§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORasked what course was intended to be pursued with the Educational Endowments Bill, seeing that the Act of 1868 expired yesterday; and as the matter was very urgent, and there were nine Notices of Motion on the Paper, whether the Prime Minister did not consider it advisable to take the second reading of the Bill tonight before half-past twelve o'clock?
MR. GLADSTONESir, this Bill is in a peculiar position, inasmuch as present appearances are certainly those of considerable difference of opinion and opposition in regard to it. We are very reluctant, indeed my hon. and learned Friend the Lord Advocate is exceedingly 371 reluctant, to drop the Bill if he thinks he has a reasonable chance of persevering with it. He thinks it a valuable measure, and is very anxious that it should be passed, and we cannot as yet quite form an opinion whether, this Bill relating exclusively to Scotland, the discussion could be confined within such limits as to enable him to persevere with it. Certainly they must reserve it for consideration.