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House of Commons, Monday, 17th of May.—In Committee on Bill for restricting sale of immature spirits; slack attendance; dulness predominant. Champions of The Trade don't like the Bill; responsible Members of Opposition content with offering criticism and making protest. Rees moved amendment reducing period of retention of new spirit in bond from three years to two. Austen Chamberlain, while not hopeful of any great result from operation of the Bill, declared it "impossible to contemplate dividing the House on a question of this kind."

To prevailing dolour Chancellor of the Exchequer appreciably contributed. Generally brisk and cheery, he remained throughout in despondent mood. Understood his original proposal for dealing with Drink question was overruled by Cabinet. Support given to rumour by his description to-night of measure under discussion as "salvage from a wreck, so battered that it could hardly be recognised what part of the vessel it formed."

"I would like," he added, have gone much farther, and still regret it could not be done."

Thereafter, while amendment was discussed, sat in moody silence, a picture of depression that recalled Mrs. Gummidge at her worst.

"He's thinking of the Old 'Un," whispered Prime Minister aside to President of Board of Trade seated on his left.

"What, the drastic scheme we shrank from adopting?"

Premier nodded assent.

Business done.—Immature Spirits (Restriction) Bill passed Committee.

Tuesday.—Talk about reconstruction of Ministry.

Mr. Hogge convinced that something should be done. Looks a ticklish job, but, as he says, firmly approach it and difficulties will dissolve. For full measure of success everything will depend upon selection made, alike in matter of ousting Ministers now in office and picking out men to replace them. Of course Asquith must go. For himself, though something of Radical, Mr. Hogge admits a perhaps natural leaning towards hereditary claims of royalty. Ceteris paribus, or, to put it in frank English, other things being equal, he cannot help thinking that a direct descendant of one of the oldest royal dynasties would (if he could be found, and were disposed to sacrifice personal inclination on the altar of his country) lend to the Premiership added strength in the Cabinet, wider popularity throughout the country. In this connection Mr. Hogge strongly holds the view that the reigning monarchs of to-day are mere mushrooms compared with the line of Og, King of Bashan.

Handel Booth doesn't think there's very much in that. What is rather needed to strengthen the Government in time of national peril is the addition to its ranks of a man of independent character, wide views and the gift of discursive speech.

Mr. King has his own opinions. A man intimately familiar with domestic affairs in territories stretching from China to Peru, who moreover was upon occasion ready to pose a Minister with queries dealing with the minutiæ of domestic matters in country parishes—such a man, he ventures to think, is the sort calculated to raise the Government from the lamentable level toward which it is daily sinking.

"What is really wanted," said By-Your-Leif-Jones, "is a man at the head of affairs capable of subordinating everything to one great purpose. I—and in this matter perhaps I may be said to represent the nation—have no patience with a rum-and-milk policy. Let us have rum or milk."

It is recognised that what Handel last night hailed as "a united Ministry that is coming and will come before long," must be partly recruited from the Benches opposite. In view of this contingency Kinloch Cooke would like it known in the proper quarter that no personal prejudice in favour of one Department of the State or another would stand for a moment in the way of his obedience to the call of duty. Whilst, like the late Lord John Russell, he is prepared to take command of the Channel Fleet at ten minutes' notice, he is equally ready to relieve Lord Kitchener of the burden of responsibility which the War Office imposes.

Sir John Rees would not go so far as that. He holds the opinion that if by chance a man, with whatsoever measure of universal knowledge, superadds a speciality of information in a particular field, it is there he has the fullest opportunity of saving the State. Incidentally, he is reminded that after long secretarial service under successive Governors of Madras he himself was for a brief period Resident in Travancore and Cochin. Lord Crewe may be all