NEWS OF THE WEEK.
'Tim most curious feature of the proceedings in the House of Com- mons when it reopened after the Whitsun recess, was the assump- tion Of the functions of Opposition leader by Sir James Graham, -vice Lord John Russell, resigned. It was lifir James who put Ministers to the queithin 'on their intentions respecting the busi- ness of the session; placing before the House a clear and masterly classified enumeration of the measures in hand, weighing their comparative importance and urgency, and indicating what ought to be carried through and what might best be postponed. Again it was Sir James ivhii took the lead ni exposing the suspicions lack hf meaning in the vague professions of a Ministerial desire to ." modify" the National system of Education in Ireland. Lord John contented himself with following in the wake of Six James ; -offering only a few remarks onthe peculiarities of the motion for inquiry intolifay.liooth, and remaining 'silent throughout the re- mainder •of the night. • • . - • • . - 'The Chancellor of the Exchequer remonstrated earnestly, almost pathetically, with the Opposition, oh the obstacles that impede the winding-up. He also came to the relief of the luckless Home 'Secretary, by putting a 1? ap to a disinission-on Irish National
Education into whielf ,Walpole.had' unwarily allowed himself" to be drawn. There something piquant in the success with ;which Mr. Disraeli co' dvates the deoorums and reserves of Minis- terial leadership, an the skill with which he has turned against his adversaries the charge of postponing by unnecessary delays the appeal to the country, for which they professed' to be so anxious when the new Ministry entered office. Considerable progress was made with the Miscellaneous Esti- mates in the Committee of Supply ; Mr. Williams, with gallant recklessnese *uttering Objections to every item and other gentlemen confining the '
themselves tO such modest requests as a little additional gravel for the Bird-cage Walk, or jokes about the unhorsing of a brother Member in Rotten Row. The Estimates, thus leniently dealt with, were also fortunate in the guardian care of their na- tural and adoptive parents ; the late . and the present Ministers rivalling each other in eagerness to explain and defend them. Only one discussion of moment was incidentally raised—that relating to the intentions of Ministers respecting the system of National Edu- cation in Ireland. --It might have been damaging to Ministers on account of Mi. Walpole's vague intimations of a desire to "modify," had not an Irish quarrel been got up by Members from the sister ialandinid Mr. Disraeli had the tact to terminate the de- bate, by a peremptory declaration, that whatever measures Go- vernment saw fit to adopt with referenee to this matter would be regularly introduced, not intimated by a sidewind in a debate on Supply. ..
The Common Law Procedure and the Master in Chancery Abo- lition Bills have. both Passed the second reading. Complaints are
made of omission's in the ; and also that it leaves too much to the good distiositions-of the chancellor. The prevalent impres- sion, however' aypesre to be in favour of accepting the measure with all its slorteonlings. At the very least, it empowers the Chancellor to' do some good, and does not enable him to do any
