Clothes presumably by Stanley (Pool).
Business done.—Two votes in Committee of Supply.
Saturday, 1.40 A.M.—Another late sitting, chiefly owing to Truculent Tim. That depressing; but Members wend their way homeward hurt by crueller blow. Will be remembered that in last Session of old Parliament Howard Vincent made great hit. Came down to the House clothed, not only with chastity, but with mats, strips of carpet, brushes, frying-pans, fish-kettles, and other household goods, all, as he said, made in foreign prisons. Those present during sitting will never forget curious illusion of caudal appendage occasioned by accident of handle of one of the frying-pans, thrust in hon. Member's coat-tail pocket, sticking out at angle of forty-five degrees.
General effect was that House, in flush of generous indignation, passed resolution calling upon Government forthwith to prohibit importation of prison-made brushes and the rest. Committee appointed, and first discovery made was that the brush Howard Vincent negligently dandled in hand whilst he temporarily painted out Ministerial majority, was not, as represented, of prison manufacture, but (Sark adds) was secretly bought by the gallant colonel at Army and Navy Stores!
Bryce, who on eve of foreign voyage, solemnly made first part of this declaration. Said nothing more. But confidence once broken, House begins to suspect the bona fides of the frying-pans, the early history of the fish-kettles.
Business done.—More votes in Supply.
Legal Lunching.—The energetic enterprise of journalism stops at nothing in catering for the curiosity of the public. The Birmingham Mail tells how the different judges "refresh themselves in the half hour adjournment during assizes." It is exceedingly interesting to know that Justice Hawkins "takes nothing," and that Baron Pollock "contents himself with a large cup of chocolate and a biscuit." Moreover, how gratifying it is to be assured that "no judge takes a substantial luncheon while engaged in Court." All such matters are of the greatest moment.