The Lords intend to pass the Land-purchase Bill, but they
think it due to themselves to have two days' debate on the second reading, and to threaten some amendments in Com- mittee. The debate opened on Tharsday with a detailed description of the Bill from Lord Cadogan, who of course could say nothing new, though he pressed the incidental advantage of getting rid of dual proprietorship more strongly than has been done in the Lower House. It was continued by the Marquis of Waterford, a great Irish proprietor, who dwelt on the "healing influence " of the Bill, but objected to the clause giving little tenants priority over larger ones ; and by the Duke of Argyll, who defended the English tenure as a most beneficial system of landholding, but said he should vote for the second reading, if only from the hope of getting rid of political corruption in the way of agrarian laws. The Marquis of Londonderry supported the Bill, but he threat- ened amendments to be moved by the Irish Peers, and asked for them the consideration of the Government. The debate, so far as Thursday was concerned, hardly rose to the first rank, the Peers, with the exception of the Duke of Argyll, worrying too much over details ; but this was very probably remedied in the debate of last night, too late for us, when the Premier himself ought to have spoken. The Bill is far more important than any ordinary occurrence in foreign affairs.
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