THE WEEK OF THE YEAR.
"My dear John," I said to him later, "how on earth could you make such a terrible mistake? The only amelioration it has is that it was so stupendous and obvious that it was plainly stumbled upon without intent or purport to deceive."
"Thank you, Toby," said John Dillon. "I suppose that is clear enough to the generous mind. But I know a blunder is sometimes worse than a crime. The fact is, about the time I spoke at Castlerea, things were so bad in Ireland, the police so little hesitating to shoot, that I got mixed up in my dates, and remembered Mitchelstown when I was thinking about something else."
Business done.—Home-Rule Bill in Committee.
Tuesday.—Tritton descending amongst the minnows has brought up Conybeare. Not much heard of late of that eminent legislator. Seems he's been compensating enforced silence in House by "saying things" of Speaker in letter to newspaper. More than hints Speaker, moved by political motives, has acted unfairly in Chair. Perhaps Tritton had done better to leave him alone. Comparatively few were aware of the little excursion into print. Now blazoned forth to all the world. Since 'twas done 'twas well 'twas done admirably. Speaker moved to one of those outbursts of passionate though restrained eloquence of which, upon occasion, he shows himself capable. As Baron Ferdy remarks:—"Since G.P.R. James was sent as Consul to Venice, the only city in the world where the solitary horseman of his many novels could not be 'observed,' nothing so quaint as condemning one of the few parliamentary orators of the day to the silence of the Chair."
Mr. G. delivered brief but magnificent speech, instinct with the true spirit of Parliamentarian. Prince Arthur said a few words; everybody looked round for Curse Of Camborne but unwonted access of modesty had seized him. Here was opportunity with crowded House waiting on his words. And where was he? Not in his place; so episode closed.
Though Conybeare's intention probably not kindly meant, Speaker certainly under considerable obligation to him. Opportunity afforded House of enthusiastically applauding the most capable, dignified, upright Speaker that ever faced the fierce light that beats upon the Chair of the House of Commons.
Came across Herbert Maxwell just now; haven't seen him since Saturday; met at dinner to Art and Literature given at Mansion House by Lord Mayor Knill. "Bayard finished his speech yet?" I asked.
"Not sure," said Maxwell; "fancy not. When I was carried out, in state approaching coma, I observed on table before him two or three other volumes of manuscript, containing further passages of the prodigious recitation."
Bayard is the new American Minister, doncha; made his first public appearance at the Mansion House on Saturday; felt he must rise to occasion; and did.
"Yours is a mere speck of a country, Toby," he said, before we went in to dinner. "Your public speeches are, very properly, planned in proportion. Now America, as you may have heard, is a vast Continent, and I've got up a little thing to scale."
"Otherwise a very pleasant dinner," said Maxwell. "I sat next to a Citizen and Loriner. Don't know what a Loriner is, but fancy, from look in my friend's eyes, it's something to do with fish. When turtle soup appeared on table there was phosphorescent gleam in the worthy Loriner's eyes. He prodded me genially in ribs with a fat elbow, and said with ungent chuckle, 'Ah, I s'pose you writing fellows don't often sit down to a dinner like this?'"
Business done.—In Committee on Home-Rule Bill. Much cry and few Amendments.
Thursday.—At ten o'clock to-night guillotine descended; simultaneously Opposition lost their head; for hour and half there raged succession of angry scenes that beat a gorgeous record. Mr. G. and Prince Arthur, coming and going from division lobbies, were made objects of rival ovations. Liberals and the Irish leaped to their feet, madly cheering when Premier dropped in. Few minutes earlier or later came Prince Arthur; instantly Unionists on their feet wildly cheering. Outside all London making holiday. Here hon. gentlemen almost clutching at each other's throats across the beneficently wide floor. Instead of wedding festivities and national holiday depleting House it was fuller than ever. Villiers came down to give his vote against Closure; Unionists rapturous round their Grand Old Man. The other side had Mr. G. with his fourscore years and four. Villiers of Wolverhampton topped him by seven years. Nearly carried him into division lobby shoulder high; beat hasty retreat after doing this last service to his country.
"Fact is, you know, Toby," he said, "I'm not quite the young fellow I used to be; can't stand the racket as was easy enough some sixty or seventy years ago. If they'll kindly excuse me, I'll go and take a walk with the crowd to see the illuminations in Piccadilly. That will be delightfully quiet after this turmoil."
