The Sun.
London, England, 1869-07-22 00:00:00

ME? ROPOLITAN GO&VP—Wednesday.

Very heated and excited were the Peers last night.
Some mischievous Mephistopheles, the enemy of an here-
ditary legislature, had put it into the heads of the Conser-
vatives that this was no longer a political, but:a personal,
question, and that at all costs they must reassert their
dignity against that overbearing and disagreeable
Person Mr. Gladstone. Filled with this notion, it
soon became evident that the hope of a compromise,
so fair yesterday morning, was not to be realised, and that
the country would be plunged into the midst of a,ponsti-
tutional crisis because Mr. Gladstone had told the' Peers
that they were up in a balloon. The House was very full.
The ladies mustered in full force, among them was the wife
of the Premier. He was on the steps of the Throne, anctfor
nearly twenty minutes held earnest, and apparently
very friendly, talk with Sir Bounden Palmer.
It was not difficult to guess the subject of it,
for both statesmen had the Irish Church Dill
in their hands, and both referred to it as the conver-
sation went on, Mr. Gladstone seeming to convince L's
friend. More and more animated, acrid, angry, grew the
debate. Earl Grey, " chartered libertine " though he is,
taxed the almost inPxbsustible patience and courtesy of
Enrl .4nville. The Duke of Argyll, never slow to
itre-up, was in a state of red heat. Lord Salis-
bury made perhaps the worst, I mean the moot,
suitable, speech tl,at he could possibly have made. It
was personally insolent to the Premier, and it was
jocose to a degree most unseemly at such a solemn crisis.
Lord Hatherley, a man of most equable temperament, was
roused into extreme indignation. Lord IVinchilsea, the
pigeon-shooters' friend, compared Mr. Gladstone to
Jack Cade. Lord Shaftesbury was one of the few peers
who contrived to maintain a judicial calm, and to warn
the House of the extreme danger it was incurring
by thwarting the will of the nation. No sooner
was the result of the division known than a telegram
announcing it was sent off to the Queen at Osborne,
whither she arrived yesterday; and summonses were issued
for the holding of a Cabinet Council to-day, at the
unusually early hour of eleven o'clock. It is sitting as I
write. Of course the result of it is not officially known ;
but down at the House this morning (it is a morning
sitting to-day), there is no doubt felt as to the
course which Ministers will take. That course will be
announced in both HoEses to-morrow, and it is fully
expected that Lord Grahville will tell the Peers, and Mr.
Gladstone the Commor s, that Parliament will be pro-
rogued at the earliest possible moment, and will be sum-
moned again in the autumn, I presume in November.

This unfortunate collision between the two Houses will
Involve a perfect holocaust of useful measures. The Bank-
ruptcy Bill was doomed from the moment that the Peers
decided to refer it to a select committee. Two minor
measures—the Public Offices Site Bill, and the Trade
Marks Registration Bill—were already set down for with-
drawal, and so the New Law Courts are once more post-
poned sine die. A still more important measure—the
Habitual Criminals Bill—which originated in the
Lords at the beginning of the session, has been
marked for slaughter. In fact, this year, like so
many that have gone before, will be a lest year so far as
social reforms go. High politics are fatal to useful legis-
lation of the non-political class. I suppose it cannot be
helped, but even the mere moneyloss caused to the nation
by these delays must be enormous.
A scene took place just after the meeting of the Com-
mons this morning. Mr. Milbank, M.P. for the North
Riding, rose and asked the Speaker whether there
were any means of obtaining redress for an
insult offered to the Premier in the other
House. The Speaker, of course, told the hon. member
that the Commons had no cognisance of what occurred in
another place, but Mr. Milbank got well cheered, and the
incident chews how rapidly the attitude of the Lower
House towards the Upper is deepening into exasperation.
I believe that Captain Vivian will be named Financial
Under-Secretary to the War Office. He will act as
Mr. Lowe's deputy, and revise the accounts of the de.
partment. The Office very much wished to avoid
such revision, but Mr. Lowe insisted upon having it.
Between Captain Galion and Sir H. Storks there has
long been an irreconcilable feud. It is expected that the
former gentleman will be transferred to the new tele-
graphic department.
All doubt about the great Warwickshire scandal is set
at rest. Again and again have paragraphs appeared-
insp're 1 ap,,. r ntly by those with whom the wish was
father to tire thought—that the case would not be tried.
But this aft,rnoon a formal step was taken in the Divorce
Court, and counsel stated that it was Sir Charles Mor-
daunt's fu'l determination to proceed with the action.
Mr. Jefferson Davis is still resident here, but suffering
from deplorable health. It is doubtful whether he will ever
return to the United States. Should he recruit a little he
will spend the summer in Canada and the winter in the
mild climate of A11,,1,...1,01.

FOREIGN; NOT

THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.

The policy of masterly inactivity is being consistently
carried out. The official a'lvices received by the State
Department at Washington affirm that Mr. Motley, " in
his numerous interviews with the English anthoritiNq, has,
eo far, neither male nor hear.l any reference to the
Alabama Claims."