The leaders of both parties are rather remiss in their
conduct of the business of the House. On Monday night the great debate very nearly fell through in the dinner-hour. The Speaker was just putting the question, when Mr. Dillwyn—who is always ready to throw himself into any breach—got up and made a ten minutes'
speech, without preparation or intention, just to give time for calling in the Members. The House owes him much for saving it from a discreditable failure, which would have greatly injured it with the country. Had a division been taken during the dinner- hour on the first night of a great debate, the position of the House of Commons would have been exceedingly humiliating and ludi- crous ; and this is precisely what would have happened, had not the Member for Swansea done what no man does willingly,—con- -sented to speak without preparation, in order to atone for the negligence of the Whips. Mr. Dillwyn was clear and sensible, as he always is ; but none the less, he sacrificed himself to get the House out of a scrape.
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