23 MARCH 1867, Page 3

• The Bill for totally abolishing compulsory Church-Rates was carried

through its second reading on Wednesday, by one of those great majorities which have not been obtained for the last eight years,-76. Both Mr. Gladstone and his son, who is said to be the higher Churchman of the two, voted for the Bill. Mr. Newdegate made a pious but futile effort to charge the Church-Rate absolutely on the land, but his supporters were, as may be supposed, few. The second reading of his Church-Rate Commutation Bill was rejected by a majority of 132,-177 against 45. Mr. Newdegate's enterprises are as gallant, as hopeless, and as dismally persevering as his Spanish prototype's, the cavalier of the long countenance.