§ MR. WARTONSir, I wish to throw myself upon the indulgence of the House while I make a personal explanation. It may be in the recollection of hon. Members who were present in the House yesterday that when the noble Marquess the Secretary of State for War (the Marquess of Hartington) announced the fact of the illness of the Prime Minister I indulged in a cheer. That cheer I have reason to think was 1886 misunderstood; and although I do not care for any of the malicious comments of a partizan Press any more than I do for the numberless statements about myself which I have never condescended to notice, I do care for the good opinion of this House. I, therefore, beg leave to assure the House that when I cheered the noble Marquess's expression of sorrow at the slight indisposition of the Prime Minister I had not the slightest idea of expressing joy at the fact that the Prime Minister was unwell. I hope no one will believe that I could be so brutal as to rejoice at the sickness of any fellow-creature, and least of all at the illness of one whom every Member of this House is bound to respect for the high Office he fills as Leader of this House and First Minister of the Crown.