On Monday the Government majorities on the Welsh Disestablishment Bill
fell to 10, 18, 14, 9, and 13, and on Mr. Healy's Irish educational motion, Mr. John Morley (in a very thin House) obtained only a majority of 5. On Tuesday the Government recovered, having in the meantime issued a very urgent whip. Their majorities on the Welsh Church Bill were on that day 18, 28, 33, and then again 18, the Unionists evidently absenting themselves during the middle of the debate; but it is obvious that as the Government cannot rely with any confidence on more than a majority of 10, and as there is very little prospect of any recovery in the constituencies, the expectation gains ground that the Government will be defeated before the close of the Session, if it does not previously ills- solve. Every defeat brings more defeats on its heels. It is not improbable, therefore, that Lord Rosebery will take heart of grace and ask for a Dissolution, to test his position in the country, rather than await the drying up of the feeble spring on which alone he depends for his command even of the Commons. Bat it will be a forlorn hope to appeal to the country for a renewal of confidence after a Session in which no single measure has been carried, and a vast amount of time has been thriftlessly frittered away.
