with a question asked by
one of Mr. Daubeny's supporters,--but it was allowed to proceed for a
while. In answer to Mr. Gresham, Mr. Daubeny himself spoke, accusing
Mr. Gresham of almost every known Parliamentary vice in having talked
of a measure coming, like Minerva, from his, Mr. Daubeny's, own
brain. The plain and simple words by which such an accusation might
naturally be refuted would be unparliamentary; but it would not be
unparliamentary to say that it was reckless, unfounded, absurd,
monstrous, and incredible. Then there were various very spirited
references to Church matters, which concern us chiefly because
Mr. Daubeny congratulated the House upon seeing a Roman Catholic
gentleman with whom they were all well acquainted, and whose presence
in the House was desired by each side alike, again take his seat for
an English borough. And he hoped that he might at the same time take
the liberty of congratulating that gentleman on the courage and manly
dignity with which he had endured the unexampled hardships of the
cruel position in which he had been placed by an untoward combination
of circumstances. It was thought that Mr. Daubeny did the thing very
well, and that he was right in doing it;--but during the doing of
it poor Phineas winced in agony. Of course every member was looking
at him, and every stranger in the galleries. He did not know at
the moment whether it behoved him to rise and make some gesture to
the House, or to say a word, or to keep his seat and make no sign.
There was a general hum of approval, and the Prime Minister turned
round and bowed graciously to the newly-sworn member. As he said
afterwards, it was just this which he had feared. But there must
surely have been something of consolation in the general respect
with which he was treated. At the moment he behaved with natural
instinctive dignity, though himself doubting the propriety of his own
conduct. He said not a word, and made no sign, but sat with his eyes
fixed upon the member from whom the compliment had come. Mr. Daubeny
went on with his tirade, and was called violently to order. The
Speaker declared that the whole debate had been irregular, but had
been allowed by him in deference to what seemed to be the general
will of the House. Then the two leaders of the two parties composed
themselves, throwing off their indignation while they covered
themselves well up with their hats,--and, in accordance with the
order of the day, an honourabl