Tuesday.—Burnie burning with curiosity to know whether 'tis true, as boldly rumoured, that Duke of Connaught has been appointed to chief command of Army at Aldershot? If so, on what grounds? Campbell-Bannerman with strategic brevity answered that appointment had been made in accordance with principle of selection of the fittest. House, moderately full at moment, received the explanation with much less enthusiasm than might have been expected. This encouraged gentlemen below gangway to persist in divers enquiries designed to illustrate, and perchance establish, C.-B.'s position. Alpheus Cleophas joined in hunt; particularly anxious to know what experience in real fighting the new Commander had enjoyed? "He was in command of brigade in Egyptian expedition," said C.-B., making an involuntary sword-pass at Alpheus.
"Yes," persisted that matter-of-fact person; "but will the right hon. gentleman tell us how near or how far away from the real fighting the Duke of Connaught stood?"
No authentic record being in archives of War Office, Secretary of State declined to commit himself to reply. Later, in Committee, Alpheus staggered Civil Lord of the Admiralty with enquiry as to steam-launch built at Portsmouth dockyard for Duke of Connaught "at the expense of the people." "What has become of that launch?" Alpheus asked, fixing Robertson with gleaming eye, as if he suspected he might have it concealed somewhere about his person. Robertson tremblingly answered that he knew nothing about it. Alpheus not by any means mollified; means to bring up whole subject in Committee on Army Estimates.
Business done.—Over four millions voted on Navy Estimates by some twenty or thirty Members representing House of Commons.
Wednesday.—Mr. G. made fine speech to-day, moving Third Reading of Home-Rule Bill. Benefited immensely by compression; only an hour long; but full of meat and matter. Long grown accustomed to these supreme efforts of Perennial Youth. A series this Session which, in respect of eloquence, vitality, and force, will stand comparison with any equal number delivered in what was (erroneously it now turns out) regarded as his prime.
More interesting as an episode was the reappearance on the Parliamentary stage of a Disraeli. Coningsby has sat in House for full Session; wisely abstained from imprudence of young Member of to-day, who takes the oath at four o'clock and catches the Speaker's eye at ten. Now, in these closing days of Session, on seventy-ninth day debate Home-Rule Bill, Coningsby modestly thinks "the time has come when they shall hear me."
House did so with pleasure. Only a small gathering. Mr. G. absent, which was a pity. On the 7th of December, 1837, Mr. G., sitting on back bench on Conservative side, lifted up "a fine head of jet-black hair, always carefully parted from the crown downward to his brow," to listen to an earlier maiden speech delivered by an elderly young man, "ringed and curled like an Assyrian bull," his violet velvet waistcoat garlanded with gold chains. Across the bridge of fifty-six years a marvellous memory might have recalled this figure had the ex-Member for Newark to-day been in his place to look across the House at the dapper young man, with quiet self-possessed manner, who, having considered this Government Bill, had come to the conclusion that it is "a measure born in deceit, nurtured in concealment, swaddled in the gag, and thrust upon the country without the sanction of the people." The old Disraelian ring about that phrase. House sees again D'Israeli the Younger; only Younger than ever. But that is a reproach Coningsby may outlive.
Finished at Last!
Business done.—Third Reading of Home-Rule Bill moved.