he course of the previous debates; in short, the speech was a
revelation of the fact, known to those who have watched Mr. Chamberlain
carefully, that the soil is very barren and very thin; and that after a
few oratorical crops it becomes exhausted. Perhaps the failure of the
speech was also largely due to the fact that the Irish and the Liberal
members, taught by previous experiences, resolved to also put restraint
on themselves. They have learned by this time that interruptions do Mr.
Chamberlain a great deal of good; and that his great nimbleness and
readiness never come out so well as when he has suddenly to answer such
an interruption. Addressing benches--blank, silent and irresponsive, he
laboured rather heavily throughout the whole of his address; and there
was a complete absence even from the Tory benches of that loud and
frequent accompaniment of cheers to which Mr. Chamberlain is usually
treated. In short, it was a dull, ineffective speech, mostly listened to
in silence.

[Sidenote: A coming man.]

Sir Edward Grey delivered an admirable reply. In his case--as in that of
Mr. Chamberlain--there was an immense disadvantage of a tired House, and
the audience had thinned somewhat after Mr. Chamberlain had sat down.
But those who remained were fortunate enough to hear one of the most
perfect specimens of House of Commons eloquence that has been heard in
Westminster for many a day. Indeed, there are few men in the House who
have so perfect a command of what I might call the true, genuine, and
even grand style of Parliamentary eloquence. Sir Edward Grey speaks with
a perfectly unbroken, level tone; his language is moderate and reserved,
and he has the great art of using language which implies and suggests
more than it actually says. In short, his eloquence is that of perfect
high-bred conversation, discussing questions with that complete
self-command and composure of the man of the world who disdains to use,
even of the greatest affairs, and of the strongest emotions, language of
passion or exaggeration. Such a style is wonderfully effective in a
business assembly, where men feel, even when they are under the glow of
splendid eloquence, that there is behind the words a thinking,
reflective, and composed mind. The speech gained enormously by the
contrast of its composure--its fine temper, its calm and broad
judgment--from the somewhat pettish, personal, and passionate
utterances of Mr. Chamberlain. This young man will