Ricahrd Temple - The House Of Commons, 1899
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X\V
».*7
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
%0*f
The
House of Commons
By
The Right Hon. Sir Richard Temple,
Bart,
G.C.S.I.
Author of " India in 1SS0," "Life in Parliament'," "Cosmopolitan Essays," "Sixty Years of the Queeris
Reign"
"Palestine Illustrated" &c. % &>c.
London
John Long 6
Chandos
Street, Strand
1899
ABERDEEN PRINTED BY W. JOLLY AND SONS BRIDGE STREET
jN
Preface
^The
Chapters of
to the
House
^
time.
The book
is
work
little
Commons
.
of
this
relate
in the present
intended to serve as
CO
~»a short
may c-*
and easy manual
desire
though
importance,
not i the tc in is
and
reality
to attend
as
institution
—but
in
our
of
idea it
its
who
those
fundamental
a
acquire
elementary
sentative vivid
to
for
is
repre-
in
all
its
overwhelming
who may
not
be able
and hear the Debates or have
been
personally
House by
their
members.
the introductory Chapter,
derived
from
the 5
round
conducted
As
my
stated
account
experience
of
a
— Preface
1885 to 1895, which was indeed
decade, eventful.
recount
no attempt
Still
parliamentary
the
decade, although
that
of the attempts to
Home
Rule
history
as
Parliament
Liberal
with
Unionists
— the
formation
Party under the
name
—the new
a
of
for
outrages
of political
Con-
the
of Gladstonians,
permanent measure
sion
for
consequent
the
Ireland,
in
Bills
between one wing of that party
servatives,
the
of
comprised both
it
break-up of the old Liberal party, alliance
to
made by Mr. Gladstone
through
pass
made
is
the
in
repres-
Ireland,
the desperate resistance to that arrange-
ment
offered
party
returned
strength
Mr.
death,
to
the
Irish
the
House
Nationalist in
potent
by the Election of 1885 under
Parnell,
of that
by
—the
Party
—the
Conservative
apparent his
after
constitution
confusion
retirement of
a
and
strong
Party Administration with 6
Preface
the support, but without the junction, of Liberal
the
Parliament,
Unionists,
—
one
for
subsequent
the
long
accession
of the Gladstonians to power for a short Parliament,
—and
then the
formation of
a Conservative Administration, this time with the practical junction of the Liberal Unionists, in
so
combined
the
that
Party
power since 1895 has borne the name
of
Unionist,
home and
abroad.
much forth
by anyone
had been an actor
some
bias,
supposed,
two
to
results
These many
history
countless
must be persons
But they could hardly be
living.
still
set
interest
by
changes
momentous
points of contemporary
of
pursued
these
all
with
fraught
both at
policy
through
Parliament
being
—the
or
who,
like
myself,
in the events,
without
some
partiality,
real
towards one or other of
opposing
sides.
My
object
or
the
has
been to indicate the ways of the House 7
Preface
Commons
of
any
observer,
belong politics
the
appear
to
whether he happened
to
one side or to the other of
to
—
would
they
as
pourtray
to
House
at
things
without
large,
to the organization of
particular
But,
or
any one Party
in
division.
such organizations and divisions
if
alike
in
In
Parties.
impartiality
all,
they are alluded to
reference this is,
So
preserved.
I
to
to,
several
their
manner an aspect of hope, the
tolerably
well
brought
points
forward are such as no object
to
reference
any sectional
to
are mentioned at all
relating
Member would
be he Conservative or Liberal
;
nor yet would he claim any one of them as exclusively pertaining to his
With is
is
this
general
intention
divided into Nine Chapters.
own
Party.
the
work
The
first
introductory, setting forth the qualities,
the
abilities,
the capacities, of the
elected in the General
House
Election of 1885,
Preface
and
each of the subsequent Elections.
in
The
regarding
estimates
subject,
this
most practically important
which
is
of
subjects to the British people,
all
made
the
care
and some
detail.
then
approximately correct,
be
they
If
much
with
how
show
are
the
merits
preponderate over the demerits.
Thus
they
the
men
may be proud and
nation
that on
greatly
thankful
whole such able bodies of
the
are chosen
as these
from time to
time by the Electors at large.
The
Chapter
Second
question which
is
discusses
the
commonly mooted
as to
whether the House can truly be called a
Club
for
its
such
advantages, ments,
The
Members.
apart-
buildings,
as
means
accommodation,
are
recreation,
tellectual
material
may
of
in-
described,
be
compared
with the best clubs in London.
But also
wherein the
the
social
House
aspects
are 9
alluded
to,
such
;
Preface
some ways, which
as the comradeship in is
the
a merit,
other
ways,
themselves
want of homogenity
the
differences,
class
in
which
unavoidable,
quite
in
are defects, from the point of view which
a good Club would
such that a conclusion
these defects are is
Indeed
entertain.
House
arrived at to the effect that the
On
cannot properly be called a Club. the other hand,
there
is
claimed for the
House, the character of a public school in
which
arena
in
are
adults
which
exercised,
mentarians
political
a
of
disciplined,
theatre
walk
of
gladiators
where
the
stage
The Third Chapter
relates
an are
parlia-
with
the
nation as audience.
cincts
and
building's
of
to the pre-
the
House
Westminster Hall, a standing epitome
of
the history of England for eight hundred years,
the
nobly beautiful
Hall, before the
St.
Stephen's
Reformation the Chapel 10
Preface
Royal of the Palace of Westminster, since the Reformation the
home
of the
the conflagration of 1834,
till
now
of St. Stephen's,
Commons
—the
cloisters
the cloakroom,
—the
wondrously ornate chapel commonly called the
crypt,
— then
Central
the
frescoed corridor and the' outer the
Commons,
inch
of
it
— the
itself
mighty parts played within well filled
it,
—the
commodious,
famous
its
summer, and
its
with
views of
and of metropolitan of
the
long
tea
but
in
men
— the
parties
in
— the
chain
the upper storey,
perspective
thronged with eager
five-
river, of bridges,
structures,
Committee Rooms
and
every
and equipped,
most picturesque and terrace,
of
comparison with the
in
chambered Library
Lobby
with associations,
replete
apparently small
Chamber
the
Hall,
of
corridors
of business,
—the
multiform associations, national, personal, historical,
contemporary, clustering round
this political beehive. 11
— Preface
The Fourth Chapter Parliament, as classes of
led
is
it
comprises
in
life
by the several
Members, the Parliamentarian
purely and entirely
— who
has no occupa-
tion or avocations besides those concerning
House,
the
— the
man
commercial
of
— the man of the learned pro— the man of society, — of whom
business, fessions,
perform
all
same
the
occasions but on
on
duty
important
other occasions take
all
work of the House,
different shares in the
varying according to the time they can afford to gfive
—or
are inclined to devote.
Then
follows
some
analysis of the business
which
falls
to
parliamentarian
the
gives his whole self to the
who
House from
the
forenoon to the small hours of the morning.
Some ing
light
is
thrown on the truth regard-
obstruction, a subject which
presented,
no doubt
each opposing Party kept
in its
due
unintentionally,
in turn,
limits, is 12
is
mis-
by
but which,
if
a legitimate weapon
— Preface
Some
of warfare.
account
is
offered of the
nature and the conditions of parliamentary success in
The
its
various phases.
Fifth Chapter refers to the
manners
—the stringency, — the
and customs of the House, closure increasing in
rules
of re-
gulation which ordinarily stops the regular
business of the
House
at midnight,
—the
Questions or daily interpellations to Ministers
whereby the Private Members do
really
and
justly constitute themselves the
Grand Inquest
of the nation,
—the growing
abridgement of the old opportunities of Private their
Members in
unabated
ancient
maxim
respect to legislation,
privileges
regarding the
of grievances before Supply,
—the etiquette puzzling new Members, —the power and authority of the Speaker, to
the significance of the term
Whip, which
applied to an
and secondly
first is
official,
to a circular notice.
The
Sixth Chapter depicts briefly some 13
Preface
of the scenes
which
House, and
would be of no use
it
witnessed in the
I
to at-
tempt the description of any others, that before or since
my
time.
It
that the usual aspect of the
is
premised
House
is
At Question
of dignity and repose.
is,
one
time,
however, when interpellations are addressed
by Private Members
to Ministers, there
is
often a breeziness ruffling the surface of
the waters.
Next the
peculiar expressive-
ness given to the cheering
is
explained,
according to the tones of its various moods.
Some
word-painting
is
the Division of 1886
Rule
Bill
of the stringent
—the the
the
first
Home
to the first appli-
Crimes
Bill,
method of closure subse-
known by the
—
in reference to
to the Irish
the
all-night sitting
before affair
when
was defeated,
cation, in regard
quently
used
Easter of
name
of Guillotine,
on Supply shortly 1887,
—the
grave
nearly approaching to violence during
Committee stage on the second 14
Home
— Preface
Rule
Bill,
—the several
fine episodes arising
out of Mr. Gladstone's eloquence.
Seventh Chapter some of the
In the
leading figures of Parliament are noticed
as they were in
my
decade.
First of
Mr. Gladstone as he loomed before in
us,
the closing events of his vast career,
with an
earnestness
and
Randolph
with
Churchill
mar-
potency
vellous for his advanced age,
—then Lord meteoric
his
career prematurely cut short by his act,
—the
Balfour
success
in
from
Ireland
to
the
House
Mr.
Joseph Chamberlain, oratory,
yet
unprecedented
an
the
by
own
sudden ascent of Mr.
equally
Arthur
at
all
of
acclamation,
general
the best
leadership
not
if
aiming
speaker of his
day and a potential factor
in
politics,
Sir William Harcourt, incisive in assault,
a master of humorous invective and on and Wilthe whole a great Minister,
—
liam
Henry Smith, a 15
leader
of proved
Preface
success,
of
and an embodiment of the genius
common sense. The Eighth Chapter
mary of
presents a sum-
proceedings
the
the
of
Irish
Nationalist
Party inside the House since
—the
adaptation by them of every
1885,
word, gesture, vote, proceeding, combination,
towards one object, namely the ob-
taining
Home
Rule
Then
Ireland.
for
the characteristics of their leaders, at that time,
touched
are
by
expositions
outbursts
of
upon,
Mr.
Mr.
Sexton,
Timothy
utterances
influential
—the
of
elaborate the
fierce
Healy,
Mr.
T.
the P.
O'Connor, the power of speech pertaining to
Mr.
John Redmond, the
oratory
of
Mr.
lastly the weird,
of Mr. Parnell, in
Justin
mellifluous
Macarthy,
and
even mysterious attitude
some
respects incompre-
hensible, in others but too painfully clear to
every
insight,
Briton endowed
—the
temporary 16
with
division
patriotic
of the
— Preface
Nationalists
into
Parnellites
Parnellites after his retirement
The Ninth Chapter as seen from the
of place for a
and Antiand death. Lords
refers to the
Commons.
Commoner
It
were out
to essay anything
House of Lords Commons do enjoy many advan-
like a description of the still
the
House
tages for observing their Lordships' in
part at
least.
Some comparison
made between the Chamber House and that of the being
differences
the
Upper
of the
Lower,
precisely
Allusion
Commoners standing
at
the
Lords to hear the debates, standing
Councillors
or
—
spectacle
mons crushing through
no
summoned
of
to hear the 17
the
to the Privy
sitting
on
—
afforded by the
at the
fault
to
Bar of the
steps at the foot of the throne,
strange
to
Houses
made
is
the
adopted
work of each of the two
respectively.
is
the
to the
Com-
Bar of the Lords, their
own,
when
Queen's Speeches
Preface
read on various occasions,
—the
self-im-
posed restraint of the hereditary legislators in
by
contrast rules
with the
made by
discipline
the
enforced
popularly
elected
legislators in order to restrain the
or the
ardour
momentary excesses on the part
of any of their
Members
individually.
R. T.
October 1899
Contents PAGET
CHAP. -
21
II.
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS AS A CLUB
35
III.
THE PRECINCTS AND THE BUILDINGS
49^
I.
INTRODUCTION
-
IV. LD7E IN PARLIAMENT
-
-
-
-
-67/
V. MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE HOUSE VI. SCENES IN THE HOUSE
-
-
VII. LEADING FIGURES IN PARLIAMENT
VIII. THE IRISH NATIONALIST PARTY-
/
85
-
10 IV
-
117
-
135
IX. THE LORDS AS SEEN BY THE COMMONS 153
THE
House of Commons CHAPTEE
I
INTRODUCTION I
AM about
present a brief and popular
to
House
description of the
of
Commons
been during recent years and
is
as it has
likely to be in
the immediate future.
Before doing
me to
to
so,
my
remind
however,
is
of the
my
practical
House
of
be well for
readers of the claim I have
attempt such a task as
what
may
it
and personal knowledge
Commons
for ten years, that is
In other words
this.
?
Well
from 1885
:
I
was there
to 1895.
Dur-
ing that decade, excepting autumnal intervals of travel, I
to Parliament.
from
its
my
gave I
whole time and thoughts
attended almost every sitting
beginning to
its
end. 21
I
saw everything A
The House of Commons and heard everything, almost without exception. I
was present
numbers I have voted divisions.
I
in nearly three thousand
always heard the Question put by
the Speaker before it,
we proceeded
and in every instance
regarding
merits.
its
—the cause was on
attendance
or
upon
notion
any cases I was
If in
—
to divide
my own
had
I
not present in a division a hundred
In round
in almost every division.
it
was not one in
either casual illness,
obligatory
duty
in
the
School Board for London of which I was the Financial
Nor
Member.
here, I took
my
full,
did
the
work end
perhaps even more than
a full share, in that Committee work, which
is
one of the heaviest burdens which a parliaI served
mentarian has to bear. Select
Committees
protracted over
whose
many weeks
a peculiarly laborious I
proceedings
—
one, I
of
Committees, for the
was
trial of
were
one of these,
was more than once Chairman
Bill
on several
Chairman. of
Private
lengthy and
complicated cases in which the leaders of the
Parliamentary
Bar were practising on 22
both
Introduction was always a Member
I
sides.
Accounts Committee, and
was
I
Chairman
its
afforded
rne
all
two busy years
which
necessarily
complete insight into Parlia-
a
mentary Finance. of
—
for
of the Public
I
was always a Member
one of the Grand Committees to which the
House had delegated the work
of the
Committee
stage for Bills which were referred to these were many.
Moreover
my
and
it,
decade was as
arduous and troublesome a one as was ever passed by the House of Commons.
It
com-
prised the fiercest, the most persistently waged,
the most long-drawn-out contests of our gener-
—
most suggestive and instructive
to a
student, like me, of parliamentary affairs.
As
ation
a
all
consequence
quences
—
extension
of
of
— among
this,
the
was
many the
regular
other
conse-
protraction sessions
and
and
a
frequency of autumn sessions, so that during
my
decade the average time annually given to
the sittings and to the business of the
House
must have been considerably greater than previous decades. 23
in
The House of Commons
am
I
thus entitled and able to speak con-
fidently regarding the realities of the
My
Commons.
House
of
decade embraced three Parlia-
ments and three General
Thrice I
Elections.
saw a new House assembled and an old House Four times
dissolved.
part in the election of a I
my
took
I
new
individual
have to say, however, must be from
Member
my own
My
point of view and from that only. that of a Private
What
Speaker.
view
taking an active and
After
constant part in the parliamentary work. all
that
is
to those
they
the view which
who wish
are.
I
to
most interesting
is
know
never was in
the
Commons
Office,
as
and conse-
quently never sat on the Front Bench. seat
is
My
on the green benches was immediately
behind
it.
Any
description of things as they
would appear from the Front Bench necessarily
trench
on
in the scope of these articles.
Conservative, but the fact of
Party
—which
is
must
statesmanship
official
which, though connected with,
:
is
I
my
not comprised,
was and
am
a
belonging to a
unavoidable under the condi24
;
Introduction tions of parliamentary life
—
will not affect the
impartiality and trustworthiness of
my account,
because the topics do not relate to policy or to the principles of Party but to the practice of
They
Parliament.
common
to
all
may happen
was
it
customs and habits
and followed equally
parties,
whichever Party Certainly
relate to
my
to be in power.
ambition,
even
before
entering on an arduous career in the East, to sit
some day
taking
my
in the
House
of
Commons.
Besides
share, as a unit, in the labours
responsibilities of a great nation, I
witness and to learn
all
that
learnt inside the walls of the
may
and
wanted
to
be seen and
Commons.
Hav-
ing got there with all the usual difficulty, I was
very anxious to stay there for at least several years and several Parliaments.
Having been
permitted to do this I quitted the House in satisfaction
and contentment, quite voluntarily
giving up a safe seat and leaving a fine majority
behind
my
me
in
my constituency.
Thus, although
account will not, I hope, be unduly tinged
with optimism,
it
will necessarily be cheerful,
25
The House of Commons relating to a retrospect
thankful for learn,
My those
had
feel
that I was able to do and to
all
and well rewarded
sacrifices I
me
which makes
to
for all the toil
and the
endure on this account.
conclusion
is
who think
— subject otherwise
by
to correction
— that
there
is
nothing in the British Empire better worth
knowing
for
Commons
at Westminster.
the
a
Briton,
than
the
of
of
Such knowledge
summary, almost the sum
many branches
House
human
total
is
very
of
It contains
study.
the acquirements necessary for self-discipline
and self-command. of
many
It requires the observation
human
essential parts of
doubt the House
of
Commons
is
frequently dis-
paraged now-a-days, quite unduly. say, its
while
salient superficial
its
submit that
With
it
people
Commons
of
is
to
faults are derided,
respect to the public,
all
must ever be a
as an unthankful proceeding for
British
That
deep-lying merits are but too
solid,
often forgotten. I
No
nature.
to
deride
or
For
Britain.
26
bootless as well
any part
of the
disparage the
House
the of
Introduction
Commons
is
make
If the
it.
just
what the people choose
to
popular voice objects to cer-
tain things in the conduct of the House, they will
be gradually overcome.
constituencies
by
Particularly
own warnings
its
if
depreciates
certain things in the conduct of its representative body, they will speedily disappear.
have hereafter to shew that some
I shall
popularly attributed to the really
Indeed,
due
or
of
certain
of
of certain
sections
If ever
constituencies generally.
the House
at large, are
and influence
to the action
constituencies
Members
Commons, we
faults,
in
the
we denounce
are
really
de-
Such denunciation would
nouncing ourselves.
really be a confession of national faults
and
shortcomings, though possibly not so intended
by those who make use
House as
of
much
faultless,
citizens
Commons
is
of
it.
To say that the
without fault would be
as to say that the British nation
which
and
would
electors
may
be
is
British
absurd.
be assured that
—
after
every drawback and deduction for defects and shortcomings, their House of 27
Commons
really is
The House of Commons good, thoroughly trustworthy, sincerely anxious to do its duty in all respects
those
whom
it
patriotic interests,
in
—which
is
it is
all
our
needful for the electors
parliamentary
done either in summary or
with some regularity
detail
round, to
of the subject to
at large not only to read the
debates
all
Considering the
represents.
extreme importance
and
—but
also
to
ascertain the time-honoured rules of the House,
and
which
they are
the methods by which the
Members
conditions
the
applied
;
under
have to work, the ways in which they bring the influence
and weight
of their constituents
to
bear upon the deliberations and the decisions of the Assembly.
The more
made, the nearer
more
is
closely is this enquiry
this
insight
gained, the
clearly will the merits of the
appear, in
its
debates, its divisions,
in the various committees.
changes have in
my
its
Assembly enquiries
Furthermore, large
time come about in the
system of the House, gradually or quickly, for better or for worse.
Still
the House
is
the
safe depository of the interests of the Empire,
28
— Introdziction
and abuses,
as regarding all evils
it is still,
as it
ever has been, the Grand Inquest of the Nation.
When
1884 the Franchise was given to
in
country as
the labourers in the
it
had been
already accorded to the artisans in the towns
and when the constituencies were subdivided in view of a redistribution
of seats
throughout the
country, in order, too, that the electors in every locality
might make their wishes more im-
mediately and directly
maximum
where fixed by law there would be a
the House. the
—
It
for
expense being every-
was often predicted that
it
marked
deterioration in the
Members and
quality of the
further, the
was greatly cheapened
access to Parliament
candidates, the
— when,
felt
in the personnel of
was apprehended that under
new system humbler men than
before
would become candidates, and that the choice of the electors
would
fall
on such
in preference to others, in as
democratic
element
constituency. in
any degree
Now
men
much
generally
as the purely
would prevail in every has this apprehension been
justified
by the result 29
?
There
;
The House of Commons can be no doubt whatever as to the answer to such a question, inasmuch
as
General
five
Elections have taken place, five times has the
House
Commons been composed and
of
The pro-
posed under this system since 1884.
men
portion of humble
and
in respect to resources
social status has certainly increased in the
House, and that
much
not at
is
personal
as
all regrettable, inas-
representation
turbing
element,
namely that
One the
of
Nationalists has been fully doubled
may
certain
of
important classes has been secured.
or
re-com-
;
dis-
Irish
that
may
not be regrettable according to the view
which may be taken, but which discussed here
;
it is,
is
not to be
however, deeply regretted
by many British people.
Nevertheless, let the
composition of the House be taken on a whole let the
names
of the
Members be looked
at one
by one in any Parliamentary guide book, that
by Dodd, or by Vacher, or
other.
Then
it
will
be found that the composition of the House has
not deteriorated in comparison with decessors elected before 1884.
30
On
its
pre-
the contrary,
Introduction it will
be seen to have actually improved, as
being more representative than ever of the intellect, the learning, the science, the
experience, the
There
nation.
what was
the
capacity of
business-like
may
imperial
in former days have been
No
called " a landlords' parliament."
such thing would be possible now-a-days the landowning interest, the
but
;
country gentle-
men's party, the agricultural knowledge, are largely, indeed
fully, represented.
profession, always of great
complex
civilization
like
full
government
ours,
has
judicial status
of the justly
very
often,
men from
more
the
perhaps
even
Commons
for
ambitious barristers seek to
The Kailway
recognized importance, the
receives in
full
and preferment; consequently
enter the House.
in
it
deserves
measure, the reason being that the
generally, selected
most
legal
consequence in a
representation, which indeed
than a
The
it is
interest
is
of
so fully represented
House that complaints have, perhaps
erroneously, declared sentation.
it
to possess over-repre-
Consider the great business classes 31
;
The House of Commons the heads of firms, of enterprises, of industries, of banks, in
every great centre of the kingdom,
not only in the city of London, but everywhere at
home and abroad
each and
House.
by
all
and
;
it
will be seen that
them have Members
of
The cheapening
of electorial
law, securing on the one
man
chance for every
of
in the
expenses
hand a reasonable
moderate competency,
on the other hand precluding an open door for
men
of
no means
of their
own, or
no means would be subscribed distinctly
beneficial
enect.
men
for
whom
—has
had one
has
enabled
It
retired Governers
from India and the Colonies,
Army and Navy
men, administrators of many
kinds seas,
who had
men
served the empire beyond the
of science, of historic lore, of literary
renown, to enter the
Commons.
has
This
placed at the disposal of the House a mass of unrivalled
knowledge
— only
to
be gained in
danger, and in the very stress of affairs
—
re-
garding the concerns of a world-wide Empire,
and
that, too, in
directions
is
days when expansion in
all
confronting us with momentous 32
Introduction problems, wherein the great powers of Europe concerned.
are
This,
House with much
too,
still
the
most
the highest and
of
Happily the Uni-
varied culture of the age. versities of
imbued
has
England, Scotland, and Ireland, are
represented in the House, and so maintain
the influence of trained intellect in the Councils
Thus
of the nation.
let
by name alphabetically of
Commons
the
literature,
knowledge
Empire
He
any House
—that
of
roll
in the list of
elected since 1884
new system
muster
any enquirer take name
in of
— then
under
he will perceive the
men eminent
travel, in
is
in
science,
research, in
every country in the
in
imperial British
or within the British sphere of influence.
will realize the vastness
and variety of
information thus comprised in the representation of the people,
and
this
knowledge he would
find reflected in the debates, to them.
He
if
he fully listened
will also notice very
many names
already celebrated in contemporary annals, and
probably destined to become historic.
he will observe how
many 33
Further,
noble and aristocratic
The House of Commons names are
there,
county families
how many
scions of the ancient
—showing how many democratic candidates whose ante-
constituencies prefer
cedents are illustrious or whose
popularly known. said that there
my
In
time
families
are
used to be
it
was no subject (save theology)
under the sun, no branch of human knowledge
which we could not find some Member or
in
who would make
other
In
challenged between 1884, and
am
comparison
a
these respects
all
a speech of authority.
may
the Houses elecoed since
those elected before that time.
sure that
in
be
I
comprehensiveness
catholic
the later Houses are wholly superior to the
former
* I
because
House.
—
as indeed they
have some I
kept a
ought to be.*
confidence
full
in
Journal of
recalling
all
my
^JjjJfciffMJ
The record was written. wjT daily, and
large volumes of these Journals for
34
my
memories,
^l"
1
"*
ln * ne
there are ten
ten years.
CHAPTER
II
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS AS A CLUB
After the Introduction presented on the
pre-
going Chapter I enter upon a description in general terms of the House of
more
particularly of the life led in
members
A
of various sorts
it
by the
and conditions.
question immediately rises to the surface
House
as to whether the
Members.
its
Commons, and
it
or
not a Club for
is
In some respects
be found such the whole
is
it
will indeed
but in other respects not.
;
will hardly be so considered.
question, however, well merits
On The
some examina-
tion.
The phrase that in
London
"
first
the
House
is
the best club
was at one time a proverb.
must have been the
"
in times intervening
Reform Act early 35
This
between
in the thirties
and
The House of Commons the second one late in the sixties
times
"
;
when some-
a landlord's parliament " was elected and
many
when, owing to
causes, there
was
little of
popular election in the constituencies except in
a few at the great centres of industry and
The proverb must have
population.
of its truth after
the sixties,
lost
some
when Members
were returned by household suffrage for the
Boroughs Bill
:
and
midway
still
the
in
Members came
more
after the last
eighties,
when county
largely to be returned
By
rural labourers.
the last
Eeform
named
by the
reform, too,
the numbers of the Irish Party
—already large
—were
fully doubled.
enough
to
make
a
stir
This particular Party then became big enough to
make
itself felt
not only in the political conduct,
but also in the social habits of the House.
would be erroneous then best Club in
London
even a good Club.
at
to call the
It
House the
any time since 1885, or
The only
possible question
would be whether the House can properly be called a of
some
Club at
all.
As
this question is
interest I will briefly discuss
36
it.
one
The House of Commons as a Club The points
in favour of a Club theory would
be as follows.
There are buildings and apartments, halls and terraces for sitting, smoking, reading, lunching, dining, pacing to
and
There
fro for recreation.
are also apartments for the reception of guests, ladies as well as gentlemen,
able facility
is
afforded to
constituents
their
whole House and
Now by
all
all
or
and every reason-
Members
showing
over the
their friends
precincts at certain hours.
its
these advantages are daily
the
for
Members
in
common,
made to
use of
whatever
Party or to whatever class of society each one of
them may
belong.
Some
of these
advantages
The Library
too are very considerable.
is
truly
a noble place, extensive, well stocked, commodi-
—most convenient and way — not be surpassed,
ous and picturesque able in every
to
suit-
pro-
bably not to be equalled by any Club in London.
The same may be
said of the Terrace
which will
be described more fully in a future
Enough here
article.
to say, that it is quite admirable,
and that no Club
in
London has anything that 37
b
The House of Commons could in the least be compared with
The
it.
smoking rooms are on a par with those
London Clubs.
The dining rooms are
good, but inferior to those of the best
of
fairly-
London
Clubs, and not so good as they ought to be, considering the importance (as will be explained hereafter) of inducing
as
many Members
House
possible to stay in the
tea-room, though interesting,
regard to
The same
its place.
The
for dinner. is
as
very inferior in
may
objection
be applied to the newspaper-room adjoining.
The
halls,
the corridors, the lobbies, are capital
In them there
lounging places. facility for
their friends
Members
is
abundant
to hold interviews
and constituents.
If
any
with
special
consultation be required, there are Conference
In these latter respects the
rooms provided.
House The
is
superior to any Club in London.
sum
facilities
total
of
these
would shew the House
to be in
material matters a Club of high rank.
whole any Member
minded spend
his
of
any
and
advantages
class
many
On
may
if
the so
day happily and profitably in 38
The House of Commons as a Club the House.
and historic
He may things,
on the Terrace,
town
of
may get fresh air and
may
may
write magazine
proceed with the composition
book in the Library, works
of a
being
all
exercise
study the newspapers both
country,
may even
articles,
It
and
enjoy the sight of noble
of reference
around him on the shelves.
were superfluous however to remark that
the qualities of a Club are not only material and intellectual but also is
moral and
here that discrimination
is
social.
And
it
needed to deter-
mine whether the House can properly be styled a Club. If
we
consider the constitution of the good
Clubs in London, we readily see that in every
one of them there
among
the Members.
and Military, the and
University
absolutely to
homogeneity
In some, like the Naval
Civil Service, the Scientific
Clubs,
the
the
same
thoughts and pursuits. as for
a certain
is
Members belong
class
with the same
In some
political Clubs,
example the Carlton, the Members not
only have the same thoughts but also belong to 39
—
;
The House of Commons nearly the same society; at the Club walls there
between noble and
is
events within
all
much
not
between
gentle,
distinction titled
and
In the Travellers' Club again, the
untitled.
rule that every candidate to a specified
between
all
must have travelled a certain bond
extent, creates
The Athenaeum
the Members.
indeed contains a great variety of elements intellectual,
ecclesiastic, judicial, political,
artistic, scientific, social
—
there
still
is
a certain
tone and atmosphere pervading the whole.
It
were needless to carry the comparison further but in
all
probability an instance of a really
mixed Club with Members ideas,
and
bringing up,
of
social
unknown
to
classes,
Such a case
hardly be found in London. possibly
widely different could is
very
any organization under
private or corporate management.
Yet the House
of
Commons
exactly of this description all.
Most judges,
indeed,
;
is
if
would
it
a mixed Club
be a Club at
say, after defin-
ing a Club in the ordinary acceptation, would
probably decide that
it is
40
not a Club in reality.
The House of Commons as a Club
No
doubt
among
there
Members
all
The
distinction.
much
is
of the
the same
anxieties
being beset with
their
respective
bond between them. far, it
Political animosity
with acquaintanceship.
Political convenience in reference to
rank
measures
House may cause Members
to converse
Men who had
seldom
rarely interrupts private friend-
ship, it never interferes
before the
con-
does constitute a very perceptible
stituencies,
goes very
House without any
trials,
in
comradeship
having gone through
fact of
the same electioneering
of
of social
much with Labour Members.
just been raging furiously against
each other from the green benches inside the
House,
may
be seen dining together, or smoking
together on the Terrace. will be a
Member
or for
some
other
Member
him.
But
instances.
Now
and again there
so dreaded or so distrusted,
special reason so disliked that will
acknowledge or speak to
I can call to
As
a rule
no
mind very few such
Members widely
differing
in rank, surroundings, pursuits, ideas, principles,
do converse with tolerable freedom according as 41
!
The House of Commons opportunity precincts
may
of
may
House,
the
—even
though
Membership
not do so outside.
House does
the
or require inside
offer
practically serve as a
—an
of
the
medium
introduction at least inside the House.
over the system of "pairing"
they
of
More-
unwritten
system, practically operative though not recognised by the rules of the
House
—does
lead to
much intercommunication between Members opposite Parties. pairing
—being
—but
I
I
know nothing
of
personally of
always present I never paired
could daily witness
its
effect.
A
Tory and a Eadical may be at daggers drawn.
But the one wants
to
go to Germany and the
other to Scotland; so they bury their differ-
ences and pair
Notwithstanding cannot
be
Members
all
there
this,
that understanding
of the
House
between the Members
the
as a
body which consists
of a
good London Club.
may become
Conference Eooms,
not and
between
The Conservatives may be brethren their benches,
is
arms on
fast friends in the
may form 42
in
or cement friend-
The House of Commons as a Club ships that last throughout
But
do just the same.
it
life.
The Liberals may
will be groups that are
No
thus formed, and groups they will remain.
such distinctive groups would be found in a
good London Club.
Inside such a Club
men
if
are conversing they feel they are in the midst
There
of friends.
Members
of the
is
no such confidence among
House.
Members, talking
in
the Lobbies or at tea or at the dinner table, on politics or public
see
affairs,
must look round
to
who may
be within earshot, whether any
may
whether an opponent
secret
escape,
be on the watch.
may
Again one may converse
with another Member, personally unknown, on general topics
—but one must parliamentary
not mention any topic
—nor
political
or
allude to
any parliamentary personage
of
unintentionally giving offence.
know even
or if
divine
even
for fear
One must
what Party he belongs
to,
one does not like to ask his name,
before venturing on any save the most ordinary conversation.
learnt
His name however can easily be
by turning the conversation on 43
to his
The House of Commons constituency the
once that
;
Member
is
known
the
name
of
can be learnt from any of the
reference books.
Or, let the familiar case of
In a real Club
the dinner table be considered.
anyone may take any place that may be vacant
by those who
in the dining-room, undeterred
may
be sitting near.
hardly do
that
Commons.
He
sit
dining-room of the
the
in
must, when choosing a place,
who
think of those
and
But a Member would
may
are or
Out
near him.
of
probably come
the several rooms
there used to be one where the Irish Nationalist
Members
A
dined.
care to dine there for him,
;
for that
and embarrassing
same way the certain quarter
would be unsociable them.
to
Eadicals dined ;
company
the
not be acceptable there
Conservative would not
there.
In the
usually in
of a
a
Tory would
room
In another
was a table by courtesy and practice
allotted
to
Cabinet
Ministers
assigned similarly to the other existing Ministry:
;
a
table
Members
also
of the
these were in a sense high
tables or chief places
;
and no such arrangement 44
The House of Commons as a Club would be possible
Again there
in a real Club.
were certain quarters where the out-and-out
One
supporters of the Ministry would dine.
opponents could not conveniently dine
of their
with them in the brief interval between two parts of the debate, as the conversation would
be sure to in the
fall
on what had just been happening
Chamber where they had been playing
opposite
used
Unionists
Liberal
was
There
parts.
vative would certainly
table
dine;
to
sit
a
where
a Conser-
down with them, but
hardly a Gladstonian.
Thus the House, though comprising many elements of Club really a
Club
— though
special sense.
the Members,
No
:
it
agree
with
from him
;
not technically or
may
it is,
be so called in a
for social life
much more than
an arena, in the truest to be in the
is
life,
where
he
of
a Club.
It is
where a man has
sense,
company, not only him, but
among
of
those
finds
his
who
those
who
differ
own
level,
however highly he may have heretofore held his
head, where
he has to smooth away 45
all
;
The House of Commons and
angularities of temper
he finds his notions
and
principles
know
to
where
demeanour, where
of other people's opinions
modified
by personal
better)
of
(generally
discussion,
the
for
where he gets
countless things not to be learnt any-
else,
where a common membership gives
a stamp of equality to limits of the House,
all,
within the broad
whatever be their status in
other spheres outside, where the sense of inequality
is
less
anywhere
than
else
the
in
kingdom, and where even the best or highest is
not more than primus inter pares and seldom
even
that.
Further, the House in the truly national
where
is
a school, a public school
meaning
else is the idea so well
of the
there
in
the
Here
doubt,
by willing
are
school,
various ages, sorts and conditions
no
:
no-
understood that
the boys are fathers of the men.
House, as
word
;
in the
boys of
the big boys,
acknowledgment, only
they must not presume to bully the
little
ones
the overpoweringly clever boys, only they must
not lord
it
intellectually over the duller ones,
46
The House of Commons as a Club but help them up rather than frown them
down
the precocious boys, only they must not
;
disport themselves too fast lest they
an awkward check from their elders
meet with ;
the pug-
nacious boys, only they must not be too quarrel-
some
lest
row"
arise scandalizing the
blows should begin to
The Speaker
is
whole
Head Master
the
authority over each boy
is
fly
and "a
institution.
indeed, and his
plenary; but even
then the enforcement depends on the suffrages of the
whole body.
In this school there
this
is
superiority over all other schools, in that the boys as a whole feel that they
must by
self-discipline
train themselves to sustain the moral authority of their
Head Master,
as the one
bond which
holds their body corporate together. Lastly, the
Chamber
ful
its
is
green rooms
House
;
the
is
;
the
the precincts are
its
the national theatre
stage;
Members
are the actors, hope-
not for applause from the immediate spec-
tators,
but for the approval of the vast body
outside;
the debates are the representatives
with divers dramatic incidents; the footlights 47
The House of Commons are the glare of public opinion beating
them
;
upon
the galleries are here the same as in
all
must be beware
of
theatres, only the players
playing too
boxes are
much up
to
symbolized
them; the
by the
pit
and
students and
observers of parliamentary procedure, manage-
ment, and
results.
Happy
is
he who can walk
these classic boards with a gait that shall satisfy fair
and generous
criticism,
part with a voice that
may
and
shall speak his
penetrate the hearts
not only of his constituents but of the majority
among
his
countrymen.
48
CHAPTER
III
THE PRECINCTS AND THE BUILDINGS
Having
in the preceding
Chapter discussed the
question whether the House of
be considered a Club
—
I
Commons can
proceed in this Chapter
chambers
to describe shortly the buildings, the
and the precincts seen
—not
the House, as they are
of
much by
so
the public but by a
Member. There
ground into
is,
course,
of
for
floor
Members
Medieval
the
constructed
an entrance
during the
This
only.
cloisters
of
on
the leads
Stephen,
St.
Tudor time
in
the
Gothic style; the roof being quite ex-
florid
These form the four
quisite in stonework. of
side,
and
rangle
As an annex on one
a quadrangle.
sides
is
slightly jutting out into the quad-
a
small
chamber 49
in
the
same
The House of Commons In this beautiful apartment
elaborate style.
according to a consistent tradition the death
warrant
of
Charles
cloisters
are
used as
Members only,
—where
as
their
was
I.
a cloak room for
they hang
hats
These
signed.
are
overcoats
their
with
carried
them
always by the etiquette of the House.
one
Each
760 Members has a peg with his
of the
name
the
the
attached,
names
being
arranged
alphabetically.
Near the end
of
this
lovely
and
classic
quadrangle, a short flight of steps descends
a lower level, below
to
it
is
first
will
commonly
chapel
the
of
St.
is
— though
probably the
Stephen that was
built
the larger chapel was undertaken, as
be
chapel in It
called "the crypt,"
not really a crypt, but
before
of
This leads to a semi-subterranean
ground. chapel,
the surface
mentioned its
This
presently.
inception
must be
crypt
of great age.
was most elaborately completed and decor-
ated in the decorations
Tudor time. have
These grand old
been fully and 50
faithfully
The Precincts and the Buildings down
restored
minutest
the
to
So the interior
colouring and gilding. at least as good as
was
it
refinement particular this
decoration,
of
The old stone
by
however good in
itself,
not
in
its
anything
in
is
any other
in
From by a
it
being obviously modern,
was
if
minded
excellent,
Lobby
modern, style to the
But
the
of
the
ascend
though House,
will do so. to look
about him, he
turn into Westminster Hall Hall,
and the
Member may
of
staircase
and ordinarily he
;
artistically a mistake.
these cloisters the
spiral
This,
tiling.
out of keeping with the old chapel
introduction of
been
has
flooring
Minton
replaced by very fine
and yet
richness it
surpassed
way,
now
In boldness yet
kingdom, hardly perhaps
country.
is
in
outline,
of
is
of
in the days of its
most gorgeous magnificence. gracefulness
detail
history
— that
which
of
may
wonderful
would
be
an
epitome of the annals of England for nearly a thousand years.
He
interest in the spot
will feel a
melancholy
marked by a
brass plate
51
The House of Commons where
Charles
the bar
stood at
I.
of
Tribunal to receive the death sentence
he will
on the several
reflect
and
;
State
the
trials
that have taken place here, full of romance,
pathos
and
ascend
a
Stephen's
flight
Hall.
He
consequence.
tragic of
steps
He
will
and
will
enter
St.
inform
doubtless
himself regarding the history of this beautiful place,
which
ing places in this
which
one of the most interest-
is
Kingdom
by hundreds
daily traversed
is
way
public on their
other, of
the
and from the Houses
to
which
of Parliament, but
any
or in
often passed
is
by
without heed of the strange vicissitudes that
have befallen originally of
the
it.
He
will
that Chapel
Westminster
Kings
English
—that
Chapel
after
of
for
Commons
the
sat
was
the Palace
two Houses
the
of
the sacred uses of the
the Eeformation,
under a Protestant sovereign priated
it
made over by
was
to
their Parliament
ceased
Royal
— which
that
find
Commons
regularly
52
it
was appro-
— that
from
when
the
here
the
fifteenth
The Precincts and century,
through
Commonwealth,
on
that
the
Houses, which are
the
dynasties
of
the conflagration
till
the
and
Rebellion
through
Guelph
Stuart and 1834,
the
the Buildings
building in
still
use,
new
the
of
the
of
chapel
chamber was reconstructed nobly well as a with
Hall,
splendid windows and roof, and
with statues of orators to
be
all
parliamentary
the great
whose voices have been heard called
position of the
Hall
Stephen's
St.
therein,
— that
the
Lobby where Spencer Perceval
was assassinated
is
marked by brass
plates.
Thence he enters the central
hall
noble structure exactly in
midst of the
pile.
Behind him
already
mentioned
mighty Hall
;
the is
on the right
is
a
the St. Stephen's
in
corridors leading towards the
again,
front
Thames
the
are
frontage,
the frescoed corridor leading to
the Lords, on the left a similar corridor leading to the
Commons.
covered are
well
These frescoes being glass preserved;
they represent
the most dramatic scenes in English history
during the last three centuries. 53
In the right c
The House of Commons hand corridor there are two
frescoes
which
have always excited the mournful sympathy namely, the burial of Charles
of all spectators,
and the farewell interview between Lord
I.
and Lady William reaches
the
Lobby, or ante-room and
outer
vestibule of the
Then the Member
Eussell.
Commons, a square
lofty hall
finely decorated.
Member
Thus the which
technically
is
Commons
that
which
is
It
too
is
material
as
are
of
is
struck by
compared with the mighty
acted
narrow in
in
its
two-thirds of
great
occasions
crushed out of their
and the drama
it,
dimensions to hold its
are
too,
charged by
to its
crowded
and
bearing the time
honoured name of the Chair, reference
own Members,
own Chamber.
The Speaker's throne
in
House
daily exhibited in this little theatre.
more than
who on
Chamber
as distinguished from the personal
smallness;
parts
the
the
Like everyone else he
House. its
reaches
the
dignified
occupant. 54
Its
is
insignificant
functions
plainness
dis-
too
The Precincts and will
him
strike
the Buildings the hand-
contrast with
in
someness and richness displayed in
This insufficiency
parts of the national fabric. of size of
this
was an
initial
other
all
error in the designing
chamber, the reason apparently was
Members even
that the words of the
in
a
conversational debate should be caught easily in
this
This
small space.
and though the speaking and
is
sometimes
enough;
true
often badly heard
owing to
inaudible,
and
restlessness,
noisiness,
is
is
casual
the
conversa-
Members, yet when the Members
tion of the
are quiet then the acoustic properties of the
Chamber are is
one
those
of
The defect
excellent.
which
faults
admitted
but
never
remedied;
difficulties
are
alleged,
but
overcome,
if
structural
these might
accustomed to that sociations
gather
at
round
and acquiescence ensue. 55
it,
is,
is
not;
but become
first,
which
be
House
a will on the part of the
Members complain
size
always
is
were really manifested, which there the
in
as
and
many so
as-
silence
Around the Chamber
;
The House of Commons are the Division Lobbies, for "the for "
the right side of the Chair, and
on the
left.
much
These are
by the Members
tables
they are by no for the
galleries
means
Ayes" on the Noes
used as writing
though convenient,
;
large
Members and
for
the public
The
enough.
the adjoining
writing rooms are fairly good; and so gallery
is
the Newspaper Eeporters. gallery,
"
the
But
which includes that
for
the Peers, that for Ambassadors and distin-
guished persons, and that large, is
for
strangers
at
poor and inferior to that which would
be allowed by most legislative assemblies of lesser
while
consequence than the British the
gallery
ladies
for
is
Commons miserably
uncomfortable.
Thence the Member would proceed tea-room which
is
comfortable enough, though
very poor for such an assembly as this there
stands the old Table of the
Commons
the
to
in early times
;
;
in
House
it
of
that classic table, on
one side of which, in the days when parlia-
mentary freedom was in the 56
balance,
Pym
The Precincts and Hampden and Cromwell Eoyalist this
Members on
used to
and the
sit,
Adjoining
the other.
the Newspaper
is
the Buildings
room, which
is
well
it
con-
stocked up to a certain point, in that tains a copy of almost every
newspaper
of the
and
every
Metropolis, of the large cities,
county in the
kingdom.
Perhaps no other
Kingdom
reading room in the
extreme;
the
is
quite so well
The room
provided in this respect.
poor in
of
itself
is
almost every club in
London has a better room
for this purpose.
Then the Member proceeds
to
the dining
rooms, three in number, fairly well constructed,
and facing the Thames, indeed overlooking the river
;
this
airy outlook
age, probably
is
of
great advant-
no other dining rooms in the
Metropolis have such an outlook. less in regard to the
as a
whole, and
dimensions of the structure
to
dining rooms where
mentary policy
to
the importance of these it is
a matter of parlia-
induce the
habitually, they are not fine
public object;
Neverthe-
Members enough
to dine
for
their
and the architects could not 57
The House of Commons have understood at the time how important these apartments would become in the future.
They
are, for
example, inferior to the dining
rooms in the best London Clubs. large
enough
for
Members who owing or
average
the
will dine in them.
proceedings
of
proportion of the House
zealous
crush
the
description,
room
of
But when
House, (which
the
happen several times every
satire.
number
any cause arising from the debates
to
dinner,
They are
a
large
staying there for
is
and
session),
does
discomfort
pass
and have often been the theme
of
Certainly the conditions of the dining
though
quite
good enough
Members, has operated
Members,
less zealous, to
very
to induce
many
go elsewhere,
would have been convenient managers
for
whom
it
for parliamentary
to detain in or about the House.
The Smoking Eooms
are, I
always understood,
regarded as fairly adequate by those
competent
who
are
to judge.
The Library has been already mentioned the preceding Chapter, it adjoins 58
in
the dining
;
The Precincts and rooms
has
;
one another branch it
opening into
each of which contains a separate
of literature
interior is
in the quality of its books,
;
most comfortable
highly
picturesque
Thames
is
ment
the best possible
;
aspect
its
outlook
its
;
of librarians to help
quickly, it is
all
one of the good libraries of the kingdom
is
its
compartments
five ;
the Buildings
the
has an establish-
it
;
over
is
Members
in finding
any reference they may want
in fine,
;
Commons.
the pride of the
The Member should now ascend by a stone stair case to the Committee
Booms
fine
in the
upper storey, which are quite noble, looking right over the river,
and
catching
spacious,
southerly,
Most
breezes.
these
of
of the
rooms
seats
work
the whole House,
are
lofty,
they are for the
;
is
oblong chamber,
a fine
on either
side, after a
resembling that of the House suited for the
easterly
same or similar dimensions
except one, which
up with
fine view,
south
or
and well furnished
most part
fitted
commanding a
of
itself;
plan
and thus
Grand Committees from
(which will be mentioned 59
The House of Commons or
hereafter),
that
any assembly larger
for
rooms are suited
Committees
for
twenty Members, with space
who may be agents
The other
an ordinary Committee.
of
who may
of
from ten to
for the witnesses
by them, and
called
than
for counsel, or
The pro-
plead before them.
ceedings which here take place, are of extreme
consequence to large interests, to corporations,
Many
to individuals.
be
for
the investigation
directly or indirectly,
Commons, (projects
House
or
law)
of
— they
Committees, which as
for
example,
Accounts
to
less before the
to
generally be
will
Jiem
of
sit
Many
Committees the
Bills
enterprises
of
of four
required for
Bills,
them by called
the
Select
Standing
are
Committee on the
House
accounts of the monies voted by purposes.
of
regularly every session,
the
which
will
subjects
examination
referred
Some
Committees.
certain
of
more or
the
for
Committees
of these
them
are,
Members for
public 60
the
Public
refers it
for
the all
however, smaller
each, to report
sake
purposes,
of
on
private railways,
The Precincts and
the Buildings
and
canals, waterworks, harbours, is
these Committees
before
;
It
the counsel
that
plead for or against the Bills
others.
and inasmuch as
the Bills involve contentious matter, comprising vast
sums
in detail
eliciting either objections
from other
parties, or opposition all
there
round,
and
money,
of
infinite
is
rank are employed by the
barristers of high
on both
sides,
juniors together, form
is
and
what
The
Parliamentary Bar.
Bar
trained
for
Consequently
disputation.
professional
parties
room
they, seniors is
known
lucrative
and
as the
work
of this
the pleading before these Committees.
The counsel
will
have to undergo some study
during the few weeks before Parliament meets,
and a
little
session.
business
during the earlier weeks of the
But comes
from
March
thick
and
emergent,
laborious,
witnesses
are
scientific,
regarding
and
numerous
onwards,
heavy
on
and the cross examination their
scientific
the n,
The
absorbing.
enough,
dicta
is
the
mostly of
them acute.
Parliamentary Agents preparing the Bills are 61
The House of Commons numerous
and
influential
they
;
attend
to
supply particulars to the Counsel, and occupy a position analogous to that of Solicitors.
hind the table where the Counsel space for the public to hear and to
Beis
sit,
a
see.
All along this space, and looking towards the interior of the House,
breadth
too,
one
in
any
All the doors of the
many
the
of
building of Britain.
Committees open into ranged
along
modious
a long corridor of some
is
it,
longest
and side
length.
its
It
serve for
the
same purpose
immense spectacle
noon
corridor
from
stirring, restless
agents,
clients,
as Central Halls
Any busy
Courts of Justice.
morning, from
end
to
three
presents to
end.
crowd consists witnesses,
miscellaneous spectators.
who must
Committees.
resort for various reasons to the
the
o'clock,
an
The of
moving,
barristers,
interested
Now
this
animated
parties,
and again the
packed throng will part and make way
Member who may
are
most com-
is
for the multitude of people
It serves
seats
for a
be passing to or from one of 62
The Precincts and the Committee Eooms.
To a stranger desirous
how an
of gathering a notion as to of
work
the nation's
the Buildings
integral part
carried on, few sights
is
can be more curious and suggestive than
this.
Then the Member may descend by a dark and awkward
He
Parliament.
will notice
their friends, especially
The provision
this
is
been
hospitable ideas,
permitted at
made
entertain
for the
a matter of grace,
was not contemplated by the Otherwise, some space
designers or architects.
have
the series of
any accommodation
of
floor of
these be ladies.
if
entertainment of ladies
and doubtless,
first,
Members
low-vaulted chambers where
might
ground
stair-case, to the
such hospitality
if
all.
of the quaint
conformable
allowed
As
it
little
is,
is
to
to be
no complaint
is
apartments, doubtless
because the visitors are preoccupied by the incidents,
important
going, sitting again, also
who of
down
members to
table,
coming and
rising
and
up
by the very distinguished guests
are often assembled, and by the traditions
the spot.
Especially 63
if
after dinner, the
The House of Commons company adjourns on the
evening, or to the
when
beautiful Terrace about to be mentioned,
the view will be as fine as any to be seen in
Venice by lamplight.
Hence the Member Terrace,
crowning
the
The
structure.
fine
abutments,
the look
An architectural
glory
of
pavement
lengthening perspective
House with
upon the
will issue forth
;
sets
whole the
off
the three stories of the
pinnacles,
down
the
windows, carved
upon
majestically
it.
mass, mainly square, closes the
view at each end, north and south, one
of these
A
low but
masses being the Speaker's Palace.
massive stone wall separates the pavement from the Thames, which flows close beneath, like the
bulwarks on the side
whole
it is
of a
most imposing
On
The view from
:
near on the
Bridge, and the spectator of the bridge is
ship.
the
the finest terrace in this country,
probably in any other.
he
mighty
and hear
left is
Westminster
may watch
its roll
may 64
the traffic
or rumble while
in the quietude of the Terrace.
the broad arches he
it is
Between
perceive the graceful
The Precincts and
the Buildings
outlines of Waterloo Bridge.
Thomas'
St.
is
houses; to his
Hospital left
front
looming grandly, to his
At
In front of him
with is
left is
separate
its
Lambeth Palace Lambeth
night the long rows of lamplight in
that the
moon may be
Lambeth, while
architecture of the
This
known
having
country.
House
the
in
cast a
ruddy
in
London
some
repute
To have
" tea
society,
glare.
the natural ambition of everyone.
It is of the
utmost convenience to the
shew
and especially
On
a
to
Member
this attention to his friends,
constituents
his
summer
and
their
afternoon the collection
of these tea parties
amounts
by the Commons
to
stituencies.
the
on the Terrace," as the
is
to be able to
and pro-
throughout
phrase goes,
families.
dark
the spot where the tea parties are
is
held, well
bably
to
seen rising pale over
windows
the
all
Added
directions are reflected on the river.
of
Bridge.
to a reception given
London and
The mixture
the local character.
to the
con-
of tea-tables is typical
Here
will be a table
with some of the most fashionable persons, near 65
The House of Commons it
will be one
where a Labour Member
Next
taining his family.
philosophic
Member
The whole scene and vivacity not place where
is
is
will be
enter-
one where a
receiving learned ladies.
one of diversified animation
to be parallelled in
men do
When Members
is
any other
congregate. in
summer
entertain their
friends at dinner in the House, they adjourn
with their guests to the Terrace in the evening
by lamplight, and then the scene called
"The English Venice."
66
is
commonly
CHAPTER IV LIFE IN PARLIAMENT
It
is
to be
remembered that according
plan of this work, the parliamentary
be outlined
is
life
that of the non-official,
to the
now
to
or, as
they are called, the Private Members, and of
them only
;
main body
of the House.
and they
not relate to the
of course
official
The
constitute the description does
Members who
sit
on
the two Front Benches on either side of the
Table of the House.
The
life,
then, led in Parliament
67
by Private
The House of Commons Members
varies greatly according to the cir-
A certain number
cumstances of each Member. of
Members
are politicians or parliamentarians
simply and purely.
This
number
is
doubtless
variable from one general Election to another.
Probably
and
it is
is less
men
not so great as might be desired,
than half of the whole House.
are persons of
Such
independent means, and
have no occupation except that which relates to public or national
men
They are not indeed
affairs.
be beset by
of leisure, for they are sure to
many
public
engagements.
masters of their
own time
Still,
;
and they are at
work
liberty to devote themselves to the
House during the concerning
Session,
parliamentary
recess.
They
classed
as
are,
they are
and
to
of the
meetings
during the
affairs
however, in no wise to be
professional
politicians
;
they are
under no personal obligations, and seek for no
immediate reward.
Such men may or may not
take a prominent part in the debates inside the
chamber before
of the
the
House, or be conspicuous figures
public,
or
have CS
their
utterances
Life in Parliament But
frequently reported in the newspapers.
the vast mass of business in the precincts of the
House outside the Chamber
is
done mainly,
not almost entirely, by them.
perhaps
labour for
needful
Their country
knows how hard they have
little
many months
in each year
:
parliamentary business of the nation properly discharged.
to
and how
the existence of such a class
is
if
is
if
the
to be
Moreover, as they attend
the Debates and other proceedings inside the
Chamber more Members, of the
On
regularly than any other class of
their influence on the general conduct
House
is
proportionately the greater.
the other hand, there
variable in
is
another
class,
numbers no doubt from one General
Election to another, but always large, and pro-
bably comprising of the
full half or
more than
whole House, sometimes even two-thirds.
This consists of those sort of business,
who have
either
commercial and the
some profession that must claim tion,
half
during the hours of the day at
some
like, or else
their attenleast.
They
are inavoidably prevented from giving the whole
69
D
The House of Commons or even the greater part of their time to the
House.
They must
or their profession
attend to their business
first
— that
This
obligatory.
is
done, they will give
what time they can
House, and by
sometimes even by over-
care,
to the
exertion, they will contrive to do the essential business, the bigger part of the parliamentary
work, fairly well
them
— though
it
Fortunately for them,
to follow the details.
much
work
of the
falls to
Chamber
in the
be done after
may be impossible for
of the
when
five o'clock,
House
the busi-
ness of the counting-house, the bank, or the Court of Justice, will be over.
a
man who
Still, it
has been working
must be hard for
all
day at finance
and at commerce, or for one who has been pleading in arduous cases before
straight to the House,
midnight. does
it
He
will
occasionally
and attend
have to do
—but
beyond his endurance
drawn
if
it
constant
to debates
it,
go till
and actually
must generally be
of
without any fault
from giving
to
the debates be long
Thus Members
out.
prevented,
Judge and Jury,
this of
attendance 70
class are
their
inside
own, the
Life in Parliament Chamber, and the
House
the
to
less
still
in the precincts
work outside
and in the Com-
mittee Eooms.
Nevertheless this second
Members first
class
Private
of
of all sorts is just as valuable as the
or purely political class just described.
supplies
It
the practical acquaintance with the
business pertaining to a commercial nation like
element
Its legal
ours.
is of
influence in legislation.
knowledge which
ment
of our
branch
is
much weight and
It affords largely that
needful for the manage-
complex domestic policy in every
of the national industries, save
that of agriculture.
Moreover the great bar-
risters in the
House have
ments
Debates, and
in
its
speeches have been
perhaps
often proved orna-
many memorable
made by them.
generally has representatives of
Agriculture its
own who
are not of the business class, but will mostly be
country gentlemen.
None suppose
that
there
are
too
many
merchants or bankers, or
financiers
in
many
Solicitors,
for the
House, or even too
71
the
The House of Commons advice of
all
these
constantly required in
is
those Debates which are in their nature of con-
But the number
sultative.
House has often
able, it
called forth notice
The number
criticism.
but
of Barristers in the
of these again is vari-
must often stand
it
and even
at a hundred,
and
has sometimes been reckoned at even more.
At
all
events
it
represents an appreciable pro-
portion, say one fifth or one sixth.
Critics,
while admitting that a goodly number of such
members
is
desirable so that the
House may be
well informed regarding the laws of the country,
do yet contend that the actual number always has been too
large,
more than a
particular profession has of
The cause
influence.
namely
this,
and that
is
is
and
this
one
full
obvious enough,
appointments to
that the
share
the
Judicial Bench, and to the highest posts virtually
beyond the
Bench,
are
often
perhaps
mostly given to barristers who are in Parliament.
This practice
days as existence
much
as
in
has prevailed in past the
present day.
Its
seems to be so fixed that further 72
Life in Parliament reference to
its
merits or demerits would be
superfluous.
In this
there
class
is
a section
deserv-
Some Members
ing a brief notice separately.
are avowedly elected by particular industries
and professions specially.
—
to represent certain interests
Consequently, while they bestow a
general regard to the affairs of the House, their
primary duty
to
is
guard the interests for the
sake of which they were elected. of such
Members has
probably increase
The number
increased of late, and will
still
further.
It
comprises
the Labour Members, the representatives of the
shipping interests, the Educational
and
others.
As
already mentioned
been made on the number in the House. to
Members
comment has of
often
Kailway Directors
These cannot however be traced
any particular
class.
scattered here and there
They
are to be found
among
all sections
of
Members, sometimes among the leisured and independent
classes,
and sometimes among the
business classes.
73
The House of Commons Such being
main
classes in the
House, we approach directly
how each
the question as to
parliamentary
At that
most general terms the
in the
is
no disguising the fact
some Members take the
more
Some Members with
responsibilities of
than
seriously
others.
large connections in the
Metropolis, moving by old association in society,
London
having social avocations of great variety
and extent, attend the House of such
its
life.
the outset there
Membership
leads
class
performance
for
duty as may be imperatively necessary,
but do not otherwise take an onerous or active share in the work.
They will attend
afternoon no doubt, ascertain are likely to occur or likely
to
be
when
needed, and
daily in the
when
Divisions
their presence
make
voting in every Division which
point
a
may
is
of
concern
the maintenance of their Party or the safety of
the Government which they are supporting, or the interests of their constituents.
they
may
pair,
Even then
by finding someone of the op-
posite party of a similar disposition as regards
74
Life in Parliament
By
attendance.
such pairing, their absence for
a considerable time on the Continent or else-
where are occasionally arranged. they
But
as a rule
some cogent or urgent avoca-
will, unless
tion arises, endeavour to be present in every critical
Thus
division.
a
Member
might
attend in the afternoon and go away before the dinner hour
;
ments return
and
after fulfilling social engage-
to the
House
at eleven o'clock in
time for the important Division which will usually take place between that hour and mid-
Such a
night.
career,
duty up to a certain point,
sistent with public is
though useful and con-
neither arduous nor exhausting.
The ness
practice
men and
mentioned.
is
very similar with the busi-
the
But
professional men,
already
for these it is to be said that
they have hard and fatiguing work of their to
own
do before they enter the House. This explanation
is
necessary, because the
public outside hearing that for some
Members
the parliamentary labours tax endurance to the
utmost, would be inclined to doubt the fact 75
The Hottse of Commons Members
seeing that some
The
ordeal quite easily.
above
whom
;
pass through the
case then
there certainly are some
the
service
the
of
as stated
is
Members
House
for
neither
is
tiring nor troublesome.
But the
for those
who
regard their service with
utmost seriousness
— and
they
make up
over one quarter, perhaps one third, of
House
—the work
is
harassing, fatiguing
the long run exhausting.
Members, who
of
forward and carry to
and
free
will
petent and trustworthy
men
Going
morning he must
and attend
running
push
Commons.
It
to
the
to
are always found
rise at
active
before he proceeds to the
life
bed at one o'clock eight o'clock
correspondence, which
always heavy for an
is
many com-
Such a Member has a hard
during the Session.
in
conclusion the executive
its
indeed lucky for the Nation that
in the
in
their patriotic career,
legislative business of the
to act thus.
and
These are the busy
their
what they consider
the
is
parliamentarian,
House by
half-past
eleven in readiness for the Committee work 76
Life in Parliament This work, which often
which opens at noon. imposes time,
much mental
between three and
He
will dine in
much time
getting about as
the as
to the
is
Chamber
few minutes of time
to confer
will be
After that he
House, often allowed to a
an express train stopping
Then he returns steal a
when he
watching or participating in the
will be either
traveller in
four,
Chamber.
in his place in the
Debates.
on to Question
strain goes
it
:
for dinner.
and
if
he can
will probably be
with some constituent or other
poli-
tical friend in
the precincts of the House.
He
will sit in the
Chamber
the
main business
of the
will
Bills
promptitude
—
—a
till
House
is
engaged
probably be
Members
midnight,
till
when
stopped. in
But he
some Private
matter demanding vigilant near half-past twelve.
In recent times Obstruction has played and will continue to play
an important part in the
proceedings of the House. Parliament, time
marked out by
is
By
the rules
of
ever of consequence as being
certain dates
not to be transgressed. 77
which are
limits
Legislation not com-
The House of Commons pleted in one Session at all
must begin
all
is
dropped, and
resumed
if
Often when
over again.
a measure or a policy cannot be defeated by direct opposition
may
it
be delayed
stopped by lapse of time.
by a hundred devices
drawn
out,
till
virtually
It can be hindered
—such
hydra-headed
as speeches long
objections,
ments, discussions, and the
like,
not always
intended for the measure to which applied.
Often a
lesser
measure
interminably in order that
way is
measure
of another
it
to English ears because it
to be practised
In truth and that there
is
is
by the
debated
block the
which the hindrance
At one time
Obstruction.
may
they are
All this goes by the
really meant.
sound
for
it
amend-
name
had a
sinister
happened then
Irish Nationalists.
fairness,
however, we must admit
no term to which so much misreapplied as Obstruction.
presentation
is
within limits
—and they must be broad —
legitimate is
of
mode
of
If
kept
it is
parliamentary warfare.
a It-
indiscriminately adopted by all parties with-
out exception for their own policy as against 78
Life in Parliament
plains itself,
Each party
opponents.
their
this
of
and
method
used
being
in turn uses it in
turn
in
the
against
same way
The Unionist Party com-
against opponents.
plained of Irish Obstruction against tion,
and then obstructed with at
skill
the
Home
com-
Eule
Bill.
legisla-
its
least equal
Then
was the
it
turn of the Irish to complain, in forgetfulness of
what they had themselves done.
Had
not
the Bill regulating the Church in Wales been
summarily stopped it would have been obstructed at every step
by the Conservatives.
There
is
not any political candour in the complaints, the excuse for them
is
that they are
made under
natural vexation and impatience.
The only question that can be entertained regarding Obstruction will relate to tion.
and it
limita-
The method began shortly before 1884.
In the absence of limitation able.
its
it
became
After 1885 the closure was stricter,
stricter
and has now been pushed as
can be in fairness.
as good as
made
intoler-
they can
The be 79
far as
rules are probably
— consistently
always
The House of Commons with parliamentary freedom.
man
But the wit
of
cannot devise rules that would preclude
Members
the exercise of ingenuity by
in going
beyond the limits which the said rules were intended
to
called in
the House an abuse of the rules.
impose.
This
transgression
is
Such abuse was often committed by the Irish Nationalists in 1887, and sometimes in other
years too.
But now-a-days the Speaker
vested with strong powers of repression, and
is if
he exerts them with discreet firmness the limits
But
will be sufficiently observed.
remembered that obstruction
is
it
and
should be
will
remain
a potent factor in parliamentary proceedings.
Of to
all
parliamentary questions the hardest
answer will
be,
what
success inside the
is
House, and of what does
it
consist
?
Such a
question becomes impossible to answer sum-
marily because such success
Indeed certain kinds
of diverse kinds.
of success are attainable
by every Member who them.
is
really tries to attain
Certain kinds again depend largely on
aristocratic connections,
and they are attainable
80
Life in Parliament by a few
It
only.
stability of the
most fortunate
is
the
for
Eealm, that the ideas which are
truly aristocratic find favour with the British
democracy
and
;
tendency
outside
this
A
strongly reflected inside the House.
man rise
and
of talent
eminence, or
;
another young
be years in reaching the same
may
never reach
at
it
no other advantage
equal to that.
is
no maxim more certain than
of
as
is
to
make a
ambitious
the
for
elders
it is
bottom
say
to
all
youth,
There that
if
is
a
House
begin too young.
It is
how an
young Member starting
from his
way
to success,
early years gradually works his as
this,
is
great figure in the
Commons he cannot difficult
Of
all.
advantages in the House the greatest
Member
man
merit but of middle class con-
of at least equal
may
young
aristocratic connection will
by leaps and bounds
nection
is
how
to tell
of a big
The instances
a climber ascends from the
trunk up to the
of
men
tall
attaining
branches.
the highest
rank in the Commons, who had not begun early in
life,
are very rare.
Mr. John Morley 81
is
a
The House of Commons signal instance indeed to the contrary his
eminent case there were special circum-
Home
Eule, which rendered
A
very peculiar.
from forty
Member
precedent
this
past middle
to fifty-five years of age
may
and
but probably not in a
useful,
life
say
begin a
House
career of a certain kind within the solid
and
Mr. Gladstone
with
connected
stances,
in a
brilliant,
Beyond that age Members who have
manner.
previously learnt the
way
ment may continue
to
vanced time
of life.
of
working
work even
it.
Whether the
moralists.
is
But
a
an ad-
problem
does almost infallibly
we
House
in the
come
inside
may
be in
success in the
him who deserves
outer world always comes to or not,
to
much
the House, however important they politics outside
in Parlia-
But those who begin a career
in Parliament late in life will not do
it,
but in
;
leave of
in
to
the
Commons
it
some shape or
other to the deserving.
The shapes indeed are
various, but each one of
them
is
tangible
;
and
they are suited to the varying antecedents, abilities,
opportunities of the various Members. 82
— Life in Parliament To each Member there cess
if
sort of suc-
he sincerely qualifies himself for
Such success circles
some
falls
— after
is
that
world, though
Nowhere
known
soon it
may
proper
the
in
it.
spread to the outer
such diffusion will be slower.
in this world has real merit of
what-
soever kind a greater certainty of success in
some form or other than
House
the
in
of
Commons.
Excepting only the advantage of
aristocratic
connection
the success
is
made.
effort
middle those
life,
—undoubtedly
great
apportioned to the merit of the
Those who begin their exertion past cannot expect the same reward as
who have been working
early manhood.
As
all
along from their
the labour
is
various,
on
the green benches, in the division lobbies, in the precincts of the
House
rooms
—in consistency
—so
are
of
in the
example
Committee
in all things
But some reward or
the rewards.
other comes to
—
him who labours and
proportion to his merit.
this too in
In no career can
this
be more truly said than in a parliamentary one.
Doubtless
some 83
Members
will
have
The House of Commons quitted the
ment
House with a
at their career in
feeling of disappoint-
it.
But probably
must have been because they had
this
originally
pitched their expectations too high, or because
they had not exactly adjusted their efforts to
what was
possible for
them
84
to achieve.
CHAPTEE V MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE HOUSE.
Having
in
the preceding
shortly something of the
the
House
of
Commons,
Chapter
described
led in
and about
life
I proceed to describe
the manners and customs of the
House
inside
the Chamber, where the principal business of the
nation
conducted.
is
It
is
to be
the term House has two senses. obviously there
the material sense
Members.
It
is
refers in a debate
To them " full
First, there is
but, secondly,
the more important and personal sense,
is
that which indicates
a
;
premised that
also a
to
the whole body of the
them that the Member
when he
Member
says " this House."
refers
House," or the reverse.
whole structure, when a
when he speaks
of
But outside the
Member says he is going
85
b
The House of Commons he
to the House,
may mean
the word in the
personal sense, but more probably he means
it
in the material.
The
British Parliament differs from almost
if
not quite every other legislative assembly in doing its
work, not at reasonable hours in the middle of
the day, but in the evening and the night.
any observer or inquirer would ask
first
sight
why
this should be
seek and
it is this.
The reason
?
House that the hours must be made
of
to suit
Bench,
them
time before
phrase runs.
going If
men
of
of
so large in the
as they could not
The Members
too, like the
because they can attend their "
is
not far to
parliamentary business
attend in the daytime. Official
is
The proportion
business and of professions
Front
At
down
arrangement
offices in
to the
in the
the day-
House
" as
the
they alone were concerned
however, the night would not be turned into
day as
it is.
reason
is this,
But the
last
and perhaps decisive
that for a considerable part of a
Session the affairs in the various committees are of
great consequence.
86
These committees
—
Manners and Customs of must
sit in
the
House
the daytime from noon onwardly,
and the Members composing them would be debarred from the debates of the House
were
sitting at that time of the day.
wise, for the really
if
it
Other-
working Members, as already
described in a previous Chapter the assimilation of the
hours of the House to those of
all
other
business centres would be a great boon.
the arduous Sessions of it
would have been
my
to us
In
time what a comfort
busy Members
if
we
could, like other mortals, have gone forth in
the morning to our labour
till
the evening
—
to
begin at ten in the forenoon and end at six in the evening.
The
difference
in
health and
strength would have been enormous.
Since 1888 there has been a partial reform of
Formerly the House
the hours of business.
used to meet late in the afternoon and
sit
on
past midnight without any fixed limit of time in practice it usually sat well into the small
hours of the morning, except on the occasions
when
it
sat still later.
Nationalist
Party in
The growth
number 87
of the Irish
and
strength
The House of Commons rendered
change
a
the
in
may have been some
Before 1885 this Party
In 1886
thirty strong.
it
ment with a strength course
desirous of giving as
entered a
new
Parlia-
of over eighty.
The
rendered
them
events
political
of
necessary.
rules
much
trouble as possible.
I mention the fact without at all criticising
them, as they held this course to be conducive to the Irish interests
which they had
to
main-
In 1887 they succeeded in giving trouble
tain.
so effectually that
duced in 1888.
meet at three
new
had
rules
Accordingly the House was to in
the afternoon and
midnight when the main business
business would then be taken
if
would not
last long, as
House
despatching business
when
it
of the
till
House
unopposed and
the expedition of the
has a mind to do
Members
sit
Any subsidiary
would be stopped mechanically.
in
be intro-
to
so.
is
wondrous
Thus
as a rule
are released from attendance at half-
past twelve.
On
emergencies, though rarely,
but towards the end of a Session frequently, the
House suspends the twelve 88
o'clock rule,
Manners and Customs of and then the contest may go on
the to
House
any hour in
the morning, or throughout the night, by is
called " an all night sitting."
what
Notwithstand-
ing these occasional aberrations, " the twelve o'clock rule "
was a
real reform for the sake of
the working members, and rendered the parlia-
mentary
life
endurable for them which was fast
passing their patience and endurance.
surviving parliamentarians
of
If
the
the older time
shall contrast the greater miseries
which they
sometimes suffered with what has nowadays to be borne
—
it is
yet to be remembered that the
Sessions are longer than they used to be calls
and the
upon a Member under the present electoral
system are far more pressing in a hundred ways than they were in former times. This latter point
may
be well illustrated by
the development of what are technically called "
Questions," and which are put by Private
bers to Ministers.
Some very
old
Mem-
Formerly these were few.
Members can remember when a
Question being notified was a rare occurrence.
In recent years they have become numerous, from 89
The House of Commons or
fifty
more each
The Member who
day.
puts the question merely indicates the
number
on the notice paper to save the readiDg
out,
the Minister to a certain
must answer
amount
hour or more
of
of
as
privilege.
liable
cross- questioning.
An
to
is
Often has there been
whether
this
cannot
be
The Private Members
abridged, but in vain. will not, indeed
and be
the best time of the House
thus taken up daily. consideration
orally,
but
ought not, to surrender this
It is indeed the only
have of making themselves
felt
means they
by the Ministry
of the day, of bearing their share in controlling
destiny of
the their
and
the British
Empire, of doing
duty in detail towards their constituents, maintaining " the Grand Inquest
of
" of
the
nation.
After these Questions the regular fixed business begins on the motion and under the guidance of the
Ministry of the day.
Monday and Thurs-
day being devoted to the great measures Session as
Government
introduced and promoted ;
of the
by the
Tuesday and Friday being in the 90
Manners and Customs of
House
the
early part of the Session allowed to Private
Members
—and
for the introduction of their
to "
supply
"
the well-known
money
indicates the voting of
there
On
The House meets "
called a
the
at
morning
there
is
two o'clock
sitting,"
and
an adjournment
House resumes work and
Wednesday till
six,
for
days
these
there
which
is
as
for sits
till
what
seven,
is
five,
till
when
sits as usual.
On
a short sitting from noon
is
devoted to Private
But
for a goodly part of the Session.
years,
Crown
some modification of the business hours.
is
when
name which
to the
the services cf the country.
measures
Members of later
Governmental
the pressure of the
business increases, the Ministers of the day have
contracted the habit of obtaining the permission of the
House
to take
up the time otherwise
allowed to Private Members. not
before,
sacrificed,
days the
fall
their
After Easter,
Tuesdays and Fridays
if
are
soon after Whitsuntide, the Wednesvictims
sacrificial
also,
rites
though
vary
Session.
91
from
the
days of
Session
to
The House of Commons In
power
the
short,
Members
Private
of
respecting legislation was once considerable bnt is
now
The influence
a thing of the past.
the age
is
them
against
all
They may pass just a few
in
this
of
respect.
which are
lesser Bills
so fortunate as to obtain universal acquiescence
they
may
introduce literally hundreds of Bills
which are as
little figures
for the formation
satisfaction
is
already
paraded on the stage
public opinion or for the
of
among
of certain sections
stituencies;
power
;
but that
now
is
"
and
explained,
Their principal
all.
exerted at
the con-
Question time," as
that
is
practically
effective in regard to the concerns of the
Nation
and the Empire.
at the
time of
"
Their next power
Supply."
sorts of objections
head
of service
Not only can they
—but
they can raise a general
the phrase runs, that
money
begins.
honoured maxim of
During
raise all
on every vote under each
debate before the House
public
is
"
is
"
goes into supply," as before the voting of
This
is
done on the time
grievances before supply."
many arduous 92
Sessions
when
the
Manners and Customs of
House
the
pressure of legislative business was extreme, the "
supply
"
business used to be deferred until
want of time precluded proper
too used to be taken in the old order
cant items coming
nauseam"
at
first
end
of
;
insignifi-
would be discussed
excessive
the Session,
"
and votes
length,
really world wide importance to the
Votes
discussion.
ad of
would be relegated
when they could be
discussed only by experts before
empty benches.
This grave fault has been happily remedied of
Supply
late.
is
now taken
early in the Session
and the votes are brought forward
in order of
their importance.
The that
etiquette of the
new Members
learning
it,
House
is
so far elaborate
usually take some time in
and in the meanwhile make many
small mistakes which provoke the mirth of the initiated, especially
when
cries of " order " arise,
and the innocent offender apparently
fails
to
imagine in what respect he can have offended.
The disposing
of the hat often puzzles the
new
comer who does not understand when he may or
may not put
it
on, according as he
93
may be
sitting
The Hotise of Commons It is not permissible to address the'
or standing.
House
as
it
if
Member when
were a meeting speaking should
speech to the Chair, that a breach
is
of
is
order to
Member by name,
—
it is
to the Speaker.
It
allude
another
to
He must
be
named
number
of
constituencies
Reform Act has augmented the
last
difficulty of
his
with his constituency, and the
great increase in the
by the
address
such a mistake would even
be noticed by the Chair. in connection
indeed the
;
remembering them
all.
Moreover
a matter of courtesy to mention the
title
together with the constituency, and thus for a
simple
name
there
for example, the
Member
some circumlocution,
to
Member
for
the
of
the Private
Oxford,
if
such
— or the Noble Lord the
be the case the
as
Eight Honourable Baronet the
for the University of
happened
title
is
Wick
Honourable
Boroughs. is
Member, who
Otherwise
always accorded to for example,
may
be
alluded to in debate as the Honourable gentle-
man who of
has just spoken.
To the generic
title
Honourable there must be added gallant 94
if
Manners and Customs of the
Member
House
the
belong to the military or naval
profession, or learned
if
All
he be a barrister.
these details are punctiliously and tenaciously observed, whatever be the heat or the hurry or
the excitement at the moment.
The business begins with Prayers, read by the chaplain
standing
at
the Table
the
of
House, next to the Speaker, who gives the
and does not ascend
responses,
ferment,
;
Chair
The proceeding
after the short service.
decorous as possible
his
and on days
is
till
as
of political
strange to contrast the repose of
it is
the Chamber, like that of any church, with the
ferment which will ere long arise within these walls.
The number
seldom
large,
debate
The
is
except
of
Members present
is
when some memorable
expected shortly afterwards.
election of a Speaker
is
an act performed
with some solemnity at the beginning of each Parliament, for the whole duration of which he is
elected.
He
is
proposed and seconded by
some selected Member on each
House not belonging
side
to either of
95
the
of
the
Front
The Hoiise of Commons
He
Benches.
then addresses the House briefly
from his seat on the green benches.
He is
then
conducted by his proposer and seconder to the Standing on these steps he
steps of the Chair.
thanks the House for his election. his seat
ment
He
takes
on the Chair and moves the adjourn-
of the
House
—so
far
he
is
in plain clothes.
The next day he appears with knee breeches and bob wig and presents himself at the Bar the
Lords to report himself
for
of
the Eoyal
This received he robes himself
approbation.
with gown and full-blown wig and takes his seat in the Chair.
If
two men are proposed
for
the Speakership then a division takes place in the usual way.
The powers
of the
Speaker over an individual
Member were always been rendered Rules.
than
greater
His power
closure has been years,
considerable,
ever by recent
allowing or disallowing
of
much augmented
and that has had a steadying
In a certain sense he individual
member
—
and have
is
in recent influence.
the master over an
in extremity, however,
96
he
Manners and Customs of
the
House
can do no more than stop the offender and
name him House
to the
move
will then
The Leader
House. that
some judgment be
The House
passed on the offender thus named.
on the whole jealous and zealous in exercis-
is
ing to
it
mind
by the Speaker; though,
may
As
thereto.
full
a rule the authority of the
support in the House and his
influence in regard to Order officer
impartial
moral
;
of course, the
be extenuated by those who have a
Speaker finds
an
named
authority over an offender thus
its
offence
is
he must be
and enormous weight attaches
But
authority.
it
is
to
be
to his
always
in the last resort
authority over the House, which
own conduct an independent It generally
As
immense.
the highest rank
of
remembered that he has
its
of the
is
no
as regards
assembly.
happens at the beginning
of a
Parliament that the Cabinet Ministers are not present on the Front Bench for some days,
having gone to their constituencies to seek the re-election
ance of
which
office,
is
required after their accept-
according to ancient practice. 97
—
The House of Commons During a moiety technically " in
of its sittings the
Committee "
occupied in voting
money
to the
settling the details of Bills
Second
read a
Committee
is it
of the
is
will be
Crown, or in
which have been
Time by the House.
one
is
— that
House
This
whole House and
is
from the Committees which have a few
distinct
Members
The Committee business which
each.
comprises nearly half the work of the House
is
presided over by a Chairman, who, next to the
Speaker,
He
House.
power, and
Leader
the most important
is
is is
of the
gown and wig
official
in the
the nominee of the Party in
proposed to the House by the
Front Bench.
He
sits
not in
in the Chair, but at the Table
He
underneath the chair and in plain clothes.
much
has
the same powers as the Speaker
except that in the cases of great consequence to the Order in the House the Speaker into
the
Chair for the moment.
is
But
called it
is
understood that ordinarily an appeal does not lie
in the Speaker from
Chairman
of
Committees. 98
any decision by the
Manners and Customs of
When for the
the
a successful Speaker retires
House
to
House it is
submit a representation
Sovereign praying that some
mark
usual to the
Royal
of
favour be bestowed on him and adding that the
House all
will
make good
which means that
Peerage,
the
pension
;
and
"While
the
House this is
if
the cost of the same; the
Crown
will
vote
will confer a
becoming
a
always done.
Speaker and the Chairman
Committees must always be Members are three officers of great importance
of
— there
who
sit in
wig and gown at the historic Table, namely, the Clerk and the two Assistant Clerks.
These are
the standing authorities on all the complex and peculiar rules of business
;
as such
constantly consulted by the
Clerk
is
Members.
always a person of note
knighted
;
they are
;
he
is
The
usually
sometimes he attains higher honours
;
Erskine May, the Clerk and the Historian of the House, was admitted to the Privy Council
and ultimately
to the Peerage.
The term whip has a double First
it is
applied to a set of 99
application.
Members who
are
The House of Commons chosen by the Leaders of their Party to look after the attendance in
their
all
Members
tact, vigilance is
a
man
—a
and about the House
requiring infinite
task
The Senior Whip
and patience.
of real
of
consequence and deep in the
councils of the Party
a seat in the Cabinet.
;
he
is
often promoted to
Secondly,
it is
applied to
sent out daily during the
a notice which
is
Session to every
Member
of the
Party indicat-
ing the business expected to come on and the
degree of urgency attached to his attendance.
These degrees are marked by underlining. or is
One
two such underlines mean that the business but moderately important.
Four
lines signify
importance, and five lines are storm signals with a warning of emergency.*
*I have kept
all
these
whip
interesting records of the time.
them
for
my
circulars as they
ten years in Parliament.
100
may
be
There are ten volumes of
CHAPTEE VI SCENES IN THE HOUSE
The
foregoing description of the manners and
may
customs of the House
be appropriately
followed by some notice of scenes within the
Chamber.
Some
instances of disquietude, of wild and
violent conduct, of disorder and indiscipline, of noisiness almost
amounting
always occurred and do ally
or
casually.
chronicled in
to disturbance,
still
Such
have
occur occasion-
events,
being
the Press, impress
duly
the public
memory, and are long remembered, while the quiet and peaceful course remains unnoticed and
never presents standing
what
itself to
may
the
be
mind.
said
Notwith-
against
the
demeanourof the House at times, the general 101
F
The House of Commons characteristics
are quietude, punctilio,
courtesy, inside the Chamber.
When
Questions
the
begin,
already
as
mentioned, early in the afternoon, even on the
some animation
quietest days,
If
will arise.
the Questioner be not satisfied he will press the Minister for further explanation, some kind of
argument
will be attempted, cries of "
will be heard,
wind may
some breeze may spring
freshen,
Order
up, the
and the Speaker may have
Indeed small scenes are not
to intervene.
"
frequent at this stage.
It is very
in-
amusing
watch the storm begin, the clouds
arise
to
and
spread over the Chamber, while the air becomes
rapidly charged with
electricity.
When
Questions are over, the big business comes on,
and a
full
hour which
dress Debate is
is
set up.
ordinarily the best, a
At
this
leading
speaker or an Opposition Chief will lead the
way, there will usually be a reply; and the attack and defence
together
principal episode for the sitting.
will
be
the
earlier part of the
Hitherto the green benches will have 102
Scenes in the House been well
filled
crowded, eager faces on
or
and counter-
either side of the chamber, cheers cheers,
sudden interruptions to allow of per-
sonal explanation or to correct unintentional
misrepresentation of what has been said. after
Then
the strain of attention for nearly two
Members
hours there will be a rush of
leaving
the House, so that no succeeding speaker can
obtain any hearing at shall
have
third rate
the
speaker will of less
hour
dinner
o'clock.
and
lags,
Then
it
is
near to
After
approaches.
is
an
resumed
or lacks importance
till
ten
gains strength through every
reached. its
speeches
consequence
less
quarter of an hour up to eleven stage
second or
The
rise.
interval of half-an-hour the debate
and either
the exodus
sufficiently subsided, a
become shorter and as
When
all.
If
close, the
by leaders on either
when a
the contest
is
critical
drawing
most conclusive speeches side
will
be delivered
between that hour and a few minutes before twelve,
when
the
Division
will
take
place.
After well nigh every sentence of an able and 103
The House of Commons kind of running
effective speech there will be a
commentary from
and
friend
with
foe,
an
accompaniment, like a chorus, breathing the
and sentiment
spirit
of the hearers.
The management
Chamber forms a
the cheering
of
sort of science
mentary cheer consisting hear"
—no
hands,
unless
it
is
is
not infrequent, but
parlia-
by clapping
is
the
words "hear,
of the
that
— the
The cheer from a
allowed.
is
Member
applause,
in
of
single
not significant
comes from some leading personage.
It is the cheering in chorus, like one
mind and
one voice from a number of Members, that forms This
the demonstration.
is
often
managed by
a tacit consensus, but more often arises from
an impulse
stirring
a
body
of
men
at
the
same moment from some words that have been uttered.
The tone
of the cheering then varies
according to the temper of those exactly according to their at
the moment.
First
who
cheer,
mood and sentiment there
is
the
hearty,
full-voiced cheer of genuine approval or satisfaction, hearty, resounding, full of encourage-
104
;;
Scenes in the House ment, rising to the roof of the Chamber and
There
awakening the echoes.
next the low
is
subdued cheer, gradually spreading along the green benches, indicating the deep seated agree-
ment which does not seek vociferous ous expression; this occasions,
or
at
acknowledgement fession is
or hilari-
used either on solemn
is
moments
of
or
pathos,
in
some concession or con-
of
Then there
on the part of an opponent.
the ironical cheering, which cannot be de-
scribed but
must be heard
the tone of sarcasm generally
it is
to be appreciated
always unmistakeable
is
the cruel greeting given to an
argument or a statement by an opponent, the formal denying of which there
an opportunity.
So far
it is
may
for
not be
bitterly hostile;
but sometimes good humoured enough, when applied to an opponent
who has unwittingly
uttered something that damages his
As an cheer,
intensification
which
this again
is still
there
the
case.
sarcastic
sharper and more incisive
must be heard
not be described.
is
own
to be realised,
it
can-
In days when the younger 105
The House of Commons Conservatives thought that Mr. Gladstone tried to overbear
them by
his superior position
and
furtherance of a policy which
experience, in
they hated, they used to apply this sort of cheering and ing
it
Supplementary
effect.
This
laughter.
must have had a
is
disconcert-
to cheering there is
often used for the same pur-
poses as those to which ironical cheering applicable.
A
statement made by an opponent
pompous solemnity
with
is
the
strain
The
excitement.
on the part
it
of
;
attention
this,
and a
the debate
if
of
disturbed
often
always in a merry mood
laughter enlivens relaxes
is
Apart from
by these simple means.
House
is
is
if
the
little
dull, or
there
be
slightest slip of the tongue
any speaker
at
any moment
is
the signal for merriment.
But whenever the debate approaches a or a definitely all
momentous
without exception
decision the
feel the
crisis,
Members
most acute
interest.
This naturally leads to scenes, some of which are grand and honourable, while are
some again
not creditable to those concerned, being 106
Scenes in the House turbulent or
flagrantly
obstructive,
even
or
tending to violence.
The
me was
the scenes seen by
first of
early in
1886 when the Conservative Government was defeated
before midnight.
parative
some
It
past
The Liberals
The
not knowing Irish allies
Conservatives had
known what was
too were
fare with their
by whose help alone the victory
But the
and
time,
first
Nationalist
Irish
Party, just assembled in their the
full
demonstration
summer scene,
us
to be expected of
Home
all
a
their
much
noisy
foretaste
from them.
to
be historic,
extending over fluctuations of
Bill, after
many
his
an immense debate
weeks,
with
ceaseless
hope and fear on both 107
fine
when Mr.
Government was defeated on Rule
of
In the
same year there was a
the
which ought
Gladstone's first
giving
;
numbers
finding
so
strength, cheered vociferously with
what was
coming.
by no means triumphant,
how they would
had been won.
for
just
was received with com-
quietude.
hours
House
newly elected
by the
sides.
The House of Commons The
full
the numbers
till
known by
truth was not
announced from the
were
Then the pent up
Chair amidst dead silence.
The Conservatives
excitement burst forth.
on one side
of the
House
rose in a
their seats cheering lustily hats.
As they
sat
either party
down
body from
and waving their
together the Liberal
Unionists on the other side of the House rose similarly to
salute
their
Conservative
cheering and waving their hats.
allies,
So far the
demonstrations had been within the rules of the House; the cheering had been measured,
and sonorous.
stately for
the
Irish
Now
ic
was the turn
Nationalist Party.
They
rose
up tumultuously and cried out "Three Cheers
Grand Old Man," which
for the
accordingly accorded
common meeting followed
notice
houses.
the
Liberal
was
form usual in
This ceremony was
by vituperation almost hissed the
against
in
salutation
Unionist Leaders.
out
No
was taken, as the House did not wish
to press
upon those who were smarting under
defeat.
108
Scenes in the House
The next episode was early Eandolph Churchill rose
Lord
personal
explanation
as
make
to
A
which has surprised his party.
his
resignation
his
to
when
in 1887,
dense fog
had penetrated the Chamber and as he stood speak
to
mistiness.
but sat
thin
his
He was
down
loomed
figure
in
received with some cheers,
in silence
speeches
great
wiry
had
;
he who on concluding
been followed
sustained and oft repeated cheering.
by long His
last
words were that he appealed to the Csesar outside
the House, an appeal
that
was not
answered.
In
the
summer
of
that year
the
Irish
Nationalists so protracted the Debates on the
Committee stage the
"
of the Irish
Guillotine " process, as
to be adopted,
by a
Crimes it
was
Bill that
called,
special order of the
House
which was proposed before-hand and passed debate.
That
17th June
all
is
to say, at ten o'clock
after
on the
the clauses not passed up to that
hour were to be summarily put
On
had
that day the
to the vote.
House presented the beehive 109
The House of Commons aspect which
always seen when some event
is
The hours
impending.
is
along
till
nine,
half-past
of
debate
when
Sir
glided
Charles
Eussell rose to say the last word for the
His cutting and
telling
Bill.
remarks were received
by the Conservatives with
ironical cheers,
and
he was pointing at them with quivering forefinger,
when the
first
stroke of ten was heard
At
from the big clock of the Clock-tower. this
moment
all
our listening ears caught
it.
In a silent Chamber the Irish Nationalists
We
rose in a body. no, they
were only leaving the House in mute
Then the
protest.
On
feared disturbance, but
the other
bill
passed
stage quietly.
hand some regrettable scenes In the spring
have occurred.
its
of 1887, it
was
a part of the Irish tactics to prevent the Irish
being introduced before Easter.
Crimes
Bill
To
end they desired
this
Government were equally
which the
mined
to
Members
to obstruct
pass.
to
the hours of
They furnished
deter-
relays
of
the
talking through all
night.
Unfortunately the
sustain
the
Supply
110
a
Scenes in the House enough men at those
Government had not
unusual hours for employing the closure statutory
number being
—
at that time requisite.
men
So the Whips were obliged to send for
from their homes in the fashionable squares London.
Many men came from
to their seats,
and
of
their beds back
so the closure
was
applied.
But when one point had been closed another one was taken up, and so
So the dawn
forth.
glimmered in the lighted Chamber, and then grey daylight streamed
went on
till
in,
but
By
in.
debates
that
time
The Government
force
breakfast time.
more men came
the
waxed, that of the Opposition waned, and by yielded and
the
In August, 1893, a grave case occurred.
In
must be
said
one o'clock the
Opposition
Supply passed.
justice to the House, however,
it
that the case arose and ended in regard to a
point of order which after all was successfully vindicated.
applied
The
guillotine process
was being
by Mr. Gladstone's Government
passing one of the stages of his second 111
for
Home
The House of Commons Kule
As
Bill,
and the House was angrily
excited.
the fateful stroke of the clock began which
would stop debate Mr. Chamberlain was speaking.
As he had
against
to sit
him was
down
a violent expression
distinctly heard
His Conservative
of the Irish Benches.
were resolved to prosecute to
Chairman
the
to interfere,
which was
He however
demanded
was done they refused
They calmly kept
all
that
their
Division
to
and
seats,
the
proceeded
by the
He was
this
arms
to
the
Irish
Na-
Conservatives
a Liberal
them and remonstrated
very seat
till
to go to the Division.
followed
While
were on their
up
and
their seats with folded
seats
lobby,
tionalists.
appeal
their ;
the
Meanwhile the Liberal Members
on.
left
did not see
Thereon
impending.
should be referred to the Speaker
and hats
and appealed
this,
and proceeded with the Division
then
Conservatives
allies
Committees who was
of
then in the Chair. fit
from a Member
usually occupied
thus
Member came sitting
on the
by their
leader.
pushed away, very slightly however. 112
Scenes in the House This appearance of a slight scuffle instantly
a number
brought back
who were
standing
House and rushed
near
up.
Irish
of
the
Members
door
the
of
This brought another
stream of Members rushing up to see what
Thus with the swaying
was the matter. and
fro
among
high-backed
suited for such movements, there
moments
a dangerous crush
;
not
benches,
was
to
some
for
in the midst of
which one Irish Nationalist was struck by an Irishman
of
Order
the Conservative Party.
was immediately
the
restored,
called to the Chair,
Speaker was
whereon the Conservatives
laid their appeal against the
Member who had
used the expression regarding Mr. Chamberlain,
and who accordingly withdrew
The House then proceeded
due apology. a Division. in the
The
centre
first
with
it
I
happened this
of
scuffle,
with the English
very ;
to be
to
sitting right
parliamentary cyclone. slight,
began no doubt
had they been alone
would never have been a disturbance
;
this
but
the Irish were at hand and they instinctively 113
The House of Commons fomented
the
was
a
called
what
introducing
trouble,
Donnybrook
element into the
affair.
Most
the
of
parliamentary
episodes
scenes
striking
introduced his
Kule
course
Bill,
—as
first
Mr. Gladstone's
in
were for
accompanied
by
when
he
instance,
and then
his second
the chamber itself so crowded even seats
had
placed on the floor of the House
—the
in its
Home
galleries
that extra
to
be
Lords
so anxious to get seats in their gallery that
there was in the phrase of the day " an ugly
rush of peers" to find places Bill
—when,
as
the
was just passing the Commons in order
to go to its
death in the Lords, he pointed
with outstretched forefinger to the Conservative benches
and said that never in
career had he
unremitting
met with such
opposition,
servatives burst into
ment of
of
their
debate.
relentless
whereon
the
and Con-
cheers in acknowledge-
what they regarded great opponent to
On
his long
as a testimony
their prowess in
a hundred occasions there was a 114
Scenes in the House dramatic vein in Mr. Parnell's sayings doings, though of
these
it
and
hard to single out any one
is
But when
incidents.
in
1886 he
spoke the last word from his side for the First
Home Eule his sarcasm
and
his
Bill, in
a densely crowded Chamber,
on the English policy in Ireland,
contemptuous description of the long
continued failure of the British Government to rule that Island,
made up
quite a climax of
scorn and hate.*
* It
may
be said that a Parliament (as for example the
present one) where the Conservatives are in a large majority will be more staid and quiet than one which by a prevailing number of ardent Liberals.
115
is
enlivened
CHAPTER
VII
LEADING FIGURES IN PARLIAMENT I
AM
in this
leading
These
Chapter to give an outline
figures
word
House
the
in
paintings,
of the
Commons.
of
however
slight,
are
sketches from nature taken by myself on the spot,
that
Chamber.
is,
within
the
The men have
all
and among us within the
Many then
which
of
them are
living
walls
moved
last
of
the
before us
twenty years.
still.
My
account
to
contemporary history only,
always
unavoidably imperfect, and
pertains is
four
must ever be written with
reserve.
The
figures
which moved and passed away before 1880 or 1882 have entered the domain
of history
where
their careers can be reviewed with a complete-
ness to which I lay no claim in this Chapter. 117 Q
The House of Commons Thus
do not undertake to describe Disraeli in
I
Commons, though
the
Lords his name was
when
I
as Beaconsfield in
one to conjure with
still
became
first
the
concerned
in
English
politics.
In
my
stone.
time the foremost I
man was Mr.
Home
saw him throughout the
episode of his career from 1886 to 1893
was present when he made the
Commons
and the observed
of all
was
still
which was
his
and
Commons,
parliamentary observers.
may have been known
more
;
During that time he
in 1894.
of all eyes in the
as he
Eule
his last speech to
was the cynosure
Well
Glad-
outside, he
closely followed in the House,
own
sphere, and this too
by
opponents as well as by friends and followers.
When
undertaking his crusade on behalf of
Home
Eule for Ireland, he was long past his
prime.
The once resonant voice had become
husky,
the
well-poised
intellect
could
sustain a prolonged flight through the figures
and
legislative details of
measure, quite so well as of yore. 118
not facts,
an enormous
He was
far
Leading Figures from being the
Parliament
in
man he was
Palmerston or in his own
when he made some ments ever heard
in the
days of
Premiership,
first
of the finest financial state-
in the House, or introduced
measures most intricate with a lucidity
remembered
in political circles.
ducting of the
some
—
of his
his
Home
Still
still
the con-
Eule crusade showed that
most interesting qualities remained
noble passion, his lofty sentiment, his
ardour for whatever he had persuaded himself
wide sweep
to believe in, his
richly stored his
memory,
dramatic
trionic
his
aspect
command
and
manner, and above
able will.
No man
of
all his
as
time honoured rules, ;
his-
unconquer-
an
affection for,
institution,
its order, its
with
of,
the its
traditions, its
and no man ever did more Besides his mastery of
to sustain these. tactics,
his
ever had a higher ideal
Commons
character, than he
of imagery,
attitude,
and a stronger respect and
House
thought, his
of
its
he was most adroit in parliamentary
management and
in
Party leadership.
He had
a too exclusive regard for the Commons, as an 119
;
The House of Commons Estate in the realm, and did not allow
suffi-
Chamber
ciently for the Lords as the Second
indeed he was constitutionally disposed to chafe
under any
ment he
As
restraint.
set the highest
the head of a Govern-
example and studied
By
preserve the best tone possible.
and followers adored
;
there
the House
in is
his friends
he was
simply
no other phrase than adoration
By
to express their evident feeling for him. his
to
opponents he was regarded
as
a
great
speaker always, as a grand orator at times
;
as
a wondrous character, as a great gentleman in Parliament.
It
must, however, in
added that by many
of his
truth
be
opponents he was
regarded with an animosity and an indignation
which they never directed against any colleagues,
him
some
of
whom
in importance.
feeling in their
minds
were second only to
The cause is
of his
of this
not far to seek.
angry
They
held that he had gradually turned from one
extremity in politics to another, that he had surrendered positions which he had undertaken to defend
and had given up the keys 120
of fortresses
Leading Figures
in
Parliament
which he had been commissioned view so,
may
there
may
or
his conduct.
by many
;
honour
For
intensity.
all faults
to the
was just one
it
which would produce
much admired by many one who,
were
irresistible reasons for
and with them
some
if it
the view was sincerely held
Still
considerations dislike of
not be correct, and
may have been
This
to hold.
political
all that,
of his
of the
he was
opponents, as
notwithstanding, had brought
British name, not only in his
own country but
This fact was
in the world.
creditable to the patriotism of parliamentarians,
and was proved by the fulness with which
the
of attendance
Commons mustered
to
be
present at his funeral.
There
were
many
occasions
which
from
surrounding circumstances were striking and
which by his eloquence he rendered romantic, as, for
example, when in 1886 on the eve of his
defeat on the
Home
Kule
Bill,
he poured forth
eloquence like a glowing stream, and figured Ireland desolate mournful, standing at the Bar of
the
House and pleading 121
;
when
in
1887 in
The Hotise of Commons wrath at white heat, and with almost frantic
denounced the Crimes
gesticulation, he
marking Ireland with a brand sign of inferiority,
the address to the
with
when
in
permanent
of
1888 he seconded
widowed Empress
of
Germany
sympathy beautifully and
appreciative
expressed;
pathetically
Bill as
when
1893
in
he
denounced the Conservatives opposition with stately
and magnificent declamation; in 1894
when
he
discussed
mastery of the economic all carried in his
for
of
brilliancy
head without notes, an aston-
man
of his age.
Lord Randolph Churchill
and
briefness
hardly
paralleled in parliamentary annals.
ing
how
a
statistics of the world,
ishing achievement for a
The career
with
bimetallism
to
is
be
Consider-
large a space he filled in men's minds,
what an
overpowering
personality
what an imposing memory he after his early death, it is
left
he
was,
behind him
hard for us to realize
the shortness of the time during which he trod the great stage.
He
first
came
to notice as the
leader of a peculiar group of four independent 122
Leading Figures Members on
Parliament
in
Conservative
the
Parliament of 1880 to 1885.
John) Gorst and
of
Drummond
of
the
It consisted of
Mr. Arthur Balfour (now famous) Sir
in
side
Mr. (now
Wolff, after-
wards an Ambassador, besides himself and was
dubbed the Fourth Party.
In that capacity
he shewed figuratively a wondrous
His audacity too was
enterprise and agility.
splendid
a young
;
elasticity,
man
and
actually,
and aspect looking younger
still,
mien
in
he
would
challenge the oldest and most famous Parlia-
mentarians
Marlbrook
As
to
combat
single
to the fight "
seemed
— "a
very
to be his motto.
the sessions rolled on he gradually showed
himself to be not only a Rupert of Debate but
an
oratorial gladiator, with a
close,
power
of
grappling
an unfailing resourcefulness and a perfect
presence
mind.
of
His knowledge at
first
scanty grew with every subject that he handled.
In
1884
event
some
of
it
was quite understood that
the
Conservatives
Office in the second
offered him.
power
rank at least must be
Soon afterwards 123
attaining
in the
it
was understood
The House of Commons that he would accept nothing save
himself choose, and that of the highest Offices,
make way
some
difficulty,
summer
in the
and when
was surprise
it
of 1885,
with the remnant of a
when he was appointed a State,
must
Conservative
a
be followed by
session only before them, to dissolution, there
on any
of his seniors
When
Government was formed under some
his choice fell
if
him.
for
what he might
in
some quarters
Principal Secretary of
was found that he had chosen
India as his department, his imagination having evidently been excited by visions of the East.
During the remainder ducted in the House
of that session he con-
much
of the defence of the
newly formed government. In the autumn recess which followed, he conducted the Conservative
campaign in the constituencies, making orations of the utmost brilliancy ness.
It
and
political
effective-
was found that during
his short stay in
won golden
opinions by his
the India Office he
considerateness towards colleagues and towards officials,
his
by
his deference to senior
men, and by
quickness in learning matters previously 124
Leading Figures unknown
Birmingham
in
He
to him.
in
Parliament
chose to contest a seat
in order to do battle with
Bright as a foeman worthy of his
During the
first
vast,
Gladstone's
steel.
session of 1886 he sustained
his parliamentary reputation,
become
John
which had now
by powerful speeches against Mr.
Home
first
Eule
When
Bill.
Parliament was dissolved in the summer of that year he
made
orations
ever, during the
had
special trains to hear
him
more magnificent than
campaign that followed to
speak.
—
till
run to carry his auditors
When
shortly afterwards
a Conservative government had to be formed he
was appointed Chancellor
Commons
Leader of the in
command
;
considered on
immense
all
this
Exchequer and
thus becoming second great promotion
hands to be but due
services for the cause
also to the
himself.
and
;
of the
was
to his
and the Party,
weighty authority he had won for
During the short autumn
session he
held the Leadership with skill and coolness,
and made speeches too
He
left
of light
and
leading.
on the Treasury the same favourable 125
The House of Commons impressions as on the India Office, and gave
During the
promise of high financial capacity.
made
recess he
now becoming
several orations in his old
what was he
Especially
style.
delivered a speech at Dartford, memorable for its
comprehensive Liberal recommendations, and
for its tone of unrestricted personal authority
in the councils of the
mas time
news
of that year the
resignation
At
Christ-
of his
sudden
Government.
came on
Party and on
his
the
nation like a thunder-clap or a bolt from the blue.
The declared cause was that he had
wished to reduce the charges for the
Navy, but that reason
of
his colleagues
growing
the
Continent.
That
of the affair
may
self told
the
Parliament.
had refused by
armaments
time
the
be quite believed, as he him-
Commons on But
to
on
was the head and front
this
this
the reassembling of
must have been part
a whole which probably will not be a long
Army and
come.
reckoned on retrieving his never succeeded in
doing 126
He
known
probably
positions, but so.
During
of
for
had he that
Leading Figures
Parliament
in
Parliament he took no leading part only on occasions
loyalty.
He
appearing
one of these being that of
;
some
certain grants for
when he made
;
Royal Family
of the
several fine speeches of signal
much and
travelled abroad very
absence weakened his parliamentary influence.
In the general Election
1892 he was no
of
longer the standard bearer of the Party, as he
had given place
fire
in
1893
He
Arthur Balfour.
Commons with
peared in the old
to
almost
but soon
;
reap-
all of his
afterwards
his
friends were grieved at perceiving that signs of
nervous failure had begun to appear. sad symptoms increased
till
1894 when he sank and end his,
of a career so
caused
followers,
to
rarely
Everyone
felt
was
died.
sorrow
to
opponents.
friends he becpueathed a services
the beginning of
The untimely
wondrous though so short as
hearty
and
These
equalled
comrades,
to
To a host
of
memory in
of splendid
Party
politics.
that a star in the political sky
lost to sight.
In the cartoons
of a
London Weekly Journal 127
The House of Commons was a picture
in
two
Eandolph Churchill rock, the other
one representing
parts,
in Africa
Arthur Balfour
reclining on a in the
Commons
standing in the place of Leadership, indeed the rise
the one to fame and popularity was
of
When
quite as rapid as that of the other.
at
the beginning of the session of 1887 Balfour
was
appointed
Secretary
Chief
for
somewhat
to the surprise of his Party,
but
known
little
Office
in
the
nothing more.
to politics,
Ireland
he was
having just held
Local Government Board and
By
the end of that very Session
he had become famous and was greeted with hearty applause whenever he appeared.
amazing progress arose
not
only
from
This his
conduct in the House, his readiness in reply and retort, his steadiness in standing
up against a
tremendous opposition from the Irish benches,
and
his
mastery of details in dealing with the
keenest controversy.
But
mainly to his management itself,
it
was due, however,
of affairs in Ireland
to his firmness in repressing disorder, to
his capacity for inspiring the welldoers
128
and the
Leading Figures
Parliament
in
well-disposed with confidence in the certainty
Added
to this
he acquired
manner and personal
qualities a
law and order.
of
by charm
of
popularity the
like of
which has hardly been
With
seen in this generation.
his tall wiry
stature, his polish like that of steel, his rapier-
like thrusts
he was ever a conspicuous figure in
House.
His reputation, which had thus
the
literally flown to a
same
the
in
commanding
the death of Mr.
Lord
First
the
higher.
of
1891 on
appointed
Treasury and Leader of the
the
unanimous
his Party,
who wished him
cause
the
in
autumn
W. H. Smith he was
of the
House, with
till
and
higher
direction
Session after session,
height, soared
General
acclamation
to
champion
their
which
was
Election
expected in the next year.
of
In the following
Parliament he became leader of the Opposition to
Mr. Gladstone's second
the
subsequent
measures
Home of
Eule
Bill,
and
Lord Rosebery's
Ministry, especially the Bill for disestablishing the Church in Wales. respects
His Leadership in these
shewed the firmness, the 129
skill,
the alert-
The House of Commons might have been expected.
ness which further
it
was marked by generous considerate-
and by
ness,
But
all
the courtesy that might be
consistent with meeting the exigencies as they
After that in the present Parliament
arose.
elected in 1895, he reverted to the Leadership
House, which does not properly
of the
under contemporary criticism as
it
is
fall
happily
by no means concluded. Since the combination of the Conservative
and Liberal Unionist Parties under one Administration the guidance of the policy of the l'oint
party in the
into the
hands
in potency
most
of
and
Commons
has partly fallen
Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, who,
forcefulness, is one of the fore-
politicians of the age, both
outside Parliament.
inside
and
His speeches on public
platforms, closely reasoned, nervous and sinewy,
eagerly
looked
for,
eloquent
moments, abounding in
at
the
originality, leaving a
deep impression on the national mind well
known
say that
all
to
right
need mention here.
—are too
Suffice it to
these grand qualities are displayed 130
Leading Figures in Parliament by him
in
just the
same
Commons, where he produces
the
effect as that
But
side in public.
to
which
them there
seen out-
is
something
is
added in the House, and these deserve mention.
He
never strikes unless he has been already
assailed
—but
attacked, he will hit back again
if
with a force that no other hitter can emulate.
He
studies the subject in
ness that
fills
hand with a complete-
his quiver with arrows,
one or
other of which he can shoot off instantaneously.
Thus often
and retort are scathing and
his repartee
It
terrific.
happened
he
that
was
habitually attacked by the Gladstonions and by
the Irish Party. his
to level
Against each
shafts,
of these
he used
returning shot for shot.
While thus engaged, he presented
as fine a
fighting figure as could be imagined, quite
athlete in intellectual exercise. filled
the
an
His speeches
House and emptied the Lobbies, being
considered some of the most important that
could be delivered in Parliament.
If
he
may
be surpassed in this or that respect by other orators,
he
is
more
free
from defects than any-
131
The House of Commons one else is
and take him
;
all
round
all in all,
he
the best speaker of the day.
The Leadership
which
of the Liberal Party,
has formally devolved on Sir William Harcourt, did in part pertain to
him during the
He
acted as
several
Sessions
years of Mr. Gladstone's career.
second in
command during
when the Old
Chief, borne
later
down by herculean
labours, needed relief from the ordinary cares of
the Front Bench, and attended only at times
when
his presence
was indispensable.
From
his prowess as a hard hitting debater he called in English
than light
"the bruiser" and in Latin
His humour was
the Sicarius.
was
— and none
knew
telling rather
better than he
to elicit the
cheers of the followers
behind him.
A
added to the
effect of
who
how sat
towering and massive stature his
He was
delivery.
Chancellor of the Exchequer in Mr. Gladstone's last
Ministry, and retained that office in the
succeeding
He
under
Ministry
Lord
Eosebery.
then signalized himself by proposing and
carrying the
revision
and extension
132
of
the
—
Leading Figures Death Duties, which
Parliament
in
settled once for all
vexed questions that had
many
perplexed Liberal
policy during several Parliaments.
Whatever
be the merits or demerits of that measure, will
remain as one
of the
monuments
While carrying
work.
strenuous
evinced
and
well-directed
much power
of his life's
in the teeth of
it
it
a
he
Opposition,
manage-
of statesmanlike
ment.
William
Henry Smith
ordinary instance, of a
afforded
— perhaps
an extra-
unprecedented,
man with modest and unpretending
meanour, attaining and keeping the very
He was wont
position in the House.
that speech-making was not in his line in fact he used to
make
platforms outside.
He
in debate.
defirst
to say
— though
effective speeches
on
did not attempt to shine
In the House, when a Minister,
he was singularly adroit in parrying Questions.
With immense House well
business capacity, he
for
several
years
in
led the
times
difficulty.
133
h
of
CHAPTER
VIII
THE IRISH NATIONALIST PARTY
The
Irish
Members
to
whom
refer are the Nationalists
that any peculiarity
Members
Irish
—
this article will
it is
to
—
for
belongs
them only the
other
are like the rest of their British
brethren.
The
Irish
Nationalist
Party entered Par-
liament by the General Election of 1885, in
imposing numbers, over eighty strong, with the sole
and
measure.
single
aim
of carrying a
Rule
They were not sure whether they
would obtain great Parties
this concession
in
Britain
rather hoped to win
They
Home
would
it
subordinate 135
from one
or the
other
of the
— they
from both together. all
their
political
—
The House of Commons conduct and proceedings to this object alone
whatever measure
any other kind they sup-
of
ported or obstructed or opposed, their course
would be guided by the
Home
prospects of their
effect
thereof on the
For some reasons
Eule.
of
own, they were disposed to embarrass
British
and the
policy
Parliament.
British
They reckoned that such embarrassment might be made
subservient
to
Home
Kule,
might
induce Britain to grant such a measure in order
even went so
far
as
to
even disturbance in order
and
the
injure
Commons,
They
from the vexatious trouble.
to be freed
cause to
lower the repute
House
traditions of the
ance should
till
become
of
awkward
to cause the occurrence of
scenes almost daily,
and
trouble
the worry and annoy-
They
intolerable.
ex-
pected that in despair the British would yield at last in order to be rid of the plague.
view
of
perhaps, discernible
theirs
but
was its
not
openly
prevalence
by those who had
Party action from day to day 136
expressed,
was to
This
clearly
watch the
In this policy
The Irish Nationalist Party they united, with
full
party discipline, under
the leadership of Mr. Parnell.
If
they meant
to carry or oppose this or that their expression
would be
A
:
"
we
shall send for the boys to vote."
very few belonged to the gentry class
many
;
were men of very moderate means, many were
They
supposed to have but scanty resources.
were believed
to be sustained in
resources largely
America.
drawn from sympathizers
Nothing,
known about
this,
system
they chose.
this plan, so far as it
for it
was
exactly
they had a right to pursue this
;
affect the
however,
in
nor had anyone any business
to enquire if
Parliament by
Apparently, however
may have
existed,
would
certainty of their corporate action,
seemed
to be at times a question
whether
they could be maintained in London at such
expense up to such and such a date, or whether it
was worth while
Ireland, at
such a
much expense
them back from
again, for such
and
crisis.
They the
to bring
sat
on the benches on the
House below the gangway; 137
left side of
about
one
The House of Commons quarter of the accommodation of the House;
they had occupied this quarter in former Parliaments whichever British Party was in power,
meaning thereby
that
indicate
to
always on the Opposition
they were
being opposed to
side,
the Ministry of the day whether Liberal or Conservative, and forming a Party of themselves for the special Irish interests,
represented,
as
quite
from
apart
which they the
other
Their occupa-
interests of the British nation.
tion of this quarter in former Parliaments
But now, with numbers
never been very strong.
more
than
doubled,
effective, giving
room
had
occupation
their to
was
none other except a
few sympathetic Piadicals who sat on the bench
From
nearest the floor of the House.
on
entering
Election
of
the 1885,
House
after
the
the
first
General
they were vociferous, de-
monstrative, self-asserting, as
if
they were a
triumphant band who had scaled the Parlia-
mentary
citadel.
Many
ment, and had to learn
were new to Parliaits
ways
;
they were
held under strict discipline by their leader. 138
;
The Irish Nationalist Party Several again were already
House
or orators either in the
The
or in Ireland.
commanded admiration both for
and delivery
— except
drawn out; Eupert
as speakers
orator was Mr. Sexton, whose
principal
speeches
known
diction
that they were too long
Mr. Timothy Healy was
of debate
:
their
were quite
his performances
trenchant, and his wit flashed like lurid light
from the fierceness
of his
language he was some-
times called by his compatriots "Tiger Tim."
Mr.
T. P.
O'Connor was much listened
to as being
the lieutenant of Mr. Parnell in the English (not Irish) Elections style, like that
:
he had a merry, rollicking
which we had attributed
to the
great O'Connell in his humorous moods.
Mr.
John Bedmond we did not hear
but
when he appeared on found
to
at
first,
the scene later he was
be the strongest, weightiest, and most
formidable orator on the Irish side
Macarthy was
:
Mr. Justin
their literary light, his speeches
were cultured, softly delivered, and mellifluous.
The men
in the
rank and
file
spoke boisterously
but fluently, and soon learnt the art of talking 139
;;;
The House of Commons interminably when any obstructive purpose was in view.
Mr. Parnell
apart from
stood
them
all
though his moral authority suffered from the first
owing
shadow king
to his personal isolation, still the
of his great
name
" of Ireland, spread
as " the
awe over
but we always supposed
its
uncrowned
his followers
foundation to be
insecure, as indeed proved afterwards to be the
This insecurity arose from his personal
case.
isolation.
to
Considering the unruly team he had
manage, with the reins in his skilled hands
he was doubtless obliged
But he
to avoid familiarity.
carried this view too far for success as a
leader in a Party where
cannot be driven.
It
men
seemed
can be led but to
us that he
rarely or never conversed with the rank and file
of his
men.
We understood
address was seldom lieutenants. his
He
that his private
known even
of the
Party
certainly received the bulk of
correspondence at the post
Lobby
to his
Commons
;
office
in the
that was evident
;
we
heard that he had no other postal address. 140
The Irish Nationalist Party
How
far
could say existed,
but to some extent
;
and so
rumours.
far
it
gave
It afterwards
wondrous manner
The
went, none of us
strangeness
this
first
manifestly
it
to
rise
developed
ominous
itself
in a
as will presently be seen.
was the culminating
half of 1886
He had
point of his career.
entered a
new
Parliament at the head of a compact, disciplined,
an homogeneous Party, strong enough to
turn the scale and rule the balance as between the two great Parties of Britain.
had
begun
not, to all appearances,
he stood up
His health to
his place to speak,
in
fail.
As
amid the
around him, he
upturned looks
of those seated
was one
handsomest men in the House.
of the
His delivery was at ciliatory till
and
his
first
winning, even con-
matter simple.
he approached the pith
manner stiffened, his
It
was not
of his case, that his
face lighted up,
and his voice
trembled with a suppressed passion worthy of a tragic dramatist. close of the
tioned in
Home
His climax was at the very Kule debate as already men-
June, 1886.
HI
After that he never
The House of Commons made any long
sustained speech in the
Com-
In the next speech made by him in the
mons.
autumn
of that
very year, on a proposed Land
he halted and fumbled, and losing his
Bill,
thread had often to be prompted by his hench-
In a subsequent year when the Special
men.
Commission certain
of inquiry into the authenticity of
letters
and other grave charges was
being instituted, he made several short speeches fraught with menacing fierceness, and certainly his aspect in those
painter of tragedy.
moments was meet The
result of that
mission seemed to rehabilitate of
him
for a
com-
in the eyes
Mr. Gladstone and of the Gladstonians, but
to lower his influence
and weight in the House.
His health too was believed
to
be
failing.
Then
he became vitally concerned in that miserable "cause celebrc" which
obliged
Mr. Gladstone
and the Gladstonians
to
part
company with
him. This case immediately brought about that split
this
in the Irish Nationalist Party
day
is
known
which
to
as the division between the
142
The Irish Nationalist Party and
Parnellites
among
subdivisions
up
The
Anti-Parnellites.
have in recent years had further
latter indeed
not exactly
the
themselves, and
how they should
we know But
be named.
Parliament the Parnellites
to the present
under Mr. John Eedmond proudly preserved
How
their appellation.
far
they display this
may
nomenclature in the present Parliament be doubtful; but they doubtless retain their hearts,
and
at the next General
seem
have any chance of success.
This
conduct of Parnell's
Home
if,
Ptule cause should
Election, the to
in
will doubtless place it in the
front and van of battle,
likely
it
theirs
is
a veritable
tribute
to
memory, and British people would do
well to understand
its significance.
It
means
that Parnell was " thorough," keeping the Irish Nationalists aloof from all British parties, aim-
ing ceaselessly at the national independence of Ireland,
and using
for this
purpose alone their
position in the Parliament of Westminster.
When, on the
occasion
Parnell's leadership
above
mentioned,
was directly challenged by 143
The House of Commons met
the Anti-Parnellites, the whole Party
one of the Committee rooms upstairs.
room was the scene
in
That
of contentions for many-
days; which were not witnessed indeed, but
were heard of by from
roars
us,
Irish
inasmuch as the cheers and used
throats
through the solid doors and re-echo
As
the long corridors.
resound
to
Parnell was
all
down
still
chair-
man, he guided the deliberations raised by those
who were
to depose
resolved
They were
chairmanship.
him from the
in a clear majority,
whereas his faithful band of Parnellites formed a minority only.
The Anti-Parnellites had
been originally instructed by him in the art
now found
this peculiar
science turned against themselves
by the master
of obstruction,
For nearly a fortnight they strove
himself! to get
him out
tight in
they
it,
of the chair, but there
proof against all machinations, and
showing a stubborn front
At
he sat
like a lion at bay.
length they held a separate meeting of their
own
in another room,
Macarthy
as
and elected Mr. Justin
chairman. 144
He
at once entered
The Irish Nationalist Party the House, and sitting in the seat of Parnell,
gave
notice
of
amid the marked
a motion
Parnell indeed soon
cheers of his supporters.
reappeared and sat almost alongside of the leader it
who had superseded
looked as
if
him.
new
For a while
there would be two kings in the
Hibernian Brentford
—but the duality was Soon the
to Parnell's position.
legal
fatal
meshes
of
the social case surrounded him, and afterwards his life
ebbed away towards an untimely death.
Home
The most earnest
of the
ingly cherish his
memory,
his social conduct
and
in
Eulers unfail-
in forgetfulness of
they hold to be his political virtues. in
of
what
The
light
remembrance
which the British parliamentarians regard
his career is so well
mention
The
known
that I need not
it.
Parnellites
have subsequently alleged
that the Anti-Parnellites ally themselves with
a great party in Britain to whose policy the purely Irish objects are to be subordinate or at least deferred.
repeated
To
allegation
this
very marked and often
the Anti-Parnellites, 145
by
The House of Commons whatever name or names they now selves,
into
would naturally have their own reply
which I need not
The
enter.
speciality of all the Irish Nationalists
The way
has been their power of Obstruction. in
which Obstruction has been
perhaps but
still
—unintentionally
effectually misrepresented
each and every Party in Politics from standpoint, Irish
own to
them-
call
— has
been already explained.
had undoubtedly a right
which they were it
is
own The
to use it for their
policy, or for the prevention of
explained
its
by
opposed.
any policy
As already
doubtful whether they used
it
with more severity than that which the British Parties have adopted for stopping
what they
detested or for saving what they loved.
Some-
times the Irish were ruled authoritatively to
have pushed Obstruction beyond the utmost allowable limit.
On
a manner grievous and distress-
exercised
it in
ing to us
who were
carried
countless occasions they
the sufferers.
out avowedly with
wearing the Tories
out.
146
the
It
was often
intention
of
Naturally the Tories
— The Irish Nationalist Party would reply that
was a Tory
their
Statesman
any suffering
of
The
points. "
dilatory discussion
— the
—meaning endurance
and that they would be the
quality,
willing victims
carry
" last,"
—
all
end
of a Session
vista
of
night
midnight
sitting
in
dreary
order to drip
of
in the phrase of a great vigils
dawn
objections starting just at
an
"
— the
fresh
or sunrise after
—especially
towards the
when every delay opened up a
political
danger
—
will never be for-
gotten by the sufferers in body and this drastic treatment.
Still
mind from
the sufferers felt
that the Irish Party had a perfect right to do all
knew
this; but they
come when these very against that Party.
that the day would
tactics
When
would be used
that day actually
came, and the Irish found themselves bound
and fettered by an Opposition which included obstruction
amusing
to
among
other elements,
it
was very
hear them vainly complaining, in
convenient oblivion of what they had themselves done in that very line.
Meanwhile the
Irish,
147
notwithstanding
the
The House of Commons complaints
made by many
at the time, advocated
and pressed
their general cause
their particular
cases with a tenacity, a persistency, an assiduity,
a mastery of local
details,
which must have
delighted their constituents and which extorted
admiration even of their
the
They were ever ready
opponents.
any
that might further
tone
parliamentary to adopt
the emergent
purpose which was invariably to wring some-
To obtain
thing from the British Government.
concessions for Ireland was their raison d' etre ; to yield such concessions (in their
was
in their view
To
duties.
this
cajole, threaten or
hold
back,
among the
own words)
first of
Britain's
end they would menace or withdraw, press forward or
would adopt the most
contrary
courses within the shortest intervals according to
requirements.
requirement
they
In reference to any such evinced accuracy
of
dis-
crimination, and discernment with presence of
mind.
Whether the criminal occurrences and the tragedies
which disfigured the annals 148
of Ireland,
The Irish Nationalist Party were in any sense
morally in refer-
justifiable
ence to political causes, or whether the Irish Nationalists
Members were directly or
connected with these events to be discussed here
But the
Members
for
Such
of
them, were matters frequently
brought before the House debates.
alleged character
and the responsibility
of these proceedings
the
—are questions not
indeed such things were
;
outside the House.
indirectly
during the
itself
critical discussions, too, related
not only to crimes of a heinous description, bat also
to
held
practices
criminal,
known by
"boycotting,"
campaign,"
— and
speeches, inciting
than
that,
familiar
"exclusive so to
constructively
be
to
names such
as
"plan
of
dealing"
Inflammatory
forth.
mischief or even worse
were attributed
to
some
of the Irish
Members, and copious extract reports in the newspapers
of
such utterances were produced.
In such assaults two Members were prominent, Colonel Sanderson and Mr. T.
W.
Russell.
The
mission of Colonel Sanderson was to expose
what he deemed
to be criminal or treasonable
149
i
The House of Commons conspiracies in which he alleged Irish
Members
to
some
He
have a share.
of the
pointed
these severe charges with a humorous sarcasm,
which convulsed
his
own
side with a laughter
in which even the Irish could scarce refrain
from sharing
— though the
rising
merriment was
quickly hushed by the severity of the accusa-
Mr.
tions.
by
T.
his proofs
W.
Russell was equally incisive
which often came home with such
unerring aim that they were called "search lights."
in
Then he would
strike redoubled blows
such a swinging slashing style
method
was named
effect of all this
tremendous.
that the
"the tomahawk."
The
upon the Irish would be indeed
They seemed about
explosion and yet
to burst into
to restrain themselves, feeling
the gravity of the situation.
Considerations of
Order had to be balanced by the Speaker against that freedom of speech in debate which the
Commons have always Very
claimed for themselves.
often he acted with great success as peace-
maker.
But
such
scathing accusations
fre-
quently produced scenes in which individual 150
The Irish Nationalist Patty Nationalists not unnaturally forgot themselves in their passion,
in
the House,
and suspension from service
or
temporary expulsion, was
unavoidably resorted
to.
More guarded, but almost
as
fatal,
would
sometimes be the rejoinders and repartees
of
Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, who apparently kept a choice assortment of quotations from speeches
made by
Irish
Members
outside
the House,
from which quiver he would draw arrows for his warfare with
them
in parliamentary debate.
151
CHAPTER IX THE LORDS AS SEEN BY THE COMMONS It
would be out
description
of the
of place
House
of
the Estates of the realm, of
to
attempt any
Lords as one of functions or
its
of its precedure.
The Commons
Chamber, conscious
of their
an attitude Lords.
of
They accept the
and
also
of affairs see
the
Commons.
Lords
There
is
of
title
see
have
to
much
of the Lords,
something
own
of
the
a general courtesy pre-
each other's Lobbies.
their
the Lower
But the Commons
served between the two Houses. access
the
Upper House
of the
Second Chamber.
do in course
power, assume
proud deference towards
House and accord that to the
own
as the first
gallery
153
in
the
They have
The Lords House
of
The House of Commons Commons and House
of
the
Lords
Commons
—and
theirs
in
both galleries are occu-
pied on occasions of debate or political
The Commons have an and
facility
additional
House
the
in
has a Bar of importance.
metal
up
in
its
close by.
Law Lords
plead before the
capacity
judicial
Chancellor's seat being
Bar, and the
Lords which
This Bar, which
who
the Barristers
House
advantage
in the forenoons be fitted
railing, will
for
of
crisis.
small space fenced round with
actually a
is
the
—the
Lord
moved down near the sitting
on the benches
In the afternoons when the Lords
sit in their legislative
and executive capacity,
the Bar will be cleared for the reception of
any Members to stand there
of
the
and
Commons who
choose
to their Lordship's
listen
debates or proceedings.
Let us
consider
thus
standing
into
what
is
then
would
what a Commoner
see.
justly
He would
called
"the
look
Gilded
Chamber," in resplendent contrast to the comparative plainness of his
154
own Chamber
—the
The Lords as seen by
the
Commons
noble windows resplendent with coloured glass, the
roof
beams and
Whereas
corated.
climax
rafters
the Speaker's Chair with the Table
is
— the
it
may
From
sit.
space
is
railed
descend the steps to
it
the Floor, and at the
foot of these
Clerks
who
is
in the
of the
little
because
of
of the
eyes.
It
is
Opposition,
or
That
placed
slight space
transversely
Chair right and
meant
is
left.
strange
for Peers
range themselves on either or
Floor well
benches running laterally
cross-bench arrangement
moner
Near
the cross benches," so
they are
between the rows on each side
"
the
Thus there
historic
Lower House.
further reduced by
called
sit
Lord Chancellor
President of the House.
here but
known
where
are Ministers of the House.
this is placed the seat for the
the
a small
consequently the Table has
off,
to be in the midst of the Floor
is
climax here
the Eoyal Throne in which the Sovereign
alone
as
de-
Lower House the
in the
immediately underneath is
gorgeously
side,
to
This
Com-
who do not Ministerial
who do not acknowledge 155
;
The House of Commons Such an arrange-
allegiance to either Party.
ment would not
suit a representative
and
elect-
ed House, where almost every member must
some
before his election have declared for
side
or for some party, the return of an entirely
Member
Independent
unknown.
being nearly
The arrangement
of
if
not quite
the
galleries
the ends and the sides differs from that
at
of the
the
Lower House.
Throne, at
galleries
There
end
so
that
the
other
to strangers the
same
is
no gallery over vacant;
is
the
end are appropriated
as in the
Lower House
but herein the Newspaper reporters are included and their accommodation restricted
—whereas
somewhat
is
the Lower House the
in
reporters have the largest gallery all to themselves.
in the is
Apparently
Lower
a more
important
The
function side
apart for the Peeresses nearly related to Peers the
held
that,
or popular House, the reporting
Upper House.
House
been
has
it
galleries
and
in
the
are
set
for other ladies
— whereas
corresponding 156
than
in the
Galleries
Lower
are
re-
;
The Lords as seen by
The
served for the Members.
the Peeresses are quite open perfectly
and
seen,
their appearance in
an element
Commons
the
Galleries for
the ladies are
;
on important full
occasions
brilliancy introduces
There
beauty into the scene.
of
never has been apprehension of the conduct in the
Upper House being influenced by the
open display
diametrically
is
ment
in the
ed.
Although
House
is
sitting
the
arrange-
as already explain-
number
the
smaller, its
of
chamber
is
Upper
the
wider and
accommodation
number
is
more
is
than that of the Lower
considerable the
from
different
Lower House
longer, so its
where
This
of this interesting element.
House
There
larger.
can
hardly ever be in the Upper House the crush of
Members and
the difficulty of obtaining seats
which may be often Lower. .are
On
much
felt
by the Members
of the
the other hand the side Lobbies
inferior
to those of the
Commons
they might indeed be described as poor. the
Commons
est
moment
In
the Divisions are of the highso
the
Division 157
Lobbies
must
;
The House of Commons This consideration applies
comrnodions.
be
much
with
less force to
Peers
have
Throne
—which
a
very
fine
room
behind
Lobby
or Ante-room.
already explained, the Ante-room or outer
Lobby
in the
Commons
is
Upper House the Library by no means equal
very
fine.
to that of the
do not
and when the
protracted, the Peers can go
home
sit
as
sitting is
and
to dine
time for the division, which will
return in
usually be arranged for
Thus
Commons
less consider-
able, because the Peers as a rule
late as the dinner hour,
In the
indeed, but
fine
is
and the Dining rooms are much
is
the
perhaps compensates them for
the want of any spacious
As
But the
the Peers.
some
definite hour.
in all the structural arrangements there
a difference, almost amounting to contrast,,
between the two Houses, suitable constitution and
tinctive
to the dis-
functions
of
each
House, and to the habits relating therefrom.
There the
is
one straight line running through
Chamber
lobby,
their
of
the
corridor,
Commons, the 158
their
outer
Central Hall, the
The Lords as seen by the Commons towards the Lords and the
corridor
Chamber and
all
—so
that
if
all
Upper
the doors were open,
spaces cleared, the Lord Chancellor at
his Table in the Lords, could see the Speaker
on the Chair in the Commons. has
It
ordinary at
been
Member
of the
that an
mentioned
already
Commons, may stand
the Bar of the Lords and listen to
many
Debates, and
right, in order to see
just passed their
avail
how
the
themselves of this
the Bills which have
House are
faring in the Lords.
Those Members who are also Privy Councillors,
have the privilege of standing on the steps at the foot of the Throne, whereby they see and
hear extremely well, and are quite close to the Peers
— other
Privy
Commons have younger sons
not
Councillors
the same privilege
of Peers.
;
in
the
so have the
While great Debates
are proceeding, these steps are crowded with
many their
of
the most eminent Commoners, and
presence lends additional effect
to
the
that
the
historic scene.
But
it
is
not only as listeners 159
—
The Hotise of Commons when
Commoners stand
at the Bar,
and the space
comparatively empty.
is
summoned
are from time to time
quiet
all is
They
to the
with the Speaker at their head,
Bar
hear the
to
Eoyal assent given in old Norman French
Then
the Bills that have passed both Houses.
the space of the Bar is
in
is
well
to
The Assent
tilled.
seldom or never declared by the Sovereign person
but
;
by
Eoyal
Commissioners,
selected Peers sitting in their red robes at the
The spectacle
Foot of the Throne.
and curious,
—the
and the Peeresses
is
formal
long rows of red benches, galleries,
from the Table the
will be
Clerk reads
empty
the
Royal
Commission, and each Commissioner raises his cap as his name reads the
titles
is
of the
Bills
and after each
assented
to,
turning
towards the
pronounces in
Reine
pronounced.
le veult."
As
that have
Bill,
been
another Clerk
Commons
Norman
The Clerk
at
the Bar,
French, the words
"La
these words are uttered,
the Bill becomes law as
is
an Act.
be the financial one, then the 160
If the Bill
Norman French
The Lords as seen by is
Commons
the
uttered for the words, the Queen thanks her
good subjects for their benevolence the grant of
But are
money
further, the
summoned
—namely
supplies.
Commons
Speaker and the
at the beginning of each Session,
to hear the Queen's speech read, either
Sovereign from the Throne which case, or
just
by the Lord Chancellor
On
explained.
Peeresses Galleries;
rarely the
is
in the
if
filled,
manner the
that occasion
benches will be fairly well
so will the
thronged, and
every available corner will be crowded
are to arrive at the Bar
be a for
new
it all,
—and
if
all,
their
ancient
the
still
and
Commons
the Parliament
one, then their Speaker
them
;
wearing an orderly
To crown
dignified aspect.
red
the Queen herself be
present, then they will be all
the House will be
by the
is
to
demand
privileges
and
this
moment the
spectacle ceases to be dignified.
The Speaker
freedom
and the
of
first
speech.
row
of
At
Members behind him may
preserve their orderly array, but behind them will be
a
crush of
Members jammed 161
into a
The House of Commons narrow space, hustling and pushing each other, the force from behind augmenting the confusion,
and giving a schoolboy appearance
to the scene.
All this must seem ridiculous to the spectators
from the red benches and from the yet these are the
not of their
own
Commons
motion, but
of Britain coming,
summoned by
Black Eod to attend at the Bar, the
galleries,
it
may
The absurdity
Eoyal presence.
the
be in
of
the
thronging arises not from any fault on the part of the
Commons, but because the space
at the
Bar is quite insufficient. Certainly the Commons, a most potent Estate in the realm, should not
submit to
this arrangement,
and should
insist
on proper accommodation being provided
them on these public
for
occasions.
Having thus sketched the structural arrangements the
the Lords in contrast with those of
Commons
of the
to
of
—
I proceed to describe the aspect
Upper House
Commoner
eyes.
The aspect
of the
itself as it
Commons
on almost every day,
will
162
used to appear
at certain times
be eager, hushed,
The Lords as
seen by the Comi7ions
expectant, even ardent, as
hung on the
issue, as
At
their political fate
indeed would often be the
they must bear in mind their
case, seeing that
friends,
if
supporters and
constituents
outside.
similar times in the Lords, the aspect will
be firm perhaps, but
still
severe and subdued,
neither of the two sides hindering the other,
and the individual Members being
from
all free
any anxiety regarding support or opposition anywhere.
Each Peer may
answer-
feel himself
able to the nation in the abstract, but not to
any person or
set of persons.
Thus he
able
is
to contemplate the situation with an equanimity
rarely
known
to
Commoners.
This considera-
tion markedly affects the general aspect of the
Upper House.
Under the there
is
influence of political excitement,
constant temptation tending to breaches
of order in the
Commons, but hardly
the Lords.
In the
the Speaker
is
Commons
the authority of
ever displayed, his
in the ears of the
at all in
'
rulings
'
Members, the provision
ring for
the enforcement of parliamentary discipline are 163
—
The House of Commons mind
in the
all this is
up
and takes no part
aloft,
As one Member
in the Debates.
Members
after speaking, several
sits
down
rise to speak,
Speaker to select from among
for the
is
The Speaker
universally recognised.
too, as Jupiter, sits
it
and the necessity for
of every one,
them, by calling on the one
But
the speaking.
in the
who
is
to continue
Lords there
is little
or nothing of this discipline, by rule or order so far
as
at least
a spectator can perceive.
The Lord Chancellor apparently authority
without
selves,
in
much
the
chair
disciplinary
"primus
inter pares."
to preserve order
among them-
like a
and by some mutual understanding or
by some previous arrangements, they
who
shall speak
order.
—but
of
—more
The Peers seem
is
on both
sides,
and
in
settle
what
Peers seldom or never seem to rise in
competition with one another, and the Lord Chancellor does not have to call upon any one,
by
selection, to speak.
the two Houses intelligible, in
in
The
difference
these respects
between is
quite
reference to the representative
164
The Lords as seen by
Commons
the
Commons, and the hereditary
character of the
conditions of the Peers.
In the Upper House a Peer seems to have
no
difficulty at
whereby
views
his
introducing a motion
in
all
brought
are
practically
before the public, together with the
which he Bench.
sure
is
He
to
short time. tious
a
it
An
at
Bill
any time and
for
Second Heading within a
to a
active
minded and
justly ambi-
Peer has manifestly great advantage over
similar person
sua
Front
the
has too every reasonable facility
for introducing a
prosecuting
from
elicit
response
si
bona
in
norit,
Commons.
the
he would
rejoice
Indeed, in
his
freedom in these respects from anxiety and vexation which beset
Commons.
his
brethren
in
In general Legislation the
cedure regarding Bills in the
first
the pro-
and second
reading the stages of Committee and Report, the third reading are the
During a
real
Debate
same
in both Houses.
— which
however does
not occur every day or even every week
— the
conduct of the Lords, the interruptions and the 165 k
The House of Commons cheering will be
much
the same as in the
Commons, but milder and more round
—except
won by the
restrained all
when hearty approval
that
a speaker, the cheers of the Lords at
conclusion
almost
are
as
hearty
resounding as those of the Commons. oratory
is
is
much
The
the same in high quality with
the best speakers in both the
Upper and the
Lower House,
or
difference it
purely a matter of opinion.
is
and
if
average of speaking
there be any appreciable
is
The
probably better in the
Lords than in the Commons, probably because it
carried on amidst
is
quieter
surroundings
allowing more concentration of thought, and
causing fewer distractions to impede the flow of ideas
and
of diction.
Often too a
Commoner
has to speak after long fatigue and watching,
with
spirit
weakened by disappointment at not
having been earlier called to take part in the debate.
Instead of that, a Peer would usually
come up
fresh to speak.
The labours
much
less
of a
than
Peer in his House, are very
those of a 16G
Commoner.
On
The Lords as seen by the Commons many
afternoons
Session the
and
rises
beginning
the
in
House assembles
within an hour or
of
the
in the afternoon It is towards
so.
the end of the Session that the sittings become
longer
when important
The Committee work
Commons.
somewhat the same Houses
come up from the
Bills
—except
Members
for
that
is
it
must
be
both
of
perhaps lighter in
the Lords, where the Select Committee would
be fewer.
The Private
as
Bills
previously
described have to pass the Committees of both
Houses.
The Address
to the
Crown
Speech from the Throne
is
in response to the
moved and seconded
by Peers in uniform, then adverted
to
by the
Leaders of the two Front Benches, after the
same manner
as in the
the consequent debate
Commons is
in one evening instead of
the
Commons
—except
that
generally terminated
many
evenings which
usually occupy.
Of the principal
figures in the
Upper House
during recent years the most remarkable have
been the Earl of Beaconsfield, who aUbrded an 1G7
The House of Commons instance, perhaps rare, of a celebrated
Commoner
attaining an equal degree of distinction
being elevated to the Peerage
whose
Salisbury,
after
— the Marquess
have been
brilliant speeches
own sake
well worth hearing for their
of
apart
from their importance as proceeding from the
Prime Minister and the Director Affairs
—Lord
Foreign
of
Rosebery, whose incisiveness in
debate and whose wisdom under the guise of wit have been signalized in the Ministry as well as in
Opposition
— the
whose utterances have
Duke still
of
the same weight
which was once wielded with great
Commons
—The
Duke
consent one of the
of
loftiest,
Devonshire,
effect in the
Argyll, by
common
grandest, and most
impressive orators of his time.
The scenes which
Commons a
certain
often
come about
rarely appear in the Lords.
picturesqueness
in
the
There
when new
is
Peers,
often famous persons, are introduced in their
red robes.
Home
Rule
When Bill
mighty issues are
like
that of
depending, the crowded
approaches and the thronged galleries do indi1G8
The Lords
as seen by the
moment.
cate the excitement of the
the result of the Division
Commons
is
But
after
declared, there will
be rarely or never any of the demonstrations
which are invariably made in the Commons.
The End
W.
Jolly
<5r>
Sons, Printers, Bridge Street, Aberdeen.
A
Catalogue
of the Publications
of
Mr. John Long
6
Chandos
Strand, Telegrams " Longing London "
Street
London
OCTOBER,
1899
JOHN LONG'S
Mr.
LIST OF BOOKS NEW
FICTION
To be Published
NEW NOVEL
toy
Autumn
this
the Author of "THE ADVENTURES OF JOHN JOHNS ".
THE PROGRESS OF PAULINE KESSLER. By Frederic Carrel.
In specially designed cover,
crown
8vo, 6s.
NEW NOVEL
by the Author of " PURSUED BY
LAW ".
AN AFRICAN TREASURE. Cobban.
By
In specially designed cover,
NEW NOVEL
toy
crown
THE
MacLaren
J. Svo, 6s.
the Author of " TUXTER'S LITTLE
MAID
".
THE BREAD OF TEARS.
By G.
B.
Burgin.
In specially designed cover, crown Svo, 6s.
NEW NOVEL by the Author of " DIVIL-M AY-CARE". KINSAH. By May Crommelin. In specially designed cover, crown Svo, 6s.
NEW NOVEL
toy
the Author of
ROSAMOND
««
WICKED
".
CHARMING MISS KYRLE.
By Mina Sandeman.
In specially designed cover, crown Svo, 6s.
NEW NOVEL
by the Author of
A PASSING FANCY. In specially designed cover,
"A
FAIR FRAUD".
Mrs. Lovett Cameron. crown Svo, 6s.
By
Mr. John Long's
List of Publications 3
NEW NOVEL fay the Author of • IRISH HOLIDAYS". BOFFIN'S FIND. A Story of Australian Life. By Robert Thynne.
crown
In specially designed cover,
8vo, 6s.
NEW NOVEL fay the Author of "CICELY VAUCHAN ". WISE IN HIS GENERATION. By Philip Davenant.
crown
In specially designed cover,
NEW NOVEL fay PRIDE.
WOUNDED
NEW NOVEL
ISABEL HOWARD. In cloth
gilt,
the Author of
fay
8vo, 6s.
crown 8vo,
*******
FOR A GOD DISHONOURED.
6s.
»».
Anonymous.
In specially designed cover, 6s. *** This novel deals in the main with woman's rights and woman's contemporary movements, and is from the pointed pen of a lady well-known in literary circles, who, for the
purposes of this novel, desires to remain incognito
the Author of "THE IVIYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB ". BISHOP'S SECRET. By Fergus Hume.
NEW NOVEL
THE
— at least for the present.
fay
In striking picture cover,
NEW NOVEL
fay
crown 8vo,
the Author of " BAIL
PATHS OF THE DEAD. A By Hume 3s. 6d.
3s. 6d.
Romance
Nisbet.
With a
In striking picture cover, Frontispiece.
UP".
of To-day.
crown 8vo,
NEW NOVEL fay LADY DUNTZE. INFELIX. In cloth gilt, crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. Punch.—" A pathetic little story, told well and simply, with no great pretention, yet no straining after dramatic situation or effect just a little sad story of human frailties, by an authoress who has known how to temper her treatment to her ;
theme."
Aberdeen Journal. — " The
life
and passion, a
tale of
story is deservedly popular, throbbing with unflagging interest."
human
Western Mercury. — "The author
clothes her tale most brilliantly and beautifully, all the charm of romance being kept prominently before the reader. It is a curious piece of writing, remarkably clever, very impressive, and ever fascinating to a degree."
NEW NOVEL
fay
MARCUS REAY.
THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF A CURATE. cloth
gilt,
crown 8vo,
3s. 6d.
In
Mr. John Long's
NEW WORKS To be Published
NEW BOOK
RURAL LIFE:
this
CAROLINE GEAREY. Humour and Pathos. By
t)y
Its
Author of "Three Empresses," cover, crown Svo, 6s.
NEW WORK
Autumn
etc.
the
In specially designed
by the Right Hon. Sir
RICHARD
TEMPLE, Bart.
By Sir Richard COMMONS. THE HOUSE OF India 1880," " Men and Events my
of in Temple, Author of " Time in India," " Oriental Experiences," " Palestine Illustrated," "Cosmopolitan Essays," Memoir of Lord Lawrence," " Memoir of James Thomason," " Story of my Life," etc., etc. In cloth gilt, crown Svo, 3s. 6d.
A BOOK OF CRITICISM by
DRAMATIC CRITICISM. 3s. 6d. net.
J. T.
CREIN.
In cloth gilt,
crown 8vo,
List of Publications
POPULAR FATHER ANTHONY
6s. :
NOVELS
A Romance
of To-Day.
By
Robert Buchanan, Author Crown 8vo, cloth, 6s. Fifth
—
of " God and the Man," etc. Edition. Mr. Buchanan is thoroughly in his element with an
James's Gazette. " Father Anthony. The sketches of Irish life are all happily touched and Mr. Buchanan has painted his Mylrea with the brush of a lover of Ireland.
St.
Irish tale like in,
Altogether
it is a perfect story of its type." "A most excellent story, excellently told, and one which we comthe greatest satisfaction to our readers. The novel is vivid, and full of life and colour; and the characters of the two priests, Father Anthony, the delicately-bred, pure-souled gentleman, and Father John Croly, the jovial, homely, but not less sincerely pious man of the people, are drawn with singular charm and
Guardian.
—
mend with
sympathy."
—
World. "There is always a certain fascination about the sanctity of the confessional, and Mr. Buchanan's young priest, who becomes possessed, in virtue of his office, of a secret ... is an exceedingly picturesque and pathetic figure. Undoubtedly this story is as good as, if not better than, anything that Mr. Buchanan has given us for some time." Tablet. " It comes as an agreeable surprise to have a friendly and sympathetic picture of a priest in English fiction. A thrilling story. The picture given us of life in the West of Ireland reads like a transcript from nature by a keen and, we are pleased to say, a sympathetic observer. Mr. Buchanan has given us an effective story, which grips our interest, and the treatment of which is so generally sympathetic that we cannot but be thankful for it." Daily Graphic. "A vivid romance of the present day, the scene of which is set in an Irish village, and it is concerned with that always engrossing problem to some minds should a priest who has obtained information under the seal of confession persist in withholding that information from the minions of the law, even though withholding it means the sacrifice of an innocent man who is under sentence of death? It is a very dramatic situation worked out in very dramatic fashion."
—
—
:
CURIOS A
:
Some Strange Adventures
of
Two
Bachelors.
By Richard Marsh, Author of "The Beetle: A Mystery," etc. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6s. With numerous fullNovel.
page illustrations on plate paper by J. Ayton Symington. Fourth Edition. World. — "The most effective shocker yet invented by the author of The -
Grim, fantastic and humourous in an original fashion. Mr. Ayton Symington has illustrated this remarkable volume admirably." Speaker. " The story of their adventures makes excellent reading. Weird, grotesque and comical. Told with the spirit and vigour that we have learnt to expect in the work of Mr. Marsh." Spectator. " Mr. Richard Marsh, an admitted expert in the art of scalptightening, gives fresh proofs of his skill in Curios, the strange adventures grim, grotesque and gruesome of two bachelors. The adventures are especially good." Athenaeum. " Written with taste and skill." Bookman. " One who takes up the book is not likely to put it down until the last page is read." St. James's Gazette. " Curios is decidedly an amusing book. The book is one that will make the tediousness of a railway journey or a wet afternoon seem as nought." Daily Graphic. " Mr. Marsh is a master of sensationalism. The mysteries are clever and ingeniously developed, and are brightly described, terse and amusing." Beetle.
—
—
—
—
— —
—
—
Mr. John Long's
POPULAR
6s.
WARD OF THE
A
Macquoid, Author of
"
NOVELS—continued. KING.
The Story
By Katharine
of Lois," etc.
Crown
S. 8vo,
Second Edition.
cloth, 6s.
—
Graphic. " Mrs. Macquoid has ventured upon the exceedingly interesting and entirely fresh course of making her central figure, not the usual soldier of fortune who meets with more than all the adventures he looks for, but a very young girl. The phase of historic romance presented by A Ward of the King has long been waiting for the pen which has now been found."
—
Globe. " Mrs. Katharine Macquoid is very well known as the trustworthy purveyor of excellently- written romances. Jeanne's adventures are naturally many and lively, and the accomplished author carries them on with vivacity and a wealth of invention. The story is pleasant, and sure to be appreciated by its natural public."
—
Daily News. " A charming historical novel. Has plenty of romantic adventure and movement. Mrs. Macquoid always writes picturesquely, and there are in the book some delightful descriptions of the interior of France in those days. Jeanne is a piquant and unconventional heroine. The book is a charming addition to that romance of history, the revival of which is a feature of contemporary
fiction."
—
Christian World. " Rich in stirring and thrilling incident, this story should take a high place among historical novels. So well are the principal characters drawn that one almost falls in love with them. This is probably Mrs. Macquoid's best book so far." Literature.
—"
a well written book."
It is
SENT TO COVENTRY. of "
A Woman
of Forty," etc.
By Esme Stuart, Author Crown
8vo, cloth, 6s.
Second
Edition.
—
London Review. "An extremely interesting and pretty book. A very entertaining book, the characters in which are realistically drawn, and the descriptions and pictures of country life and scenery admirably presented. The author's style is always light and easy, and the book affords really excellent reading."
—
Court Journal. " The passion and pathos of this novel are lightened by flashes of ready wit and sprightly humour. Delightful is the opening. The book is for the most part breezy, stimulating and amusing."
—
" Some of the characters are remarkably well drawn. ingeniously handled. A number of side issues help to make up a thoroughly readable all through."
Publisher's Circular.
The
plot, too, is
novel which
is
—
To-=day. " A story that and its character sketching."
Country
is
interesting by reason both of
its
flow of incident
Life. — " Eminently worth reading, and instinct with true feeling.
A
story that is uncommonly well told the atmosphere is excellent, the work of writing has been performed conscientiously, and the little history of human life moves from beginning to end pleasantly and easily." :
Lloyd's.
— "A very fascinating story that can be heartily recommended."
Glasgow Herald. — " The heroine's character is well drawn, that of her mother still better, and all the other women seem to be real flesh and blood. There are also many passages which give evidence of considerable insight into human nature, _
and
in these the style is easy
and
effective."
List of Publications
POPULAR
WHEN LOVE Author of "
Up
6s.
NOVELS—continued.
KIND.
IS
Green,"
for the
By H.
A.
Crown
etc.
Hinkson,
8vo, cloth, 6s.
Second Edition. Athenseum. — "There told
is
a pretty love story in Mr. Hinkson's book, gracefully
and very readable."
Illustrated love of country
London News. — "A wholesome Irish story, breathing an ardent life. The characters stand out clear and convincing, and an un-
common ability has gone to the description of the relations father, son and stepmother."
between the Standishes,
World. — " When
Love is Kind is indeed a pleasant example of the Literary modern art of story-telling, and should widen the circle of readers already acquainted with the works of the author of O'Grady of Trinity and other novels."
—
"An interesting tale of two girls and two lovers. St. James's Gazette. Mr. Hinkson's story is well worked out, and may be confidently recommended."
— " The
Scotsman.
story
is
admirably
told,
and
will
be read with
much
pleasure."
CASTLE ORIOL. "
The Captive
By Charles Hannan, Author Crown
of Pelrin," etc.
8vo, cloth, 6s.
of
Third
Edition.
—
St. James's Budget. " His story is fresher, more instructing, has more recommend it to vigour than many which it has been our lot to read of late. the novel-reading public."
We
Westminster Scotsman.
Review. — " Castle
Oriol
is
a very readable and pleasant story."
— " Castle Oriol belongs to the cultured school of historical romance.
Reveals a bountiful imagination, a power of character delineation, and an inexhaustible store of episode and adventure which cannot fail to sustain the interest of the reader."
—
Birmingham Gazette. " Mr. Hannan has in this, his latest, to consolidate his reputation as a story-writer of the first order.
work done much It is a most in-
teresting tale, cleverly conceived and worked out with equal ability, while the style A tale which should find many admirers, and be popular is easy and graceful. with all who can enjoy a fine romance which has many of the qualities of Scott's novels and none of their pedantry."
THE HOSPITAL SECRET. Life.
Crown
A
Novel of Hospital
By James Cohpton (Pseudonym
of Popular Author).
8vo, cloth, 6s.
Weekly Sun.—"
It
has
many
Westminster Review.—"
Dundee Courier. — " This cally told."
vivid scenes,
It is
and the story
a well-written
work of
very entertaining novel.
.
.
is
dramatically told."
fiction." .
Skilfully
and dramati-
—
Mr. John Long's
POPULAR
6s.
TREWINNOT OF Kernahan, Author of 8vo, cloth, 6s.
NOVELS—continued.
GUY'S.
"
By Mrs. Coulson
Frank Redland, Recruit,"
etc.
Crown
Fifth Edition.
—
it
World. " The story teems with incident. Every personage is a character, and would be impossible to deny their cleverness, or the perceptive powers which they The hero, Trewinnot himself, is admirably drawn. The enthusiastic young
reveal.
student, at once light-hearted and earnest, with his capacity for whole-souled devotion, and his enjoyment of a lark,' could hardly be better done. This breezy and attractive personality dominates the whole style of the book." Sketch. " Mrs. Coulson Kernahan's pictures of medical student life, of doctors, dispensers, locum tenens, are admirable." Speaker. " A writer so gifted with racy humour, keen observation and vigorous eloquence. Mrs. Kernahan possesses not only these agreeable qualities, but the more solid virtues of sympathetic insight, tender pathos and an intimate knowledge of the hearts of men and women. Trewinnot of Guy's is in many respects a notable novel." Every one St. James's Budget. " A vividly realistic picture of medical life. connected with the noble profession of healing should at once read Trewinnot of Guy's." Daily News. " It is a well-written, well-constructed story. Mrs. Kernahan seems to be familiar with her subject, and with a light and firm touch she weaves her threads of humour and tragedy as she depicts the manners of a profession that perhaps more than any other comes in contact with human nature as it is. Trewinnot is a pleasant hero. Headlong, sincere and capable, he is very much alive." Saturday Review. " There are touches of genuine observation in the book the routine of an overworked doctor practising in a poor London district, for instance. feel that the author is here at home with her subject." Academy. " It brings Bob Sawyer and Ben Allen up to date." '
— —
—
—
—
We
—
IRISH HOLIDAYS. By Robert
Thynne, Author of "The Story of Australian Exploration," "Captain Flinders," etc. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6s.
—
Daily Telegraph. " These sprightly word-sketches of sporting incidents and on the Milesian side of St. George's Channel are here and
political conditions
there interspersed with effective episodes of adventure undeniably belonging to the category of good stories." Leeds Mercury. " In a moment of leisure one evening we took up a book entitled Irish Holidays by Robert Thynne, merely to ascertain the drift of the work. It proved too much for us for so entertaining was it that we did not part company till the early hours of morning. So easily and pleasantly is it written that we forget we are reading, and almost fancy that we are listening to the good tales and chatter of an old friend." Speaker. " Mr. Thynne understands both Ireland and the Irish, and his lively pictures of places and people ought to go far in dispelling harsh prejudices. There is humour in the book and observation." Scotsman. " Mr. Thynne has already shown how well he knows his Ireland, and also how pleasantly he can communicate what he knows. It was to be expected that his Irish Holidays would be an interesting and well written book, and expectation will not be disappointed. The plan of it is admirable. If any one wanted a readable volume which would enable him really to understand something of the condition of Ireland,' question of some ten years ago, we do not know where we could lay hands on a better than this. The writer has more than knowledge of the people— he has sympathy, and the insight that sympathy gives. The book is full of incident and not lacking in comedy."
—
:
—
—
'
List of Publications
POPULAR
NOVELS—continued.
6s.
A DIFFICULT MATTER. Cameron, Author of Fraud," etc. Crown
"
The Craze
8vo, cloth, 6s.
By Mrs.
Lovett
of Christina," "
A
Fair
Third Edition.
— We
Black and White. " have a few writers whose books arouse in us certain expectations which are always fulfilled. Such a writer is Mrs. Lovett Cameron, and her newest story, A Difficult Matter, does not make us change our opinion. Mrs. Lovett Cameron's admirers will not be disappointed in A Difficult Matter It is a pleasant, readable story, told in an interesting manner."
—
Graphic. " A really very pleasant story." Pall Mall Gazette. "A pleasant and entertaining
—
story, written
in the
author's usual light and easy style."
Illustrated
News. — " Mrs. Lovett Cameron's interesting novel."
London
— " A novel sure to find favour with her numerous readers." World. — " One of Mrs. Lovett Cameron's best novels. There a good deal Literary World.
is
admire in this novel besides its construction the style is pleasing, and, without pose or platitude, Mrs. Lovett Cameron gives her readers the benefit of cultivated observation of life, a thoughtful mind, and the gift of sympathy." to
;
St.
James's Budget. — " Certain
to be eagerly read.
The
story
is
intensely
interesting."
THE STORY OF quoid, Author of
News.—"
It is
Macquoid's new novel quoid's
charm
By Katharine S. Mac"A Ward of the King," etc. Crown
LOIS.
Patty,"
Third Edition.
8vo, cloth, 6s. Daily
'•
is
of style.
especially as a study of the artistic temperament that Mrs. interesting. The story is skilfully told with all Mrs. MacThe book is, we think, the strongest that Mrs. Macquoid
has given us."
—
Graphic. " It is as a psychological study of one of the rarest of all that the story has an interest of no ordinary kind."
—
Pall Mall Gazette. " Mrs. Macquoid study of the artistic temperament."
Robinson, Author of etc.
Crown
her story well.
WENT THROUGH.
ALL THEY
"
Lois
temperaments is
By
a very good
F.
W.
Grandmother's Money," " Young Nin,"
8vo, cloth, 6s.
Athenajum. — ",
tells
Second Edition.
by of organic details of London life in its lower forms which made Rossetti rank author so high among latter-day humorists. The author's forces are as fresh, wholesome and vigorous as ever." .
.
It is this
faculty of vitalising a whimsical situation
means this
Bookman. — "For
humour and
briskness of narrative, for workmanlike technique, for light the qualities that are usually classed as entertaining, it is superior to
any book of the kind that has been offered to us lately.'' Black and White.— " All They Went Through will be among the most popular books of the season, as it thoroughly deserves to be." Literary World. " Mr. P. VV. Robinson is an old friend, and wherever we turn in this volume we find reasons for applause, and we can assure our readers that they will not go astray if they spend money, and time, and attention upon All They Went Through."
—
(
Mr. John Long's
io
POPULAR
NOVELS— continued.
6s.
THE CRAZE OF CHRISTINA.
By Mrs. Lovett
of "A Fair Fraud," etc. Fifth Edition.
Crown
Cameron, Author vellum,
gilt, 6s.
8vo, art
World.— "An amusing book is always sure of a welcome, and The Craze of Christina should be popular. Mrs. Lovett Cameron hits upon a genuinely comic idea, and she develops it with skill. Mrs. Lovett Cameron means to entertain her readers, and entertain them she does."
IN
THE DARK.
By Esme Stuart, Author
" Sent to Coventry," etc. Second Edition. Speaker.
Crown
Svo, art vellum,
— " Is both dramatic in
exciting pages of In the Dark. Stuart's ingenuity. The story's perpetually on the alert."
plot and spirited in execution. The really The plot is a capital one, doing credit to Esme many complications keep the reader's attention .
.
.
ESTATE. THE STORY OF A CAMPAIGN " " Robert Thynne, Author of Find," etc. Crown Svo, cloth
Pall Mall Gazette.
of
gilt, 6s.
Holidays,"
Irish
gilt,
By
Boffin's
6s.
— "A
very excellent account of the reign of terror in Ireland. The character of Father Doyle, who, for conscience' sake, was strong enough to oppose his own order when resistance meant ostracism, is a noble and admirable character."
THE KINGDOM OF MAMMON. of "And Fourth Edition.
Tweedale, Author cloth, 6s.
Glasgow Herald. — " The
They Two,"
etc.
By Violet Crown
8vo,
study which she makes of her Anglican Tartufl'e
can hardly be called a pleasant one but it is undeniably clever, and absolutely ruthless. The novel is full of interest throughout, and it never tempts the reader to skip a single page." ;
Punch. — " An
exceptionally powerful work."
THE LOVE OF A FORMER J.
LIFE.
By Chas.
H. Halcombe, Author of " The Mystic Flowery Land," etc.
Crown
Svo, cloth, 6s.
—
"The story proceeds in the most interesting manner, and proves the brilliancy of the author's imagination, his ability to handle character and scenes, and his possession of a free command of graceful diction. The theory advanced is worked into a well-told tale." Scotsman.
—
Glasgow Herald. " The author has worked his theory out with considerable ingenuity, and the story he has based on it is vigorously conceived and interesting throughout."
1
List of Publications
POPULAR
FRANK
NOVELS— continued. REDLAND, RECRUIT. By 6s.
Coulson Kernahan, Author Crown, 8vo,
is
1
of
"Trewinnot
Mrs.
of Guy's," etc.
Fourth Edition.
cloth, 6s.
World. — " The Redland family is remarkably well drawn. The idea of the story new and romantic. The striking conclusion of her animated and attractive .
.
.
story."
A FAIR FRAUD.
By Mrs. Lovett Cameron, Author
of "A Difficult Matter," etc. Edition.
Speaker. — "Mrs. Lovett
Crown
Svo, cloth, 6s.
Cameron has once more compounded with
Fifth deft
and
skilful touch a piquant dish. A Fair Fraud is, in truth, a very pleasant and entertaining story, and Mrs. Lovett Cameron possesses the invaluable gift of never allowing her readers to become bored, so that it is possible to read the book straight through with unabated interest. The story is told with great spirit and dash, carrying the reader on from page to page in very agreeable fashion. The drawing of the 'fair fraud' and her ever youthful mother is done with humour and point. Altogether we can cordially recommend A Fair Fraud."
PURSUED BY THE LAW. Cobban, Author of Svo, cloth, 6s.
Athenaeum. — "The
"
The Angel
By James MacLaren
of the Covenant," etc.
Crown
Third Edition. exciting experiences of James Graham, the escaped conand the interest of the book is complete from
vict, are told in a masterly fashion, start to finish."
A WEAVER OF RUNES. Burrard, Author
Crown
of
"A
By W.
Dutton
Great Platonic Friendship,"
etc.
Svo, cloth, 6s.
Telegraph. — " The
narrative sparkles with lively and natural dialogue, Daily throwing the various characterisations into high relief, and keeping the attention of the reader continually on the qui vive. Not only is the Weaver of Runes an extremely amusing personage, but he bears convincing witness to the keen insight brought to bear upon the problems of life by the literary author of his being."
WICKED " ROSAMOND. Author of
Charming Miss Kyrle,"
By
Mina Sandeman,
etc.
Crown
Athenaeum. — "Her
The
good.
OSWALD STEELE. 8vo, cloth, 6s. Birmingham Daily Gazette. novels
it
The
By Eibbon Berkley.
— " One
of the
story
is
Crown
most entertaining and clever
has been our good fortune to come across for some time."
CICELY VAUGHAN. of
Svo, cloth, 6s.
latest novel is the best that we have seen. worldly mother and her daughter are well described."
"Wise
World.—" A
in his
By Philip Davenant. Author
Generation
".
Crown
Svo, cloth, 6s.
Her strong and interesting story, which commands attention. character, her crime, and her fate are admirably treated. The end of the story is very striking."
Mr. John Long's
12
POPULAR 3s. 6d. NOVELS WHEN THE MOPOKE CALLS. Australian Bush of "
By William
Tales.
From
the
illustrations cloth, 3s. 6d.
Land
Walker (" Coo-ee"). Author Wombat ". With 22 full-page
S.
of the
on plate paper, by S. H. Vedder. Third Thousand.
Crown
8vo,
—
Times. "A collection of Australian stories, giving a capital idea of life on the remote out-stations of the eastern colonies in the last generation. Not the least attractive chapter is the first, describing the sea voyage when the passenger by sailing-ship had to furnish his own cabin. There is humour in the lamentable tribulation of the Jackeroo, or tenderfoot; there is romance in the legend of the haunted gully, and in the tale of the dead digger's Christmas-box to his comrades; and there is the height of sensation in the fighting of the flood, when the bursting of waterspouts, after a prolonged drought, threatens to engulf a station with its beleaguered occupants."
—
World. "Mr. William S. Walker is steeped in the traditions of Australian bush-lore, and his collection of tales contain the experiences of a career spent amid what was in those days a wild and unsettled region. They are full of the sound of the vagrant's song of freedom, and are particularly fresh and unhackneyed."
—
Spectator. "A brightly-written volume of the trials and humours of Colonial Midnight, the story of a bushranger who for life some thirty or more years back. a while evaded suspicion by successfully impersonating a captain of police, is a favourable specimen of Mr. Walker's powers. He, too, we are glad to see, has a kind word for the blacks. Mr. Vedder's pictures are good."
Weekly Sun. — "There
is no more interesting writer about Australia than well-known " Coo-ee". His new book gives a new interest get something more than its roughness and ruggedness we get its humour and its human interest. No other writer on Antipodean subjects writes with so much dramatic power as Mr. Walker."
Mr.
S. Walker, the to Colonial life.
We
;
BY JUMNA'S BANKS. By Paul Markham.
Crown
An Anglo-Indian
Novel.
8vo, cloth, 3s. 6d.
—
Paul Markham has imparted to his story of and charm that will ensure for it many readers. there is much of it, is well wrought, and the story abounds in a Evidently the author vivid description of life in Delhi and other parts of India. knows India well, and his knowledge has been skilfully used in the unfolding of the plot of this agreeable story." " Mr. in India a freshness
Pall Mall Gazette.
military
life
The humour, and
—
Bookseller. "The different characters have been drawn by a skilled and practised hand, and it is clear enough that Mr. Markham has had actual experience of the scenes and the people to whom his readers are introduced. Indeed, the only fault of the tale is that it comes to an end much too soon."
—
Glasgow Herald. "The author has a certain knack for bringing out the salient features of his characters in a clear and often rather amusing fashion. He succeeds in giving us a very vivid impression of the various little social functions The army doctor in which the personages in his little drama perform their part. with his grievances, the major with his sermons and his eleven reformed drunkards, are capital portraits, drawn with a few clever strokes that seem to make them feel like oid friends."
List of Publications
POPULAR
13
NOVELS— continued.
3s. 6d.
YOUTH AT THE PROW.
By E. Rentoul Bsler, Way They Loved at Grimpat,'' "The WardCrown 8vo, cloth, 3s. 6d. Second Edition. no living writer of fiction, not one, Chronicle. — "There
Author of "The laws,"
etc.
is Newcastle Daily whose powers within their range are more striking and definite than those of Mrs. Rentoul Esler. Her pathos and her humour are not matters of words; they are
This is a very great quality." Literary World. " Mrs. Esler is not an athlete with the pen, she is an artist." Sheifield Daily Telegraph. " The late Mr. James Payn was one of the first to accord the writer a foremost place in the delicate and difficult art of the short story. The welcome he gave her first volume of Village Idylls in the Illustrated London News was as generous and cordial as it was unexpected and unsolicited." Liverpool Daily Post.—" Youth at the Prow is the title of an excellent book, fresh and original, well written and wholesome in tone, and cannot fail to be appreciated by the readers. The popularity gained by Mrs. Esler in her previous novel, The Wardlaws, will undoubtedly be enhanced by the present volume. Mrs. Esler possesses remarkable talent in depicting the characteristics of each perso n she refers to." „ _* _: i^fl+Sy-? '•'- -c7i^J'.'Zl-^''~^^t^. implicit in her events.
—
—
'
^V
'
WITH BOUGHT SWORDS American
Republic.
^
-"'
:
A
Tale of a Spanish-
By Harry Fowler.
Crown
8vo,
cloth, 3s. 6d. St. James's Budget. " An extremely vivacious and interesting story with plenty of the fortunes of war in it, and the love interest is well sustained through-
—
out."
Morning Leader.—" Told in the best manner of thrilling fiction." Glasgow Herald. — " There is plenty of go and movement about this tale." Court Circular. — "The tale is one of thrilling adventure, with never a page in
dull
it."
Westminster Review. — " A dashing
story that will interest
many
readers just
now."
HIS LITTLE BILL OF SALE. evils of
By
Ellis J. 8vo, cloth, 3s. 6d. subject thoroughly, and his exposure of the the whole money-lending system and of the law which protects the usurer
Davis, Barrister-at-Law. Scotsman. — " Mr. Davis knows his
Crown
is admirable. He gives also sound advice to those who may be tightly placed in respect to money. As a novel with a purpose it is at once useful and interesting." Literature. " Mr. Ellis J. Davis sets iorth how a man fares in the hands of the usurers, and he is both interesting and instructive on the ways of the moneylenders." Westminster Review. "A really interesting and useful book." Literary World. "An exposure of the tricks not only of professional moneyThe history of lenders, but of the lawyers who make a living out of fighting them. Mr. Millar, the sharp law3'er,' is highly instructive, and the character of Mr. Crushc, the counsel, who works with him, reflects small credit on the bar."
—
—
—
'
THE CRIME
THE WOOD.
By T. IN Speight, Author of "The Mysteries of Heron Dyke," Crown 8vo, cover design, 3s. 6d. Second Edition,
—
W. etc.
Daily Mail. " Mr. Speight is a practised hand at the writing of mystery We have read this new book of his, and can recommend it." British Weekly. " Mr. Speight is an able, almost a brilliant writer." Observer. " Mr. Speight has a number of exciting and absorbingly interesting stories of a sensational character standing to his credit, and all readers acquainted with his earlier stories will need no more than to be told that The Ct itne in the Wood is as good as its predecessors in oth<;r words, is an admirable essay in stories.
—
—
—
sensational fiction."
Mr. John Long's
14
POPULAR
3s. 6d.
NOVELS— continued.
THE SILENT HOUSE
IN PIMLICO.
By
Fergus Hume, Author of "The Mystery of a Hansom Cab," etc. Crown Svo, cloth, 3s. 6d. Fourth Edition.
Punch. — " The plot
is
story will be found most exciting. The construction of the very ingenious, and as a lively bit of sensationalism the Baron can honestly Silent House."
recommend The
MISS NANSE.
By Sarah Tytler, Author
" Citoyenne Jacqueline," etc. Second Edition.
Crown
Svo,
cloth,
3s.
of 6d.
—
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FROM THE LAND OF THE WOMBAT.
By
William S. Walker, Author of "When the Mopoke Calls," etc. Crown Svo, cloth, 3s. 6d. With 13 Full-page Illustrations on Plate Paper by
—
J.
A. Symington.
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—
THE SPORT OF CIRCUMSTANCE. Chatterton, Author of
Crown
"A Darn
By
G. G.
on a Blue Stocking,"
etc.
Svo, art vellum, gilt, 3s. 6d. Athenaeum. "The book is interesting and clever throughout, and has good literature in
—
it."
OF FAME. A DREAM "
By Jean Delaire, Author etc. Crown Svo, cloth, 3s. 6d. — "Distinctly an original book." Review of Reviews. DIDUMS. By Jean Macpherson. Crown 8vo, cloth, 3s. 6d. Bookman. — " A powerfully written story. Didums herself beautifully drawn." outlined with much Outlook. — "A very charming profile of an original tenderness and no power." Spectator. — " The cleverness of the story." THE SEA OF LOVE. By Walter Phelps Dodge, Author of "A Strong Man Armed," "As The Crow Flies," "Three Greek Tales," etc. Long 12mo, cloth, Is. 6d. Scotsman. — " The stories are invariably clever and dramatic, and the book sure to be widely read." Manchester Courier. — " Many countries and many types are dealt with, but of
Pro Patria,"
is
girl,
little
is
all
are cleverly touched, and the dialogue and characterisation are good throughout." Pail Mall Gazette.—" Some graceful little stories by W. P. Dodge go to make up a pretty booklet."
List of Publications
15
POETRY THE DEMON OF THE WIND, and Other Poems. By
G.
Hunt Jackson.
Scotsman.
Crown
8vo, cloth, gilt top, 3s. 6d. net.
— " The book has no lack of pleasant reading.
fluent and gracefully turned
:
Manchester Guardian. — " Mr. Jackson's muse and
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all
is
collection of are well above the average."
company enough
poems contains many of unusual
NIGHTSHADE AND POPPIES: Country Doctor.
1
pleasant
genuine chord."
Manchester Courier. — "This merit, while
All are picturesque, readers.'
and the volume ought not to lack
By Dugald Moore, M.B.
Verses of a Crown 8vo,
cloth, 3s. 6d. net.
—
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fine feeling.
Bookman. — "
Decidedly above the average."
THE BOER
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A
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Crown 8vo. paper cover, 6d. net. An attempt to describe the raid into
By Frank Short.
the Transvaal from the
point of view of an old Boer. St. Paul's.
—"A story of considerable and human interest."
1
6
Mr. John Long's
List of Publications
MISCELLANEOUS THE HISTORY OF "THE TEMPLE". Special Reference to that of the Middle Temple of the Ancient Seals.
By
;
With
also facsimiles
G. Pitt-Lewis, Q.C., a Master of
the Bench of the Middle Temple.
Crown
8vo, paper cover,
Is. 6d.
Daily Telegraph. fashion which
is
Literature.
— "The
as skilful as
subject, always interesting."
an attractive one,
is
handled in a
it is
— "An excellent account of one of the most illustrious of our
Inns
of Court."
—
Scotsman. " It puts a deal of antiquarian learning into a shape likely to prove It has attractive to all who are specially interested in the English schools of law. not only an historical interest as a picture of bygone times, but also a practical value in its suggestions as to the constitution of a legal university for the whole British Empire."
London: John Long 6
Chandos
Street,
Strand
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES
THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY is DUE on the last date stamped
This book
below
i
u(249l>
UNIVERSITY
of
CALIFORNIA
AT LOS ANGELES LIBRARY
UCLA-Young Research
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T24
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».*7
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
%0*f
The
House of Commons
By
The Right Hon. Sir Richard Temple,
Bart,
G.C.S.I.
Author of " India in 1SS0," "Life in Parliament'," "Cosmopolitan Essays," "Sixty Years of the Queeris
Reign"
"Palestine Illustrated" &c. % &>c.
London
John Long 6
Chandos
Street, Strand
1899
ABERDEEN PRINTED BY W. JOLLY AND SONS BRIDGE STREET
jN
Preface
^The
Chapters of
to the
House
^
time.
The book
is
work
little
Commons
.
of
this
relate
in the present
intended to serve as
CO
~»a short
may c-*
and easy manual
desire
though
importance,
not i the tc in is
and
reality
to attend
as
institution
—but
in
our
of
idea it
its
who
those
fundamental
a
acquire
elementary
sentative vivid
to
for
is
repre-
in
all
its
overwhelming
who may
not
be able
and hear the Debates or have
been
personally
House by
their
members.
the introductory Chapter,
derived
from
the 5
round
conducted
As
my
stated
account
experience
of
a
— Preface
1885 to 1895, which was indeed
decade, eventful.
recount
no attempt
Still
parliamentary
the
decade, although
that
of the attempts to
Home
Rule
history
as
Parliament
Liberal
with
Unionists
— the
formation
Party under the
name
—the new
a
of
for
outrages
of political
Con-
the
of Gladstonians,
permanent measure
sion
for
consequent
the
Ireland,
in
Bills
between one wing of that party
servatives,
the
of
comprised both
it
break-up of the old Liberal party, alliance
to
made by Mr. Gladstone
through
pass
made
is
the
in
repres-
Ireland,
the desperate resistance to that arrange-
ment
offered
party
returned
strength
Mr.
death,
to
the
Irish
the
House
Nationalist in
potent
by the Election of 1885 under
Parnell,
of that
by
—the
Party
—the
Conservative
apparent his
after
constitution
confusion
retirement of
a
and
strong
Party Administration with 6
Preface
the support, but without the junction, of Liberal
the
Parliament,
Unionists,
—
one
for
subsequent
the
long
accession
of the Gladstonians to power for a short Parliament,
—and
then the
formation of
a Conservative Administration, this time with the practical junction of the Liberal Unionists, in
so
combined
the
that
Party
power since 1895 has borne the name
of
Unionist,
home and
abroad.
much forth
by anyone
had been an actor
some
bias,
supposed,
two
to
results
These many
history
countless
must be persons
But they could hardly be
living.
still
set
interest
by
changes
momentous
points of contemporary
of
pursued
these
all
with
fraught
both at
policy
through
Parliament
being
—the
or
who,
like
myself,
in the events,
without
some
partiality,
real
towards one or other of
opposing
sides.
My
object
or
the
has
been to indicate the ways of the House 7
Preface
Commons
of
any
observer,
belong politics
the
appear
to
whether he happened
to
one side or to the other of
to
—
would
they
as
pourtray
to
House
at
things
without
large,
to the organization of
particular
But,
or
any one Party
in
division.
such organizations and divisions
if
alike
in
In
Parties.
impartiality
all,
they are alluded to
reference this is,
So
preserved.
I
to
to,
several
their
manner an aspect of hope, the
tolerably
well
brought
points
forward are such as no object
to
reference
any sectional
to
are mentioned at all
relating
Member would
be he Conservative or Liberal
;
nor yet would he claim any one of them as exclusively pertaining to his
With is
is
this
general
intention
divided into Nine Chapters.
own
Party.
the
work
The
first
introductory, setting forth the qualities,
the
abilities,
the capacities, of the
elected in the General
House
Election of 1885,
Preface
and
each of the subsequent Elections.
in
The
regarding
estimates
subject,
this
most practically important
which
is
of
subjects to the British people,
all
made
the
care
and some
detail.
then
approximately correct,
be
they
If
much
with
how
show
are
the
merits
preponderate over the demerits.
Thus
they
the
men
may be proud and
nation
that on
greatly
thankful
whole such able bodies of
the
are chosen
as these
from time to
time by the Electors at large.
The
Chapter
Second
question which
is
discusses
the
commonly mooted
as to
whether the House can truly be called a
Club
for
its
such
advantages, ments,
The
Members.
apart-
buildings,
as
means
accommodation,
are
recreation,
tellectual
material
may
of
in-
described,
be
compared
with the best clubs in London.
But also
wherein the
the
social
House
aspects
are 9
alluded
to,
such
;
Preface
some ways, which
as the comradeship in is
the
a merit,
other
ways,
themselves
want of homogenity
the
differences,
class
in
which
unavoidable,
quite
in
are defects, from the point of view which
a good Club would
such that a conclusion
these defects are is
Indeed
entertain.
House
arrived at to the effect that the
On
cannot properly be called a Club. the other hand,
there
is
claimed for the
House, the character of a public school in
which
arena
in
are
adults
which
exercised,
mentarians
political
a
of
disciplined,
theatre
walk
of
gladiators
where
the
stage
The Third Chapter
relates
an are
parlia-
with
the
nation as audience.
cincts
and
building's
of
to the pre-
the
House
Westminster Hall, a standing epitome
of
the history of England for eight hundred years,
the
nobly beautiful
Hall, before the
St.
Stephen's
Reformation the Chapel 10
Preface
Royal of the Palace of Westminster, since the Reformation the
home
of the
the conflagration of 1834,
till
now
of St. Stephen's,
Commons
—the
cloisters
the cloakroom,
—the
wondrously ornate chapel commonly called the
crypt,
— then
Central
the
frescoed corridor and the' outer the
Commons,
inch
of
it
— the
itself
mighty parts played within well filled
it,
—the
commodious,
famous
its
summer, and
its
with
views of
and of metropolitan of
the
long
tea
but
in
men
— the
parties
in
— the
chain
the upper storey,
perspective
thronged with eager
five-
river, of bridges,
structures,
Committee Rooms
and
every
and equipped,
most picturesque and terrace,
of
comparison with the
in
chambered Library
Lobby
with associations,
replete
apparently small
Chamber
the
Hall,
of
corridors
of business,
—the
multiform associations, national, personal, historical,
contemporary, clustering round
this political beehive. 11
— Preface
The Fourth Chapter Parliament, as classes of
led
is
it
comprises
in
life
by the several
Members, the Parliamentarian
purely and entirely
— who
has no occupa-
tion or avocations besides those concerning
House,
the
— the
man
commercial
of
— the man of the learned pro— the man of society, — of whom
business, fessions,
perform
all
same
the
occasions but on
on
duty
important
other occasions take
all
work of the House,
different shares in the
varying according to the time they can afford to gfive
—or
are inclined to devote.
Then
follows
some
analysis of the business
which
falls
to
parliamentarian
the
gives his whole self to the
who
House from
the
forenoon to the small hours of the morning.
Some ing
light
is
thrown on the truth regard-
obstruction, a subject which
presented,
no doubt
each opposing Party kept
in its
due
unintentionally,
in turn,
limits, is 12
is
mis-
by
but which,
if
a legitimate weapon
— Preface
Some
of warfare.
account
is
offered of the
nature and the conditions of parliamentary success in
The
its
various phases.
Fifth Chapter refers to the
manners
—the stringency, — the
and customs of the House, closure increasing in
rules
of re-
gulation which ordinarily stops the regular
business of the
House
at midnight,
—the
Questions or daily interpellations to Ministers
whereby the Private Members do
really
and
justly constitute themselves the
Grand Inquest
of the nation,
—the growing
abridgement of the old opportunities of Private their
Members in
unabated
ancient
maxim
respect to legislation,
privileges
regarding the
of grievances before Supply,
—the etiquette puzzling new Members, —the power and authority of the Speaker, to
the significance of the term
Whip, which
applied to an
and secondly
first is
official,
to a circular notice.
The
Sixth Chapter depicts briefly some 13
Preface
of the scenes
which
House, and
would be of no use
it
witnessed in the
I
to at-
tempt the description of any others, that before or since
my
time.
It
that the usual aspect of the
is
premised
House
is
At Question
of dignity and repose.
is,
one
time,
however, when interpellations are addressed
by Private Members
to Ministers, there
is
often a breeziness ruffling the surface of
the waters.
Next the
peculiar expressive-
ness given to the cheering
is
explained,
according to the tones of its various moods.
Some
word-painting
is
the Division of 1886
Rule
Bill
of the stringent
—the the
the
first
Home
to the first appli-
Crimes
Bill,
method of closure subse-
known by the
—
in reference to
to the Irish
the
all-night sitting
before affair
when
was defeated,
cation, in regard
quently
used
Easter of
name
of Guillotine,
on Supply shortly 1887,
—the
grave
nearly approaching to violence during
Committee stage on the second 14
Home
— Preface
Rule
Bill,
—the several
fine episodes arising
out of Mr. Gladstone's eloquence.
Seventh Chapter some of the
In the
leading figures of Parliament are noticed
as they were in
my
decade.
First of
Mr. Gladstone as he loomed before in
us,
the closing events of his vast career,
with an
earnestness
and
Randolph
with
Churchill
mar-
potency
vellous for his advanced age,
—then Lord meteoric
his
career prematurely cut short by his act,
—the
Balfour
success
in
from
Ireland
to
the
House
Mr.
Joseph Chamberlain, oratory,
yet
unprecedented
an
the
by
own
sudden ascent of Mr.
equally
Arthur
at
all
of
acclamation,
general
the best
leadership
not
if
aiming
speaker of his
day and a potential factor
in
politics,
Sir William Harcourt, incisive in assault,
a master of humorous invective and on and Wilthe whole a great Minister,
—
liam
Henry Smith, a 15
leader
of proved
Preface
success,
of
and an embodiment of the genius
common sense. The Eighth Chapter
mary of
presents a sum-
proceedings
the
the
of
Irish
Nationalist
Party inside the House since
—the
adaptation by them of every
1885,
word, gesture, vote, proceeding, combination,
towards one object, namely the ob-
taining
Home
Rule
Then
Ireland.
for
the characteristics of their leaders, at that time,
touched
are
by
expositions
outbursts
of
upon,
Mr.
Mr.
Sexton,
Timothy
utterances
influential
—the
of
elaborate the
fierce
Healy,
Mr.
T.
the P.
O'Connor, the power of speech pertaining to
Mr.
John Redmond, the
oratory
of
Mr.
lastly the weird,
of Mr. Parnell, in
Justin
mellifluous
Macarthy,
and
even mysterious attitude
some
respects incompre-
hensible, in others but too painfully clear to
every
insight,
Briton endowed
—the
temporary 16
with
division
patriotic
of the
— Preface
Nationalists
into
Parnellites
Parnellites after his retirement
The Ninth Chapter as seen from the
of place for a
and Antiand death. Lords
refers to the
Commons.
Commoner
It
were out
to essay anything
House of Lords Commons do enjoy many advan-
like a description of the still
the
House
tages for observing their Lordships' in
part at
least.
Some comparison
made between the Chamber House and that of the being
differences
the
Upper
of the
Lower,
precisely
Allusion
Commoners standing
at
the
Lords to hear the debates, standing
Councillors
or
—
spectacle
mons crushing through
no
summoned
of
to hear the 17
the
to the Privy
sitting
on
—
afforded by the
at the
fault
to
Bar of the
steps at the foot of the throne,
strange
to
Houses
made
is
the
adopted
work of each of the two
respectively.
is
the
to the
Com-
Bar of the Lords, their
own,
when
Queen's Speeches
Preface
read on various occasions,
—the
self-im-
posed restraint of the hereditary legislators in
by
contrast rules
with the
made by
discipline
the
enforced
popularly
elected
legislators in order to restrain the
or the
ardour
momentary excesses on the part
of any of their
Members
individually.
R. T.
October 1899
Contents PAGET
CHAP. -
21
II.
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS AS A CLUB
35
III.
THE PRECINCTS AND THE BUILDINGS
49^
I.
INTRODUCTION
-
IV. LD7E IN PARLIAMENT
-
-
-
-
-67/
V. MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE HOUSE VI. SCENES IN THE HOUSE
-
-
VII. LEADING FIGURES IN PARLIAMENT
VIII. THE IRISH NATIONALIST PARTY-
/
85
-
10 IV
-
117
-
135
IX. THE LORDS AS SEEN BY THE COMMONS 153
THE
House of Commons CHAPTEE
I
INTRODUCTION I
AM about
present a brief and popular
to
House
description of the
of
Commons
been during recent years and
is
as it has
likely to be in
the immediate future.
Before doing
me to
to
so,
my
remind
however,
is
of the
my
practical
House
of
be well for
readers of the claim I have
attempt such a task as
what
may
it
and personal knowledge
Commons
for ten years, that is
In other words
this.
?
Well
from 1885
:
I
was there
to 1895.
Dur-
ing that decade, excepting autumnal intervals of travel, I
to Parliament.
from
its
my
gave I
whole time and thoughts
attended almost every sitting
beginning to
its
end. 21
I
saw everything A
The House of Commons and heard everything, almost without exception. I
was present
numbers I have voted divisions.
I
in nearly three thousand
always heard the Question put by
the Speaker before it,
we proceeded
and in every instance
regarding
merits.
its
—the cause was on
attendance
or
upon
notion
any cases I was
If in
—
to divide
my own
had
I
not present in a division a hundred
In round
in almost every division.
it
was not one in
either casual illness,
obligatory
duty
in
the
School Board for London of which I was the Financial
Nor
Member.
here, I took
my
full,
did
the
work end
perhaps even more than
a full share, in that Committee work, which
is
one of the heaviest burdens which a parliaI served
mentarian has to bear. Select
Committees
protracted over
whose
many weeks
a peculiarly laborious I
proceedings
—
one, I
of
Committees, for the
was
trial of
were
one of these,
was more than once Chairman
Bill
on several
Chairman. of
Private
lengthy and
complicated cases in which the leaders of the
Parliamentary
Bar were practising on 22
both
Introduction was always a Member
I
sides.
Accounts Committee, and
was
I
Chairman
its
afforded
rne
all
two busy years
which
necessarily
complete insight into Parlia-
a
mentary Finance. of
—
for
of the Public
I
was always a Member
one of the Grand Committees to which the
House had delegated the work
of the
Committee
stage for Bills which were referred to these were many.
Moreover
my
and
it,
decade was as
arduous and troublesome a one as was ever passed by the House of Commons.
It
com-
prised the fiercest, the most persistently waged,
the most long-drawn-out contests of our gener-
—
most suggestive and instructive
to a
student, like me, of parliamentary affairs.
As
ation
a
all
consequence
quences
—
extension
of
of
— among
this,
the
was
many the
regular
other
conse-
protraction sessions
and
and
a
frequency of autumn sessions, so that during
my
decade the average time annually given to
the sittings and to the business of the
House
must have been considerably greater than previous decades. 23
in
The House of Commons
am
I
thus entitled and able to speak con-
fidently regarding the realities of the
My
Commons.
House
of
decade embraced three Parlia-
ments and three General
Thrice I
Elections.
saw a new House assembled and an old House Four times
dissolved.
part in the election of a I
my
took
I
new
individual
have to say, however, must be from
Member
my own
My
point of view and from that only. that of a Private
What
Speaker.
view
taking an active and
After
constant part in the parliamentary work. all
that
is
to those
they
the view which
who wish
are.
I
to
most interesting
is
know
never was in
the
Commons
Office,
as
and conse-
quently never sat on the Front Bench. seat
is
My
on the green benches was immediately
behind
it.
Any
description of things as they
would appear from the Front Bench necessarily
trench
on
in the scope of these articles.
Conservative, but the fact of
Party
—which
is
must
statesmanship
official
which, though connected with,
:
is
I
my
not comprised,
was and
am
a
belonging to a
unavoidable under the condi24
;
Introduction tions of parliamentary life
—
will not affect the
impartiality and trustworthiness of
my account,
because the topics do not relate to policy or to the principles of Party but to the practice of
They
Parliament.
common
to
all
may happen
was
it
customs and habits
and followed equally
parties,
whichever Party Certainly
relate to
my
to be in power.
ambition,
even
before
entering on an arduous career in the East, to sit
some day
taking
my
in the
House
of
Commons.
Besides
share, as a unit, in the labours
responsibilities of a great nation, I
witness and to learn
all
that
learnt inside the walls of the
may
and
wanted
to
be seen and
Commons.
Hav-
ing got there with all the usual difficulty, I was
very anxious to stay there for at least several years and several Parliaments.
Having been
permitted to do this I quitted the House in satisfaction
and contentment, quite voluntarily
giving up a safe seat and leaving a fine majority
behind
my
me
in
my constituency.
Thus, although
account will not, I hope, be unduly tinged
with optimism,
it
will necessarily be cheerful,
25
The House of Commons relating to a retrospect
thankful for learn,
My those
had
feel
that I was able to do and to
all
and well rewarded
sacrifices I
me
which makes
to
for all the toil
and the
endure on this account.
conclusion
is
who think
— subject otherwise
by
to correction
— that
there
is
nothing in the British Empire better worth
knowing
for
Commons
at Westminster.
the
a
Briton,
than
the
of
of
Such knowledge
summary, almost the sum
many branches
House
human
total
is
very
of
It contains
study.
the acquirements necessary for self-discipline
and self-command. of
many
It requires the observation
human
essential parts of
doubt the House
of
Commons
is
frequently dis-
paraged now-a-days, quite unduly. say, its
while
salient superficial
its
submit that
With
it
people
Commons
of
is
to
faults are derided,
respect to the public,
all
must ever be a
as an unthankful proceeding for
British
That
deep-lying merits are but too
solid,
often forgotten. I
No
nature.
to
deride
or
For
Britain.
26
bootless as well
any part
of the
disparage the
House
the of
Introduction
Commons
is
make
If the
it.
just
what the people choose
to
popular voice objects to cer-
tain things in the conduct of the House, they will
be gradually overcome.
constituencies
by
Particularly
own warnings
its
if
depreciates
certain things in the conduct of its representative body, they will speedily disappear.
have hereafter to shew that some
I shall
popularly attributed to the really
Indeed,
due
or
of
certain
of
of certain
sections
If ever
constituencies generally.
the House
at large, are
and influence
to the action
constituencies
Members
Commons, we
faults,
in
the
we denounce
are
really
de-
Such denunciation would
nouncing ourselves.
really be a confession of national faults
and
shortcomings, though possibly not so intended
by those who make use
House as
of
much
faultless,
citizens
Commons
is
of
it.
To say that the
without fault would be
as to say that the British nation
which
and
would
electors
may
be
is
British
absurd.
be assured that
—
after
every drawback and deduction for defects and shortcomings, their House of 27
Commons
really is
The House of Commons good, thoroughly trustworthy, sincerely anxious to do its duty in all respects
those
whom
it
patriotic interests,
in
—which
is
it is
all
our
needful for the electors
parliamentary
done either in summary or
with some regularity
detail
round, to
of the subject to
at large not only to read the
debates
all
Considering the
represents.
extreme importance
and
—but
also
to
ascertain the time-honoured rules of the House,
and
which
they are
the methods by which the
Members
conditions
the
applied
;
under
have to work, the ways in which they bring the influence
and weight
of their constituents
to
bear upon the deliberations and the decisions of the Assembly.
The more
made, the nearer
more
is
closely is this enquiry
this
insight
gained, the
clearly will the merits of the
appear, in
its
debates, its divisions,
in the various committees.
changes have in
my
its
Assembly enquiries
Furthermore, large
time come about in the
system of the House, gradually or quickly, for better or for worse.
Still
the House
is
the
safe depository of the interests of the Empire,
28
— Introdziction
and abuses,
as regarding all evils
it is still,
as it
ever has been, the Grand Inquest of the Nation.
When
1884 the Franchise was given to
in
country as
the labourers in the
it
had been
already accorded to the artisans in the towns
and when the constituencies were subdivided in view of a redistribution
of seats
throughout the
country, in order, too, that the electors in every locality
might make their wishes more im-
mediately and directly
maximum
where fixed by law there would be a
the House. the
—
It
for
expense being every-
was often predicted that
it
marked
deterioration in the
Members and
quality of the
further, the
was greatly cheapened
access to Parliament
candidates, the
— when,
felt
in the personnel of
was apprehended that under
new system humbler men than
before
would become candidates, and that the choice of the electors
would
fall
on such
in preference to others, in as
democratic
element
constituency. in
any degree
Now
men
much
generally
as the purely
would prevail in every has this apprehension been
justified
by the result 29
?
There
;
The House of Commons can be no doubt whatever as to the answer to such a question, inasmuch
as
General
five
Elections have taken place, five times has the
House
Commons been composed and
of
The pro-
posed under this system since 1884.
men
portion of humble
and
in respect to resources
social status has certainly increased in the
House, and that
much
not at
is
personal
as
all regrettable, inas-
representation
turbing
element,
namely that
One the
of
Nationalists has been fully doubled
may
certain
of
important classes has been secured.
or
re-com-
;
dis-
Irish
that
may
not be regrettable according to the view
which may be taken, but which discussed here
;
it is,
is
not to be
however, deeply regretted
by many British people.
Nevertheless, let the
composition of the House be taken on a whole let the
names
of the
Members be looked
at one
by one in any Parliamentary guide book, that
by Dodd, or by Vacher, or
other.
Then
it
will
be found that the composition of the House has
not deteriorated in comparison with decessors elected before 1884.
30
On
its
pre-
the contrary,
Introduction it will
be seen to have actually improved, as
being more representative than ever of the intellect, the learning, the science, the
experience, the
There
nation.
what was
the
capacity of
business-like
may
imperial
in former days have been
No
called " a landlords' parliament."
such thing would be possible now-a-days the landowning interest, the
but
;
country gentle-
men's party, the agricultural knowledge, are largely, indeed
fully, represented.
profession, always of great
complex
civilization
like
full
government
ours,
has
judicial status
of the justly
very
often,
men from
more
the
perhaps
even
Commons
for
ambitious barristers seek to
The Kailway
recognized importance, the
receives in
full
and preferment; consequently
enter the House.
in
it
deserves
measure, the reason being that the
generally, selected
most
legal
consequence in a
representation, which indeed
than a
The
it is
interest
is
of
so fully represented
House that complaints have, perhaps
erroneously, declared sentation.
it
to possess over-repre-
Consider the great business classes 31
;
The House of Commons the heads of firms, of enterprises, of industries, of banks, in
every great centre of the kingdom,
not only in the city of London, but everywhere at
home and abroad
each and
House.
by
all
and
;
it
will be seen that
them have Members
of
The cheapening
of electorial
law, securing on the one
man
chance for every
of
in the
expenses
hand a reasonable
moderate competency,
on the other hand precluding an open door for
men
of
no means
of their
own, or
no means would be subscribed distinctly
beneficial
enect.
men
for
whom
—has
had one
has
enabled
It
retired Governers
from India and the Colonies,
Army and Navy
men, administrators of many
kinds seas,
who had
men
served the empire beyond the
of science, of historic lore, of literary
renown, to enter the
Commons.
has
This
placed at the disposal of the House a mass of unrivalled
knowledge
— only
to
be gained in
danger, and in the very stress of affairs
—
re-
garding the concerns of a world-wide Empire,
and
that, too, in
directions
is
days when expansion in
all
confronting us with momentous 32
Introduction problems, wherein the great powers of Europe concerned.
are
This,
House with much
too,
still
the
most
the highest and
of
Happily the Uni-
varied culture of the age. versities of
imbued
has
England, Scotland, and Ireland, are
represented in the House, and so maintain
the influence of trained intellect in the Councils
Thus
of the nation.
let
by name alphabetically of
Commons
the
literature,
knowledge
Empire
He
any House
—that
of
roll
in the list of
elected since 1884
new system
muster
any enquirer take name
in of
— then
under
he will perceive the
men eminent
travel, in
is
in
science,
research, in
every country in the
in
imperial British
or within the British sphere of influence.
will realize the vastness
and variety of
information thus comprised in the representation of the people,
and
this
knowledge he would
find reflected in the debates, to them.
He
if
he fully listened
will also notice very
many names
already celebrated in contemporary annals, and
probably destined to become historic.
he will observe how
many 33
Further,
noble and aristocratic
The House of Commons names are
there,
county families
how many
scions of the ancient
—showing how many democratic candidates whose ante-
constituencies prefer
cedents are illustrious or whose
popularly known. said that there
my
In
time
families
are
used to be
it
was no subject (save theology)
under the sun, no branch of human knowledge
which we could not find some Member or
in
who would make
other
In
challenged between 1884, and
am
comparison
a
these respects
all
a speech of authority.
may
the Houses elecoed since
those elected before that time.
sure that
in
be
I
comprehensiveness
catholic
the later Houses are wholly superior to the
former
* I
because
House.
—
as indeed they
have some I
kept a
ought to be.*
confidence
full
in
Journal of
recalling
all
my
^JjjJfciffMJ
The record was written. wjT daily, and
large volumes of these Journals for
34
my
memories,
^l"
1
"*
ln * ne
there are ten
ten years.
CHAPTER
II
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS AS A CLUB
After the Introduction presented on the
pre-
going Chapter I enter upon a description in general terms of the House of
more
particularly of the life led in
members
A
of various sorts
it
by the
and conditions.
question immediately rises to the surface
House
as to whether the
Members.
its
Commons, and
it
or
not a Club for
is
In some respects
be found such the whole
is
it
will indeed
but in other respects not.
;
will hardly be so considered.
question, however, well merits
On The
some examina-
tion.
The phrase that in
London
"
first
the
House
is
the best club
was at one time a proverb.
must have been the
"
in times intervening
Reform Act early 35
This
between
in the thirties
and
The House of Commons the second one late in the sixties
times
"
;
when some-
a landlord's parliament " was elected and
many
when, owing to
causes, there
was
little of
popular election in the constituencies except in
a few at the great centres of industry and
The proverb must have
population.
of its truth after
the sixties,
lost
some
when Members
were returned by household suffrage for the
Boroughs Bill
:
and
midway
still
the
in
Members came
more
after the last
eighties,
when county
largely to be returned
By
rural labourers.
the last
Eeform
named
by the
reform, too,
the numbers of the Irish Party
—already large
—were
fully doubled.
enough
to
make
a
stir
This particular Party then became big enough to
make
itself felt
not only in the political conduct,
but also in the social habits of the House.
would be erroneous then best Club in
London
even a good Club.
at
to call the
It
House the
any time since 1885, or
The only
possible question
would be whether the House can properly be called a of
some
Club at
all.
As
this question is
interest I will briefly discuss
36
it.
one
The House of Commons as a Club The points
in favour of a Club theory would
be as follows.
There are buildings and apartments, halls and terraces for sitting, smoking, reading, lunching, dining, pacing to
and
There
fro for recreation.
are also apartments for the reception of guests, ladies as well as gentlemen,
able facility
is
afforded to
constituents
their
whole House and
Now by
all
all
or
and every reason-
Members
showing
over the
their friends
precincts at certain hours.
its
these advantages are daily
the
for
Members
in
common,
made to
use of
whatever
Party or to whatever class of society each one of
them may
belong.
Some
of these
advantages
The Library
too are very considerable.
is
truly
a noble place, extensive, well stocked, commodi-
—most convenient and way — not be surpassed,
ous and picturesque able in every
to
suit-
pro-
bably not to be equalled by any Club in London.
The same may be
said of the Terrace
which will
be described more fully in a future
Enough here
article.
to say, that it is quite admirable,
and that no Club
in
London has anything that 37
b
The House of Commons could in the least be compared with
The
it.
smoking rooms are on a par with those
London Clubs.
The dining rooms are
good, but inferior to those of the best
of
fairly-
London
Clubs, and not so good as they ought to be, considering the importance (as will be explained hereafter) of inducing
as
many Members
House
possible to stay in the
tea-room, though interesting,
regard to
The same
its place.
The
for dinner. is
as
very inferior in
may
objection
be applied to the newspaper-room adjoining.
The
halls,
the corridors, the lobbies, are capital
In them there
lounging places. facility for
their friends
Members
is
abundant
to hold interviews
and constituents.
If
any
with
special
consultation be required, there are Conference
In these latter respects the
rooms provided.
House The
is
superior to any Club in London.
sum
facilities
total
of
these
would shew the House
to be in
material matters a Club of high rank.
whole any Member
minded spend
his
of
any
and
advantages
class
many
On
may
if
the so
day happily and profitably in 38
The House of Commons as a Club the House.
and historic
He may things,
on the Terrace,
town
of
may get fresh air and
may
may
write magazine
proceed with the composition
book in the Library, works
of a
being
all
exercise
study the newspapers both
country,
may even
articles,
It
and
enjoy the sight of noble
of reference
around him on the shelves.
were superfluous however to remark that
the qualities of a Club are not only material and intellectual but also is
moral and
here that discrimination
is
social.
And
it
needed to deter-
mine whether the House can properly be styled a Club. If
we
consider the constitution of the good
Clubs in London, we readily see that in every
one of them there
among
the Members.
and Military, the and
University
absolutely to
homogeneity
In some, like the Naval
Civil Service, the Scientific
Clubs,
the
the
same
thoughts and pursuits. as for
a certain
is
Members belong
class
with the same
In some
political Clubs,
example the Carlton, the Members not
only have the same thoughts but also belong to 39
—
;
The House of Commons nearly the same society; at the Club walls there
between noble and
is
events within
all
much
not
between
gentle,
distinction titled
and
In the Travellers' Club again, the
untitled.
rule that every candidate to a specified
between
all
must have travelled a certain bond
extent, creates
The Athenaeum
the Members.
indeed contains a great variety of elements intellectual,
ecclesiastic, judicial, political,
artistic, scientific, social
—
there
still
is
a certain
tone and atmosphere pervading the whole.
It
were needless to carry the comparison further but in
all
probability an instance of a really
mixed Club with Members ideas,
and
bringing up,
of
social
unknown
to
classes,
Such a case
hardly be found in London. possibly
widely different could is
very
any organization under
private or corporate management.
Yet the House
of
Commons
exactly of this description all.
Most judges,
indeed,
;
is
if
would
it
a mixed Club
be a Club at
say, after defin-
ing a Club in the ordinary acceptation, would
probably decide that
it is
40
not a Club in reality.
The House of Commons as a Club
No
doubt
among
there
Members
all
The
distinction.
much
is
of the
the same
anxieties
being beset with
their
respective
bond between them. far, it
Political animosity
with acquaintanceship.
Political convenience in reference to
rank
measures
House may cause Members
to converse
Men who had
seldom
rarely interrupts private friend-
ship, it never interferes
before the
con-
does constitute a very perceptible
stituencies,
goes very
House without any
trials,
in
comradeship
having gone through
fact of
the same electioneering
of
of social
much with Labour Members.
just been raging furiously against
each other from the green benches inside the
House,
may
be seen dining together, or smoking
together on the Terrace. will be a
Member
or for
some
other
Member
him.
But
instances.
Now
and again there
so dreaded or so distrusted,
special reason so disliked that will
acknowledge or speak to
I can call to
As
a rule
no
mind very few such
Members widely
differing
in rank, surroundings, pursuits, ideas, principles,
do converse with tolerable freedom according as 41
!
The House of Commons opportunity precincts
may
of
may
House,
the
—even
though
Membership
not do so outside.
House does
the
or require inside
offer
practically serve as a
—an
of
the
medium
introduction at least inside the House.
over the system of "pairing"
they
of
More-
unwritten
system, practically operative though not recognised by the rules of the
House
—does
lead to
much intercommunication between Members opposite Parties. pairing
—being
—but
I
I
know nothing
of
personally of
always present I never paired
could daily witness
its
effect.
A
Tory and a Eadical may be at daggers drawn.
But the one wants
to
go to Germany and the
other to Scotland; so they bury their differ-
ences and pair
Notwithstanding cannot
be
Members
all
there
this,
that understanding
of the
House
between the Members
the
as a
body which consists
of a
good London Club.
may become
Conference Eooms,
not and
between
The Conservatives may be brethren their benches,
is
arms on
fast friends in the
may form 42
in
or cement friend-
The House of Commons as a Club ships that last throughout
But
do just the same.
it
life.
The Liberals may
will be groups that are
No
thus formed, and groups they will remain.
such distinctive groups would be found in a
good London Club.
Inside such a Club
men
if
are conversing they feel they are in the midst
There
of friends.
Members
of the
is
no such confidence among
House.
Members, talking
in
the Lobbies or at tea or at the dinner table, on politics or public
see
affairs,
must look round
to
who may
be within earshot, whether any
may
whether an opponent
secret
escape,
be on the watch.
may
Again one may converse
with another Member, personally unknown, on general topics
—but one must parliamentary
not mention any topic
—nor
political
or
allude to
any parliamentary personage
of
unintentionally giving offence.
know even
or if
divine
even
for fear
One must
what Party he belongs
to,
one does not like to ask his name,
before venturing on any save the most ordinary conversation.
learnt
His name however can easily be
by turning the conversation on 43
to his
The House of Commons constituency the
once that
;
Member
is
known
the
name
of
can be learnt from any of the
reference books.
Or, let the familiar case of
In a real Club
the dinner table be considered.
anyone may take any place that may be vacant
by those who
in the dining-room, undeterred
may
be sitting near.
hardly do
that
Commons.
He
sit
dining-room of the
the
in
must, when choosing a place,
who
think of those
and
But a Member would
may
are or
Out
near him.
of
probably come
the several rooms
there used to be one where the Irish Nationalist
Members
A
dined.
care to dine there for him,
;
for that
and embarrassing
same way the certain quarter
would be unsociable them.
to
Eadicals dined ;
company
the
not be acceptable there
Conservative would not
there.
In the
usually in
of a
a
Tory would
room
In another
was a table by courtesy and practice
allotted
to
Cabinet
Ministers
assigned similarly to the other existing Ministry:
;
a
table
Members
also
of the
these were in a sense high
tables or chief places
;
and no such arrangement 44
The House of Commons as a Club would be possible
Again there
in a real Club.
were certain quarters where the out-and-out
One
supporters of the Ministry would dine.
opponents could not conveniently dine
of their
with them in the brief interval between two parts of the debate, as the conversation would
be sure to in the
fall
on what had just been happening
Chamber where they had been playing
opposite
used
Unionists
Liberal
was
There
parts.
vative would certainly
table
dine;
to
sit
a
where
a Conser-
down with them, but
hardly a Gladstonian.
Thus the House, though comprising many elements of Club really a
Club
— though
special sense.
the Members,
No
:
it
agree
with
from him
;
not technically or
may
it is,
be so called in a
for social life
much more than
an arena, in the truest to be in the
is
life,
where
he
of
a Club.
It is
where a man has
sense,
company, not only him, but
among
of
those
finds
his
who
those
who
differ
own
level,
however highly he may have heretofore held his
head, where
he has to smooth away 45
all
;
The House of Commons and
angularities of temper
he finds his notions
and
principles
know
to
where
demeanour, where
of other people's opinions
modified
by personal
better)
of
(generally
discussion,
the
for
where he gets
countless things not to be learnt any-
else,
where a common membership gives
a stamp of equality to limits of the House,
all,
within the broad
whatever be their status in
other spheres outside, where the sense of inequality
is
less
anywhere
than
else
the
in
kingdom, and where even the best or highest is
not more than primus inter pares and seldom
even
that.
Further, the House in the truly national
where
is
a school, a public school
meaning
else is the idea so well
of the
there
in
the
Here
doubt,
by willing
are
school,
various ages, sorts and conditions
no
:
no-
understood that
the boys are fathers of the men.
House, as
word
;
in the
boys of
the big boys,
acknowledgment, only
they must not presume to bully the
little
ones
the overpoweringly clever boys, only they must
not lord
it
intellectually over the duller ones,
46
The House of Commons as a Club but help them up rather than frown them
down
the precocious boys, only they must not
;
disport themselves too fast lest they
an awkward check from their elders
meet with ;
the pug-
nacious boys, only they must not be too quarrel-
some
lest
row"
arise scandalizing the
blows should begin to
The Speaker
is
whole
Head Master
the
authority over each boy
is
fly
and "a
institution.
indeed, and his
plenary; but even
then the enforcement depends on the suffrages of the
whole body.
In this school there
this
is
superiority over all other schools, in that the boys as a whole feel that they
must by
self-discipline
train themselves to sustain the moral authority of their
Head Master,
as the one
bond which
holds their body corporate together. Lastly, the
Chamber
ful
its
is
green rooms
House
;
the
is
;
the
the precincts are
its
the national theatre
stage;
Members
are the actors, hope-
not for applause from the immediate spec-
tators,
but for the approval of the vast body
outside;
the debates are the representatives
with divers dramatic incidents; the footlights 47
The House of Commons are the glare of public opinion beating
them
;
upon
the galleries are here the same as in
all
must be beware
of
theatres, only the players
playing too
boxes are
much up
to
symbolized
them; the
by the
pit
and
students and
observers of parliamentary procedure, manage-
ment, and
results.
Happy
is
he who can walk
these classic boards with a gait that shall satisfy fair
and generous
criticism,
part with a voice that
may
and
shall speak his
penetrate the hearts
not only of his constituents but of the majority
among
his
countrymen.
48
CHAPTER
III
THE PRECINCTS AND THE BUILDINGS
Having
in the preceding
Chapter discussed the
question whether the House of
be considered a Club
—
I
Commons can
proceed in this Chapter
chambers
to describe shortly the buildings, the
and the precincts seen
—not
the House, as they are
of
much by
so
the public but by a
Member. There
ground into
is,
course,
of
for
floor
Members
Medieval
the
constructed
an entrance
during the
This
only.
cloisters
of
on
the leads
Stephen,
St.
Tudor time
in
the
Gothic style; the roof being quite ex-
florid
These form the four
quisite in stonework. of
side,
and
rangle
As an annex on one
a quadrangle.
sides
is
slightly jutting out into the quad-
a
small
chamber 49
in
the
same
The House of Commons In this beautiful apartment
elaborate style.
according to a consistent tradition the death
warrant
of
Charles
cloisters
are
used as
Members only,
—where
as
their
was
I.
a cloak room for
they hang
hats
These
signed.
are
overcoats
their
with
carried
them
always by the etiquette of the House.
one
Each
760 Members has a peg with his
of the
name
the
the
attached,
names
being
arranged
alphabetically.
Near the end
of
this
lovely
and
classic
quadrangle, a short flight of steps descends
a lower level, below
to
it
is
first
will
commonly
chapel
the
of
St.
is
— though
probably the
Stephen that was
built
the larger chapel was undertaken, as
be
chapel in It
called "the crypt,"
not really a crypt, but
before
of
This leads to a semi-subterranean
ground. chapel,
the surface
mentioned its
This
presently.
inception
must be
crypt
of great age.
was most elaborately completed and decor-
ated in the decorations
Tudor time. have
These grand old
been fully and 50
faithfully
The Precincts and the Buildings down
restored
minutest
the
to
So the interior
colouring and gilding. at least as good as
was
it
refinement particular this
decoration,
of
The old stone
by
however good in
itself,
not
in
its
anything
in
is
any other
in
From by a
it
being obviously modern,
was
if
minded
excellent,
Lobby
modern, style to the
But
the
of
the
ascend
though House,
will do so. to look
about him, he
turn into Westminster Hall Hall,
and the
Member may
of
staircase
and ordinarily he
;
artistically a mistake.
these cloisters the
spiral
This,
tiling.
out of keeping with the old chapel
introduction of
been
has
flooring
Minton
replaced by very fine
and yet
richness it
surpassed
way,
now
In boldness yet
kingdom, hardly perhaps
country.
is
in
outline,
of
is
of
in the days of its
most gorgeous magnificence. gracefulness
detail
history
— that
which
of
may
wonderful
would
be
an
epitome of the annals of England for nearly a thousand years.
He
interest in the spot
will feel a
melancholy
marked by a
brass plate
51
The House of Commons where
Charles
the bar
stood at
I.
of
Tribunal to receive the death sentence
he will
on the several
reflect
and
;
State
the
trials
that have taken place here, full of romance,
pathos
and
ascend
a
Stephen's
flight
Hall.
He
consequence.
tragic of
steps
He
will
and
will
enter
St.
inform
doubtless
himself regarding the history of this beautiful place,
which
ing places in this
which
one of the most interest-
is
Kingdom
by hundreds
daily traversed
is
way
public on their
other, of
the
and from the Houses
to
which
of Parliament, but
any
or in
often passed
is
by
without heed of the strange vicissitudes that
have befallen originally of
the
it.
He
will
that Chapel
Westminster
Kings
English
—that
Chapel
after
of
for
Commons
the
sat
was
the Palace
two Houses
the
of
the sacred uses of the
the Eeformation,
under a Protestant sovereign priated
it
made over by
was
to
their Parliament
ceased
Royal
— which
that
find
Commons
regularly
52
it
was appro-
— that
from
when
the
here
the
fifteenth
The Precincts and century,
through
Commonwealth,
on
that
the
Houses, which are
the
dynasties
of
the conflagration
till
the
and
Rebellion
through
Guelph
Stuart and 1834,
the
the Buildings
building in
still
use,
new
the
of
the
of
chapel
chamber was reconstructed nobly well as a with
Hall,
splendid windows and roof, and
with statues of orators to
be
all
parliamentary
the great
whose voices have been heard called
position of the
Hall
Stephen's
St.
therein,
— that
the
Lobby where Spencer Perceval
was assassinated
is
marked by brass
plates.
Thence he enters the central
hall
noble structure exactly in
midst of the
pile.
Behind him
already
mentioned
mighty Hall
;
the is
on the right
is
a
the St. Stephen's
in
corridors leading towards the
again,
front
Thames
the
are
frontage,
the frescoed corridor leading to
the Lords, on the left a similar corridor leading to the
Commons.
covered are
well
These frescoes being glass preserved;
they represent
the most dramatic scenes in English history
during the last three centuries. 53
In the right c
The House of Commons hand corridor there are two
frescoes
which
have always excited the mournful sympathy namely, the burial of Charles
of all spectators,
and the farewell interview between Lord
I.
and Lady William reaches
the
Lobby, or ante-room and
outer
vestibule of the
Then the Member
Eussell.
Commons, a square
lofty hall
finely decorated.
Member
Thus the which
technically
is
Commons
that
which
is
It
too
is
material
as
are
of
is
struck by
compared with the mighty
acted
narrow in
in
its
two-thirds of
great
occasions
crushed out of their
and the drama
it,
dimensions to hold its
are
too,
charged by
to its
crowded
and
bearing the time
honoured name of the Chair, reference
own Members,
own Chamber.
The Speaker's throne
in
House
daily exhibited in this little theatre.
more than
who on
Chamber
as distinguished from the personal
smallness;
parts
the
the
Like everyone else he
House. its
reaches
the
dignified
occupant. 54
Its
is
insignificant
functions
plainness
dis-
too
The Precincts and will
him
strike
the Buildings the hand-
contrast with
in
someness and richness displayed in
This insufficiency
parts of the national fabric. of size of
this
was an
initial
other
all
error in the designing
chamber, the reason apparently was
Members even
that the words of the
in
a
conversational debate should be caught easily in
this
This
small space.
and though the speaking and
is
sometimes
enough;
true
often badly heard
owing to
inaudible,
and
restlessness,
noisiness,
is
is
casual
the
conversa-
Members, yet when the Members
tion of the
are quiet then the acoustic properties of the
Chamber are is
one
those
of
The defect
excellent.
which
faults
admitted
but
never
remedied;
difficulties
are
alleged,
but
overcome,
if
structural
these might
accustomed to that sociations
gather
at
round
and acquiescence ensue. 55
it,
is,
is
not;
but become
first,
which
be
House
a will on the part of the
Members complain
size
always
is
were really manifested, which there the
in
as
and
many so
as-
silence
Around the Chamber
;
The House of Commons are the Division Lobbies, for "the for "
the right side of the Chair, and
on the
left.
much
These are
by the Members
tables
they are by no for the
galleries
means
Ayes" on the Noes
used as writing
though convenient,
;
large
Members and
for
the public
The
enough.
the adjoining
writing rooms are fairly good; and so gallery
is
the Newspaper Eeporters. gallery,
"
the
But
which includes that
for
the Peers, that for Ambassadors and distin-
guished persons, and that large, is
for
strangers
at
poor and inferior to that which would
be allowed by most legislative assemblies of lesser
while
consequence than the British the
gallery
ladies
for
is
Commons miserably
uncomfortable.
Thence the Member would proceed tea-room which
is
comfortable enough, though
very poor for such an assembly as this there
stands the old Table of the
Commons
the
to
in early times
;
;
in
House
it
of
that classic table, on
one side of which, in the days when parlia-
mentary freedom was in the 56
balance,
Pym
The Precincts and Hampden and Cromwell Eoyalist this
Members on
used to
and the
sit,
Adjoining
the other.
the Newspaper
is
the Buildings
room, which
is
well
it
con-
stocked up to a certain point, in that tains a copy of almost every
newspaper
of the
and
every
Metropolis, of the large cities,
county in the
kingdom.
Perhaps no other
Kingdom
reading room in the
extreme;
the
is
quite so well
The room
provided in this respect.
poor in
of
itself
is
almost every club in
London has a better room
for this purpose.
Then the Member proceeds
to
the dining
rooms, three in number, fairly well constructed,
and facing the Thames, indeed overlooking the river
;
this
airy outlook
age, probably
is
of
great advant-
no other dining rooms in the
Metropolis have such an outlook. less in regard to the
as a
whole, and
dimensions of the structure
to
dining rooms where
mentary policy
to
the importance of these it is
a matter of parlia-
induce the
habitually, they are not fine
public object;
Neverthe-
Members enough
to dine
for
their
and the architects could not 57
The House of Commons have understood at the time how important these apartments would become in the future.
They
are, for
example, inferior to the dining
rooms in the best London Clubs. large
enough
for
Members who owing or
average
the
will dine in them.
proceedings
of
proportion of the House
zealous
crush
the
description,
room
of
But when
House, (which
the
happen several times every
satire.
number
any cause arising from the debates
to
dinner,
They are
a
large
staying there for
is
and
session),
does
discomfort
pass
and have often been the theme
of
Certainly the conditions of the dining
though
quite
good enough
Members, has operated
Members,
less zealous, to
very
to induce
many
go elsewhere,
would have been convenient managers
for
whom
it
for parliamentary
to detain in or about the House.
The Smoking Eooms
are, I
always understood,
regarded as fairly adequate by those
competent
who
are
to judge.
The Library has been already mentioned the preceding Chapter, it adjoins 58
in
the dining
;
The Precincts and rooms
has
;
one another branch it
opening into
each of which contains a separate
of literature
interior is
in the quality of its books,
;
most comfortable
highly
picturesque
Thames
is
ment
the best possible
;
aspect
its
outlook
its
;
of librarians to help
quickly, it is
all
one of the good libraries of the kingdom
is
its
compartments
five ;
the Buildings
the
has an establish-
it
;
over
is
Members
in finding
any reference they may want
in fine,
;
Commons.
the pride of the
The Member should now ascend by a stone stair case to the Committee
Booms
fine
in the
upper storey, which are quite noble, looking right over the river,
and
catching
spacious,
southerly,
Most
breezes.
these
of
of the
rooms
seats
work
the whole House,
are
lofty,
they are for the
;
is
oblong chamber,
a fine
on either
side, after a
resembling that of the House suited for the
easterly
same or similar dimensions
except one, which
up with
fine view,
south
or
and well furnished
most part
fitted
commanding a
of
itself;
plan
and thus
Grand Committees from
(which will be mentioned 59
The House of Commons or
hereafter),
that
any assembly larger
for
rooms are suited
Committees
for
twenty Members, with space
who may be agents
The other
an ordinary Committee.
of
who may
of
from ten to
for the witnesses
by them, and
called
than
for counsel, or
The pro-
plead before them.
ceedings which here take place, are of extreme
consequence to large interests, to corporations,
Many
to individuals.
be
for
the investigation
directly or indirectly,
Commons, (projects
House
or
law)
of
— they
Committees, which as
for
example,
Accounts
to
less before the
to
generally be
will
Jiem
of
sit
Many
Committees the
Bills
enterprises
of
of four
required for
Bills,
them by called
the
Select
Standing
are
Committee on the
House
accounts of the monies voted by purposes.
of
regularly every session,
the
which
will
subjects
examination
referred
Some
Committees.
certain
of
more or
the
for
Committees
of these
them
are,
Members for
public 60
the
Public
refers it
for
the all
however, smaller
each, to report
sake
purposes,
of
on
private railways,
The Precincts and
the Buildings
and
canals, waterworks, harbours, is
these Committees
before
;
It
the counsel
that
plead for or against the Bills
others.
and inasmuch as
the Bills involve contentious matter, comprising vast
sums
in detail
eliciting either objections
from other
parties, or opposition all
there
round,
and
money,
of
infinite
is
rank are employed by the
barristers of high
on both
sides,
juniors together, form
is
and
what
The
Parliamentary Bar.
Bar
trained
for
Consequently
disputation.
professional
parties
room
they, seniors is
known
lucrative
and
as the
work
of this
the pleading before these Committees.
The counsel
will
have to undergo some study
during the few weeks before Parliament meets,
and a
little
session.
business
during the earlier weeks of the
But comes
from
March
thick
and
emergent,
laborious,
witnesses
are
scientific,
regarding
and
numerous
onwards,
heavy
on
and the cross examination their
scientific
the n,
The
absorbing.
enough,
dicta
is
the
mostly of
them acute.
Parliamentary Agents preparing the Bills are 61
The House of Commons numerous
and
influential
they
;
attend
to
supply particulars to the Counsel, and occupy a position analogous to that of Solicitors.
hind the table where the Counsel space for the public to hear and to
Beis
sit,
a
see.
All along this space, and looking towards the interior of the House,
breadth
too,
one
in
any
All the doors of the
many
the
of
building of Britain.
Committees open into ranged
along
modious
a long corridor of some
is
it,
longest
and side
length.
its
It
serve for
the
same purpose
immense spectacle
noon
corridor
from
stirring, restless
agents,
clients,
as Central Halls
Any busy
Courts of Justice.
morning, from
end
to
three
presents to
end.
crowd consists witnesses,
miscellaneous spectators.
who must
Committees.
resort for various reasons to the
the
o'clock,
an
The of
moving,
barristers,
interested
Now
this
animated
parties,
and again the
packed throng will part and make way
Member who may
are
most com-
is
for the multitude of people
It serves
seats
for a
be passing to or from one of 62
The Precincts and the Committee Eooms.
To a stranger desirous
how an
of gathering a notion as to of
work
the nation's
the Buildings
integral part
carried on, few sights
is
can be more curious and suggestive than
this.
Then the Member may descend by a dark and awkward
He
Parliament.
will notice
their friends, especially
The provision
this
is
been
hospitable ideas,
permitted at
made
entertain
for the
a matter of grace,
was not contemplated by the Otherwise, some space
designers or architects.
have
the series of
any accommodation
of
floor of
these be ladies.
if
entertainment of ladies
and doubtless,
first,
Members
low-vaulted chambers where
might
ground
stair-case, to the
such hospitality
if
all.
of the quaint
conformable
allowed
As
it
little
is,
is
to
to be
no complaint
is
apartments, doubtless
because the visitors are preoccupied by the incidents,
important
going, sitting again, also
who of
down
members to
table,
coming and
rising
and
up
by the very distinguished guests
are often assembled, and by the traditions
the spot.
Especially 63
if
after dinner, the
The House of Commons company adjourns on the
evening, or to the
when
beautiful Terrace about to be mentioned,
the view will be as fine as any to be seen in
Venice by lamplight.
Hence the Member Terrace,
crowning
the
The
structure.
fine
abutments,
the look
An architectural
glory
of
pavement
lengthening perspective
House with
upon the
will issue forth
;
sets
whole the
off
the three stories of the
pinnacles,
down
the
windows, carved
upon
majestically
it.
mass, mainly square, closes the
view at each end, north and south, one
of these
A
low but
masses being the Speaker's Palace.
massive stone wall separates the pavement from the Thames, which flows close beneath, like the
bulwarks on the side
whole
it is
of a
most imposing
On
The view from
:
near on the
Bridge, and the spectator of the bridge is
ship.
the
the finest terrace in this country,
probably in any other.
he
mighty
and hear
left is
Westminster
may watch
its roll
may 64
the traffic
or rumble while
in the quietude of the Terrace.
the broad arches he
it is
Between
perceive the graceful
The Precincts and
the Buildings
outlines of Waterloo Bridge.
Thomas'
St.
is
houses; to his
Hospital left
front
looming grandly, to his
At
In front of him
with is
left is
separate
its
Lambeth Palace Lambeth
night the long rows of lamplight in
that the
moon may be
Lambeth, while
architecture of the
This
known
having
country.
House
the
in
cast a
ruddy
in
London
some
repute
To have
" tea
society,
glare.
the natural ambition of everyone.
It is of the
utmost convenience to the
shew
and especially
On
a
to
Member
this attention to his friends,
constituents
his
summer
and
their
afternoon the collection
of these tea parties
amounts
by the Commons
to
stituencies.
the
on the Terrace," as the
is
to be able to
and pro-
throughout
phrase goes,
families.
dark
the spot where the tea parties are
is
held, well
bably
to
seen rising pale over
windows
the
all
Added
directions are reflected on the river.
of
Bridge.
to a reception given
London and
The mixture
the local character.
to the
con-
of tea-tables is typical
Here
will be a table
with some of the most fashionable persons, near 65
The House of Commons it
will be one
where a Labour Member
Next
taining his family.
philosophic
Member
The whole scene and vivacity not place where
is
is
will be
enter-
one where a
receiving learned ladies.
one of diversified animation
to be parallelled in
men do
When Members
is
any other
congregate. in
summer
entertain their
friends at dinner in the House, they adjourn
with their guests to the Terrace in the evening
by lamplight, and then the scene called
"The English Venice."
66
is
commonly
CHAPTER IV LIFE IN PARLIAMENT
It
is
to be
remembered that according
plan of this work, the parliamentary
be outlined
is
life
that of the non-official,
to the
now
to
or, as
they are called, the Private Members, and of
them only
;
main body
of the House.
and they
not relate to the
of course
official
The
constitute the description does
Members who
sit
on
the two Front Benches on either side of the
Table of the House.
The
life,
then, led in Parliament
67
by Private
The House of Commons Members
varies greatly according to the cir-
A certain number
cumstances of each Member. of
Members
are politicians or parliamentarians
simply and purely.
This
number
is
doubtless
variable from one general Election to another.
Probably
and
it is
is less
men
not so great as might be desired,
than half of the whole House.
are persons of
Such
independent means, and
have no occupation except that which relates to public or national
men
They are not indeed
affairs.
be beset by
of leisure, for they are sure to
many
public
engagements.
masters of their
own time
Still,
;
and they are at
work
liberty to devote themselves to the
House during the concerning
Session,
parliamentary
recess.
They
classed
as
are,
they are
and
to
of the
meetings
during the
affairs
however, in no wise to be
professional
politicians
;
they are
under no personal obligations, and seek for no
immediate reward.
Such men may or may not
take a prominent part in the debates inside the
chamber before
of the
the
House, or be conspicuous figures
public,
or
have CS
their
utterances
Life in Parliament But
frequently reported in the newspapers.
the vast mass of business in the precincts of the
House outside the Chamber
is
done mainly,
not almost entirely, by them.
perhaps
labour for
needful
Their country
knows how hard they have
little
many months
in each year
:
parliamentary business of the nation properly discharged.
to
and how
the existence of such a class
is
if
is
if
the
to be
Moreover, as they attend
the Debates and other proceedings inside the
Chamber more Members, of the
On
regularly than any other class of
their influence on the general conduct
House
is
proportionately the greater.
the other hand, there
variable in
is
another
class,
numbers no doubt from one General
Election to another, but always large, and pro-
bably comprising of the
full half or
more than
whole House, sometimes even two-thirds.
This consists of those sort of business,
who have
either
commercial and the
some profession that must claim tion,
half
during the hours of the day at
some
like, or else
their attenleast.
They
are inavoidably prevented from giving the whole
69
D
The House of Commons or even the greater part of their time to the
House.
They must
or their profession
attend to their business
first
— that
This
obligatory.
is
done, they will give
what time they can
House, and by
sometimes even by over-
care,
to the
exertion, they will contrive to do the essential business, the bigger part of the parliamentary
work, fairly well
them
— though
it
Fortunately for them,
to follow the details.
much
work
of the
falls to
Chamber
in the
be done after
may be impossible for
of the
when
five o'clock,
House
the busi-
ness of the counting-house, the bank, or the Court of Justice, will be over.
a
man who
Still, it
has been working
must be hard for
all
day at finance
and at commerce, or for one who has been pleading in arduous cases before
straight to the House,
midnight. does
it
He
will
occasionally
and attend
have to do
—but
beyond his endurance
drawn
if
it
constant
to debates
it,
go till
and actually
must generally be
of
without any fault
from giving
to
the debates be long
Thus Members
out.
prevented,
Judge and Jury,
this of
attendance 70
class are
their
inside
own, the
Life in Parliament Chamber, and the
House
the
to
less
still
in the precincts
work outside
and in the Com-
mittee Eooms.
Nevertheless this second
Members first
class
Private
of
of all sorts is just as valuable as the
or purely political class just described.
supplies
It
the practical acquaintance with the
business pertaining to a commercial nation like
element
Its legal
ours.
is of
influence in legislation.
knowledge which
ment
of our
branch
is
much weight and
It affords largely that
needful for the manage-
complex domestic policy in every
of the national industries, save
that of agriculture.
Moreover the great bar-
risters in the
House have
ments
Debates, and
in
its
speeches have been
perhaps
often proved orna-
many memorable
made by them.
generally has representatives of
Agriculture its
own who
are not of the business class, but will mostly be
country gentlemen.
None suppose
that
there
are
too
many
merchants or bankers, or
financiers
in
many
Solicitors,
for the
House, or even too
71
the
The House of Commons advice of
all
these
constantly required in
is
those Debates which are in their nature of con-
But the number
sultative.
House has often
able, it
called forth notice
The number
criticism.
but
of Barristers in the
of these again is vari-
must often stand
it
and even
at a hundred,
and
has sometimes been reckoned at even more.
At
all
events
it
represents an appreciable pro-
portion, say one fifth or one sixth.
Critics,
while admitting that a goodly number of such
members
is
desirable so that the
House may be
well informed regarding the laws of the country,
do yet contend that the actual number always has been too
large,
more than a
particular profession has of
The cause
influence.
namely
this,
and that
is
is
and
this
one
full
obvious enough,
appointments to
that the
share
the
Judicial Bench, and to the highest posts virtually
beyond the
Bench,
are
often
perhaps
mostly given to barristers who are in Parliament.
This practice
days as existence
much
as
in
has prevailed in past the
present day.
Its
seems to be so fixed that further 72
Life in Parliament reference to
its
merits or demerits would be
superfluous.
In this
there
class
is
a section
deserv-
Some Members
ing a brief notice separately.
are avowedly elected by particular industries
and professions specially.
—
to represent certain interests
Consequently, while they bestow a
general regard to the affairs of the House, their
primary duty
to
is
guard the interests for the
sake of which they were elected. of such
Members has
probably increase
The number
increased of late, and will
still
further.
It
comprises
the Labour Members, the representatives of the
shipping interests, the Educational
and
others.
As
already mentioned
been made on the number in the House. to
Members
comment has of
often
Kailway Directors
These cannot however be traced
any particular
class.
scattered here and there
They
are to be found
among
all sections
of
Members, sometimes among the leisured and independent
classes,
and sometimes among the
business classes.
73
The House of Commons Such being
main
classes in the
House, we approach directly
how each
the question as to
parliamentary
At that
most general terms the
in the
is
no disguising the fact
some Members take the
more
Some Members with
responsibilities of
than
seriously
others.
large connections in the
Metropolis, moving by old association in society,
London
having social avocations of great variety
and extent, attend the House of such
its
life.
the outset there
Membership
leads
class
performance
for
duty as may be imperatively necessary,
but do not otherwise take an onerous or active share in the work.
They will attend
afternoon no doubt, ascertain are likely to occur or likely
to
be
when
needed, and
daily in the
when
Divisions
their presence
make
voting in every Division which
point
a
may
is
of
concern
the maintenance of their Party or the safety of
the Government which they are supporting, or the interests of their constituents.
they
may
pair,
Even then
by finding someone of the op-
posite party of a similar disposition as regards
74
Life in Parliament
By
attendance.
such pairing, their absence for
a considerable time on the Continent or else-
where are occasionally arranged. they
But
as a rule
some cogent or urgent avoca-
will, unless
tion arises, endeavour to be present in every critical
Thus
division.
a
Member
might
attend in the afternoon and go away before the dinner hour
;
ments return
and
after fulfilling social engage-
to the
House
at eleven o'clock in
time for the important Division which will usually take place between that hour and mid-
Such a
night.
career,
duty up to a certain point,
sistent with public is
though useful and con-
neither arduous nor exhausting.
The ness
practice
men and
mentioned.
is
very similar with the busi-
the
But
professional men,
already
for these it is to be said that
they have hard and fatiguing work of their to
own
do before they enter the House. This explanation
is
necessary, because the
public outside hearing that for some
Members
the parliamentary labours tax endurance to the
utmost, would be inclined to doubt the fact 75
The Hottse of Commons Members
seeing that some
The
ordeal quite easily.
above
whom
;
pass through the
case then
there certainly are some
the
service
the
of
as stated
is
Members
House
for
neither
is
tiring nor troublesome.
But the
for those
who
regard their service with
utmost seriousness
— and
they
make up
over one quarter, perhaps one third, of
House
—the work
is
harassing, fatiguing
the long run exhausting.
Members, who
of
forward and carry to
and
free
will
petent and trustworthy
men
Going
morning he must
and attend
running
push
Commons.
It
to
the
to
are always found
rise at
active
before he proceeds to the
life
bed at one o'clock eight o'clock
correspondence, which
always heavy for an
is
many com-
Such a Member has a hard
during the Session.
in
conclusion the executive
its
indeed lucky for the Nation that
in the
in
their patriotic career,
legislative business of the
to act thus.
and
These are the busy
their
what they consider
the
is
parliamentarian,
House by
half-past
eleven in readiness for the Committee work 76
Life in Parliament This work, which often
which opens at noon. imposes time,
much mental
between three and
He
will dine in
much time
getting about as
the as
to the
is
Chamber
few minutes of time
to confer
will be
After that he
House, often allowed to a
an express train stopping
Then he returns steal a
when he
watching or participating in the
will be either
traveller in
four,
Chamber.
in his place in the
Debates.
on to Question
strain goes
it
:
for dinner.
and
if
he can
will probably be
with some constituent or other
poli-
tical friend in
the precincts of the House.
He
will sit in the
Chamber
the
main business
of the
will
Bills
promptitude
—
—a
till
House
is
engaged
probably be
Members
midnight,
till
when
stopped. in
But he
some Private
matter demanding vigilant near half-past twelve.
In recent times Obstruction has played and will continue to play
an important part in the
proceedings of the House. Parliament, time
marked out by
is
By
the rules
of
ever of consequence as being
certain dates
not to be transgressed. 77
which are
limits
Legislation not com-
The House of Commons pleted in one Session at all
must begin
all
is
dropped, and
resumed
if
Often when
over again.
a measure or a policy cannot be defeated by direct opposition
may
it
be delayed
stopped by lapse of time.
by a hundred devices
drawn
out,
till
virtually
It can be hindered
—such
hydra-headed
as speeches long
objections,
ments, discussions, and the
like,
not always
intended for the measure to which applied.
Often a
lesser
measure
interminably in order that
way is
measure
of another
it
to English ears because it
to be practised
In truth and that there
is
is
by the
debated
block the
which the hindrance
At one time
Obstruction.
may
they are
All this goes by the
really meant.
sound
for
it
amend-
name
had a
sinister
happened then
Irish Nationalists.
fairness,
however, we must admit
no term to which so much misreapplied as Obstruction.
presentation
is
within limits
—and they must be broad —
legitimate is
of
mode
of
If
kept
it is
parliamentary warfare.
a It-
indiscriminately adopted by all parties with-
out exception for their own policy as against 78
Life in Parliament
plains itself,
Each party
opponents.
their
this
of
and
method
used
being
in turn uses it in
turn
in
the
against
same way
The Unionist Party com-
against opponents.
plained of Irish Obstruction against tion,
and then obstructed with at
skill
the
Home
com-
Eule
Bill.
legisla-
its
least equal
Then
was the
it
turn of the Irish to complain, in forgetfulness of
what they had themselves done.
Had
not
the Bill regulating the Church in Wales been
summarily stopped it would have been obstructed at every step
by the Conservatives.
There
is
not any political candour in the complaints, the excuse for them
is
that they are
made under
natural vexation and impatience.
The only question that can be entertained regarding Obstruction will relate to tion.
and it
limita-
The method began shortly before 1884.
In the absence of limitation able.
its
it
became
After 1885 the closure was stricter,
stricter
and has now been pushed as
can be in fairness.
as good as
made
intoler-
they can
The be 79
far as
rules are probably
— consistently
always
The House of Commons with parliamentary freedom.
man
But the wit
of
cannot devise rules that would preclude
Members
the exercise of ingenuity by
in going
beyond the limits which the said rules were intended
to
called in
the House an abuse of the rules.
impose.
This
transgression
is
Such abuse was often committed by the Irish Nationalists in 1887, and sometimes in other
years too.
But now-a-days the Speaker
vested with strong powers of repression, and
is if
he exerts them with discreet firmness the limits
But
will be sufficiently observed.
remembered that obstruction
is
it
and
should be
will
remain
a potent factor in parliamentary proceedings.
Of to
all
parliamentary questions the hardest
answer will
be,
what
success inside the
is
House, and of what does
it
consist
?
Such a
question becomes impossible to answer sum-
marily because such success
Indeed certain kinds
of diverse kinds.
of success are attainable
by every Member who them.
is
really tries to attain
Certain kinds again depend largely on
aristocratic connections,
and they are attainable
80
Life in Parliament by a few
It
only.
stability of the
most fortunate
is
the
for
Eealm, that the ideas which are
truly aristocratic find favour with the British
democracy
and
;
tendency
outside
this
A
strongly reflected inside the House.
man rise
and
of talent
eminence, or
;
another young
be years in reaching the same
may
never reach
at
it
no other advantage
equal to that.
is
no maxim more certain than
of
as
is
to
make a
ambitious
the
for
elders
it is
bottom
say
to
all
youth,
There that
if
is
a
House
begin too young.
It is
how an
young Member starting
from his
way
to success,
early years gradually works his as
this,
is
great figure in the
Commons he cannot difficult
Of
all.
advantages in the House the greatest
Member
man
merit but of middle class con-
of at least equal
may
young
aristocratic connection will
by leaps and bounds
nection
is
how
to tell
of a big
The instances
a climber ascends from the
trunk up to the
of
men
tall
attaining
branches.
the highest
rank in the Commons, who had not begun early in
life,
are very rare.
Mr. John Morley 81
is
a
The House of Commons signal instance indeed to the contrary his
eminent case there were special circum-
Home
Eule, which rendered
A
very peculiar.
from forty
Member
precedent
this
past middle
to fifty-five years of age
may
and
but probably not in a
useful,
life
say
begin a
House
career of a certain kind within the solid
and
Mr. Gladstone
with
connected
stances,
in a
brilliant,
Beyond that age Members who have
manner.
previously learnt the
way
ment may continue
to
vanced time
of life.
of
working
work even
it.
Whether the
moralists.
is
But
a
an ad-
problem
does almost infallibly
we
House
in the
come
inside
may
be in
success in the
him who deserves
outer world always comes to or not,
to
much
the House, however important they politics outside
in Parlia-
But those who begin a career
in Parliament late in life will not do
it,
but in
;
leave of
in
to
the
Commons
it
some shape or
other to the deserving.
The shapes indeed are
various, but each one of
them
is
tangible
;
and
they are suited to the varying antecedents, abilities,
opportunities of the various Members. 82
— Life in Parliament To each Member there cess
if
sort of suc-
he sincerely qualifies himself for
Such success circles
some
falls
— after
is
that
world, though
Nowhere
known
soon it
may
proper
the
in
it.
spread to the outer
such diffusion will be slower.
in this world has real merit of
what-
soever kind a greater certainty of success in
some form or other than
House
the
in
of
Commons.
Excepting only the advantage of
aristocratic
connection
the success
is
made.
effort
middle those
life,
—undoubtedly
great
apportioned to the merit of the
Those who begin their exertion past cannot expect the same reward as
who have been working
early manhood.
As
all
along from their
the labour
is
various,
on
the green benches, in the division lobbies, in the precincts of the
House
rooms
—in consistency
—so
are
of
in the
example
Committee
in all things
But some reward or
the rewards.
other comes to
—
him who labours and
proportion to his merit.
this too in
In no career can
this
be more truly said than in a parliamentary one.
Doubtless
some 83
Members
will
have
The House of Commons quitted the
ment
House with a
at their career in
feeling of disappoint-
it.
But probably
must have been because they had
this
originally
pitched their expectations too high, or because
they had not exactly adjusted their efforts to
what was
possible for
them
84
to achieve.
CHAPTEE V MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE HOUSE.
Having
in
the preceding
shortly something of the
the
House
of
Commons,
Chapter
described
led in
and about
life
I proceed to describe
the manners and customs of the
House
inside
the Chamber, where the principal business of the
nation
conducted.
is
It
is
to be
the term House has two senses. obviously there
the material sense
Members.
It
is
refers in a debate
To them " full
First, there is
but, secondly,
the more important and personal sense,
is
that which indicates
a
;
premised that
also a
to
the whole body of the
them that the Member
when he
Member
says " this House."
refers
House," or the reverse.
whole structure, when a
when he speaks
of
But outside the
Member says he is going
85
b
The House of Commons he
to the House,
may mean
the word in the
personal sense, but more probably he means
it
in the material.
The
British Parliament differs from almost
if
not quite every other legislative assembly in doing its
work, not at reasonable hours in the middle of
the day, but in the evening and the night.
any observer or inquirer would ask
first
sight
why
this should be
seek and
it is this.
The reason
?
House that the hours must be made
of
to suit
Bench,
them
time before
phrase runs.
going If
men
of
of
so large in the
as they could not
The Members
too, like the
because they can attend their "
is
not far to
parliamentary business
attend in the daytime. Official
is
The proportion
business and of professions
Front
At
down
arrangement
offices in
to the
in the
the day-
House
" as
the
they alone were concerned
however, the night would not be turned into
day as
it is.
reason
is this,
But the
last
and perhaps decisive
that for a considerable part of a
Session the affairs in the various committees are of
great consequence.
86
These committees
—
Manners and Customs of must
sit in
the
House
the daytime from noon onwardly,
and the Members composing them would be debarred from the debates of the House
were
sitting at that time of the day.
wise, for the really
if
it
Other-
working Members, as already
described in a previous Chapter the assimilation of the
hours of the House to those of
all
other
business centres would be a great boon.
the arduous Sessions of it
would have been
my
to us
In
time what a comfort
busy Members
if
we
could, like other mortals, have gone forth in
the morning to our labour
till
the evening
—
to
begin at ten in the forenoon and end at six in the evening.
The
difference
in
health and
strength would have been enormous.
Since 1888 there has been a partial reform of
Formerly the House
the hours of business.
used to meet late in the afternoon and
sit
on
past midnight without any fixed limit of time in practice it usually sat well into the small
hours of the morning, except on the occasions
when
it
sat still later.
Nationalist
Party in
The growth
number 87
of the Irish
and
strength
The House of Commons rendered
change
a
the
in
may have been some
Before 1885 this Party
In 1886
thirty strong.
it
ment with a strength course
desirous of giving as
entered a
new
Parlia-
of over eighty.
The
rendered
them
events
political
of
necessary.
rules
much
trouble as possible.
I mention the fact without at all criticising
them, as they held this course to be conducive to the Irish interests
which they had
to
main-
In 1887 they succeeded in giving trouble
tain.
so effectually that
duced in 1888.
meet at three
new
had
rules
Accordingly the House was to in
the afternoon and
midnight when the main business
business would then be taken
if
would not
last long, as
House
despatching business
when
it
of the
till
House
unopposed and
the expedition of the
has a mind to do
Members
sit
Any subsidiary
would be stopped mechanically.
in
be intro-
to
so.
is
wondrous
Thus
as a rule
are released from attendance at half-
past twelve.
On
emergencies, though rarely,
but towards the end of a Session frequently, the
House suspends the twelve 88
o'clock rule,
Manners and Customs of and then the contest may go on
the to
House
any hour in
the morning, or throughout the night, by is
called " an all night sitting."
what
Notwithstand-
ing these occasional aberrations, " the twelve o'clock rule "
was a
real reform for the sake of
the working members, and rendered the parlia-
mentary
life
endurable for them which was fast
passing their patience and endurance.
surviving parliamentarians
of
If
the
the older time
shall contrast the greater miseries
which they
sometimes suffered with what has nowadays to be borne
—
it is
yet to be remembered that the
Sessions are longer than they used to be calls
and the
upon a Member under the present electoral
system are far more pressing in a hundred ways than they were in former times. This latter point
may
be well illustrated by
the development of what are technically called "
Questions," and which are put by Private
bers to Ministers.
Some very
old
Mem-
Formerly these were few.
Members can remember when a
Question being notified was a rare occurrence.
In recent years they have become numerous, from 89
The House of Commons or
fifty
more each
The Member who
day.
puts the question merely indicates the
number
on the notice paper to save the readiDg
out,
the Minister to a certain
must answer
amount
hour or more
of
of
as
privilege.
liable
cross- questioning.
An
to
is
Often has there been
whether
this
cannot
be
The Private Members
abridged, but in vain. will not, indeed
and be
the best time of the House
thus taken up daily. consideration
orally,
but
ought not, to surrender this
It is indeed the only
have of making themselves
felt
means they
by the Ministry
of the day, of bearing their share in controlling
destiny of
the their
and
the British
Empire, of doing
duty in detail towards their constituents, maintaining " the Grand Inquest
of
" of
the
nation.
After these Questions the regular fixed business begins on the motion and under the guidance of the
Ministry of the day.
Monday and Thurs-
day being devoted to the great measures Session as
Government
introduced and promoted ;
of the
by the
Tuesday and Friday being in the 90
Manners and Customs of
House
the
early part of the Session allowed to Private
Members
—and
for the introduction of their
to "
supply
"
the well-known
money
indicates the voting of
there
On
The House meets "
called a
the
at
morning
there
is
two o'clock
sitting,"
and
an adjournment
House resumes work and
Wednesday till
six,
for
days
these
there
which
is
as
for sits
till
what
seven,
is
five,
till
when
sits as usual.
On
a short sitting from noon
is
devoted to Private
But
for a goodly part of the Session.
years,
Crown
some modification of the business hours.
is
when
name which
to the
the services cf the country.
measures
Members of later
Governmental
the pressure of the
business increases, the Ministers of the day have
contracted the habit of obtaining the permission of the
House
to take
up the time otherwise
allowed to Private Members. not
before,
sacrificed,
days the
fall
their
After Easter,
Tuesdays and Fridays
if
are
soon after Whitsuntide, the Wednesvictims
sacrificial
also,
rites
though
vary
Session.
91
from
the
days of
Session
to
The House of Commons In
power
the
short,
Members
Private
of
respecting legislation was once considerable bnt is
now
The influence
a thing of the past.
the age
is
them
against
all
They may pass just a few
in
this
of
respect.
which are
lesser Bills
so fortunate as to obtain universal acquiescence
they
may
introduce literally hundreds of Bills
which are as
little figures
for the formation
satisfaction
is
already
paraded on the stage
public opinion or for the
of
among
of certain sections
stituencies;
power
;
but that
now
is
"
and
explained,
Their principal
all.
exerted at
the con-
Question time," as
that
is
practically
effective in regard to the concerns of the
Nation
and the Empire.
at the
time of
"
Their next power
Supply."
sorts of objections
head
of service
Not only can they
—but
they can raise a general
the phrase runs, that
money
begins.
honoured maxim of
During
raise all
on every vote under each
debate before the House
public
is
"
is
"
goes into supply," as before the voting of
This
is
done on the time
grievances before supply."
many arduous 92
Sessions
when
the
Manners and Customs of
House
the
pressure of legislative business was extreme, the "
supply
"
business used to be deferred until
want of time precluded proper
too used to be taken in the old order
cant items coming
nauseam"
at
first
end
of
;
insignifi-
would be discussed
excessive
the Session,
"
and votes
length,
really world wide importance to the
Votes
discussion.
ad of
would be relegated
when they could be
discussed only by experts before
empty benches.
This grave fault has been happily remedied of
Supply
late.
is
now taken
early in the Session
and the votes are brought forward
in order of
their importance.
The that
etiquette of the
new Members
learning
it,
House
is
so far elaborate
usually take some time in
and in the meanwhile make many
small mistakes which provoke the mirth of the initiated, especially
when
cries of " order " arise,
and the innocent offender apparently
fails
to
imagine in what respect he can have offended.
The disposing
of the hat often puzzles the
new
comer who does not understand when he may or
may not put
it
on, according as he
93
may be
sitting
The Hotise of Commons It is not permissible to address the'
or standing.
House
as
it
if
Member when
were a meeting speaking should
speech to the Chair, that a breach
is
of
is
order to
Member by name,
—
it is
to the Speaker.
It
allude
another
to
He must
be
named
number
of
constituencies
Reform Act has augmented the
last
difficulty of
his
with his constituency, and the
great increase in the
by the
address
such a mistake would even
be noticed by the Chair. in connection
indeed the
;
remembering them
all.
Moreover
a matter of courtesy to mention the
title
together with the constituency, and thus for a
simple
name
there
for example, the
Member
some circumlocution,
to
Member
for
the
of
the Private
Oxford,
if
such
— or the Noble Lord the
be the case the
as
Eight Honourable Baronet the
for the University of
happened
title
is
Wick
Honourable
Boroughs. is
Member, who
Otherwise
always accorded to for example,
may
be
alluded to in debate as the Honourable gentle-
man who of
has just spoken.
To the generic
title
Honourable there must be added gallant 94
if
Manners and Customs of the
Member
House
the
belong to the military or naval
profession, or learned
if
All
he be a barrister.
these details are punctiliously and tenaciously observed, whatever be the heat or the hurry or
the excitement at the moment.
The business begins with Prayers, read by the chaplain
standing
at
the Table
the
of
House, next to the Speaker, who gives the
and does not ascend
responses,
ferment,
;
Chair
The proceeding
after the short service.
decorous as possible
his
and on days
is
till
as
of political
strange to contrast the repose of
it is
the Chamber, like that of any church, with the
ferment which will ere long arise within these walls.
The number
seldom
large,
debate
The
is
except
of
Members present
is
when some memorable
expected shortly afterwards.
election of a Speaker
is
an act performed
with some solemnity at the beginning of each Parliament, for the whole duration of which he is
elected.
He
is
proposed and seconded by
some selected Member on each
House not belonging
side
to either of
95
the
of
the
Front
The Hoiise of Commons
He
Benches.
then addresses the House briefly
from his seat on the green benches.
He is
then
conducted by his proposer and seconder to the Standing on these steps he
steps of the Chair.
thanks the House for his election. his seat
ment
He
takes
on the Chair and moves the adjourn-
of the
House
—so
far
he
is
in plain clothes.
The next day he appears with knee breeches and bob wig and presents himself at the Bar the
Lords to report himself
for
of
the Eoyal
This received he robes himself
approbation.
with gown and full-blown wig and takes his seat in the Chair.
If
two men are proposed
for
the Speakership then a division takes place in the usual way.
The powers
of the
Speaker over an individual
Member were always been rendered Rules.
than
greater
His power
closure has been years,
considerable,
ever by recent
allowing or disallowing
of
much augmented
and that has had a steadying
In a certain sense he individual
member
—
and have
is
in recent influence.
the master over an
in extremity, however,
96
he
Manners and Customs of
the
House
can do no more than stop the offender and
name him House
to the
move
will then
The Leader
House. that
some judgment be
The House
passed on the offender thus named.
on the whole jealous and zealous in exercis-
is
ing to
it
mind
by the Speaker; though,
may
As
thereto.
full
a rule the authority of the
support in the House and his
influence in regard to Order officer
impartial
moral
;
of course, the
be extenuated by those who have a
Speaker finds
an
named
authority over an offender thus
its
offence
is
he must be
and enormous weight attaches
But
authority.
it
is
to
be
to his
always
in the last resort
authority over the House, which
own conduct an independent It generally
As
immense.
the highest rank
of
remembered that he has
its
of the
is
no
as regards
assembly.
happens at the beginning
of a
Parliament that the Cabinet Ministers are not present on the Front Bench for some days,
having gone to their constituencies to seek the re-election
ance of
which
office,
is
required after their accept-
according to ancient practice. 97
—
The House of Commons During a moiety technically " in
of its sittings the
Committee "
occupied in voting
money
to the
settling the details of Bills
Second
read a
Committee
is it
of the
is
will be
Crown, or in
which have been
Time by the House.
one
is
— that
House
This
whole House and
is
from the Committees which have a few
distinct
Members
The Committee business which
each.
comprises nearly half the work of the House
is
presided over by a Chairman, who, next to the
Speaker,
He
House.
power, and
Leader
the most important
is
is is
of the
gown and wig
official
in the
the nominee of the Party in
proposed to the House by the
Front Bench.
He
sits
not in
in the Chair, but at the Table
He
underneath the chair and in plain clothes.
much
has
the same powers as the Speaker
except that in the cases of great consequence to the Order in the House the Speaker into
the
Chair for the moment.
is
But
called it
is
understood that ordinarily an appeal does not lie
in the Speaker from
Chairman
of
Committees. 98
any decision by the
Manners and Customs of
When for the
the
a successful Speaker retires
House
to
House it is
submit a representation
Sovereign praying that some
mark
usual to the
Royal
of
favour be bestowed on him and adding that the
House all
will
make good
which means that
Peerage,
the
pension
;
and
"While
the
House this is
if
the cost of the same; the
Crown
will
vote
will confer a
becoming
a
always done.
Speaker and the Chairman
Committees must always be Members are three officers of great importance
of
— there
who
sit in
wig and gown at the historic Table, namely, the Clerk and the two Assistant Clerks.
These are
the standing authorities on all the complex and peculiar rules of business
;
as such
constantly consulted by the
Clerk
is
Members.
always a person of note
knighted
;
they are
;
he
is
The
usually
sometimes he attains higher honours
;
Erskine May, the Clerk and the Historian of the House, was admitted to the Privy Council
and ultimately
to the Peerage.
The term whip has a double First
it is
applied to a set of 99
application.
Members who
are
The House of Commons chosen by the Leaders of their Party to look after the attendance in
their
all
Members
tact, vigilance is
a
man
—a
and about the House
requiring infinite
task
The Senior Whip
and patience.
of real
of
consequence and deep in the
councils of the Party
a seat in the Cabinet.
;
he
is
often promoted to
Secondly,
it is
applied to
sent out daily during the
a notice which
is
Session to every
Member
of the
Party indicat-
ing the business expected to come on and the
degree of urgency attached to his attendance.
These degrees are marked by underlining. or is
One
two such underlines mean that the business but moderately important.
Four
lines signify
importance, and five lines are storm signals with a warning of emergency.*
*I have kept
all
these
whip
interesting records of the time.
them
for
my
circulars as they
ten years in Parliament.
100
may
be
There are ten volumes of
CHAPTEE VI SCENES IN THE HOUSE
The
foregoing description of the manners and
may
customs of the House
be appropriately
followed by some notice of scenes within the
Chamber.
Some
instances of disquietude, of wild and
violent conduct, of disorder and indiscipline, of noisiness almost
amounting
always occurred and do ally
or
casually.
chronicled in
to disturbance,
still
Such
have
occur occasion-
events,
being
the Press, impress
duly
the public
memory, and are long remembered, while the quiet and peaceful course remains unnoticed and
never presents standing
what
itself to
may
the
be
mind.
said
Notwith-
against
the
demeanourof the House at times, the general 101
F
The House of Commons characteristics
are quietude, punctilio,
courtesy, inside the Chamber.
When
Questions
the
begin,
already
as
mentioned, early in the afternoon, even on the
some animation
quietest days,
If
will arise.
the Questioner be not satisfied he will press the Minister for further explanation, some kind of
argument
will be attempted, cries of "
will be heard,
wind may
some breeze may spring
freshen,
Order
up, the
and the Speaker may have
Indeed small scenes are not
to intervene.
"
frequent at this stage.
It is very
in-
amusing
watch the storm begin, the clouds
arise
to
and
spread over the Chamber, while the air becomes
rapidly charged with
electricity.
When
Questions are over, the big business comes on,
and a
full
hour which
dress Debate is
is
set up.
ordinarily the best, a
At
this
leading
speaker or an Opposition Chief will lead the
way, there will usually be a reply; and the attack and defence
together
principal episode for the sitting.
will
be
the
earlier part of the
Hitherto the green benches will have 102
Scenes in the House been well
filled
crowded, eager faces on
or
and counter-
either side of the chamber, cheers cheers,
sudden interruptions to allow of per-
sonal explanation or to correct unintentional
misrepresentation of what has been said. after
Then
the strain of attention for nearly two
Members
hours there will be a rush of
leaving
the House, so that no succeeding speaker can
obtain any hearing at shall
have
third rate
the
speaker will of less
hour
dinner
o'clock.
and
lags,
Then
it
is
near to
After
approaches.
is
an
resumed
or lacks importance
till
ten
gains strength through every
reached. its
speeches
consequence
less
quarter of an hour up to eleven stage
second or
The
rise.
interval of half-an-hour the debate
and either
the exodus
sufficiently subsided, a
become shorter and as
When
all.
If
close, the
by leaders on either
when a
the contest
is
critical
drawing
most conclusive speeches side
will
be delivered
between that hour and a few minutes before twelve,
when
the
Division
will
take
place.
After well nigh every sentence of an able and 103
The House of Commons kind of running
effective speech there will be a
commentary from
and
friend
with
foe,
an
accompaniment, like a chorus, breathing the
and sentiment
spirit
of the hearers.
The management
Chamber forms a
the cheering
of
sort of science
mentary cheer consisting hear"
—no
hands,
unless
it
is
is
not infrequent, but
parlia-
by clapping
is
the
words "hear,
of the
that
— the
The cheer from a
allowed.
is
Member
applause,
in
of
single
not significant
comes from some leading personage.
It is the cheering in chorus, like one
mind and
one voice from a number of Members, that forms This
the demonstration.
is
often
managed by
a tacit consensus, but more often arises from
an impulse
stirring
a
body
of
men
at
the
same moment from some words that have been uttered.
The tone
of the cheering then varies
according to the temper of those exactly according to their at
the moment.
First
who
cheer,
mood and sentiment there
is
the
hearty,
full-voiced cheer of genuine approval or satisfaction, hearty, resounding, full of encourage-
104
;;
Scenes in the House ment, rising to the roof of the Chamber and
There
awakening the echoes.
next the low
is
subdued cheer, gradually spreading along the green benches, indicating the deep seated agree-
ment which does not seek vociferous ous expression; this occasions,
or
at
acknowledgement fession is
or hilari-
used either on solemn
is
moments
of
or
pathos,
in
some concession or con-
of
Then there
on the part of an opponent.
the ironical cheering, which cannot be de-
scribed but
must be heard
the tone of sarcasm generally
it is
to be appreciated
always unmistakeable
is
the cruel greeting given to an
argument or a statement by an opponent, the formal denying of which there
an opportunity.
So far
it is
may
for
not be
bitterly hostile;
but sometimes good humoured enough, when applied to an opponent
who has unwittingly
uttered something that damages his
As an cheer,
intensification
which
this again
is still
there
the
case.
sarcastic
sharper and more incisive
must be heard
not be described.
is
own
to be realised,
it
can-
In days when the younger 105
The House of Commons Conservatives thought that Mr. Gladstone tried to overbear
them by
his superior position
and
furtherance of a policy which
experience, in
they hated, they used to apply this sort of cheering and ing
it
Supplementary
effect.
This
laughter.
must have had a
is
disconcert-
to cheering there is
often used for the same pur-
poses as those to which ironical cheering applicable.
A
statement made by an opponent
pompous solemnity
with
is
the
strain
The
excitement.
on the part
it
of
;
attention
this,
and a
the debate
if
of
disturbed
often
always in a merry mood
laughter enlivens relaxes
is
Apart from
by these simple means.
House
is
is
if
the
little
dull, or
there
be
slightest slip of the tongue
any speaker
at
any moment
is
the signal for merriment.
But whenever the debate approaches a or a definitely all
momentous
without exception
decision the
feel the
crisis,
Members
most acute
interest.
This naturally leads to scenes, some of which are grand and honourable, while are
some again
not creditable to those concerned, being 106
Scenes in the House turbulent or
flagrantly
obstructive,
even
or
tending to violence.
The
me was
the scenes seen by
first of
early in
1886 when the Conservative Government was defeated
before midnight.
parative
some
It
past
The Liberals
The
not knowing Irish allies
Conservatives had
known what was
too were
fare with their
by whose help alone the victory
But the
and
time,
first
Nationalist
Irish
Party, just assembled in their the
full
demonstration
summer scene,
us
to be expected of
Home
all
a
their
much
noisy
foretaste
from them.
to
be historic,
extending over fluctuations of
Bill, after
many
his
an immense debate
weeks,
with
ceaseless
hope and fear on both 107
fine
when Mr.
Government was defeated on Rule
of
In the
same year there was a
the
which ought
Gladstone's first
giving
;
numbers
finding
so
strength, cheered vociferously with
what was
coming.
by no means triumphant,
how they would
had been won.
for
just
was received with com-
quietude.
hours
House
newly elected
by the
sides.
The House of Commons The
full
the numbers
till
known by
truth was not
announced from the
were
Then the pent up
Chair amidst dead silence.
The Conservatives
excitement burst forth.
on one side
of the
House
rose in a
their seats cheering lustily hats.
As they
sat
either party
down
body from
and waving their
together the Liberal
Unionists on the other side of the House rose similarly to
salute
their
Conservative
cheering and waving their hats.
allies,
So far the
demonstrations had been within the rules of the House; the cheering had been measured,
and sonorous.
stately for
the
Irish
Now
ic
was the turn
Nationalist Party.
They
rose
up tumultuously and cried out "Three Cheers
Grand Old Man," which
for the
accordingly accorded
common meeting followed
notice
houses.
the
Liberal
was
form usual in
This ceremony was
by vituperation almost hissed the
against
in
salutation
Unionist Leaders.
out
No
was taken, as the House did not wish
to press
upon those who were smarting under
defeat.
108
Scenes in the House
The next episode was early Eandolph Churchill rose
Lord
personal
explanation
as
make
to
A
which has surprised his party.
his
resignation
his
to
when
in 1887,
dense fog
had penetrated the Chamber and as he stood speak
to
mistiness.
but sat
thin
his
He was
down
loomed
figure
in
received with some cheers,
in silence
speeches
great
wiry
had
;
he who on concluding
been followed
sustained and oft repeated cheering.
by long His
last
words were that he appealed to the Csesar outside
the House, an appeal
that
was not
answered.
In
the
summer
of
that year
the
Irish
Nationalists so protracted the Debates on the
Committee stage the
"
of the Irish
Guillotine " process, as
to be adopted,
by a
Crimes it
was
Bill that
called,
special order of the
House
which was proposed before-hand and passed debate.
That
17th June
all
is
to say, at ten o'clock
after
on the
the clauses not passed up to that
hour were to be summarily put
On
had
that day the
to the vote.
House presented the beehive 109
The House of Commons aspect which
always seen when some event
is
The hours
impending.
is
along
till
nine,
half-past
of
debate
when
Sir
glided
Charles
Eussell rose to say the last word for the
His cutting and
telling
Bill.
remarks were received
by the Conservatives with
ironical cheers,
and
he was pointing at them with quivering forefinger,
when the
first
stroke of ten was heard
At
from the big clock of the Clock-tower. this
moment
all
our listening ears caught
it.
In a silent Chamber the Irish Nationalists
We
rose in a body. no, they
were only leaving the House in mute
Then the
protest.
On
feared disturbance, but
the other
bill
passed
stage quietly.
hand some regrettable scenes In the spring
have occurred.
its
of 1887, it
was
a part of the Irish tactics to prevent the Irish
being introduced before Easter.
Crimes
Bill
To
end they desired
this
Government were equally
which the
mined
to
Members
to obstruct
pass.
to
the hours of
They furnished
deter-
relays
of
the
talking through all
night.
Unfortunately the
sustain
the
Supply
110
a
Scenes in the House enough men at those
Government had not
unusual hours for employing the closure statutory
number being
—
at that time requisite.
men
So the Whips were obliged to send for
from their homes in the fashionable squares London.
Many men came from
to their seats,
and
of
their beds back
so the closure
was
applied.
But when one point had been closed another one was taken up, and so
So the dawn
forth.
glimmered in the lighted Chamber, and then grey daylight streamed
went on
till
in,
but
By
in.
debates
that
time
The Government
force
breakfast time.
more men came
the
waxed, that of the Opposition waned, and by yielded and
the
In August, 1893, a grave case occurred.
In
must be
said
one o'clock the
Opposition
Supply passed.
justice to the House, however,
it
that the case arose and ended in regard to a
point of order which after all was successfully vindicated.
applied
The
guillotine process
was being
by Mr. Gladstone's Government
passing one of the stages of his second 111
for
Home
The House of Commons Kule
As
Bill,
and the House was angrily
excited.
the fateful stroke of the clock began which
would stop debate Mr. Chamberlain was speaking.
As he had
against
to sit
him was
down
a violent expression
distinctly heard
His Conservative
of the Irish Benches.
were resolved to prosecute to
Chairman
the
to interfere,
which was
He however
demanded
was done they refused
They calmly kept
all
that
their
Division
to
and
seats,
the
proceeded
by the
He was
this
arms
to
the
Irish
Na-
Conservatives
a Liberal
them and remonstrated
very seat
till
to go to the Division.
followed
While
were on their
up
and
their seats with folded
seats
lobby,
tionalists.
appeal
their ;
the
Meanwhile the Liberal Members
on.
left
did not see
Thereon
impending.
should be referred to the Speaker
and hats
and appealed
this,
and proceeded with the Division
then
Conservatives
allies
Committees who was
of
then in the Chair. fit
from a Member
usually occupied
thus
Member came sitting
on the
by their
leader.
pushed away, very slightly however. 112
Scenes in the House This appearance of a slight scuffle instantly
a number
brought back
who were
standing
House and rushed
near
up.
Irish
of
the
Members
door
the
of
This brought another
stream of Members rushing up to see what
Thus with the swaying
was the matter. and
fro
among
high-backed
suited for such movements, there
moments
a dangerous crush
;
not
benches,
was
to
some
for
in the midst of
which one Irish Nationalist was struck by an Irishman
of
Order
the Conservative Party.
was immediately
the
restored,
called to the Chair,
Speaker was
whereon the Conservatives
laid their appeal against the
Member who had
used the expression regarding Mr. Chamberlain,
and who accordingly withdrew
The House then proceeded
due apology. a Division. in the
The
centre
first
with
it
I
happened this
of
scuffle,
with the English
very ;
to be
to
sitting right
parliamentary cyclone. slight,
began no doubt
had they been alone
would never have been a disturbance
;
this
but
the Irish were at hand and they instinctively 113
The House of Commons fomented
the
was
a
called
what
introducing
trouble,
Donnybrook
element into the
affair.
Most
the
of
parliamentary
episodes
scenes
striking
introduced his
Kule
course
Bill,
—as
first
Mr. Gladstone's
in
were for
accompanied
by
when
he
instance,
and then
his second
the chamber itself so crowded even seats
had
placed on the floor of the House
—the
in its
Home
galleries
that extra
to
be
Lords
so anxious to get seats in their gallery that
there was in the phrase of the day " an ugly
rush of peers" to find places Bill
—when,
as
the
was just passing the Commons in order
to go to its
death in the Lords, he pointed
with outstretched forefinger to the Conservative benches
and said that never in
career had he
unremitting
met with such
opposition,
servatives burst into
ment of
of
their
debate.
relentless
whereon
the
and Con-
cheers in acknowledge-
what they regarded great opponent to
On
his long
as a testimony
their prowess in
a hundred occasions there was a 114
Scenes in the House dramatic vein in Mr. Parnell's sayings doings, though of
these
it
and
hard to single out any one
is
But when
incidents.
in
1886 he
spoke the last word from his side for the First
Home Eule his sarcasm
and
his
Bill, in
a densely crowded Chamber,
on the English policy in Ireland,
contemptuous description of the long
continued failure of the British Government to rule that Island,
made up
quite a climax of
scorn and hate.*
* It
may
be said that a Parliament (as for example the
present one) where the Conservatives are in a large majority will be more staid and quiet than one which by a prevailing number of ardent Liberals.
115
is
enlivened
CHAPTER
VII
LEADING FIGURES IN PARLIAMENT I
AM
in this
leading
These
Chapter to give an outline
figures
word
House
the
in
paintings,
of the
Commons.
of
however
slight,
are
sketches from nature taken by myself on the spot,
that
Chamber.
is,
within
the
The men have
all
and among us within the
Many then
which
of
them are
living
walls
moved
last
of
the
before us
twenty years.
still.
My
account
to
contemporary history only,
always
unavoidably imperfect, and
pertains is
four
must ever be written with
reserve.
The
figures
which moved and passed away before 1880 or 1882 have entered the domain
of history
where
their careers can be reviewed with a complete-
ness to which I lay no claim in this Chapter. 117 Q
The House of Commons Thus
do not undertake to describe Disraeli in
I
Commons, though
the
Lords his name was
when
I
as Beaconsfield in
one to conjure with
still
became
first
the
concerned
in
English
politics.
In
my
stone.
time the foremost I
man was Mr.
Home
saw him throughout the
episode of his career from 1886 to 1893
was present when he made the
Commons
and the observed
of all
was
still
which was
his
and
Commons,
parliamentary observers.
may have been known
more
;
During that time he
in 1894.
of all eyes in the
as he
Eule
his last speech to
was the cynosure
Well
Glad-
outside, he
closely followed in the House,
own
sphere, and this too
by
opponents as well as by friends and followers.
When
undertaking his crusade on behalf of
Home
Eule for Ireland, he was long past his
prime.
The once resonant voice had become
husky,
the
well-poised
intellect
could
sustain a prolonged flight through the figures
and
legislative details of
measure, quite so well as of yore. 118
not facts,
an enormous
He was
far
Leading Figures from being the
Parliament
in
man he was
Palmerston or in his own
when he made some ments ever heard
in the
days of
Premiership,
first
of the finest financial state-
in the House, or introduced
measures most intricate with a lucidity
remembered
in political circles.
ducting of the
some
—
of his
his
Home
Still
still
the con-
Eule crusade showed that
most interesting qualities remained
noble passion, his lofty sentiment, his
ardour for whatever he had persuaded himself
wide sweep
to believe in, his
richly stored his
memory,
dramatic
trionic
his
aspect
command
and
manner, and above
able will.
No man
of
all his
as
time honoured rules, ;
his-
unconquer-
an
affection for,
institution,
its order, its
with
of,
the its
traditions, its
and no man ever did more Besides his mastery of
to sustain these. tactics,
his
ever had a higher ideal
Commons
character, than he
of imagery,
attitude,
and a stronger respect and
House
thought, his
of
its
he was most adroit in parliamentary
management and
in
Party leadership.
He had
a too exclusive regard for the Commons, as an 119
;
The House of Commons Estate in the realm, and did not allow
suffi-
Chamber
ciently for the Lords as the Second
indeed he was constitutionally disposed to chafe
under any
ment he
As
restraint.
set the highest
the head of a Govern-
example and studied
By
preserve the best tone possible.
and followers adored
;
there
the House
in is
his friends
he was
simply
no other phrase than adoration
By
to express their evident feeling for him. his
to
opponents he was regarded
as
a
great
speaker always, as a grand orator at times
;
as
a wondrous character, as a great gentleman in Parliament.
It
must, however, in
added that by many
of his
truth
be
opponents he was
regarded with an animosity and an indignation
which they never directed against any colleagues,
him
some
of
whom
in importance.
feeling in their
minds
were second only to
The cause is
of his
of this
not far to seek.
angry
They
held that he had gradually turned from one
extremity in politics to another, that he had surrendered positions which he had undertaken to defend
and had given up the keys 120
of fortresses
Leading Figures
in
Parliament
which he had been commissioned view so,
may
there
may
or
his conduct.
by many
;
honour
For
intensity.
all faults
to the
was just one
it
which would produce
much admired by many one who,
were
irresistible reasons for
and with them
some
if it
the view was sincerely held
Still
considerations dislike of
not be correct, and
may have been
This
to hold.
political
all that,
of his
of the
he was
opponents, as
notwithstanding, had brought
British name, not only in his
own country but
This fact was
in the world.
creditable to the patriotism of parliamentarians,
and was proved by the fulness with which
the
of attendance
Commons mustered
to
be
present at his funeral.
There
were
many
occasions
which
from
surrounding circumstances were striking and
which by his eloquence he rendered romantic, as, for
example, when in 1886 on the eve of his
defeat on the
Home
Kule
Bill,
he poured forth
eloquence like a glowing stream, and figured Ireland desolate mournful, standing at the Bar of
the
House and pleading 121
;
when
in
1887 in
The Hotise of Commons wrath at white heat, and with almost frantic
denounced the Crimes
gesticulation, he
marking Ireland with a brand sign of inferiority,
the address to the
with
when
in
permanent
of
1888 he seconded
widowed Empress
of
Germany
sympathy beautifully and
appreciative
expressed;
pathetically
Bill as
when
1893
in
he
denounced the Conservatives opposition with stately
and magnificent declamation; in 1894
when
he
discussed
mastery of the economic all carried in his
for
of
brilliancy
head without notes, an aston-
man
of his age.
Lord Randolph Churchill
and
briefness
hardly
paralleled in parliamentary annals.
ing
how
a
statistics of the world,
ishing achievement for a
The career
with
bimetallism
to
is
be
Consider-
large a space he filled in men's minds,
what an
overpowering
personality
what an imposing memory he after his early death, it is
left
he
was,
behind him
hard for us to realize
the shortness of the time during which he trod the great stage.
He
first
came
to notice as the
leader of a peculiar group of four independent 122
Leading Figures Members on
Parliament
in
Conservative
the
Parliament of 1880 to 1885.
John) Gorst and
of
Drummond
of
the
It consisted of
Mr. Arthur Balfour (now famous) Sir
in
side
Mr. (now
Wolff, after-
wards an Ambassador, besides himself and was
dubbed the Fourth Party.
In that capacity
he shewed figuratively a wondrous
His audacity too was
enterprise and agility.
splendid
a young
;
elasticity,
man
and
actually,
and aspect looking younger
still,
mien
in
he
would
challenge the oldest and most famous Parlia-
mentarians
Marlbrook
As
to
combat
single
to the fight "
seemed
— "a
very
to be his motto.
the sessions rolled on he gradually showed
himself to be not only a Rupert of Debate but
an
oratorial gladiator, with a
close,
power
of
grappling
an unfailing resourcefulness and a perfect
presence
mind.
of
His knowledge at
first
scanty grew with every subject that he handled.
In
1884
event
some
of
it
was quite understood that
the
Conservatives
Office in the second
offered him.
power
rank at least must be
Soon afterwards 123
attaining
in the
it
was understood
The House of Commons that he would accept nothing save
himself choose, and that of the highest Offices,
make way
some
difficulty,
summer
in the
and when
was surprise
it
of 1885,
with the remnant of a
when he was appointed a State,
must
Conservative
a
be followed by
session only before them, to dissolution, there
on any
of his seniors
When
Government was formed under some
his choice fell
if
him.
for
what he might
in
some quarters
Principal Secretary of
was found that he had chosen
India as his department, his imagination having evidently been excited by visions of the East.
During the remainder ducted in the House
of that session he con-
much
of the defence of the
newly formed government. In the autumn recess which followed, he conducted the Conservative
campaign in the constituencies, making orations of the utmost brilliancy ness.
It
and
political
effective-
was found that during
his short stay in
won golden
opinions by his
the India Office he
considerateness towards colleagues and towards officials,
his
by
his deference to senior
men, and by
quickness in learning matters previously 124
Leading Figures unknown
Birmingham
in
He
to him.
in
Parliament
chose to contest a seat
in order to do battle with
Bright as a foeman worthy of his
During the
first
vast,
Gladstone's
steel.
session of 1886 he sustained
his parliamentary reputation,
become
John
which had now
by powerful speeches against Mr.
Home
first
Eule
When
Bill.
Parliament was dissolved in the summer of that year he
made
orations
ever, during the
had
special trains to hear
him
more magnificent than
campaign that followed to
speak.
—
till
run to carry his auditors
When
shortly afterwards
a Conservative government had to be formed he
was appointed Chancellor
Commons
Leader of the in
command
;
considered on
immense
all
this
Exchequer and
thus becoming second great promotion
hands to be but due
services for the cause
also to the
himself.
and
;
of the
was
to his
and the Party,
weighty authority he had won for
During the short autumn
session he
held the Leadership with skill and coolness,
and made speeches too
He
left
of light
and
leading.
on the Treasury the same favourable 125
The House of Commons impressions as on the India Office, and gave
During the
promise of high financial capacity.
made
recess he
now becoming
several orations in his old
what was he
Especially
style.
delivered a speech at Dartford, memorable for its
comprehensive Liberal recommendations, and
for its tone of unrestricted personal authority
in the councils of the
mas time
news
of that year the
resignation
At
Christ-
of his
sudden
Government.
came on
Party and on
his
the
nation like a thunder-clap or a bolt from the blue.
The declared cause was that he had
wished to reduce the charges for the
Navy, but that reason
of
his colleagues
growing
the
Continent.
That
of the affair
may
self told
the
Parliament.
had refused by
armaments
time
the
be quite believed, as he him-
Commons on But
to
on
was the head and front
this
this
the reassembling of
must have been part
a whole which probably will not be a long
Army and
come.
reckoned on retrieving his never succeeded in
doing 126
He
known
probably
positions, but so.
During
of
for
had he that
Leading Figures
Parliament
in
Parliament he took no leading part only on occasions
loyalty.
He
appearing
one of these being that of
;
some
certain grants for
when he made
;
Royal Family
of the
several fine speeches of signal
much and
travelled abroad very
absence weakened his parliamentary influence.
In the general Election
1892 he was no
of
longer the standard bearer of the Party, as he
had given place
fire
in
1893
He
Arthur Balfour.
Commons with
peared in the old
to
almost
but soon
;
reap-
all of his
afterwards
his
friends were grieved at perceiving that signs of
nervous failure had begun to appear. sad symptoms increased
till
1894 when he sank and end his,
of a career so
caused
followers,
to
rarely
Everyone
felt
was
died.
sorrow
to
opponents.
friends he becpueathed a services
the beginning of
The untimely
wondrous though so short as
hearty
and
These
equalled
comrades,
to
To a host
of
memory in
of splendid
Party
politics.
that a star in the political sky
lost to sight.
In the cartoons
of a
London Weekly Journal 127
The House of Commons was a picture
in
two
Eandolph Churchill rock, the other
one representing
parts,
in Africa
Arthur Balfour
reclining on a in the
Commons
standing in the place of Leadership, indeed the rise
the one to fame and popularity was
of
When
quite as rapid as that of the other.
at
the beginning of the session of 1887 Balfour
was
appointed
Secretary
Chief
for
somewhat
to the surprise of his Party,
but
known
little
Office
in
the
nothing more.
to politics,
Ireland
he was
having just held
Local Government Board and
By
the end of that very Session
he had become famous and was greeted with hearty applause whenever he appeared.
amazing progress arose
not
only
from
This his
conduct in the House, his readiness in reply and retort, his steadiness in standing
up against a
tremendous opposition from the Irish benches,
and
his
mastery of details in dealing with the
keenest controversy.
But
mainly to his management itself,
it
was due, however,
of affairs in Ireland
to his firmness in repressing disorder, to
his capacity for inspiring the welldoers
128
and the
Leading Figures
Parliament
in
well-disposed with confidence in the certainty
Added
to this
he acquired
manner and personal
qualities a
law and order.
of
by charm
of
popularity the
like of
which has hardly been
With
seen in this generation.
his tall wiry
stature, his polish like that of steel, his rapier-
like thrusts
he was ever a conspicuous figure in
House.
His reputation, which had thus
the
literally flown to a
same
the
in
commanding
the death of Mr.
Lord
First
the
higher.
of
1891 on
appointed
Treasury and Leader of the
the
unanimous
his Party,
who wished him
cause
the
in
autumn
W. H. Smith he was
of the
House, with
till
and
higher
direction
Session after session,
height, soared
General
acclamation
to
champion
their
which
was
Election
expected in the next year.
of
In the following
Parliament he became leader of the Opposition to
Mr. Gladstone's second
the
subsequent
measures
Home of
Eule
Bill,
and
Lord Rosebery's
Ministry, especially the Bill for disestablishing the Church in Wales. respects
His Leadership in these
shewed the firmness, the 129
skill,
the alert-
The House of Commons might have been expected.
ness which further
it
was marked by generous considerate-
and by
ness,
But
all
the courtesy that might be
consistent with meeting the exigencies as they
After that in the present Parliament
arose.
elected in 1895, he reverted to the Leadership
House, which does not properly
of the
under contemporary criticism as
it
is
fall
happily
by no means concluded. Since the combination of the Conservative
and Liberal Unionist Parties under one Administration the guidance of the policy of the l'oint
party in the
into the
hands
in potency
most
of
and
Commons
has partly fallen
Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, who,
forcefulness, is one of the fore-
politicians of the age, both
outside Parliament.
inside
and
His speeches on public
platforms, closely reasoned, nervous and sinewy,
eagerly
looked
for,
eloquent
moments, abounding in
at
the
originality, leaving a
deep impression on the national mind well
known
say that
all
to
right
need mention here.
—are too
Suffice it to
these grand qualities are displayed 130
Leading Figures in Parliament by him
in
just the
same
Commons, where he produces
the
effect as that
But
side in public.
to
which
them there
seen out-
is
something
is
added in the House, and these deserve mention.
He
never strikes unless he has been already
assailed
—but
attacked, he will hit back again
if
with a force that no other hitter can emulate.
He
studies the subject in
ness that
fills
hand with a complete-
his quiver with arrows,
one or
other of which he can shoot off instantaneously.
Thus often
and retort are scathing and
his repartee
It
terrific.
happened
he
that
was
habitually attacked by the Gladstonions and by
the Irish Party. his
to level
Against each
shafts,
of these
he used
returning shot for shot.
While thus engaged, he presented
as fine a
fighting figure as could be imagined, quite
athlete in intellectual exercise. filled
the
an
His speeches
House and emptied the Lobbies, being
considered some of the most important that
could be delivered in Parliament.
If
he
may
be surpassed in this or that respect by other orators,
he
is
more
free
from defects than any-
131
The House of Commons one else is
and take him
;
all
round
all in all,
he
the best speaker of the day.
The Leadership
which
of the Liberal Party,
has formally devolved on Sir William Harcourt, did in part pertain to
him during the
He
acted as
several
Sessions
years of Mr. Gladstone's career.
second in
command during
when the Old
Chief, borne
later
down by herculean
labours, needed relief from the ordinary cares of
the Front Bench, and attended only at times
when
his presence
was indispensable.
From
his prowess as a hard hitting debater he called in English
than light
"the bruiser" and in Latin
His humour was
the Sicarius.
was
— and none
knew
telling rather
better than he
to elicit the
cheers of the followers
behind him.
A
added to the
effect of
who
how sat
towering and massive stature his
He was
delivery.
Chancellor of the Exchequer in Mr. Gladstone's last
Ministry, and retained that office in the
succeeding
He
under
Ministry
Lord
Eosebery.
then signalized himself by proposing and
carrying the
revision
and extension
132
of
the
—
Leading Figures Death Duties, which
Parliament
in
settled once for all
vexed questions that had
many
perplexed Liberal
policy during several Parliaments.
Whatever
be the merits or demerits of that measure, will
remain as one
of the
monuments
While carrying
work.
strenuous
evinced
and
well-directed
much power
of his life's
in the teeth of
it
it
a
he
Opposition,
manage-
of statesmanlike
ment.
William
Henry Smith
ordinary instance, of a
afforded
— perhaps
an extra-
unprecedented,
man with modest and unpretending
meanour, attaining and keeping the very
He was wont
position in the House.
that speech-making was not in his line in fact he used to
make
platforms outside.
He
in debate.
defirst
to say
— though
effective speeches
on
did not attempt to shine
In the House, when a Minister,
he was singularly adroit in parrying Questions.
With immense House well
business capacity, he
for
several
years
in
led the
times
difficulty.
133
h
of
CHAPTER
VIII
THE IRISH NATIONALIST PARTY
The
Irish
Members
to
whom
refer are the Nationalists
that any peculiarity
Members
Irish
—
this article will
it is
to
—
for
belongs
them only the
other
are like the rest of their British
brethren.
The
Irish
Nationalist
Party entered Par-
liament by the General Election of 1885, in
imposing numbers, over eighty strong, with the sole
and
measure.
single
aim
of carrying a
Rule
They were not sure whether they
would obtain great Parties
this concession
in
Britain
rather hoped to win
They
Home
would
it
subordinate 135
from one
or the
other
of the
— they
from both together. all
their
political
—
The House of Commons conduct and proceedings to this object alone
whatever measure
any other kind they sup-
of
ported or obstructed or opposed, their course
would be guided by the
Home
prospects of their
effect
thereof on the
For some reasons
Eule.
of
own, they were disposed to embarrass
British
and the
policy
Parliament.
British
They reckoned that such embarrassment might be made
subservient
to
Home
Kule,
might
induce Britain to grant such a measure in order
even went so
far
as
to
even disturbance in order
and
the
injure
Commons,
They
from the vexatious trouble.
to be freed
cause to
lower the repute
House
traditions of the
ance should
till
become
of
awkward
to cause the occurrence of
scenes almost daily,
and
trouble
the worry and annoy-
They
intolerable.
ex-
pected that in despair the British would yield at last in order to be rid of the plague.
view
of
perhaps, discernible
theirs
but
was its
not
openly
prevalence
by those who had
Party action from day to day 136
expressed,
was to
This
clearly
watch the
In this policy
The Irish Nationalist Party they united, with
full
party discipline, under
the leadership of Mr. Parnell.
If
they meant
to carry or oppose this or that their expression
would be
A
:
"
we
shall send for the boys to vote."
very few belonged to the gentry class
many
;
were men of very moderate means, many were
They
supposed to have but scanty resources.
were believed
to be sustained in
resources largely
America.
drawn from sympathizers
Nothing,
known about
this,
system
they chose.
this plan, so far as it
for it
was
exactly
they had a right to pursue this
;
affect the
however,
in
nor had anyone any business
to enquire if
Parliament by
Apparently, however
may have
existed,
would
certainty of their corporate action,
seemed
to be at times a question
whether
they could be maintained in London at such
expense up to such and such a date, or whether it
was worth while
Ireland, at
such a
much expense
them back from
again, for such
and
crisis.
They the
to bring
sat
on the benches on the
House below the gangway; 137
left side of
about
one
The House of Commons quarter of the accommodation of the House;
they had occupied this quarter in former Parliaments whichever British Party was in power,
meaning thereby
that
indicate
to
always on the Opposition
they were
being opposed to
side,
the Ministry of the day whether Liberal or Conservative, and forming a Party of themselves for the special Irish interests,
represented,
as
quite
from
apart
which they the
other
Their occupa-
interests of the British nation.
tion of this quarter in former Parliaments
But now, with numbers
never been very strong.
more
than
doubled,
effective, giving
room
had
occupation
their to
was
none other except a
few sympathetic Piadicals who sat on the bench
From
nearest the floor of the House.
on
entering
Election
of
the 1885,
House
after
the
the
first
General
they were vociferous, de-
monstrative, self-asserting, as
if
they were a
triumphant band who had scaled the Parlia-
mentary
citadel.
Many
ment, and had to learn
were new to Parliaits
ways
;
they were
held under strict discipline by their leader. 138
;
The Irish Nationalist Party Several again were already
House
or orators either in the
The
or in Ireland.
commanded admiration both for
and delivery
— except
drawn out; Eupert
as speakers
orator was Mr. Sexton, whose
principal
speeches
known
diction
that they were too long
Mr. Timothy Healy was
of debate
:
their
were quite
his performances
trenchant, and his wit flashed like lurid light
from the fierceness
of his
language he was some-
times called by his compatriots "Tiger Tim."
Mr.
T. P.
O'Connor was much listened
to as being
the lieutenant of Mr. Parnell in the English (not Irish) Elections style, like that
:
he had a merry, rollicking
which we had attributed
to the
great O'Connell in his humorous moods.
Mr.
John Bedmond we did not hear
but
when he appeared on found
to
at
first,
the scene later he was
be the strongest, weightiest, and most
formidable orator on the Irish side
Macarthy was
:
Mr. Justin
their literary light, his speeches
were cultured, softly delivered, and mellifluous.
The men
in the
rank and
file
spoke boisterously
but fluently, and soon learnt the art of talking 139
;;;
The House of Commons interminably when any obstructive purpose was in view.
Mr. Parnell
apart from
stood
them
all
though his moral authority suffered from the first
owing
shadow king
to his personal isolation, still the
of his great
name
" of Ireland, spread
as " the
awe over
but we always supposed
its
uncrowned
his followers
foundation to be
insecure, as indeed proved afterwards to be the
This insecurity arose from his personal
case.
isolation.
to
Considering the unruly team he had
manage, with the reins in his skilled hands
he was doubtless obliged
But he
to avoid familiarity.
carried this view too far for success as a
leader in a Party where
cannot be driven.
It
men
seemed
can be led but to
us that he
rarely or never conversed with the rank and file
of his
men.
We understood
address was seldom lieutenants. his
He
that his private
known even
of the
Party
certainly received the bulk of
correspondence at the post
Lobby
to his
Commons
;
office
in the
that was evident
;
we
heard that he had no other postal address. 140
The Irish Nationalist Party
How
far
could say existed,
but to some extent
;
and so
rumours.
far
it
gave
It afterwards
wondrous manner
The
went, none of us
strangeness
this
first
manifestly
it
to
rise
developed
ominous
itself
in a
as will presently be seen.
was the culminating
half of 1886
He had
point of his career.
entered a
new
Parliament at the head of a compact, disciplined,
an homogeneous Party, strong enough to
turn the scale and rule the balance as between the two great Parties of Britain.
had
begun
not, to all appearances,
he stood up
His health to
his place to speak,
in
fail.
As
amid the
around him, he
upturned looks
of those seated
was one
handsomest men in the House.
of the
His delivery was at ciliatory till
and
his
first
winning, even con-
matter simple.
he approached the pith
manner stiffened, his
It
was not
of his case, that his
face lighted up,
and his voice
trembled with a suppressed passion worthy of a tragic dramatist. close of the
tioned in
Home
His climax was at the very Kule debate as already men-
June, 1886.
HI
After that he never
The House of Commons made any long
sustained speech in the
Com-
In the next speech made by him in the
mons.
autumn
of that
very year, on a proposed Land
he halted and fumbled, and losing his
Bill,
thread had often to be prompted by his hench-
In a subsequent year when the Special
men.
Commission certain
of inquiry into the authenticity of
letters
and other grave charges was
being instituted, he made several short speeches fraught with menacing fierceness, and certainly his aspect in those
painter of tragedy.
moments was meet The
result of that
mission seemed to rehabilitate of
him
for a
com-
in the eyes
Mr. Gladstone and of the Gladstonians, but
to lower his influence
and weight in the House.
His health too was believed
to
be
failing.
Then
he became vitally concerned in that miserable "cause celebrc" which
obliged
Mr. Gladstone
and the Gladstonians
to
part
company with
him. This case immediately brought about that split
this
in the Irish Nationalist Party
day
is
known
which
to
as the division between the
142
The Irish Nationalist Party and
Parnellites
among
subdivisions
up
The
Anti-Parnellites.
have in recent years had further
latter indeed
not exactly
the
themselves, and
how they should
we know But
be named.
Parliament the Parnellites
to the present
under Mr. John Eedmond proudly preserved
How
their appellation.
far
they display this
may
nomenclature in the present Parliament be doubtful; but they doubtless retain their hearts,
and
at the next General
seem
have any chance of success.
This
conduct of Parnell's
Home
if,
Ptule cause should
Election, the to
in
will doubtless place it in the
front and van of battle,
likely
it
theirs
is
a veritable
tribute
to
memory, and British people would do
well to understand
its significance.
It
means
that Parnell was " thorough," keeping the Irish Nationalists aloof from all British parties, aim-
ing ceaselessly at the national independence of Ireland,
and using
for this
purpose alone their
position in the Parliament of Westminster.
When, on the
occasion
Parnell's leadership
above
mentioned,
was directly challenged by 143
The House of Commons met
the Anti-Parnellites, the whole Party
one of the Committee rooms upstairs.
room was the scene
in
That
of contentions for many-
days; which were not witnessed indeed, but
were heard of by from
roars
us,
Irish
inasmuch as the cheers and used
throats
through the solid doors and re-echo
As
the long corridors.
resound
to
Parnell was
all
down
still
chair-
man, he guided the deliberations raised by those
who were
to depose
resolved
They were
chairmanship.
him from the
in a clear majority,
whereas his faithful band of Parnellites formed a minority only.
The Anti-Parnellites had
been originally instructed by him in the art
now found
this peculiar
science turned against themselves
by the master
of obstruction,
For nearly a fortnight they strove
himself! to get
him out
tight in
they
it,
of the chair, but there
proof against all machinations, and
showing a stubborn front
At
he sat
like a lion at bay.
length they held a separate meeting of their
own
in another room,
Macarthy
as
and elected Mr. Justin
chairman. 144
He
at once entered
The Irish Nationalist Party the House, and sitting in the seat of Parnell,
gave
notice
of
amid the marked
a motion
Parnell indeed soon
cheers of his supporters.
reappeared and sat almost alongside of the leader it
who had superseded
looked as
if
him.
new
For a while
there would be two kings in the
Hibernian Brentford
—but the duality was Soon the
to Parnell's position.
legal
fatal
meshes
of
the social case surrounded him, and afterwards his life
ebbed away towards an untimely death.
Home
The most earnest
of the
ingly cherish his
memory,
his social conduct
and
in
Eulers unfail-
in forgetfulness of
they hold to be his political virtues. in
of
what
The
light
remembrance
which the British parliamentarians regard
his career is so well
mention
The
known
that I need not
it.
Parnellites
have subsequently alleged
that the Anti-Parnellites ally themselves with
a great party in Britain to whose policy the purely Irish objects are to be subordinate or at least deferred.
repeated
To
allegation
this
very marked and often
the Anti-Parnellites, 145
by
The House of Commons whatever name or names they now selves,
into
would naturally have their own reply
which I need not
The
enter.
speciality of all the Irish Nationalists
The way
has been their power of Obstruction. in
which Obstruction has been
perhaps but
still
—unintentionally
effectually misrepresented
each and every Party in Politics from standpoint, Irish
own to
them-
call
— has
been already explained.
had undoubtedly a right
which they were it
is
own The
to use it for their
policy, or for the prevention of
explained
its
by
opposed.
any policy
As already
doubtful whether they used
it
with more severity than that which the British Parties have adopted for stopping
what they
detested or for saving what they loved.
Some-
times the Irish were ruled authoritatively to
have pushed Obstruction beyond the utmost allowable limit.
On
a manner grievous and distress-
exercised
it in
ing to us
who were
carried
countless occasions they
the sufferers.
out avowedly with
wearing the Tories
out.
146
the
It
was often
intention
of
Naturally the Tories
— The Irish Nationalist Party would reply that
was a Tory
their
Statesman
any suffering
of
The
points. "
dilatory discussion
— the
—meaning endurance
and that they would be the
quality,
willing victims
carry
" last,"
—
all
end
of a Session
vista
of
night
midnight
sitting
in
dreary
order to drip
of
in the phrase of a great vigils
dawn
objections starting just at
an
"
— the
fresh
or sunrise after
—especially
towards the
when every delay opened up a
political
danger
—
will never be for-
gotten by the sufferers in body and this drastic treatment.
Still
mind from
the sufferers felt
that the Irish Party had a perfect right to do all
knew
this; but they
come when these very against that Party.
that the day would
tactics
When
would be used
that day actually
came, and the Irish found themselves bound
and fettered by an Opposition which included obstruction
amusing
to
among
other elements,
it
was very
hear them vainly complaining, in
convenient oblivion of what they had themselves done in that very line.
Meanwhile the
Irish,
147
notwithstanding
the
The House of Commons complaints
made by many
at the time, advocated
and pressed
their general cause
their particular
cases with a tenacity, a persistency, an assiduity,
a mastery of local
details,
which must have
delighted their constituents and which extorted
admiration even of their
the
They were ever ready
opponents.
any
that might further
tone
parliamentary to adopt
the emergent
purpose which was invariably to wring some-
To obtain
thing from the British Government.
concessions for Ireland was their raison d' etre ; to yield such concessions (in their
was
in their view
To
duties.
this
cajole, threaten or
hold
back,
among the
own words)
first of
Britain's
end they would menace or withdraw, press forward or
would adopt the most
contrary
courses within the shortest intervals according to
requirements.
requirement
they
In reference to any such evinced accuracy
of
dis-
crimination, and discernment with presence of
mind.
Whether the criminal occurrences and the tragedies
which disfigured the annals 148
of Ireland,
The Irish Nationalist Party were in any sense
morally in refer-
justifiable
ence to political causes, or whether the Irish Nationalists
Members were directly or
connected with these events to be discussed here
But the
Members
for
Such
of
them, were matters frequently
brought before the House debates.
alleged character
and the responsibility
of these proceedings
the
—are questions not
indeed such things were
;
outside the House.
indirectly
during the
itself
critical discussions, too, related
not only to crimes of a heinous description, bat also
to
held
practices
criminal,
known by
"boycotting,"
campaign,"
— and
speeches, inciting
than
that,
familiar
"exclusive so to
constructively
be
to
names such
as
"plan
of
dealing"
Inflammatory
forth.
mischief or even worse
were attributed
to
some
of the Irish
Members, and copious extract reports in the newspapers
of
such utterances were produced.
In such assaults two Members were prominent, Colonel Sanderson and Mr. T.
W.
Russell.
The
mission of Colonel Sanderson was to expose
what he deemed
to be criminal or treasonable
149
i
The House of Commons conspiracies in which he alleged Irish
Members
to
some
He
have a share.
of the
pointed
these severe charges with a humorous sarcasm,
which convulsed
his
own
side with a laughter
in which even the Irish could scarce refrain
from sharing
— though the
rising
merriment was
quickly hushed by the severity of the accusa-
Mr.
tions.
by
T.
his proofs
W.
Russell was equally incisive
which often came home with such
unerring aim that they were called "search lights."
in
Then he would
strike redoubled blows
such a swinging slashing style
method
was named
effect of all this
tremendous.
that the
"the tomahawk."
The
upon the Irish would be indeed
They seemed about
explosion and yet
to burst into
to restrain themselves, feeling
the gravity of the situation.
Considerations of
Order had to be balanced by the Speaker against that freedom of speech in debate which the
Commons have always Very
claimed for themselves.
often he acted with great success as peace-
maker.
But
such
scathing accusations
fre-
quently produced scenes in which individual 150
The Irish Nationalist Patty Nationalists not unnaturally forgot themselves in their passion,
in
the House,
and suspension from service
or
temporary expulsion, was
unavoidably resorted
to.
More guarded, but almost
as
fatal,
would
sometimes be the rejoinders and repartees
of
Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, who apparently kept a choice assortment of quotations from speeches
made by
Irish
Members
outside
the House,
from which quiver he would draw arrows for his warfare with
them
in parliamentary debate.
151
CHAPTER IX THE LORDS AS SEEN BY THE COMMONS It
would be out
description
of the
of place
House
of
the Estates of the realm, of
to
attempt any
Lords as one of functions or
its
of its precedure.
The Commons
Chamber, conscious
of their
an attitude Lords.
of
They accept the
and
also
of affairs see
the
Commons.
Lords
There
is
of
title
see
have
to
much
of the Lords,
something
own
of
the
a general courtesy pre-
each other's Lobbies.
their
the Lower
But the Commons
served between the two Houses. access
the
Upper House
of the
Second Chamber.
do in course
power, assume
proud deference towards
House and accord that to the
own
as the first
gallery
153
in
the
They have
The Lords House
of
The House of Commons Commons and House
of
the
Lords
Commons
—and
theirs
in
both galleries are occu-
pied on occasions of debate or political
The Commons have an and
facility
additional
House
the
in
has a Bar of importance.
metal
up
in
its
close by.
Law Lords
plead before the
capacity
judicial
Chancellor's seat being
Bar, and the
Lords which
This Bar, which
who
the Barristers
House
advantage
in the forenoons be fitted
railing, will
for
of
crisis.
small space fenced round with
actually a
is
the
—the
Lord
moved down near the sitting
on the benches
In the afternoons when the Lords
sit in their legislative
and executive capacity,
the Bar will be cleared for the reception of
any Members to stand there
of
the
and
Commons who
choose
to their Lordship's
listen
debates or proceedings.
Let us
consider
thus
standing
into
what
is
then
would
what a Commoner
see.
justly
He would
called
"the
look
Gilded
Chamber," in resplendent contrast to the comparative plainness of his
154
own Chamber
—the
The Lords as seen by
the
Commons
noble windows resplendent with coloured glass, the
roof
beams and
Whereas
corated.
climax
rafters
the Speaker's Chair with the Table
is
— the
it
may
From
sit.
space
is
railed
descend the steps to
it
the Floor, and at the
foot of these
Clerks
who
is
in the
of the
little
because
of
of the
eyes.
It
is
Opposition,
or
That
placed
slight space
transversely
Chair right and
meant
is
left.
strange
for Peers
range themselves on either or
Floor well
benches running laterally
cross-bench arrangement
moner
Near
the cross benches," so
they are
between the rows on each side
"
the
Thus there
historic
Lower House.
further reduced by
called
sit
Lord Chancellor
President of the House.
here but
known
where
are Ministers of the House.
this is placed the seat for the
the
a small
consequently the Table has
off,
to be in the midst of the Floor
is
climax here
the Eoyal Throne in which the Sovereign
alone
as
de-
Lower House the
in the
immediately underneath is
gorgeously
side,
to
This
Com-
who do not Ministerial
who do not acknowledge 155
;
The House of Commons Such an arrange-
allegiance to either Party.
ment would not
suit a representative
and
elect-
ed House, where almost every member must
some
before his election have declared for
side
or for some party, the return of an entirely
Member
Independent
unknown.
being nearly
The arrangement
of
if
not quite
the
galleries
the ends and the sides differs from that
at
of the
the
Lower House.
Throne, at
galleries
There
end
so
that
the
other
to strangers the
same
is
no gallery over vacant;
is
the
end are appropriated
as in the
Lower House
but herein the Newspaper reporters are included and their accommodation restricted
—whereas
somewhat
is
the Lower House the
in
reporters have the largest gallery all to themselves.
in the is
Apparently
Lower
a more
important
The
function side
apart for the Peeresses nearly related to Peers the
held
that,
or popular House, the reporting
Upper House.
House
been
has
it
galleries
and
in
the
are
set
for other ladies
— whereas
corresponding 156
than
in the
Galleries
Lower
are
re-
;
The Lords as seen by
The
served for the Members.
the Peeresses are quite open perfectly
and
seen,
their appearance in
an element
Commons
the
Galleries for
the ladies are
;
on important full
occasions
brilliancy introduces
There
beauty into the scene.
of
never has been apprehension of the conduct in the
Upper House being influenced by the
open display
diametrically
is
ment
in the
ed.
Although
House
is
sitting
the
arrange-
as already explain-
number
the
smaller, its
of
chamber
is
Upper
the
wider and
accommodation
number
is
more
is
than that of the Lower
considerable the
from
different
Lower House
longer, so its
where
This
of this interesting element.
House
There
larger.
can
hardly ever be in the Upper House the crush of
Members and
the difficulty of obtaining seats
which may be often Lower. .are
On
much
felt
by the Members
of the
the other hand the side Lobbies
inferior
to those of the
Commons
they might indeed be described as poor. the
Commons
est
moment
In
the Divisions are of the highso
the
Division 157
Lobbies
must
;
The House of Commons This consideration applies
comrnodions.
be
much
with
less force to
Peers
have
Throne
—which
a
very
fine
room
behind
Lobby
or Ante-room.
already explained, the Ante-room or outer
Lobby
in the
Commons
is
Upper House the Library by no means equal
very
fine.
to that of the
do not
and when the
protracted, the Peers can go
home
sit
as
sitting is
and
to dine
time for the division, which will
return in
usually be arranged for
Thus
Commons
less consider-
able, because the Peers as a rule
late as the dinner hour,
In the
indeed, but
fine
is
and the Dining rooms are much
is
the
perhaps compensates them for
the want of any spacious
As
But the
the Peers.
some
definite hour.
in all the structural arrangements there
a difference, almost amounting to contrast,,
between the two Houses, suitable constitution and
tinctive
to the dis-
functions
of
each
House, and to the habits relating therefrom.
There the
is
one straight line running through
Chamber
lobby,
their
of
the
corridor,
Commons, the 158
their
outer
Central Hall, the
The Lords as seen by the Commons towards the Lords and the
corridor
Chamber and
all
—so
that
if
all
Upper
the doors were open,
spaces cleared, the Lord Chancellor at
his Table in the Lords, could see the Speaker
on the Chair in the Commons. has
It
ordinary at
been
Member
of the
that an
mentioned
already
Commons, may stand
the Bar of the Lords and listen to
many
Debates, and
right, in order to see
just passed their
avail
how
the
themselves of this
the Bills which have
House are
faring in the Lords.
Those Members who are also Privy Councillors,
have the privilege of standing on the steps at the foot of the Throne, whereby they see and
hear extremely well, and are quite close to the Peers
— other
Privy
Commons have younger sons
not
Councillors
the same privilege
of Peers.
;
in
the
so have the
While great Debates
are proceeding, these steps are crowded with
many their
of
the most eminent Commoners, and
presence lends additional effect
to
the
that
the
historic scene.
But
it
is
not only as listeners 159
—
The Hotise of Commons when
Commoners stand
at the Bar,
and the space
comparatively empty.
is
summoned
are from time to time
quiet
all is
They
to the
with the Speaker at their head,
Bar
hear the
to
Eoyal assent given in old Norman French
Then
the Bills that have passed both Houses.
the space of the Bar is
in
is
well
to
The Assent
tilled.
seldom or never declared by the Sovereign person
but
;
by
Eoyal
Commissioners,
selected Peers sitting in their red robes at the
The spectacle
Foot of the Throne.
and curious,
—the
and the Peeresses
is
formal
long rows of red benches, galleries,
from the Table the
will be
Clerk reads
empty
the
Royal
Commission, and each Commissioner raises his cap as his name reads the
titles
is
of the
Bills
and after each
assented
to,
turning
towards the
pronounces in
Reine
pronounced.
le veult."
As
that have
Bill,
been
another Clerk
Commons
Norman
The Clerk
at
the Bar,
French, the words
"La
these words are uttered,
the Bill becomes law as
is
an Act.
be the financial one, then the 160
If the Bill
Norman French
The Lords as seen by is
Commons
the
uttered for the words, the Queen thanks her
good subjects for their benevolence the grant of
But are
money
further, the
summoned
—namely
supplies.
Commons
Speaker and the
at the beginning of each Session,
to hear the Queen's speech read, either
Sovereign from the Throne which case, or
just
by the Lord Chancellor
On
explained.
Peeresses Galleries;
rarely the
is
in the
if
filled,
manner the
that occasion
benches will be fairly well
so will the
thronged, and
every available corner will be crowded
are to arrive at the Bar
be a for
new
it all,
—and
if
all,
their
ancient
the
still
and
Commons
the Parliament
one, then their Speaker
them
;
wearing an orderly
To crown
dignified aspect.
red
the Queen herself be
present, then they will be all
the House will be
by the
is
to
demand
privileges
and
this
moment the
spectacle ceases to be dignified.
The Speaker
freedom
and the
of
first
speech.
row
of
At
Members behind him may
preserve their orderly array, but behind them will be
a
crush of
Members jammed 161
into a
The House of Commons narrow space, hustling and pushing each other, the force from behind augmenting the confusion,
and giving a schoolboy appearance
to the scene.
All this must seem ridiculous to the spectators
from the red benches and from the yet these are the
not of their
own
Commons
motion, but
of Britain coming,
summoned by
Black Eod to attend at the Bar, the
galleries,
it
may
The absurdity
Eoyal presence.
the
be in
of
the
thronging arises not from any fault on the part of the
Commons, but because the space
at the
Bar is quite insufficient. Certainly the Commons, a most potent Estate in the realm, should not
submit to
this arrangement,
and should
insist
on proper accommodation being provided
them on these public
for
occasions.
Having thus sketched the structural arrangements the
the Lords in contrast with those of
Commons
of the
to
of
—
I proceed to describe the aspect
Upper House
Commoner
eyes.
The aspect
of the
itself as it
Commons
on almost every day,
will
162
used to appear
at certain times
be eager, hushed,
The Lords as
seen by the Comi7ions
expectant, even ardent, as
hung on the
issue, as
At
their political fate
indeed would often be the
they must bear in mind their
case, seeing that
friends,
if
supporters and
constituents
outside.
similar times in the Lords, the aspect will
be firm perhaps, but
still
severe and subdued,
neither of the two sides hindering the other,
and the individual Members being
from
all free
any anxiety regarding support or opposition anywhere.
Each Peer may
answer-
feel himself
able to the nation in the abstract, but not to
any person or
set of persons.
Thus he
able
is
to contemplate the situation with an equanimity
rarely
known
to
Commoners.
This considera-
tion markedly affects the general aspect of the
Upper House.
Under the there
is
influence of political excitement,
constant temptation tending to breaches
of order in the
Commons, but hardly
the Lords.
In the
the Speaker
is
Commons
the authority of
ever displayed, his
in the ears of the
at all in
'
rulings
'
Members, the provision
ring for
the enforcement of parliamentary discipline are 163
—
The House of Commons mind
in the
all this is
up
and takes no part
aloft,
As one Member
in the Debates.
Members
after speaking, several
sits
down
rise to speak,
Speaker to select from among
for the
is
The Speaker
universally recognised.
too, as Jupiter, sits
it
and the necessity for
of every one,
them, by calling on the one
But
the speaking.
in the
who
is
to continue
Lords there
is little
or nothing of this discipline, by rule or order so far
as
at least
a spectator can perceive.
The Lord Chancellor apparently authority
without
selves,
in
much
the
chair
disciplinary
"primus
inter pares."
to preserve order
among them-
like a
and by some mutual understanding or
by some previous arrangements, they
who
shall speak
order.
—but
of
—more
The Peers seem
is
on both
sides,
and
in
settle
what
Peers seldom or never seem to rise in
competition with one another, and the Lord Chancellor does not have to call upon any one,
by
selection, to speak.
the two Houses intelligible, in
in
The
difference
these respects
between is
quite
reference to the representative
164
The Lords as seen by
Commons
the
Commons, and the hereditary
character of the
conditions of the Peers.
In the Upper House a Peer seems to have
no
difficulty at
whereby
views
his
introducing a motion
in
all
brought
are
practically
before the public, together with the
which he Bench.
sure
is
He
to
short time. tious
a
it
An
at
Bill
any time and
for
Second Heading within a
to a
active
minded and
justly ambi-
Peer has manifestly great advantage over
similar person
sua
Front
the
has too every reasonable facility
for introducing a
prosecuting
from
elicit
response
si
bona
in
norit,
Commons.
the
he would
rejoice
Indeed, in
his
freedom in these respects from anxiety and vexation which beset
Commons.
his
brethren
in
In general Legislation the
cedure regarding Bills in the
first
the pro-
and second
reading the stages of Committee and Report, the third reading are the
During a
real
Debate
same
in both Houses.
— which
however does
not occur every day or even every week
— the
conduct of the Lords, the interruptions and the 165 k
The House of Commons cheering will be
much
the same as in the
Commons, but milder and more round
—except
won by the
restrained all
when hearty approval
that
a speaker, the cheers of the Lords at
conclusion
almost
are
as
hearty
resounding as those of the Commons. oratory
is
is
much
The
the same in high quality with
the best speakers in both the
Upper and the
Lower House,
or
difference it
purely a matter of opinion.
is
and
if
average of speaking
there be any appreciable
is
The
probably better in the
Lords than in the Commons, probably because it
carried on amidst
is
quieter
surroundings
allowing more concentration of thought, and
causing fewer distractions to impede the flow of ideas
and
of diction.
Often too a
Commoner
has to speak after long fatigue and watching,
with
spirit
weakened by disappointment at not
having been earlier called to take part in the debate.
Instead of that, a Peer would usually
come up
fresh to speak.
The labours
much
less
of a
than
Peer in his House, are very
those of a 16G
Commoner.
On
The Lords as seen by the Commons many
afternoons
Session the
and
rises
beginning
the
in
House assembles
within an hour or
of
the
in the afternoon It is towards
so.
the end of the Session that the sittings become
longer
when important
The Committee work
Commons.
somewhat the same Houses
come up from the
Bills
—except
Members
for
that
is
it
must
be
both
of
perhaps lighter in
the Lords, where the Select Committee would
be fewer.
The Private
as
Bills
previously
described have to pass the Committees of both
Houses.
The Address
to the
Crown
Speech from the Throne
is
in response to the
moved and seconded
by Peers in uniform, then adverted
to
by the
Leaders of the two Front Benches, after the
same manner
as in the
the consequent debate
Commons is
in one evening instead of
the
Commons
—except
that
generally terminated
many
evenings which
usually occupy.
Of the principal
figures in the
Upper House
during recent years the most remarkable have
been the Earl of Beaconsfield, who aUbrded an 1G7
The House of Commons instance, perhaps rare, of a celebrated
Commoner
attaining an equal degree of distinction
being elevated to the Peerage
whose
Salisbury,
after
— the Marquess
have been
brilliant speeches
own sake
well worth hearing for their
of
apart
from their importance as proceeding from the
Prime Minister and the Director Affairs
—Lord
Foreign
of
Rosebery, whose incisiveness in
debate and whose wisdom under the guise of wit have been signalized in the Ministry as well as in
Opposition
— the
whose utterances have
Duke still
of
the same weight
which was once wielded with great
Commons
—The
Duke
consent one of the
of
loftiest,
Devonshire,
effect in the
Argyll, by
common
grandest, and most
impressive orators of his time.
The scenes which
Commons a
certain
often
come about
rarely appear in the Lords.
picturesqueness
in
the
There
when new
is
Peers,
often famous persons, are introduced in their
red robes.
Home
Rule
When Bill
mighty issues are
like
that of
depending, the crowded
approaches and the thronged galleries do indi1G8
The Lords
as seen by the
moment.
cate the excitement of the
the result of the Division
Commons
is
But
after
declared, there will
be rarely or never any of the demonstrations
which are invariably made in the Commons.
The End
W.
Jolly
<5r>
Sons, Printers, Bridge Street, Aberdeen.
A
Catalogue
of the Publications
of
Mr. John Long
6
Chandos
Strand, Telegrams " Longing London "
Street
London
OCTOBER,
1899
JOHN LONG'S
Mr.
LIST OF BOOKS NEW
FICTION
To be Published
NEW NOVEL
toy
Autumn
this
the Author of "THE ADVENTURES OF JOHN JOHNS ".
THE PROGRESS OF PAULINE KESSLER. By Frederic Carrel.
In specially designed cover,
crown
8vo, 6s.
NEW NOVEL
by the Author of " PURSUED BY
LAW ".
AN AFRICAN TREASURE. Cobban.
By
In specially designed cover,
NEW NOVEL
toy
crown
THE
MacLaren
J. Svo, 6s.
the Author of " TUXTER'S LITTLE
MAID
".
THE BREAD OF TEARS.
By G.
B.
Burgin.
In specially designed cover, crown Svo, 6s.
NEW NOVEL by the Author of " DIVIL-M AY-CARE". KINSAH. By May Crommelin. In specially designed cover, crown Svo, 6s.
NEW NOVEL
toy
the Author of
ROSAMOND
««
WICKED
".
CHARMING MISS KYRLE.
By Mina Sandeman.
In specially designed cover, crown Svo, 6s.
NEW NOVEL
by the Author of
A PASSING FANCY. In specially designed cover,
"A
FAIR FRAUD".
Mrs. Lovett Cameron. crown Svo, 6s.
By
Mr. John Long's
List of Publications 3
NEW NOVEL fay the Author of • IRISH HOLIDAYS". BOFFIN'S FIND. A Story of Australian Life. By Robert Thynne.
crown
In specially designed cover,
8vo, 6s.
NEW NOVEL fay the Author of "CICELY VAUCHAN ". WISE IN HIS GENERATION. By Philip Davenant.
crown
In specially designed cover,
NEW NOVEL fay PRIDE.
WOUNDED
NEW NOVEL
ISABEL HOWARD. In cloth
gilt,
the Author of
fay
8vo, 6s.
crown 8vo,
*******
FOR A GOD DISHONOURED.
6s.
»».
Anonymous.
In specially designed cover, 6s. *** This novel deals in the main with woman's rights and woman's contemporary movements, and is from the pointed pen of a lady well-known in literary circles, who, for the
purposes of this novel, desires to remain incognito
the Author of "THE IVIYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB ". BISHOP'S SECRET. By Fergus Hume.
NEW NOVEL
THE
— at least for the present.
fay
In striking picture cover,
NEW NOVEL
fay
crown 8vo,
the Author of " BAIL
PATHS OF THE DEAD. A By Hume 3s. 6d.
3s. 6d.
Romance
Nisbet.
With a
In striking picture cover, Frontispiece.
UP".
of To-day.
crown 8vo,
NEW NOVEL fay LADY DUNTZE. INFELIX. In cloth gilt, crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. Punch.—" A pathetic little story, told well and simply, with no great pretention, yet no straining after dramatic situation or effect just a little sad story of human frailties, by an authoress who has known how to temper her treatment to her ;
theme."
Aberdeen Journal. — " The
life
and passion, a
tale of
story is deservedly popular, throbbing with unflagging interest."
human
Western Mercury. — "The author
clothes her tale most brilliantly and beautifully, all the charm of romance being kept prominently before the reader. It is a curious piece of writing, remarkably clever, very impressive, and ever fascinating to a degree."
NEW NOVEL
fay
MARCUS REAY.
THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF A CURATE. cloth
gilt,
crown 8vo,
3s. 6d.
In
Mr. John Long's
NEW WORKS To be Published
NEW BOOK
RURAL LIFE:
this
CAROLINE GEAREY. Humour and Pathos. By
t)y
Its
Author of "Three Empresses," cover, crown Svo, 6s.
NEW WORK
Autumn
etc.
the
In specially designed
by the Right Hon. Sir
RICHARD
TEMPLE, Bart.
By Sir Richard COMMONS. THE HOUSE OF India 1880," " Men and Events my
of in Temple, Author of " Time in India," " Oriental Experiences," " Palestine Illustrated," "Cosmopolitan Essays," Memoir of Lord Lawrence," " Memoir of James Thomason," " Story of my Life," etc., etc. In cloth gilt, crown Svo, 3s. 6d.
A BOOK OF CRITICISM by
DRAMATIC CRITICISM. 3s. 6d. net.
J. T.
CREIN.
In cloth gilt,
crown 8vo,
List of Publications
POPULAR FATHER ANTHONY
6s. :
NOVELS
A Romance
of To-Day.
By
Robert Buchanan, Author Crown 8vo, cloth, 6s. Fifth
—
of " God and the Man," etc. Edition. Mr. Buchanan is thoroughly in his element with an
James's Gazette. " Father Anthony. The sketches of Irish life are all happily touched and Mr. Buchanan has painted his Mylrea with the brush of a lover of Ireland.
St.
Irish tale like in,
Altogether
it is a perfect story of its type." "A most excellent story, excellently told, and one which we comthe greatest satisfaction to our readers. The novel is vivid, and full of life and colour; and the characters of the two priests, Father Anthony, the delicately-bred, pure-souled gentleman, and Father John Croly, the jovial, homely, but not less sincerely pious man of the people, are drawn with singular charm and
Guardian.
—
mend with
sympathy."
—
World. "There is always a certain fascination about the sanctity of the confessional, and Mr. Buchanan's young priest, who becomes possessed, in virtue of his office, of a secret ... is an exceedingly picturesque and pathetic figure. Undoubtedly this story is as good as, if not better than, anything that Mr. Buchanan has given us for some time." Tablet. " It comes as an agreeable surprise to have a friendly and sympathetic picture of a priest in English fiction. A thrilling story. The picture given us of life in the West of Ireland reads like a transcript from nature by a keen and, we are pleased to say, a sympathetic observer. Mr. Buchanan has given us an effective story, which grips our interest, and the treatment of which is so generally sympathetic that we cannot but be thankful for it." Daily Graphic. "A vivid romance of the present day, the scene of which is set in an Irish village, and it is concerned with that always engrossing problem to some minds should a priest who has obtained information under the seal of confession persist in withholding that information from the minions of the law, even though withholding it means the sacrifice of an innocent man who is under sentence of death? It is a very dramatic situation worked out in very dramatic fashion."
—
—
:
CURIOS A
:
Some Strange Adventures
of
Two
Bachelors.
By Richard Marsh, Author of "The Beetle: A Mystery," etc. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6s. With numerous fullNovel.
page illustrations on plate paper by J. Ayton Symington. Fourth Edition. World. — "The most effective shocker yet invented by the author of The -
Grim, fantastic and humourous in an original fashion. Mr. Ayton Symington has illustrated this remarkable volume admirably." Speaker. " The story of their adventures makes excellent reading. Weird, grotesque and comical. Told with the spirit and vigour that we have learnt to expect in the work of Mr. Marsh." Spectator. " Mr. Richard Marsh, an admitted expert in the art of scalptightening, gives fresh proofs of his skill in Curios, the strange adventures grim, grotesque and gruesome of two bachelors. The adventures are especially good." Athenaeum. " Written with taste and skill." Bookman. " One who takes up the book is not likely to put it down until the last page is read." St. James's Gazette. " Curios is decidedly an amusing book. The book is one that will make the tediousness of a railway journey or a wet afternoon seem as nought." Daily Graphic. " Mr. Marsh is a master of sensationalism. The mysteries are clever and ingeniously developed, and are brightly described, terse and amusing." Beetle.
—
—
—
—
— —
—
—
Mr. John Long's
POPULAR
6s.
WARD OF THE
A
Macquoid, Author of
"
NOVELS—continued. KING.
The Story
By Katharine
of Lois," etc.
Crown
S. 8vo,
Second Edition.
cloth, 6s.
—
Graphic. " Mrs. Macquoid has ventured upon the exceedingly interesting and entirely fresh course of making her central figure, not the usual soldier of fortune who meets with more than all the adventures he looks for, but a very young girl. The phase of historic romance presented by A Ward of the King has long been waiting for the pen which has now been found."
—
Globe. " Mrs. Katharine Macquoid is very well known as the trustworthy purveyor of excellently- written romances. Jeanne's adventures are naturally many and lively, and the accomplished author carries them on with vivacity and a wealth of invention. The story is pleasant, and sure to be appreciated by its natural public."
—
Daily News. " A charming historical novel. Has plenty of romantic adventure and movement. Mrs. Macquoid always writes picturesquely, and there are in the book some delightful descriptions of the interior of France in those days. Jeanne is a piquant and unconventional heroine. The book is a charming addition to that romance of history, the revival of which is a feature of contemporary
fiction."
—
Christian World. " Rich in stirring and thrilling incident, this story should take a high place among historical novels. So well are the principal characters drawn that one almost falls in love with them. This is probably Mrs. Macquoid's best book so far." Literature.
—"
a well written book."
It is
SENT TO COVENTRY. of "
A Woman
of Forty," etc.
By Esme Stuart, Author Crown
8vo, cloth, 6s.
Second
Edition.
—
London Review. "An extremely interesting and pretty book. A very entertaining book, the characters in which are realistically drawn, and the descriptions and pictures of country life and scenery admirably presented. The author's style is always light and easy, and the book affords really excellent reading."
—
Court Journal. " The passion and pathos of this novel are lightened by flashes of ready wit and sprightly humour. Delightful is the opening. The book is for the most part breezy, stimulating and amusing."
—
" Some of the characters are remarkably well drawn. ingeniously handled. A number of side issues help to make up a thoroughly readable all through."
Publisher's Circular.
The
plot, too, is
novel which
is
—
To-=day. " A story that and its character sketching."
Country
is
interesting by reason both of
its
flow of incident
Life. — " Eminently worth reading, and instinct with true feeling.
A
story that is uncommonly well told the atmosphere is excellent, the work of writing has been performed conscientiously, and the little history of human life moves from beginning to end pleasantly and easily." :
Lloyd's.
— "A very fascinating story that can be heartily recommended."
Glasgow Herald. — " The heroine's character is well drawn, that of her mother still better, and all the other women seem to be real flesh and blood. There are also many passages which give evidence of considerable insight into human nature, _
and
in these the style is easy
and
effective."
List of Publications
POPULAR
WHEN LOVE Author of "
Up
6s.
NOVELS—continued.
KIND.
IS
Green,"
for the
By H.
A.
Crown
etc.
Hinkson,
8vo, cloth, 6s.
Second Edition. Athenseum. — "There told
is
a pretty love story in Mr. Hinkson's book, gracefully
and very readable."
Illustrated love of country
London News. — "A wholesome Irish story, breathing an ardent life. The characters stand out clear and convincing, and an un-
common ability has gone to the description of the relations father, son and stepmother."
between the Standishes,
World. — " When
Love is Kind is indeed a pleasant example of the Literary modern art of story-telling, and should widen the circle of readers already acquainted with the works of the author of O'Grady of Trinity and other novels."
—
"An interesting tale of two girls and two lovers. St. James's Gazette. Mr. Hinkson's story is well worked out, and may be confidently recommended."
— " The
Scotsman.
story
is
admirably
told,
and
will
be read with
much
pleasure."
CASTLE ORIOL. "
The Captive
By Charles Hannan, Author Crown
of Pelrin," etc.
8vo, cloth, 6s.
of
Third
Edition.
—
St. James's Budget. " His story is fresher, more instructing, has more recommend it to vigour than many which it has been our lot to read of late. the novel-reading public."
We
Westminster Scotsman.
Review. — " Castle
Oriol
is
a very readable and pleasant story."
— " Castle Oriol belongs to the cultured school of historical romance.
Reveals a bountiful imagination, a power of character delineation, and an inexhaustible store of episode and adventure which cannot fail to sustain the interest of the reader."
—
Birmingham Gazette. " Mr. Hannan has in this, his latest, to consolidate his reputation as a story-writer of the first order.
work done much It is a most in-
teresting tale, cleverly conceived and worked out with equal ability, while the style A tale which should find many admirers, and be popular is easy and graceful. with all who can enjoy a fine romance which has many of the qualities of Scott's novels and none of their pedantry."
THE HOSPITAL SECRET. Life.
Crown
A
Novel of Hospital
By James Cohpton (Pseudonym
of Popular Author).
8vo, cloth, 6s.
Weekly Sun.—"
It
has
many
Westminster Review.—"
Dundee Courier. — " This cally told."
vivid scenes,
It is
and the story
a well-written
work of
very entertaining novel.
.
.
is
dramatically told."
fiction." .
Skilfully
and dramati-
—
Mr. John Long's
POPULAR
6s.
TREWINNOT OF Kernahan, Author of 8vo, cloth, 6s.
NOVELS—continued.
GUY'S.
"
By Mrs. Coulson
Frank Redland, Recruit,"
etc.
Crown
Fifth Edition.
—
it
World. " The story teems with incident. Every personage is a character, and would be impossible to deny their cleverness, or the perceptive powers which they The hero, Trewinnot himself, is admirably drawn. The enthusiastic young
reveal.
student, at once light-hearted and earnest, with his capacity for whole-souled devotion, and his enjoyment of a lark,' could hardly be better done. This breezy and attractive personality dominates the whole style of the book." Sketch. " Mrs. Coulson Kernahan's pictures of medical student life, of doctors, dispensers, locum tenens, are admirable." Speaker. " A writer so gifted with racy humour, keen observation and vigorous eloquence. Mrs. Kernahan possesses not only these agreeable qualities, but the more solid virtues of sympathetic insight, tender pathos and an intimate knowledge of the hearts of men and women. Trewinnot of Guy's is in many respects a notable novel." Every one St. James's Budget. " A vividly realistic picture of medical life. connected with the noble profession of healing should at once read Trewinnot of Guy's." Daily News. " It is a well-written, well-constructed story. Mrs. Kernahan seems to be familiar with her subject, and with a light and firm touch she weaves her threads of humour and tragedy as she depicts the manners of a profession that perhaps more than any other comes in contact with human nature as it is. Trewinnot is a pleasant hero. Headlong, sincere and capable, he is very much alive." Saturday Review. " There are touches of genuine observation in the book the routine of an overworked doctor practising in a poor London district, for instance. feel that the author is here at home with her subject." Academy. " It brings Bob Sawyer and Ben Allen up to date." '
— —
—
—
—
We
—
IRISH HOLIDAYS. By Robert
Thynne, Author of "The Story of Australian Exploration," "Captain Flinders," etc. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6s.
—
Daily Telegraph. " These sprightly word-sketches of sporting incidents and on the Milesian side of St. George's Channel are here and
political conditions
there interspersed with effective episodes of adventure undeniably belonging to the category of good stories." Leeds Mercury. " In a moment of leisure one evening we took up a book entitled Irish Holidays by Robert Thynne, merely to ascertain the drift of the work. It proved too much for us for so entertaining was it that we did not part company till the early hours of morning. So easily and pleasantly is it written that we forget we are reading, and almost fancy that we are listening to the good tales and chatter of an old friend." Speaker. " Mr. Thynne understands both Ireland and the Irish, and his lively pictures of places and people ought to go far in dispelling harsh prejudices. There is humour in the book and observation." Scotsman. " Mr. Thynne has already shown how well he knows his Ireland, and also how pleasantly he can communicate what he knows. It was to be expected that his Irish Holidays would be an interesting and well written book, and expectation will not be disappointed. The plan of it is admirable. If any one wanted a readable volume which would enable him really to understand something of the condition of Ireland,' question of some ten years ago, we do not know where we could lay hands on a better than this. The writer has more than knowledge of the people— he has sympathy, and the insight that sympathy gives. The book is full of incident and not lacking in comedy."
—
:
—
—
'
List of Publications
POPULAR
NOVELS—continued.
6s.
A DIFFICULT MATTER. Cameron, Author of Fraud," etc. Crown
"
The Craze
8vo, cloth, 6s.
By Mrs.
Lovett
of Christina," "
A
Fair
Third Edition.
— We
Black and White. " have a few writers whose books arouse in us certain expectations which are always fulfilled. Such a writer is Mrs. Lovett Cameron, and her newest story, A Difficult Matter, does not make us change our opinion. Mrs. Lovett Cameron's admirers will not be disappointed in A Difficult Matter It is a pleasant, readable story, told in an interesting manner."
—
Graphic. " A really very pleasant story." Pall Mall Gazette. "A pleasant and entertaining
—
story, written
in the
author's usual light and easy style."
Illustrated
News. — " Mrs. Lovett Cameron's interesting novel."
London
— " A novel sure to find favour with her numerous readers." World. — " One of Mrs. Lovett Cameron's best novels. There a good deal Literary World.
is
admire in this novel besides its construction the style is pleasing, and, without pose or platitude, Mrs. Lovett Cameron gives her readers the benefit of cultivated observation of life, a thoughtful mind, and the gift of sympathy." to
;
St.
James's Budget. — " Certain
to be eagerly read.
The
story
is
intensely
interesting."
THE STORY OF quoid, Author of
News.—"
It is
Macquoid's new novel quoid's
charm
By Katharine S. Mac"A Ward of the King," etc. Crown
LOIS.
Patty,"
Third Edition.
8vo, cloth, 6s. Daily
'•
is
of style.
especially as a study of the artistic temperament that Mrs. interesting. The story is skilfully told with all Mrs. MacThe book is, we think, the strongest that Mrs. Macquoid
has given us."
—
Graphic. " It is as a psychological study of one of the rarest of all that the story has an interest of no ordinary kind."
—
Pall Mall Gazette. " Mrs. Macquoid study of the artistic temperament."
Robinson, Author of etc.
Crown
her story well.
WENT THROUGH.
ALL THEY
"
Lois
temperaments is
By
a very good
F.
W.
Grandmother's Money," " Young Nin,"
8vo, cloth, 6s.
Athenajum. — ",
tells
Second Edition.
by of organic details of London life in its lower forms which made Rossetti rank author so high among latter-day humorists. The author's forces are as fresh, wholesome and vigorous as ever." .
.
It is this
faculty of vitalising a whimsical situation
means this
Bookman. — "For
humour and
briskness of narrative, for workmanlike technique, for light the qualities that are usually classed as entertaining, it is superior to
any book of the kind that has been offered to us lately.'' Black and White.— " All They Went Through will be among the most popular books of the season, as it thoroughly deserves to be." Literary World. " Mr. P. VV. Robinson is an old friend, and wherever we turn in this volume we find reasons for applause, and we can assure our readers that they will not go astray if they spend money, and time, and attention upon All They Went Through."
—
(
Mr. John Long's
io
POPULAR
NOVELS— continued.
6s.
THE CRAZE OF CHRISTINA.
By Mrs. Lovett
of "A Fair Fraud," etc. Fifth Edition.
Crown
Cameron, Author vellum,
gilt, 6s.
8vo, art
World.— "An amusing book is always sure of a welcome, and The Craze of Christina should be popular. Mrs. Lovett Cameron hits upon a genuinely comic idea, and she develops it with skill. Mrs. Lovett Cameron means to entertain her readers, and entertain them she does."
IN
THE DARK.
By Esme Stuart, Author
" Sent to Coventry," etc. Second Edition. Speaker.
Crown
Svo, art vellum,
— " Is both dramatic in
exciting pages of In the Dark. Stuart's ingenuity. The story's perpetually on the alert."
plot and spirited in execution. The really The plot is a capital one, doing credit to Esme many complications keep the reader's attention .
.
.
ESTATE. THE STORY OF A CAMPAIGN " " Robert Thynne, Author of Find," etc. Crown Svo, cloth
Pall Mall Gazette.
of
gilt, 6s.
Holidays,"
Irish
gilt,
By
Boffin's
6s.
— "A
very excellent account of the reign of terror in Ireland. The character of Father Doyle, who, for conscience' sake, was strong enough to oppose his own order when resistance meant ostracism, is a noble and admirable character."
THE KINGDOM OF MAMMON. of "And Fourth Edition.
Tweedale, Author cloth, 6s.
Glasgow Herald. — " The
They Two,"
etc.
By Violet Crown
8vo,
study which she makes of her Anglican Tartufl'e
can hardly be called a pleasant one but it is undeniably clever, and absolutely ruthless. The novel is full of interest throughout, and it never tempts the reader to skip a single page." ;
Punch. — " An
exceptionally powerful work."
THE LOVE OF A FORMER J.
LIFE.
By Chas.
H. Halcombe, Author of " The Mystic Flowery Land," etc.
Crown
Svo, cloth, 6s.
—
"The story proceeds in the most interesting manner, and proves the brilliancy of the author's imagination, his ability to handle character and scenes, and his possession of a free command of graceful diction. The theory advanced is worked into a well-told tale." Scotsman.
—
Glasgow Herald. " The author has worked his theory out with considerable ingenuity, and the story he has based on it is vigorously conceived and interesting throughout."
1
List of Publications
POPULAR
FRANK
NOVELS— continued. REDLAND, RECRUIT. By 6s.
Coulson Kernahan, Author Crown, 8vo,
is
1
of
"Trewinnot
Mrs.
of Guy's," etc.
Fourth Edition.
cloth, 6s.
World. — " The Redland family is remarkably well drawn. The idea of the story new and romantic. The striking conclusion of her animated and attractive .
.
.
story."
A FAIR FRAUD.
By Mrs. Lovett Cameron, Author
of "A Difficult Matter," etc. Edition.
Speaker. — "Mrs. Lovett
Crown
Svo, cloth, 6s.
Cameron has once more compounded with
Fifth deft
and
skilful touch a piquant dish. A Fair Fraud is, in truth, a very pleasant and entertaining story, and Mrs. Lovett Cameron possesses the invaluable gift of never allowing her readers to become bored, so that it is possible to read the book straight through with unabated interest. The story is told with great spirit and dash, carrying the reader on from page to page in very agreeable fashion. The drawing of the 'fair fraud' and her ever youthful mother is done with humour and point. Altogether we can cordially recommend A Fair Fraud."
PURSUED BY THE LAW. Cobban, Author of Svo, cloth, 6s.
Athenaeum. — "The
"
The Angel
By James MacLaren
of the Covenant," etc.
Crown
Third Edition. exciting experiences of James Graham, the escaped conand the interest of the book is complete from
vict, are told in a masterly fashion, start to finish."
A WEAVER OF RUNES. Burrard, Author
Crown
of
"A
By W.
Dutton
Great Platonic Friendship,"
etc.
Svo, cloth, 6s.
Telegraph. — " The
narrative sparkles with lively and natural dialogue, Daily throwing the various characterisations into high relief, and keeping the attention of the reader continually on the qui vive. Not only is the Weaver of Runes an extremely amusing personage, but he bears convincing witness to the keen insight brought to bear upon the problems of life by the literary author of his being."
WICKED " ROSAMOND. Author of
Charming Miss Kyrle,"
By
Mina Sandeman,
etc.
Crown
Athenaeum. — "Her
The
good.
OSWALD STEELE. 8vo, cloth, 6s. Birmingham Daily Gazette. novels
it
The
By Eibbon Berkley.
— " One
of the
story
is
Crown
most entertaining and clever
has been our good fortune to come across for some time."
CICELY VAUGHAN. of
Svo, cloth, 6s.
latest novel is the best that we have seen. worldly mother and her daughter are well described."
"Wise
World.—" A
in his
By Philip Davenant. Author
Generation
".
Crown
Svo, cloth, 6s.
Her strong and interesting story, which commands attention. character, her crime, and her fate are admirably treated. The end of the story is very striking."
Mr. John Long's
12
POPULAR 3s. 6d. NOVELS WHEN THE MOPOKE CALLS. Australian Bush of "
By William
Tales.
From
the
illustrations cloth, 3s. 6d.
Land
Walker (" Coo-ee"). Author Wombat ". With 22 full-page
S.
of the
on plate paper, by S. H. Vedder. Third Thousand.
Crown
8vo,
—
Times. "A collection of Australian stories, giving a capital idea of life on the remote out-stations of the eastern colonies in the last generation. Not the least attractive chapter is the first, describing the sea voyage when the passenger by sailing-ship had to furnish his own cabin. There is humour in the lamentable tribulation of the Jackeroo, or tenderfoot; there is romance in the legend of the haunted gully, and in the tale of the dead digger's Christmas-box to his comrades; and there is the height of sensation in the fighting of the flood, when the bursting of waterspouts, after a prolonged drought, threatens to engulf a station with its beleaguered occupants."
—
World. "Mr. William S. Walker is steeped in the traditions of Australian bush-lore, and his collection of tales contain the experiences of a career spent amid what was in those days a wild and unsettled region. They are full of the sound of the vagrant's song of freedom, and are particularly fresh and unhackneyed."
—
Spectator. "A brightly-written volume of the trials and humours of Colonial Midnight, the story of a bushranger who for life some thirty or more years back. a while evaded suspicion by successfully impersonating a captain of police, is a favourable specimen of Mr. Walker's powers. He, too, we are glad to see, has a kind word for the blacks. Mr. Vedder's pictures are good."
Weekly Sun. — "There
is no more interesting writer about Australia than well-known " Coo-ee". His new book gives a new interest get something more than its roughness and ruggedness we get its humour and its human interest. No other writer on Antipodean subjects writes with so much dramatic power as Mr. Walker."
Mr.
S. Walker, the to Colonial life.
We
;
BY JUMNA'S BANKS. By Paul Markham.
Crown
An Anglo-Indian
Novel.
8vo, cloth, 3s. 6d.
—
Paul Markham has imparted to his story of and charm that will ensure for it many readers. there is much of it, is well wrought, and the story abounds in a Evidently the author vivid description of life in Delhi and other parts of India. knows India well, and his knowledge has been skilfully used in the unfolding of the plot of this agreeable story." " Mr. in India a freshness
Pall Mall Gazette.
military
life
The humour, and
—
Bookseller. "The different characters have been drawn by a skilled and practised hand, and it is clear enough that Mr. Markham has had actual experience of the scenes and the people to whom his readers are introduced. Indeed, the only fault of the tale is that it comes to an end much too soon."
—
Glasgow Herald. "The author has a certain knack for bringing out the salient features of his characters in a clear and often rather amusing fashion. He succeeds in giving us a very vivid impression of the various little social functions The army doctor in which the personages in his little drama perform their part. with his grievances, the major with his sermons and his eleven reformed drunkards, are capital portraits, drawn with a few clever strokes that seem to make them feel like oid friends."
List of Publications
POPULAR
13
NOVELS— continued.
3s. 6d.
YOUTH AT THE PROW.
By E. Rentoul Bsler, Way They Loved at Grimpat,'' "The WardCrown 8vo, cloth, 3s. 6d. Second Edition. no living writer of fiction, not one, Chronicle. — "There
Author of "The laws,"
etc.
is Newcastle Daily whose powers within their range are more striking and definite than those of Mrs. Rentoul Esler. Her pathos and her humour are not matters of words; they are
This is a very great quality." Literary World. " Mrs. Esler is not an athlete with the pen, she is an artist." Sheifield Daily Telegraph. " The late Mr. James Payn was one of the first to accord the writer a foremost place in the delicate and difficult art of the short story. The welcome he gave her first volume of Village Idylls in the Illustrated London News was as generous and cordial as it was unexpected and unsolicited." Liverpool Daily Post.—" Youth at the Prow is the title of an excellent book, fresh and original, well written and wholesome in tone, and cannot fail to be appreciated by the readers. The popularity gained by Mrs. Esler in her previous novel, The Wardlaws, will undoubtedly be enhanced by the present volume. Mrs. Esler possesses remarkable talent in depicting the characteristics of each perso n she refers to." „ _* _: i^fl+Sy-? '•'- -c7i^J'.'Zl-^''~^^t^. implicit in her events.
—
—
'
^V
'
WITH BOUGHT SWORDS American
Republic.
^
-"'
:
A
Tale of a Spanish-
By Harry Fowler.
Crown
8vo,
cloth, 3s. 6d. St. James's Budget. " An extremely vivacious and interesting story with plenty of the fortunes of war in it, and the love interest is well sustained through-
—
out."
Morning Leader.—" Told in the best manner of thrilling fiction." Glasgow Herald. — " There is plenty of go and movement about this tale." Court Circular. — "The tale is one of thrilling adventure, with never a page in
dull
it."
Westminster Review. — " A dashing
story that will interest
many
readers just
now."
HIS LITTLE BILL OF SALE. evils of
By
Ellis J. 8vo, cloth, 3s. 6d. subject thoroughly, and his exposure of the the whole money-lending system and of the law which protects the usurer
Davis, Barrister-at-Law. Scotsman. — " Mr. Davis knows his
Crown
is admirable. He gives also sound advice to those who may be tightly placed in respect to money. As a novel with a purpose it is at once useful and interesting." Literature. " Mr. Ellis J. Davis sets iorth how a man fares in the hands of the usurers, and he is both interesting and instructive on the ways of the moneylenders." Westminster Review. "A really interesting and useful book." Literary World. "An exposure of the tricks not only of professional moneyThe history of lenders, but of the lawyers who make a living out of fighting them. Mr. Millar, the sharp law3'er,' is highly instructive, and the character of Mr. Crushc, the counsel, who works with him, reflects small credit on the bar."
—
—
—
'
THE CRIME
THE WOOD.
By T. IN Speight, Author of "The Mysteries of Heron Dyke," Crown 8vo, cover design, 3s. 6d. Second Edition,
—
W. etc.
Daily Mail. " Mr. Speight is a practised hand at the writing of mystery We have read this new book of his, and can recommend it." British Weekly. " Mr. Speight is an able, almost a brilliant writer." Observer. " Mr. Speight has a number of exciting and absorbingly interesting stories of a sensational character standing to his credit, and all readers acquainted with his earlier stories will need no more than to be told that The Ct itne in the Wood is as good as its predecessors in oth<;r words, is an admirable essay in stories.
—
—
—
sensational fiction."
Mr. John Long's
14
POPULAR
3s. 6d.
NOVELS— continued.
THE SILENT HOUSE
IN PIMLICO.
By
Fergus Hume, Author of "The Mystery of a Hansom Cab," etc. Crown Svo, cloth, 3s. 6d. Fourth Edition.
Punch. — " The plot
is
story will be found most exciting. The construction of the very ingenious, and as a lively bit of sensationalism the Baron can honestly Silent House."
recommend The
MISS NANSE.
By Sarah Tytler, Author
" Citoyenne Jacqueline," etc. Second Edition.
Crown
Svo,
cloth,
3s.
of 6d.
—
Spectator. " A curious and at times fascinating study of manners in a Scottish seaport town half a century back. One is reminded of Cranford by the delicacy of humour with which the homely dignity of provincial gentlewomen is set before us."
FROM THE LAND OF THE WOMBAT.
By
William S. Walker, Author of "When the Mopoke Calls," etc. Crown Svo, cloth, 3s. 6d. With 13 Full-page Illustrations on Plate Paper by
—
J.
A. Symington.
Daily Graphic. " The stories are written so naturally and with such an appearance of truth that we are almost inclined to believe that the author is relating his own experiences rather than telling us tales of fiction. Mr. Walker has great knowledge of his subject, and is able to convey to his reader a very realistic impression of Australian life and character. The stories are of great variety, and many of them have a quaint humour about them that is decidedly taking. The tales are well illustrated by J. Ayton Symington." Guardian. " Mr. Walker has done excellent work in From the Land of the Wombat, and he seems now to be our finest Australian writer. He is always picturesque, always striking."
—
THE SPORT OF CIRCUMSTANCE. Chatterton, Author of
Crown
"A Darn
By
G. G.
on a Blue Stocking,"
etc.
Svo, art vellum, gilt, 3s. 6d. Athenaeum. "The book is interesting and clever throughout, and has good literature in
—
it."
OF FAME. A DREAM "
By Jean Delaire, Author etc. Crown Svo, cloth, 3s. 6d. — "Distinctly an original book." Review of Reviews. DIDUMS. By Jean Macpherson. Crown 8vo, cloth, 3s. 6d. Bookman. — " A powerfully written story. Didums herself beautifully drawn." outlined with much Outlook. — "A very charming profile of an original tenderness and no power." Spectator. — " The cleverness of the story." THE SEA OF LOVE. By Walter Phelps Dodge, Author of "A Strong Man Armed," "As The Crow Flies," "Three Greek Tales," etc. Long 12mo, cloth, Is. 6d. Scotsman. — " The stories are invariably clever and dramatic, and the book sure to be widely read." Manchester Courier. — " Many countries and many types are dealt with, but of
Pro Patria,"
is
girl,
little
is
all
are cleverly touched, and the dialogue and characterisation are good throughout." Pail Mall Gazette.—" Some graceful little stories by W. P. Dodge go to make up a pretty booklet."
List of Publications
15
POETRY THE DEMON OF THE WIND, and Other Poems. By
G.
Hunt Jackson.
Scotsman.
Crown
8vo, cloth, gilt top, 3s. 6d. net.
— " The book has no lack of pleasant reading.
fluent and gracefully turned
:
Manchester Guardian. — " Mr. Jackson's muse and
in her lighter vein touches a
all
is
collection of are well above the average."
company enough
poems contains many of unusual
NIGHTSHADE AND POPPIES: Country Doctor.
1
pleasant
genuine chord."
Manchester Courier. — "This merit, while
All are picturesque, readers.'
and the volume ought not to lack
By Dugald Moore, M.B.
Verses of a Crown 8vo,
cloth, 3s. 6d. net.
—
Newcastle Daily Chronicle. " He can swing a stirring rhythm, and can handle even a professional subject in verse of vivid and vigorous idea and genuinely Genuine powers and remarkable range. Dr. Dugald Moore's verses have all a human pulse, and a picturesque energy."
fine feeling.
Bookman. — "
Decidedly above the average."
THE BOER
RIDE.
A
Poem.
Crown 8vo. paper cover, 6d. net. An attempt to describe the raid into
By Frank Short.
the Transvaal from the
point of view of an old Boer. St. Paul's.
—"A story of considerable and human interest."
1
6
Mr. John Long's
List of Publications
MISCELLANEOUS THE HISTORY OF "THE TEMPLE". Special Reference to that of the Middle Temple of the Ancient Seals.
By
;
With
also facsimiles
G. Pitt-Lewis, Q.C., a Master of
the Bench of the Middle Temple.
Crown
8vo, paper cover,
Is. 6d.
Daily Telegraph. fashion which
is
Literature.
— "The
as skilful as
subject, always interesting."
an attractive one,
is
handled in a
it is
— "An excellent account of one of the most illustrious of our
Inns
of Court."
—
Scotsman. " It puts a deal of antiquarian learning into a shape likely to prove It has attractive to all who are specially interested in the English schools of law. not only an historical interest as a picture of bygone times, but also a practical value in its suggestions as to the constitution of a legal university for the whole British Empire."
London: John Long 6
Chandos
Street,
Strand
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES
THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY is DUE on the last date stamped
This book
below
i
u(249l>
UNIVERSITY
of
CALIFORNIA
AT LOS ANGELES LIBRARY
UCLA-Young Research
JN 675
Il899 j
T24
Library
JN675 1899 T24
Temple The commons.
MINI
L 009 606 950 5
UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY
AA
JN 675 1899 T24
001 352 862
5
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