Business done.—Third Day Debate on Second Reading Home-Rule Bill.
Tuesday.—Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett (Knight) back again. "He's Knight and Morning," said leal Tom Sutherland, of the P. & O., looking on admiringly from the starboard poop. In a sense this is true, for Ashmead gave us a full hour's discourse last night, and here in broad day, on threshold of another sitting, proposes to add another forty minutes. Prince Arthur had quite a time with him last night. He was, so to speak, the Boy left on the Burning Deck whence all but he Had Fled. Right Hon. Gentlemen on Front Opposition Bench, following example set in other parts of House, cleared out when Ashmead appeared at table with prodigious roll of manuscript in red right hand. Prince Arthur looked wistfully towards door, but, remembering leading precept of Old Morality, determined to stay, and do duty to Queen and Country. So sat it out till midnight struck; Debate automatically closed, and Speaker called on next Order of the Day.
Ashmead, pleased with his success, and pondering on fresh delights in store for House when it met again, remained standing at table, reflectively arranging his papers. Horrible thought suddenly struck him; froze his veins, and paled his brow. With generous desire that country should fully share advantages of House, he had his speech printed in advance. Copies sent to newspapers. Suppose they printed it all, whereas he had not found opportunity to deliver more than half of it! Awakened from reverie by violent tugging at coat-tails. This was Prince Arthur, signalling him to sit down, with perhaps unnecessary vigour. But Prince Arthur had a long score (fully an hour long) to pay off.
Great speech finished at to-day's sitting; another hour saw it through. "I think I had my hour last night," said Prince Arthur, as, on rising of his esteemed colleague, he hastily passed out. Example again contagious; Benches emptied; but Ellis Ashmead pounded along. There was the speech reproachfully facing him in its portentous-printed length; must be reeled off, though the glass roof fell. Did it at last; sat down, flushed, and triumphant. Members, warily assuring themselves speech really finished, began to stream back again, till all the Benches filled to hear Davitt. Excellent speech; full of human nature; illumined by gleams of grim, humour; better if it had been shorter by a third; but quality so good, that House, now crowded, sat it all out.
POLITICAL ECONOMY-AND THE REFORMERS' IDEA OF HOW THE OFFICIALS SHOULD BE TREATED.
A Nasty One for Joseph; or, a Gentle Reminder from Just-in Time McC-rthy.