hat, during the trial
and before the trial, we were always anxious to allay the
very strong feeling against Mr. Finn with which the public
mind was then imbued, not only by the facts of the murder,
but also by the previous conduct of that gentleman. But we
cannot understand why the late member should be thought
by the electors of Tankerville to be especially worthy of
their confidence because he did not murder Mr. Bonteen. He
himself, instigated, we hope, by a proper feeling, retired
from Parliament as soon as he was acquitted. His career
during the last twelve months has not enhanced his credit,
and cannot, we should think, have increased his comfort.
We ventured to suggest after that affair in Judd Street,
as to which the police were so benignly inefficient, that
it would not be for the welfare of the nation that a
gentleman should be employed in the public service whose
public life had been marked by the misfortune which had
attended Mr. Finn. Great efforts were made by various
ladies of the old Whig party to obtain official employment
for him, but they were made in vain. Mr. Gresham was too
wise, and our advice,--we will not say was followed,--but
was found to agree with the decision of the Prime
Minister. Mr. Finn was left out in the cold in spite
of his great friends,--and then came the murder of Mr.
Bonteen.

Can it be that Mr. Finn's fitness for Parliamentary duties
has been increased by Mr. Bonteen's unfortunate death, or
by the fact that Mr. Bonteen was murdered by other hands
than his own? We think not. The wretched husband, who,
in the madness of jealousy, fired a pistol at this young
man's head, has since died in his madness. Does that
incident in the drama give Mr. Finn any special claim to
consideration? We think not;--and we think also that the
electors of Tankerville would have done better had they
allowed Mr. Finn to return to that obscurity which he
seems to have desired. The electors of Tankerville,
however, are responsible only to their borough, and may
do as they please with the seat in Parliament which is
at their disposal. We may, however, protest against the
employment of an unfit person in the service of his
country,--simply because he has not committed a murder.
We say so much now because rumours of an arrangement have
reached our ears, which, should it come to pa