_House of Commons, Monday, March 6._--"The SPEAKER took the Chair at
three o'clock." That is an extract from the _Journals of the House_, a
fascinating literary work, ably edited by Mr. PALGRAVE with the
assistance of Mr. MILMAN, much in favour at MUDIE'S. Last time I saw
SPEAKER rise from Chair was Banquet at Mansion House given by way of
farewell to M. WADDINGTON. Very remarkable scene it was. In ordinary
times SPEAKER of House of Commons is personally unknown to outside
public. He takes no part in debate; never goes on Midlothian Campaigns;
belongs to no faction; has no political following; and should have no
enemy. British public, regarding with close attention the fascinating
arena at Westminster, have evidently formed clear opinion of its present
President. When list of guests whom LORD MAYOR delighted to honour read
out by Toastmaster, name of SPEAKER received with enthusiastic and
prolonged applause. House of Commons men present, of whom there was
large muster, evidently taken by surprise. They know the SPEAKER,
because they daily live with him. How outside public should have been
seized with such keen appreciation of his worth was more than they were
prepared for.
This may have been, probably was, to some extent a _succès d'estime_.
Mr. PEEL'S speech was genuine triumph; very brief, the shortest of the
series, but incomparably the best; lofty in tone, perfect in delivery,
saying just the right thing at the right moment in the right way. Its
effect at Mansion House something like that which electrified House when
Mr. PEEL, standing on steps of Chair, faced it for first time as its
SPEAKER, revealing, even to those who had known him long, the full
depths of his nature and the towering height of his capacity.
"_Mon Dieu_, TOBEE," said an eminent Frenchman, "the world in both
hemispheres has always envied you the possession of your House of
Commons. Now we know you have a Speaker worthy of its best traditions."
Banquet a great success; certainly the most brilliant galaxy of guests
drawn together in same place since Mr. PHELPS, the American Minister,
said farewell in memorable speech. Much struck with completeness of
arrangements. Even the waiters imbued with consciousness of great
occasion.
"Hope you enjide your dinner, Sir?" said one to me, when dessert placed
on table.
"Excellent," I said; "perhaps the whitebait done a little too much;
showed tendency to present itself in fragments; but 'twas nothing."
"Yessir," said the Waiter, diligently brushing off imaginary crumbs.
"I'm going now, Sir."
"Ah," I said; "then I suppose you don't wait to hear the speeches; flow
of reason, you know, quite a treat."
"Yessir," said he, still pegging away at the spotless table-cloth. "Can
I get you anything more, Sir?"
"No, thank you," I said, quite touched at the man's considerate
attention, the more marked since, as far as I recognised him, I had not
seen him before. "I've done excellently."
"Yessir. I'm going now." Hardly seemed able to part. Not sure whether,
in circumstances of international amity, I shouldn't have shaken hands
with him. Made half advance in that direction. He quickly advanced his
hand, but after glance at my extended palm, as rapidly withdrew it.
Perhaps he was right. Not usual to shake hands with Waiter, though
really, on occasion like this, one might disregard conventionalities.
Waiter lingeringly withdrew, still keeping his eye on me, as if
expecting me to call him back. Nodded a friendly farewell, and pensively
peeled an orange, thinking how one touch of nature makes us kin. This
good Waiter and I quite subdued by the graceful, generous thought of
Lord Mayor KNILL, who has added one more link to the chain that binds in
amity two nations that have fought all the way from Cressy to Waterloo.
_Business done._--Got into Committee on Navy Estimates. In the Lobby
sort of rehearsal of new Battle of Boyne. The other night SAUNDERSON
said something disrespectful of Irish Members. WILLIE REDMOND, from his
proud position among nobility and gentry above Gangway, called out, "You
wouldn't say that in the Lobby." "Say it anywhere," responded the
Colonel, ever ready to oblige.
Next day wrote letter to REDMOND, incidentally mentioning that if he
wanted to hear the words over again, should meet him in Lobby to-night
after questions. Nothing nearer REDMOND'S heart's desire. At five
o'clock Colonel, accompanied by another military gentleman, carrying his
cloak, a pair of pistols, a stiletto, a bottle of _eau de Cologne_, a
sponge, and a clothes-brush, sternly strode into Lobby. Carefully
counted paces till he was standing as nearly as possible on centre tile;
folded arms, and wished that Night or REDMOND would come. Colonel
WARING, with military accoutrements and cloak; stood a pace and a half
to the left rear. Presently entered REDMOND, accompanied by J. J.
O'KELLY, also carrying cloak. Secreted in folds were shillelagh, bottle
of whiskey, pair of spurs, a toothpick, and a freshly-minted
crown-piece. This last, at suitable moment, to be flung across Lobby;
(friend secretly told off to be on alert to pick it up.) Action to be
explained as typical of throwing King's Crown into the Boyne. The
principals approaching, REDMOND, after manner of schoolboys, who edge up
to each other, each hoping the other doesn't want to fight, asked
Colonel to "say it again." "Certainly; but say what?" Here difficulty
began, which spoiled whole business. REDMOND insisted upon being called
a murderer. SAUNDERSON punctilious on minor points, wouldn't go quite so
far in his desire to oblige. Angry altercation followed; Members, to
number of something like hundred, formed ring. REDMOND, with right
shoulder aggressively hoisted, spoke over it at the Colonel. Colonel
stood erect, with hands loosely hanging by his side, ready for
emergencies. Crowd grew thicker and more excited. "Expected every moment
would be our next," as CLANCY breathlessly put it. But in the end storm
blew itself out. Nothing happened, and crowd disappointedly dispersed.
Ulster will fight,
But----_not to-night._
_Thursday._--Opposition mustered to-day in high spirits; meeting at
Carlton yesterday addressed by MARKISS and Prince ARTHUR; GRANDOLPH,
looking in, took back seat in his customary retiring fashion. Meeting
insisted on his coming to the front; made spirited speech; scarcely a
dry eye in the Club when, looking shyly across at Prince ARTHUR, he
alluded to him as his "old political friend," his "brilliant and
esteemed Parliamentary Leader."
"I think," said the MARKISS, as meeting dispersed, "this will drive nail
in coffin of Home-Rule Bill, and make things pretty hot for Mr. G. As
HART DYKE epigrammatically puts it, 'We Unionists, above all others,
should be united.'"
This, as I mentioned, happened yesterday. This afternoon Opposition
mustered in anticipation of aggressive action by Mr. G. Had given notice
to move suspension of Twelve o'Clock Rule, in order to make progress
with Estimates.
"Not if we know it," said Right Hon. JAMES LOWTHER, commonly called
"JEMMIE."
Mr. G., previous to moving Resolution, explained there was no intention
of sitting late; Suspension Standing Order was matter of precaution
designed to prevent arbitrary carrying over of Amendments when
adequately discussed. Prince ARTHUR'S keen eye discerned that this might
be so construed as to convey no advantage to Government. When twelve
o'clock came Debate might be diverged on to lines of wrangle round
Question of Adjournment, and so House up and nothing done. On this
understanding he declared he would not resist Motion of Leader of House.
Then JEMMIE, rushing to the front, made the running. Did Mr. G. intend,
in any case, to take Second Reading of Home-Rule Bill on Thursday next?
Mr. G. nodded assent. "Very well, then I'll divide against you," JEMMIE
roared across the pained figure of his esteemed Leader. Not to be moved
by blandishment or argument from this position. Prince ARTHUR, seeing
matters hopeless, haughtily strode forth, GRANDOLPH loyally accompanying
him. But more than half his old colleagues stayed behind with JEMMIE
LOWTHER who got Opposition soundly beaten by majority of 85.
"There's only one thing we want to run our majority over 100," said
SQUIRE OF MALWOOD, smiling beneficently from Treasury Bench. "Another
meeting of the Party at the Carlton Club will do it."
"What did you mean by to-night's performance?" I asked JEMMIE, later.
"Mean? I meant business. I'm a little tired of lurking in background
seeing men come to front who haven't half my ability, political acumen,
or Parliamentary knowledge. I intend to have a Party of my own. There
has been a Fourth Party, and before that there was a Tea-room Party, and
a Cave of Adullam. I shall eclipse them all."
"And under what name do you think history will know your faction?" I
asked, much interested.
The Right Hon. took up a piece of paper, and on it wrote the words,
"LOWTHER'S ARCADE."
_Business done._--WOLMER'S Amendment on the Navy Estimates negatived.
_Friday._--Prince ARTHUR, and Statesman to whom AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN
distantly alludes as "My Right Hon. friend," sit separated by width of
House. But, in assaults on Government, they are not divided. Idle
stories about differences of opinion arising between them quite
unnecessarily denied.
"I never look at them," said TREVELYAN, "without recalling to mind a
passage in what is, I think, my favourite among DICKENS'S novels. You
remember the scene in _Great Expectations_, where _Joe Gargery_ visits
_Pip_, in his day of prosperity, in London? 'Ever best of friends,' says
JOE (CHAMBERLAIN). 'Dear JOE,' says Prince ARTHUR. 'You know, PIP,' says
JOE, 'as you and me were ever friends, and it were looked forrerd to
betwixt us as bein' calc'lated to lead to larks.'"
The expectation not lacking of past fulfilment; full of promise in days
near at hand.
_Business done._--Sat from two to seven discussing whether we shall sit
to-morrow in order to make progress with public business. Finally
decided we shall. Meanwhile, morning sitting slipped away.
[Illustration: "GREAT EXPECTATIONS."
["As persistent attempts are being made to show that Mr.
BALFOUR and Mr. CHAMBERLAIN are at variance respecting
the tactics which should be adopted by the Unionist
Party in Opposition, we may state that more thorough
accord never existed than at the present moment."--_The
Times, March 8, 1893._]
_Gargery Chamberlain._ "You know, PIP, as you and me
were ever the best of Friends!"
_Balfour Pip._ "Dear JO!"]
* * * * *
VINO ITALIANO CON TEMPERANZA.--Signor VITALI, of the
Italian-Wine-in-England Mission, writes to us to say that Sir WILFRID
LAWSON might temper his favourite beverage of _Aqua Pura_ with half a
gallon flask of _Vinum Purum Italianum_, such as Chianti, and he would
be none the worse for it. We are inclined to agree with the Signor
VITALI, as, in our opinion, there is small likelihood of any Italian
wine-drinker "getting any forrader." Of course Signor VITALI, being
somewhat interested in the matter, and therefore, most hopeful that his
enterprise will result in orders for any number of flasks, and not end
in an empty _fiasco_, would not fail to point out that Italian wine is
likely to have a prolonged existence in this country, as it is not
lacking in Vitali-ty.
* * * * *