Mr. Chamberlain's proposal was seconded from the Conservative benches by
a Conservative magistrate, Sir J. Kennaway (M.P. for East Devon), and was opposed by Sir H. Selwin-Ibbetson, the Under-Secretary for the Home Department, on the not very suffi- cient grounds explained elsewhere. Mr. Grant Duff supported Mr. Chamberlain's proposal, arguing that he had at least made out a sufficient case for a new and very instructive moral experi- ment; and after a somewhat desultory discussion, Mr. Chamber- lain's motion was rejected by a majority of 52 (103 to 51), the majority comprehending twenty Liberals, and the minority only three Conservatives'. But Mr. Chamberlain may have much better success next time. He has, at least, made out that the experiment he proposes is,—like the dying Scotch penitent's pro- posal to his Presbyterian minister to try what a handsome gift to the Kirk might do by way of obtaining for him a justifying faith, —an experiment, if not quite of a nature to be guaranteed suc- cess, at least " weel worth trying."
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