and resolution by Mr. Trevelyan. In 1876 he
introduced two resolutions, one for extended franchise, the other for a
new (M46) arrangement of seats, made necessary by the creation of the new
voters. In a tory parliament he had, of course, no chance. Mr. Gladstone,
not naturally any more ardent for change in political machinery than Burke
or Canning had been, was in no hurry about it, but was well aware that the
triumphant parliament of 1880 could not be allowed to expire without the
effective adoption by the government of proposals in principle such as
those made by Mr. Trevelyan in 1876. One wing of the cabinet hung back.
Mr. Gladstone himself, reading the signs in the political skies, felt that
the hour had struck; the cabinet followed, and the bill was framed. Never,
said Mr. Gladstone, was a bill so large in respect of the numbers to have
votes; so innocent in point of principle, for it raised no new questions
and sprang from no new principles. It went, he contended and most truly
contended, to the extreme of consideration for opponents, and avoided
several points that had especial attractions for friends. So likewise, the
general principles on which redistribution of seats would be governed,
were admittedly framed in a conservative spirit.

The comparative magnitude of the operation was thus described by Mr.
Gladstone (Feb. 28, 1884):--

In 1832 there was passed what was considered a Magna Charta of
British liberties; but that Magna Charta of British liberties
added, according to the previous estimate of Lord John Russell,
500,000, while according to the results considerably less than
500,000 were added to the entire constituency of the three
countries. After 1832 we come to 1866. At that time the total
constituency of the United Kingdom reached 1,364,000. By the bills
which were passed between 1867 and 1869 that number was raised to
2,448,000. Under the action of the present law the constituency
has reached in round numbers what I would call 3,000,000. This
bill, if it passes as presented, will add to the English
constituency over 1,300,000 persons. It will add to the Scotch
constituency, Scotland being at present rather better provided in
this respect than either of the other countries, over 200,000, and
to the Irish constituency over 400,000; or in the main, to the
present aggregate constituency of the United Kingdom taken at
3,000,000 it wil