HODGE, this afternoon illuminated the Legislative Chamber.

_Business done._--CHANCELLOR OF EXCHEQUER announced third edition of
Budget. "Before the end of the week," said SARK, "I expect we shall meet
him running up and down the Terrace with hand to widely-opened mouth
shouting "Extry Speshul!"

* * *

Illustration: "EXTRY SPESHUL!"

* * *

_Tuesday._--AMERY began to think he had escaped consequences of his
little mistake. Nearly a week has sped since he called attention to
indiscretion of Captain BELLINGHAM, _aide-de-camp_ to the
LORD-LIEUTENANT, who, reviewing small body of Nationalist volunteers,
enjoined them to stand fast by cause of Home Rule. From answer of CHIEF
SECRETARY it appeared that Member for South Birmingham had been
forestalled by Lord ABERDEEN, who had called upon the Captain for
explanation and received suitable apology for the error.

Irish Members quick to see opening innocently made for them. Having long
regarded with resentment Lord LONDONDERRY'S active patronage of
movements of Ulster volunteers, have sedulously sought opportunity of
bringing it under notice of House. AMERY obligingly provided it.
Unexpected delay in seizing it was due to search for particulars now
presented in form of question addressed to PREMIER, citing with dates
and places six separate occasions when the _aide-de-camp_ to the KING
had, by his presence and counsel, sanctioned reviews of Ulster
volunteers, "whose avowed object," as the question put it, "is, in event
of enactment of Home Rule Bill, to resist by armed force the authority
of the Crown and Parliament, and to make the administration of the law
impossible." What Mr. DEVLIN, with studied politeness, was anxious to
know was "whether there is any special reason why in this matter the
Marquis of LONDONDERRY should be treated differently from Captain
BELLINGHAM?"

PREMIER not to be drawn into the controversy. Duties of _aide-de-camp_
to the KING, unlike those of _aide-de-camp_ to LORD-LIEUTENANT, are, he
said, of entirely honorary character. In such circumstances he did not
think it worth while to take notice of the matter.

Effect of the reply designedly chilling; object of question attained by
publicly submitting it. AMERY "wishes he hadn't spoke."

The PREMIER'S imperturbability stood him in even greater stead at later
proceedings. On going into Committee of Supply, HOPE of Sheffield moved
reduction of his salary on account of alleged failur