TOPICS OF THE DAY.
THE MAJORITY.
IN another column, the names of the majority and minority on the second reading of the Reform Bill are printed. A glance at the respective lists will settle in some degree the value both of the nu- merical preponderance of the Reformers and of the preponderance of' the constituency that they represent. Indeed the lettering of the minority gives it a ludicrous appearance-the As'and Bs ap- pended to almost every name of the list, is apt to awaken laughter at the utter insignificance, rather than indignation at the perversity and obstinacy of the Opposition. It is useful, however, to look into the composition of the two lists more closely; and with this view we have drawn up the following little table,-a simple in- spection of which will better show where the strength of England lies than would a volume of argument. We include Tellers and Pairs on both sides.
ENGLAND.
For the Bill. Against tho Bill.
Schedule A 25 59
Schedule B •
23 26 Towns from 4,000 to 10,000 72 50 from 10,000 to 20,000 -- .. 36 5 from 20,000 to 50,000 - 28 5 50,000 above 18
Counties 71 4 Universities 3
Total 273 152
Were we to examine into individual boroughs, instead of classes, and to distinguish, in those that have returned Opposition mem- bers, the close from the open, we should only fortify the majority which this table exhibits : but to what purpose accumulate de fences round an impregnable position? Look at the first and se- cond columns ! In towns below 10,000, a majority of 22; in towns ranging from 10,000 to 2-0,000, a majority of 31; in those which range from 20,000 to 50,000, a majority of 23; and in the 18 most populous towns of England, not a majority but an entirety of 18! Look again to the counties, where there is a majority of 67. And what is there to oppose to this? The old women of the Univer sities and the tumble-down gables of Sarum.
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