[Illustration: Admiral Field pinning the Hon. Member to his words.] _Thursday._--Curious to note the coyness with which House approaches real business. To-day Welsh Disestablishment Bill comes on for Second Reading. Its passing this stage a foregone conclusion. The work of criticism, correction, possible re-moulding, will be done in Committee. Committee is the Providence that shapes the ends of Bills, rough hew them how we may in the draughtsman's hands or on the second reading. For all practical purposes second-reading debate might be concluded at to-night's sitting. It extended over seven clear hours. Given twenty minutes per speech, the maximum length for useful purposes, twenty-one members, more than the House cares to hear, might have spoken. The time saved, if necessary, added on to opportunity in Committee. That, however, not the way we do business here. Disestablishment Bill a measure of first importance; must be treated accordingly. So after ASQUITH talks for an hour and a quarter, HICKS-BEACH caps him by speech hour and half long, which nearly empties House. Afterwards a dreary night. Papers on subject read by Members, who rise alternately from either side. Few listen; newspaper reports cruelly curt; nevertheless, it's the thing to do, and will go on through at least four sittings. On last night men whom House want to hear will speak, as they might have spoken on first night. Then the division, and minor Members who have missed their chance will endeavour to work off their paper in Committee. _Business done._--Second reading Welsh Church Disestablishment Bill moved. _Friday._--Shall M.P.'s be paid out of public purse? Dividing to-night 176 say Yes, 158 stern patriots say No. GEORGE CURZON, fresh from the Pamirs and still later from a sick bed, leads opposition. SQUIRE OF MALWOOD is in favour of payment: darkly hints that when the time comes he will find the cash. This, though a little obscure, looks like business. "I expect," said the Member for SARK, "we shall live to see the day when, on Friday afternoons, Palace Yard will be crowded with Members waiting to take their weekly money. Suppose they'll go the whole hog, give us what the navvies call a 'sub,' that is, let us draw in middle of the week something on account. Of course we shall have the full privilege of strikes. We'll 'go out' if we think our wages should be raised. Sure to be some blacklegs who will skulk in by central lobby and offer to do a day's talking on the old terms. But we'll have pickets and all that sort of thing. Sometimes we'll march in a body to Hyde Park, and Baron FERDY will address us from a waggon on the rights of man and the iniquity of underpaying M.P.'s. I see a high old time coming. Shall put in early claim for a secretaryship. Always a good billet."