The debate on Monday night was ominous from the beginning.
The storm commenced with a low, fierce growl at Mr. Gladstone for attempting to speak in proposing in Committee the fifth clause of the Bill,—a course declared contrary to order by Mr. Dodson unless it ended with an amendment. Mr. Glad- stone did not very quickly apprehend that he was out of order, as he had been allowed to take the same course on a previous night without interruption,—under the impression, said Mr. Dodson, that he would conclude with an amendment. Consequently he was a little litigious on the point, and rather fanned the by no means dying embers of wrath on the other side. Sir Hugh Cairns, Mr. Disraeli, Mr. Horsman, and finally Mr. Dodson, had all to seat themselves heavily on this great safety-valve of Liberal sentiment, before it could be quite shut up, and the eloquent steam suppressed.
