The inquiry before the Carlow Committee, which terminated on Thursday,
when Mr. Gisborne was declared duly elected, lasted for sixly-nine days, and is the longest in the history of disputed returns. The cost has been estimated at 30,000/. ; the Morning Chronicle says 20,000/. ; but we understand the actual expenditure has been considerably below the smaller sum. As the petition against Mr. Aleock's return
for Ludlow will not be proceeded with till next session, when Sir Robert Peel's bill will be in operation, the Carlow inquiry is the last under the nearly defunct Grenville Act.
Lord Eliot's support of the Irish Municipal Bill subjected him to the charge of deserting his party, and to severe animadversions from the Morning Post and Standard. His Lordship sent a defence of his con- duct to the Post, declaring that he never pretended to be more than a Moderate Conservative, and repeating his condemnation of the virulent attacks and abuse upon the Roman Catholics by certain Protestants in Dublin.
The Perth Chronicle animadverts with much severity on Mr. Arthur Kinnaird's vote with the Tories on the Education question. He quotes Mr. Swynfen Jervis's explanation of his vote, and is of opinion that the Member for Bridport, whose indignation was roused by Ministers' abandonment of the best parts of their measure, has a fair excuse ; but of Mr. Kinnaird, he says-
" Petty though the plan actually was, it was to his comprehension gigantic and overwhelming ; so much so that its hugeness, when brought to bear upon his peculiar notions, entirely upset him, and wrecked completely his political consistency ! So very large and comprehensive, to his vision, did the plan appear, that lie conceived it was even possible that some indefinable fraction of the pecuniary grant might be applied to the education of those who are not capable of gulping down the whole of the Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England!"
Mr. Gibson's resignation of his seat is mentioned with approbation, and Mr. Kinnaird is invited to follow the honourable example ; for he was elected as a supporter of the principles of civil and religious liberty.
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