The Air-Force Bill passed through Committee in one sitting.  The credit for this achievement may be divided equally between Major BAIRD, who proved himself once more a skilful pilot, and Mr. BILLING, who spoke so often that other intending critics got little chance.  Counting speeches and interruptions, I find from the official reports that he addressed the House exactly one hundred times; and it is therefore worth noticing that his last words were, “This is what you call muzzling the House of Commons.”

Thursday, November 15th.—­Lord WIMBORNE did his best to-night to defend the inaction of the Irish Executive in the face of the Sinn Fein menace.  But he would have been wiser not to have adduced the argument that Ireland was a terra incognita.  If there is one subject that the Peers think they know all about it is the sister-island.  Lord CURZON thought it would be a mistake, by enforcing “a superficial quiet,” to check the wholesome influences brought into being by the Convention.  He did not go so far as to say that Mr. DE VALERA was one of them.

At last the Government have decided to take short order with the pernicious literature of the Pacifists.  In future all such documents are to be submitted to the Press Bureau before publication.  A howl of derisive laughter greeted the HOME SECRETARY’S announcement, but when Mr. SNOWDEN essayed to move the adjournment, although he and his friends were joined by some of the Scotch and Irish malcontents, the total muster was only thirty-three, and the motion accordingly came to earth with a thud.

By a large majority the House refused to reinstate the Livery franchise in the City of London.  In any case this ancient privilege could not long have survived the curtailment of the Lord Mayor’s Feast.

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[Illustration:  The Colonel.  “I’D TAKE ALL THOSE MUTINOUS HOUNDS AND PUT ’EM AGAINST THE WALL.”

Aunt Jane.  “BUT, MY DEAR, THE AWFUL THING IS THAT IT HAS SPREAD TO OUR OWN ARMY.  I HEARD TWO SOLDIERS IN THE TRAIN TO-DAY TALKING ABOUT THEIR SERGEANT-MAJOR IN A DREADFUL WAY.”]

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BOON FOR BUSY BRIDEGROOMS.

In these days of military hustle, when a soldier comes home, falls in love, gets engaged, marries, sets up a home, and returns to the Front in less than a week, there is little time for the ordinary courtesies of matrimonial procedure.  It is felt, therefore, that the appended printed form of thanks for wedding presents—­based on the model of the Field Service Postcard—­will prove a great boon to all soldiers who meditate matrimony during short leave.  It will be found sufficient merely to strike out inappropriate words in the printed form, which is as follows:—­