Business done.—Votes on Supply.
Tuesday.—Lords sat ten minutes to-night. Home to dinner, with sense of deserving well of country.
Commons at work again in Supply. Considered Vote for Science and Art Department, South Kensington. Cavendish-Bentinck contributed one or two speeches of great interest. Thin attendance, and prevalent air of lassitude. But, whilst on legs, C.-B. riveted attention. Very indignant with neglect of Art in common life. Old Members accustomed to Right Hon. Gentleman's little trick, of which he is sole repository. But new Members tremble, and grow pale, as, when denouncing any person or practice, Right Hon. Gentleman mysteriously raises his hair till it stands on end. Once this phenomenon came about when he denounced certain weighing-machines, which, he said, had recently been put up at London railway stations. Tops of this machine, he said, were supported by two columns, one supposed to be Ionic, and the other Doric.
"As matter of fact," said C.-B., his hair slowly uprising, "they're neither one thing nor the other, but simply German!"
As he spoke, fixed fiery eye on Home Secretary. Matthews, so accustomed to be badgered, and feeling his perfect innocence in this respect, shook his head. Phenomenon witnessed again when Bentinck discovered that picture, bought at Christie's for 120 guineas, subsequently sold to National Gallery for 400. Hair rose in angry protest.
Business done.—Thirteen Votes passed.
Thursday.—Dreary wilderness of House of Commons blossomed to-night like a rose-garden. Yesterday, and for days before, empty benches and a fagged remnant wrestling with routine votes. To-night House crowded, and buzz of excitement filled chamber. Gladstone going to move hostile Resolution on Government proposal to proclaim Land League. Every Member in town early in his place. Members from afar arrived post haste. Even Randolph, temporarily returns. Old Morality smiles ghastly smile of welcome, but knees tremble as he wonders what Randolph means to do. The O'Gorman Mahon back again, Parnell having elected him for Carlow County. The old boy as young as ever, and full of reminiscences of his early Parliamentary career, which goes back immeasurable distance.
C. Br-dl-gh.
"Ah," he said, looking at the Mace, "there it is agin. I remimber well the afternoon—we always sat in the afternoon thin—when Cromwell came down, and said, 'Take away that bauble, ye spalpeens, or I'll make it worse for ye.' I was younger then, Toby me bhoy, indade quite a young man."