On Friday week Parliament was prorogued after the Royal Assent
bad been signified in the Lords to the Home Rule and Welsh Church Bills. The King's Speech, which dealt solely with the war, declared that " we are fighting for a worthy purpose, and we shall not lay down our arms until that purpose has been fully achieved." After the reading of the Speech in the Commons Mr. Crooks asked whether the House would be in order in singing " God Save the King." Without waiting for an answer to this startling question, Mr. Crooks, with great spirit, struck up the first bars, and soon the whole House joined heartily in the anthem. Some Liberals afterwards cried " God save Ireland 1 " to which Irish Nation- alists responded " God save England!" Thus one of the most extraordinary Sessions in history ended true to its character.
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