There has never been such a thing as an English party or a Scottish party.

Up to 1832 the Scottish members were almost without exception Tories; since 1832 they have been for the most part Liberals or Radicals; they have kept a sharp eye upon Scottish affairs, but they have never formed a Scottish party.

The same thing has, to a great extent, held good of the Irish members.

The notion of an Irish party is a novelty, and in so far as it has existed is foreign to the spirit of our institutions.

Hence further, the Cabinet has been neither in form nor in spirit a federal executive.