*** The Queen's head is the same (except in scale) on all coins of the same issue.] This "Cabinet of Caretakers" had but a short existence. The new Ministry met Parliament on July 6, and finished the necessary work of the session in six weeks. It was understood that Parliament was to be dissolved in time for a general election in November. It proved a restless autumn. In almost every constituency canvassing and speech-making went on without intermission for three months, Mr. Gladstone leading the van with his third Midlothian campaign. He gave no countenance to the demand for Irish Home Rule; on the contrary, he implored the British electors to return such a Liberal majority as should render his party independent of the Irish vote in Parliament. In response to this flashed out a general order from Parnell, directing Irishmen in English and Scottish constituencies to vote solid against the Liberals, who had "coerced Ireland and deluged Egypt with blood." The Irish leader's policy was to keep the two great parties balanced by the Home Rule vote, and the result of the elections was as nicely adjusted as that skilled tactician could have desired; 335 Liberals returned to the new Parliament were exactly balanced by 249 Conservatives and 86 Home Rulers. [Illustration: A COIN NO LONGER SEEN. The copper Penny of the early years of the reign.] [Sidenote: Mr. Gladstone's Third Administration.] Of course, when Parliament re-assembled in February 1886, it was merely a question of how many weeks or days should precede the downfall of a Ministry in such a hopeless minority in the Commons. Meanwhile strange rumours had been in circulation that Mr. Gladstone had decided to accept the doctrine of Home Rule for Ireland, against which he and his party had fought hitherto with as much obstinacy as the Conservatives. On December 16 the sketch of a scheme attributed to him appeared in some of the newspapers, and, in spite of an ambiguous disclaimer from himself, people gradually became aware that Mr. Gladstone had resolved to extricate his party from their subjection to the Irish party in Parliament by the astounding expedient of granting the essence of their demands. [Illustration: The BRITANNIA TUBULAR BRIDGE ACROSS THE MENAI STRAITS. Designed by Robert Stephenson and Sir William Fairbairn, and opened in 1850. It is 1,571 feet in length, and 100 feet above the water. The widest spans are each 470 feet.]