, of appointing one
of their number to eulogize the newcomer. The person upon whom the task
would most appropriately fall, did circumstances permit, would be the
departing academician. In this case, he was happy to say, circumstances
did permit--his political funeral was still far enough off to enable him
to express his profound confidence in and his hearty admiration of the
young and vigorous political heir whom the Liberals of South Fox had
selected to stand in his shoes. Mr Farquharson proceeded to give his
grounds for this confidence and admiration, reminding the Jordanville
electors that they had met Mr Murchison as a Liberal standard-bearer in
the last general election, when he, Farquharson, had to acknowledge
very valuable services on Mr Murchison's part. The retiring member then
thanked his audience for the kind attention and support they had given
him for so many years, made a final cheerful joke about a Pagan divinity
known as Anno Domini, and took his seat.

They applauded him, and it was plain that they regretted him, the tried
friend, the man there was never any doubt about, whose convictions they
had repeated, and whose speeches in Parliament they had read with a kind
of proprietorship for so long. The Chair had to wait, before introducing
Mr Alfred Hesketh, until the backbenchers had got through with a double
rendering of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow," which bolder spirits sent
lustily forth from the anteroom where the little girls kept their hats
and comforters, interspersed with whoops. Hesketh, it had been arranged,
should speak next, and Lorne last.

Mr Hesketh left his wooden chair with smiling ease, the ease which is
intended to level distinctions and put everybody concerned on the
best of terms. He said that though he was no stranger to the work
of political campaigns, this was the first time that he had had the
privilege of addressing a colonial audience. "I consider," said he
handsomely, "that it is a privilege." He clasped his hands behind his
back and threw out his chest.

"Opinions have differed in England as to the value of the colonies, and
the consequence of colonials. I say here with pride that I have
ever been among those who insist that the value is very high and the
consequence very great. The fault is common to humanity, but we are, I
fear, in England, too prone to be led away by appearances, and to forget
that under a rough unpolished exterior may beat virtues which are the
bright