e in which he had ridden up to
Westminster more than half a century ago, from his seat in Derbyshire,
to support his dear friend Charles Fox; real top-boots, and a blue coat
and buff waistcoat. He was a great friend of Lord Roehampton, had a
large estate in the same county, and had refused an earldom. Knowing
Endymion, he came and sate by him one day in the House, and asked him,
good-naturedly, how he liked his new life.

"It is very different from what it was when I was your age. Up to Easter
we rarely had a regular debate, never a party division; very few people
came up indeed. But there was a good deal of speaking on all subjects
before dinner. We had the privilege then of speaking on the presentation
of petitions at any length, and we seldom spoke on any other occasion.
After Easter there was always at least one great party fight. This was
a mighty affair, talked of for weeks before it came off, and then rarely
an adjourned debate. We were gentlemen, used to sit up late, and should
have been sitting up somewhere else had we not been in the House of
Commons. After this party fight, the House for the rest of the session
was a mere club."

"There was not much business doing then," said Endymion.

"There was not much business in the country then. The House of Commons
was very much like what the House of Lords is now. You went home to
dine, and now and then came back for an important division."

"But you must always have had the estimates here," said Endymion.

"Yes, but they ran through very easily. Hume was the first man who
attacked the estimates. What are you going to do with yourself to-day?
Will you take your mutton with me? You must come in boots, for it is
now dinner-time, and you must return, I fancy. Twenty years ago, no
man would think of coming down to the House except in evening dress. I
remember so late as Mr. Canning, the minister always came down in silk
stockings and pantaloons, or knee breeches. All things change, and
quoting Virgil, as that young gentleman has just done, will be the
next thing to disappear. In the last parliament we often had Latin
quotations, but never from a member with a new constituency. I have
heard Greek quoted here, but that was long ago, and a great mistake. The
House was quite alarmed. Charles Fox used to say as to quotation--'No
Greek; as much Latin as you like; and never French under any
circumstances. No English poet unless he had completed his century.'
These were lik