From a Photograph] [by Hughes & Mullins, Ryde.
HER MAJESTY WITH THE PRINCESS BEATRICE.
April 1871.
But Mr. Gladstone, full of serious purpose, was blind to the symptoms of failing prestige—indifferent to the warning conveyed by loss of successive seats at by-elections. He had dealt with two limbs of the upas-tree; there remained the third—that of Irish education, and he bared his arms to attack it. |The Irish University Bill.| On February 13 he introduced a Bill dealing with the Irish Universities. It was a masterly measure, a scheme of extraordinary complexity, dealing with a very complicated and unsatisfactory state of things. It is not necessary to examine its details at this time; it is, perhaps, enough to say that the Prime Minister’s plan was one that, while it offended and alarmed every one deriving benefit from the existing state of things, failed to satisfy any of the religious bodies—Protestant, Catholic, or Nonconformist—which desired a change. Disraeli’s words spoken on the second reading came home to many hearts on both sides of the House. “You have now had four years of it,” he said. “You have despoiled churches; you have threatened every corporation and endowment in the country. You have examined into everybody’s affairs. You have criticised every profession and vexed every trade. No one is certain of his property, and nobody knows what duties he may have to perform to-morrow. I believe that the people of this country have had enough of confiscation.” |Defeat and Resignation of Ministers.| The Bill was rejected by a majority of three votes, and Mr. Gladstone resigned office; but, on the Queen sending for Mr. Disraeli, he declined to form “a weak and discredited Administration,” and the Government resumed its functions.
Sir J. Tenniel.] [From “Punch.”
CRITICS.
Mr. Gladstone: “H’m, flippant!”
Mr. Disraeli: “Ha, prosy!”
Mr. Disraeli’s “Lothair” and Mr. Gladstone’s “Juventus Mundi” appeared almost simultaneously in 1870.