Punch: Punch (101.1891)

July 18, 1891.]

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

13

Penriiyn—Hussey Vivian's father, John Henry, sat in the same
Parliament for Swansea. Lord Ebrington sat for Plymouth, and
Charles Russell for Reading. Ormsby Gore represented North
Shropshire, long a possession of his family. The Markiss o'
Granby sat for Stamford, with a Clark for colleague. Frederick
Villiers (not our present Father) kept the name green at Sudbury,
and there was a Wyndham for Sussex. The Henry Labouchere
of those less lively days sat for Taunton, and Sir Robert Peel, our
Speaker's father, for Tamworth. There was a Hayter, Good-
enough for Wells, one Lowther represented Westmoreland, and
another York. A Walter Long sat for North Wilts, Stuart
Wortley sat for the West Riding, and James Duff for Banffshire.
We had a Balfour for Haddington, and Lord Dalmeny of that
day, happier than the present head of the family, sat in the
Commons for Inverkeithing, a place long since swept off the elec-
toral board. These surnames, with one or two others I can't recall—
yes, there was a Dalrymple for Wigtonshire—are familiar on the
Roll of Parliament to-day.

Heaven he had no gestures. The O'Connor Don whom Members
vounger than I remember as he sat above the Gang-way in the Par-
liament of 1874, then represented Roscommon. But for the most
part the Irish Members of those days were Earls, Viscounts, Knights,
Baronets, Honourables and Bight Honourables.

There were, on the Motion for the Address, big debates in both
Houses on this particular night, when I first saw the Speaker in
wig and gown. The fate of the Ministry could scarcely be said
to hang in the balance ; they knew they were doomed. In the Lords
the shrift was short. Not too late for dinner, their Lordships divided :
" Contents 96, Not Contents 168," majority against Government 72.
I well remember Coventry's speech; worth reciting as a model for
these later days. He followed Lansdowne, and House wanted to
hear Northampton. When Coventry presented himself, fearful
row kicked up. He stood there till silence partially restored,
then he said in deep voice, as who should say "My name is—
Norval,"—

"I am Lord Coventry. A few words from me. I think the

Amongst the prominent Members of this country is in a safe state, and I hope to

Parliament I remember Roebuck sitting find it placed in the hands of the Duke

for Bath; and Pakington — then plain ^~~x \ of Wellington. My Lords, I hope I have

John all unconscious of the coming marvel /p -/% «\ not detained you."

of a Ten Minutes' Reform Bill—for Droit- flP^1^ *%L\ \ w^. Then he sat down.

wich. Stratford Canning had a seat mfE^. \J/) tmk In the Commons, debate lasted four days ;

for Kir:.'- Lynn, and Monckton Mllnes a ^^^^^hWlw^m majority against Government 91.

was Member for Pomfret. John Bright __^)\ Wm^^^iU^^Lgg^^ The Labby of 1841 spoke at length, and

was not in the House, but Richard Cobden ^k/-^-^^^^ S^t^fUT was followed by Mr. DTsraeli he spelt it

sat for Stockport, and there w-as an / ^^^^Cfe^(%%fWa with an apostrophe in those days): a good,

acidulous person, then known as Ralph /y X a ^l|llllif^^wf Disraelian ring about the last sentence of

Bernal, who sat for Wycombe. We / \A «*fiJ Mm^U^mMk^ his speech.

knew Bernal Osborne in many later /s U . ( fv mSBKSS^^MM^ "The House," lie said, "ought now to

Parliaments. /'hi nV C~\ M^^^^^^^^^^Mmk ac* as ^ *ia^ ^ecu acic^ uPon *n tuues

Curious to think how Ireland at this /■) J* /Vy J^^^^^^^^^^^^m, "when Parliament was unreformed, when

epoch belonged to the classes! Daniel / 'J \ v» ef y^^^^g^^^^P^^fcaa Danby found himself in a_dungeon, and

O'Connell was just in his prime, and in \ ' i9 jv\" /^^^^5^^^Bs^^^ Wa Strafford on a scaffold. Now th« Whigs

addition to himself returned three of his * ^^^^g^-u-- hold office by abusing the confidence of the

name. Smith O'Brien was yet far off the ^If^sSllistP^ mm f» Sovereign, and defying the authority of

cabbage garden, and Henry Grattan sat gm e9 Parliament."

for Meath. There is a living image of him J§|§2§lt2i||§ii^_> W After him came the still budding

now among the busts in the corridor leading .gA^5 if Bernal Osborne, Charles Napier,

out of the'Oetaeon Hall; a fiery dramatic ^fflP "^a^ Roebuck, Johnnie Russell, fighting

speaker in the House, whot as someone said to the last with his back to the wall;

of him at the time, used in his passion to ^—'—rrcn~> Cobden, Henry Grattan, Pam, Mllner

throw up his arms, bend over till he touched M Gibson, O'Connell, Peel, and Colonel

the floor with his finger-nails, and thank REVOIk!' Slbthorp.