On the occasion of the Great Naval Review, Lord Charles Beresford, remembering Mr. Edward Lawson's Hyde Park success, intends to stand treat to all the Buoys round the Coast. The Best Buoy will receive a present from Her Gracious Majesty.
ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.
EXTRACTED FROM
THE DIARY OF TOBY, M.P.
House of Commons, Monday, June 27.—Back again to the Coercion Bill. Report Stage reached, and strong whips out on both sides in anticipation of Division. Both Front Benches crowded like the rest. Gladstone in his place, as eager to make speech as if it were his first on the subject. Hartington there too, and Chamberlain, making, with Heneage, a brave show on end of Front Bench. Gladstone spoke early. A full House, but everyone bored to death. Later, House thinned to degree that invited a count; but at sound of bell Members held in hand for Division, swooped down, got themselves counted, saved the sitting, and straightway fled again. George Campbell concerned in interests of Protestant Church. A Papal Envoy been received by Queen to present Jubilee congratulations. Was that an exceptional privilege for an Ecclesiastic? Would the Brahmin Head of Benares be allowed to approach Her Majesty in similar way? No answer. Would the Grand Imaum of Mecca? The Under-Secretary of State shivered in his shoes, but still no response. Then Sir George, uplifting his voice to its most melodious heights, produced his poser:—"Would the Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland enjoy such a privilege?" |
Old Morality and his colleagues on the Treasury Bench began to grow uneasy. No saying where Campbell's list might end. Fergusson whispered to and nudged till, propped on his feet, he feebly urged that Moderator of Free Church of Scotland does not come under the category of a Foreign Potentate. A poor quibble this. But Campbell generously disinclined to push his advantage, and Government escaped immediate defeat.
Growing excitement as Division on John Morley's Amendment restricting duration of Act to three years approached. Ritchie has invented new way of taking Division. Members as anxious to try it as nursery of children to handle new toy. At first some little difficulty in understanding it. Members crowded round Ritchie and asked how it was done.
"Nothing easier or clearer," he said. "There are six doors, which we will call A, B, C, D, E, and F. As soon as division bell rings, F is closed. B is left half open. Members voting 'Aye' pass through the A door and meet the 'Noes' coming through D. A and C are then simultaneously shut. If B is open, the 'Ayes' and the 'Noes,' having seen E closed, form in one stream, pass through, and there you are. Don't you see?"