Mr. Disraeli last week declined to withdraw any Government Bills
except the Merchant Shipping Bill. This week the country has compelled him to find a substitute for that, and his lieutenants have taken advantage of their opportunity to withdraw Bills in every direction. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has withdrawn his Public Works Loans Bill and his Savings' Banks Bill, and so left the Commissioners of the National Debt to increase their deficit for one more year. He has, from want of courage, failed in a simple matter, which he ought from the first to have thoroughly understood. The President of the Local Government Board has announced that the Pollution of Rivers Bill will disappear, and Mr. Cross has withdrawn the Bill for Punishing Offences against the Person. These are three of the main Bills of the Session, and the last in particular was desired by a majority of the House, and promised as a " practical measure " to the country, but the Ministers now really care about nothing but getting through the remainder of the Session. They would withdraw all their Bills if they could, the Agricultural Holdings Bill included, but that the Duke of Richmond sticks by his pet project, and insists that it will prove popular.
