The Prime Minister received four deputations on Thursday, one from
the Leeds Conference, and another from the Trades Unions, on the subject of the Reform Bill ; one from the Metropolitan Members, on the subject of the London Municipal Reform Bill; and one from Indian residents in England, on the subject of the Indian policy of the Government. Mr. Gladstone gave to the first two deputations replies which assured them of the intention of the Government to redeem their pledges on Reform, and compared the panic felt by Conservatives as to the " deluge " of new voters, to the panic formerly felt by them as to the " deluge " of new corn and new meat to feed these voters ; and he openly asked the country to keep its eyes open to the danger of Parliamentary obstruction, and to strengthen the hands of the Government, if any signs of it should appear. He repeated this suggestion very emphatically when speaking of the difficulty of carrying the Municipal Reform Bill for London which the Government think necessary. In answer to the India deputation, he expressed his firm confidence in the Government of Lord Ripon.
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