The Prime Minister, whose work, prosecuted during the whole session
under very high pressure, must have been carried on under what the chemists call several " atmospheres " during the final struggle with the Lords, has been seriously unwell, and it was feared at first that he might be unable to move the agreement of the House of Commons in the Lords' Amendments yesterday week ; but the doctors tinkered him into a little temporary strength, and he rose, amidst great cheering, yesterday week, " To move that this House do agree with the Irish Church Bill as recommended by the House of Lords, without any exception or reservation." Mr. Gladstone's speech was in his best manner,—theoretically, we should have said, much too deferential to the House of Lords, but then the victor in a contest can well afford to be deferential to his defeated foe without being misunderstood,—genial, earnest, simple, eloquent. He had always been most anxious, he said, to make any concessions to the Irish Church " compatible with the principle of religious equality, which we desired to run like a silver cord through the whole tissue of the Bill." The Ministry did not regard the small concessions asked for by Lord Cairns as incompatible with that principle, and therefore gladly conceded them. By way of peace-making and discharging from all memories any harsh expressions that might have given pain, Mr. Gladstone explained and regretted the lofty balloon in which he bad ventured to place the House of Lords, in relation, at least, to the conditions imposed by the constituencies of the House of Commons. It might have been an'" ungainly figure," but was only intended to indicate the comparative unacquaintance of the
Lords with popular conditions, and as it had given offence, he said, amidst loud cheers, that he regretted he had used it. A desultory conversation ensued, in which Sir Roundell Palmer, and even Mr. Charley, were highly complimentary to the Prime Minister ; but Mr. Disraeli was a little ungracious, and improved the occasion to Mr. Gladstone on the greatness of compromise and the danger of " abstract principles." Mr. Gladstone has been seriously unwell since his effort on Friday week, but is now recovering.
