LORDS AND COMMONERS.
SIR HENRY Lucy has added to his volumes of reminiscences a set of pleasant articles, reprinted under the title of Lords and Commoners (T. Fisher Unwin. 18s. net). He first entered the Press Gallery in 1870. and from 1873 wrote a summary of the debates for the Daily News. He recalls Disraeli as Prime Min- ister, sitting patiently through debates—unlike his successors— and expecting his colleagues to do the same. He says that Disraeli was at his best in comparatively short speeches and envied Gladstone the power of speaking for two or three hours, " maintaining throughout the highest level of eloquence." For our part, we should say that a good speaker ought to be able to deal with any subject—except perhaps a complicated Budget
an hour. Gladstone's fluency often tempted him to speak at excessive length. The author describes Disraeli's first public appearance in the House of Lords in February, 1877, when the Queen opened Parliament. He deals with some of the curious old customs of Parliament and quotes a few " bulls." He credits Sir Edward Duming-Lawrence with the question, " Is this Government to be put into the melting-pot in order that we may see who is to take hold of the handle of the ship of State ? " And he declares that another member said, " That, gentlemen, is the marrow of the Education Act, and it will not be taken out by Dr. Clifford or anybody else. It is founded on a granite foundation and it speaks in a voice not to be drowned by sectarian clamour." At the end of the book are an article on Fanny Burney and some reminiscences of a visit to New York. On page 143, the offer of a peerage to Gladstone should be dated 1885, not 1895.
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