21 MARCH 1868, Page 3

Mr. W. H. Gladstone made his maiden speech on Monday

during the dinner hour,—very naturally selecting a time when his father was not in his seat. He looked somewhat nervous ; but his speech was polished, graceful, and well delivered, though a little in the debating-society style, which he probably learned at the Oxford Union. He was studiously moderate,—congratulated the Government on their proposed Catholic University, though prefer- ing to create one University for the whole of Ireland. On the land question, also, he was favourable to the proposals of the Government. On the Church question alone he protested. He was well received in a thin House, and did not exhaust the favour of his audience by his short speech.