NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE penultimate week of the session has been characterized by the usual multifariousness of the remainder measures to be poked away somehow,—hurried forward, set aside, deferred till next session, and so forth ; with bits of irrelevant debate intervening, in order to discharge the consciences of retiring Members, or act as an election-puff for those who are to stand again. Ministers have added to the number of their concessions. The Thames Conservancy Bill is given up, because it is "so much opposed." The Wellington Statue is to remain where it is, be- cause Lord Brougham roared at the Ministers : he "dared" them to remove the statue ; which was, of course, conclusive. One of the most independent and unexpected movements was Mr. Horsman's resolution in favour of Church-extension. He moved it as an amendment on the second reading of the bill to create the Bishopric of Manchester, and explained his object in a speech of spirit and ability. He complained that the Eccle- siastical Commissioners devoted too much of the funds at their disposal to the episcopal class, neglecting to strengthen the working clergy ; and instead of creating new bishoprics, he woad create or revive the class of Suffragan Bishops, in con- siderable number ; providing for them by an appropriation of ca- thedral funds. The proposal was dismissed by Sir George Grey with a sneer : but surely it has at least the aspect of being more effectual for its professed object than the less comprehensive bit- by-bit plan of Ministers. The extension of clergy and churches involves an increase in the machinery of supervision; but no in- crease is needed either to the wealth and dignity of the episcopal class or to the number of Spiritual Peers. Mr. Horsman's plan would provide what is wanted without making any encroach- ment on the public. It is staved-off for the present; but there are many signs that a plan of such a nature will before long be practically entertained.
Next day, on the motion to go into Committee on the bill, a greater sensation was created by the demonstration of Sir James Graham against the measure, and against any increase to the number of Bishops. Sir James would increase the num- ber of the working clergy, and of church-seats free to the poor ; he will assent to the bishopric of Manchester, as a thing now unavoidable ; but there he takes his stand, with a sturdiness that threatens to be very perilous for Ministers. Lord Brougham has moved two sets of resolutions ; one relating to the business of Parliament, the other to its constitution. The former set declared that the Lords would be willing to receive from the Commons certain classes of unopposed measures more in the lump, and also to receive messages attended by fewer Members than has heretofore been usual—live instead of eight. It is amu- sing to see the importance still attached to these small matters of punctilio ; the Peers especially, like all ancient personages who are losing power, being very tenacious of the outward signs of dignity. The Peers solemnly adopted Lord Brougham's resolu- tions; and they were gravely communicated to the Commons. The other set of resolutions was a sort of warning, that Parlia- ment would take measures to punish any bribery or corruption perpetrated at the election now looming upon us. The resolutions were open to Lord Lansdowne's objection, that they would pledge the Peers to some ulterior proceeding unknown. It might also be objected that they were a mere threat of enforcing measures which are already in themselves an inoperative threat. The re- solutions were negatived ; but, from a short conversation between Lord Brougham and Lord Lansdowne, it appears that something may yet be done. This session ? We do not see why not. To render bribery impossible may be as difficult as to render any other crime impossible ; but the strongest position against it would be, not to attack the miserable individual who is bought, with prosecutions for bribery, but to go at once against him who profits by the collective bribery—the particular Member. Most gentlemen would be deterred from taking advantage of it, if some searching declaration were exacted from each on his admission to the House, and if no statute of limitations barred the petition against his return to a very inadequate time. Bribery and corrup- tion do not constitute a mere flaw in the formal return, but actually vitiate the right to a seat so long as that seat is held by favour of the corrupt votes. Among the most extraordinary sallies has been an outburst of Irish repudiation by Lord Clements. He declares it "a cruel in- justice to attempt to recover the payment of a single shilling of the loan which has been advanced" to Ireland ; even if Go- vernment were to try to enforce payment "at the point of the bayonet," they would fail to extort the money ; Ireland could as soon repay it as "a beggar in the street "; and against the measure to exact payment (arranged to be in the gentlest possible manner) he protested, as "cruelty and hardheartedness." Lord Clements seemed to be perfectly in earnest : his speeches had no appearance of being a mere electioneering demonstration,' and from something which he said about the last time of his being heard in the House, it is to be inferred that he is independent of elective favours. His display therefore was genuine, and is a real specimen of Irish feeling. We make no doubt but that op- posite feelings also obtain in Ireland, as Mr. Hamilton begged the House to believe; but Lord Clements evidently represents the popular sentiment—that of the sturdy beggar, who regards charity as a rig-ht, enforced payment of debts as robbery. New Zealand affairs afforded the opportunity for another exhi- bition. Government, it is known, have concluded to repair the evils of past misrule, as far as may be, by help of a subsidy to the New Zealand Company : nobody really objected to the plan but justice to New Zealand implies also condign censure of Lord Stanley ; wherefore out came Lord George Bentinck and Mr. Dis- raeli with some random disparagements, which had the double advantage of being levelled at Lord Stanley's old antagonist the Company and at the two gentlemen's present antagonists the Ministers.
