"It was thus, travel-stained and weary, that I first presented
myself as a member of the British Parliament. The House was still
sitting, it had been sitting without a break for over forty hours,
and I shall never forget the appearance the Chamber presented. The
floor was littered with paper. A few dishevelled and weary Irishmen
were on one side of the House, about a hundred infuriated
Englishmen upon the other; some of them still in evening dress, and
wearing what were once white shirts of the night before last. Mr.
Parnell was upon his legs, with pale cheeks and drawn face, his
hands clenched behind his back, facing without flinching a
continuous roar of interruption. It was now about eight o'clock.
Half of Mr. Parnell's followers were out of the Chamber snatching a
few moments' sleep in chairs in the Library or Smoke Room. Those
who remained had each a specified period of time allotted him to
speak, and they were wearily waiting their turn. As they caught
sight of me standing at the bar of the House of Commons there was a
cheer of welcome. I was unable to come to their aid, however, as
under the rules of the House I could not take my seat until the
commencement of a new sitting. My very presence, however, brought,
I think, a sense of encouragement and approaching relief to them;
and I stood there at the bar with my travelling coat still upon me,
gazing alternately with indignation and admiration at the amazing
scene presented to my gaze.

"This, then, was the great Parliament of England! Of intelligent
debate there was none. It was one unbroken scene of turbulence and
disorder. The few Irishmen remained quiet, too much amused,
perhaps, or too much exhausted to retaliate. It was the
English--the members of the first assembly of gentlemen in Europe,