His short period of office, memorable only for a conflict on a question of personal veracity between himself and Charles Stewart Parnell, as to his negotiations with the latter in respect of Home Rule, was terminated by another premature resignation.
Hans korte periode på posten, som er kendt på grund af en konflikt i et samvittighedsspørgsmål mellem ham og Charles Stewart Parnell vedrørende irsk selvstyre, blev afsluttet af endnu en for tidlig opsigelse.