s and qualifications of the foreign minister, displayed an unworthy
jealousy of his great colleague, and probably by his private complaints
of insubordination, caused the letter of her majesty, so humiliating to
her long-tried and most able minister; that Lord Normanby either
showed grave indiscretion, or played his part in a plot adverse to Lord
Palmerston; and finally, that the court was unduly sympathetic with the
Orleans dynasty. No efforts on the part of Lord John Russell's friends
could root out these convictions from the general public, and although
the House of Commons said little about it, there were sufficient
indications given that such convictions were largely shared there. In
the debate that ensued, all sides of the house expressed confidence
in Lord Palmerston's sense of duty and responsibility, and respect and
admiration for his talents. It became at once evident that the days of
Lord John Russell's ministry were numbered, and that it must be long, in
any fresh ministerial combinations, before he could occupy the same high
post in the counsels of her majesty.

PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.

On the 9th of February, Lord John made a statement as to his views of
parliamentary reform. His lordship proposed the disfranchisement of all
small constituencies proved to be corrupt by a system of inquisition
adapted to the purpose. He declared that a ten-pound franchise in
boroughs was too high, and proposed a five-pound franchise. The
county franchise of fifty pounds he would reduce to twenty pounds. The
copyholds and long leaseholds of ten-pound qualification he would reduce
to five pounds. All persons living within boroughs paying two pounds
a-year assessed taxes he would enfranchise as county voters. Boroughs
having less than five hundred electors were to have the number of
the enfranchised augmented by adding neighbouring towns in the same
representations. Property qualification of members to be repealed.
Reform, mainly on the game plan, to be extended to Scotland and Ireland.

Mr. Hume expressed dissatisfaction with any measure that did not
comprise the ballot and triennial parliaments, and a large number of
liberal members sympathised with the radical leader. The majority of
the liberal members received the announcement of the premier with
great favour. His lordship proposed introducing a bill on the 23rd of
February. Sir Robert Inglis and Mr. Newdegate opposed the measure with
expressions of earnest apprehen