Mr. Andrew Spottiswoode, the Queen's printer, and about a score
cf other Tories, chiefly ;tummies, have set on foot a subscription "in aid of Irish election petitions." With plenty of money. there would be plenty of petitions no doubt, and abundance of work for the lawyers ; but, though a great fuss has been made about this proceeding by the Whig newspapers, we do not think it will come to much. The subscription is not taken up with zeal in London ; and unless a very large sum is raised, the thing will be a failure. The cost of even one petition may amount to many thousands, and the result must be exceeding doubtful in almost every instance. In the mean while, there is something offensive in a combination of English attornies to attack the Members whom the Irish Liberals have elected to represent them ; and Mr. Spottiswoode, who is in the employ of the Government, acts indecently in putting himself prominently forward in the work. It is suggested that his Tory zeal has been sharpened, since the enormous profits of his patent-office have been reduced.
By multiplying petitions, the Tories increase their chance of obtaining favourable Committees, as Members petitioned against are not
allowed to sit on Election Committees. They also rely on the dislike of the old Whigs to attend the ballots for Committees, especially when the seat of one of O'Connell's nominees is to be defended. A little caution, however, will be necessary in conducting this petitioning scheme there is such a thing as declaring a petition frivolous and vexatious, and then the expenses would fall heavy upon the jaint.stock purse.
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