A HUMBLE QUESTION.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.")
SIR,—I am in the invariable habit of taking my opinions from your journal, but naturally I find some of your directions more palatable than others. I was lately very much pleased to find in your columns a distinct intimation that any mere uniform lowering of the franchise ought to be resisted. If Mr. Bright and others are right, the impending Reform Bill will be exactly what you condemn. The report runs that it is to be 61. for all boroughs, and 101. for all counties, and nothing more. Of course you will think that this ought to be resisted. I venture to ask how ? If such a Bill is produced and rejected, and the country is appealed to, and it proves hopeless to expect to find candidates who would copy me in going in for just your Bill, how am I to vote? Can I do anything effectual except vote for a Conservative ? Being a " convinced Liberal," I would rather not, but as it is quite clear that if the supposed Bill passes now your Bill will never have the ghost of a chance hereafter, what can I do except take the surest means to stop a bad Bill, and give another chance to you and to a
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