The grand debate on the concession of additional members to
great cities ended on Monday in a somewhat unexpected way. Mr. Horsfall proposed to confer a third seat on Liverpool, Man- chester, and Birmingham, and Mr. Adderley opposed him in a long speech, the point of which was that big cities ought to elect big men, and then they would be powerful. Mr. Disraeli, how- ever, threw over his subordinate, and announced that although the great cities had no claim to more representation, he should give more to Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds. The concession gave extreme offence to the old Tories, who insisted on a division, and voted to the number of some 63 against their own leader. Mr. Disraeli to quiet them promised to take a member from Salford, and though he gave up this absurdity, he still on Thursday announced that Barnsley, St. Helen's, Keighley, and Luton would not obtain their seats. There will be a fight about this when the schedules are discussed, but the matter is only of importance as showing how dearly the Tories value the corrupt little boroughs. If the householders are Liberal they will settle these little questions with a strong hand, and if they are not, one scheme of redistribution will for the present be as bad as another. When the time comes the fight will not be about four seats, or fourteen either.
