[Illustration: Alpheus Cleophas.]
House of Commons, Monday, April 4.--ALPHEUS CLEOPHAS has adde
a new terror to Parliamentary life. It is bad enough to have him
unexpectedly rising from a customary seat; usually finds a place on
top Bench below Gangway, whence, in days that are no more, NEWDEGATE
used to lament fresh evidences of Papal ascendancy. House grown
accustomed to hearing the familiar voice from this accustomed spot.
To-night, conversation on question of Privilege been going forward for
some time. Seemed about to reach conclusion, when suddenly, far below
the Gangway in Irish quarter, ominous sound broke on startled ear.
[Illustration: Personal Conductor.]
At first all eyes turned to NEWDEGATE's old quarters; but the voice
evidently did not proceed thence. Following the sound, Members came
upon ALPHEUS CLEOPHAS breaking out in a fresh place. Otherwise,
all the same; the flat-toned voice, the imperturbable manner that
awaits cessation of storm of obloquy, and then completes interrupted
sentence; the conviction that somebody (generally the Government)
is acting dishonestly, and needs a watchful eye kept upon him;
the information conveyed that the Eye is now turned on--all were
there, each identified ALPHEUS CLEOPHAS. Up again and again during
preliminary discussion, always shouted at, and ever quietly waiting
till noise has subsided, when he finishes the interrupted sentence,
and begins another.
_Business done._--In Committee on Small Holdings.
_Tuesday._--Happy circumstance in the history of all Administrations
that there is never lacking a friend on their own side to keep them
on the right path. RADCLIFFE COOKE suddenly developed tendency towards
personally conducting the Government. Hitherto appeared as a docile
follower. New state of affairs arose in connection with Breach of
Privilege by Cambrian Railway Directors. HICKS-BEACH last night gave
notice to take into consideration Special Report of Select Committee
charging Directors with Breach of Privilege. BEACH proposed to wait
awhile till "the other side" had got up a case or two, to show that
if Masters were prone to punish their Servants for giving inconvenient
evidence on question of Hours of Labour, the Servants were no better
when they had power to inflict
[Illustration: WANTED, A FIGURE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LONDON COUNTY
COUNCIL.