On Friday week (April 17th) the House of Commons dis-
cussed the Irish Estimates, and the question of the Lord- Lieutenancy was raised, Mr. Davitt suggesting that the Lord- Lieutenant and his household should be abolished, and their salaries passed over to the Congested Districts Board. Mr. Gerald Balfour evidently saw the vote attacked with what Dr. Johnson called "frigid equanimity," and plainly let the Irish Members know that if they could agree among themselves to ask for abolition the Government would not say " No." This quickly brought up Mr. T. P. O'Connor, who clearly regards the existence of the Viceroy and his Court as far too precious a grievance to be lightly thrown away, and who declared that he would most vehemently and strongly oppose "any attempt at abolition." We wish, however, that in spite of this the Government would decide to get rid of this wretched "symbol of separation." Now that a portion of the Nationalist Members, as well as almost all the Loyalist Members and Peers—we can only think of Mr. Lecky on the other side—are for abolition, it is absurd for the Ministry to hesitate in making the change—a change long desired by all persons who have been responsible for the government of Ireland. Of course, the abolition should be accompanied by the purchase of a fine country-house for a Royal residence, and the yearly holding of Drawing-rooms in Dublin by some member of the Royal Family.
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