Sir William Harcourt's Budget on Thursday was preceded by a
curious little passage. at-arms between Mr. Lewis (M.P. for Derry) and the Irish Secretary, in which Mr. Lewis did not come off with flying colours. Mr. Lewis complained of the delay in the renewal of the Arms Act, on the ground that, having regard to the serious danger, under certain contingencies, of outbursts of disorder in Ireland, delay of this kind was most dangerous. Mr. Morley replied that he was most anxious to consult with his colleagues in Ireland as to the modifications which might be desirable in the Act, but that time had not yet been found, and that the Act was chiefly useful, not for the repression of outrage, but for " preventing large bodies of armed men in the North of Ireland coming together." The stress on the word North was vehemently cheered by the Home-rulers ; and their delight was expressed in such shrieks of laughter as the House of Commons has rarely heard, when Mr. Johnston, the Member for South Belfast, rising in his place, gave notice that on the motion for the renewal of the Arms Act, he would move its rejection.
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