21 MAY 1887, Page 1

The Crimea Bill drags on at a pace to which

even that of a snail would seem like a flash of lightning. Yesterday week, after three divisions and the rejection of innumerable amendments, the House got from the beginning of the third sub-section of the first clause as far as the beginning of Sub.section 5. Nor was that short sub-section agreed to till after another exhausting sitting on Tuesday night, during which five more divisions were taken. The House bad then considered precisely thirty-seven lines of a Bill which contains over four hundred lines, and had agreed to only the least disputable section of the BilL On Thursday, the consideration of the second clause was commenced, and after a fatiguing sitting, about six lines of the clause had been completed, after five divisions had been taken. Mr. Courtney, who makes the most admirable Chairman, on one occasion administered a severe rebuke to the Ministerialists for their constant interruptions of Irish Members, by which he did himself great credit. The Ministerialists, when they complain of obstruction, are bound not to give provocation which is likely to produce obstruction. Let the Closure be applied as steadily as the Government think right ; but let not the party of law and order set an example of disorder.