&c.
Heavy penalties should attach to false claimants, who would be readily found by their own signatures.
All these surplus votes, openly avowed, of course, and not kept secret as the single one in the ballot-box, would be counted up in the scores of the several candidates.
The surplus-voting papers should be applied for, be supplied, and be returned when filled up--by post, and so all such voting be accomplished on paper, as in the elections for Oxford University, &c.

It is a barbarism and anachronism at this time of day to insist on the great cost and inconvenience of a personal appearance, in many cases impossible.
If our people in every class, and our legislators of whatever party, are dissatisfied with the present system of representation as by no means showing the nation at its best, and thus practically a mistake, let them consider this suggestion; one made long ago by the writer as proved by his published works.
_The Voter's Motto._ I.
For Church and State! our father's honoured toast; Dear England's ancient bulwark and her boast: Must we now cease to build and man the wall At base Sanballat's and Tobiah's call?
Shall Atheistic scorn and Jesuit guile Make Nehemiah quit his work awhile, That their Arabian host may tear all down, And trample in the dust our Zion's crown?
May God avert it! No surrender! No! We will not yield the battle to the foe, Nor shall the children of our fathers thus Betray the heritage they left to us! II.
For Church and State! While so we dread no storm, Let no man shrink from wise and just Reform; But with a firm and faithful, yet kind, hand, Prune cankers and corruptions from the land: Humble the pride of priestcraft! we are each Brother to him who doth Christ's gospel preach, And--though a trivial shibboleth offend-- One who serves God and man shall be my friend: Ay, and some loaves and fishes should be given By the rich state to Ministers of Heaven! So shall both Church and State survive this strife, And dwell at peace with all, as man and wife.
III.
For Church and State!--Yea: though the King of Heaven As bridegroom to the Church Himself was given, Yet is He symbolled in this earth-bound sphere By the throned presence of our Sovereign here; And, ev'n as man and wife in figure show Christ and his spiritual spouse below, So by the eye of faith we gladly scan Our double duty--both to God and man-- In yielding hearts to love, minds to obey Religion's mandate and the Ruler's sway, Defending timely, ere it be too late, Our threatened fortresses of Church and State! As to the disputed matter of Protection, I am for Free Trade so far only as regards the matter of provisions; but I desire Fair Trade on the reciprocity system where manufactured articles and their raw material are concerned.

We absolutely require free food,--but are being ruined by the bad bargain of one-sided Free Trade otherwise.

Our ships (Mr.
Brockelbank tells me) go out empty, and return full; exports fail, but imports are redundant.
As a final word about my politics, which I suppose may be called Liberal-Conservative, I am free to confess that I am only too half-hearted and am rather of Talleyrand's mind in the matter, "surtout point de zele." However, I heartily side with any one who protests against hereditary pensions, especially in the case of royal illegitimates, as also against the glaring impropriety of ceasing to exact legacy and probate duties beyond a certain sum, thus favouring the millionaire, as well as of excusing the highest of our society from all manner of taxation.

These pieces of favouritism to the rich and great are only too reasonable causes of popular discontent, and must ere long cease.