in the Statute Book, and I hope
will help us at the General Election. But as far as practical use
goes, I have sometimes laughed when I look round the Committee and
see Members seriously discussing the thing. Just before the Bill was
printed, Prince ARTHUR asked me when I proposed the Act should come
into operation. 'When are you going to have the General Election?' I
asked, by way of reply. Prince ARTHUR said he couldn't exactly tell
at the moment. 'Very well,' I said; 'let us put it this way. If you're
going to dissolve at the end of June, the Act may as well come into
operation as soon as it receives Royal Assent. But if you postpone
Election over Autumn, better fix date for Act coming into force on the
first of January. 'What d'you mean?' asked ARTHUR. 'I mean just this.
If this Bill's to help us at the General Election, we mustn't give
time for people to find it out.' 'Um!' said ARTHUR, and he can put a
good deal of meaning into the observation."

_Business done._--Small Holdings Bill in Committee.

[Illustration: Admiral Jeremiah Field.]

_Thursday._--Admiral JEREMIAH FIELD pacing quarter-deck, uttering
lamentations over collapse of the Eastbourne stand against the
Salvationists. Bill amending Eastbourne Improvement Act up for
Third Reading. JEREMIAH had proposed to introduce Clause enabling
inhabitants of town to protect themselves against the Sabbath
incursions of a mob in red waistcoats and poke bonnets, with drums,
trumpets also, and shawms. Evidently no use; so the Admiral lowered
his topsails, pulled taut his lee scuppers, and sheered off. "We're
living in flabby times," he complained to sympathetic House.

He heaved one sigh, then he hove-to, and Bill read Third Time.

Truth of Admiral's remark about living in flabby times proved through
rest of Sitting. "Don't," said GEORGE TREVELYAN, yesterday, speaking
about RUSSELL's Amendment on Plurality of Vote Bill--"don't drag this
ghost of a dead red-herring across the path." Only the imagination
of genius could conjure up this terrible vision. Realised it to-night
when Irish Local Government Bill took the floor, and asked to be read
a Second Time. Thought it was as dead as a herring, red or otherwise;
but here's its ghost filling House with gloom. Promise of several
days' cheerful conversation. SEXTON promptly turned on flood of
everlasting talk, hopelessly swamping place to begin with. Here's
a Bill no one believes Government seriously intend to proceed wit