§ SIR JOHN HAYasked the First Lord of the Treasury, What course Her Majesty's Government intend to pursue in consequence of the result of last 248 Tuesday's Division? He always understood that the reply to such a Division as that on the part of the Government was either to resign or to dissolve Parliament.
MR. GLADSTONEWhen I first saw this Question on the Paper it appeared to me, in the first place, to be ambiguous, and, secondly, alarming. It was ambiguous, because I was not at first sight aware to which of the two Divisions which occurred on Tuesday the right hon. and gallant Member referred to. He has been good enough to explain that ambiguity, and I am now left open to the full force of the alarm. I am afraid that the right hon. and gallant Baronet will think me insensible to my Parliamentary duties. If he does think so, of course it is open to the right hon. and gallant Baronet to make any Motion in this House for the purpose of arousing my Colleagues and myself to a more just sense of the obligations of the positions we hold; but at present I have no announcement to make to him on this subject.