the session of Parliament beginning at an unusually early period, this date had been fixed for the usual visit of the members for the borough.

Mr. Bright's speech was again almost exclusively confined to the Eastern question. He remarked that the early summoning of Parliament, which in ordinary circumstances would be viewed with indifference, was now regarded with anxiety and alarm. There was no doubt that the country during the recess had been strongly agitated, and that the question upon which it had been disturbed was that of peace or war. He believed it would be criminal for the Ministry to involve this country in war. Experience had taught us that for the past two centuries all our wars, and the bloodshed, the loss of life they had entailed, had been undertaken for the pursuit of some ghastly phantom or some cunning phrase. He trusted that the nation would not allow itself to embark again in war for a mere phrase, such as British interests,' and he held with Lord Derby that the greatest of British interests was that of peace. The right hon. gentleman pointed out that everything we obtained by the Crimean war was given up the moment the next European complication arose. The conclusion of his speech, in which he enforced these points, was as follows:

'It is a painful and terrible thing to think how easy it is to stir up a nation to war. Take up any decent history of this country, from the time of William III. until now-for two centuries, or nearly so,—and you will find that wars are always supported by a class of arguments which, after the war is over, the people find were arguments they should not VOL. II. 27

have listened to. It is just so now, for unfortunately there still remains the disposition to be excited on these questions. Some poet, I forget which it is, has said,

"Religion, freedom, vengeance, what you will,

A word's enough to raise mankind to kill;
Some cunning phrase by faction caught and spread,
That guilt may reign, and wolves and worms be fed."

"Some cunning phrase by faction caught and spread," like the cunning
phrase of "the balance of power," which has been described as the ghastly
phantom that the Government of this country has been pursuing for
two centuries, and has not yet overtaken. (Hear, hear.) Some cunning
phrase like that we have now of "British interests." Lord Derby said the
wisest thing that has been uttered by any member of this Administration
during the discussions on this war, when he said that the greatest of
British interests is peace. (Cheers.) And a hundred, far more than a
hundred, public meetings have lately said the same; and millions of
households of men and women have thought the same. To-night we
shall say
"Amen" to this wise declaration. (Cheers.) I am delighted to
see this grand meeting in this noble Town Hall. This building is con-
secrated to peace and to freedom. You are here in your thousands, repre-
senting the countless multitudes outside. May we not to-night join our
voices in this resolution, that, so far as we are concerned, the sanguinary
record of the history of our country shall be closed; that we will open a
new page on which shall henceforth be inscribed only the blessed message
of mercy and of peace?' (Loud cheers.)

Public feeling was intensified shortly afterwards by the resignation of the Earl of Derby and the Earl of Carnarvon-the two members of the Ministry who were known to be most strongly opposed to a war policy. At the close of January, the Government asked for a vote of credit, in view of the eventualities of war, when Mr. Bright complained of our entering the European Conference with 'shotted guns and revolvers.' Mr. Forster moved an amendment to the Ministerial proposition as follows: "That this House, having been informed in Her Majesty's gracious speech that the conditions on which Her

Majesty's neutrality is founded had not been infringed by either belligerent engaged in the war in the east of Europe, and having since received no information sufficient to justify a departure from the policy of neutrality and peace, sees no reason for adding to the burdens of the people by voting unnecessary supplies.'

The debate lasted for five nights. Mr. Bright spoke on the first night to a crowded House. At the outset he declared that he did not intend to make any attack upon the Government, though they had within the last few months been guilty of much indecision, and had committed many blunders. But they had had much provocation from some of their own supporters, and it was at least to their credit that they had not been led away by the raving lunacy of the Pall Mall Gazette, or by what, if he might be pardoned for the alliteration, he would call the delirium tremens of the Daily Telegraph. Mr. Bright caused considerable amusement by his description of the delegates of the Sultan, who, he said, were scarcely to be found.' Their Government had telegraphed to them, and they had received no answer, although they had communicated with their wives-that being, Mr. Bright added in a parenthetical sentence, a Government which they seemed to comprehend. He deprecated the unworthy suspicion of Russia, and urged the Government not to throw their sword into the scale at a time the combatants appeared to be about to sheathe theirs.

'I would declare this,' he continued, the Government of this country ought to declare it-the time is not far distant, I believe, when they will declare itI think it is now pretty much the mind of the people of England—that we have no interest in any longer taking any step whatever to maintain the Ottoman rule in Europe, that we have no interest in cherishing a perpetual animosity against Russia. There are two policies before us-the old policy, which, if we leave it to our children, will be a legacy of future wars; the new policy, which I contend for, and which I preach, and which if we adopt we shall leave to our country, not a legacy of war, but a legacy of peace, and a growing and lasting friendship with one of the greatest empires of the globe.'

Sir Wilfrid Lawson introduced in the course of a speech which he made during this debate, the burden of a popular music-hall song, that resulted in fixing the name of 'Jingo' upon the war party

'We don't want to fight; but, by Jingo, if we do,

We've got the ships, we've got the men, we've got the money too.' Mr. Lowe made merry over 'the vote of credit and the confidence trick,' and said that the Prime Minister generally took pains to show that his opinion was at variance with that of the majority of the people. He suggested a simple remedy for the present difficulties —‘Muzzle your Prime Minister.' Mr. Bourke and Mr. Hardy supported the vote in animated speeches, Sir W. Harcourt remarking of the latter that he had shown the volcanic force of Cotopaxi and Chimborazo

in full flame. In the end, Mr. Forster's amendment was withdrawn, and the House decided to go into Committee by 295 votes to 96-many of the Opposition, Mr. Bright amongst the number, refraining from voting. Other discussions took place, but the vote of credit was eventually agreed to.

On the 3rd of March, a treaty of peace between Russia and Turkey was signed at San Stefano, and this was ratified at St. Petersburg on the 17th.

Great uneasiness, however, still continued to prevail in England in consequence of the attitude of the Government, and an order issued for the despatch of Indian troops to Malta caused great excitement. The bye-elections at this period showed that the Ministerial policy was losing favour. Meetings and conferences were held' all over the country; and at the Memorial Hall in Farringdon Street, Mr. Gladstone was presented with an address, signed by four hundred Dissenting ministers, strongly deprecating the war with Russia with which the country was menaced.

At Manchester, on the 30th of April, a great Conference, composed of fifteen hundred delegates from cities, towns, and various organizations, assembled to protest against the impending war with Russia. Resolutions were passed strongly condemning the Government, and demanding a Congress, or a reference of the whole quarrel to a friendly Power.

Mr. Bright presided at a great demonstration held in the evening at the Free Trade Hall. He spoke