He was always ready to be of service in whatsoever unobtrusive manner.
The House cherishes tender memories of a scene in 1890. The fight in
Committee Room No. 15 had recently closed. Its memories still seared
the breasts of the Irish members. Members were never certain that at any
moment active hostilities might not commence even under the eye of the
Speaker. One night a motion by Mr. John Morley raising the Irish
question brought a large muster of the contending forces. Mr. Parnell,
who had temporarily withdrawn from the scene, put in an appearance with
the rest. He happened to seat himself on the same bench as Mr. Justin
McCarthy, whom the majority of the Irish members had elected to succeed
him in the leadership. Only a narrow space divided the twain. The most
apprehensive did not anticipate militant action on the part of Mr.
McCarthy. But, looking at Mr. Parnell's pale, stern face, knowing from
report of proceedings in Committee Room No. 15 what passion smouldered
beneath that mild exterior, timid members thought of what might happen,
supposing the two rose together diversely claiming the ear of the House
as Leader of the Irish Party.
[Illustration: THE BUFFER STATE.]
At this moment Mr. T. B. Potter entered and moved slowly up the House
like a Thames barge slipping down the river with the tide. He made his
way to the bench where the severed Irish Leaders sat, and planted
himself out between them, they perforce moving to right and left to make
room. Seeing him there, his white waistcoat shimmering in the evening
light like the mainsail of an East Indiaman, the House felt that all was
well. Mr. Parnell was a long-armed man; but, under whatsoever stress of
passion, he could not get at Mr. McCarthy across the broad space of the
member for Rochdale.
[Illustration: THE LATE LORD WINCHILSEA.]