The ietctond rending of-Lord Stanley's Indian Loan Bill passed 'Witt
ibtotr'en series of essays on the finance and economics of India,—a dissertation conspicuous for want of perfect mastery of the subject, especially amongst some whom we might have ex- pected to be scholars in it. There is, however, a growing agree- =ment, because there is a growing intelligence, on the greatest fact of aTh—that if the resources of India be duly cultivated, India and :England will both benefit incalculably.
• There has been some Parliamentary action of a minor sort. Lord Bury's motion respecting the Newfoundland Fisheries points to a subject that may become serious between France and Eng- land_ and her colony. The colonists affirm that the French position is an aggressive one : we have yet to learn the real stato of the treaties. Captain Vivian's Committee on the organi- zation of the Military Departments is not appointed before it is required ; for we have not yet found the proper relative positions of the War Office and the Horse Guards. Mr. Hankey's motion respecting Savings Banks raised an interesting discussion, point- ing to an improved management of our unfunded debt.
Notices of amendment on the motion for the second reading of the Reform Bill have been given, but, coming from both sides of the House, they are compensating in their force ; and it is evi- dent not only that "a door has been opened" to Ministers for retreat from the untenable part of their position, but that they may widen the said door. Lord John has announced a resolu- tion against the freeholder disfranchisement and the omission to provide for a greater extension of the suffrage in cities and.bo- roughs. The disfranchising of the freeholders was also attacked by a notice from Mr. Miles, who will move to retain the rights of freeholders in cities and boroughs to vote for counties ; while Mr. Arthur Mills gave a notice somewhat different in terms and effect, but in the same direction. Already, therefore, we see some of the points on which the contest of the 21st will turn, with a glimpse of the way in which the difference between the two sides of the House may to a certain extent be neutralized.
