CHAPTER XX. THE ADJOURNED DEBATE
Although the debate had commenced at seven o'clock, none of the greatspeakers on either side arose before eleven. Some fierce skirmishes had,indeed, occurred; personalities and sarcasms the most cutting had beeninterchanged with a freedom that showed that if shame were in a greatmeasure departed, personal daring and intrepidity were qualities stillin repute. The Ministerial party, no longer timid or wavering, tookno pains to conceal their sense of coming victory, and even LordCastlereagh, usually so guarded on every outward observance, entered theHouse and took his seat with a smile of conscious triumph that did notescape observation from either friends or opponents.
The tactics of the Treasury benches, too, seemed changed: not waiting,as hitherto, to receive and repel the attack of the Opposition, theynow became themselves the assailants, and evinced, by the readiness andfrequency of their assaults, the perfect organization they had attained.The Opposition members, who opened the debate, were suffered to proceedwithout any attempt at reply, an ironical cheer, a well-put question,some home-thrust as to former opinions, alone breaking the thread of anargument which, even from its monotony, was becoming less effective.
Sir Henry Parnell, the late Chancellor of the Exchequer, and who hadbeen dismissed from office for his opinions on the Union, was the firstspeaker; with a moderation, in part the result of his former positionwith regard to those who had been his colleagues, he limited himself toa strict examination of the measure in its bearings and consequences,and never, even for a moment, digressed into anything like reflection onthe motives of its advocates. His speech was able and argumentative, butevidently unsatisfactory to his party, who seemed impatient and uneasytill he concluded, and hailed Ponsonby, who rose after him, with cheersthat showed their expectations were now, at least, more likely to berealized.
Whether the occasion alone was the cause, or that catching theexcitement of his supporters, Ponsonby deviated from the usually calmand temperate character he was accustomed to assume in the House, andbecame warm and impassioned. Disdaining to examine the relative meritsor demerits of the proposed Bill, he boldly pronounced Parliamentincompetent to decide it, and concluded by declaring that, if carried,the measure might endanger not only the ties of amity between the twonations, but dissolve those of allegiance also. A loud burst of mingledindignation and irony broke from the Treasury benches at this daringflight, when the speaker, at once collecting himself, turned the wholeforce of his attack on the Secretary. With slow and measured intonation,he depicted the various stages of his political career, recalling tomemory the liberal pledges he had once contracted, and the variousshades of defection by which he had at last reached the position inwhich he could "betray Ireland."
None were prepared for the degree of eloquent power Ponsonby displayedon this occasion; and the effect of such a speech from one habituallycalm, even to coldness, was overwhelming. It was not Lord Castlereagh'sintention to have spoken at this early hour of the debate; but,apologizing for occupying the time of the House by a personality, hearose, not self-possessed and at ease, but flushed and excited.
Without adverting for a second to the measure in debate, he launchedforth into a most violent invective on his adversary. With a vehementpassion that only his nearest friends knew him to possess, he exposedevery act of his political life; taunted him with holding opinionsliberal enough to be a patriot, but sufficiently plastic to bemarketable; he accused his very calmness as being a hypocriticalaffectation of fairness, while in reality it was but the tacit admissionof his readiness to be bought; and at length pushed his violent sarcasmso far that a loud cry of "Order!" burst forth from the Opposition,while cheers of defiance were heard along the densely crowded ranks ofthe Ministerial party.
From this moment the discussion assumed a most bitter character;assertions and denials, uttered in language the most insulting, wereheard at every moment, and no speaker could proceed without someinterruption which demanded several minutes to subdue. More than onemember was seen to cross the floor and interchange a few words withan adversary, the import of which, as he returned to his place, nophysiognomist need have doubted. It was not debate or discussion, it wasthe vehement outpouring of personal and political hatred, by men whosepassions were no longer restrainable, and many of whom saw in thisthe last occasion of their ever being able to confront their enemies.Language that could not be uttered with impunity elsewhere, was heard atevery moment; open declarations were made that, the Bill once carried,allegiance and loyalty were dissolved; and Sir Neil O'Donnell went sofar as to say that he regarded the measure as an act of treason, andwould place himself at the head of his regiment to oppose and annul it.
It was in a momentary pause of this bitter conflict that rumor announcedthe arrival of the Knight of Gwynne and Bagenal Daly at the House. Neverwere reinforcements more gladly hailed by a weakened and disabled army;cheers of triumphant delight broke from the Opposition benches, answeredby others, not less loud and taunting, from the Ministerial side,and every eye was turned eagerly towards the door by which they wereexpected to enter.
To such a pitch of violence had partisanship carried the members on bothsides, expressions of open defiance and insult were exchanged in themidst of this scene of tumult, nor was the authority of the Speaker ableto restore order for several minutes; when at last the doors were thrownopen, and Hickman O'Reilly entered, and walked up the body of theHouse. Shouts of loud laughter now resounded from either side; suchan apparition at the moment was the most ludicrous contrast to thatexpected, and a boisterous gayety succeeded to the late scene ofacrimony and intemperance.
The individual himself seemed somewhat puzzled at these unlooked-formarks of public notice, and stared around him in astonishment, till hiseyes rested on the spot where Lord Castlereagh sat whispering withMr. Corry. Brief as was the glance, it seemed to have conveyed somemomentous intelligence to the gazer, for he became at first scarlet, andthen pale as death; he looked again, but the Secretary had turned hishead away, and Corry was coolly unfolding the plaits of a white cambrichandkerchief, and apparently only occupied with that object. At thismoment Hickman was standing with one foot upon the steps which ledtowards the Treasury benches: he wheeled abruptly round, and walkedover to the other side of the House, where he sat down between Egan andPonsonby.
The cheers of the Opposition now burst forth anew, and with a deafeningclamor, while from back and cross benches, and everywhere within reach,hands were eagerly stretched forth to grasp O'Reilly's. Never wassupport less expected, never an alliance less speculated on, andthe cries of exultation were almost maddening. How long the scene oftumultuous excitement might have lasted, it is difficult to say, whenLord Castlereagh rose, with a calm dignity of manner that never in themost trying moments forsook him. "He begged to remind the gentlemenopposite that if these triumphant expressions were not indecorous, theywere at least premature; that the momentous occasion on which they weremet demanded all the temperate and calm consideration which they couldbestow upon it; that the time for the adoption of any course wouldnot be distant, and would sufficiently show to which side, with mostpropriety, the expression of triumph belonged."
The hint was significant; the foreshadowed victory was too plainlyand too palpably predicted to admit of a doubt, and a chilling silencesucceeded to the former uproar. The individual whose address this longscene of tumult had interrupted was now suffered to proceed. He was alaw-serjeant, a man of inferior capacity and small professional repute,whose advocacy of the Government plan had raised him to an unbecomingand dangerous eminence at the Bar. Without the slightest pretensions asa speaker, or one quality that should adorn a statesman, he possessedother gifts scarcely less valuable at that day: he was a readypistol; he came of a fighting family, not one of whom did not owe someadvancement in life to a cool hand and a steady eye; and he occupied hisplace in the Ministerial van by virtue of this signal accomplishment.As incapable of feeling the keen sarcasm of his opponents as he wasof using a similar weapon, he was yet
irascible from temperament,and overbearing in manner, and was used by his party as men employ afire-ship,--with a strong conviction that it may damage more than theenemy.
To cover the deficiencies of his oratory, as well as to add poignancy tohis personalities, it was the invariable custom of his friends to cheerhim vociferously at the end of every sentence which contained anythinglike attack on the Opposition; and to this species of backing he wasindebted for the courage that made him assail men incomparably above himin every quality of intellect.
Mr. Plunkett was now the object of his invective, nor was the boldnessof such a daring its least recommendation. Few of the Government sideof the House would have adventured to cross weapons with this masterof sarcasm and irony; none but the Serjeant Nickolls could have done sowithout a strong fear of consequences. He, however, was unconcerned forthe result as it affected himself personally; and as for the witheringstorm that awaited him, the triple hide of his native dulness was anarmor of proof that nothing could penetrate. From Plunkett he passed onto Bushe, from Bushe to Grattan; no game flew too high for his shafts,nor was any invective coarse enough to level at the great leaders of theOpposition. If the overbearing insolence of his harangue delighted hisown party, it called down peals of laughter from his opponents, whocheered every figurative absurdity and every illogical conclusion withshouts of ironical admiration.
Lord Castlereagh saw the mischief, and would gladly have cut short theoration; but the speaker was revelling in an imaginary victory, andwould listen to no suggestions whatever. Passing from the great names ofthe Irish party, he launched forth in terms of insult towards thecounty members, whom he openly accused of holding their opinions undera mistaken hope that they were a marketable commodity, and that assome stanch adherents of the Crown had reaped the honors due to "theirloyalty," these quasi-patriots were only waiting for their price. Theallusion was so palpable that every eye was turned to where HickmanO'Reilly sat, and whose confusion was now overwhelming.
"Ay," continued the speaker, now carried beyond all self-restraint bythe evident sensation he had caused, "there are gentlemen opposite whoseconfessions would reveal much of this kind of independence. I have myeye on some of them,--men who will be Patriots if they cannot be Peers,ready to put on the cap of liberty for the Mob if they cannot get thecoronet from the Crown. Many, too, are absent from this debate: theystand out, perhaps, for high terms; they have got Peerages for theirwives, and now, like a hackney-coachman, not content with their fare,they want 'something for themselves.' I heard of two such a while ago;they even came as far as the lobby of this House, where they halted andhesitated: a mitre or a regiment, a blue ribbon or a red one, would haveturned the scale, perhaps. Why are they not here now? I ask, what hasbecome of them?"
"Name! name!" screamed the Opposition, in a torrent of mad excitement,while the Government party, outrageous at the blundering folly of thewhole harangue, endeavored to pull the speaker back into his seat. Neverwas such a scene: one party lashed to madness by suspected treachery andopen insult; the other indignant at the stupidity of a man who, in hisattempts at attack, had raked up every calumny against his own friends.Already, more than one hand was laid on his arms to press him downinto his seat, when he, with the obstinacy of thorough dullness, shookhimself free, and called out, "I 'm ready to name."
Again the cries of "Name!" were shouted, mingled with no less vociferouscries of "No, no!" and the struggle now had every appearance of apersonal one, when the Speaker, calling to order, asked if it was thesense of the House that the Serjeant should gives the names he alludedto.
"I 'll soon cut the matter short," called out the Serjeant, in a voicethat resounded through every corridor of the House. "I mean the Knightof Gwynne and Bagenal Daly."
A cry of "Order! order!" now arose from all parts of the House, thedirect mention of any member by name being a liberty unprecedented.
"I beg to correct myself," said the Serjeant. "I should have said thehonorable members for Mayo and Old Castle. I ask again, why are they nothere?"
"Better you had never put the question," said a deep, low voice frombeneath the gallery; and at the same instant Bagenal Daly advanced alongone of the passages, and took his place at the table directly in frontof the Serjeant. A tremendous cheer now broke from the Oppositionbenches, which the Ministerial party in vain essayed to return.
"I perceive, sir," said the Serjeant, with an effort to resume hisformer ease,--"I perceive I have succeeded in conjuring up one at leastof these truant spirits, and I cannot do better than leave him to makehis explanations to the House."
With this lame, disjointed conclusion the learned Serjeant sat down; andalthough the greatest exertions were made by his friends to cover thispalpable failure, the cries of derision drowned all other sounds, andbefore they were silenced, a shout of "Daly! Daly!--Bagenal Daly!"resounded through the building.
Daly arose slowly, and saluted the Speaker with a most deferentialcourtesy. It was several minutes before the tumult had sufficientlysubsided to make his words audible; but when silence prevailed, he washeard to regret, in terms of unaffected ease, that any circumstancemight occur which should occupy the time of the House by observationsfrom one so rude and unlettered as himself, nor would he now ventureon the trespass, were the occasion merely a personal one. From thishe proceeded to state that great emergencies were always occurring, inwhich even the humblest opinions should be made known as evidencing theprobable impressions upon others as lowly circumstanced as he who nowaddressed them.
"Such is the present one," said he, raising his voice, and lookingaround him with a glance of bold defiance. "You are about to take awaythe right of self-government from a nation, and every man in the land,not only such as sit here, sir, but every man to whose future ambitiona seat in this House may form a goal, every man has a deep interest inyour proceedings. It is a grave and weighty question, whoseconditions impose the conviction that we are unfit to legislate forourselves,--that we are too weak, or too venal, or too ignorant, or toodishonest. To that conclusion you must come, or no other. Absence fromIreland must suggest enlightenment on her interests; distance must lendknowledge as well as enchantment, or an English Parliament cannot bebetter than our own. I have listened attentively, but unconvinced, toall arguments on this head; I have heard over and over again the longcatalogue of benefits to accrue to this country when the power ofrealizing them herself has been wrested from her, and I have thought ofLear and his daughters! It would seem to me, however, that the socialwelfare and the commercial prosperity of a people are themes too vulgarfor the high consideration of our times. The real question at issue isnot whether a Parliament should or should not continue to sit here, butwhat shall I, and others like me, benefit by voting it away forever?"
"Order! order!" called out several voices.
But Daly resumed: "I ask pardon. It is more parliamentary to put thecase differently, and I shall, under correction, do so. Well, sir,we may benefit largely. I trust I am not disorderly in saying thatpeerages, bishoprics, regiments, frigates, commissionerships, and Heavenknows what more, will reward us when our utility to the State has metthe approval of an Imperial Parliament. I can well credit every promiseof such gratitude, and have only to ask in turn, Are these the argumentsthat should sway us now? Is it because we are bungling legislators thatthey wish for us in London?--is it because we are venal they seek ourcompany, because we are inefficient they ask for our cooperation? Arethey so supremely right-minded, honorable, and far-seeing that they needthe alloy of our dulness to make them mortal? And suppose such the case,will it be gratifying to us to become the helots to this people? Willour national pride be flattered because our eloquence is sneered at,our law derided, our political knowledge a scoff, and our very accent ajoke? Do not tell me such things are unlikely; we are far weaker on thepoint than we like to confess. For myself, I can imagine the sense ofshame--of deep, heartfelt, abasing shame--I should feel at seeing someof those I see here rise in a British House of Commons to address thatb
ody, while the rumor should run, 'He is the member for Meath or forWicklow.' I can picture to myself such a man: a man of low origin andmean capacity; a man who carves his path in life less from his ownkeen abilities than that others shrink from his contact, and leave himunopposed in every struggle; a pettifogger at the Bar; a place-hunterat the Parliament; half beggar, half bravo, with a petition for theMinister, and a pistol for the Opposition. Imagine a man like this,and reflect upon the feeling of every gentleman at hearing the rumorannounce, 'Ay, that's a learned Serjeant, a leader at the Bar ofIreland.'"
The last words were delivered in a tone of direct personality, as,turning towards where Nickolls sat, Daly threw at him a look ofdefiance. The whole House arose as if one man, with cheers andcounter-cheers, and loud yells of insult, mingled with cries of "Order!"Nor was it till after a long and desperate wordy altercation that theclamor was subdued, and decorum at length restored. Then it was remarkedthat Nickolls had left the House.
The Speaker immediately ordered the Serjeant of the House to place Dalyunder arrest,--a measure which, however dictated by propriety, seemed tocall forth a burst of indignation from the Opposition benches.
"I hope, sir," said Daly, rising with an air of most admirably feignedhumility,--"I hope, sir, you will not execute this threat,--theinconvenience to me will be very great: I was about to pair off with thehonorable and learned member for Newry."
The mention of the town for which the Serjeant sat in Parliament renewedthe laughter which now prevailed on both sides of the House.
"I cannot understand the mirth of the gentlemen opposite," said Daly,with affected simplicity, "without it be from their astonishment thatthe Government can spare so able and so eloquent an advocate as thehonorable and learned gentleman; but let them reassure themselves andlook around, and, believe me, they'll find the Treasury benches filledby gentlemen as like him as possible."
The Speaker reissued the order to the Serjeant-at-Arms, and Daly nowcame forward to the table and begged in all form to know the reason ofsuch severity. "If, sir," said he, in conclusion,--"if I could believeit possible that you anticipate any personal collision between myselfand any member of this House, I have only to say that I am bound overin the sum of two thousand pounds to keep the peace within the limits ofthis kingdom. I take out a license at two pounds fifteen to kill game,it is true; but I 'd not pay sixpence for the privilege to shoot alawyer."
The fact of the heavy recognizances to which Daly alluded was at onceconfirmed by several members, and after a brief conversation with theSpeaker the matter was dropped.
It was, as may be supposed, a considerable time before the debate couldassume its due decorum and solemnity after an incident like this; foralthough hostile collisions were neither few nor unfrequent, an insultof so violent a character had never before been witnessed.
At length, however, order was restored, and another speaker addressedthe House. All had assumed its wonted propriety, when a messengerdelivered into Daly's hands a small sealed note; he glanced at thecontents and rose immediately. Lord Castlereagh's quick eye caughtthe motion, and he at once called on the Speaker to interfere. "I havemyself seen a letter conveyed to the honorable member's hands," said he;"it requires no peculiar gift of divination to guess the object."
"I will satisfy the noble lord at once," said Daly; "there is the letterI have received: I pledge my word of honor the subject is purely aprivate one, having no reference whatever to anything that has passedhere." He held out the letter as he spoke, but Lord Castlereagh declinedto peruse it, and expressed his regret at having made the remark. Dalybowed courteously to him, and left the House.
"Well, Sandy," said he, as soon as he reached the corridor, where hisfaithful follower stood waiting his coming, "what success?"
"No sae bad," said Sandy. "I 've got a wherry, ane of them Wicklowcraft; she's only half-decked, but she's a stout-looking sea-boat, andbroad in the beam."
"And the wind, how's that?"
"As it should be,--west, or west wi' a point north."
"Is there enough of it?"
"Enough! I trow there is," said Sanders, with a grin; "if there be no ablast too much. Hear till it now." And, as if waiting for the remark,a tremendous gust of wind shook the strong building, while the clankingsound of falling slates and chimney-pots resounded through the street.
"There's music for ye," said Sandy; "there came a clap like that when Ihad a'maist made the bargain, and the carles would no budge without tenguineas mair. I promised them fifty, and the handsel whatever your honorliked after."
"It's all right,--quite right," said Daly, wishing to stop details henever listened to with patience.
"It's a' right, I know weel enough," said Sandy, querulously; "but itwad no be a' right av ye went yersel'; they 'd have a gude penny, forbyewhat I say."
"And what say the fellows of this wind,--is it like to last?"
"It will blow hard from the west for three or four days mair, and thendraw round to the north."
"But we shall get to Liverpool before noon to-morrow."
"Maybe," said Sandy, with a low, dry laugh.
"Well, I mean if we do get there. You told them I 'd double the pay ifwe catch the American ship in the Mersey. I'd triple it; let them knowthat."
"They canna do mair than they can do: ten pounds is as good as tenhundred."
While this conversation was going forward, they had walked on together,and were now at the entrance door of the House, where a group of fourpersons stood under the shadow of the portico.
"Mr. Daly, I presume," said one, advancing, and touching his hat insalutation. "We have waited somewhat impatiently for your coming."
"I should regret it, sir, if I was aware you did me the honor to expectme."
"I am the friend of Serjeant Nickolls, sir," said the other, in a voicemeant to be eloquently meaning.
"For your sake, the fact is to be deplored," answered Daly, calmly. "Butproceed."
With a great effort to subdue his passion, the other resumed: "It doesnot require your experience in such matters to know that the insult youhave passed upon a high-minded and honorable gentleman--the gross andoutrageous insult--should be atoned for by a meeting. We are here forthis purpose, ready to accompany you, as soon as you have providedyourself with a friend, to wherever you appoint."
"Are you aware," said Daly, in a whisper, "that I am bound over in heavyrecognizances--"
"Ah, indeed!" interrupted the other; "that, perhaps, may explain--"
"Explain what, sir?" said Daly, as he grasped the formidable weaponwhich, more club than walking-stick, he invariably carried.
"I meant nothing; I would only observe--"
"Never observe, sir, when there's nothing to be remarked. I wasinforming you that I am bound over to keep the peace in this samekingdom of Ireland; circumstances compel me to be in England to-morrowmorning,--circumstances of such moment that I have myself hired a vesselto convey me thither,--and although the object of my journey is far fromagreeable, I shall deem it one of the happiest coincidences of my lifeif it can accommodate your friend's wishes. Nothing prevents my givinghim the satisfaction he desires on English ground. I have sincerepleasure in offering him, and every gentleman of his party, a passageover--the tide serves in half an hour. Eh, Sandy?"
"At a quarter to twelve, sir."
"The wind is fair."
"It is a hurricane," replied the other, almost shuddering.
"It blows fresh," was Daly's cool remark.
For a moment or two the stranger returned to his party, with whom hetalked eagerly, and the voices of the others were also heard, speakingin evident excitement.
"You have the pistols safe, Sandy?" whispered Daly.
"They 're a' safe, and in the wherry; but you 'll no want them thistime, I trow," said Sandy, with a shrug of his shoulders; "yon folkwould rather bide where they are the night, than tak' a bit o' pleasurein the Channel."
Daly smiled, and turned away to hide it, when the stranger again cameforwar
d. "I have consulted with my friends, Mr. Daly, who are alsothe friends of Serjeant Nickolls; they are of opinion that, underthe circumstances of your being bound over, this affair cannot withpropriety go further, although it might not, perhaps, be unreasonableto expect that you, feeling the peculiar situation in which you stand,might express some portion of regret at the utterance of this mostsevere attack."
"You are really misinformed on the whole of the business," said Daly."In the few words I offered to the House, I was but responding to thequestion of your friend, who asked, I think somewhat needlessly, 'Wherewas Bagenal Daly?' I have no regrets to express for any terms I appliedto him, though I may feel sorry that the forms of the House preventedmy saying more. I am ready to meet him now; or, as he seems to dislikea breeze, when the weather is calmer. Tell him so; but tell him besides,that if he utters one syllable in my absence that the most malevolentgossip of a club-room can construe into an imputation on me, by G--dI'll break every bone in his cowardly carcass! Come, Sandy, lead on.Good evening, sir. I wish you a bolder friend, or better weather." Sosaying, he moved forward, and was soon hastening towards the North Wall,where the wherry was moored.
"It's unco like the night we were wrecked in the Gulf," said Sandy. "Imind the moon had that same blue color, and the clouds were a' below,and none above her."
"So it is, Sandy,--there 's a heavy sea outside, I 'm sure. How many menhave we?"
"Four, and a bit o' a lad that's as gude as anither. Lord save us! therewas a flash! I wish it wud come to rain, and beat down the sea; we 'dhave aye wind enough after."
"Where does she lie?"
"Yonder, sir, where you see the light bobbing. By my certie, but thechiels were no far wrang. A bit fighting 's hard bought by a trip to seaon such a night as this."