On Tuesday, during the debate on Mr. Maeartney's new clause
for excluding the Irish Members, Mr. Gladstone treated the House to an explanation of his conduct in regard to that question. We must quote his very words; no abstract will do justice to them :—" Undoubtedly I did speak strongly against what appeared to me to be a most formidable diffi- culty attending the retention of the Irish. Members. And then I am taunted with having deviated so much from my original purpose. I have deviated from it to this extent alone. Nothing would have induced me to endeavour to force upon the British people and the Imperial Parliament the retention of the Irish Members with an unlimited vote. We accepted that from the House of Commons, as we accepted the reten- tion of the Irish Members from the country." Here, indeed, is an example of the working of "the House of Commons' nmscience." There was no real right or wrong in the matter. It was simply a case of, " These, gentlemen, are our principles; but if they don't suit, why, they can be changed." Can one conceive Mr. Bright, or even Sir Robert Peel, taking up such an attitude ( n a question of such magnitude P
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