During the intervals of pigeon pie and boiled beef, I have had the
pleasure of a few minutes' conversation with Mr. Cordes, and from that
conversation I have come to the conclusion that a Member of Parliament
holds the same position to the human race that a badger does to the
animal race. Some people think that the only earthly purpose for
which a badger can have been created was that of being baited, and I
have an idea that some persons seem to imagine that a member of
Parliament was created for nothing but that we might bait him. But on
this occasion we have been brought together not to bait Mr. Cordes,
but to fete him.
_Conservative Banquet, Newport,
January 20th, 1876._