or zeal in that
direction, and, at the hands of Lord St. Leonards, his proposals
received severe and able animadversion.

The topics in both houses were interesting during the first few weeks
of the session, but only as connected with passing events. There was
nothing done worthy of extended record, nor of particular notice within
the space allotted to these volumes. The question of Jewish disabilities
occupied the attention of members, under the auspices of Lord John
Russell; but a bigoted hostility to the measure pervaded a large
minority in the commons and a large majority of the lords. The leader
of the party opposed to any concession to the Jews was the Earl of
Shaftesbury, who, in a speech mild and impressive in manner, but bigoted
and illogical in matter, succeeded in persuading the lords to throw out
the bill.

The financial plans of the government met with the support of
the commons. Mr. Gladstone introduced the budget in a speech of
extraordinary eloquence, which lasted five hours, and was applauded
throughout by a great majority of the house. There were no original
propositions, no very ingenious contrivances; but the right hon.
gentleman threw around his statements an attraction by his eloquence
which won his audience: like his preceptor, Sir Robert Peel, he proved
himself to be, in the language of Disraeli, "a very great member of
parliament." In the debates which followed, Mr. Gladstone received
several severe defeats from the more advanced liberals on his own side
of the house; but all efforts on the part of the tory and protectionist
section to defeat his proposals, upon their own principles, were
abortive.

INDIA BILL.

The house, the public, the East India Company, and all interested in
the great Eastern dependencies included under the general name of India,
looked forward with anxiety to the bill which it was necessary to pass
in reference to the relations of the country and the East India Company.

On the 3rd of June, Sir Charles Wood, in a speech of five hours'
duration, proposed his plan for the future government of India.*

* See Nolan's "History of the British Empire in India and
the East."

Mr. Bright, in one of his most elaborate parliamentary efforts,
criticised the measure; he eloquently inveighed against the East India
Company, but his information upon subjects connected with India did not
support the influence his parliamentary powers were so calculated to
command