Volume 99 — SCENE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 4.
Reading edition
Oh, what a surprise! One lovely Black Rod interrupts the G.O.M. speaking,—and meets with a warm reception.
Business done.—In Commons: a dull night, lighted up by luminous speech from RATHBONE on Government of Western Australia.
Wednesday.—House hard at work all afternoon on Directors' Liability Bill. WARMINGTON in charge of measure; intends to make it warm for Guinea-pigs. ROPER LETHBRIDGE, DIXON HARTLAND, JAMES MACLEAN, and KIMBER, Q.C., protest at length. ROBERT FOWLER, Bart., breaks into lava flood of burning eloquence. If the Bill is carried, what is to become of the City?
"You may," he moans, "write on the front of the Bill, 'Delendum est Londinium,' um? um?" He, for one, will have no responsibility in the matter; and so, tucking his hands under his coat-tails, he strides forth, to vote against Third Reading of Bill. All in vain; Third Reading carried by 224 votes against 50.
Monday, July 7.—Opposition in high feather to-night. DUNCAN fresh from great triumph at Barrow, come to take his seat. Liberals and Irish Members crowd round him as he sits below Gallery waiting signal to advance.
"Then DUNCAN is not in his grave?" said MACBETH—I mean MACLURE.
Evidently not. Here in the flesh and high spirits. Everybody dropping into poetry all round. WADDY, who was down at Barrow, gives lengthy account of the contest, "And," he says—
The Caine of Cawdor.
"to conclude, The victory fell on us." Duncan. "Great happiness! No more the CAINE of Cawdor shall deceive Our bosom interest. Go, pronounce his present death."
(Turning to PULESTON, who always comes to shake hands with New Member.)
"Dismayed not this Your Captains, MACSMITH and BALFOUR?"
PULESTON admitted that they were a little hipped; rather thought "that most disloyal traitor, the CAINE of Cawdor," having "began the dismal conflict," would get the worst of it; but didn't expect that Liberal would be returned. "But it's of no consequence," added Sir TOOTS; "you must come and dine with me."
DUNCAN rather broke down as he advanced to table amid thunderous cheers from Opposition. Privately explained matter to SPEAKER when he shook hands with him.
Duncan. "My plenteous joys. Wanton in fulness, seek to hide themselves In drops of sorrow."
"Oh, you must cheer up," said the SPEAKER, who always has a pleasant word for everybody; "perhaps you won't get in again."
Business done.—Irish Constabulary Vote in Committee of Supply; opening of cheerful week for Prince ARTHUR.