His own friends were
foremost in trying to bring him back to composure; and Lord Randolph
Churchill expressed, with the fine, full-flavoured plainness of ancient
speech, his opinion of the conduct of his friends.
[Sidenote: Keeping the seats.]
This plain-spoken opinion of Lord Randolph Churchill was induced by the
fact that Mr. Gibbs and his friends had now resolved on a desperate step
to secure attention to his complaint. This was no other than refusing to
leave the House, and take part in the division. It is more than twelve
years since this extreme, violent, and almost revolutionary step was
adopted before. On the dreadful night--how well I remember it!--when the
news came that Michael Davitt had been sent back to penal servitude, the
information sent a thrill of such horror and almost despair amongst the
Irish Benches, that some method of manifesting their feelings became
inevitable. By a series of circumstances, into which I need not now go,
the manifestation took the shape of refusing to go into the division
lobby, and retaining our seats. We were all suspended in turn, and
removed from the House by the Serjeant-at-Arms.
[Sidenote: Logan.
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