by 14 votes (292 to 278). This fall—the normal majority
is 35 —is accounted for by the fact that one Irishman went by mistake into the wrong lobby ; that all the Parnellites absented themselves except Colonel Nolan, who voted with the Ministry; that seven Anti-Parnellites were absent unpaired from various causes, and that four or five Gladstonians did not respond to the Whip. The only Unionist absent unpaired was Mr. A. a Corbett. But though the narrowness of the Government majority can thus be explained—the Whips are like the lady in the play, and can always explain anything and everything—the fact has greatly depressed the Home-rule party and has caused a positive wail for "concentration." In the debate on Friday Mr. Chamberlain made a speech as powerful as it was moderate. Saturday polling would disfranchise the Jews, would be very inconvenient to the small shopkeepers, and would in the country interfere with the Saturday markets. No facilities were given for putting lodgers on the Register, because it was said that to do so would enfranchise the sons of squires, parsons, and farmers. Why not They had as good a right to vote as other people. "I can give an illustration," said Mr. Chamberlain. "I have a son who gives me the pleasure of his company at my house. Is that any reason why he should be disfranchised ? He is capable of being a Member of this House, and I should have thought he would be considered capable of voting for a Member of this House." Mr. Morley, in reply, still relied on the sacredness of the Act of Union. "We admit there was a case for reducing that representation when we were going to make up in other ways for the loss which Ireland would thereby suffer here. But we are not bound by anything which we did last year to admit that the Irish representation ought to be reduced before you alter the whole system of Irish Government." We must suppose, then, that the Irish have a doable dose of original virtue, which makes it right that they should either have twenty- three Members more than their fair share, or else the right to govern both themselves and us.
