Of Mr. Gladstone's great speech we have spoken so much
at length elsewhere that here we need only say that his attack both on the proposed University and on the let-alone Church policy was received with great enthusiasm on the Liberal benches, and that the announcement of his intention to take the formal opinion of Par- liament on a definite proposal to disestablish the Irish Church, and his declaration that it ought to be a declaration " attended by some step or proceeding which will give to the people of this country and to the people of Ireland conclusive proof that we have not entered hastily or lightly on a task of such gravity, and that we mean what we say, and that as far as depends upon us this task will be performed," was received with rapturous cheer- ing. When be ended by entreating the House to give justice and mercy to Ireland, " to raze out the written troubles from her brain, and pluck from her memory the rooted sorrow," it seemed as if the Liberal party were united as one man in their resolve.
