WORKS BY SIR REGINALD F. D. PALGRAVE, K.C.B. (Clerk of the House of Commons). THE CHAIRMAN'S HANDBOOK. Drawn from the Procedure and Practice of Parliament. 11th Edition. Crown 8vo, 2s. OLIVER CROMWELL, THE PROTECTOR. An appreciation based on contemporary evidence. Small demy 8vo, 10s. 6d. SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON & CO., Limited. DOD'S PARLIAMENTARY COMPANION. SIXTY-FOURTH YEAR. 23 [SEVENTY-SECOND ISSUE.] The Fourteenth Parliament of Queen Victoria, WHITTAKER & CO., WHITE HART STREET, E.C. MDCCCXCVI. THE General Election of last year will probably be a memorable one in parliamentary history, partly from the fact that it was fought under a coalition government,, and partly on account of the preponderating majority by which that government succeeded in justifying its existence. The coalition has been effected mainly, if not solely, upon one important constitutional question, which clearly marks the division of the two great parties in the house; and though several minor or less urgent questions contributed to the result of the election, so long as the leaders of one party continue to express their adherence in one form or another to Mr. Gladstone's policy with regard to the government of Ireland, so long will that question determine the main line of cleavage in the House of Commons. The editor therefore has thought it right in the summary of political parties at the end of Part III. still to adhere to the same method of classification that has been adopted in this handbook during the last three parliaments, minor distinctions being indicated in the individual notices in Part IV. The explanation of Parliamentary Terms and Proceedings has had the great advantage of the superintendence of Sir Reginald F. D. Palgrave, the Clerk of the House of Commons, who most kindly gave his assistance, and voluntarily devoted considerable time to the revision of this portion of the work. To him, and to the other officers and members of the Houses of Parliament who have courteously given information, and to all correspondents who by reply or suggestion have contributed to the completeness of the work, the Editor begs to tender his sincere thanks. April, 1896. • Communications respecting the contents of this Work should be addressed to the Editor of "Dod's Parliamentary Companion,” at No. 2, White Hart Street, Paternoster Square. 1 |