§ COLONEL BARTTELOTsaid, he wished to ask the right hon. Gentleman a Question of which he had not given Notice, but which was of great interest to the House. He wished to know on what day they were to commence the fortnight of holiday which was promised at Whitsuntide?
MR. GLADSTONESir, there never was a fortnight promised; but it was promised that the holiday should approximate to a fortnight. All these promises are necessarily contingent, to a certain degree, upon the progress of Public Business, and in the answer I am about to make I shall speak on the assumption—a very simple one, I think—that the proceedings in Committee on the Ballot Bill will be brought to a termination this evening. It may also be convenient that I should refer to the Report on the Bill. It probably will not be the wish of the House to consider the Report so early as Monday next; but we hope it will be practicable to dispose of it on this night week, in which case I should be able on the following Monday to move that the House, at its rising, adjourn until that day fortnight.