Punch (80.1881)

February 12, 1881.]

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

EXTRACTED FROM

'THE DIARY OF TOBY, M.P.

Monday Night, Jan. 31.—It was one of the few fitting things in
the proceedings that, the echoes of midnight having long rolled
away into the still night, a gentleman named Gabbett rose to move
the adjournment of the debate on the First Heading of the Protection
Bill. As far as family name went, this was all very well. But
the House is at length tired of this travesty of freedom of debate,
and uproariously cheered when Mr. Gladstone, in the fewest pos-
sible words, announced that the Motion would be resisted.

This was what all the real business of the evening has led up to.
The Speaker has been in the Chair, the Mace has been on the Table,
the Sergeant-at-Arms has worthily presided in the Vice-Chair ; all
the accustomed sights and sounds of a Sitting in the House has been
observable. But it is outside in the Lobby that the real business of
the night's Sitting has been accomplished. Here Lord Richard
Grosvenob, working harder and for longer hours than would be

Sossible under the Factory Acts, is making arrangements by which
[embers may come and Members may go, but the Sitting shall rim
on for ever, or at least till the division on Mr. Foestek's Bill be
taken. At the door, invigorated, by a too brief Sunday in the
country, cheery Mr. Cotes, with book in hand, is ticking off Members
as they come and go, cautiously sounding them as to their preference
for sitting up all night or getting up early in the morning, and
promptly booking them for one or the other " shift." Sir William

NEXT A SOVT - THti• n.f\\Z$

Dyke, whom everyone is glad to see back in' the House, turns'up in
the Lobby to-night, having sniffed the battle from alar,.and now
revels in the prospect with the delight of an old war-horse.

It seems, when you come to think of it, a funny way of passing an
Act of Parliament, but just now there is none other; and if Irish
Members were as wise as they are loquacious, they would take note
of this stern enthusiasm that is obliterating all parties and sections