§ MR. NEATEsaid, he hoped the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the House would state whether Ministers intended to proceed with the Parks Bill, or, if not, whether notice would be given of the intention to drop the Order?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERIn moving that the Orders of the Day be postponed until after the notice of Motion for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Representation of the People in Scotland, I beg the House will permit me to make a communication which does not strictly refer to that Motion, but which it may be convenient to the House to make. I have to inform the House that my right hon. Friend (Mr. Walpole), who introduced the Bill referred to by the hon. Member (Mr. Neate), and who would also, if present, have answered the question put by the hon. Member for Kilkenny, has, I regret to say, thought it his duty to resign the seals of the office which he holds. Her Majesty having been graciously pleased to accept that resignation, my right hon. Friend holds those seals only till his successor shall have been appointed. The reason—the sole reason for the resignation of his office by my right hon. Friend is the state of his health, brought about by pressure of public business on a nature which every Member of this House must know is only too sensitive, though I am sure no one appreciates my right hon. Friend the less on account of such a quality. Two months ago my right hon. Friend communicated to me the necessity for this step on his part. He told me the labour of his office was so great, and the efforts he had to make in endeavouring to accomplish it so trying, that it was impossible for him to remain in the post he occupied. My right hon. Friend was deterred from then taking the step which he had determined upon, because he thought his doing so at that critical moment might have been attributed to a want of sympathy on his part with Lord Derby and his Colleagues in the management of the measure they had introduced for the Amendment of the Representation of the People. I may take this opportunity of saying that we had not only sympathy, but the most valuable, the most suggestive, and the most unflinching assistance from my right hon. Friend. Sir, I find it difficult on this occasion to express my own feelings at the loss of so valued a Colleague. Very few who ever sat in this 399 House exceeded my right hon. Friend in general Parliamentary capacity and political knowledge. But the peculiar charm of my right hon. Friend was that he brought to the transaction of public business a kindliness of heart united to a singleness of purpose which mitigated the great difficulties of successfully dealing with important public questions. I am happy to say that the services to the State of my right hon. Friend will not be wholly lost. He will sit on these Benches, and, though not a Minister of the Crown, he will be one of Her Majesty's responsible advisers. When the arrangements consequent on the appointment of my right hon. Friend's successor are completed, hon. Gentlemen who have asked questions on the subject of the Bill for the Public Parks, and with respect to other business in the Department of the Home Secretary, shall receive the information they require. I move the postponement of the Orders of the Day.
§ SIR JOHN GRAYsaid, he wished to remind the right hon. Gentleman that he had not given any reply on the subject of the Fenian prisoner.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERThe new Secretary of State will take the earliest opportunity of giving a reply on a subject of which I am necessarily ignorant.
§ Motion agreed to.