On Friday week, Mr. Gladstone's resolution for a Saturday sitting,
and a sitting not limited by the usual Wednesday hours and rules, gave rise to a great debate. The majority of the Government sank to 27, 22, and even 21, so unpopular was this early demand for a Saturday sitting on no exigency at all, except that of the supposed necessity of getting the second reading of the Home-rule Bill before Easter, to which the whole Opposition objected, and objected on prin- ciple,—holding that they ought to have the opportunity of communicating freely with their constituents on the very singular expedients proposed in the Home-rule Bill; and this could only be done in the Easter holidays. The Government got only a majority of 21 against Mr. Hanbury's amendment, which suggested that the sitting on Saturday should follow the rules of a Wednesday sitting; 22 in favour of Mr. Roby's motion for the closure; and 27 for Mr. Gladstone's resolution itself.
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