- Discussions have been raised in `the House of Commons
on the affairs of the Irinian Islands and the British dominions in South -Africa. In the-former, it was With justice alleged on behalf. of -Sir Henry Ward, that heinherited embarrassments from the anoma- lous character'cirour relatibim with the Islands, heightened by the rash leg-Wei-ion: of his predecessor. But there was no explanation orthe extraordinary measures he adopted teinfluence the lasteleo- tions ; Ministers contenting themselves with exposing some minor inaoeuraeies- tad which Mr. Hume, imperfectly informed, and per- haps from a biassed source, had fallen. Sir William Moleswortlei lucid and judicious eipOiition-of 'the state Of affairs at the Gape produced little 'nor% than an admission that Ministers are at their wits-end. The," complication appears, indeed, to defy disentangle- ment. Mr. Gladstone reminded the ,House, that the sum of nearly 800,001. which in the course of twosessions has been voted for theTaffre :wiar. is only the extra expenditure incurred by it. But of this enormous expense neither Parliament nor the public has any right-to eon:Tiara, since it has been' incurred in consequence of their obitinitte refusal to understand or regard the systematic 'mismanagement thatias prevailed at the Cape. Lord lialniesbit eXplatia- of the correspondence that has taken place with Foreign Powe& on the treatment of political re, fugeea is the one redeeming point in the Parliamentary proceed- ings of the week. The ,generous tone of the Foreign Secretary, and his firm assertion Of the hereditary policy of this country to 'afford asylum to all political refugees who do not abuse it; were
very gratifying. -
Thus eloses'the first_division of the session. The greater part of the Estimates has,been voted; the Midget has not yet been opened ; and one Ministry without apparent aim or purpose, beyond the holding o• -of office for self and friends, has been sne- eeeded.by by of precisely the same -character. .
