14 MAY 1881, Page 2

On Monday night, after the debate on the Irish Land

Bill had been adjourned, there was a sharp skirmish between the Government and the Opposition, on the question of holding a morning sitting on Tuesday, for the consideration of Sir Henry james's Oaths Bill. Mr. Cavendish Bentinck indulged in some very misleading statistics on the subject of morning sittings, with a view to prove that this Government is taking to that Practice much earlier and much more freely than the late Government ; but he was rolled over by Mr. Gladstone, with a triumphant ease and playfulness which charmed the House of Commons. The test motion for adjournment, however, was only defeated by 202 to 182 votes, a majority not sufficient to war- rant the Government in asking for a morning sitting, especially as the motions for adjournment would have gone on.