There is to be a debate next week on the
Transvaal, after all. Sir M. Hicks-Beach, aware that Tory Members are quitting town, decided to postpone his motion, though he had obtained a day; but Mr. Rathbone promised to go on with his, and Sir W. Lawson stood behind with another. Sir Michael, therefore, on Wednesday, in a curiously out-of-temper speech, gave notice that he should proceed. He had given notice of his motion, he said, in April ; had been put off with the plea that the reported refusal to restore Potchefstroom had made discussion unad- visable, had then been told that the Land Bill stood in his way, and was now nailed to July 25th, when any Government on any subject was sure of a majority. Mr. Gladstone replied by a promise to explain the meaning of what had occurred at Potchefstroom and its bearing on a debate, but observed that the extraordinary charges in extraordinary language advanced in both Houses made a thorough discussion unavoid- able. As to the time of year, the Government had an advantage, no doubt, so late in the Session ; but he had seen the Conser- vative benches crowded on September 1st, and Sir M. Hicks- Beach could, he doubted not, gather a full following. He had made no arrangement with Mr. Rathbone or Sir W. Lawson, and rather wondered at the insinuation "that the Member for Carlisle had so little strength of character as to be influenced by the Government in that way." So Monday was fixed.
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