§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEasked the Prime Minister whether he could name any day for the resumption of the debate on the Transvaal?
MR. GLADSTONE, in reply, said, that he was not in a position as yet to deal with this subject at all, because, as he had before stated, until the issue was simplified, the matter did not come before them in such a state as that they could have a reasonable expectation of getting through it. He had been in the hope of hearing that some change would take place with regard to the issue to be presented to the House, for a series of issues such as stood on the Paper they were not prepared to deal with by making an arrangement that would interfere with the progress of Government Business. He made that a condition and preliminary to giving a definite answer to the right hon. Gentleman's inquiry. With regard to the Business to-night, the House would understand that they would first proceed with the consideration of the Queen's Message with respect to Lord Alcester and 324 Lord Wolseley, upon which he did not believe that there would be any lengthened discussion. When he proposed the second reading of the Bill on the subject, which he would do on Thursday, then his hon. Friend the Member for Northampton (Mr. Labouchere) would have an opportunity of raising any question he might think proper. After the Queen's Message had been disposed of they would go on with the proposal to refer the Criminal Code Bill to the Standing Committee, and would then proceed with the Patents for Inventions Bill. On Thursday, after the Business already mentioned was disposed of, the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Tax Bill would be taken. As to the second reading of the Affirmation Bill, they wished to propose that that should be taken on that day week.