A.D. 1887.] THE LEADER'S ROOM. 305 conferences between the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition, and it used to be remarked by any one else who happened to witness the meeting how gracefully Mr Smith, as the younger man, showed deference to Mr Gladstone as the elder, and how courteously the latter seemed to appreciate the compliment. All this probably has gone on much the same under former Leaders, but in one respect Smith made an innovation on the traditions of this room. The vehemence and persistence of debates, which have increased so much of late years, have rendered necessary the more constant attendance both of Ministers and unofficial members, and a far larger number dine in the House than was contemplated at the time of its construction. Smith, unwilling to be absent from his post even for an hour, began the custom of having dinner served in his private room, and continued to do so until his last session, so that he was ever at hand when wanted. The table was always laid for six, and the party was generally made up of one or more of his colleagues in the Cabinet, Mr Akers Douglas, one or more of his private secretaries, and any member specially connected. with the business under discussion in the House. The room was a long way from the kitchen, which had a prejudicial effect on the viands, added to which was the risk of their being still more cooled down by the interruption of a division or a count." But if the fare was no more than mediocre, the company was always and under all vicissitudes cheerful. Chaff abounded, and sometimes verged upon wit; and those little parties of hard-worked men remain in memory as bright interludes in a daily routine, inclining, in other respects, to painful monotony. After dinner, if no debate of an urgent kind was going on, Smith would, for the first time since the morning, have a quiet hour to himself, and begin his daily despatch to the U Queen, to be sent off at midnight. Then came Mr Akers Douglas and Mr Jackson, the Secretaries to the Treasury, to settle the order of business for the following day. CHAPTER XXI. 1888. It too often happens that the exactions of public life prevail to sever a politician from the enjoyment of home and withdraw his thoughts from the guidance of his children, but no one ever succeeded more completely than Smith in maintaining the closest bonds of confidence with his family. It is pleasant to read of his happiness in this respect as expressed in his intimate correspondence. To Miss Giberne, January 16, 1888. Your letter of the 9th invited an answer, and as I have a few minutes before post this evening, I think it better to seize the opportunity, which may not recur again very soon, as we begin work for the year seriously to-morrow. Frederick left us at Pau on Monday, and came straight home to Grosvenor Place, where he arrived on Tuesday evening, to Mabel and John's1 delight, as they are keeping house there until their own house is ready for them. He had to look after some business here, which I am gradually throwing upon him as the "young master, and to get to Oxford for the beginning of term on Friday. The boy has grown tall and broad, two or three inches taller than his Father, and he is at present strong and well and manly, but I think he is gentle and good. We got home [from the Continent] quite comfortably, and found John and Mabel waiting for us. This morning B. and Alfred2 started for London and for work, and John and Mabel have done likewise; so here Emily and I are left with one child only (Helen) to keep house, but it is a great blessing to feel that the others are all, without exception, pursuing their way through life happily-not without trials, of course, as in Mary's case, but yet 1 Mr and Mrs Ryder, his son-in-law and daughter. happily even in her sorrow, for she is comforting and being comforted. Now I have said a great deal more about ourselves than I had intended; but I thought as I went on that it would please you to hear just how we have passed the last week. When Parliament reassembled on February 9, Mr Balfour's firm yet considerate administration in Ireland had begun to have its effect upon that country, for he had already attained, in a great degree, to the ideal of states manship, by making the new powers with which he had been invested a terror to evil-doers and the praise of them who do well; while abroad Lord Salisbury's influence had contributed to bring about a more pacific outlook than had been witnessed since the war between France and Germany in 1870. In the House of Commons the debate on the Address turned chiefly on an amendment moved by Mr Parnell, directed against the alleged harsh administration of the Crimes Act. Nine Irish members were at the time in prison for offences under the Act, and the same resentful feeling which had caused the by-name of "Buckshot" to be applied to Mr Forster, now conceived for the Chief Secretary the sobriquet-ludicrously inappropriate to his characterof "Bloody Balfour." The division on this amendment was anticipated with interest, because it would show the extent to which Sir George Trevelyan's influence had prevailed to detach Liberal Unionists from support of the Goverment. The result was encouraging to Ministers: three only of Lord Hartington's party seceded to Home Rule, and one Conservative (Mr Evelyn), which left a majority of 88 for the Government. For the seventh time the House then devoted itself to the consideration of new Rules of Procedure. The experience of the "Jubilee Session" was fresh in the memory of members. In vain had been all previous cobbling at the rules of debate: all that had been hitherto effected had served, in the words of Peter Pindar, only to "Set wheels on wheels in motion-such a clatter! To force up one poor nipperkin of matter; It was clear that if any except men gifted with constitutions of iron or india-rubber were to take a full share in legislation, some further modification was necessary, and the House, as a whole, thankfully agreed to a Standing Order bringing its sitting to a close at midnight. The relief afforded by the adoption of this rule was indescribable, but while it did not practically interfere with adequate discussion of measures and votes, it did undoubtedly add to the responsibility of the Chair by making necessary the more frequent application of the closure. Meanwhile the Government had to wince under the loss of several seats at by-elections. At Southampton the Unionist majority of 342 had been turned into a Gladstonian one of 885; and now the Ayr Burghs followed suit by replacing a Unionist, whose majority at the general election had been 1175, by a Separatist, whom they preferred to the extent of 53 votes to the Hon. Evelyn Ashley. From the Right Hon. W. H. Smith to Mrs Smith. May 7, 1888. I have been obliged to accept an appointment on a Royal Commission on the Administration of the Army and the Navy, with Hartington in the chair. Salisbury thought there was no one else to do it from amongst us, and as I can only be at work all day, I may as well do one thing as another. And it is all work in the highest sense of the word, the discharge of duty, and that gives me strength. June 25. I travelled up quite comfortably to-day, and arrived in time at Charing Cross, and then had a good day for work at Downing Street. Letters of course--but nothing very remarkable. Here the debate of censure began with a rather lame speech from J. Morley, which was answered by Goschen. Part of his speech was very effective, and I think the papers will speak very well of it in the morning, but there has been a good deal of warmth on both sides. On the A.D. 1888.] LETTER FROM LORD STANLEY. whole, however, I think we have had the best of it. 309 I hope you will get this note before you leave. I had intended to write for the first post, but I could not leave the bench, as the first two speeches occupied three hours. July 7. I walked down with Helen, B., and Freddy to Downing Street after having had visits from the Duke of Cambridge, Lord Harrowby and Col. Gzowski, so that I had plenty of work, and the day has been full since. Now Harcourt is mouthing, declaiming, and denouncing us in violent language, and the Attorney-General in particular. Good night. God bless and keep you and my dear children! And pray for me every day, that I may have wisdom and strength to do what is right. It is a hard and difficult task. To Miss Giberne. There are also great anxieties in Government-great responsibilities, and who is able for these things? Help us, my dear friend, by prayer. I should be dismayed and faint if it were not that I believe my God is very near to guide and strengthen me, and to give me the wisdom I need, and to comfort and sustain those who are in sorrow and sickness and need. But two or three should ask. The work is heavy and the burden great, and you and others who are far off can ask and believe that you have the petitions which you make. I am amazed when I look around me and realise some of the causes for thankfulness which exist, and I tremble for myself and for my wife and my children lest any of us should fail to live up to our duty, and to the right use of the talents intrusted to us. All I say is, God help me to do my work, and take me out of it when I am no longer fit for it. Lord Stanley of Preston,1 who had been Smith's colleague ever since he entered the Government in 1874, was at this time appointed Governor-General of Canada. Circumstances prevented his meeting with Smith before sailing, so, without any suspicion, it may be believed, that this was to prove their last parting on earth, he wrote his farewell in terms which testify to the feeling between the two men :— Let an old friend, and a very sincere one, rejoice in your success in & with the House, & in the praise justly given to the Leader whose patience & tact have done much to bring back the good old parliamentary ways of business. Good-bye, my dear Smith-whatever happens one is glad to think that our long personal & political friendship has never been marred by a difference of any kind. I shall always look back to the times when we have worked hard together with 1 Now sixteenth Earl of Derby. |