NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE assertion of the Tories, that the country has gone over to their side, has received no confirmation as yet from the proceed-
ings in the Registration Courts. Symptoms of reaction are want- ing, where they would certainly appear if they existed. There is no rustling of Conservative converts into the presence of the Bar- rister—no eager desire to secure the electoral franchise for the re-
instatement of PEEL and WELLINGTON in Downing Street. The contest is, in fact, carried on rather languidly, as if the exertions of last year had exhausted the strength of both parties. As far as we can judge from the published accounts, we should conclude that the Liberals maintained their ground everywhere, and in several places are beating the Tories. This remark applies to England : in Ireland the Reformers are reaping the fruits of vigour and industry in an almost uninterrupted series of triumphs at the Registries. It is now probable that twenty Irish Tory Members will be ejected at the next election. If therefore the Duke of WELLINGTON and Sir ROBERT PEEL require better proof of the reaction than is to be found in the pot-valiant oratory of their retainers, their prospect of a return to power must be gloomy. As regards the Whigs, it is important to remember, that Liberalism and Whiggism are by no means the same, and that the success of the opponents of Toryism does not guarantee the continuance of Lord MELBOURNE in office if he should persist in the policy of last session.
The loss of Sir JOHN CAMPBELL'S bill for amending the Regis- tration clauses of the Reform Act is felt every day. Frivolous objections still annoy the bong fide elector, who has no remedy against the parties preferring them. The neglect of Overseers may still disfranchise whole parishes. Contradictory decisions emanate from Courts whose jurisdiction is final. Trustees, not receiving rents and profits for their own use, are by some Barris- ters allowed to vote in respect of the trust property ; by others it is decreed that a trustee must be in the actual receipt of the in- come in order to entitle him to the franchise. In Midd!esex, the former doctrine is maintained ; in West Kent, the Barristers give opposite decisions. In short, the difficulties which we have so often pointed out, and the Attorney-General undertook to re- move, and which his measure of last session would in a great degree have done away with, are still in full force. For this we have to thank the Peers; who are naturally adverse to any im- provement which shall give freer scope to the real opinions of the electoral body.
