which the noble Lord had brought before the House not for the first time. It was, he admitted, a subject of very great interest, and one which had aroused much feeling among considerable sections of the community. But he would point out that it was not usual for one House of Parliament to initiate legislation which would alter the constitution of the other House. To initiate such legislation, though not beyond their powers, would be to a certain extent a breach of Parliamentary etiquette. The Government therefore proposed to reserve their opinion upon the subject-matter of the Bill until the question should have been dealt with in the other House. He begged to move that the Bill be read that day six months. This was passed without a division.

§ 34. Divided Counsels.

All these changes and difficulties combined to bring about a vague discontent and restlessness within the Women's Suffrage Societies, such as had hitherto been unknown.

The difficulties were manifest, but their causes were not equally apparent, and, as in all periods of political unrest, there were not wanting those who thought to find a sure remedy for their discontent with the work of the Women's Suffrage Societies, in a change of machinery.

The desire to alter the organizations and methods of work, and the intrusion of party spirit into the neutrality hitherto so carefully preserved, gave rise to

divided counsels, which at the close of 1888 brought about a revision of the rules of the Central Committee. The outcome of this shaking of the Societies will be best described in the words of the Women's Suffrage Journal for January 1889.

"The net result of the proceedings in regard to the revision of the rules of the Central Committee of the National Society for Women's Suffrage has been the dissolution of the society heretofore existing under that name, and the creation out of its constituent elements of two distinct societies. The one established by the new rules, on December 12th, under the title Central National Society for Women's Suffrage,' admits as affiliated bodies, entitled to send delegates to its Council, Associations organized for other purposes than the extension of the Parliamentary franchise to women. The other, established December 13th by the re-construction under the old rules of the Central Committee of the National Society for Women's Suffrage,' admits as associated or affiliated bodies such Associations only as are organized for the sole object of obtaining the extension of the Parliamentary franchise for women.

"The division of the 'Central Committee' into two organizations may be regarded as an evidence of redundant energy in that section of the Women's Suffrage Society which has hitherto existed under that name. There are some living organisms in the animal world which increase by fission. The observer perceives an animalcule, perhaps moving a little slowly, as if conscious of some difficulty in progression. The two

extremities of the creature show signs of wanting to

go

in different directions. In a few minutes he looks again, and lo! instead of one, he beholds two organisms, each instinct with new life. Thus, the Central Committee, having divided into two parts, represents two organisms, each seeking new adherents, each gathering in its harvest in its own separate field, and each, we trust, destined to add its quota to the forces which will bring nearer the accomplishment of the object of the society."

The Press was quick, after its wont, to make the most of what savoured of a quarrel; but time has shown that Miss Becker appraised the division at its true value, when she replied as follows to an enquiring member of the Press fraternity:

"The facts are simply that the original Central Committee was in partnership with the Societies throughout the country on certain conditions. The Central wished to alter the arrangement, and proposed new conditions unacceptable to the other Societies. Whereupon the 'Central' broke the partnership by adopting the new conditions. The other Societies then simply reunited under the old rules with those members of the original Central who disapproved of the new conditions. Both Committees are now vigorously at work, and I see no reason why the only rivalry between them should not be the friendly one of which can do most work for the cause."

§36. The Protest of the "Nineteenth Century."

An opportunity for the friendly rivalry recommended in the letter just quoted speedily presented itself. In the June number of the Nineteenth Century a protest was printed, bearing the signatures of 104 ladies, well known in West-End drawing-rooms, in the following

terms:

"FEMALE SUFFRAGE.

"A Women's Protest.

"The undersigned protest strongly against the proposed extension of the Parliamentary franchise to women, which they believe would be a measure distasteful to the great majority of the women of the country—unnecessary -and mischievous both to themselves and to the State."

Never before in the history of the agitation had such a step been known as a formulated expression of hostility from women.

This was, of course, the signal for a counter-blast. Immediately the offices in Great College Street and Parliament Street set a declaration in circulation:

"The undersigned desire to express their approval of the proposed extension of the Parliamentary franchise to women, which they believe would be beneficial both to them and to the State."

The Editor of the Fortnightly Review consented to open his pages to the counter-list, which in a fortnight contained the names of two thousand women all more or less of a representative character. Space was found in

the July Fortnightly for six hundred of these, together with a reply from Mrs. Fawcett. The entire list of signatures to the declaration was afterwards published by the two Committees. An excellent reply also appeared in the Manchester Examiner and Times, written by Miss Becker, and reprinted as a pamphlet.

The declaration was the latest piece of work in which Caroline Ashurst Biggs took part. For many months it had been painful to see her combating the weakness that increased rapidly upon her, and at last on September 4th she faded from life.