The Sun.
London, England, 1870-03-25 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN GOSSIP.

THURSDAY.

I suppose that even Professor Fawcett must be satisfied
by this time that there is not the remotest chance of the
University Tests Bill being passed this year, unless, in-
deed, a private member can persuade the House to enact
such a measure without the authority of the Government.
There is alreadya complete congestion of business. Ireland
stops the way in every direction. At the time that I
write, not one of the first• class measures which the Go-
vernment has introduced has yet reached its chief stage.
Whenthe House to-night goes into committee on the Peace
Preservation Bill, it will find nearly forty amendments
to discuss. A good many of these, however, are Govern-
ment amendments. But the most important is Mr. Ma-
guire's for omitting all the clauses relating to the suppression
of seditious newspapers. This amendment is nearly certain
to be rejected, and in that event Mr. M`Carthy Downing
will move a long amendment to the effect that there shall
be no seizure of the plant nor stoppage of the publication
of a newspaper until a jury has decided if the incrimi-
nated articles are really seditious. But the amendments
to this measure are a mere bagatelle compared with those
to the Land Bill. These are considerably over
300 in number, and occupy 29 printed foolscap pages.
The most prolific movers of amendments are Mr. Synan
and Mr. Callan. The first represents Limerick county,
is a magistrate of that county, has been called to the
bar, and has been M.P. since 1865. The second is a young
man of 34, was educated at the same school, and
has followed the same profession as Mr. Synan,
and he turned out Sir George Bowyer, at Dundalk, at the
last election. Then there is the Education Bill, which
also has given rise to a goodly list of amendments. It is
clear, therefore, that Ministers will have to work very
hard, and probably have to hold morning sittings if they
are to get through the committees on the Peace Preserva-
tion and Land Bills before the Easter recess. After Easter
will come the Education Bill, and beside that measure there
s the Mines Regulation Bill. Mr. Bruce has promised
co introduce his Liquor Bill ; but I doubt very much if he
will be able to fulfil his promise. The only important
neasure which has been introduced in the Upper House
will, it is now generally stated, have to be withdrawn, in
zonsequence of its exceeding incompleteness, so that there
will be no law reform this year. It is tolerably
tertain that legislation on the University Tests, the Licen-
sing question, and Trades Unions e will have to
3e postponed until another year. The same fate
s probably in store for the Ballot question. Perhaps the
Government will not regret the delay so far as regards
;his last item. It will serve to keep the Liberal party
ogether. Latterly there have been signs of estrangement
m the part of the Radicals, and it will be but prudent not
;o grant them everything that they want at once, lest they
should be displaying that Oliver-Twist-like appetite of
;heirs, and be asking for more.
Have any of your readers noticed the very extraordi-
tary letter written by Sir Alexander Galt, late Finance
Minister of Canada, and probably the ablest statesman
.n the Dominion? The letter has been published in the
New York papers, and the writer says that he is
strongly in favour of the independence of the
Dominion ; that he stated this to our Govern-
ment when he was offered knighthood; that he
was told this need not stand in the way of his accept-
ing the honour ; and that he believes in furthering inde-
pendence he is acting in accordance with the wishes of
Jur Government. The matter is causing a good deal of
calk here, especially taken in connection with the dispatch
from New Zealand, whichstates that it is clear Lord Gran-
ville wishes to bring about a separation between
that colony and the mother country. Another
incident bearing on the same subject and tending
to the same direction is the publication this week of a
Parliamentary paper, sheaving how much our colonies and
lependencies (exclusive of India) cost us. It appears
that in the year 1867-8 (the latest year given) they cost
more than 50 per cent. above what they cost in 1858-9
(the first year given), although we have given up the
lonian Islands, and thereby saved about £190,000. I have
taken the trouble to analyse the figures, and find that
this increase is due to the augmented cost of the defence
of the colonies. In fact that increase is considerably more
than the total increase, and thus this total would have
been even larger than it is but for the fact that there
are reductions in other items.

There art not many other political items which would
Interest your readers. I believe that there is to be no writ
for Cashel; and that the recent disclosures will bring about
the disfranchisement of that borough. It isnot yet stated
what Government intended to do with regard to Norwich
Beverley, and Bridgwater ; but it is still sup-
posed that the seats will be taken from the
two latter boroughs at all events. Norwich, the
capital of East Anglia will probably suffer a - less
severe punishment. and will have to endure only a pro-
longed suspension. It so happens that though only one
member was unseated in this borough, the place is unre-
presented in Parliament, for the other member,
Sir William Russell, has become bankrupt. Some
time ago he had to borrow money to keep going,
and was rather hardly dealt with, having to receive the
Tomahawk as a part payment of the loan. That paper
must be suggestive to him of anything but comic
thoughts.
During the recess a covered passage, beautifully paved
with encaustic tiles, was constructed under.the road lead-
ing over Westminster Bridge. The passage connects the
Metropolitan Railway with the House of Parliament, and
is a great convenience to our legislators, many of whom are
elderly men, and have a natural dread of crossing one
of the most dangerous roads in London. Recently the
Metropolitan Railway Directors have started a members'
train, which leaves Westminster at a quarter to one in
the morning and takes members as far as Edgeware-road ;
thus giving them an opportunity of reaching, dry and
snugly, all the regions about Kensington and Bayswater.
Some very interesting meetings are coming off. To-morrow
rung the Education League muster in force at St.
James's Hall. Professor Fawcett, Mr. Mill, Mr.
Auberon Herbert, Mr. Dixon, Mr. Anthony Trollope, Mr.
Leone Levi, and other well known men will
'eak. At the same time a meeting of a very different
character will take place in another part of London. The
speaker wiil be " Father Ignatius," and he will lecture on
the subject, "What are the Monks ?" On Saturday there
will be a meeting at the Hanover-square Rooms to advo-
cate Female Suffrage. Mr. Mill, Mrs. Jacob Bright, Mrs.
Peter Taylor, and several other speakers, male and
female, will address the meeting. On Saturday, April 8,
there will be a meeting to support religious national edu-
Lion, at which Lord Shaftesbury will preside. By the
way, what has become of the National Society that it has
taken no part in the present controversy ?
The Archbishop of York seems to be somewhat
ashamed of his vacillation with respect to the revision of
the Bible, and in his letter to Dr. Davies seems to be
endeavouring to soften down the uncompromising hos-
tility which he displayed in the York Convocation, so
greatly to the surprise of Bishop Ellicott, whom he had
induced to reckon upon his Grace's support. Meanwhile
the question of the revision has given rise to one effect
that was by no means contemplated. It has paralysed
the Bible printing business, and compositors and binders
are complaining sorely of being thrown out of work. In
connection with revision I may mention that the Arch-
bishop of Canterbury (who is a Scctchman) has become a
subscriber to Dr. Waddell's proposed translation of
the Psalms into the Scottish vernacular. The first
number, as an instalment of the whole Bible, will appear
at an early date.
There is no end to the new clubs. The Allied Univer-
sities opens on the 28th. The Junior St. James's has
taken the premises of the Gryphon. There is to be a
West-end Gresham, which is to be called the Corinthian.
Sir George Grey, late Governor of New Zealand, and
other colonial magnates, have started a club in Grafton-
street, Bond-street, which they appropriately call The
Colonial.
The reception clays at the Royal Academy are the 28th
and 29th, a week earlier than usual. I fear that Mr.
Leighton's great picture of Hercules wrestling with
Death will not be sent in. Mr. Leighton has for some time
been suffering from effusion at the knee joint, and though
much better is still compelled to use crutches. Unfortu-
nately this artist is apt to get weary of his works unless
they are finished off at once, so that it is quite possible
that his great picture may not be finished at all. Two
smaller works will I hope appear in the approaching Ex-
hlbiLion. Mr. Leighton's studio is one of the most charm-
ing rooms in London. That, and indeed his whole house
in Holland Park, he has decorated and furnished from his
own designs, and every portion of his menage is thus
a study. He is the son of a gentleman of fortune, who
at first did not care that his child should take up art as a
profession. When quite a boy he was taken by his father
to Rome, and several of his sketches were shewn to
qualified judges. They at once pronounced that young
Leighton was born to be an artist, and the father then
consented to his son's wish, and is now not a little proud of
, that eon's eminence.