Thursday.—Pity that prejudice should be allowed to stand in way of doing the best thing. Talk just now of pending vacancies on the Bench; such talk recurrent; sometimes more talk than vacancy. "But I pass from that," as Arthur Balfour says, when gliding over knotty points of question put from Irish Benches. If not vacancy to-morrow, sure to be within week, or month, or year. Why not make Jemmy Lowther a Judge? It is true he has no practice at the Bar; but he was "called," and, I believe, went. That is a detail; what we desire in our Judges are, a certain impressive air, a striking presence, and an art of rotund speech. James has played many parts in his time—Parliamentary Secretary to the Poor-Law Board, Under-Secretary for the Colonies, Chief Secretary for Ireland, and Steward of the Jockey Club. In this last capacity he, a year ago, temporarily assumed judicial functions. How well he bore himself! with what dignity! with what awful suavity! with what irreproachable integrity!
Earl and Umbrella.
That this manner is ingrained, is testified to on the occasions, too infrequent, when Jemmy rises in House. To-night Buchanan asked Home Secretary a question, involving disrespect of rabbit-coursing. James, the great patron of British sport in all developments, slowly rose, and impressively interposed. Was his Right Hon. friend, the Home Secretary, aware that rabbit-coursing, conducted under recognised and established regulations, affords pastime to large masses of the industrious population who are unable, from their pecuniary circumstances, to indulge in the more expensive forms of sport? Those were Jemmy's words, each syllable deliberately enunciated. What a study for the aspirant to Parliamentary style!
Kindly Earl of Ravensworth, who still haunts the Chamber in which Lord Eslington once had a place, chanced to hear this question. Delighted with it. Wished he could introduce something of that sort in House of Lords. Went about Lobby with his faithful umbrella (companion of his daily life, wet or shine) murmuring the musical phrases. "Recognised and established regulations," "afford pastime to large masses of industrious population," "unable from pecuniary circumstances," "the more expensive forms of sport." That all very well, but not quite all. Easy enough to catch the trick of speech; who but Jemmy Lowther can add the indefinable personal gifts which invest even the commonplace with impressiveness?
Business done.—Lots. Ministers bring in Bills by the half-dozen.
Grand Historical Picture. Mr. Labouchere struggling with his Conscience.
Friday.—Such alouettes! Sage of Queen Anne's Gate, who can't abear scandals, brought on alleged iniquity of Government in connection with Cleveland Street affair. Got off his speech; Attorney-General replied; then Sage proposed to offer few supplementary remarks. In course of these appeared frank declaration of his private opinion that everything the Markiss says must be taken cum grano Salis-BURY; only the way he put it was much worse than that. Courtney asked him to withdraw. "Shan't!" said the Sage. Then Courtney named him (calling him, by the way, "Mr. Henry Labouchere.") Old Morality, rising to height of duty and occasion, moved that Sage be suspended.