The Sun.
London, England, 1869-07-19 00:00:00

SPIRIT OP T.

THE SUN, LONDON, Old DAY EVENING, JULY 19, 1869.

ME? ROPOLITAN GO&lP—Saturday.

It is impossible to describe the agitation and excite-
ment which prevailed in town during the small hours of
this morning. The debates in the Commons bad been
unusually animated, when Mr. Bright's innocent reference
to an appeal to the constituencies raised such a storm as
the reports in this day's papers give but very little idea
of. The tumult was still further increased when
Mr. Gladstone intimated that it was much more
likely that Mr. Disraeli would have to appeal
to his constituents on a minor issue than on a general
election. Instantly the report spread from Westminster
to Pall Mall that if the Lords insisted upon their amend-
ments Mr. Gladstone would resign. The scene at the
Carlton Club was something to be remembered. At an
hour when I hope most of your readers were sleeping the
sleep of innocence, the great Tory headquarters were con-
vulsed with men talking in the most excited and in the
wildest fashion. This agitation was stimulated still more
by the revolt of a large number of the Liberals against the
Government on the appropriation question. To be in a
minority of only 72 was such a startling event, was
such a novel sensation, that the Opposition members in
the House cheered as frantically as though Ministers had
just been defeated on a vote of No Confidence. Pall Mall
responded to Westminster ; the clubbists re-echoed the
shouts of the M.P.'s, and you might have thought that a
Ministerial crisis was at hand. In the midst of all this
beat and excitement Mr. Disraeli maintained an equa-
bility of temper which is worthy of all praise. As regards
argument, his speeches were simply fantastical ; but he
shewed admirable tact in moderating, as far as he could,
the exasperation of his supporters, and in diminishing the
friction between the two Houses which was rapidly be-
coming dangerous.

The contrast between the Lords and the Commons was
very singular. The Peers met as usual at five o'clock.
Lord Granville, a propos to a complaint by the Earl of
Carnarvon respecting the arrangements of the House,
made one of bis exquisitely-polished and good-natured
speeches. He then proposed that the Irish Church Bill
should be considered on Monday, but as Lord
Salisbury and other peers objected he gave way, and the
discussion was fixed for Tuesday. Then it became Lord
Hatherley's duty to maintain a smiling face under diffi-
culties. The law lords on both sides of the House insisted
upon referring the Bankruptcy Bill to a select committee,
and so rendering it almost impossible for the bill to pass
during this session. Their lordships then suspended
their sitting from seven to ten o'clock ; but it
was a quarter past one this morning before Sir
Denis Le Marchant appeared, bringing up the
Irish Church Bill and a message from the Commons.
Lord Granville moved that Lord Dufferin should
take the chair, the Clerk at the table read the message,
and Lord Granville gave notice of his intentions for Tues-
day. This formality occupied only five minutes, and the
few peers who were present then went home.
And now what will be done? Last night the
Conservative Peers were very hot and determined.
They would give way upon two points, the Ulster glebes
and concurrent endowment ; but they would, come what
might, insist upon the postponement of the Appropria-
tion Clause, and upon the expunging of the words in the
preamble which preclude an application of the fund to
ecclesiastical purposes. But having abandoned concurrent
endowment, of what advantage can the latter of
these requirements be to them ? Absolutely none ;
and therefore I doubt much if the Peers will
insist upon this amendment. On the other
hand, after the half-hearted defence of the
Government scheme of appropriation made by Mr.
Bright, and the strong dislike of it manifested by many
Liberal members, it is not improbable that Mr. Gladstone
will yield, and the impression to-day is that he will do so.
It is only an impression, for, of course, no action would
be resolved upon until to-day's Cabinet Council. The
advantages of concession are very great, chief among
them are the passing of the bill and the avoidance of a
collision between the two Houses. Oa the other hand,
the disadvantages are small. There is no need for hurry,
for the fund is not yet in hand, and after the ignominious
fate which concurrent endowment has just met with, in
spite of the support of the Whigs and the Times, there is
no occasion for the Premier to fear that it will ever be re-
vived. It is far snore probable that Mr. Gladstone will
be able to carry out the idea which, I believe, he enter-
tains, of making the fund productive in two ways, viz.,
by lending the principal to Irish tenants, fishermen, and
the like (instead of locking it up in the savings bank), and
by devoting the interest to his old purpose—relief of un-
avoidable calamity. It is possible, but less probable, that
he will accept the motion of which Earl Russell has just
given notice, and appropriate a portion of the fund to
school-buildings and the payment of teachers. I incline
to think that by the middle of the week the crisis will be
over.

Several additional peers have signed the protest against
the Irish Church Bill since the list was published in the
Times. They are the Duke of Northumberland, Lord
Gough, the Earl of Tankerville, the Marquis of West-
meath, the Bishop of Gloucester, Earl Beauchamp, and
Lords De Vesci, Rivers, and Leven. Lord Beauchamp
was one of those who voted for the second reading of the
bill. .

I mentioned in yesterday's letter that it was not im-
probable that one of the first acts of the new Irish Church
body would be to renounce Episcopacy, and to effect a
fusion with the Presbyterians. This statement is con-
firmed by the John Bull to-day. I may add that Dr.
Stephens, the well-known ecclesiastical lawyer, who
caused such deep and just offence to the High Church
party by likening the mixed chalice to grog, is engaged
in drawing up the constitution of the disestablished Church.
He is the Archbishop of Armagh's right hand, and Dr.
Beresford can do nothing without him.

Great dissatisfaction is felt in the City this morning at
the probable shelving of the Bankruptcy Bill until next
year. Business men are angrily asking what is the good
of a House which thus impedes legislation.
It has been decided at headquarters that Lord Cour-
tenay shall not resign his seat for East Devon. His lord-
ship is, I believe, now at Homburg, no doubt merely for
the sake of the waters.

I mentioned some months ago that Sir Henry Bnlwer
was writing a life of Lord Palmerston. Most valuable
assistance has just been placed in his hands by Lady Pal-
merston, in the shape of a diary kept by her husband
from the year 1827. Commencing at that date it would take
in the stormy times which accompanied the formation of
the Canning Ministry, and the secession of Lord Palmer-
ston, Mr. Huskisson, Lord Goderich, and the Marquis of
Lansdowne from the Ministry which the Duke of Welling-
ton formed after Canning's death. The MS. volumes are
written with great precision and neatness.

The author of the pipers in Blackwood on "Army
Reorganisation" is Colonel Sir A. Alison, son of the
historian. The papers are now republished in a
volume. Mr. Wallis, late editor of the Tablet,
is writing the life of his friend the Hon. Charles
Langdale, to whom English Roman Catholics owe so much.
The work will occupy its author two years. Mr. Baring
Gould has written the "Origin and Development of
Religious Belief," and the Rev. Arthur Haddan, " Apos-
tolical Succession in the Church of England." Longman
have just published " Roma Sotteranea," an account of the
catacombs. hv Dr_ SnennPr
Trinity
of 05innit.
Rev. W. R. Brownlow, of runty College, Cambndge.
Punch, which I mentioned in a former letter had been sold
to Mr. Agnew, fetched only £7,ooo—no large sum for a
publication so well known.

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.

The COminons says " Yes," the Lords " No." The
Commons reaffirm their interpretation, and the
Lords have no resource but to accept
the interpretation which the representative body of
the nation upholds. In the case of the commutation
of life interests, the CoMmons have yielded in part to
the Lords, and offered a compromise which, having
been accepted by Dr. Ball, will probably be accepted
also by the Conservative peers. Unfortunately the
compromise suggested- by the Government with
regard to the appropriation of the surplus has not
been so favourably received, and yet as Parliament
will have complete power to revise every application
before it is made, the object which the Lords have in
view is really secured. Thus, the Times bolds that, even
from their own point of view, the Conservatives, of
the Upper House have no good reason for rejecting',
the bill and exposing themselves to the risk that
must arise if they set themselves in opposition to the
national will. The Daily Telegraph admits that the
Government plan of appropriating the money is not
the best possible that might be conceived, but as no
other has been suggested even by the severest critics,
there is no alternative but to accept that which is
offered. The Lords will no doubt see this, and boy►
to circumstances, " for an inability to recognise the
inevitable has never characterised the Peers of
England." The Daily icews does not venture to
pridict what the Lords will do, but only advises
them to submit to the inevitable, and to .pass a bill
which must pass in a few months. The Post, the
Star, and the Advertiser content themselves with the
safe announcement that it remains to be seen what
the Lords will do.

tension of the franchise. -inners proper tnaz some
only of the councillors should be elected by the
direct votes of medical practitioners. The reformers
are numerous as well as active, since a petition signed
by 5,000 persons was presented, and a similar one is
to be laid before the Ministry. A strong compact body
is wanted in which the public might place confidence,
and this would be better attained by a wide extension
of the suffrage than by the elected representatives of
constituencies of twenty or thirty persons.