The Purchase Bill advances slowly, though no one outside Mr.
Labouchere's group avowedly resists its principle. Mr. J. Morley's amendment, however, postponing the operation of the Bill until County Councils had been created in Ireland, was disposed of on Friday week, being rejected by 247 to 170 ; and on Monday, after an unimportant discussion, Clause 1 was carried by 247 to 126, a majority greatly in excess of any party majority whatever. On Tuesday, indeed, an amend- ment by Mr. Keay making the landlord more responsible for tenants' default in paying the instalments, which was-supported by Mr. Gladstone because the Imperial credit would be too much pledged, was defeated by only 205 to 158. The difference in the majorities is of course due to the fact that the Irish dare not directly stop the Bill, especially as Mr. Parnell supports it, but gladly avail themselves of any indirect means of delaying its success. Considerable alarm is felt as to the slow progress, Supply being in arrear, and Free Education a. thorny subject; but the alarm is needless. The Government has only to state that the House must sit until the Bill is carried or rejected, and opposition will vanish. Not an Irish- man dare go to his constituents as an avowed enemy of the Bill, and the moderate Gladstonians will be only too glad to havethe Land question out of their way. There is no sin- cerity in the opposition, except a sincere desire to embarrass the Cabinet.
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