Punch (94.1888)

Souse of Commons, Monday Night, February,27.-*'irst day of
early closing movement. Up to verge of midnight everything went
admirahly. Ordinary votes fairly discussed. Irish vote talked about
at large. Everyone satisfied. Old Morakty popped out to see that
the shutters were all right for closing promptly at midnight. Divi-
sion taken on Irish vote. Ten minutes left for unconsidered trifles.
Couktney hegan running through votes. Reached that for National
Gallery, when from helow Gangway on Ministerial side, there
flashed a luminous breadth of crumpled shirt-front. .A head
of rumpled and now, alas! shortening hair, presented itself; a
familiar voice sounded through Chamber, and Committee became
sensible of fact that Cavendish Bektinck was on his legs wanting
to know about most recent purchases for National Gallery. _ .

Deep groan went up from Conservative side. Opposition ironically
cheered and joyously laughed. Hadn't seen Cavendish for weeks.
Certainly was not in his place through sitting. Evening dress showed
I he had been to meeting at Exeter Hall or Jerusalem Chamber. Wow
I dropped in ten minutes to twelve wantmg to know about tne

Murder of the Innocents, two panel pictures by Mocetio," of which
the nation had become possessed.

"Does the Right Honourable Gentleman," he asked, liberally
promoting Jackson to the Privy Council, " know who Moketto
was?" . .

Erom angry way in which name was pronounced, Joseph Gillis
thought it must be that of a Resident Magistrate, and called out
"Yah, yah!" Thus encouraged, Cavendish went on with his
indictment. There was another picture, a Dutch portrait, painter
unknown, price £50.

" As representative of British taxpayer, I object to portraits by
painter unknown, said Cavendish, his words tripping each other
up as they tumbled out in hot haste.

Loud cheers greeted this declaration. Cavendish next proposed
to read extracts from gilt-edged book borrowed from Library. But
volume always turning up wrong end first, he finally tucked it under
his armpit. To this day no one knows what it was about, or what it
ought to have proved. Excitement growing. Opposition increasingly