§ MR. BODKIN (Roscommon, N.)I beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer a question of which I have given him private notice, and from which I have done my best to eliminate all matters of a controversial character—namely, whether his attention has been directed to the fact that the bulk of Irish securities, especially those of Guinness, the Bank of Ireland, the Great Northern of Ireland Railway, and the Belfast and Down Railway, have rapidly and continuously improved in the market since the passing of the Second Reading of the Bill for the Better Government of Ireland; and whether such improvement is not, in his opinion, due to the confidence inspired by the immediate prospect of the better government in Ireland; and whether the Government will justify that confidence by pressing forward the Bill now before the House with all convenient speed?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTThese are matters about which I have no official cognisance, and I hope that the hon. Member will not, like a previous Member, move the reduction of my salary on account of my ignorance.
§ MR. BODKINThese are matters of public notoriety.