§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEI wish to put a Question to the Prime Minister—I do not know whether he will have any objection to answer it; but it would be a great convenience to the House if it can be answered—whether he has any opinion as to the course to be taken with respect to the voting on the Motion which stands in my name? I will explain in one moment whore the difficulty lies. I have given Notice of a Motion which I have brought forward, and the hon. Member for Newcastle (Mr. John Morley) has moved to omit my words in order to add other words. The Prime Minister announced that he intended to oppose both the Motion and the Amendment. The Question I have to ask is, whether it is the intention of the Government, in the first instance, to vote for the retention of my words, in order that the House may afterwards pronounce an opinion upon them for or against; or whether they intend to vote in the first instance against the retention of my words, in which case the Amendment of the hon. Member for Newcastle would become the substantive Motion, and might lead to a considerable number of Amendments?
MR. GLADSTONEI think there will be no difficulty in dealing with the Motion of the right hon. Gentleman if the usual course is pursued. The usual course is for a Party giving Notice of a Vote of Censure to abide by it. But I found this morning that there was a second Vote of Censure proceeding from the same Party and the same Bench. I quite understood the course we should take in voting; but as the right hon. Gentleman raises a new point, I will consider it before to-morrow's debate.
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEThere can be very little doubt as to what my noble Friend's (Lord George Hamilton's) Amendment means. It is to meet the case of the Amendment of the hon. Member for Newcastle becoming the substantive Motion without the House having another course before it.
MR. GLADSTONEMy intention certainly was to vote against the Motion "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Question;" but I will further consider it.