NEWS OF THE WEEK.
MR. DISRAELI has been playing a curious game with regard to Mr. Fawcett's clause on the Corrupt Practices' Bill throwing the cost of hustings, polling-booths, and other mechanical expenses on the constituency. This clause was adopted in two divisions in the House of Commons this day week (in the Saturday sitting), and on Monday night, Mr. W. E. Forster, groping his way dimly towards Mr. Disraeli's inscrutable purposes, asked whether there was any truth in a rumour that the Government intended to propose its being struck out again. The question was evidently intended only to elicit a denial, but Mr. Disraeli got very angry, called the question "unusual, unparliamentary, and inconvenient," and declined to answer it. Thereupon, Mr. Gladstone asked whether the Government would give fair notice of any alteration they might propose, to which Mr. Disraeli replied almost spite- fully that nothing in his conduct of the business of the House had given any reason to suppose he should attempt a surprise. "I should certainly not propose any but the most routine amend- ment," he added, " without giving due and parliamentary notice of my intention."
