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he only resigned about a than a colonel of volunteers He has sat for a number of what is more, he is a distinct, quished personality of that < himself as a Liberal-ConserDeeches, votes, and the general oportion would seem to be about to one of the former. He sits, Robert Peel, and others, as an sequently the Liberal Whip is plexity with regard to the direction

unknown to any one, Beverley, in his despair, had taken poison. Their arrival, and the news they brought him, cheered him not; he asked for a chair, and grew fainter. The fortune of which they spoke he had already sold. Here Stukeley entered, and tendered Beverley's release; remarking that he had ordered his arrest only to prevent bloodshed, but his effort in that line had, it appeared, been useless.

Blood, blood! who was dead? Lewson, Charlotte's intended husband? Charlotte screamed aloud. The proof was too plain; Jarvis and Bates had heard Beverley, on the preceding night, in angry quarrel with his victim.

Dawson and Bates were here; but, amazement, Lewson too. Aye, he was alive; and to clearly inculpate Stukeley had, by the direction of Bates and his confederate, kept out of the way. They would have remained villains had their master stopped short of murder, but that they could not brook. They would tell all.

But Beverley, poor Beverley! What of him? The poison was rankling in his vitals, his strength was ebbing fast, and his brain was confused. The convulsions grew stronger, the limbs stiffened, foam gathered round his lips, and his life was over.

Let frail minds take warning, and, from example learn, that want of prudence is want of virtue.

PERSONALITIES OF THE HOUSE OF
COMMONS.

XXVI.

LORD ELCHO.

Is our last sketch of this series which appeared in the December number of THE NEW MONTHLY, we made, so to speak, our bow to the public, and intimated that the series had closed. Since that time, however, we have been given to understand from an authoritative quarter that a continuance of the sketches would be far from unwelcome to several readers of this Magazine; and, therefore, in place of summarily dismissing the "Personalities" of our interesting legislature, in company with the departing Old Year, we gladly take the opportunity of opening the door to a fresh batch of familiar faces with the advent of the New.

Lord Elcho is probably more familiar to the general public from his conspicuous connection with the Volunteer Movement than from his parliamentary personality. When that organisation was first set on foot, in consequence of a general impression some years ago that we were on the brink of a French invasion, Lord Elcho threw himself heart and soul into the movement, and remains to this day one of its most ardent and devoted supporters. Since the rapid expansion of the movement and the universal love of rifle-practice developed amongst the volunteers, which ultimately led to the celebration of a kind of great annual shooting carnival on Wimbledon Common, Lord Elcho's cottage at that bulletwhizzing rendezvous has become a standard institution, and the genial hospitality of its owner a household word. Moreover, his lordship was the popular Colonel of the "London Scottish," -a post, indeed, which, with much regret, he only resigned about a month ago. But Lord Elcho is more than a colonel of volunteers and a patroniser of rifle meetings. He has sat for a number of years in the House of Commons, and, what is more, he is a distinct, and, in certain respects, a distinguished personality of that assembly. In politics he describes himself as a Liberal-Conservative; but, judging from his speeches, votes, and the general tenour of his public conduct, the proportion would seem to be about three-parts of the latter element to one of the former. He sits, along with Mr. Roebuck, Sir Robert Peel, and others, as an ndependent member, and consequently the Liberal Whip is rown into some degree of perplexity with regard to the direction

which his lordship's vote may take on this question or that There is one remark, at any rate, which should be made respecting that vote,―it never has been, and assuredly never will be, prostituted to the infamous purposes of faction. The political circum. stances of the last two years have been crucial to many a politician. Patriotism has been put on its trial; it has been sifted like wheat. The question has been sternly brought home to the breast of this man and of that by the inexorable voice of circumstances, " Is it party or country which is the more dear to you? In the face of national peril will you show yourself to be nothing better than the degraded and unwholesome spawn of a grovelling faction?" Staunch partisans as well as independent irregulars have been put in the furnace seven times heated; and how many among the number have come forth as gold? To the credit of the national name, more, we are rejoiced to believe, than perhaps were expected. And amongst the noble army of patriots must assuredly be reckoned the member for Haddingtonshire. Throughout the late crises his voice and his vote have been unfailingly at the service of the Government. He never allied himself to that brood of political serpents who are for ever crawling on their bellies. Along with many another distinguished legislator, he preferred, irrespective of party, to stand on his legs like a man; and doubtless the sentiment of his heart was that of our immortal patriot-poet :

"This England never did, nor never shall

Lie at the proud foot of a conqueror,

But when it first did help to wound itself."

And now that Bulgarian Agitation has changed its name to Afghan Committee, it may be taken for granted that his lordship will use an early opportunity of aiding, from his place in Parliament, to denounce that presumptuous though imbecile movement. The causes of Lord Elcho's popularity, and of his being a recognised power in the House of Commons, are pretty evident. He has proved that his independence is not merely nominal but real, and that it is for the most part guided by a calm and reflective judgment. His speeches always indicate a considerable amount of carefully-gathered information, and that his matter has been thoroughly digested before being offered to his audience. Then, too, he is one of the really good speakers in the House; that is to say, he expresses with grace and fluency opinions which are always pregnant; he rises occasionally into a kind of elegant oratory; and, above all things, he knows when to stop. In addition to these qualities he is in happy possession of a handsome face and a winning address. Moreover, there is possibly associated with him, both as regards his doings in the House and out of it, a certain atmosphere of chivalry which would insure personality and popu

larity to a man of much meaner parts. The noble lord is without doubt a favourite with the House; his comely presence, as he rises from below the gangway, not to badger a Ministry with petty criticisms, but to speak forth manly words of truth and soberness, would perhaps be missed as much as any figure in it.

XXVII.

SIR WILLIAM EDMONETONE.

"THE Admiral," as he is usually termed, is decidedly the oddity, par excellence, of the House. His queer dogmatic individuality makes him, in his own province, quite unique. In certain things he is a model Member of Parliament. He is like the good school-boy, never a moment behind time, but always in his place when the great academy of St. Stephen's begins lessons. We believe it is notorious that he has never once been known even to be absent from prayers; a piece of exemplary conduct in which we fear he has very few rivals amongst the other young gentlemen. As respects this particular phase of good behaviour" the Admiral" gets a certain reward in the shape of retaining his seat for the remainder of the evening. The seat which he first selected was one immediately behind the Leader of the House, on the first bench behind the Treasury Bench; and as he has never heen late for prayers, that comfortable corner may be looked upon as exclusively his own. There, night after night, was the Admiral" to be seen in Mr. Disraeli's time, animating his chief with his hearty cheers, and, perhaps, even bending forward occasionally to whisper an encouraging suggestion in his ear. It is scarcely necessary to remark that he now occupies the same position relatively to Sir Stafford Northcote. But the Admiral" is the good boy in more important respects than punctuality. He is a rigid and religious observer of discipline; he is never to be found in the wrong lobby; and as for playing truant from a division, or even from a sitting of the House, there must certainly be something very "rotten in the state of Denmark when such an event as that comes to pass. "The Admiral," in truth, must be the very pet and darling of the Whips. They must feel such perfect reliance in him. The notion of ever having to " whip" him would be to them monstrous were it not amusing. He, whose vote is as safe, or safer, than the Bank of England, and whom only the direst circumstances of sickness or bereavement could prevent from being present to give it! He, who is always there at prayers, and on whose patience and constitution the driest of conversations or the lengthiest of sittings has no more effect than a capful of wind on an old salt, but who keeps his place till the very last breath of the words, "that the House do now

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