Mr. Henry James has accepted the office of Solicitor-General vacated
by Sir G. Jessel's promotion. lie is an eloquent man, with great weight in the House, because he talks carefully down to it, and has a large practice at the Bar. lie is, of course, com- pelled to contest Taunton, where his seat has hitherto appeared weak ; but his strong anti-Catholic utterances may have given him, in a town with such a tradition, a strong new hold. At all events, the Telegraph of Friday, in a very strong article, that is, supposing it to be inspired, offers to stake the existence of Tory reaction on the return of Mr. James. We should be sorry to do anything of the sort, but we shall be glad indeed to see Taunton adhere to a principle now very often neglected,--that the Queen's Government must be carried on. If all towns behave like Dundee, we shall before long be com- pelled either to allow of ex-officio seats, or abolish re-election. altogether. As it is, any borough may upset a Ministry by rendering it impossible to seat a necessary man.
