aid Mr. Davitt, with quiet pathos, "I had met such a
constitutional authority in the shape of a judge twenty-three long years
ago."

[Sidenote: A vulgar and caddish interruption.]

And, finally, what contributed to the marvellous effect of this speech
was its temper and one interruption. In all the speech there was not one
trace of the bitterness that must often have corroded that poor soul
during the nine years of living death--even the allusions to political
opponents of to-day were kindly and gentle. Above all things, the speech
was one--not merely of an Irish Nationalist, but of a true Democrat--as
desirous of the happiness of other nationalities and other peoples as of
his own. It was while every part of the House was listening to this
beautiful and touching speech, that a gentleman called Brookfield--one
of the most offensive of the narrow and malignant section of
Tories--rose and tried to trip Davitt up, by alleging that he was
reading his speech. I am told that Mr. Balfour sprang in anger from his
seat--there was a significant and a pained silence on the Tory
Benches--there was a loud shout of anger and disgust from the Liberal
and the Irish seats--with William O'Brien's voice shouting hoarsely
above the tempest, "The party of gentlemen!" The Speaker showed what he
thought, in that deadly quiet way with which he can administer a snub,
that will never be forgotten. It was all that was wanted to complete the
success of this wonderful speech.

[Sidenote: Sir John Rigby.]

Then came hand-shakings and clappings on the back, and a light in the
eyes of Irish members that told of a great step forward in the progress
of their cause. To a house thinned by the endless rhodomontade of a dull
Orangeman--with a style of elocution to which the House is unaccustomed,
and which has almost every fault delivery could have--the speech of Sir
John Rigby, the Solicitor-General, was one of the finest and weightiest
utterances delivered on the Bill. The massive head, the fine face, the
rugged sense and leonine strength in face and figure, lent force to a
criticism of extraordinary effectiveness on the attacks levelled against
the Bill. First, the Solicitor-General took up the wild and whirling
statement of one of the opponents of the Bill, and then coolly--as
though it were a pure matter of business--he put in juxtaposition the
enactments of the Bill, and the contrast was as laughter provoking with
all its deadly seriousness, as th