NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE week has been full of rumours about Reform, some of which are more or less trustworthy. The mass of them point to a course of procedure which may prove to be of this kind. The Cabinet, it is said, has at last made up its mind, and Mr. Disraeli will, on Monday, make his resolutions definite and intelligible, by stating that Her Majesty's Government intend to offer two alternative borough franchises-61. rating, or household suffrage with plurality of voter. By " plurality " they intend an extra vote to every one who pays house-tax, i.e., every 20/. house- holder, a proposal which would work well in the medium boroughs, but would revolutionize the representation in London.' The Liberals, on the other hand, will reject plurality in any form based upon wealth, but will, if household suffrage is proposed, concede the principle of cumulative voting. The moment the discussion is done the Bill will be brought on, and the debate will recommence; but will not be hot, all parties being equally decided that the question shall be got out of the way. It is evident that the Government fear their own followers more than the enemy, for Lord Derby has called a meeting of his supporters for Monday at two o'clock, when he will explain his plan, and signify, we presume, that unless they accept it he will be compelled to tender: his resignation, a step which would dissolve the existing Tory party. We do not, of course, pretend to give this as in- . formation, but simply as the one, among the twenty rumours which have reached us, with the greatest appearance of pro- bability. The single certainty is that the Liberal leaders are honestly anxious that, if it be only possible, the Reform Bill should be brought in and passed before they resume power.
