On Wednesday Lord Salisbury made a speech—in appear- ance, at
least—against the unification of London, though when the speech comes to be considered closely, it turns out to be far from unfavourable to the principles of the report which it appeared to condemn. He argues for what the Commis- goners argue, the constraction of a considerable number of subordinate municipalities which shall take over the duties- of the present vestries, and also the construction of some cen- tral body to which the duties of looking after the common interests of the people of the Metropolis at large shall be confided. These being Lord Salisbury's fundamental principles, we do not think that he had much right to complain of the Commissioners' Report. He is almost as• much in favour of turning out the City Corporation and putting in a more adequate central authority in its place, as- they are. The differences between them are more differences as to details than differences as to principles. The City will still govern itself wherever the other municipalities govern themselves, and the City has never governed the great area which the Metropolitan Board of Works handed over to the County Council.
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