Lord Elcho, Sir W. Lawson, and Mr. Labouclaere,—all of them
made amusing speeches on Tuesday, on the proposal to adjourn over the Derby Day, a motion which was moved by Lord Elcho. Lord Elcho justly said that if any member was to consult his constituents as to whether he should make them
a political speech or go to the Derby, he was sure that the answer would be at once, Go to the Derby ; " and this is true, for the voracity for races extends into all classes of society, and all classes seem to wish to get the countenance of other classes for their favourite passion. Lord Elcho said that if Mr. Chaplin were obliged to' attend the House of Commons instead of going to the Derby, the very dogs he had muzzled would feel for him. Lord Hartington's followers would go to the Derby ; Sir Charles Russell would be as welcome there as in any Law-court in the Kingdom, and Mr. T. P. O'Connor would be at home there ; nay, Mr. Gladstone himself would not be able to ask the House to sit on the Derby Day for the reason given in 1882, when he was so deeply engaged in restoring law and order in Ireland, since the right honourable gentleman was no longer engaged in restoring law and order in Ireland. And even Sir Wilfrid Lawson wanted rest and refreshment and leisure "to re-dress that old banner and prepare that old speech for delivery."
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