Sitting of 28 January 1886

MINUTES.
NEW MEMBER SWORN—The Hon. Sidney Herbert, for Croydon.
Several other Members took and subscribed the Oath.

PARLIAMENT—PRIVATE BILLS.
Ordered, That the Chairman of the Select Committee on Standing Orders have leave to seek a Conference with the Chairman of Committees of the House of Lords, for the purpose of determining (under Standing Order 79), in which House of Parliament the respective Private Bills should be first considered, and to report the same to the House.—(Sir John Mowbray.)

PARLIAMENT—ADJOURNMENT—RESIGNATION OF THE MINISTRY.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH): Mr. Speaker, I have to inform the House that, in consequence of the vote at which this House arrived on Tuesday, Her Majesty's Ministers, at their meeting yesterday, have deemed it their duty to address a communication to Her Majesty, of the precise nature of which it is not at present proper for me to inform the House; but, as the result of that communication, my noble Friend (the Marquess of Salisbury) has received Her Majesty's commands to attend at Osborne, and he has gone there to-day. It is not possible for me to make, at present, any more definite announcement; and it is not likely that I shall be able to do so tomorrow. Therefore, I shall conclude with a Motion that this House, at its rising, do adjourn until Monday. Of course, Sir, in circumstances such as those in which we are now placed, it

533
has been, I believe, almost the invariable custom that ordinary Business should not be proceeded with. I think it will be obvious to the House that we are not at present in a position either to be responsible for the conduct of that Business, or to give any satisfactory or sufficient answers to questions that might be asked as to the views or intentions of the Government. And therefore, Sir, although this is a matter purely for the consideration and determination of the House, if the House should accept the Motion which I shall make, I shall afterwards propose that the House do immediately adjourn. I beg to move that this House, at its rising, do adjourn until Monday next.
Question, "That this House, at its rising, do adjourn till Monday next,"—(Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer,)—put, and agreed to.
THE CHANCELLOE OF THE EXCHEQUER: I beg to move that this House do now adjourn.
Question, "That this House do now adjourn,"—(Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer,)—put, and agreed to.
House adjourned accordingly at half after Four o'clock till Monday next.

ROLL OF THE LORDS.
THE LORD CHANCELLOR THE LORD CHANCELLOR acquainted the House that the Clerk of the Parliaments had prepared and laid it on the Table: The same was ordered to be printed. (No. 8.)
Several Lords—Took the Oath.

SAT FIRST.
The Lord Houghton, after the death of his father.

QUEEN'S SPEECH—HER MAJESTY'S ANSWER TO THE ADDRESS.
THE LORD STEWAED OF THE HOUSEHOLD (The Earl of MOUNT-EDGCUMBE), in reporting Her Majesty's Answer to the Address, said: My Lords, I am commanded by the Queen to deliver to this House the Gracious Answer which Her Majesty has been pleased to send by me in response to the loyal Address unanimously passed by your Lordships in acknowledgment of the Gracious Speech from the Throne. The reply is as follows:—
MY LORDS,
"I THANK you sincerely for your loyal and dutiful Address.
"I rely with confidence upon your hearty cooperation and assistance in My endeavours to advance the test interests of My Empire, and to promote the happiness and prosperity of all classes of My people."
I have to move that this Gracious Message from Her Majesty be printed and circulated among your Lordships.
Motion agreed to.
Address and Answer ordered to be printed and published.

PARLIAMENT—ADJOURNMENT—RESIGNATION OF THE MINISTRY.
THE LORD PEESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Viscount CRANBROOK): My Lords, in the absence of my noble Friend (the Marquess of Salisbury), I have to inform your Lordships that in consequence of what has happened "elsewhere" a communication has been made
532
by the Government to Her Majesty. My noble Friend has now gone to Osborne, and has requested me to move that this House adjourn to Monday next.
Motion agreed to.
House adjourned at half past Four o'clock, to Monday next, a quarter before Eleven o'clock.