Yet after this curious prelude, what did happen was this,—the
Lord Advocate first gave notice of his intention to extend Mr. Fawcett's new proviso to Scotland, which threw everybody off their guard, and only late on Tuesday night did the Solicitor- General give notice of his intention to reverse the decision of the House on Mr. Fawcett's clause, and omit it. The Government said on Wednesday that they had done their best to adopt it, but found it impracticable, owing to technical legal difficulties connected with the county-rating system. Mr. Henley, himself a perfect master of the county-rating system, pooh-poohed this difficulty, and supported the clause ; yet, in spite of this and of Mr. Newdegate's support, the Government succeeded on Thursday in getting the House to reverse its decision by a majority of 18,-115 to 97. Mr. Fawcett then gave notice that on the third reading he would move to have the Bill recommitted for the reinsertion of the clause, and this he did last night, and was beaten by 102 to 91.
