House of Commons. 19 



Groups of three or four were formed for this purpose 

 by the law of natural selection, but the roll was called 

 for breakfasts and dinners, so that we all met daily and 

 were fully advised of each other's movements. 



The House of Commons claimed the first place with 

 our party, all being anxious to see the Mother of Par- 

 liaments. It is not so easy a matter to do this as to 

 see our Congress in session ; but thanks to our friend 

 Mr. R. C. and to others, we were fortunate in being 

 able to do so frequently. Our ladies had the pleasure 

 of being taken into the Ladies' Gallery by one of the 

 rising statesmen of England, Sir Charles Dilke, a Cabi- 

 net Minister, and one who has had the boldness, and as 

 I think the rare sagacity, to say that he prefers the re- 

 publican to the monarchical system of government. The 

 world is to hear of Sir Charles Dilke, if he live and 

 health be granted him, and above all, if he remain 

 steadfast to his honest opinions. So many public men 

 in England " stoop to conquer," forgetting that what- 

 ever else they may conquer thereafter they never can 

 conquer that i'/^?^'// that" drags down their life " ! 



We really heard John Bright speak — the one of all 

 men living whom our party wished most to see and to 

 hear. I had not forgotten hearing him speak in Dun- 

 fermline, when I was seven years of age, and well do I 

 remember that when I got home I told mother he 

 made one mistake ; for when speaking of Mr. Smith 

 (the Liberal candidate) he called him a men, instead of 



