The Address in the Lords was moved by Lord Swansea
(better remembered as Sir Hussey Vivian), who was pompous and elaborate about the Welsh Church and the number of Bibles sold in Wales, and seconded by Lord Hawkesbury, who made an able speech, on an occasion when an able speech is not usually looked for. Lord Salis- bury, who followed, was of course very amusing. He thought it would be well in all future Queen's Speeches under Liberal Administrations, if the formula were inserted, " Newcastle programme as usual." He did not think the Government would make any large hole in the carrying out of that programme, and that probably there would be almost as many promises to make over again next year as there are this. He remarked on the fact that Welsh Disestab- lishment comes before Scotch, as of course owing to Lord Rosebery's modesty about his own country. As for Irish Home-rule, while England was opposed to it, it would never be carried ; and he deprecated the laborious efforts of the Government to postpone the settlement of that issue by an appeal to the constituencies. Though Lord Rosebery altogether ignored this advice, he produced a con- siderable sensation in the House, and a much greater sensa- tion out of it, by expressing his perfect concurrence with Lord Salisbury, that before Home-rule could be conceded to Ireland, " England, the predominant member in the partner-
ship of the three Kingdoms," would have to be convinced of its justice." That was a critical sentence for Lord Rose- bery. Ireland, who, with some plausibility, considers herself "the predominant member in the partnership of the three Kingdoms," took umbrage at it, and on the following day the Irish Members conspired with Mr. Laboachere to defeat the Government.
