§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (The Marquess of SALISBURY)My Lords, it is my duty to announce to your Lordships, what has already reached you through other channels of information, that, in consequence of the vote which took place in the House of Commons on Thursday night, Her Majesty's Government have placed their resignation in the hands of Her Majesty, who has been graciously pleased to acceptit, and we only hold our Seals now until our successors are appointed. It is not, I believe, usual for the outgoing Ministers to make any observations on an occasion of this kind; but I have known cases in which the incoming Minister takes the opportunity of giving an account of his views on various public questions. I am sure that, if the noble Earl opposite should think fit to follow that precedent and give us an exposition of the intentions of the incoming Ministry on domestic and foreign affairs, we should listen to him with a great deal of pleasure.
THE EARL OF KIMBERLEYI am sorry I cannot respond to the invitation of the noble Marquess. For one reason, I am not at present a Minister of the Crown, and I should not feel able, not having an opportunity of consulting colleagues who do not exist, of making any statement on the subject.