 He was re-elected in 1886, and resigned his seat on 7 February 1888 by the procedural device of accepting the post of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds.His resignation was reported by "The Glasgow Herald" to be due to "his strong disapproval of the procedure adopted by the Gladstone Liberals in their Home Rule policy" and reportedly angered Liberal supporters in Dundee.He had written to Ex-Bailie John Robertson, the Chairman of the Dundee Liberal's on 25 November 1887 intimating his intention to resign owing to his objection to what he saw as some Liberals practically encouraging Irish Nationalists pursuing "obstruction in parliament" and "violent agitation and lawlessness in Ireland".