The division showed a worse result for the friends of
the wome,n's franchise than any division since the Parliament of 1868 was summoned, if we except at least the accidental triumph which the Women's franchise Bill had in 1870 in a thin House, —a triumph reversed at once on the motion for going into Com- mittee by a majority of 220 against 94. Since then the num- bers of the friends of women's rights have varied between 143 and 155, while those of their opponents have varied between 222 and 239. This year the majority against it was 87 (239 against 152). Mr. Disraeli and Lord John Manners were the only mem- bers of the Cabinet who voted for the Bill, while Mr. Cross and Mr. Hardy voted against it. On the Liberal side, the weight of ex-official opinion against it was greater ; it is said that Lord Hartington was going to vote against the Bill, but was unfortu- nately shut out. Mr. Bright, Mr. Forster, Mr. Childers, and Mr. Lowe actually voted against the Bill, and only Mr. Stansfeld in its favour.
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