NEWS OF THE WEEK.
PARLIAMENT reassembled after its Easter holyday with few signs of renovated vigour: the Commons met on Monday, and spent PARLIAMENT reassembled after its Easter holyday with few signs of renovated vigour: the Commons met on Monday, and spent
. its first evenings in triffings and minor discussions, not even
"making a jiouse " on Wednesday ; and the Lords met on 'Tuesday only to adjourn till Thursday. The most important fact that appeared in those earlier evenings was, that the new Irish Registration Bill was in a sickly and precarious state. Mr. WYSE asked Ministers to defer its second reading, which stood for last night; professedly, that it might be more maturely considered in Irehitid, and that the Irish Members might have more time to arrive; virtually, the better to prepare for vigorous opposition. Sir ROBERT PEEL assented ; and in doing so, he complained of the disposition to prefer protracted discussions to business, and spoke of " abandoning " measures' in a way that does not augur much obstinacy in pushing the bill this session. The measure is not in- trinsically so valuable as to make its postponement or defeat a matter very deeply to be deplored. But it is one of the bad symptoms—another of the many instances how difficult it is for any party to do any thing in the settlement of Ireland: all parties seem able to defeat each other, none to carry out its own intent.
- 'Nor is Ireland likely to help, while it is animated by the'evil and
foolish spirit apparent in Mr. Wris's motion for returns showing the birthplace of persons in official situations, for the purpose of substantiating the Algal. Irish howl that Irishmen do not receive a fair share of patronage. The case is not at all made out; but the complaint is vicious in principle. National distinctions are the bane of Ireland—the very thing that barbarizes her, begets chronic anarchy, and keeps up national distrust among those who might aid her. Sensible Irishmen would seek every means of expunging or veiling such distinctions ; and Mr. WYSE forgot his own posi- tion when he stooped to the mischievous and degrading complaint. If true, there must be a reason for it : why is it that the Irish can- not seize for themselves a fair share of power and patronage ? Nations, like individuals, may have their faults ; and to individuals, perpetual failure in competition with others would suggest a doubt of some shortcoming, a clear insight into which might afford a clue to cure. Why can little Scotland maintain the struggle with Eng- land, and greater Ireland only complain of failure ? The answer to that question would be of more avail than the returns which Mr. WYSE could not have.
Some tinie ago when Ministers were accused of reducing the
number of Stipendiary Magistrates in Ireland, Sir Janes GRAHAM sharply retorted that Lord FORTESCUB had appointed seven new Magistrates within three months of his resignation ; insinuating that the offices were needless, and merely created to satisfy the demands of patronage. Lord EBRINGTON has vindicated his father; and seems to have made out that the appointments extended over six months, and that they were anything but needless. Obstinate Sir Jamas GRAHAM, and his colleagues, had better have confessed as much, insteacrof justifying a broken-down assertion. A Committee of Supply enabled Colonel SIBTHORP to have a thrust at the Poor-law Commissioners ; whose salary he tried to reduce. What has become of the fire-insurance-duty ? On such occasions, some friend of the Commissioners should utter the words "fire-insurance," and perhaps it might call off the gallant Colonel's attention.
Another little curiosity brought out by the random talk of the Supply Committee, was the fact that no secret-service-money is now used in the Home Office. The amount granted is the same every year ; and Sir ROBERT PEEL has almost said that it is used to pay liabilities incurred in war-time.
Sir Annasw Lana Hav has asked the Commons to ask the Queen to confer some decorations on the surviving officers of the Peninsular war: but he could not persuade the honourable as- , [Lemon EDITION.]
semblage to be the proxy in playing the beggar for praise. Strange, that military officers do not perceive how undignified is the po- sition of him who begs, like Mr. Fainwou'd in Raising the Wind, " to be treated with a little more respect !"
Mr. HUME has renewed his annual motion of a resolution ta admit the public to Westminster Abbey and other national edifices. Sir ROBERT PEEL objected to a resolution which the House had no means of enforcing : but he and everybody else agreed to the principle of the proposition,—everybody except Sir ROBERT Nous, who appears to think that the charge of sixpence at the door of Westminster Abbey is one breakwater against the tide of infidelity. A suggestion was thrown out in the discussion, which is sensible, and deserves practical consideration—the appointment of a Commis- sion to watch over and preserve national monuments. Monuments of the greatest antiquity and interest depend upon the sufferance of individuals : even Stonehenge might be inherited or purchased by some dullard who would think it a wise thing to break up the stones for macadamizing a road across the Druid circle. A Com- mission of the kind might perform other duties, such as those of the Fine Arts Commission, with more now neglected, but very proper to be attended to by a body that could watch over matters of public taste. For the English nation professes to have some taste, though it does not always appear. As the week advanced, both Houses having had a rest on Wed. nesday, deeds might have been looked for: but no—wherrthey once more met on Thursday, negatives still prevailed. The excep- tion was a little bill introduced by an Opposition Peer, Lord CAMPBELL, to enable creditors in England to proceed against their English debtors residing abroad ; a measure which will cast dis- may into some hotels and palaces on the Continent. Even earnest Lord ASHLEY luta suffered his zeal to be mot- tified. His opposition to the Govdrnmene Factory Bill is net so unflinching; and his Ten-hours project is virtually postponed for three years and a half: he stated on Thursday, that he intended to move at the third reading of the bill—not sootier—clauses esta- blishing eleven hours as the maximum of working-time for young persons in factories, (not women,) until October 1847; and after that the limit to be ten hours : in short, he is to pass to his Ten- hours measure through an Eleven-hours Bill, which is to last for three years and a half. Ministers are as much pledged against eleven hours as against ten hours; and the retrograde position takea up by Lord ASHLEY is not likelito procure hint any bolder support, but the reverse. The Ten-hours project, therefore, may be looked upon as shelved for this session ; and the larger ques- tion of "Laissez-faire" may profit by the deliberation of the recess.
One great want, felt on all sides, is correct and authentic statis- tical information respecting the extent, state, and productiveness of agriculture ; and Mr. MiLsisa GIBSON proposed to supply the want by asking the Sovereign to appoint some official means of collecting the desired information. Mr. GLADSTONE'S reply is calculated to enhance his growing fame for giving inept answers : the thing, he says, is most desirable to be done; but it is "diffi- cult." He mentioned some modes in which it could not be effected : but what then ? You cannot go to Paris through Davis's Straits or the Danish Sound ; but that does not prove that if it were desirable to go to Paris a way could not be devised. All Mr. GLansrortz's answers depend upon forgetting the maxim that "where there 's a will there's a way." Mr. Ginsox has perforce left the matter in the hands of Ministers : Mr. GLADSTONE is thoroughly convinced that it ought to be done—" anxious to do it"—" wishes it every success "; only he thinks it impossible !
In such a temper has Parliament resumed its functions. With a world of work before it, it contents itself with abundant chatter about its tasks; but when any party proposes to do anything, all the rest, moved by dogmatic prejudice, envy, or sheer love of ob- struction, prevent it. Ministers give in to. the prevailing mood ; they even take a lead in the labour of frustration ; and are fast emulating the efforts of their predecessors to earn the title of "Do- nothing."
