_House of Commons, Monday, June 1._--House of Commons, as usual
at this time of Session, driven against wall in its struggles with
appointed work. With brief recesses, been at work since November last.
One thing everyone insists on is that Prorogation shall take place
at end of July. Difficult to see how even by most masterly management
that can be accomplished. Apart from Education Bill, enough work in
hand, if Supply be fairly dealt with, to carry us on to last week
in July. Every moment precious; every quarter of an hour lost an
irretrievable misfortune.
Accordingly, to-day, meeting in the freshness and vigour of new week,
House takes up a local Bill dealing with pilotage in Bristol Channel.
Two or three Members talk about it for hour and a half. House neither
knowing nor caring anything on subject, empties; Division bell sounds
through all the rooms and corridors. How is a man to vote when the
question abruptly submitted is, "That the Pilotage Provisional Orders
No. 1 Bill be now read a Second Time?" Still, it's as well to vote, as
it runs up average attendance on Divisions, at which at election times
constituents sometimes glance. Fortunately, in this case, MICHAEL
BEACH, as one of Members for Bristol, took part in Debate and
Division. As useful this as sign-post to belated traveller at four
cross-roads. Conservatives and Liberals crowded at Bar keep their eye
on President of Board of Trade, watching which way he would go. He
led the way into the "Aye" lobby. Thither followed him all the
Conservatives, all the Liberals trooping into the "No" lobby. When
Noses were counted, it was found that 165 voted "Aye," 119 "No." And
thus it came to pass that the Pilotage Provisional Order No. 1 Bill
was read a Second Time.
One gathered from chance expressions, and especially from the interest
taken in the affair by Members for City of Bristol, that Bristol had
special interest in the Bill. In addition to MICHAEL BEACH'S support,
WESTON on Liberal side, HILL on Conservative Benches, supported Second
Reading. Sinking political differences, Member for East Bristol, and
Member for South Bristol, agreed upon plan of campaign.
"You, WESTON," said Colonel HILL who, having obtained his military
rank in the peaceful pursuits of commercial shipping, is a master of
strategy, "speak so low that they can't hear a word you say, whilst I,
concealing a miniature speaking-trumpet in my mouth, will roar at them
as if a stout North-Easter were blowing through the lanyards of our
first battalion, deployed in open order."
Tactics succeeded admirably. Sir JOSEPH WESTON, a mild, aldermanic
person, presented himself from quarter behind Front Opposition Bench,
and, to all appearances, delivered an admirable address. His lips
moved, his right hand marked the rhythm of his ordered speech; now
his eyes flashed in reprobation, and anon smiled approval. But not
a sound, save a soft murmur, as of distant dripping waterfall, was
heard. _L'Enfant Prodigue_ wasn't in it for successful pantomime.
When the movement stopped, and the Alderman was discovered to be
sitting down, the martial-nautical HILL sprang up from Bench on other
side, and the stillness was broken by a rasping voice, that woke DICKY
TEMPLE out of his early slumber. The strategy, cleverly conceived, was
admirably carried out, and Bristol, thanks to diversified talent of
its Members, got its Bill. Only it seemed a pity that an hour and
a half of precious public time should incidentally have been
appropriated.
_Business done_.--Irish Land Bill in report stage.
_Tuesday_.--House of Lords the scene of a thrilling performance
to-night. Usually meets for business at half-past four. On Tuesdays,
in order to give Noble Lords opportunity for preparing for exhaustive
labours, public business does not commence till half-past five.
Punctually at that hour, a solitary pedestrian might have been
observed walking up the floor of the historic Chamber. A flowing gown
hid, without entirely concealing, his graceful figure; a full-bottomed
wig crowned his stately head, as the everlasting snows veil the lofty
heights of the Himalayas. He looked neither to the right hand nor to
the left, but with swinging stride strode forward. At the end of
the Chamber stood the Throne of England, on which, in days gone
by, HARCOURT'S Plantagenet fathers sat, and in which some day--who
knows?--the portly frame of him who now proudly bears the humble
title, SQUIRE OF MALWOOD, may recline.
But that is another story. The gowned-and-wigged figure observed
walking up the floor of the House of Lords at half-past five on a June
evening, was not making for the Throne. Before that piece of furniture
stood a bench, in appearance something like the familiar ottoman
of the suburban drawing-room. It was the Woolsack, and the _svelte_
figure, swinging towards it with the easy stride of superlative grace
and comparative youth, was the LORD HIGH CHANCELLOR! Before him,
at respectful distance, went his Purse-bearer, ready to produce the
wherewithal should his Lordship desire a pick-me-up by the way. Behind
him came the Mace-bearer, and, a foot further in the rear, Black Rod.
[Illustration: "Accommodated with a Seat."]
Odsfakins! a stately procession, which ought to have been set in the
centre of an admiring multitude. But the LORD CHANCELLOR'S springy
footfall echoed through an almost empty chamber. DENMAN was faithful
at his post, ready to move that some Bill be read a Second Time on
that day nine months. Here and there, on widely severed benches,
perched a Peer, whilst from the Gallery, where he had been
accommodated with a seat, the smiling mobile face of Mr. Justice DAY
peered forth. He had just looked in on his way home from the Courts,
interested in a scene where some day he may take his place as Brother
BRAMWELL and Brother COLERIDGE have done.
The keen eyes of the great LORD CHANCELLOR flashed round the chilling
scene. Clerk at the table mumbled something about Provisional Orders.
"Those that are of that opinion say 'Content,'" observed the LORD
CHANCELLOR. "Contrary, 'Not Content;' the Contents have it. This House
will now adjourn."
Then uprose the LORD HIGH CHANCELLOR, and with the same stately
swinging step, moved towards the doorway, with the Purse-bearer, the
Mace-bearer, and Black Rod in his train. It was twenty-five minutes to
Six; full five minutes had elapsed since the House of Lords met. Now
House of Lords had adjourned, and the throbbing pulses of an Empire on
which the sun never sets beat with steadier motion, knowing that all
was well. _Business done._--House of Lords adjourned.
_Thursday_.--Rather a painful scene just now between PRINCE ARTHUR and
the SQUIRE of MALWOOD. T.W. RUSSELL proposed new Clause on Irish Land
Bill, which provided for reïnstatement of evicted tenants; received
with general applause, and finally agreed to. In the midst of general
congratulations and shaking hands, the SQUIRE lounged in, and with
many back-handed slaps at the Government, added his approval to the
general chorus. The Ministry were hopelessly bad, but this clause,
though proposed by a supporter of theirs, was moderately good.
[Illustration: Balfour, Q.C.]
"Singular thing," said Prince ARTHUR, in meditative tone, as if he
were talking to himself, "that the Right Hon. Gentleman can never
interfere in debate, however far removed the subject may be from
the arena of Party Politics, without forthwith dragging it into the
arena."
"That," said BALFOUR, Q.C., who chanced to be on the Front Opposition
Bench, "is a striking example of the misapprehension under which acute
minds occasionally labour. I have known my Right Hon. friend for many
years; we have sat on this Bench together in Opposition, and have
worked in the same Ministry, and I confess it is a little shocking to
me to hear him accused of tendency to enter upon controversial topics.
I am myself a man of peace, and do not readily assume an attitude of
reproof; but, as Mr. HENRY ARTHUR WILSON said when he stood over the
improvised Baccarat-table with a piece of chalk in his hand, the line
must be drawn somewhere, and I am inclined to rule it at the place
where my friend HARCOURT is accused of wilfully and designedly
disturbing the Parliamentary peace." _Business done_.--Still on the
Land Bill.
_Friday Night_.--Still grinding away at the report stage of Land Bill;
don't get any forrader; been at it a week, and to-night just as many
Amendments on the paper as there were on Monday. All night upon a
single new Clause. Everybody wearied to death. Even WINDBAG SEXTON a
little moody; not had such a good night as usual; the debate lasting
throughout sitting, and, there being only one Motion before the House,
SEXTON (with the SPEAKER in the Chair) could speak only once; that
he did, at considerable length. But a poor consolation for lost
opportunity.
Congratulated the suffering SPEAKER on this accident; pointed out to
him things were bad enough; but might be worse.
"I suppose, TOBY," he said, "you never read PRIOR? Haven't looked him
up for many years; but, sitting here through this week, there is one
couplet--from his _Solomon_, I think--ever running through my mind:--
'ABRA was ready ere I called her name;
And, though I call'd another, ABRA came.'