But the great scene of the first sitting of the
week was at about three on Tuesday morning, after Mr. Childers had made his statement on the Army Estimates and upon the votes for the number of men and for the payment of the Forces. Lord E. Cecil declared that the only reason for pressing the votes on so early was the self-will of the Prime Minister,—they had already, he politely added, had that night a display of the right honourable gentleman's
temper and animus ; while Earl Percy distinctly intimated his complete incredulity as to Mr. Gladstone's declaration that the report of the Votes must be taken next Monday, in order to meet the requirements of the law. Mr. Gladstone rebuked this mode of throwing suspicion on personal honour with very calm but pointed censure, and then reluctantly explained that the Queen's absence at Mentone, and the necessary delays caused by the communications to and fro, rendered it necessary to take the report on the Votes earlier than usual, in order to keep within the law as regards the Appropriation Bill. Thereupon, Earl Percy and Lord E. Cecil made their apologies, with some ap- pearance of shame,—shame for which there was ample justifica- tion. The way in which these young noblemen, of no particular weight in the State, badger and asperse a statesman of nearly twice their age, and a hundred times their humility, one, too, whose political value and significance to England could not be compared with theirs at all,—unless you could compare infinity with zero,—will rouse the people, before long, after a fashion in which we should be sorry to see the English people ever roused again. Their conduct is the sort of thing to stir both scorn and wrath.
