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PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS. --+--

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PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS. --+-- THE Derby-Disraeli Administration have made their bow to the public. All but one of the new ministers in the House of Commons have been re-elected, and for a Tory Government they are accounted strong, that is to say, if wealth and ability can make a Government strong, but whether their policy will agree with the opinions of the country is another matter. Albeit, it is agreed on all sides that they shall have a trial, and when caught tripping they will doubtless hear of it from the Opposition, who muster very strong. One of the few things once seen not to be for- gotten is the aspect of the House of Lords on a great night. There is a lack in the Upper House of great orators; those who have won their spurs in the Lower House, such as Speakers and Law Lords, seem satisfied to rest upon their former reputation when they obtain a seat in the Lords, and seldom speak, or if they do there is a certain humility in their language, different to the bold oratory in the House of Commons. One orator far eclipses all these, and, indeed, it is doubtful whether a more eloquent speaker exists than the Earl of Derby. When this nobleman made his speech the other night as to the policy of the Govern- ment, the sensation was extraordinary. In the Peeresses' Gallery, and even round the steps of the throne, there were ladies in the most brilliant costumes, and the bright ring of summer toilets looked like a long garland of lovely flowers. The crowd behind the throne was so great that at first the Princess of Wales ceuld not be seen; presently more room was obtained, and from behind the filigree work appeared the lovely form of the Royal wife of the heir to the Crown, dressed in light blue. Her Royal Highness took the seat assigned her, near to the throne, and, to say the truth, nothing could better excuse the disgraceful act of "staring," which everyone censures and everyone commits, than the temptations of that sweet face, so fair, so fresh, so good, and so thoroughly English. It is a singular fact that opera-glasses are per- mitted in the House of Lords, while they I strictly forbidden in the House of Commons. members of the House of Lords, I supgf ttl so thoroughly assured of their positio^^ the are indifferent to the minutiae. bj_ To take majesty of the Commons is suppgf the Upper another example, the servant it during the House are allowed to walk ers, or cards to sittings-delivering letterI s necessary; whereas their lordships whenever attendant is allowed, in the House of Comtgés, to pass the bar; even under any circums^nnd, has to be led into the Mr. Fawcett, who an(j it is not the etiquette of house by a mew ^fiow any message to be passed the Common^Qgpt by another representative. to a memb%peaiag night in the House of Lords wa the Commons' seats were filled to ^LSwing. The Lords' seats were also fully .ocupied; the episcopal bench was so crowded that the lawn sleeves were almost raised above the heads of the bishops. On the Lord Chancellor's right hand were the Tory Peers, who seemed to bask in sunshine, and kept up a running smile of congratulation. One Liberal Peer alone occupied the Ministerial side-Lord Brougham. As if this venerable lord would not stoop to the convention- alities of life, he has always sat on the Treasury Bench, whoever may be in office. This is the third time, in my memory, when the Earl of Derby has attempted to form a permanent Government, and in each instance the supporters of the late Ministry have changed their places and gone to the opposite side, with tjie single exception of Lord Brougham, who has, in every instance, re- tained the same seat which he took after being Lord Chancellor. I On the Premier taking his seat for the first I time this session on the Treasury Bench, there was an expectancy visible on every countenance. After prayers had been read the principal :seat on the Treasury Bench remained vacant for a short time. Presently the Earl of Derby appeared. There are no cheers in the House of Lords, except during a speech, when a great "hear, hear" or a laugh occurs; but there was a gentle whisper now, as if an important event was about to occur. Lord Derby looked jocular, smiled upon those around him, poured out a glass of water and drank it. There was a gentle hush in the House. On the front Opposition Bench was Earl Russell, looking very demure; next to him was the Earl of Clarendon, seeming quite careless of'what was going on. To the left of Earl Russell was the Duke of Argyll, notable for his yellow hair, and for his lofty indifference for a statesmanlike Lord Derby, who, in the noble Duke's mind, is much lower than himself in standing and power; such at any rate, is the gossip of the House, and such his supercilious smile seemed to indicate; next to him was the Duke of Somerset, looking happy under all circumstances; and at the extreme end of the Opposition Bench was Lord Westbury ex-Lord Chancellor, upon whose appearance the present occupant of the woolsack—Lord Chelma- ford-rose and shook hands with his compeer most heartily. Lord Westbury was dressed in black, and wore a black scarf, but had a turn-down collar of the long, peaky fashion, giving his lord- ship quite a juvenile expression, notwithstanding his snow-white whiskers. Lord Brougham shook hands with everybody; as each bishop came in he moved across with a shuffled, gait, and seemed to congratulate him on his presence there that even- ing; and when the Earl of Derby entered he greeted him as a fond, familiar friend, who was the proper occupant of the Treasury Bench. Of the speech of Lord Derby when he announced himself Prime Minister of England, I ehall say nothing more than it was delivered in the fine flowing style peculiar to the noble lord. He had not a note whereby to guide him, and it had all the appearance of an impromptu statement. To say that he was eloquent is only repeating what every one knows, but the apparent truthfulness of his remarks, even though in some instances they were humiliating to his party, struck every one. The gossip afterwards amongst Commons and strangers was rather remarkable, however. "What will he do with it?" as the late Sir Bulwer (now Lord Lytton) said of a dog in his novel, was freely canvassed. It is a great gift to be Premier of England, but if the man who gets it dont want it, the thing must be a bore; and this was the effect conveyed by his lordships speech. I heard it stated that the Earl of Derby was much in the same position as a gentleman who had been bored to take a ticket in a fancy bazaar lottery for some charitable object. He paid his five shillings, and hoped to hear no more of it. A short time afterwards, however, the fascinating lady who asked him to subscribe congratulated him upon the prize he had won, but begged of him by all means to take it away. "What is it?" asked the gentleman. "Why," answered the lady, with a smile, it is a large live pig; and you must take it home!" Now, I do not wish to make the invidious comparison of my friends, who desire to caricature Lord Derby with a string round the leg of the pig driving it home, and being pulled to the right and pulled to the left because piggy is obstinate. This would do as a cartoon for Pitneh. But the fact is, there has been a desire to establish Conservatism upon a wider basis; the effort has, however, failed, the old Whigs and the Adullamites refusing to join Earl Derby s Administration; but I am assured that ere next year's Parliament meets, Lord Stanley will take the reins of Government, and the broad basis experiment will be tried.

MELANCHOLY DEATH OF A PHYSICIAN.

'J THE PRIZES WON AT WIMBLVWM.

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