Sir A. Acland-Hood then formally moved the adjournment of the
House in order that there might be a general debate. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, who spoke first, traversed Mr. Balfour's statement of Mr. Gladstone's views, and declared that no appeal to precedents would satisfy the country that the Prime Minister had taken the right course. The recent defeat of the Government was not the result of a " snap " vote ; it came after a special appeal by the leader of the party to his followers to be careful to avoid defeat; and it concerned an important Government measure. Mr. Redmond followed with a recommendation to the Opposition to make the continued existence of the Government impossible ; and the debate was continued by Mr. Asquith and Sir Edward Grey in a tone of grave remonstrance, and by Mr. Churchill and Mr. Lloyd-George in a tone of great personal bitterness. These last speeches did little good to their cause, and gave Mr. Balfour an opportunity for an effective retort about "invectives which are both prepared and violent." The Motion, being put from the Chair, was not challenged, and the House adjourned.
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