question upon you and endeavoured to rush you into a decision. Then why is it that you wish to rush us into a negative of all these proposals? If you desire time to look about you, are we unreasonable in asking for a little time for the same purpose? Our position seems to me perfectly logical, and, in the meantime, we are fully prepared to defend the policy which we have accepted; and we shall not be very much moved by the ingenious criticism which goes to show that amongst the members of the Cabinet, or the members of the Government, there may be various shades and gradations of opinion that some of us are more sanguine and that others are less sanguine with regard to the future-so long as we present a solid front in regard to that part of the policy which we have examined and to which, as a Government, we are committed. I have endeavoured to deal with most of the points which the noble Earl has raised. I am afraid that if I had made it my business to follow him in detail on all of them I should have kept your Lordships to a late hour. It only remains for me to thank your Lordships for the patience with which you have listened to me. I have, during my long period of service in this House, constantly had to take advantage of your Lordships' forbearance and generosity, and I trust that in the new position in which I have been unexpectedly placed by the events of the last few months I may look forward to the same patience and the same kindness which your Lordships have never failed to extend to me in past years.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR (The Earl of HALSBURY): My Lords, I had not intended to intervene, but there is one topic on which I wish to say a word. I refer to the great loss which this House has sustained in the death of the late Lord Salisbury. I, who enjoyed for many years his personal friendship, feel it is impossible to remain silent and not to associate myself with what has been said by the seconder of the Address, by the noble Marquess, and by the noble Earl the Leader of the Opposition. I would associate myself with those observations which have been made, and I

feel that in saying anything about him in this House it is an idle thing to attempt to say anything of one with whom your Lordships were so familiar. He has too often exhibited the phenomena of "thoughts that breathe, and words that burn" in this House to render any words from those who appreciated his friendship and admired his genius necessary to enhance the admiration with which we all regarded him. He is a loss, I was going to say, not only to his own country, but to Europe; and I think even that would be less than the truth, because it will be true to say that the whole civilised world must miss one who was a great leader of men and of men's thoughts, and one to whose judgment and sagacity from time to time men of all countries and all races have appealed. But of him, as of some other statesmen, I think it is true to say that the extent of his loss the world does not always understand. His colleagues know better how great that loss is, because they know how much has been saved from time to time by the wisdom and sagacity with which affairs have been conducted. fact of success that has sometimes buried in oblivion things which might have led to calamities which his wisdom and sagacity have avoided. The very fact of what he has done has buried in oblivion those things which might have led to war; and I can say most truly, that, in my view, on more than one occasion, his patience and forbearance, his tact and courage, have saved his country from what might have been a calamitous war. I will not trust myself to speak of him as a friend and colleague. No one, I believe, who ever came within the sphere of his influence has failed implicity to trust him, and no man ever trusted him in vain.

And it is the very

I will not be provoked into reference. to the other matters which the noble Earl the Leader of the Opposition has brought before us. I could not help feeling while I was listening to him that his speech ought logically to have been followed by an Amendment to the Address, and in that case it would have been possible for your Lordships to have expressed an opinion one way or the other. But vague, general declamation against the existing Government, not followed by anything which

II. MISCELLANEOUS SERIES.

No. 596. Instruction in forestry and forest economy in Germany. (September 15.)

No. 597. Germany (instruction in mining and metallurgy in Germany and the German mining and metallurgical industries). (October 9.)

No. 598. Coffee trade in Colombia. (November 3.)

No. 599. Germany (beer brewing industry of Bavaria). (November 12.)

No. 600. Technical instruction in Germany. (The building and engineering trades' schools). (November 12.)

No. 601. Technical instruction in Germany. (Special schools and courses for mechanical engineering and electrotechnics). (January 2.)

AFRICA.

No 11. (1903). Reports on the geology of the East Africa Protectorate by the late E.E. Walker (Government Geologist). (August 22.)

No. 12. (1903). Report by the Mombasa-Victoria Railway Committee on the progress of the works and revenue working, 1902-1903 (with two maps). (August 22.)

No. 13. (1903). Report on the trade and general conditions of the British Central Africa Protectorate for the year 1902-1903, by Major F. B. Pearce, Acting Commissioner. (September 10.)

No. 14 (1903). Despatch to certain of His Majesty's Representatives abroad in regard to alleged cases of ill-treatment of natives, and to the existence of trade monopolies in the Independent State of the Congo. (October 21.)

No. 15. (1903.) General Report on the Uganda Protectorate, for the year ended 31st March, 1903. (December 19.)

COLONIES (ANNUAL).

No. 395. Seychelles (Report for 1902). (August 29.)

No. 396. Ceylon (Report for 1902). (September 28.)

No. 397. Gold Coast (Report for 1902). (September 30.)

No. 398. Barbados (Report for 19021903). (October 8.)

No. 399. Fiji (Report for 1902). (October 10.)

No. 400. Lagos (Report for 1902). (October 15.)

No. 401. British Solomon Islands (Report for 1902-1903).

No. 402. Cocos-Keeling Islands (Report for 1903). (October 21.) No. 403. St. Vincent (Report for 1902-1903). (October 28.)

No. 404. Grenada (Report for 1902). (November 25.)

No. 405. Southern Nigeria (Report for 1902). (November 26.)

No. 406. Straits Settlements (Report for 1902). (November 27.)

No. 407. Trinidad and Tobago (Report for 1902-1903). (November 28.) No. 408. Basutoland (Report for 19021903). (December 3.)

No. 409. Northern Nigeria (Report for 1902). (December 4.)

No. 410. Malta (Report for 19021903). (December 10.)

No 411. St. Lucia (Report for 1902). (December 16.)

No. 412. Mauritius (Report for 1902). (December 29.)

No. 413. British Guiana (Report for 1902-1903). (January 2.)

MISCELLANOUS.

No. 22. Seychelles (Report on Para rubber). (September 15.)

No. 23. Dominica (Roads and Land Settlement. Report on the expenditure of the Parliamentary Grant-in-Aid). (September 22.)

No. 24. Grenada (Report on Land Settlement in Carriacou). (November 24.)

No. 25. Hong-Kong (Bubonic Plague: Memorandum on the treatment of patients in their own homes and in local hospitals). (December 8.)

CANADA.

Canadian Sessional Paper containing correspondence in connection with German tariff. (August 29.)

HIGHWAYS (DEPARTMENTAL

COMMITTEE).

I. Part I.-Report of.

II. Part II. — Minutes of evidence taken before the Committee appointed by the President of the Local Government Board to inquire into the subject of highway authorities and administration in England and Wales; together with appendix and index of evidence. (August 29.)

MINES AND QUARRIES (GENERAL REPORT AND STATISTICS FOR 1902). I. Part II. Labour.-General Report and Statistics relating to persons employed and accidents at mines and quarries in the United Kingdom and to the enforcement of the Mines and Quarries Act. (September 1.)

II. Part III. Output. General Report and Statistics relating to the output and value of minerals raised in the United Kingdom, the amount and value of the metals produced, and the imports and exports of minerals. (October 17.)

IMPERIAL INSTITUTE (INDIAN

SECTION.)

STATISTICS (FOREIGN COUNTRIES). Statistical Abstract for the principal and other foreign countries in each year from 1891 to 1900-1901 (as far as the particulars can be stated), 29th Number. (September 4.)

TREATY SERIES.

No. 12. (1903.)-Convention between the United Kingdom and France respecting commercial relations between France and Jamaica; signed at London, 8th August, 1902. (Ratifications exchanged at London, 12th August, 1903.) (September 10.)

No. 13. (1903.)-Accession of Mexico to the Industrial Property Convention, 1883, and Additional Act of 1900. (September 7.)

No. 14. (1903.)-Accession of Germany to the Industrial Property Convention of 20th March, 1883, &c., 1st May, 1903. (September 25.)

No. 15. (1903.)-Parcel Post Convention with detailed regulations between the United Kingdom and Chile; signed at Santiago, 21st October, 1902. (October 7.)

No. 16. (1903.)-Protocol for submitting to arbitration certain questions as to the interpretation of treaties with Japan with regard to leases held in perpetuity; signed at signed at Tokio, 28th August, 1902. (October 23.)

No. 17. (1903.)-Treaty between the United Kingdom and China respecting commercial relations, etc.; signed at Shanghai, 5th September, 1902. (Ratifications exchanged at Peking, 28th July, 1903.) (November 3.)

No.18. (1903.)-Agreement between the United Kingdom and France providing for the settlement by arbitration of certain classes of questions which may arise between the two Governments; signed at London, 14th October, 1903. (November 26.)

No. 1. (1904.)-Convention for the establishment of a parcel post service. between the United States and HongKong; signed at Washington, 21st November, 1903. (January 19.)

Index to Population Tables for England and Wales in the County Volumes. of the Census Report, 1901. (October 23.)

WEST INDIES.

Further correspondence relating to the volcanic eruptions in St. Vincent and Martinique in 1902 and 1903. (September 19.)

REFORMATORY AND INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS.

I. (Ireland). Forty-first Report of the Inspector for the year ended 31st December, 1902. (September 21.)

II. (Great Britain). Forty-sixth Report, for the year 1902, of the Inspector of Reformatory and Industrial Schools. Part II. General Report and Appendices III. to XI. (October 23.)

PRISONS (ENGLAND AND WALES). Report of the Commissioners of Prisons and the Directors of Convict Prisons, with Appendices, for the year ended 31st March, 1903. (September 22.)

INDIA (STATISTICAL ABSTRACT). Statistical Abstract relating to British India, from 1892-1893 to 1901-1902, 37th Number. (September 23.)

INDIA.

Review of India in 1902-1903. (September 24.)

BANKING, RAILWAY, AND SHIPPING STATISTICS (IRELAND).

Report for June, 1903. (September 28.)

COLONIAL IMPORT DUTIES, 1903. Return relating to the rates of import duties levied upon the principal and other articles imported into the Colonial and other Possessions of the United Kingdom. (October 9.)

COMMERCIAL.

No. 8 (1903).-Reports from certain of His Majesty's Representatives abroad respecting Forestry Laws. (October 9.)

No. 9. (1903). Return of MostFavoured-Nation Clauses in existing Treaties of Commerce and Navigation between Great Britain and Foreign Powers, stating the period when terminable, and showing whether they apply

BOARD OF MANUFACTURES

(SCOTLAND).

Report of Departmental Committee appointed to inquire into the administration of the Board of Manufactures. (October 10.)

MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE LAW
(COLONIES).

Papers relating to laws of marriage and divorce in self-governing British Colonies. (October 10.)

CYPRUS.

Despatch from the High Commissioners covering a Report on the agricultural fund, for the year ended 31st March, 1903. (October 10.) i

POLICE (METROPOLIS). Report of the Commissioner of Police of Metropolis, for the year 1902. (October 12.)

FACTORY AND WORKSHOP.

Annual Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories and Workshops, for the year ended, 1902. Part II., Tables. (October 16.)

TURKEY.

No. 4. (1903.) Further correspondence respecting affairs of South-Eastern Europe. (October 16.)

No. 1. (1904.) Further correspondence respecting affairs of South-Eastern Europe. March to September, 1903. (January 11.)

AGRARIAN OUTRAGES (IRELAND). I. Return for the quarter ended 30th September, 1903. (October 17.) II. Return for the quarter ended 31st December, 1903. (January 21.)

ARMY (MILITARY PRISONS). Report for the year 1902. (October 19.)

LICENSING (SCOTLAND) ACT, 1903. Tables showing the populations of counties, local government districts, and burghs in Scotland with reference to the provisions of the Act. (October 21.)