DOI issue:
September 6, 1884
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17757#0116
September 6, 1884 ]
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
109
SSENCE OF MIDLOTHIANISM.
EXTRACTED FROM
THE DIARY OF GL-DST-NE, M P.
Thursday, 28th August.—Up at Six o’Cloek. Read from my
favourite books, Homer, and Midlothian Speeches. In the former,
just reading once more the Catalogue of the Ships. . What tender-
ness, what coyly-hidden beauty, and what suggestiveness in this
memorable passage! Always comes back fresh to me like a whiff of
the sea on which the ships floated. As for Midlothian Speeches,
mentioned before that constant study of them is indispensable.
Always being quoted, or rather misquoted from opposite side. Am
bound to keep myself familiar with them so as to be ready to
correct. Pretty to see how surprised Ashmead- Bartlett, or
Barttelot, or Randolph are when they have put forth a paraphrase
from one oi the speeches, and I rise, correct them, and give the very
text. They think it’s magic. Simplest thing in the world. Read,
say, half a speech every morning before breakfast; keep it up the
year through, and, with average memory, can't fail to master text.
Mean to rest to-day. Shall, therefore, limit myself to a couple of
Blue Books and the answering of fifty letters.
Friday.—Up at Six again. Like these fresh early mornings. Of
course, whilst House sitting, can’t manage it, so take it out at
other end. Har-
tington always
wants me to go
to bed early.
But prefer to
hang about, and
see things all
right. Don’t
altogether like
Hartington’s
way of conduct-
ing business
about Midnight.
Sits there in
phlegmatic
silence, whilst
He alt howls, or
Bartlett bawls.
Consequence is
they tire them-
selves out, and
next business is
taken. How,
when I am pre-
sent, I sit with
every indication
of rapt attention.
They see that,
though the score
or so of other
Members are
half asleep, they
have an audience in me. Consequence is they go on at great
length. Sometimes I interject a word across floor of House,
which adds to liveliness. Sometimes I get up, and make a little
speech. That keeps things going, and though perhaps business
doesn’t get on so fast as under Hartington, there is much more
cheerfulness in proceedings.
Easy Joke for the Scotch (No. 1).—“ Such a Feller!:
Hot out axe. Always carry axe about with me on these little
journeys from home.
If anyone axes for why,
I hit him a rap with my crook.
It’s Salisbury kills me, says I.
Put it that way only for metrical exigencies. Mean to kill Salis-
bury to-morrow night.
Steal softly down-stairs with axe on shoulders. Household asleep.
Stroll into park, find nice promising young oak, just the sort of thing
to take before breakfast.
Am nearly through with
it when Rosebery turns
up; seems a little an-
noyed. Asks “ if I don’t
think I ’ll tire myself.”
Oh no, I say; used to it.
Generally take a tree, or
half a tree, according to
size, when I get up ia the
morning. Rosebery says
he ’ll show me where
there are some nice trees.
Evidently hit upon a
wrong one.
Another quiet day, pre-
paring pills and potions
for the Markiss.
Saturday. — A very
pleasant day indeed.
Drove into Edinburgh
this afternoon. Immense
crowds in the streets.
Enthusiastic cheers. Corn
Exchange crammed.
Cheers deafening. Spoke
for hour and half.
Thought I let the Markiss
and the Lords have it
pretty hot, but audience
evidently didn’t take that
view. Of course, can’t go
in for Abolition of Peers with Granville and Kimberley and Spencer
and rest in Cabinet. Rdsebery says he would gladly exchange his
coronet for a seat in the House of Commons for Manchester, or
Liverpool, or some big town. But Rosebery’s young and enthusi-
astic. If Dizzy had still been in the Lords, can’t say what might
have happened. Certainly it would have been fun to abolish him.
As it is, must keep out of the current. A little embarrassing in the
present state of public feeling. Audience listen impatiently when I
discuss Franchise Bill, and don’t care much about Redistribution.
“ What aboot the House of Lairds F ” they shout in their persistent
practical way. House of Lords must evidently look out for itself.
Not going to lead crusade against it, but can’t expect me to die in
Easy Joke for the Scotch (No. 2).—“ Kilt
Entirely! ”
Easy Joke for the Scotch (No. 3).—“ Putting the Stone—very pooty.”
its defence. Done what I could in quiet way to bring it down.
Made Knatchbhll-Hugessen a Peer, but House still carries on.
Mean to make Dodson a Baron, but don’t suppose even that will
shake them. Plenty of his kind already in House. All very well to
cry out against House of Lords. But what would a Minister do
without it? When a man fails in the Commons, or becomes
inconvenient there, we can make him a Peer. How the Queen’s
Government is to be carried on without this resource can’t say.
Quite fresh after speech. Wanted to walk back to Dalmeny, but
Rosebery said would be late for dinner. Sat up till Half-past
Twelve, writing for Nineteenth Century essay on the Income Tax.
Vox.. 87.
4—2
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
109
SSENCE OF MIDLOTHIANISM.
EXTRACTED FROM
THE DIARY OF GL-DST-NE, M P.
Thursday, 28th August.—Up at Six o’Cloek. Read from my
favourite books, Homer, and Midlothian Speeches. In the former,
just reading once more the Catalogue of the Ships. . What tender-
ness, what coyly-hidden beauty, and what suggestiveness in this
memorable passage! Always comes back fresh to me like a whiff of
the sea on which the ships floated. As for Midlothian Speeches,
mentioned before that constant study of them is indispensable.
Always being quoted, or rather misquoted from opposite side. Am
bound to keep myself familiar with them so as to be ready to
correct. Pretty to see how surprised Ashmead- Bartlett, or
Barttelot, or Randolph are when they have put forth a paraphrase
from one oi the speeches, and I rise, correct them, and give the very
text. They think it’s magic. Simplest thing in the world. Read,
say, half a speech every morning before breakfast; keep it up the
year through, and, with average memory, can't fail to master text.
Mean to rest to-day. Shall, therefore, limit myself to a couple of
Blue Books and the answering of fifty letters.
Friday.—Up at Six again. Like these fresh early mornings. Of
course, whilst House sitting, can’t manage it, so take it out at
other end. Har-
tington always
wants me to go
to bed early.
But prefer to
hang about, and
see things all
right. Don’t
altogether like
Hartington’s
way of conduct-
ing business
about Midnight.
Sits there in
phlegmatic
silence, whilst
He alt howls, or
Bartlett bawls.
Consequence is
they tire them-
selves out, and
next business is
taken. How,
when I am pre-
sent, I sit with
every indication
of rapt attention.
They see that,
though the score
or so of other
Members are
half asleep, they
have an audience in me. Consequence is they go on at great
length. Sometimes I interject a word across floor of House,
which adds to liveliness. Sometimes I get up, and make a little
speech. That keeps things going, and though perhaps business
doesn’t get on so fast as under Hartington, there is much more
cheerfulness in proceedings.
Easy Joke for the Scotch (No. 1).—“ Such a Feller!:
Hot out axe. Always carry axe about with me on these little
journeys from home.
If anyone axes for why,
I hit him a rap with my crook.
It’s Salisbury kills me, says I.
Put it that way only for metrical exigencies. Mean to kill Salis-
bury to-morrow night.
Steal softly down-stairs with axe on shoulders. Household asleep.
Stroll into park, find nice promising young oak, just the sort of thing
to take before breakfast.
Am nearly through with
it when Rosebery turns
up; seems a little an-
noyed. Asks “ if I don’t
think I ’ll tire myself.”
Oh no, I say; used to it.
Generally take a tree, or
half a tree, according to
size, when I get up ia the
morning. Rosebery says
he ’ll show me where
there are some nice trees.
Evidently hit upon a
wrong one.
Another quiet day, pre-
paring pills and potions
for the Markiss.
Saturday. — A very
pleasant day indeed.
Drove into Edinburgh
this afternoon. Immense
crowds in the streets.
Enthusiastic cheers. Corn
Exchange crammed.
Cheers deafening. Spoke
for hour and half.
Thought I let the Markiss
and the Lords have it
pretty hot, but audience
evidently didn’t take that
view. Of course, can’t go
in for Abolition of Peers with Granville and Kimberley and Spencer
and rest in Cabinet. Rdsebery says he would gladly exchange his
coronet for a seat in the House of Commons for Manchester, or
Liverpool, or some big town. But Rosebery’s young and enthusi-
astic. If Dizzy had still been in the Lords, can’t say what might
have happened. Certainly it would have been fun to abolish him.
As it is, must keep out of the current. A little embarrassing in the
present state of public feeling. Audience listen impatiently when I
discuss Franchise Bill, and don’t care much about Redistribution.
“ What aboot the House of Lairds F ” they shout in their persistent
practical way. House of Lords must evidently look out for itself.
Not going to lead crusade against it, but can’t expect me to die in
Easy Joke for the Scotch (No. 2).—“ Kilt
Entirely! ”
Easy Joke for the Scotch (No. 3).—“ Putting the Stone—very pooty.”
its defence. Done what I could in quiet way to bring it down.
Made Knatchbhll-Hugessen a Peer, but House still carries on.
Mean to make Dodson a Baron, but don’t suppose even that will
shake them. Plenty of his kind already in House. All very well to
cry out against House of Lords. But what would a Minister do
without it? When a man fails in the Commons, or becomes
inconvenient there, we can make him a Peer. How the Queen’s
Government is to be carried on without this resource can’t say.
Quite fresh after speech. Wanted to walk back to Dalmeny, but
Rosebery said would be late for dinner. Sat up till Half-past
Twelve, writing for Nineteenth Century essay on the Income Tax.
Vox.. 87.
4—2