Sir Charles Dilke on Wednesday made rather an important speech
at the annual dinner of the Eleusis Club, Chelsea. He approved the resolution in favour of Grand Committees, but fully admitted that it was " purely experimental." He thought the Corrupt Practices Bill of the greatest importance, but hinted that it might come after the reform of the Government of London, and that it might be necessary to pass the reduction of the franchise in counties before redistribution was attempted. He was strongly convinced of the necessity for a County Govern- ment Bill, but if they could not have County Boards freely
elected like Municipal Councils, he would rather let matter rest for a while. Sir C. Dilke is not in the Cabinet, but he is well informed, and all this looks as if he believed that the Liberals might reform London and punish corrupt practices, but that before they brought in a Redistribution Bill or reorganised county government, they must carry the reduction of the fran- chise. The order of movement is probably not settled yet, and oven as regards next Session, we must allow for the un- expected.
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