§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORI beg to give Notice that on Monday next, at half-past 4 o'clock, I shall move that the state of Public Business is no longer urgent.
§ MR. PARNELLI wish to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, What will 335 be the course of Public Business on Monday?
MR. GLADSTONE, in reply, said, that the Peace Preservation (Ireland) Bill would be proceeded with on Monday.
§ MR. CALLANsaid, it would be a great satisfaction to the country if the right hon. Gentleman could hint to the Irish Members when it was probable that the Land Bill would be brought in.
MR. GLADSTONESir, in an answer to a similar Question a short time ago, I, no doubt, hinted to the effect that I would make a statement with regard to the general course of Public Business, and accompanied that with a hope that we might be able before long to discuss the Land Bill. I have been cherishing that hope for many weeks, almost from day to day; but it has been intercepted and postponed in consequence of proceedings for which I really think we are not responsible. Hon. Members may depend upon it that the Government are most anxious, and are sensible of the great public advantage which will attend the making known of its intentions with regard to the Irish Land Question. We will lose no time in bringing the measure before the House; but, in the present state of affairs, it would be idle for me to hold out any hope as to the time when we shall be able to do so, unless we can see our way to measures which are immediately and absolutely necessary.