on! Struggled gallantly for some
minutes; at last sat down; whole pages of his answer unrecited.

[Illustration: The Inquiring Cobb.]

Speeches all night in continued Debate on the Address. PARNELL has moved
Amendment arraigning BALFOUR'S administration in Ireland. WILLIAM
O'BRIEN, chancing to be out of prison, looks in and delivers fiery
harangue in support of Amendment. But yesterday, BALFOUR, his gaoler;
ordered his food; not too much of it and not full variety; fixed his
hours of going to bed and getting up. Now prison-doors opened by lapse
of time; O'BRIEN walks out through Westminster Hall into House of
Commons; stands before SPEAKER on equal terms with his whilom gaoler,
and scolds him magnificently. By-and-by BALFOUR will probably have his
turn again, and O'BRIEN will be eating and drinking the bread and water
of affliction. Meanwhile, storms at top of his voice, beats the air with
long lean arm and clenched hand, and makes dumb dogs of English Members
sad with musing on the inequalities of fortune, which has given these
Irishmen the great gift of pointedly saying what they have at heart.

_Business done._--Debate on Address.

_Tuesday._--"Well," said THOMAS BAYLEY POTTER, sinking slowly into
corner seat, grateful to find that PETER O'BRIEN was his neighbour, for
PETER finds it possible to pack himself into a limited space and THOMAS
BAYLEY'S proportions are roomy--"well it _is_ nice to see how these old
colleagues love one another. Come next April, I have sat in House man
and boy for twenty-five years. Have found that on some pretext, on one
occasion or another, they are always at it, scratching each other's
face, pulling one another's hair, or stabbing each other in the back.
Why don't they all join the Cobden Club, sink minor differences, and be
friends ever after?"

[Illustration: The Cobden Club.]

As THOMAS BAYLEY thus mused, he gazed across Gangway on to Front
Opposition Bench. An interesting incident developing. HENRY JAMES on his
legs (generally on one) opposing PARNELL'S Amendment to Address. He
stands between the outstretched legs of his two dear and right hon.
friends, GLADSTONE and JOHN MORLEY. Just beyond JOHN MORLEY, TREVELYAN
sits. At the other side of GLADSTONE, HARCOURT towers, toying with the
gracious folds of his massive chin, looking straight before him with
sphynx-like gaze. According to etiquette and usage, JAMES should be
addressing the Chair; but his back is turned to SPEAKER. He