House of Commons, Monday, April 28.—Irish Land Purchase Bill again. Chamberlain lifts debate out of somewhat tedious trough into which it had fallen. Remarkable speech; bold in conception; adroit in arrangement; forcible in argument; lucid in exposition. Spoke for over an hour, and though his discourse, full of intricate points, the marshalling of which was frequently interrupted by angry or scornful cries from below Gangway, Joseph had not a scrap of paper in his hand, did not once refer to a note.
"Admirable," said Grandolph, looking on with appreciative, though not loving eyes. "If he had lived in the time of his father Jacob, it would have been no use his brothers putting him in the pit; he would have argued himself clean out before they were half a mile on their way back to the family place in Canaan. Weak part of his position is that he is trying to serve two Bills, Balfour's and Parnell's. Can't recommend Balfour's scheme without belittling Parnell's; same thing other way about. Reminds me, Toby, of a passage in Wordsworth's prose writings; not so much read as his poetry; but daresay you remember it. There was a Bishop Watson who began his official career as a Liberal. He was frightened into Conservatism, and Wordsworth, then a hot young youth, goes for him as youth does sometimes gird at Respectability. 'Upon what principle,' he asked the Bishop, 'is your conduct to be explained? In some parts of England it is quaintly said when a drunken man is seen reeling home, that he has business on both sides of the road. Observing your Lordship's tortuous path, the spectators will be far from insinuating that you have partaken of Mr. Bourke's intoxicating bowl. They will content themselves, shaking their heads as you stagger along, with saying that you have business on both sides of the road.' That's what's the matter with Chamberlain. He's very smart, very clever, very capable; but in politics, dear Toby, no one ever succeeds who has business on both sides of the road."
"What do you think?" I asked Christopher Sykes, who stood looking on with familiar aspect of unutterable wisdom.
"I wasn't thinking of that at all," he answered, gloomily. "Haven't yet got over what George Lewis said in Court on Saturday. You've heard or read about it, of course? Took opportunity of observing, that though I was near sixty years of age, I was very innocent. I may be getting on for sixty, but I'll tell you what, Toby, I'm not nearly so innocent as I look."
Christopher really hurt with George Lewis's aspersion. Comforted him by hinting that I knew some dreadful things about him.
"We remember your Crabs and Lobsters Bill," I said, soothingly. "There was much more in that than met the eye. You're a crafty old Christopher; just the sort of man to take in a fellow like George Lewis, who thinks he knows everything."
Christopher smiled a deep and wicked smile, and strode off in better spirits. Always like to say a kind word to a man when I can.
Business done.—Land Purchase Bill again.
"I'm not nearly so innocent as I look."