The Sun. — London, England, 1870-04-16 00:00:00

/ER. f Patrick l his guilt Mursday. rAY. Toping off Avn by a leaves a ischa,rg - ed. d Indian ,CTICE. :onducted ;he exist- m, Mort special )w. A retaries w Eng deased. of a of the s have g from young ers, in ory: — ;sors of ituated of his re re- walk r, and inding lundect THE MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, Two O'CLOCK. The Stock Exchange op ne.d to-day, but the busi ness in progress was of a very limited extent. Con sA were inclined to recede. In foreign securities Spanish and Turkish were the turn higher. For railway shares Great Northern A's have improved 1, but Lancashire and Yorkshire have gone down 1. In the discount market this morning the price asked for the Lest first-clasi paper is 21 per cent. Consols are now at 94k to 94 for money; ditto, I:tccount, 941 1 ; Three per Cent. R e d u c e d, 921 8; New Three per Cents., 921 ; Bank of England Stock, 41 per cent., 234. Exchequer Bills £l,OOO, 24 per cent., par to 5s ; ditto £lOO, £2OO, and £5OO, 5s prem. India Stock, 101 per cent., April, 1874, ; ditt ° 5 p er cont., July, 1880, ; ditto 4 per cent., Oct., 1888 , 1001 a; di tto E n f ace d P aper , Per cent., ; ditto Debentures, 103 g. In the Foreign Market Brazilians are quoted 884 to 891 80; Egyptian (1864), 891 to 701; ditto (1868), to 84 ; ditto Nine per Cents., 101 to 102 ; Vice 's Loan, 84 to 841 ; Italian, 541 to 544 ; Peru- Va; 851 to 86 ; Orel, 87 to 871; Nicolali, 691 to ~'0 ; Mos cow), 851 to 86 ; Ch ar k o f , 831 to 83; ; %Apish, 281 to 281 ; and Turkish Five per Cents., 47 to 478. The Railway Market is far from active. Cale donian, 75 to 751; Great Eastern, 401 to 401 ; Great Northern (A), 128 to 129; Great Western, 701 to 708; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 130 to 131 ; London and Brighton 46k to 461 ; London, Chatham, and Dover, 161 to 161 ; London and North Western, 1274 to 1281 ; Metropolitan, 781 to 781 ; Midland, 1261 to 127 ; South Eastern, 781 to 781 ; and ditto Preferred, 11.04 to 111-1. • American Five-Twenty B on d s are 88k t o 881 ; ditto (1865), 871 to 881; and - ren-rorty bonas, au to 861. L ombardo-Venetian Railway is 14 to 171; and Great Luxembourg, 128 to 131. In Miscellaneous shares prices are almost withons change. Credit Foncier, 2-916 2 11-16 ; General Credit, 7-16 9-16 prem. ; International Financial, 11.1 8 dis ; lludsoves Bay, 121 12i ; Lon t(l.°4 Gener a l O mn ib us C ompany, 21 to 21; Na :°l3al Diecount, 11 to 111 ; Peninsular and Oriental "'team, 421 to 431 ; and Royal Mail Steam, 53 to 55. BRITISH FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES. , GOVERNMENT rUNDS. v Par Cent. Consols 3 Di tto for A ccount 944 i „Per , it , , . Cont. lieluced 924 Ne i 2 1 ~ i per Cent 921 "err 21 per Cent. Jan. 1894 A /3° • 6 per Oen Jan. 1873 -alluities, 30 'yrs, expire sth Jan., 1880 — D 0..„, for 30 yrs, expire sth April 188 f, — txoo (Red Sea Televaph). Aug.,. 1908 — `ue(lll2r Bills, £l,OOO, 24 p. lit. — Do. 24 do. June —s pm Do £lOO, £2OO & £500... ilk , 4 °.• England Stock, 44 per Cent 01_03 _ _ opening t u ada 4 per Cont. Bonds — titerolonial Oinnium 1 INDIAN UOVERNMENT SECURITIES. "ia Stock, 101 per Cent., April 1874 — Do.Do n ' "Tening, for Account 0 per Cont. Oct 1880 D 0 • - r , 4 per Cent. Oct. 188e 1 :'i,' '. Enfaced Pape. 4 per Cent..,... — _ 1 1 .- ' '• 6 per Cent , Jan. 1872 ...... / 1 - '• 6 1 per Cent. May 1879 -... _ '''9. per Cent., Rup. Da'D. 18 . 7 9 D) do ., 18 . — h D oh do. 1882 -",, , neb., 5 per Cent., Aug. 1873 ••••••••• -„ Boode. 4 per Cent., .£l b ,ooo "0. under £l,OOO , 23 pm Ar F OREIGN FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES. gelltine Republic, 6 per Cent i 1)0 ce , t un .•Alltrian Bonds 5 per cent .. iii Do. 1859 . • 00000 • ° rtiiiian 5 per C en t — 4 4 Per Cent. 1852 _ li o. -"• do 1858 — be " 18611 1863 _ 0,„: do., • t v• Per Cent., 1865 B . )0, Aount i ‘ e ° o B Ayres 6 p er Cent. . ` . ... _... D 7, 0 2 per Cent. (D e f erre d 3 per Cent: — 4 0 6 per Cent „,-0. 4 1 per C 0nt...,.. ......... ••• - " 0 . 3 per C., ent h... ilu• 7 per C ent., 1866 .... 0 ,°. 6 per c ent . 1867 984 paietninan, 6 per Cent. 0 t , . 3 pe a Cent., 1825 •• t a 0): 1 ,. 6 per Cent. DO Principalities, " Account e Cent., 1867 — D a y,or e New Consolidated, 1 per cent rtian, 7 per Cent • ••• ,;(1 Second Issue .• •• "0. 450 C Ifonds — o, 1864 „ Do. Account 1.,',0. t5OO Bonds Do' 410 t ronds •—• D o , Por Cent., 1868 .. .. No. Account .-. ...... Do, XlOO BoneB B Ol fir'eLv'erninent Railway Debentures I)°‘' sper Cent., 1824 . 5, ex Coups — (.14,1. ,Per 11 teillala o per Cent ItclurfteCio Rail. L00n . ., 10 p. Ct., all pd ,„ 834 44 ith:Ace , Unt .3„;"` ' Pe: Cent., 1865 864 o•xAccodnt - - bl exi 44rernmana Railway — . h . eitt 3 per Cent ' 144 •uitto for Account . — b 5 9. 1864 — IC: per Cont. Anglo-French — 4 ottNdvan 6 per Nejl,Bh Imperial 5 poi Cent - .-.— D - kzra li d n 0 a a 261 D,,- ',Per Oen, — b . .uefer red l'erg'atul Warrants (Hectares) ...• ... T 3 7sii 64 0„ PI 5 per Cont. 1865 o',; 7, coo nnt p c ': 't Per Cont. (111:1)arren) ..... -"' Pot - 44 Per Cent.. 1862 -. ••• •• Do 4 . B4e se 3 per Ct., 1853, '6, 7, 9,'60,'2.': ... _321 D o do. 1867 It'lssia, do. Scrip, £2O paid — p D ° 4 °, t , p eer Cent., 1822, £ S t .. Cent 1850 D Per Cent., 1860 .••.. . b' f gli per Cent., 1859 D ° Per Cent., 186 2 ••• ••• •., 874 Do. in g lo- Dutch, 1864, £lOO Bondr 92 130 186 dc '' £B4 15s. d0.....,_ Do, -61 X lO O Bonds .„ 924 1) 0 ii . do £B4 15s. do — . itr c i; • le°l aE Railway 694 4 • i s ,.. .111 140 r.. per „,ea. Knish 3 - ‘-' t i'l,_ . . per Len . l? Account - 1 -, ° • 1867 28} D O _ !..ccount - ......_ x , -.... ....... ........ ••• • /Y. p ew Deferrea 14 ik+Jo. Paasive 040enca. Ce t rt. of Coup. not funded — Do Go Provincial Mortgage Loan jJe Government, 1864 100 Tur kish r,icesoupdir: Cent ... ..,$) 6 per Cent. 1858 •• Pe per ••• •• Dog loo liond s 721 per Cent , 1862 °. Account ' 0 4100 13oude h°• 5 per cent. 1865 .1.0. Account 704 Do a Do- Per Cent. 186 b ~„•-'0 Account t•, 1014 "he o 4 per Cent Guaranteed _ • \r"° do, ' Scrip . _ enezuela 3 per Cent. _ Dog per Cent. 1864 teujuston6xtaperoOpeernte.,olt62Ex 1U Florins • _Di • 'Slat 44 Ea 25f. Ditchs 21 per Mut. Ex. 12 Guil." _ F 00 . 1 per Cent. Certificates .... _ ; retich Rentes 3 per Cent., Ex. 2of. • —l 1 trtliar, 5 per Cant. 1861, Ez. zsf De •Account ........................ CLOSING 0 4 Consols, Aroney! ................ 1)4 4 be. Account, May 4 An o tb attar 1 - 1 0 r of t hose extraordinary takes re , 3c.. c sa les of G overnment property (observes the United vi of e Gazette) is th e sale of Deptford Dockyard for 4" 1 " 0 4 It of ,op seenis that th e rea l valuo of the property is out p ro ms to the ma for which it has DOC sold. - 1-- SHARE LI.>T. RAILWAYS-ORDINARY SHARES AND STOCKS THE WEEKLY PRESS. TWO MONTHS OF THE SESSION. Closing Business Paid. Name. Quotations. clone. St Bristol and Exeter l9O 77 79 78 St Cal, donian 1.00 751 76 ; 75 St Ca M briau 20 Cornwall all 21 34 St Dublin and Belfast Junction..loo St Dun, Prtll, and Aber. June...loo 70 72 20 East Loudon all 4 6 20 Do 20 Do St Gla , gow and S.Western IUO 11 l 113 St Great Eastern lOO 371 091 394 .St Do East Anglian, No. `2 100%- 61 7* St Great North of Scotland 100 . 13 16 St Great Northern 100 119 120 120 St Do A 100 126 127 1261 St Do B 100 126 128 St Gt. So. and West (Iretand) 100 98 100 St Great Western - Consolid 100 684 694 694 St Do South Wales 100 68 70 • St Do West Midland—Oxford 100 44 45 St Da do Newport 100 36 38 St Lancashire and Yorkshire 100 1254 1271 1291 St Lond, Bright'n, and S.Coast 100 43 431 461 St Lond, Chatham, and Dover 100 144 154 164 St Do Metrop Extension A 100 9 11 St London and North Western 100 1264 1274 1271 St Loudon and South Western-100 88* 89* 904 St Mauch, Shef, and Lincolnsh.loo 51 511 52 St Do New. issued at £5O die 3O St Metropolitan lOO 791 80 784 St Do Preferred... lOO ••• ••• St Do Deferred 100 ... •... 10 Do Redeemable %11 94 104 St Metropolitan District 100 37 38 St Midland ...100 1244 125 1264 St Do Birmingham and Derbyloo 92 94 St North British. lOO 31 35 341 St Do Edin, Perth, and Dunde.loo 13 15 St North Eastern—Berwick lOO 1261 1271 1351 5 St Do Leeds 100 841 851 St Do York St Do Stockton and Darlingts 100 - 178 180' 1811 St North Loudon lOO 116 • 118 10 Do New, 1868 6l 11 14 St North Staffordshi r e 100 59 61. St North and So. West. Junct 100 102 105 St Rhymney lOO 52 54 St Shropshire Union 100 62 63 St South Devon 100 46 48 St South Eastern 100 764 774 781 St Do Preferred ...100 109/ 1104 111 The Irish people, says the Saturday Review, cannot really doubt that the present Ministry and the present House of Commons mean very well to Ireland, and are sincerely anxious to pass a good Irish Land Bill. But if, as seems only too probable, the Irish Land Bill proves a failure, and its merits are frittered away little by little in the process of desultory legislation, this very goodness of inten tion, coupled with the feebleness of the result, will seem, it may be feared; to impetuous Irishmen the most convincing of all proofs that good legislation for Ireland at West minster is beyond hope. If the Parliament failed from want of good will or from want of sympathy, it might be hoped that free discussion, and time, .a,nd changes of men and Ministries, might give a better chance some day of securinr , good legislation ; but if Parliament fails because with the best and kindest intentions, it goes on flounder ing and vacillating and theorising until good legislation is hDpeless, then the prospect seems very dreary, and the thoughts of men will turn instinctively in some other direction. If after Easter the House goes on with the Land Bill as it has gone on before Easter. it will be almost certain, after abandoning all the other work of the session, to pass a bill that will make Irishmen regard it and its efforts with amiable pity and good-natured contempt. Perhaps the most encouraging feature in the past history of the session is that the shortcoming we have to notice is not only that of the House of Commons itself, but is also decidedly that of particulamen. If this is so, we may hope that those who have disappointed us hitherto will begin to arouse themselves and to satisfy onr expectations. Mr. Gladstone has not guided the House enough, for the simple reason that he has not had in his own mind any clear notion of what he wanted and why he wanted it. And he has received little or no assistance from his col leagues. It is impossible not to surmise that the history of these two months would have been different if Mr. Bright had been in full activity and vigour to take part in the counsels of the Cabinet, and to impress his views on the House. At the present crisis, with a chief given over as a prey to petty refinements and hair-splitting on a great subject, he would have been peculiarly fitted and tolerably certain to insist on the paramount necessity of keeping some general aim clearly and steadily in view. We trust that after Easter he may soon be restored to his place in the Government and th e House, or, if that is not to be, that Mr. Gladstone will, during the recess, reani mate himself with something of the vigorous spirit in which he and Mr. B r i g ht an d all his colleagues originally set out to deal with Irish affairs. St Do Deferred... lOO 41 414 St Staines, Wok'ham, & Wok'g. all 12 131 St Taff Vale - 162 10 Do C 6 3 6 et Waturfoid and Cent. Ireland 100 10 Waterloo and Whitehall THE SUN, LONDON, , SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 16, 1870 MR. SPOFFORTH. Mr. Spofforth has resigned his position as agent of the Conservative party. He has fulfilled the duties of that important post since the autumn of 1859. That he has done the work well the admirable election management on the Conservative side, and the frequent victories gained against long odds, sufficiently testify. Spofforth has long contemplated resigning, bat" deferred the step in accordance with the wishes of the leaders. The Standard considers this loss a very severe ono. "To those who know how much knowledge, tact, and discretion, and what in cessant toil are required for the clue performance of the very delicate functions of the post which Mr. Spofforth has filled for so many years, it will be needless to say one word as to the zeal, ability, and high principle with which that gentleman has con ducted the electioneering business of the e)onserva tive party. Suffice it to say, that his resignation will be regarded with very great regret by all those who have the best interests of the party truly at heart, whilst by its leaders it will be felt to be an almost irreparable loss." _. ..... , s _... . ,_... meeting in question worshipy. delivered himself as follows :—" Mr. Aundella came as a friend. Indeed, I may say that ' he that dippeth with. me hath betrayed me.' J:le has betrayed us. Mr. Mundeila has insulted my common sense in doing as he has dono4 I charge him with having disregarded his constituents in order to repre sent the gas company. 1.",. shall spew you Mx. MuncieHa's craft. It wa s no perhaps, a direct lie that he told me, but it w as tl same thing. He said he was going to the Reform Club to dine with some of the Lords. No doubt ,was, but he did so fre quently execu tive committee on the subject' f thi s c h arge , an d a t 4 quentiv ; he had no specitiv-^ ngagement to do so ." Mr. Mundella has had a cont( ence with his communication has been sent t the Mayor, who has acknowledged it and promised'aqull reply. MISCELLANEOUS. 10 Anglo-Mexican Mint 25 Australian Agricultural 2Ol 16 17 25 Austn Mort Land and Fin L 5 1d pr 10 Baugparah Tea Est a te, Lim all 3 5 10 Berlin Water Works, Linn 5 Bombay Gas, Limited all 5 51 5 Ditto, New 4 pr 4pm 50 British American Laud 20 British Indian Tea, Limited all 21 31 27 Canada Company all 78 80 20 Ceylon Company, Limited lO 4 3d 20 Ditto, A shares 25 City of London Real Prop, LlO 7 6d 30 City of Milan Itnprovment L all 4 5 50 City Offices, Limited 50 Colonial, Limited 2O Id pr 50 Commercial Union (Asso) 10 Corn of African Merch, L 20 Continental Union Gas, L 25 Copper Miners of England, Pref 74 per cent all 5 7 LOO Corp of London Bonds, 1877, 41 per cent all 100 Ditto, 1879,.4 8 per cent .00 Ditto, 1882, 4i per cent 10 Credit Fonc o England, L all 24 31 50 Credit Forte of Mauritius, L 10 25 11d St Crystal Palace St Do, Preference lOO 94 99 St Do, 6 per cent Perp Debentloo 108 113 50 E India Land Credit & Fin L 7 5 4d 32 Ebbw Vale " 271 lU} 10d 100 Egypt 9 p ct Viceroy's Loan gun by Egyptian Gov all 1001 1011 1011 20 Egyptian Corn and Trading L 4113 3 English and Austr Copper, L 21 I f 15 Eng and Foreign Credit 7l 4 3d 10 Earopean Gas all 17 18 10 Do, new.... 5 . . 4 41 6 Fairbairn Engineering 5 1d p 20 Fore-street Warehouse, L 13 34 4fp 100 Foreign and Col Gov Trust and Loan 6 per ct Bonds all 97 96 10 Gen Credit and Discount, L 7/ f Id 15 General Steam Navigation l4 29 31 50 Home and Col Marine Ins, L 5 1d p 20 Hudson's Bay (Governor and Co. of Adventurers of Eng trading into) all 12 121 50 Imperial Continental Gas 434 131 136 50 India Rub, Telg Works, L 45 57 59 10 International Fivan Sou, L 5 lf 11d 20 Italian Irrigation Canal, Cav all 4 41 100 Ditto, 6 per cut Bonds, red all 1870 50 Land Securities, Limited 5 2 Id 25 London African Trading lO 50 Lund Financial Assoc, Lim— SO 18 17d 11 4 Loud Gen Omnibus, Lind - 50 Loud & Glaeg Engin, Litud 25 16 16d 20 London and Prov Marine St Madras Irrig & Canal, guar 100 spc by India Gov lOO 103 105 50 Merchant Shipping, Limtd all 32 37 10 Natal Land and Col Co., Lini all 31 41 25 National Discount Co, Lim 5 llf 11f 10 National Steamship, Lirnd all 131 14 1 Nerbudda Coal & In, Ld 6s 6d f I (0 New Consolidated Dis 4 5 New Quebrada, Limited 4112 41 4 1 d 25 N Zealand Ln & Merc, &c 21 ip 25 N Zealand Trust & In, Ld 5 11 lip 10 North Assam Tea, Limited 7 7 5d 10 Do, 11 all d St N British Austral, Lhnited 100 60 70 50 N British & Mercan lustabe 6f 23 234 25 Ocean Marine insurance 5 13 16p 5 Oriental Gas, Limited 4 5 Do, New 10 Otago & South Invest, Ld 2 44 i p 5 Ottoman Gas, Limited all 2 24 St. Peel Riv Lud & Min, Lim lOO 31 33 50 Peninslr & Oriental Steam all 43 45 421 50 Do., New, 1867 lO :31 21d 50 Rhymney Iron 15 Do, Now all 8 4 8f 25 Rio Janeiro City Im., Lmtd all 191 20. 20 Rio Janeiro Gas, Limited 100 Royal Mail Steam 6O 52 54 St. Scot Aim Invest, Limited lOO 20 Societe General de l'Empire Ottoman 8 2f 3} 25 South Australian Land 20 Tel Construe & Maintenance (lim and reduced) all 36 361 37 20 Thames & Mers Mu Ins, L 2 21 2fp St. Tobacco (Ital 6p c Loan) all 86 88 10 Trustand Agency of Austra lasia, (Limited) 20 Tr &LnCoof Up Canada 5 i f fp 50 Union Marine Liverpool, Ld 5 6 61p 20 Union Steam Ship, Ld 15 United Dis Corpora, Lmtd ... 6 2 ld 20 Univer Mar (Ins), Lmtd 5 41 sfp 10 Upper Assam Tea, Lmtd all 4 1 30 Van Diemen's Laud 100 Viceroy of Egypt Mort Ll 3 all 851 864 84i 50 Warrant Finance, Limited 12 8 6d 50 WI & P Steam, 'Limited 20 4 3d COLONIAL GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. Canada Government, 6 p c, Jan and July .1877-84 100 104 1051 106 Do, 6p c, Feb and Aug lOO 102 103 Do, 6p c, Mar and Sept, lOO 1051 1061 Do, 5p c, Jan and July . .... lOO 941 951 97 Do, 5p c, inscribed stock lOO 94 96 Do, 5p c, Dominion of, 1903 lOO 951 961 951 Cof Good Hope, 6p c, Dec, 1873 100 103 105 Do, 6 p c, April and Oct, 1890- 1900 lOO 111 113 Do, 6p c, April and Oct, 1880-90 100 109 111 Do, 6p c, Jan and July, 1891 lOO Do, 5 p c, April 15 and Oct 15, 1900 100 Ceylon, Nov ; 1878, 6 p c 100 Do, 1872 lOO Do, 1882 and 1883 100 Mauritius, 6 p c, 1873, Jan it July 100 Do, 1878, Jan and July 100 Do, 1882, May 15 and Nov 15 100 D 0,1895-6, Feb and Aug 100 Natal Gov 6 p c, April & Oct 100 Do, 6 p c, May and Nov 100 New Brunswick Gov 6 pc, Jan and July 100 N. S. Wales Gov 5 p c, 1871 to 1876, Jan and July lOO Do, 5 p c, 1888 to 1896, Jan and July 100 Do, 5 p c, red by ann draws, front 1867 to 1875 lee Do, 2 per c, annual draws, 1872 to 1898 100 New Zealand 6 p e,, 1891 100 Do, 5 p c lOO Do, Jan, April, July, Oct 100 Do., 6 pc, 1891, Mar and Septloo Do, p ct, 1891, June and Dec 100 Nova Scotia Gov, 6 p c sterling, 1875, Jan and July lOO Do, 1886 lOO Queensland 6 per ct, 1882-83, Jan and July 100 Do, 1891, Jan and July 100 S Australian Government, 6 p c, 1869-77 lOO Do, 1878-92 100 Do, 1893-1908 100 Tasmanian, 6 p c, 1895, Jan and and July 100 Do, 6 p c red, 1893 to 1897 lOO Victoria Govt, 6 p c, Jan and July, 1891 lOO Do, April and Oct, 1883-5 loo' Do, 5 p c, Jan. and J 14,1891 100 1021 1031 109 111 103 105 112 114 102 104 106 108 107 109 111 113 108 110 107 109 104 105 1001 1011 101 102 1014 100 101/ 100/ 1011 107 109 97 98 971 981 97f 108 110 107 109 1021 1031 1041 105 1081 1091 1081 1091 110 111 108 110 108 110 113 114 1131 1141 110} 1011 1024 1021 MR. GLADSTONE'S SINGLE-HANDED FIGHT. The - Spectator thinks there is something almost painful in the spectacle of Mr. Gladstone's single-handedness in this Irish Land Bill-baiting. We have all read reflec tions on the loneliness of intellectual greatness, but the loneliness of a master of administrative detail is to our eyes an even more tragic spectacle, It is true that Mr. Gladstone is assisted by Mr. Chichester Fortescue, whose familiarity with the Land 'Bill and mastery of its prin ciple is as complete as his own ; and by the Solicitor- General for Ireland, who is a man of indisputable ability as well as legal acumen. But, unfortunately, Mr. For tescue, ample as is his knowledge of this bill, is not a ready speaker, and has not the art of illustrating the force of his position in a few graphic words; and Mr. Serjeant Dowse has got so great a reputation for humour that the House, with true English narrowness insists that he always means a joke, and laughs before he opens his mouth, so as to quite take away the force of a serious answer given in committee to an argument resting wholly upon detail. And beyond these two supporters who act the part of Aaron and Hur to Mr. Gladstone, hOlding up his arms as the battle rages all day long the shades of evening come on, and the Amalekites, weary as they are, decline to be duly discomfited, and flee, he has .no supporters of any account on the Treasury bench at all. The English Attorney-General and Solicitor- General evidently know nothing of the bill, and even. united are no more able to encounter Sir Roundell Palmer than two wooden ships of the line to fight an armour proof of the first class ;—as for the members of the Cabinet, none of them have mastered it except the Irish Secretary and the Prime Minister. Mr. Bright is out of the field ; Mr. Lowe is lost in finance; Mr. Cardwell can hardly hold his own, and besides, no doubt, feels some disgust at a measure which he was so careful to condemn with judicial preremptoriness no later than 1865; Mr. Childers has his own hornet's nest amongst those who are aggrieved by the Naval Retirement Scheme ; Mr. Austin Bruce has always some unhappy convict or other on his mind ' • and Mr. Goschen is as full of rates as rates are full of trouble. Under these circumstances, Mr. Glad stone has to fight his battle of weary detail all but alone. And what a battle it is ! Il Moses ever had to defend the Levitical law against acute criticism, he must have had just such a hard piece of work of it as Mr. Gladstone has had in defending the clause and a half or so of the Irish Land Bill already passed against the multitude of small darts levelled at him from all quarters of the House. DISSENT IN PARLAIMENT. The John Bull declares that the parliamentary pros pects of the Education Bill become more uncertain, exactly in proportion as the intelligence of the country discerns and adjudicates upon the questions at issue. While all parties have been uniting to make Mr. Forster's path easy and his triumph certain, his own chief, the Prime Minister, has chosen to put a formidable obstacle in the way. Mr. Gladstone's unlooked for vaccillation at the second reading, his elaborate self-humiliation before an insignificant minority, and his' gratuitous offer to re open the religious difficulty in committee, have operated as an invitation to sectarian bigotry to muster its forces against the bill. As if to encourage and give time for the attack, the Premier expressed himself in ambiguous language which he refused to explain, and keeps postponing the Committee to an indefinite day. Dissent, though nowhere in the schools, is a real power in the House of Commons. The 5,000 Dissenting Ministers are probably everyone electioneering agents. Like the Romish priests in Ireland, they bring the influences of both worlds together to bear on the local hustings, and few candidates like to incur their displeasure. The dis sent which stalks in the House of Commons is not the lazy, languid nonconformity of bucolic chapel-goers, but the fierce, dogmatic dissent of the town ministers, who can lift up a powerful voice in a contested election. Not a few even on the Conservative benches quail before this form of conscientious conviction. Still, the House of Commons would palm the Education Bill by large majorities if Mr. Gladstone would let them. It is the Premier who cannot bring himself to the pitch of break ing with these noisy supporters. He dreads a desertion in his ranks which may ere long leave him at the mercy of the Conservatives. National education is good, but a ministerial majority is more necessary ; and thus there is a growing apprehension that this bill, by far the greatest of the Government measures this year, will be dropped through Mr. Gladstone's unwillingness to offend its oppo nents. THE BUDGET. The Economist remarks Mr. Lowe has surmounted the only danger to which he was exposed—that of being too clever. The main point of his policy is the division of almost the whole surplus between the reduction of the income tax and the diminution of the sugar duties. This is indeed what everbody expected. An additional penny on the income tax was imposed to meet the charge of the Abyssinian expedition, and of course that penny ought to be taken off. The special war charges heaped for convenience on the income tax have a first claim for re moval as soon as peace begins and our income allows it. As to the reduction of the sugar duties, in London there are some doubts, but all the cheaper press and all the organs of the working men have no doubts. And we think they are right. We are not in favour of a "free breakfast" table ; we wish to preserve the power of taxing such articles as sugar and tea hereafter; and if we once take such taxes off it may ruin half a trade to re-establish. them. But, subject to the prior claims of this State neces sity, we wish to lighten the burdens of industry as much as possible an 4. to quicken trade as much as possible. And this is just what Mr. Lowe does. The reduction of the sugar duty is sure to augment consumption, to develope trade, and to help the working man. In some quarters it was for an instant imagined that Mr. Lowe might reduce the malt duty. But no mistake would have been greater and none less likely. In reduc ing the sugar duties we help both sexes ; we comfort the working man's wife as well as the working man, But beer is mostly an article of masculine consumption. The family would not be much helped by cheap beer even if it is helped at all. The man would perhaps extend his con sumption and then his wife's comfort might be less rather than more. Indeed it was only imagined that Mr. Lowe would reduce the malt duty because it was thought such a policy would be popular in counties. But this is quite a mistake. Not one county in ten cares the least about it or would benefit the least by it. A tax on the making of beer is paid by the drinkers of beer, and these live in towns as much or more than in the country. As a bid for power the repeal of the malt-tax would be a blunder, and as an operation on the revenue it would be a crime. Much more interesting is the question how is Mr. Lowe able to do all this ? Where does all this surplus come from? The answer is, that it is due to the economy of the Government, and therefore it is one of the most credi table things in the world. GAME PROSPECTS IN PERTHSHIRE.—SeIdom have the prospects of sportsmen been so favourable as they are this season in Perthshire. The winter was unusually severe and protracted, notwithstanding which all descrip tions of game have withstood the stormy weather well. On all the moors of the country good sport was enjoyed last season ; and, except in a very few instances, the shooting was not prolonged, in order that a good stock of grouse for breeding purposes might be left. The latest reports shew that there is an abundant stock of grouse, and that the birds have commenced nesting. They have seldom been seen at this early season in better condition; and not the least trace of the disease which broke out in 1866 has been ob served. There 'is already a brisk demand for moors. Drummond Castle and shootings, which have not been regularly shot over for two years have been let to Captain Brown, and several others of the principal moors of the county have als . o been let to new tenants. In the low districts, game of all kinds, more especially partridges, pheasants, hares, and wild ducks, abound ; and, should the hatchin ,, season be favourable, there will be no lack of excellent sport during the ensuing season. • The following incident is worth noting. Not very long ago the present writer was walking in Somer setshire along a road by the side of which a new villa was in course of erection. Two of the builder's workmen were talking as they mixed some lime and water, when one, a stalwart young fellow, " all hair and lime," as Ben Jonson says, remarked, " There's a book of Gladstone's I want to read ; it's called Juventus Mundi.' " This was a compliment that would, doubtless, have been veryfirato fultig_tkcNnwq kafsi lie 129md MORNING SITTINGS. The complaints against the early institution of mor ning sittings in the House of Commons are loud and general. Though Mr. Disraeli and his colleagues most vehemently opposed the proceeding, it is not the country gentlemen, who form so large a portion of the Con servative party, that suffer the greatest incon venience. Business men find morning sittings most prejudicial to their reputation as legislators. The Law Journal, for instance, appeals, on behalf of the community of lawyers—who swarm in the House of Commons. "It will be admitted that lawyers are, in one sense at least, the salt of Parlia ment. They are sent to Westminster• on account of their special fitness for the business of Parliament and the work of legislation. Legal members cannot attend morning sittings, and an invaluable debating element is lost. iThen we say that lawyers cannot be present at morning sittings, we mean that they cannot do so regularly without a personal sacrifice that it is unreasonable to ask them to make." A good many people think that legislation would be none the worse if the num b3r of lawyers was smaller; but it is obvious that if Parliament has more work than the time will allow it to get through, it may be worth consideration whether lengthening the Session would not be a better expedient than setting the clock round. 44 CONSERVATIVE REPEAL." Longford is once more in full electioneering fer ment. The Hon. George Greville, brother of the member who has just been unseated, is the Liberal candidate, and the Hon. Mr. Harman comes forward under the Nationalist, or, strictly speaking the " Con servative Repeal " flag. What these gentlemen think, or what they say, is not of great consequence. But it is noticeable that the "Conservative Repeal" movement is attaining some proportions, just now. Mr. Martin, the late Nationalist candidate, received several Conservative votes. Mr. Harman is likely to get more, and the several Conservative journals have been writing in favour of " native government." The opposing journals openly ques tion the sincerity of this assurance. The Limerick Reporter put the case very plainly : _ _ - - - By way of adding to the difficulties of the situation, the Irish obstructives, Tories and ultra-Nationalists, and some few honest enthusiasts whose patriotism and purity of motive cannot be doubted, are preparing for a Repeal campaign, which is to be opened in the House of Commons on the third of the next month, under the conduct and auspices of Mr. G. H. Moore. Repel' of the Union; indeed ! First put all sects on an equal footing to run the race of Nationality together—by destroying the last vestiges of ascendancy ; educate our youth as freemen ought to be educated; but first, above all other necessary reforms, give out people some means of feeding, clothing, and housing themselves ; give them the'necessaries of life before you talk of the luxuries. Give Ireland, at least, a good Land and Education Bill, and then talk of political independence. This is outspoken; but it may be safely affirmed that " Conservative Repeal" is the most arrant humbug ever propagated, even in polities. THE POOR-LAW BOARD. A correspondent, who is evidently no advocate for centralisation, points out that apart from the general policy of the Poor-law Board, or its utter inability to grapple successfully with the problem of how to deal with our national pauperism, there is a sad want of the ordinary essentials to the transaction of public or private business in the mode in which correspondence is conducted by the Board. He says it is no uncommon thing for months to elapse before any reply is received to official letters, although these may have been backed during the time by two or three reminders. Were the local authorities to wait, he adds, until the dictum of the Poor-law Board was received, their work would be completely para lysed, and the business of parishes and unions brought to an utter deadlock. THE FINANCIAL REFORM UNION. --- The executive committee of the Financial Reform Union, have held a meeting Lo discuss Mr. Lowe's last financial enterprise. Their opinions on the Budget are on the whole favourable, and their first resolution expressed their satisfaction at seeing so large a portion of the surplus devoted to the removal of half the sugar duties. Their second gives the Chancellor a gentle reminder that, though half a loaf is better than no bread, a whole loaf is better still; and sets before him the great advantages which the people would derive from the total repeal of the duties on tea, coffee, and sugar, which they hope to ■ee accomplished next session. Our great grand fathers would have been not a little surprised if they could have looked forward to the marvels of this " iron age " to find these useful domestic commodi ties proclaimed as " the three great necessaries of life," by the Financial Reform Union. MUSIC IN THE PARKS. The honorary secretary o f the National Sunday League writes to the Dally News to explain that it was owing to a mistake on the part of Mr. Layard, late Chief Commissioner of Works, that the management of the Regent's Park Band was handed over to the chair proprietor. It seems that Mr. Layard was induced to believe the Band Committee intended relinquishing their office, and without taking the not altogether superfluous pre caution of consulting them on the matter, he transferred the authority to the chair proprietor. The committee are a little irritated at this in a per sonal, musical, . and national point of view, as they assistance to the movement. consequence, are the Band object to being superseded, they think the In n they anxious to bs of give every Mr. Layard, had he remained in office ,, intended to recon sider the matter, but his successor does not seem to etv:weerryestacmheed,minadn.d Committee, who have been exerting themselves for several years to promote popular recreation, are left on one side, and the matter, though musical, is not altogether harmonious. KITtWEE PRIZE ➢LONEY. The vexed question of the Kirwee prize money has again come on the tapir, and is, we understand, to be brought under the notice of Parliament after Easter by the member for Chippenham, Mr. Goldney. When the chiefs of Kirwee vrere captured in the Indian war, a quarter of a million was owing to them, partly by the East India Com- Pany, and partly by private debtor s . Th e I n di an authorities cancelled the public part of the debt, and appropriated the proceeds of the private account to local. uses. The question has not unnaturally arisen whether they had the right so to dispose of the spoils of war without a special grant from the Crown. It is alleged on behalf of the force which took Kirwee and its chiefs, that the money is lawful booty, end ought to liave been remitted to Whitehall for distribution among the troops. The present law officers of the Crown have given conflicting opinions, and a rule for future cases is Tory much to be desired. Lord Palmerston's Cabinet established the precedent of referring such matters, under Lord Cottenham's Act, to the public scrutiny of a court of law, and as these new • Kirwee questions, which were not so re ferred, are still unsettled thirteen years after the capture, it does not appear that legal proceedings aro likely, in ordinary cases, to be more expensive or less expeditious, or less satisfactory than a private adj ndi-, cation by the Treasury Board or any other depart ment of the State. CHARGE AGAINST 3m. MIINDELLA. A pretty little scene, rendered of somewhat more than local interest, owing to the parties concerned, has taken place in the Sheffield town council. The council being about to make application to Parliament for power to purchase the gas and water works of the town, were most anxious, of course, to secure the aid of Mr. Mundella, their M.P., in so 'doing. The reply of Mr. Mundella, is said to be that if the inhabitants desired it, he would "go in" with all his might and main to carry out their wishes. The application was unsuccessful and on this promise the Mayor founds, the serious charge against Mr. nundella }taxi= hetraarati I, L. .et tb. THE lIOPE SCHOLARSHIP RIEVANCE. Miss Mary Edith Pechey, ivho as most persons probably think, was unfairly fisted from the benefit of the Hope Scholarshi writes to the ,d ik Times stating the real grievance -of the case. The pecuniary loss, she says, is extremely slight— but the complaint is that after women had been ad mitted to the university, with the distinct statement (as given in the Minutes of the . University Court, of November 10th, 1869) that they should "be subject to all the regulations now or at any future time in force in the University as to the matriculation of students, their attendance on classes, examination, or otherwise," this clause should be interpreted entirely without previous warn ing, to apply only to possible penalties that might be incurred, and not to actual honours that have been won. It will, she submits, probably appear to the general public sufficiently curious that the Senatus decided that women were entitled to exactly the usual certificates, • thus declaring them ordinary matriculated students, and at the same time confirmed Dr. Brown's refusal to her of the scholarship, though without revoking his grant of the medal, which was surely an equally public university honour. sin JOSEPH HAWLEY ON " TURF REFORM." Sir Joseph Hawley continues in the papers the subject of "turf reform." For the benefit of non sporting readers, he explains that P.P. betting means "play or pay," which is that all bets are to be paid on horses not winning, whether they start or not. Sir Joseph, in advocating the reform of this evil, quotes a resolution rejected by the Jockey Club in 1857, which proposed that " hereafter no bets on horse racing shall be considered play or pay, and that the club will in future decline to warn off the ground at Newmarket, or otherwise treat as defaulters, any persons who may be brought before them for refusing to pay bets lost on horses which have not started." Sir Joseph ex presses his desire to know what Admiral Rous will say to this, and how it consorts with his doctrine that the Jockey Club can effect no reform because they cannot interfere with betting, especially as the Admiral voted with the majority in confirming this most corrupt form of betting. Among other refornis advocated by Sir Joseph is that of giving no public money to any race less than a mile; the claiming in all selling races of a horse at the price at which he is entered ; the making of all entries in the bond fide name of the owner; and the application by the Jockey Club to the Home Secretary to introduce a bill enacting the most stringent provisions against all advertisements wild announcements by tipsters, commission agents, and list-house keepers. A SUBURBAN WARFARE. Wandsworth •common is still the field of battle. Earl Spencer threatens enclosure, the inhabitants prepare for active resistance, and as a matter of course, a public meeting is the first weapon of defence. The residents mustered in considerable force, a night or two since, under the presidency of Mr. James Bevington, one of their magistrates. Mr. Peek, the member for Mid- Surrey, has offered to give £l,OOO towards the common fund, if the inhabitants of Wands worth, Clapham, and Battersea would give £4,000. This offer, however, only holds good until next June, so it is to be hoped that the sub scription list, opened at the meeting, was a long and liberal one. In the course of the• discussion a Mr. Buckmaster stated the aggravating fact that 200 acres of the common had already been enclosed; and he not inaptly asked if Lord Spencer, as lord of the manor, could do what he liked with his own, why was it necessary for him to bring an enclosure bill into Parliament ? PITY THE POOR PAIVNBROKER. "A Pawnbroker" writes with a view of pointing out that the business o f " m i ne unc l e " is not so profitable as it may look. lie says that all men of - business reckon their capital worth five per cent., and that the best of his class have to borrow at that price before they can lend. at 15 per cent. Then their expenses, even if well managed, amount to 5 per cent upon their capital, leaving 5 per cent for the man who, more than any other, is open to the cheating, dishonesty, and, last but not least, abuse of his fellow citizen. Another great drawback to their profits, he says, are the " duffers "—that is, the plated chain for gold, the jargoon for diamond, the paste for the emerald or the ruby, and the loss of money advanced- upon stolen property. Finally, he submits that the mere fact of having to issue for every pledge a duplicate, which is in currency for twelve months, giving the astute detecti ve that time to ferret out a case, with the certain knowledge that all the money ad vanced is forfeited on detection, is a sufficient bar to a pawnbroker openly lending his money upon stolen property, although such of necessity must sometimes be the case. Such is the case as stated by the pawnbrokers. The trade, however, finds abundance of followers. THE WOOLWICH CADETS. The case of insubordination at Woolwich Academy was not so black as it has been painted. The three cadets who have been dismissed were not punished for taking part In the riotous excesses of their comrades, but for refusing to give information. They were corpo rals, and it was their business to keep order. Not only did they fail in so doing, but when asked for parti culars as to the rioting, they declined to give them on the ground that such " betrayal " would be " dishonourable." This conduct is improper and foolish ; but it is much less heinous than the doings of the three youths as represented in the original story. Young men whose express duty it is to maintain discipline cannot think themselves harshly treated if they are not per mitted to remain cadets in consequence of such con tumacious refusal ; but it is hoped that the unfortu nate answer will be retracted, and that the authorities will accept the withdrawal. JUDICIAL REFORM IN EGYPT. The question of judicial reform is attracting a good deal of attention in Egypt. Our Western re formers have no easy task of it, but over in the East the obstacles in the way of pro gress are well-nigh insuperable. The In ternational Commission for putting into a new, clear, and definite form the whole complex and variable system of consular courts in Egypt com pleted its work twb months since. NubarPasha set off for Constantinople ?with the report, hoping to induce the Porte to look favourably on the scheme. At first it was well received, then doubts arose, finally it was submitted to the Ministerial Council and rejected unhesitatingly. No doubt the present unpopularity of the Khedive may have influenced the Turkish authorities, while Nubar PaPha himself, an Armenian and a clear-sighted reformer, is no great favourite among the effete denizens of th e Ottoman capital. As the Commission was an interna tional one, however, and the matter closely concerned Europeans as well as Egyptians, having special reference to the frequent suits between traders of the two countries, the Turks could not afford to shew their dislike to the whole scheme openly. Negotiations have accordingly been opened, but it is very doubtful how they terminate. It is impossible foranyoneexiteovidnegneyeNihees necessity of a radical change, since the are so numerous and contradictory that no one knows exactly how the law st an d s . Th e Commission pro poses to establish a uniform law, competent tribunals with a proportion o f European judges, indepen dent courts, with sentences enforced by the officials, not by the Government, and similar reforms. • MONSTER CONCERTS IN CALIFORNIA. San Francisc o h as not generally been considered a city very favourable to the cultivation of the fine .arts in fact, it h as b een strongly suspected that visiting cards w ere supersa d e d b y b u ll ets in it s socia l in▪ tercourse. It is therefore a little surprising to find its citizens enjoying a monster concert after the European model exceptin , as to the duration and extent, which were - characteristically gigantic. The festival lasted five days. Thera were 1,200 adult vocalists, 2,000 j▪ uniors, and 400 instrumentalists. It was held for the bew4t _of another civilised institution.. the I San Francisco Mercantile Library, whose fortunes have lagged • somewhat behind its merits; and the success was fortunately indisput able. There were a good many musical chefs , crtruvres in the programme, but the great e ven t which " brought down th 3 house " was the Anvil Chorus. Even English Easter Monday theatre goers might bo a little startled at the pro spect of its performance. Twelve hundred in the choir, three hundred in the orchestra, one hundred firemen leating fifty anvils, and last, not least, a tele graph operator, who "played the cannon," placed out side the building, by means of an electric apparatus. The wild enthusiasm of the audience at the conclu sion of this magnificent concerted music was, we are told, something to be remembered. It is gratify ing to ];now that the Californians, if deafened, were delighted, and the first great musical festival ever -held on these coasts of the Pacific was brilliantly successful. NATIONAL MISFORTUNES. Seldom has a more miserable fate befallen any state or province than that which has been ex perienced by East Prussia and, though in a less degree, by Finland and neighbouring districts. Ever since 1863 the history of this region has been a series of disasters : extreme wet, cold, and heat have either swamped the country and made it nearly impossible to cultivate the soil, or the vegetation has been de stroyed by cold or parched by heat. Cholera and typhus have added to the distress occasioned by the contin'ious failure of the crops in these provinces, which are without any resources except agriculture. The consequences have been most severely felt. Trade in grain, instead of flowing from east to west, has been convulsed, and has flowed from west to east. Landed proprietors have not been able to meet their engagements, and the merchants and others who have made them advances, and given them credit as usual, cannot get their money back. There is deep despondency among all classes. Whilst the Prussian Monarchy has advanced in fame and fortune, this Eastern province has suffered the ex treme of wretchedness. THE OLLIVIER MINISTRY. The state of the French Ministry is getting from bad to worse. Not only has Count Daru resigned, but it is expected that M. de Talhouet will follow. This politician does not hold so prominent a position in the public mind as either of the two statesmen who have resigned ; but he is, nevertheless, one of the ablest men of the Right Centre, and his retirement will further weaken the Cabinet. The vacancies are to be filled up by a mere redistribution of seats. M. 011i vier takes the portfolio of Foreign Affairs for the time being. M. Segris leaves his present post to become Minister of Finance, and M. Maurice Richard, who was appointed to the newly-created office of Fine Arts, takes the portfolio of Public Instruction. The Senatus - Consultum progresses in the Senate, and it retains its original form. The Emperor will not give way in the matter of the pldbiscite, which has caused all this dis turbance in the Cabinet. But the Marquis d' Andelarre is convinced that his Majesty has no after thought, cherishes no retrograde regrets, and has more than ever the firm and absolute will to insure the success of Parliamentary Government. THIRD EDITION. SUN OFFICE, G O'CLOCK. SPORTING INTEL LIGENCE. GUY BETTING.—TIIIS DAY. NEWMARKET BIENNIAL. 100 to 90 agst Astolfo (offered) 50 even Alexander v. Astolfo, both to runl(taken) NEWMARKET HANDICAP. Even on Sabinus (taken) 6to 1 agst Barford (taken and offered) CHESTER CUP. 11 to 1 agst Gleufalloch (taken) 100 to 6 agst Siderolite (taken) 100 to 6 agst Socrates (offered—take 20 to 1) 20 to 1 agst Formosa (taken and offered) 9to 1 agst Mr Ilolgtuan's lot (offered) TWO THOUSAND. 3to 1 agst Kingcraft (taken and offered) 7to 1 agst King o' Scots (taken and offered) 8 to 1 agst Astolfo (taken and offered) 8 to 1 agst Stanley (offered—take 9 to 1) 11 to 1 agst Alexander (offered—•take 12 to 1) 100 to 8 agst Sunlight (taken and wanted) 100 to 7 agat Macgregor (offered) 25 to 1 agst llawthornden (100 to 7 taken at first) 25 to 1 agst Asterope (offered) 1000 to 20 agst Claudius (offered) 9to 1 agst Merry's lot (offered) 500 even ou Alexander agst Hawtbornden (taken) DERBY. 20 to 1 eget Bridgwater (offered) 20 to 1 agst Camel (offered) 25 to 1 agat Astolfo (taken and offered) 25 to 1 aget King o' Scots (offered) 1000 to 25 agst Captivator•(takon and offered) 300 to 5 agst Alexander (taken) 1000 to 20 agst lia.wthornden (offered) 1000 to 15 agst Barford (taken) 1000 to 15 agst Claudius (offered) 1000 to 100 aget Astolfo and Captivator coupled (off) TWO RIVAL CLUBS. Mr. Cecil Hay, M.A., gives the following graphic sketches of the two great London Political Clubs, in his new work, "The Club and the Drawing Room " THE REFORM CLUB. Every one knows the Hon. Laurence Fitz Patrick. How he ever managed to achieve his election for the Irish borough that he represents is a mystery even to his most intimate friends. Of course he is a Liberal—Liberal to the backbone ; but that sort of thing pays well in Kerry. Ask him his opi n i on o f th e Reform. Why does he belong there? Why does he go there so often? Does he like the members? Does he believe in its influences? "My dear fellow" he will candidly i n f orm you, "if you ask me in confidence why I keep my name on the books of this place, I will tell you. My reasons are mainly two. In the first place, as clubs go, it is an exceedingly com fortable crib. The rooms are cozy. The smoking room is well ventilated. The whist just suits me. The dinners are capitally cooked. We have fewer of those restric tions in the matter of strangers than obtain elsewhere, and, after repeated trials, I find I can always depend on the wine. In the second place, there is no place in Lon don where I have so many opportunities for doing the bills I require as here. They call us a political club. My own private opinion is that we are nothing of the sort. Two thirds of the members don't care that---," and Mr. Laurence Fitz Patrick fillips his finger in a most eloquent and expressive manner—" whether the Irish Church is swept to the bottom of the Dead Sea. We are a non descript club altogether. Of course the political element exists among us ; but then we have introduced so many other elements that we have almost swamped it. No, sir," adds Mr. Fitz Patrick, in an emphatic tone of voice, "well-to-do money-lenders and deucedly good dinners, those are our two specialites : and, sir, let me tell you," continues Mr. Fitz Patrick in a smothered but significant whisper, "no such bad things either when one's purse is empty and one's stomach follows suit." THE CARLTON CLUB. Suppose that for four hours at the House of Commons, say that from 9.30 p.m. to 1.30 a.m., there has raged a hot party-fight, such an one as was an every day occurrence when the Reform Bill of 1868 was in transitu. At last it is all over, the division has taken place, and St. Stephen's is cleared of its latest members. But the suspension of existence at Westminster is but the signal of its com mencement in Pall Mall. Look up at the windows of the Carlton, they are ablaze with light, and will continue to be for some hours to come. '[he smoking-room is a scene of brilliant animation. Here the battles which have already been fought in the arena of the House are fought once more over again. Small passages of arms, of which the public will know nothing when it reads over the, columns of the debate in its morning Times, are dili gently dwelt upon and systematically explained. The members of the Carlton whom you see to-night are great upon the personnel of politics. There is nothing like gossip of this order for robbing the science of statesman ship of its philosophical character, and reducing it to a mere scheme of individual agency, wire-pulling, and scene-shifting. There are persons who will tell you that the success of a measure in the House simply means the triumph of a great principle. Confide that notion to these diplomatists of the smoking-room--they will pooh pooh your credulity to your face. In thes e d a y s we h ave done with principles. They may be all very well in their way, but they are not business. If you want to win a division, you must drill your men. It is a question of strategy. It was, we believe, you ng L or d Milf or d i n " Sybil," who declared that the success of the Liberals on a certain occasion was entirely due to the fact " that they dined their men more than the Conservatives." That may be a reductio act absurdunz, of this view of political leadership, but the gist of such conversation as that, which you may listen to to-night, points in the direction of the conclusion thus indicated. You have before you between a score a half-a-hundred of our sena torial body. Their grilled bones are consumed, and over a late cigar they discuss the pitched battle of the evening lqefore they retire to rest. The triumph of principles I ,I;Adiculous. The true fact of the matter is that Gladstone cannot keep his temper, and a man who does not know how to manage hi mse lf is scarcely likely to know 1)1W to manage a party, illg B ' 3 the Was ping The n ed, beta an d and pri MA' ;bra ❑ona i ple. ,askt mea ,hers tririg been. )li sb pre-. j 1.4