6 MAY 1871, Page 3

Mr. Jacob Bright will probably be consoled for his defeat

by the half-adhesion of the Premier, who seemed to think a visit to the polling-booth would injure women, but that, the ballot once established, they might be admitted to the franchise. He pro- duced better arguments in the last part of his speech, when he pointed out the unfairness with which many of our laws press upon women, especially in the lower classes, unfairness which the possession of the suffrage would diminish. The general effect of his speech wan that he would, as far as his own opinion was con- cerned, give the suffrage to the married and unmarried women, but that he did not want to do anything,--not quite the position for a Parliamentary leader.