As for the substance of his speech, there cannot be
said to have been any. He scoffed at Mr. Chamberlain for his silence on Welsh Disestablishment. He sneered at Mr. Goschen's one-pound notes. He once more inveighed against Lord Salisbury for attacking the Irish priesthood, and rather in- judiciously reminded his friends of their close alliance with an order which writhes under the prospect of compulsory edu- cation. Then he pitied Mr. Balfour for having to lead so stupid a party, a party never enthusiastic for anything but coercion, and ridiculed Sir Henry James for not liking to see the London County Council attempt what is at present quite beyond its powers. Altogether, the speech was a fine bouncing speech, a most deafening discharge of blank-cartridges.