xxiv POLITICAL REMINISCENCES 15 



containing a live Dormouse is detained at this office, it 

 being contrary to Law to forward through the Post 

 Office anything Ukely to injure the contents of the mail 

 bags, or to do harm to any officer of the Department. 



" We wrote to the G.P.O. that even if Dormice 

 could injure the officers of the Department in 

 summer they were incapable of doing so in winter 

 because they were dormant, upon which assur- 

 ance they forwarded the parcel." This simple 

 way of relating his stories was that which he had 

 always found — and his experience was large — to 

 be most effective with a popular audience, especi- 

 ally of the working class. 



The following correspondence refers to the 

 collection of Income Tax after the Budget speech, 

 but before the necessary Parliamentary authority 

 had been given. He admitted the convenience 

 of the practice, but thought that the Bill should be 

 taken as soon as possible, and put down a question 

 on the subject which, however, the Chancellor of 

 the Exchequer (Sir W. Harcourt) asked him to 

 postpone. Sir John agreed to the postponement, 

 but under gentle protest : 



House of Commons, 

 14 April /93. 



My deae Harcourt — I postponed the second part 

 of my question yesterday, as you wished. I had sup- 

 posed that the Resolution was sufficient to legalise the 

 collection of the Income Tax, but as it appears that 

 that is not the case, may I understand that after the 

 second reading of the Home Rule Bill is disposed of, 

 preference will be given to the Customs and Inland 

 Revenue Bill ? 



The unauthorised collection of taxes should certainly 

 not last longer than is unavoidably necessary. — I 

 am, yours sincerely, John Lubbock. 



Sir W. Harcourt replied : 



