64 REMINISCENCES OF 



ways possible only in the midst of a large com- 

 munity. 



Mr. Fleming was one of the most determined 

 opponents of the reforming party ; hence my bill 

 acted like the traditional red rag to a bull. In the 

 heated discussion which ensued, one of the opposi- 

 tion accused Dr. Phillips of uttering an untruth. At 

 that time one of the members of council was a 

 surgeon of the name of Mann, who had spent the 

 earlier part of his life in the army. The moment 

 the stormy council meeting broke up, Dr. Phillips 

 went direct to Mr. Mann's house, and asked him, as 

 one familiar with the usages of the army, what course 

 he ought to adopt after the public insult he had 

 just received. At that time the duello, though on 

 the wane, had not yet been permanently banished 

 from English society. So Mr. Mann replied that 

 there was but one course open to him. Phillips then 

 asked his friend to be the bearer of a hostile message 

 to the offending individual. An old army man could 

 scarcely decline such a mission, and Mr. Mann at once 

 departed on his errand. It was arranged that Dr. 

 Phillips should await his friend's return at Mr. 

 Mann's own house. 



The most solemn affairs have occasionally their 

 ludicrous aspects, and such were not wanting 

 here. Looking out of the window of the room 

 in which he was waiting, into Deansgate, Dr. 

 Phillips saw two policemen walking backwards 

 and forwards in front of the house, and at once 



