Mr. Bright has succeeded, in the most innocent manner in
the world, in more than neutralizing the effect of Mr. J. S. Mill's very injudicious and unexpected 10!. testimonial to Mr. Bradlaugh's (" Iconoclast's ") claims as candidate for Northampton. Asked for his opinion as to the merits of the sitting members, Lord Henley and Mr. Gilpin, Mr. Bright said he had neither right nor wish to interfere, but that he thought them good members, whom he had no wish to see displaced. Thereupon Mr. Bradlaugh wrote to Mr. Bright a letter of remonstrance, claiming to be a much better reformer than Lord Henley, who, according to Mr. Brad- laugh, represents "tumbling Whiggisin." But Mr. 13radlaugh did not take anything by the move. Mr. Bright writes back that he only answered a private appeal to his own judgment, without thought of interfercuce in the election, but that he does not wish to see the most extreme politicians selected everywhere simply because they are the most extreme. Such a plan would bo a premium on extreme professions. He then goes on to say that if all men in Lord Henley's position " had resisted Liberal measures and the extension of the franchise, we might have had a hard battle to fight for years to come;" and those, therefore, who, like Lord IIenley, have done justice to the unenfranchised classes, should be shown that they have the confidence which they have fairly earned. Mr. Brad- laugh is quite satisfied with the reply. Blessed are they who expect nothing !
