ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.
(Extracted from the Diary of Toby, M.P.)
House of Lords, Monday, July 13.—Camperdown, like Habakkuk, is capable de tout. Can do (is at least ready to undertake) anything. Like Lord John Russell, he would at an hour's notice take charge of the British fleet, whether in Home waters or on Foreign stations. Confesses with pathetic modesty that there are two things beyond his capacity. One is to find a needle in a pottle of hay; the other, to discover a teller in Division Lobby when no one proposes to tell.
The shade of Masterman recalls happy memories to the inconsolable Worthington Evans.
To-night this last dilemma faced noble earl. Home Rule Amendment Bill before House in Report stage. Macdonell moved amendment introducing principle of proportional representation. After long debate Question put from Woolsack. There being a few cries of "Not content!" House cleared for division.
Hereupon strange thing happened. Whilst majority of peers streamed into Content Lobby discovery was made that not only were there no tellers for the Not-Contents but no Not-Contents for the tellers. Fortunately Camperdown on the spot. Instantly took charge of the affair. According to his own narrative, which thrilled the listening Senate, he had gone into Division Lobby, "where," he added, "I stayed a long time."