Parliament had its last regular " shindy " for the
session yester- day week,—the last of a long series. It was, of course, on that mysterious Cattle Markets Bill, the rights and wrongs of which have been hardly fathomable by human sagacity. Mr. Jacob Bright, who has been one of its steadiest opponents, moved, on Friday night, that the House, on its rising, should adjourn till Monday, arguing that as the important business of the session was over, the fatigue of a Saturday's sitting was not necessary. The motion, however, was, no doubt, made in order to diminish the chances of the Cattle Markets Bill. Mr. Milner Gibson seconded Mr. Jacob Bright, and Mr. Disraeli straightway fell foul of Mr. Milner Gibson, intimating that if Mr. Jacob Bright had been long enough in the Commons to understand its rules, he would have done something to "forfeit its respect and considera- tion" by his motion ; and by implication, that Mr. Milner Gibson, who had, of course, been long enough in the House, had done so by seconding the motion. Thereupon, Mr. Milner Gibson and Mr. Hardy went at it hammer and tongs, Mr. Hardy sneering at "the honesty and candour of the right honourable gentleman," and charging his party with "factious opposition" to the Bill. The Speaker had to interfere to ask the House "at the commencement of its sitting" [the Speaker is modest in his expectations] "to conduct itself with more moderation," and declared the motion quite in order. Then Major Parker accused the Ex-Miniater (Mr. Milner Gibson) of resorting to a "contemptible course," and the Speaker interfered again. Altogether, the House behaved exactly like a demoralized school. There was, in the end, a hot discussion on the Cattle Markets Bill ; and then, at last, at half- past three on Saturday morning, the Government gave in, an- nounced the necessity of withdrawing the Cattle Markets Bill, and the last Parliamentary scuffle of a scuffling Parliament, and a ferociously scuffling session, was over.
