Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/447

i859-] Resignation of Aberdeen to Dissolution in 1859. 433 the admission of Jews. The compromise was accepted, the bill passed, and on the 26th of July Baron Rothschild took his seat. Another warning on the subject of religious liberty, which, although effective, was not so immediately accepted, was given by the progress of the bill for the abolition of church rates. This was introduced by Sir John Trelawney ; was read a second time on the i/th of February by 214 to 1 60; and on the 8th of June was read a third time, and passed in the Commons by 266 to 203. The Peers, however, had done as much in this line as they could bear in one session, and on the 2nd of July the second reading was, on the motion of Lord Derby, defeated by 187 to 36. Yet it was seen in the next session that the Government, at least, were convinced that some concession must be made even here. Altogether they were having a far from happy time. Ministers had said that they were prepared to give the question of Parliamentary reform a fair consideration, and the Radicals were determined to give them materials to con- sider. To begin with, there was in this business also a small practical success. A bill, introduced by Locke King, to abolish property qualification for members of Parliament was accepted by Government, and passed rapidly through both Houses. Thus one of the points of the People's Charter was quietly adopted : quite safely so far as the propertied classes were concerned, for until its natural complement the payment of members is accepted, it will be of little practical value. Still, the passing of such an Act was indicative of a change in feeling, and Lord Grey saw in it the inevitable thin end of the wedge. The House of Commons was as decided about the lowering of the county franchise, but not as successful. On the loth of June the bill for that purpose was read a second time by 226 to 168, but there was neither time nor opportunity to proceed with it further. Milner Gibson, on the 2ist of June, proposed a resolution, declaring that the paper duty was not a proper permanent source of 2 F