There is, then, to be some starring in the provinces,
Punch notwithstanding. The Attorney-General, Sir Robert Collier, is the first member of the Government who has addressed his con- atituents. He told them that this House of Commons was the best he had ever sat in, sincere, patient, business-like, and with one great virtue, continence of tongue. It has worked hard, though the wonderful assiduity of the Premier in working the Irish Church Bill greatly relieved his assistants, and it will have to work hard next year. There is the Land Bill "which Govern- ment is attentively studying," and which will " satisfactorily " solve that problem ; the law of naturalization ; the Patent Law ; the law of trades' unions, education, the game law, and many other subjects, upon which legislation is becoming imperative. Sir R. Collier, of course, was guarded in his reference to the Lords, though he alluded to the divergence between them and the Commons ; but his colleague in the seat, Mr. W. Morrison, was less reticent. He said that wherever he looked he found "himself stopped by the phantom of the House of Lords," and believed the reform of that House sooner or later imperative, a statement greatly cheered, as was a similar remark made by Mr. Mundella at Sheffield. The note having been struck, the "phantom" will, we imagine, be a point in every speech delivered during the recess.
Previous page
