Tuesday.—Courtney on in his famous quick-change scene. One minute he is discovered in recesses of canopied chair as Speaker; the next is seated at table as Chairman of Committees. Speaker, everyone sorry to learn, is ill in bed. So Courtney doubles his part. Proceeding watched with profound interest from Strangers' Gallery. At ten minutes and ten seconds to Seven House in Committee of Supply. Courtney in Chair at table; Mace off the table; Tanner on his legs. As hand of clock falters over the numeral ten, Courtney gets up, says never a word, wheels to right out of Chair and marches to rear. Tanner stops midway in sentence and resumes seat. Sergeant-at-Arms bowing thrice advances, lifts Mace on to table, and retires. Stranger in Gallery wondering what has become of Courtney, appalled by discovering him in Speaker's Chair, quite a new man. On these occasions marks his swiftly varying condition by altered tone of voice. As Chairman of Committees, assumes piping treble voice, as Deputy-Chairman drops occasional observations in profound bass.
Sergeant-at-Arms (and Legs).
"Only thing left to me, dear Toby," he said, when I congratulated him on his treble. "Haven't time to change dress, even if it were permissible; must do something to mark wide gulf fixed between Chairman of Committee and Speaker; so hit upon this scheme. Glad you like the treble; a little out of my line, but practice makes perfect."
At Evening Sitting question of Labour and Capital brought on by Bartley. Cunninghame-Graham let House see what a terrible fellow he is. Doesn't look the part; but after speech to-night no question of his innate ferocity. Sim Tappertit not in it for such blood-curdling remarks. "I have," he said just now, "often interfered between Capital and Labour; but, thank Heaven! I have never interfered in the character of a conciliator."
"Ha, ha!" he cried, a little later, à propos of nothing. "You talk of inciting to violence. I have never incited to violence, and wherefore? Because, in present state of affairs, with society a vast organised conspiracy, violence would recoil on the heads of the Working Classes. But, Sir, the time will come when things will be otherwise, and the very moment that power is in the hands of the Working Classes I shall incite them to violence."
After this House took early opportunity of adjourning. Pretty to see Members stealing across Palace Yard in the dark, looking furtively right and left, not sure that moment was not come, and Simon Cunninghame Tappertit Graham was not hounding on his "United Bulldogs" against the Classes. "We must look out, Broadhurst," said James Rowlands, nervously rubbing his hand. "It's all very well of your retiring to Cromer. I think I shall practise with a revolver; shall certainly carry a sword-stick."
Business done.—Budget Resolutions through Committee.
Thursday Night.—Home Secretary came down to-day in unusually good spirits. Nothing happened of late to give enemy occasion to blaspheme. Crewe affair seems quite forgotten; nobody going to be hanged when he ought to be reprieved, or reprieved when he ought to be hanged. Seems almost as if, after all, life for Home Secretary would be worth living. Whatever embarrassments ahead belong to other Departments of Ministry. Land Purchase troubles, not the Home Secretary, nor Bi-Metallism either. Raikes been doing something at the Post Office. Goschen been tampering with tea, and sinning in the matter of currants. Something wrong with the Newfoundland Fisheries, but that Fergusson's look-out. True, Elcho wanting to know about some prisoners taken from Ipswich to Bury in chains. Sounds bad sort of thing; sure to be letters in newspapers about it. But Home Secretary able to lay hand on heart and swear the chains were light. Elcho blustered a bit. Irish Members, naturally interested in arrangements for going to prison, threateningly cheered; but after what Matthews had suffered in other times this affair lighter than the chains themselves.
Incident had passed; questions on paper disposed of; soon be debating Land Purchase Bill; all would be well for at least another day. Suddenly up gets Harcourt; wants to know who is responsible for the design of new police buildings on Thames Embankment? Flush of pride mantles brow of Matthews. This red-hot building—its gables, its roofs, its windows, its doorways, and its twisted knockers—was designed under his direction. It is his dower to London, set forth on one of its most spacious sites. What does Harcourt want to know about it? Why is Plunket so studious in repudiating all responsibility for the thing? Wherefore does crowded House cheer and laugh when Harcourt gives notice to call attention to building on Home Office Vote? Can it be possible that here is another mistake? Ought he to have hanged the architect instead of encouraging him? Always doing things for the best, and they turn out the very worst. Been occasionally misunderstood; but did, at least, think that London would be grateful for this emanation from the heated architectural mind.