We do not understand what is meant by the statement
which appeared in yesterday's Times, that, "owing, it is said, to Mr. Forster's declarations at Bradford against ameudmeuts to the Irish Laud Bill, Mr. Parnell has been informed by several. Members who voted in the minority at the recent meeting of the Home-rule Members, that they will now consider themselves. bound by the majority to abstain from voting for the second reading." Mr. Forster's only reference to amendments, in any of the reports we have read, was in relation to leases already made. On that subject he pointed out the enormous difference between revising contracts not yet made and interfering with those already made, unless, at all events, it could be shown that. they had been virtually compulsory, and. uot free ; but declared that this was a subject for careful discussion in Commattee,and lust one on which, of course, he was in the least in a position to commit Mr. Gladstone. If the rumour be true, the Irish Members who revolted against Mr. Parnell have probably been warned that they must either find or invent an excuse for submitting to Mr. Parnell. For them, at least, real freedom of contract may be considered very doubtful.
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