NEWS OF THE WEEK.
ON Thursday, Sir Stafford. Northcote asked for a day on which he might move for his Committee to inquire into the -circumstances attending the release of Mr. Parnell, Mr. Dillon, and Mr. O'Kelly from Kilmainham in April last, which Mr. Gladstone declined to give, first, because he regarded the debate -on Mr. Gorst's amendment to the Address as a debate virtually on that subject, and a victory for the Government; and next, because such a committee would be prejudicial to the adminis- tration of justice under very trying circumstances in Ireland. 'hereupon, Sir S. Northcote replied that, as the Government had now, "for the third time, declined to give any assistance to those who desire to bring forward a motion which had its -origin in a suggestion and• challenge made by the Prime Minister," it would be useless and unnecessary to persevere,— useless because no inquiry could be made effectual without the -concurrence of the Government, and unnecessary because the inferences suggested by the refusal are "obvious, and need no -emphasising on my part." This was meant to hint, we suppose, that Sir S. Northcote regards the Government as having virtually acknowledged that they are guilty of that of which they are accused—namely, concluding a treaty with Mr. Parnell, by which he should agree to support them if they would let thim free,—the only difficulty of which hypothesis is that Mr. Parnell never has supported them ; and that, so far as Parlia- ment is concerned, his release has been productive of much more annoyance than his imprisonment itself. It is hardly ;possible that Sir Stafford Northcote should really believe his -own. insinuations.
