The author has, however, much pleasure in availing himself of this opportunity to acknowledge with gratitude the kindness. and liberality with which the production alluded to was received; and it is most satisfactory to him to be able to announce the decided advancement of the principles which he endeavoured to enunciate, the truth of which has now been assented to by so many independent authorities of extensive influence and high intelligence. The correctness and value of the theory which he has propounded have been admitted by some of the leading organs of the press, by whom the principles of the work in question were candidly and dispassionately discussed. Several newspapers and periodicals of opposite politics and opinions noticed the publication in the most liberal manner, and in very favourable terms, and by certain of them the adoption of its proposals has been directly and powerfully urged.

With influential personages of different

parties the author has also been brought into communication, and has received from them the most satisfactory assurances of their approval of his sentiments. And a very able and eloquent statesman, Sir James Graham, in his speech to his constituents at Carlisle, soon after the pamphlet alluded to had appeared, not only echoed the sentiments of the writer, but in nearly the same words.

Petitions to both Houses of Parliament, to which were attached the signatures of several of the most distinguished scientific, literary, and professional men of the present day, praying for the adoption, in any scheme of Parliamentary Reform, of principles in accordance with and based upon those here maintained, were some time ago presented, and called forth very interesting debates. Moreover, certain of the leading statesmen of each party have avowed their conviction of the necessity of some plan similar to that

propounded by the author of the present work being ultimately adopted.

The most important and the most satisfactory test, however, of the real progress of the principles which the author is desirous of maintaining, is the direct acknowledgment of their correctness, and, to a certain extent, the actual adoption of them, in the last measure introduced into Parliament by Government on the subject of Parliamentary Reform, in which several of the proposals here made were embodied.

While the conclusions at which the writer has arrived are deduced from an investigation of the first principles of political government, and of parliamentary representation ; exactly similar conclusions have been obtained through an inquiry into the practical working of our present representative system, by a gentleman of great talent and extensive experience, Mr. A. G. Stapleton, in a work entitled, "Suggestions for a Conservative and Popular Reform of the House of Commons."

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.