NEWS OF THE WEEK.
MR. GLADSTONE must be longing for a Dissolution. His Cabinet, as is evident from the proceedings reported below, though itself fairly moderate, except about Home-rule, is -feeling day by day the weakness of its majority, which leaves -it exposed to pressure on the one hand from the Irish, and on 'the other from the fanatic section of the Radicals. The former will not bear ,even verbal alterations in their compact with the Ministry, while the latter are crazy to get some Radical measures passed this Session, lest at a Dissolution -they should be overthrown. Mr. Gladstone has therefore on one hand to argue fiercely against amendments which be afterwards accepts, and on the other to agree to schemes for 'suppressing debate which he regards with doubt or disap- proval. He must be sighing for a free hand, which be can of ,course only obtain by asking a larger majority from the .country. He may not yield to this desire while his followers still cling to him, but if any section revolts—and two sections at least are vexed and disquieted—we suspect he would Spring with alacrity on his opportunity. The use of the 'prerogative, it should be remembered, rests mainly with the Premier, who in such matters, as in the distribution of honours and in the apportionment of the higher patronage, alone represents the Sovereign.
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