Before the importance of the foreign intelligence this week, our
domestic news dwindles to gossip, not of the largest calibre even in that order. The cholera is losing its terrors, except for controversialists. Agricultural meetings are multiplied, without any striking event—except Earl Stanhope's polite and peri- phrastic proclamation that Mr. Disraeli is a humbug and not leader of the Protectionist party. In that case, he is disencum- bered, and we wish him a better service. Financial Reform As- sociations have their meetings here and there, with immense sen- sation—among the parties concerned. A variety is given to public meetings by the one in London City to protest against in- crease of duties in the Post-office on Sundays,—a proceeding. called forth by the fact that new arrangements are made in the department for a decrease of Sunday duties, together with a smoothing of certain Sunday obstructions to the transit of letters beyond London. The City champions of Sabbath and the working man's holyday unite in refusing to draw a distinction of that kind between results and means-.-they protest against readjust- ments with a view to greater Sunday conveniences, lest the ac- ceptance of the conveniences should hereafter draw on an increase of duties; and the manner of Ministers implies that the expres- sion of public opinion occasions uneasiness in official quarters. Another official proceeding has occasioned serious dissatisfac- tion, but among a very sectional interest. file hop-growers have asked for a postponestuartand pactial.remission of IleAwl due far 1848 and '49: but Sir Charles Wood has declined to do more than grant a very partial postponement. file hoptrade is in almost ano- malous condition : plenty alwaysinjures thelv'hole trade ; general dearth also injures it ; but sometimes a partial dearth brings enormous profits to a few. Although it is "protected" against foreign competition, the trade, it seems, is threatened with a fatal atrophy ; so that it will probably be extinct before long.
The landlords and tenants of Ireland continue, in many dis- tricts, their war for the crops : on the side of the landlords are law, constabulary, and troops ; on that of the tenants, an exten- sive conspiracy to bring help from a distance. The tenant cele- brates rent-day by a raid on his own farm ; and the landlord re- sorts to foraging-parties which scour his own estates. Such is the season at which Mr. John O'Connell thinks it expedient and profitable to renew the stupid old Repeal agitation !
Queen Victoria has returned to Osborne ; and a journalist of the North celebrates her departure from Scotland with a retro- spect of royal assassinations, enough to make royal blood run cold. However, it seems that all these transactions—quite as horrid as any Bermondsey murder—happened some time ago, and that there was no present sign of any wish to imprison Queen Victoria or shoot Prince Albert. Balmoral is safer than Windsor Park ; a blessed change, which the historical critic ascribes to the growth of a middle class in Scotland, as assuaging the feuds in a land of irresponsible chiefs and subject savages. Possibly so ; only, by the same rule, Constitution Hill ought to be safer than it is.; for surely we have enough middle class in London ?—per- haps we have too much. However, leaving these profound speculations, it may be remarked that Queen Victoria has seen Celtic Scotland in its civilized state, and Celtic Ireland still strug- gling with its savagery ; and if she has come home safe and sound, she has also brought home thoughts that may yet fructify for the benefit of her people.
