§ MR. FAWCETTsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, "Whether he is now able to fix the day for the introduction of the Measure promised by the Government for the abolition of Religious Tests in the Universities and Colleges of Oxford and Cambridge?
MR. GLADSTONESir, I can only repeat the answer I gave a few days ago. There would, in our opinion, be no advantage in introducing a Bill on this subject, although the first stage would be an easy one, until we could see our way to prosecuting it to its ulterior and more important stages. In the present state of Public Business especially, having reference to the Irish Land Bill and the Education Bill, I am compelled to give the same answer.
§ MR. FAWCETTsaid, he wished to know whether there was any prospect of its being introduced before Easter.
MR. GLADSTONEI cannot see any advantage in introducing the Bill before Easter, unless we could propose the second reading very soon afterwards; and until we see what progress has been made with the other measures, I have mentioned, I cannot say anything further on the subject.