At the Unionist meeting on the Education Bill on Monday
Mr. Balfour spoke with his usual equanimity and courtesy, pointing out how much more difficult it has been made to pass such a measure now, from the number of the amendments moved and of the speakers competent to criticise the Bill minutely, than it was in 1870, when the organisation of national education was first embodied in a great measure. He suggested that as he was very anxious to adjourn about August 12th, and yet to pass the Education Bill, it would be absolutely necessary either to closure in compartments, or to drop large portions of the Bill, or to extend the Session. To the first course the Government objected on principle, as it rendered the real discussion of the measure practically im- possible ; and to the second they objected, as it must mutilate a great measure which ought to be carried as a whole, and he proposed, therefore, to adjourn the House to an early day in January, and then to finish the Bill before the middle of March, after which the House would be prorogued and a new Session at once commenced, which would not, however, in all probability extend beyond the date in August at which he proposed to adjourn this year.
