The Irish Reform Bill was introduced by Lord Mayo on
Thurs- day night. It is remarkable as a violation of nearly every principle hitherto laid down by Mr. Disraeli. It leaves the county suffrage untouched, but reduces the borough qualification to a rental of 41. per annum, thus establishing the " hard and fast " line to which he pretends to object. Four counties are to have an additional representative apiece—Cork, Tyrone, Down, and Tipperary ; and one city, Dublin, which seats are obtained by disfranchising Downpatrick, Dungannon, Bandon, Kinsale, Cashel, and Portar- lington, though it is a " principle " of the English Bill to dis- franchise nothing totally. Mr. Gladstone accepted the Bill as a whole, but hinted that he should like to see a reduction in the county franchise, which is left untouched, nominally to make it equal to the English county franchise, really to retain power in the hands of the landlords. Household suffrage and equal electoral districts would probably suit Ireland, with its three large towns, better than this Bill, but there will probably be no severe contest over it. The Scotch Members believe that the Irish representation cannot be worse, and the English Members are hopeless of making it any better.
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