THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (The Earl of KIMBERLEY)My Lords, I have to acquaint your Lordships that in consequence of the vote in the other House on Monday night Her Majesty has been advised to dissolve this Parliament, and Her Majesty has been pleased to assent to that advice. Steps will be taken to wind up the Business of Parliament with all practicable despatch, with a view to the Dissolution of Parliament on as early a day as possible. I shall propose to move that this House should, at its rising, adjourn to Thursday next, to meet on that day only for formal and unopposed Business, and for receiving any Bill which may come up from the other House. I hope that arrangement, which is the longest adjournment consistent with our intention to wind up the Business of Parliament as quickly as possible that we can give, will be acceptable to the House.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYI do not suppose that anybody can take exception to the arrangement which has been proposed by the noble Earl. Of course, the arrangement with respect to the adjournment proposed by him will meet with no opposition on our part. I should not say another word, except that I wish to emphasize the statement which I was glad to hear the noble Earl make that the Dissolution will be brought on as rapidly as it is possible for Her Majesty's Government to do so. It is not very often that a defeat in the House of Commons has been followed by a Dissolution. I think there are only two instances since the great Reform Bill. But one of those was a very notable instance—namely, the instance of 1841, when Sir Robert Peel thought it of so much importance that he declined to accede to the winding up of the Business until a promise of this kind had been made by Lord John Russell; and Lord John Russell quite admitted the Constitutional propriety of the Government promising to make every arrangement that the new Parliament should assemble as rapidly as possible after the defeat. I understand that to be the intention of Her Majesty's Government, and therefore I will not pursue the subject.
THE EARL OF KIMBERLEYMy Lords, I must not be understood to convey anything except the exact meaning of my words. What I said was that the Business of Parliament would be wound up now with a view to a Dissolution at the earliest possible day. Those were exactly my words; but I did not say anything as to the time after the Dissolution when Parliament should assemble. The noble Marquess is perfectly well aware that it is necessary that the other House should obtain certain Supplies, and no doubt there the matter will be duly explained.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYI venture to say that the state of Ireland must weigh very heavily upon Her Majesty's Government, and they must feel that the sooner there is a Parliament that can speak with authority the better.
THE EARL OF KIMBERLEYExcuse my saying one word. I do not wish an inference to be drawn from my words which they will not bear. I do not wish to be supposed to have said 1256 anything beyond what I did say; and if the noble Marquess desires further information it had better be given "elsewhere."