Punch (95.1888)

July 7, 1888.]

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

11

OUR JAPANNERIES. No. 5.

THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENTS

EXTRACTED EltOM

THE DIARY OF TOBY, M.P.

House of Commons, Monday, June 25.—Great field-night." Go-
vernment arraigned. Indietment set forth by John Moeley in
speech full of gems of literary style. Old Morality formally led
into dock. Makes a lovely criminal. Ah' of unimpeachable respecta-
bility worth anything to counsel for defence.

" Sort of man sure to be bailed out," said Chaeles Russell, look-
ing at him with professional eye.

House crowded at outset, but specially in Galleries. ~ " Three
Lord-Lieutenants looking down upon us," said Joseph Glllis,

f1 meing up at Peers' Gallery. "It's like Napoleon—-or was it
Ellington ?—marching his men past the Pyramids, so that he
might say thirty centuries were looking down on 'em."
Joey B. nodded with friendly recognition to Spencer and Aber-

deen. Bather cut Londonderry, who had snatched an hour from
arduous duties at Dublin Castle to sit in Senate. Derby there,
as usual without Joan. But Stratheden had brought Campbell to
recreate his great mind by taking a turn at Irish affairs. Strath-
eden and Campbell—' Siamese twins of la haute politique " as
Rosebery calls them—an audience of themselves. Sit by the hour
with grave face looking into space. If they hadn't been born to
share British Peerage," said George Gerzon, who is an authority on
the subject of Peers, ' would have made a reputation as Chief of the
Apaches, or any Indian tribe where a look of unutterable wisdom is
qualification for leading position."

On the whole, rather a dull evening. Everybody intensely inte-
rested, of course; fate of Ministry m balance, and all that sort of
thing. Still, after first couple of hours, Members began, as it were,
to fold their tent like the Arab, and as silently steal away. Just before
Nine, House so empty, occurred to anonymous humorist (probably
Joachim) to try Count Out. That would have been funnv to have
Members summoned from ends of earth to attack or defend Ministry,