Many of the ideas, many of the phrases, were repetitions of things he had already said a hundred times over in the course of the previous debates; in short, the speech was a revelation of the fact, known to those who have watched Mr.Chamberlain carefully, that the soil is very barren and very thin; and that after a few oratorical crops it becomes exhausted.

Perhaps the failure of the speech was also largely due to the fact that the Irish and the Liberal members, taught by previous experiences, resolved to also put restraint on themselves.

They have learned by this time that interruptions do Mr.
Chamberlain a great deal of good; and that his great nimbleness and readiness never come out so well as when he has suddenly to answer such an interruption.

Addressing benches--blank, silent and irresponsive, he laboured rather heavily throughout the whole of his address; and there was a complete absence even from the Tory benches of that loud and frequent accompaniment of cheers to which Mr.Chamberlain is usually treated.

In short, it was a dull, ineffective speech, mostly listened to in silence.
[Sidenote: A coming man.] Sir Edward Grey delivered an admirable reply.