Mr. Chamberlain, too, was very happy, especially in his treatment
of the Tories' plea that because Ireland is, in their opinion, unfit for any extension of the franchise, England and Scotland should wait till Ireland recovers herself. It reminded him, he said, of Sheridan's kind offer to a friend, whom, after an evening's carouse, he found lying helpless in the street, but yet not so incapable but what be coal& ask Sheridan to help him on to his legs. "No," said Sheridan, "I cannot do that for you, but there is one thing I will do, to show my friend- ship for you ; I will lie down beside you." Mr. Chamberlain also quizzed the Fourth Party rather well, remarking on Mr. Arthur Balfour's assurance to the Manchester Tories that the Session would begin in a storm, continue in a storm, and end in a storm. "Mr. Balfour is one of those prophets who can do a great deal to secure the accomplishment of his own predictions. Gentlemen, I can imagine the Members of the Fourth Party on the eve of the Session sitting round a cauldron like the witches in Macbeth, shaking their skinny fingers, and saying one to another, I'll give thee a wind, and I another, I myself have all the other ;' and then, referring to Mr. Gladstone, they will go on to say, 'Though his bark can not be lost, yet it shall be
tempest-tossed.' " . ,
