I foresee, however, a rock ahead.
This is reform of the constituencies. Lord John Russell, very sillily,
promised two years ago a new Reform Bill.
Still more sillily he introduced one last year, and was deservedly turned
out for it.
Still more sillily the present Government has accepted his
responsibility, and is pledged to bring in a measure of reform next year.
I have been trying to persuade them to pave the way by a Commission of
Inquiry, being certain that the facts on which we ought to agitate are
imperfectly known. But Lord John is unfavourable, and the other Ministers
do not venture to control the leader of the House of Commons. There will,
therefore, be no previous inquiry; at least only the indirect one which
the Government can make for itself. The measure will be concocted in
secrecy, will be found open to unforeseen objections; it will be thrown
out in the House, and will excite no enthusiasm in the country. If the
Government dissolve, the new Parliament will probably be still more
opposed to it than the present Parliament will be; and the Government,
being beaten again, will resign.
Such is my prophecy.
_Prenez en acte_, and we will talk it over in May 1854.
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