At first all eyes turned to NEWDEGATE's old quarters; but the voice
evidently did not proceed thence. Following the sound, Members came
upon ALPHEUS CLEOPHAS breaking out in a fresh place. Otherwise,
all the same; the flat-toned voice, the imperturbable manner that
awaits cessation of storm of obloquy, and then completes interrupted
sentence; the conviction that somebody (generally the Government)
is acting dishonestly, and needs a watchful eye kept upon him;
the information conveyed that the Eye is now turned on--all were
there, each identified ALPHEUS CLEOPHAS. Up again and again during
preliminary discussion, always shouted at, and ever quietly waiting
till noise has subsided, when he finishes the interrupted sentence,
and begins another.

_Business done._--In Committee on Small Holdings.

_Tuesday._--Happy circumstance in the history of all Administrations
that there is never lacking a friend on their own side to keep them
on the right path. RADCLIFFE COOKE suddenly developed tendency towards
personally conducting the Government. Hitherto appeared as a docile
follower. New state of affairs arose in connection with Breach of
Privilege by Cambrian Railway Directors. HICKS-BEACH last night gave
notice to take into consideration Special Report of Select Committee
charging Directors with Breach of Privilege. BEACH proposed to wait
awhile till "the other side" had got up a case or two, to show that
if Masters were prone to punish their Servants for giving inconvenient
evidence on question of Hours of Labour, the Servants were no better
when they had power to inflict

[Illustration: WANTED, A FIGURE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LONDON COUNTY
COUNCIL.

SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS SENT IN TO MR. PUNCH.]

on each other similar punishment. BEACH made his proposal in
matter-of-fact way, anticipating general concurrence. But CHANNING
objected; GEORGE TREVELYAN did not approve the suggestion; while the
SQUIRE OF MALWOOD eagerly seized BEACH's maladroit phrase about "the
other side," and made great play with it. Probably BEACH might have
disregarded this action from Opposition Benches; but different when
RADCLIFFE COOKE rose from Bench immediately behind Ministers, and in
severely judicial manner criticised proposed action of President
of Board of Trade. BEACH said nothing at moment; after some hours'
reflection, announced withdrawal of original proposition and intention
of proceeding with indictment of Cambrian Directors without wait