The delegates on Tuesday went down to Hatfield, where Lord
Salisbury, in a short but pregnant speech, assured them that Englishmen would not forget that they were bound by ties of gratitude, affection, and good faith to the fellow- countrymen who had fought their battle in Ireland, and that ‘. the game was a long one, and far froha over yet." The Unionists of England and the Unionists, of Ireland were partners on one side in a game of whist, and the Glad- stonians and Fenians on the other, and the latter had won one trick. " Only stand firm to the determination that there shall be no Home-rule Bill, and the hand will yet be ours." The Duke of Devonshire followed with weighty words as to the value of an object-lesson like this delegation, which taught the young possessors of power how completely Ireland was divided, and bow strong was the minority alike in numbers and in the materials of which it was composed. There was no danger, be told the delegated, of English desertion, for besides their fears for Ireland, they feared also for themselves and their cherished Parliamentary institutions. Mr. Balfour was even stronger, declaring that England had discovered Ulster, and her hatred was rising against the Bill; while Mr. Chamber- lain asserted that Mr. Gladstone had answered no objection to it, but in his final speech had said, like the old Presbyterian minister : " My brethren, this is a very knotty point ; let us look it straight in the face and pass on."
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