The Prime Minister has scarcely uttered the words which reveal the determination of the Government to resort to the most extreme measures, when there burst simultaneously from the Irish and the Tory Benches cheers and counter cheers--the cheer of pride, joy, and delirium almost, in the one case; the answering cheer and counter cheer of haughty and angered defiance in the other.
[Sidenote: Balfour the unready.] The Old Man bears himself splendidly amidst all this.

He is very excited and very resolute--you can see that by the very deadliness of tranquillity which he seeks to put in his voice, by the gentleness of his tone, by the almost deprecatory smile.

All the same, the prevalent note of his voice and manner is composure.

For the moment, either from surprise, relief, the joy they can badly conceal--whatever the reason, the Tories seem to be nonplussed.

The audacious ally who is always ready to rush rashly into the breach on such occasions is away in Birmingham; and with all his excellent qualities, Mr.Balfour is not remarkable for readiness.