[337] "Journal," vol. i. p. 342.
[338] "Accustomed in their courts to consider every matter of equal importance," says Barnes, "they adopt the same earnest and stiff solemnity of manner, whether they are disputing about violated morality or insulted liberty, or about a petty affray where a hat, value one shilling, has been torn in a scuffle." "Parliamentary Sketches," p. 79.
[339] D'Ewes' "Journal," p. 666.
[340] "Life of Sidmouth," vol. i. p. 119.
[341] Harford's "Recollections of Wilberforce," p. 95. (Guilford hastily resumed his seat, shortly afterwards applied for the Chiltern Hundreds, and retired into comfortable obscurity.)
[342] His first effort in the Irish House, in 1709, was singularly abortive. "Mr. Speaker, I conceive——" he began. "Mr. Speaker, I conceive——" he stammered out again. Shouts of "Hear! hear!" encouraged him. "I conceive, Mr. Speaker——" he repeated, and then collapsed. A cruel colleague at once rose and remarked that the hon. gentleman had conceived three times and brought forth nothing! O'Flanagan's "Irish Chancellors," vol. ii. p. 8.
[343] Moore's "Life of Sheridan," vol. i. p. 348.
[344] Forster's "Biographical Essays," vol. ii. p. 195.
[345] Dr. King's "Anecdotes of His Own Time," p. 114.
[346] "Eloquence," said Bolingbroke, "must flow like a stream that is fed by an abundant spring, and not spout forth a little frothy water on some gaudy day and remain dry the rest of the year."