, 1875-08-21
EOUS !.
From tie SPECTATOR

time to carry out the provisions of the
Constitutional Law, which orders that the
Senate must be elected a month before
the Dissolution, and that the Assembly
must always assemble in the first week
of February, it is essential that the Recess
should end on an early day in October.
Consequently, NJ. MaIartre, a Monarchist,
proposed to adjourn to November 30, and
the Committee appointed to consider his
proposal suggested the 10th. The Gov
eminent, which is believed to have been
at the bottom of the whole proceeding,
then offered November 4th, and this was
carried by 470 to 1856. The date selected
makes it just possible, if the Government
cannot help itself, for the Dissolution to
be decreed this year; but the Cabinet,
through M. Dufaure, has carefully re-
served its liberty Of action. Its motive
may be to hurry the Budget through or
the Electoral Law without discussion, but
it is more probable that it hopes to take
advantage of some event to defeat the
Constitution altogether. The Liberals are
becoming seriously alarmed, and the ma
jority would seem to have gone to pieces.
It is believed that Mr.. Disraeli has set
tied with his Conservative supporters,
assembled in private caucus, to pAss the
Agricultural Holdings Bill. They hate
it, and the array of amendments is endless,
but the Premier is firm. Indeed, as he
has withdrawn the Merchant Shipping Bill
for its sake, he may be said to be faithful
to his pet Bill "eyen unto staying" The
fight this week has been most bitter on
an amendment suggested by Sir G. Jenkin-
son, who proposed on Tuesday that the
Bill should not extend to any holding in
respect of which a written agreement is
in existence between q landlord and his
tenant at the date of the commencement
of the Act. This proposal would exempt
all holdings under writings of any kind
from the operation of the Bill, and make
its effect almost inappreciabIe. It was
therefore received with favour by both
sides of the House, and although the
amendment was withdrawn, it seems GER
tain that one of a nearly similar character
will be carried before the Bill passes out
~of Committee. Mr.. Henley's statement
that what the majority of English land
lords and tenants wanted was to be let
alone was received with warm cheers, and
o motion by Mr.. Waddy that Clause 5,
settling the tenants title to compensation,
should be postponed, SO irritated Mr..
Disraeli, that he declared he should hold
it fatal to the Bill. As the majority of
Liberals are opposed to the Bill, it is
still probable that it may be talked out.
The Elections in Bavaria have ended in a
small majority for the U-ltramontanes. The
figures are not yet clear, for as telegraph
ed they will not add up, but it is under
stood that the Clericals have a majority of
two or three. Last session there was a
similar majority for the Liberals, but the
latter still profess themselves delighted.
They say they expected worse things, and
that with SO small a majority the Catholics
cannot resist the pressure of the King,
the cities, and the Empire. 1t would
seem to be more true to say that the ma
Jority will not be strong enough to offer
more than a passive resistance to the Gov
eminent, but that passive resistance is Just
what Prince Bismarck will not like. The
King can control the House, because if he
actively interviewed the peasants would re-
tarn his, candidates but the King is the
most wayward of men. He will adhere to
theoEmpire of course, but will he adhere to
Prince Bismarck