21 JULY 1866, Page 2

As the first-fruits of Tory government the Oaths' Bill has

been,

withdrawn, Lord Derby promising that the whole question of official oaths shall be considered during the recess, with an eye, let us hope, to their total abolition. A far more important measure, Mr. Chichester Fortescae's Bill for strengthening Tenant- right, has sharel the same fate, and in fact, as Parliament is to rise about the 8th August, every Bill of any importance may be con- sidered withdrawn. What with Reform and a Government which rules through a minority, and is therefore afraid to open its lips, less will have been accomplished this session than in almost any previous one. Not a Bill of importance has been passed except the wild Act enacting that the owners of cattle shall not, as regards those cattle, be exposed to the ordinary risks of trade,