One of the most skilful speeches of the debate was
Mr. Bernal Osborne's, who, elected partly by Tories, partly by Radicals, dis- pensed alternately a gratification to each. He found out that he had done very wrong indeed in not voting for the second reading of the Tory Reform Bill in 1859,—a Bill of which he was expos- ing the fundamental fallacy only the other day ;—this was a sop for the Tories. Then he was very sharp on Mr. Bouverie,—" my own familiar friend," for going against bit-by-bit Reform ;—this was a sop for the Radicals. Then, again, he had no confidence in the Government statistics,—they were "a mass of confusion and error ;"—and the Tories smiled. Many so-called working men in Nottingham turned out to be mere "publicans and sinners ;"—ancl the Radicals laughed. He was strongly against both the dis- franchising and grouping of the small boroughs, because the elec- tions there are inexpensive;—and the Tories were delighted. He panegyrized Lord Russell warmly ; —and the Radicals rejoiced. Altogether his speech was evidently composed on the plan of the celebrated Scotch idiot, who, wishing to "make the best of both worlds," in whichever it might fall to his lot to dwell, invented a litany for himself, ir which "Bonny God," "Bonny Devil," alternated with stri -egularity. "Bonny Tory," "Bonny Radical," was Mr. Osner7i. d litany on Monday night.
