n his umbrella, which gave him a quite
casual hope-I-don't-intrude appearance as he stood at the Bar.

Members at first disposed to regard whole matter as a joke. Cheered
MACLURE when he came in at a half trot; laughed when, the Bar pulled
out, difficulty arose about making both ends meet.

"That's the Chancellor of the Exchequer's duty," said WILFRID LAWSON;
"GOSCHEN ought to go and lend a hand."

Bursts of laughter and buzz of conversation in all parts of the House;
general aspect more like appearance at theatre on Boxing Night when
audience waits for curtain to rise on new pantomime. Only the SPEAKER
grave, even solemn; his voice occasionally rising above merry din with
stern cry of "Order! order!"

"Of course, now they're at the Bar they can order what they please,"
said TANNER. Well the SPEAKER didn't hear him. Later, on eve of final
division, he offered another remark in louder tone. SPEAKER thundered
down upon him like a tornado, and TANNER quiet for rest of sitting.

[Illustration: The Woolwich Infant "goes off."]

HICKS-BEACH's speech gave new and more serious turn to affairs.
Concluded with Motion declaring Directors guilty of Breach of
Privilege and sentencing them to admonition. But speech itself clearly
made out that Directors were blameless; all the bother lying at door
of Railway Servant who had been dismissed. Speech, in short, turned
its back on Resolution. This riled the Radicals; not to be soothed
even by Mr. G. interposing in favourite character as GRAND OLD
PACIFICATOR. Storm raged all night; division after division taken;
finally, long past midnight, Directors again brought up to the
Bar, the worn, almost shrivelled, appearance of CONACHER's umbrella
testifying to the mental suffering undergone during the seven hours
that had passed since last they stood there.

SPEAKER, with awful mien and in terrible tones, "admonished" them; and
so to bed.

_Business done._--Cambrian Directors admonished for Breach of
Privilege.

_Tuesday, April 12._--House adjourns to-day for Easter Holidays;
good many adjourned after Friday's Sitting; some waited to hear JOKIM
bringing in his Budget last night. Few left to-day to wind up the
business. HUGHES, gallant Colonel who represents Woolwich, here a few
minutes ago. But he's gone too. "Sometimes," he said, with a far-away
smile, "they call me 'the Woolwich Infant.' If I am such a very big
gun, perhaps the best thing I can do is to go off."

I follow his exa