Another very able and excellent pamphlet has since been put forward by Sir Eardley Wilmot, Bart., entitled, "Parliamentary Reform. A Letter to Richard Freedom, Esq., on the Redistribution, Extension, and Purification of the Elective Franchise," in which, by reference to statistical details, the practicability of a part of the plan proposed, both in the pamphlet alluded to by the author of these pages, and in the work of Mr. Stapleton, is satisfactorily proved. It is highly gratifying to the author to be able to record that this very important and interesting subject has hitherto been discussed in a spirit of candour, moderation, and liberality which is well worthy of it, but which few other questions of corresponding magnitude have been so fortunate as to obtain. Of the steady if not speedy advancement, and ultimate triumph, of the principles here propounded, he feels confident that their followers may now feel secure. ERRORS in matters of government, and in legislation more especially, have generally arisen not so much from following a wrong principle, as from proceeding without the adoption of any principle whatever. If wrong principle has produced its errors by thousands, the absence of all principle has produced its errors by tens of thousands. A vessel guided by an indifferent chart, or directing its course by the planets, which are occasionally obscured, is more likely to steer correctly than one proceeding entirely in the dark and having no principle of guidance whatever. The course of the former may be sometimes wrong, but that of the latter will be seldom if ever right. Questions of legislation are necessarily of themselves matters of importance. Of all legislative B |