§ MR. DISRAELIIn rising, Sir, to move that the House at its rising do adjourn till Thursday, I wish to recall to the recollection of the House that I gave Notice a few days ago of the intention of the Government to propose on Friday a Vote of Thanks to Sir Robert Napier and the Army in Abyssinia. At that time we had received no despatches from Sir Robert Napier, and owing to various circumstances the Government were under the impression that the despatches had been lost. The Notice had already been delayed on this account, but within the last forty-eight hours information has arrived which leads us to believe that these despatches in a few days may reach the Government. It must be obvious to the House that it would be far more convenient and satisfactory that the thanks of the House should be founded on the Despatches of the Commander-in-Chief, and therefore I propose to postpone this Vote until after the holidays. I now move that the House at its rising do adjourn till Thursday.
MR. GLADSTONEThere can be no doubt, Sir, of the judicious nature of the course which the right hon. Gentleman proposes with regard to the Vote of Thanks. But I wish to say one word upon a subject to which a Question put just now referred. I am not surprised that the Government should take time to consider what measures they may have to propose 926 for shortening the period which must intervene before the General Election is held; but I shall be glad to know whether the right hon. Gentleman can tell us when he thinks he will be able to make known the views of the Government on the subject. I wish also to say that an idea has suggested itself to several hon. Gentlemen that it might be well to appoint a Select Committee of the House to inquire into the question. I do not wish to press this suggestion further than to intimate that, if the Government should think it likely to conduce to the satisfactory settlement of the matter, there would be a disposition on the part of hon. Members on this side of the House to welcome such a proposal. The question has already been inquired into by several Members of the House, and a conversation was held on a former night, in which the Solicitor General and the hon. and learned Member (Sir Robert Collier) took part, and which contributed a good deal to elucidate the question. The question is one of a strictly practical character; on both sides of the House the object must be a common one; and the plan I have mentioned might be the best way of arriving at a satisfactory conclusion Time is, of course, of value in the matter, and I should like to know from the right hon. Gentleman when he will be in a condition to communicate the views of the Government on the subject?