The whole sitting on Wednesday was somewhat disorderly ; but
the most important of the scenes was caused by a speech from Mr. Henry Fowler, which covered a very wide amount of ground. Mr. Goschen intervened not to object to this, but to remark that he hoped those who followed Mr. Fowler would be allowed a similar latitude. After speeches by Mr. Murray and General Goldsworthy, Dr. Macgregor moved the Closure ; and this was carried by 281 to 220, and the Clause itself by a majority of 62. Mr. Goschen thereupon moved to report progress as a protest against the Closure being applied before the Opposition had had time to answer Mr. Fowler's very important speech. Mr. Gladstone admitted the prin- ciple that the Closure ought not to be moved directly after a Minister's speech, but urged that two speeches had been made between Mr. Fowler's speech and the Closure. Mr. Mellor then decided that any further discussion on Mr. Goschen's motion was out of order under the rule which allows the Chairman to put to the vote motions to report progress without discussion if he considers such motions are "an abuse of the rules of the House." Mr. Goschen felt this ruling a reproach, and protested that Mr. , Mellor had waived his right to regard the motion as an abuse of the rules by allowing a certain amount of discussion on it. The incident was closed by a speech from Mr. Mellor, in which he denied that be imputed any abuse of the rules to Mr. Goschen, but declared that his action was fully supported by precedents.
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