Genealogy of the Descendants of Anthony Collamer of Scituate Massachusetts

per mark in the statute-book and in the lives of great masses of our countrymen. And if the mode in which the Reform Act was carried has indeed for the time loosened the political morality of the country, the beneficial character of an occasional shifting of political power from the one party to the other has, on the other hand, been excellently exemplified, outside of the political sphere, by the passing of such measures as those above referred to, which in ordinary times could never have left the hands of a Liberal ministry without some impairing of their fulness, some narrowing of their scope. The very ideal condition of things for the useful exercise of the legislative power has, in short, been realized?that of the one party proposing what could not be opposed by the other. The beginning of a New Year seems a peculiarly fitting period for a retrospect over the more prominent features of the social legislation of 1867, inasmuch as many of the measures which deserve to be singled out take effect only on the 1st January, 1868. Some indeed are at work already, more particularly the Poor Law group. Mr. Hardy's excellent " Metropolitan Poor Act, 1807," came intooperation, for the most part, from its date (29th March, 1867); as to some clauses, from last Michaelmas Day. Four momentous reforms are introduced by it:?1st, The creation of asylums for the reception and relief of the sick, insane, and infirm poor, and the application thereto of the district system, al... --This text refers to the Paperback edition.