It is easy to make good resolutions; the difficulty lies
in keep- ing them. The House of Commons broke up for the usual Easter holydays with a virtuous determination to set vigorously to work as soon as the recess was over, though all the world was to be at play around them. But they have found this as impossible as it is for a schoolboy to sit conning his task when he hears his playfelloNvs at cricket in the field below his window. Though it did meet on Ifonday, the House adjourned early, after negativing without a division, and. almost without a debate, Mr. Spooner's motion against the Tn6ome-fax. On Tuesday, after giving Sir , George Grey leave to bring in a bill for the better supple of the
[LATEST EDITION.]
Metropolis with water,—which bill he says has been prepared, though he admits that he may yet have to change the first part of it entirely, and finds it convenient to postpone explanation of the second,—Mr. Ewart rose to make a motion against death punishment; and the House, as a matter of course, was counted out. On Wednesday, some private bills were advanced a stage; and Lord John Russell, apropos of the St. Alban's election,de- clared that "his experience led him to the conclusion" that large constituencies are as open to bribes as small ones. Members pleaded hard for a whole holyday on Thursday, but Lord John was inexorable : he insisted upon their meeting to discuss his Jew Bill, though he consented to postpone the usual time of meeting for a couple of hours. The House met accordingly at six o'clock, but with no good-will to work : this was evinced by a lan- guid and desultory debate, terminating in a majority of only 25 or the second reading of the bill,—a great falling-off from the majority of last session.
