The Annual Register

The Irish Church Bill in the House of Lords—Mr. Bright's Letter to his con-
stituents-Offence taken at his reflections on the House of Lords-Great
Debate on the Second Reading of the Bill-Remarkable display of eloquence

[23

on both sides-The Second Reading is carried by a majority of 33-Expla-

nations on the subject of Mr. Bright's Letter by Earl Granville and

Mr. Gladstone-The Irish Church Bill in Committee-Important Amend-

ments moved and carried against the Government-The Bill is read a third

time-Protest of Lord Derby and others against the Bill-It is returned to

the House of Commons-Mr. Gladstone moves and carries resolutions to

disagree with all the principal Amendments-The Bill is again sent to the

Lords, but the Government is again defeated-Earl Granville requests time

to consult his Colleagues-Conference between Earl Granville and Lord

Cairns-Results in a Compromise-The Bill again altered to give effect to

the understanding between the two Parties, and returned to the Commons

-Mr. Gladstone moves the adoption of the Amendments as now settled--

The Bill is passed, and receives the Royal Assent on 26th July-Remarks

on its character and history.

PAGE

[69

CHAPTER IV.

Finance Mr. Lowe's first Financial Statement-Novel and ingenious cha-

racter of his scheme for readjusting the Assessed Taxes-Favourable recep-

tion of the Budget-The Government propositions are adopted and the Bill

passed-Expenses of the Abyssinian Expedition-Select Committee on-

Military and Naval Estimates-Great reductions in the Votes-Debates in

both Houses on the Army-Purchase of the Telegraphs by the Government

-East Indian Finance-Statements on, by the Duke of Argyll in the House

of Lords, and Mr. Grant Duff in the House of Commons-Coinage-Con-

troversy on the Seignorage question

[120

CHAPTER V.

Education-The Endowed Schools Bill-Its objects and character-Modified

in a Select Committee-Debates on the Measure in the House of Lords-

The Bill passed-University Tests Abolition Bill-Read a third time in the

House of Commons, but is rejected by the House of Lords-Mr. Fawcett's

Resolution on Fellowships and Scholarships in Trinity College, Dublin-

The Annual Education Vote for Great Britain-Debates in both Houses on

National Education-The Scotch Education Bill passed by the House of

Lords-Is amended by the House of Commons-The House of Lords on its

being returned reject the Bill-State of the Episcopal Bench in England-

Lord Lyttelton's Bill for the increase of the Episcopate rejected by a large

majority-Bill for providing for the Retirement of incapacitated holders of

Sees passed-Resignation of Bishops-Illness of the Primate

[147

CHAPTER VI.

Miscellaneous Measures-The Bankruptcy Bill meets with general approval
in the House of Commons-Referred to a Select Committee of the House of
Lords, and finally passed-Habitual Criminals Bill-Legislation on Trades

Unions Provisional Measure to protect the Funds of Unions-Life Peerages

-Earl Russell's Bill-Earl Grey's Bill to alter the mode of Electing Scotch

and Irish Representative Peers-Protection of Property of Married Women

-Mr. Locke-King's Bill to alter the Law of Inheritance to Real Property-

Marriage with Deceased Wife's Sister-The Permissive Bill restricting the

Sale of Liquors thrown out by a great majority-The incident of the Mayor

of Cork-Foreign and Colonial Policy-The Alabama" Controversy-

Rejection of the Reverdy Johnson Treaty-Debates in both Houses on

Imperial Policy towards New Zealand-Prorogation of Parliament-Her

Majesty's Speech-Retrospect of the Session and of the principal events of

the Year-Serious increase of disturbance and disaffection in Ireland-

Strengthening of the Military Force in Ireland-Review of the Commercial