Mr. Henley has made the first speech in the Recess,
but he has not said much on politics. His main point was the Judicature - Act, which he hoped, rather grudgingly, would work ; but he bore -strong testimony to the fact which he thought could not escape the observation of any experienced man, that the population, wealth, and business of Great Britain had completely outrun its judicial power. He was opposed, but not strongly, to legislation on behalf of children in the fields, and decidedly opposed to any ,interference with freedom of contract as between owner and tenant. He believed that with the infinite variety of custom and circum- stances existing in England, such questions could be settled not only mare satisfactorily, but more justly, without general legislation. He wound up a speech rather dull for Mr. Henley with a hit at the House which, he said, had a slap in the face early in the 'Session, and struggled half dead through the remainder of it. It is to be noted that Mr. Henley, a cool student of electioneering tactics, exulted very little in the Tory reaction.
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