Chapter 7

PARLIAMENTARY CONFESSIONS.

Gladstone and Disraeli--A Contrast--An unauthenticated Incident--Lord Beaconsfield's last Visit to the House of Commons--My Serious Sketch--Historical--Mr. Gladstone--His Portraits--What he thought of the Artists--Sir J. E. Millais--Frank Holl--The Despatch Boxes--Impressions--Disraeli--Dan O'Connell--Procedure--American Wit--Toys--Wine--Pressure--Sandwich Soirée--The G.O.M. dines with "Toby, M.P."--Walking--Quivering--My Desk--An Interview--Political Caricaturists--Signature in Sycamore--Scenes in the Commons--Joseph Gillis Biggar--My Double--Scenes--Divisions--Puck--Sir R. Temple--Charles Stewart Parnell--A Study--Quick Changes--His Fall--Room 15--The last Time I saw him--Lord Randolph Churchill--His Youth--His Height--His Fickleness--His Hair--His Health--His Fall--Lord Iddesleigh--Sir Stafford and Mr. Gladstone--Bradlaugh--His Youth--His Parents--His Tactics--His Fight--His Extinction--John Bright--Jacob Bright--Sir Isaac Holden--Lord Derby--A Political Prophecy--A Lucky Guess--My Confession in the _Times_--The Joke that Failed--The Seer--Fair Play--I deny being a Conservative--I am Encouraged--Chaff--Reprimanded--Misprinted--Misunderstood _pp._ 154--214