There was a grand debate on Ireland on Friday week,
too late for our last issue,—a debate with a consequence. Mr. Maguire moved, in a heavy speech, that " a select committee be appointed to inquire into the laws regulating the relations between land- lord and tenant in Ireland, with a view to their more equitable adjustment." He was seconded by Mr. W. E. Forster, who told the House in substance that he wanted to secure by law in Ireland the benefits secured by custom in England, and warned Lord Palmerston that if he refused inquiry he for one should disown his leadership. The Irish members generally supported the motion, the English members, Mr. Roe- buck excepted, did not really oppose it, the member for Sheffield only repeated his old assertion that the misery of the Irish tenant —who flourishes everywhere except at home—is caused by his own improvidence, and Lord Palmerston gave way. Though a capital 1 sndlord, he is, in idea, squireism personified, but he agreed to a committee of inquiry into the operation of the Acts of 1860, i. e., the so-called Tenant Right Acts. The concession will be warmly received in Ireland, and the change, by rendering the inquiry definite, rather improves it.
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