T. B-rt.
Crimes Bill on again. Committee pegging away far into tomorrow. A good business-like debate, but a little dull. Minority of between seventy and eighty industriously tried to carry Amendments moved by Burt and others. Majority, varying between 120 and 140, thinking matter over in privacy of smoke-room, news-room, and terrace, come up with minds fully made up on points of detail, and always vote with Ministers. Burt, beaten again and again, comes back to scratch, looking, towards half-past two in the morning, a little broken down, but still full of fight.
Business done.—Mines Bill.
Thursday.—House of Lords deserves well of its country. Is setting Commons example it will do well to follow. On Monday, as noted, Wemyss made long speech, and, no one rising to follow in debate, House forthwith adjourned. Same thing happened on Tuesday when Denman introduced beneficent proposals for limiting speeches. Met with success beyond his wildest expectations. Had asked that duration of speeches might be strictly limited. Lords with one accord forthwith accepted principle. Applied it so strictly that, as Lord Chancellor in his epigrammatic way put it, "speeches were limited to silence." In fact no one spoke at all. Denman had debate all to himself, and House adjourned. So pleased with this arrangement that it was carried a step further to-night. Only one speech was made. Was delivered from Woolsack. So brief may be quoted verbatim:—
"House will now adjourn," said Lord Chancellor.
That was all, and noble Lords dispersed.
"Most pleasant, informing and useful sitting we've had for many Sessions," said Buckingham to Chandos.
"Allons!" said Stratheden to Campbell, "let us go and visit those foolish Commons who waste their time in much speaking."
Commons crowded and animated. Evidently no prospect here of foregoing speech-making. Sixty-eight questions on paper to begin with. George Campbell, his mind athirst for information, wanted to know from President of Board of Trade what was the meaning of "allotment." Ritchie, with elbow leaning negligently on box, and legs crossed, mockingly referred the ingenuous Knight to Johnson's Dictionary. Curiously reminiscent of Mephistopheles bantering Faust, was Ritchie as he looked across at Campbell.
Old Morality announced abandonment of various Government measures, dropping tear over each. Emotion became monotonous towards tenth tear, and Opposition rudely laughed. But Old Morality had his revenge later. Quite a long time since he has "pounced." But as midnight drew on, and little progress made, began to grow desperate. Chamberlain suddenly turned upon his allies, attacked them in rattling speech. Even voted against them when Division called. Government majority went down from customary hundred to alarming forty-two. Then Old Morality, goaded to madness, "pounced" right and left. Harcourt stirred up Goschen with long pole; Balfour yawned ostentatiously when Dillon convicted him of ignorance of Irish affairs; Parnell pounded away; T. W. Russell withdrew from alliance with Government; Tim Healy chuckled; Joseph Gillis alternately jeered and groaned. But Old Morality came out victor. Whenever lull occurred he moved Closure, and so presently wound up sitting.
