"Ah," said W. P. JACKSON, throwing up his hands with gesture of despair. "Knew it would come to this under present Government. First the guillotine, then the gallows."
_Thursday._--Southerners long heard of pleasurable hours spent in Committee-room upstairs, where Scotch Members been engaged for weeks in Grand Committee on their Local Government Bill. Such badinage! such persiflage! not omitting refreshing influences of another kind familiar in _Noctes Ambrosianæ_. 'Tis said, when conversation flagged quite usual thing for J. B. BALFOUR and CHARLES PEARSON to strip off coats and waistcoats, place two umbrellas crosswise on floor, and go through sword-dance, TREVELYAN in the chair leading off colourable imitation of bagpipe accompaniment, in which Committee joined in mad chorus.
Not sure about that. Absolutely no doubt that on last day of meeting all the members stood on chairs, with one foot on the table, and, holding hands, sang "_Auld Lang Syne_." Bound to say they seem to have exhausted all their hilarity in Committee-room. PARKER SMITH still a good deal to say; HOZIER not uncommunicative; and WALTER M'LAREN enjoys keen satisfaction of insisting on Division that presents smallest minority of the series. But, on the whole, House seems filled with what SARK tell me Edinburgh, occasionally suffering from the visitation, calls "an easterly haar."
Through the cold, wet, white fog, comes one gleam of light. JOHN MORLEY brings in a Bill making further provision with respect to Irish Congested Districts Board. SPEAKER puts customary question, "Who is prepared to bring in this Bill?" "Mr. ARTHUR BALFOUR and myself," responds the CHIEF SECRETARY; and the House gratefully goes off into a fit of laughter.
"Lovely in life," exclaims DAVID PLUNKET, looking with almost equal affection on his two right hon. friends, "on the Congested Districts Board (Ireland) Bill they are not divided."
_Business done._--Scotch Local Government Bill.
_Friday._--Another "Nicht wi' BURNS." Sadder even than the last. But sooner over. By eleven o'clock report stage agreed to. "Shall we take third reading now, or would you like a third night with the Bill?" asked TREVELYAN.
A shudder ran through the House; when it was over Bill hurried past final stage.