MY FATHER INTERVIEWS LORD PALMERSTON 165 



House and called him out, had he not been stopped by 

 the policeman on duty. Not exactly understanding the 

 police regulations, he felt annoyed in being interfered 

 with, and, on being asked for his card, replied : 



' I don't carry cards. Give me a piece of paper, and I 

 will write my name.' 



Whilst he was in the act of doing so, Sir William 

 Codrington came out and spoke to him. 



' What brings you here, John ?' he said ; ' and can I 

 do anything for you ?' 



'Yes, Sir William,' he replied; 'I want to see Lord 

 Palmerston, and this man won't let me pass.' 



On his being assured it was the regulation of the 

 House, he was satisfied, but was vexed when Sir William 

 told him that he did not expect for a moment he would 

 see his lordship, as the Irish debate was on, and he 

 would be too much engaged to leave. 



'But,' he added kindly, ' I will go and see.' 



To everyone's surprise, the Premier got up and came 

 straight out to my father. After shaking hands, my 

 father heartily congratulated him on his being Premier, 

 to which his lordship replied : 



1 Oh, thanks, John ; I have won my Derby ;' and then 

 inquired how he could serve him. 



The business which had brought my father to town to 

 see him was to obtain his interest in getting my brother 

 Henry made coroner. His lordship said it should be 

 done; and shortly after my brother was appointed to 

 the Coronership of Hertfordshire, which he retained to 

 his death, in 1883. Few noblemen, and probably no 

 other commoner, would have done such a thing. Indeed, 

 he dealt very differently with other people that he em- 

 ployed, none of whom could scarcely ever approach him 

 on any pretence whatever. Yet I am reminded that his 



