between Mr. WARBUR- TON and Mr. GEORGE GROTE would make their election sure.. But let them not delay!—in another week half-a-dozen adven- turers, or quacks, or pompous imbeciles, may be in the field.

MR. CRAWFORD,

Author of, perhaps, the best of the works which have exposed to• the people of England the evils of the East India monopoly—. the greatest and worst monopoly in the world, except the Borough- mongers, and delegated by the great commercial interests of Cal- cutta to represent them here. Mr. CRAWFORD is an excellent man of business ; well-informed, clear-sighted, earnest, persevering, judicious ; is intimately acquainted with the condition and character of our people and possessions in the East ; has warm sympathies and a common interest with the Reformers of England.

MR. CRACKENTHORPE,

The present Sheriff of Westmoreland, but not on that account, we are told, disqualified from sitting in Parliament, the office of High Sheriff being hereditary in the family of Lord THANET. Mr. CRACKENTHORPE is a country gentleman of high independ- ence, and of fixed and liberal principles. But if he should start for the till now close borough of Westmoreland, another good man must join him for the purpose of ousting both the LOWTHERS. Mr. JAMES BROUGHAM would be a proper person ; or one of the sons of Mr. WAKEFIELD of Kendal, who has spent a moderate fortune in opposing the LOWTHERS for thirty years ; or Mr. CROP- PER of Liverpool, who is nearly connected with Mr. WAKEFIELD, and in every respect a very estimable person. At all events, the sole present elector of Westmoreland, that is to say, Lord LONS* DALE, will be disfranchised by Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S "revolu- tionary measure." Addressing " the grey-coats of Westmoreland," we say—Trust not a LOWTHER even though he should vote for the Reform Bills1

SIR JOHN SWINBURNE,

An old Reformer ; rich, liberal, worthy of all confidence ; a pat tern of a "country gentleman" member of Parliament.

MR. ATTWOOD,

Of Birmingham, the founder of the Political Union, and the person to whom, perhaps, the country is most indebted (after his Majesty) for having made " Reform' a loyal cry. To a certainty Mr. ATTWOOD will sit in Parliament next year as member for Bir- mingham ; but he ought meanwhile to be returned for some im- portant place. Why should he not at once declare himself for the county. of Warwick, and against the influence of the Castle ? Let him give one more example of that decision of character without which the wisest and best of men are hardly qualified for great affairs !

MR. JAMES

Has strong claims on the electors of Carlisle. He was a very honest and most useful member of Parliament, and may be safely described as one of the good men and true, whom our demorali- zing system of sham-representation has rendered so scarce in this country ; a man of instructed mind and single purpose the good of his country.

MR. APSLEY PELLATT,

A leader amongst the Abolitionists ; a very religious man, highly respected, able, instructed, rich, charitable ; bent, like Mr. DRUM- MOND, on improving the condition of the poor. Mr. PELLATT would be a very proper representative of the Lambeth division; but if a general election should take place before the passing of the bills, his numerous friends may perhaps induce him to become a candidate for some place already entitled to send members to Parliament. With the assistance of Mr. DRUMMOND, he might easily displace Mr. BARING WALL, one of the members for Guild- ford, who made the silliest of all the silly speeches against the Reform Bills, —excepting that of Mr. PRAED. Want of room compels us to close this List for the present; but it shall be continued next week. We beg our readers to furnish us with information which may enable us to perform this work with the most extensive and beneficial effect. There are still before us the names of many persons of whose qualifications we can speak without assistance ; but many, many more will be required; and we feel especially the want of information as to proper persons re• residing in the country, and so connected with counties or boroughs as to render their return probable. We propose also to publish the name, and remarks on the character, of every candi- date who may come forward on the side of the Boroughmongers, or who, without any decided leanine. against Reform, may appear ill-qualified to serve the Nation in Parliament. There is a Society in the City of London, which publishes a periodical list of persons whom it knows to be unworthy of confidence in matters of trade ; and this document is called " THE SWINDLER'S LIST."

Our lists of persons unworthy to be trusted with the national affairs, shall be begun with the namesof all those members of the House of Commons who may vote againat any word -of the' itetlirm Bills.

" ENGLAND. EXPECTS. EVERY MAN TO DO HIS DITTY." . Let this be the rallying cry, the watchword, the signal, of the Nation .in its straggle with the Boroughmongers. TheSe " ash; nate islanders," as BONAPARTE called us, cla., nothing by halves.As they submitted, with exemplary patience, to the evils of bad government, so now they . will demand :good govern; runt, neither more nor less, patiently, firmly, and unani- mously. Even the present voters of the rotten boroughs are petitioning that the Bills may pass ! If the political ". Revolution," so called• by the PEELS, CROKERS, and TwissEs, have* not yet the form of law, a great moral revolution has been effected throughout this country in the short space. of a week.. The Electors have reformed themselves. Everywhere, even in HORACE Twiss's rotten borough of Newport, tin people are calling out for worthy candidates. The cry will he answered. Let no man sup- pose that his want of notoriety disables him from serving his country—in a crisis like this England expects every man to do his duty. Help yourself, we say to ALL, except the Boroughmongers —help yourself, and the King will help you !