Lord Spencer, in his reply, spoke gratefully of the manifold
help he had received in his work, and with the utmost emphasis of the help of Mr. Trevelyan ; also cordially of Mr. Campbell- Bannerman, and again of Sir R. Hamilton as "that chivalrous, enlightened, and patriotic Under-Secretary," who had so nobly assisted him in his task. He said that of forty capital sentences passed while he was Viceroy, twenty-one were executed and nineteen were commuted, and that in considering his duty with regard to the prerogative of mercy he had always had the patient advice of the three Irish Lord Chancellors of his Vice- royalty, Lord Chancellor Law, Lord Chancellor Sullivan, and . latterly of Lord Chancellor Naish. This was the responsibility he had felt most seriously, but he had regarded the responsibility taken as most serious of all when he interfered with the natural operation of the law, which he could only rightly do when the Secretary of State or the Lord-Lieutenant was clear that there had been a failure of justice. Finally, he spoke with generous enthusiasm of Mr. Gladstone, whom he had always held "in the highest admiration and devotion," and who had so con- sistently and honourably supported him in his difficult task. Lord Spencer sat down amidst loud cheers.
