30 APRIL 1881, Page 3

Mr. Bright, at the same dinner, was at first full

of reminis- cences, but he also glided into the Laud Bill, which he believed would " steady the price of hind in Ireland," secure the land- lord in his moderate rent, and enable him to live in quiet- ness among his own people. "If you secure the tenant, you secure the landlord." He believed that the land- lords' fears were as ill-founded as in 1845, when all landlords believed themselves ruined, though they were on the threshold of a period which, according to Mr. Caird, added 2300,000,000 to the capital value of the soil, He attributed the present depression of the country, especially in its internal trade, to the loss of £50,000,000 a year, for three continuous years, through bad harvests. He recommended patience to the Liberals, declaring that the Government was working steadily, and reminded them of a remark made by the late Lord Derby to himself,—" If you ever come to be a Minister, you will find. out how difficult it is to do anything that is good,"