16 FEBRUARY 1867, Page 2

Sir Stafford Northcote has brought in a Bill to replace

the Vice- President of the Board of Trade by a Secretary with a seat in Par- liament. The 'Vice-President's salary is equal to the President's, he is, like him, a Privy Councillor, and be consequently does not obey his orders, but either replaces his chief when absent, or does nothing. A secretary would work, and as there is a good deal of work to do, and Sir S. Northcote creates more by his railway bill, he would like a subordinate just a trifle less dignified. There seems no objection, Right Honourables being quite sufficiently numerous.