No one who keeps -himseli well acquainted with the present political aspect of English Society can fail to see much ground for serious thought. The journals contain continually speeches from members of the legislature advocating doctrines which ten years ago would have been deemed indecorous ina Chartist orator, and twenty years ago would have' been banished as treasonable, We hear sweeping schemes advocated; and changes that startle the most advanced liberals at first, are so frequently mentioned that we grow accustomed to the idea of revolutionary movements which, short time ago, we should have regarded with horror. Everywhere there isa sense of uneasiness, 'a feeling of disquiet and a restless expectation of something about to occur. The Reblioan Globe are inerensing in nam.
and the International is extending its operations everywhere. Although this is not the place wherein to discuss English politics, except when they have distinct bearing upon our probable course of action in Asia, we maj notice this yeasty ferment of affairs, and see whether the agitators may not receive a hint from China. We venture to suppose an extreme and highly improbable case. We will sup-ove Mr. Bradlaugh, Mr. Edger or it Charles Dilke entrusted with reforming China, Where would *they begin There is no hereditary aristocracy to sweep away. There is a system of competitive examination for posts of honour and usefulness, that is really singularly perfect in its theory. "The land is held on a system which avoids the inequalities of distribution so much complained of in Western countries.. Small teufites and individual farming are the order of the day. There is no law of primogeniture, so the-paternal estate descends to the sons, amongst whom it is either equally divided or made subject to such arrangement us may best meet the requirements of the family. With regard to deeds of sale, the law is very simple, and places no difficulties in the way of ordinary transfer. Now really these are very important considerations. Te appears that, here, we have in actual operation three systems that the Li-borals are specially anxious to intro-uca into our own country. Ist life Peerages, 2nd competitive examiuntion, equal distribution of land. Thus, were Sir Charles Dilke to find himself in the position we have suggested, viz., that of an influential mandarin heading &progressionist party, he would have scarcely anything to reform except the expenditure in silk dresses at the Court of Peking. According to modern and enlightened opinion, there are traly no abuses in the Middle Kingdom. The Flowery Land has no thorns in its roses, save and except the institution of Royalty. It has anticipated long ago most of the changes that we are slowly and laboriously toiling to initiate. If our reformer then desires an office in every way congenial to his views, let him leave Great Britain, which really is such an Augean stable that he will only have a chance of clearing away a very little of the dirt, and let bim take service under His Imperial Majesty. Here there is very much to excite his admiration, and just one pleasant little opportunity for the trotting out of his hobby boree—-He must hold office at Peking for a time, so as to be able' to. make himself acquainted with the grand cooks, grand barbers and grand chiropodists of the Household, and then he can go to work with concentrated energy. In England, there are so many things to be swept away that a young man of moderate ies has not a chance; whereas in land without hereditary peers, or game laws, or bloated estates, or anything to complain of but an Emperor, the: work is satisfactorily simplified. The Pope leads, or did lead, according to the poet of our childhood, a happy life; but existence at his best estate will not compare with that of Sir Charles Dilke in a pigtail and glass button, scrutinizing the accounts of peccant corneutters, docking the cash of extortionate house coolier, and sternly refusing the two Empresses Dowager more than one piece of Soochow embroidery in the twelvemonth. "The pampered jades of Asia" would soon improve under the Baronet's treatment, and shall we venture to say that, as we have Bradlangh and Edger left to us, England might be content to sacrifice her Dilke
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.