24 JULY 1869, Page 2

There was a good deal of desertion from the Government

on the division yesterday week as to the Surplus Clause,—the majority being only 72. Among the deserters were Mr. Fawcett, Sir C. Dilke, Mr. McCullagh Torrens, Mr. Morrison, and others, in all fifteen Liberals. Nor was this the total desertion, for 35 Liberals were absent against only 18 absent Conservatives. But it was clear that there was no sort of agreement amongst the dissentient Liberals as to any substitute for the appropriation of the surplus. Some of the speeches looked rather like an ostentation of inde- pendence.