§ MR. J. N. RICHARDSONsaid, he wished to ask the Prime Minister a Question of which he had given him private Notice—Whether, in view of the deputation to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland on Thursday last upon the subject of the Sunday Closing (Ireland) Bill, 1524 he would state to the House the course which Her Majesty's Government had decided to take in reference to that measure?
MR. GLADSTONESir, the course which the Government have felt it their duty to adopt has been described by me in a communication to the House. We have not felt that we should be justified, in the present state of Business, in asking the House to proceed with this Bill. But I do not hesitate to say that we arrived at that decision with great regret, in view of the circumstances which, in our estimation, were of overpowering necessity; and it certainly would be a still greater disappointment to us if that decision involved the sacrifice of the measure. If we are responsible at the opening of next Session for the conduct of Business, we shall take an early opportunity of asking the decision of the House on the question.