We do not quite understand what the Irish Members or
their English allies expect to get by obstructing business, but they are certainly doing it. The Ashbourne Act, formally admitted by Mr. Parnell to be good in intention, and already thoroughly debated, has been "discussed "—that is, talked about—all the week, to the stoppage of all pressing business. The amendments moved were all intended either to reduce the loan to be authorised, or to impede the working of the Act, or, in one case, to enable the League to " persuade " tenants not to take advantage of it, by publishing their applications. None of any moment were carried, except one by Mr. Rathbone for- bidding any farmer to benefit by the Act if his farm were worth more than 23,000, a clause supported by the Irish Members because it will vex Ulster ; and another by Mr. Healy, forbidding any demand for rent after the Commis- sioners had assented to the advance. The third reading was at last carried on Thursday by 202 to 141, the Unionists ap- parently not caring, so long as the Bill was carried, to attend the House in order to swell the numbers of the majorities. There are still the Irish Estimates to be carried, and unless the Closure is employed freely, there is no reason why they should not be discussed for a year or two, every Gladstonian and Irishman occupying, say, five minutes on each item. There is no object except annoyance to England in such obstruction, but when Mr. Smith hinted at four days for the Irish Esti- mates, the Irish laughed him to scorn.
