NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THIS is the winter solstice of the Parliamentary recess. Every public question is at a stand. Old subjects recur, as if to keep their claims in view ; faint rumours of future measures begin to be heard,—many a thought of that kind being fathered by the wish.
The bustle for reopening the Corn-law settlement seems to have died away ; but a few formal agitations prolong a painful activity.
The Tea-duties movement, which appeals more directly to trading interests, obtains more extensive countenance ; and we observe that the skeleton of an organized agitation is establish- ing itself in divers provincial towns. The prospect of any prac- tical result, however, is small. The repeal of the duties would risk a large item of revenue, with a very questionable chance of 'attaining advantages for any class ; • and, to judge by the aspect of newspaper advocacy, we should say that Ministers contemplate Ito interference with the Tea-duties.
On the Short-time-questianddr. &Nuttier and Mr. Ferranti , the standing orators, make up for want of substantial support and 'no- velty of argument by reiteration of former " eloquences," and by extravagance of demeanour. Meanwhile, such actual experiments in "short time" as depression of trade occasions are not very cheerfully taken by the working classes ; and some mills, in which the hours are limited, are deserted by their hands for Other mills where longer hours prevail. The impression that there must be a revision of the Poor-law gains ground : it has reached even the advocates of the existing law, and is combated by none. Such cases as those that come before us this week from Marylebone and Pancras would, were there no other, prevent the feeling from dying out.
On the principle of wishes fathering thoughts, the Leeds Mer- cury declares its belief in a report that Government will advance no general plan of Education. Our belief is directly the reverse: we have reason to conclude that some scheme is in progress, ex- tensive at least in its machinery, and perhaps also in its scope.
* See paper on Tea-duties, from the pen of one of our ablest political econo- mists, in the Supplement to this number of the Spectator, page 1.
