New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-03


only because the Prime Minister bid them. "Why
did he bid themi In the labyrinths of that mind
am lost. The only reasonable conjecture can make
is that he did it in order to give this House slap in
the face" The provisions of the bill he denounced
as malignant and he finally rose to the hight of de-
claring that it is not the verdict of the nation, not
even the verdict of the House of Commons 1T is
the WILL the arrogant WILL of single man to which
you are now called on to submit" Language like
this reused even Lord Granville into something like
indignation, and he went the great length OF re-
buking Lord Salisbury for-whati For choos-
ing an inoppOrtune moment for the indulgence
of his merrimentl To Lord Grey he said with more
spirit that his words were offensive and utterly with
out foundation. Then the serene Lord Chancellor
sailed into the fight and read the wrangling peers
gentle lesson, which nobody minded in the least
His pacific speech produced the widest confusion of
the evening, which subsidized only to permit Lord
Winchelsea--the pigeon-shooting peer-to compare
Mr.. Gladstone to Jack Cade, and avOw his willing
ness to lay his own head on the block; as if any
body cared whether his head were on or off. Lord
Granvilles weak tactics allowed decisive division
to be taken on the weakest point of tho Ministry
the Preamble to the Bill, upon which in the Com
mons their majority had been cut down from l24 to
a. AS was to be expected, in the midst of all this
fire and fury the doubtful men, and the moderate
men, and the prudent men were swept away to-
gether and the Ministers were beaten by IS majority
Still il was no great matter on what point the Lords
chose to resist Lord Granvilles instructions were
to stop the debate on the first adverse vote and re-
port to his chief His doing so took the Opposition
by surprise. They had expected to go on and follow
ing Lord Cairns's lead to indicate what they would
concede by way of compromise, after rejecting the
preamble. Disappointed in this they assumed, and
II - Al,.NA Il, lad OH
had made up his mind TO stand more nonsense.
A Cabinet council was summoned for II o'clock on
the following morning-an hour early enough TO
mean business. Few men doubted that decision
would then be reached to carry out the programme
resolved in case the Lords had rejected the bill
The Liberal journals Of all shades jOined-not so
much in demanding as in taking for granted that
this would be done. II is not known what contrary
influences stood in the way of that natural and
suitable resolution. Lord Granville, it may be con-
jectuTed, pleaded that one more chance should be
given the Lords-a little more rope, as the
phrase was last night Mr.. Gladstone
was probably willing enough TO postpone
for day the ultimate decision. Resolute as he is
when once his mind is made mp, he IS slow in resolv
ing and here was case where a positive determine
ton had to be taken. Day by day it has grown mOre
likely that the fate of the Irish Church might in
sentiment long beating against the Church. has been
turned of late more Enthusiastically against the de-
Tenders of the Church. Outsiders, who look on the
Lords as a relic of feuda asceudency, have been
eager for the actual collision which would overthrow
their political authority. 1t still rests with them
and not with Mr.. Gladstone to postpone the crisis.
Tonight they to decide for after tOnght not
the grave sense of responsibility which weighs upon
the mind of First Minister will hold back Mr. Glad
stone. Let the Lords follow the line Lord Cairns
marked ont on Tuesday and the Ministry will with
draw the bill, summon an Autumn session, and pass
it either through the Lords the Lords fear
they will, after all, be prudent enough TO retreat
while there is yet time
Mr.. Seelys efforts for ocean penny postage have re-
suited in inducing the Department to reconsider the
whole subject. The Post-O Office authorities are not
believe, any more disposed now than formerly TO
concede the alternative rate What Mr. Seely wants
is the option of sending letters at a penny by any
lines which will agree to take them for that price;
leaving people to pay sxpence if they choose for the
swifter serviceif it be swifter But for the eight
years contract with the Cunard Company this might
probably be done Should it be done, however, while
that contract subsists, the Post-Once might find
itself in the peculiar position Of paying 100000
year for carrying letters which the public preferred
10 send and did send, by other lines. Hence it has
conceived the plan OF reducing the rate 10 three
pence and still keeping it uniform Negotiations
have been begun, am told, with the PostOlice De.
partment in Washington with q view TO adopt
ing the new rate. Before they nccede to
this scheme / hope the Washington people
will make stand for the penny system.
Two or three companios-whoso ships are at
least as fast as the Cunard slow cargo boat by which
the Tuesday evening mails are now forwarded from
London-have offered to take letters from Liverpool
to New-York at a penny the ounce. AS the Depart
ment would charge penny the half-ounce, here is
abundant margin for inland postage on both sides
the water. There is absolutely no reason against
the acceptance Of this offer except the contract with
the Cunard and Inman companies. That contract,
however, does not bind the POst-Olice to send all
letters by their ships. Now our Government has not
bound itself by any such absurd and exOrbitant
agreement II is in position to insist on the adOp
ton Of penny rate that is, two cents for each let
ter not exceeding half ounce Only press this fact
on the people on both sides and we shall soon have
cheap ocean postage spite Of contracts and redtape
g. W. s.
TEN DAYS IN LONDON....No. l.
IRON An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT
BADEN BADEN July 1.-THE delicious repOse Of
tins lovely valley, after beng constantly on the
wing for nearly month, is almost too seductive to
be disturbed even by familiar chat with my accus-