--TENNYSON, _Ulysses_.

I

It was not within the compass either of human effort or human endurance
even for the most practised and skilful of orators to unfold the whole
plan, both government and land, in a single speech. Nor was public
interest at all equally divided. Irish land had devoured an immense amount
of parliamentary time in late years; it is one of the most technical and
repulsive of all political subjects; and to many of the warmest friends of
Irish self-government, any special consideration for the owners of Irish
land was bitterly unpalatable. Expectation was centred upon the plan for
general government. This was introduced on April 8. Here is the entry in
the little diary:--

The message came to me this morning: "Hold thou up my goings in
thy path, that my footsteps slip not." Settled finally my figures
with Welby and Hamilton; other points with Spencer and Morley.
Reflected much. Took a short drive. H. of C., 4-1/2-8-1/4.
Extraordinary scenes outside the House and in. My speech, which I
have sometimes thought could never end, lasted nearly 3-1/2 hours.
Voice and strength and freedom were granted to me in a degree
beyond what I could have hoped. But many a prayer had gone up for
me, and not I believe in vain.

No such scene had ever been beheld in the House of Commons. Members came
down at break of day to secure their places; before noon every seat was
marked, and (M114) crowded benches were even arrayed on the floor of the
House from the mace to the bar. Princes, ambassadors, great peers, high
prelates, thronged the lobbies. The fame of the orator, the boldness of
his exploit, curiosity as to the plan, poignant anxiety as to the party
result, wonder whether a wizard had at last actually arisen with a spell
for casting out the baleful spirits that had for so many ages made Ireland
our torment and our dishonour, all these things brought together such an
assemblage as no minister before had ever addressed within those
world-renowned walls. The parliament was new. Many of its members had
fought a hard battle for their seats, and trusted they were safe in the
haven for half a dozen good years to come. Those who were moved by
professional ambition, those whose object was social advancement, those
who thought only of upright public service, the keen party men, the men
who aspired to office, the men with a past and the men who looked for a
fu