Mr. Chamberlain is always prompt and straightforward in action, and is pleasant and agreeable in manner and speech.  Moreover, he is a man of consummate tact.  I remember in 1874, when he was Mayor, and the Prince and Princess of Wales paid a visit to Birmingham, there was much wondering and questioning as to how he would comport himself on the occasion.  At that time he was credited with cherishing rather strong Republican sentiments.  It was even said that he had been known to go so far as to remain seated when the loyal toasts were drunk.  I certainly cannot say that I was ever witness of such a proceeding, nor have I been able to trace the statement to any authentic source.  Still, there was a widespread idea that he was not overburdened with feelings of loyalty, and many people naturally wondered how he would manage decorously to entertain his Royal guests.

Mr. Chamberlain was quite equal to the occasion.  In speech and manner his conduct was irreproachable, and he won golden opinions from all sorts of people.  I remember that very curious stories were in circulation at the time as to the etiquette which, it had been laid down, should be observed on the occasion.  It was, indeed, said that, in consequence of Mr. Chamberlain’s supposed Republican sentiments, special regulations were enjoined, and that the formalities to be observed in receiving and entertaining the Prince were to be of an extra rigid character.  I, for one, never believed there was any foundation for these silly reports, but, if any special formalities were prescribed, Mr. Chamberlain brushed them aside, and simply conducted himself with quiet, easy grace, always calm and self-possessed, and never fussy or needlessly obsequious.

Mr. Chamberlain entertained the Royal visitors and others at luncheon at the Society of Artists’ rooms, and it struck me that if he had been a born courtier, and had been bred in the atmosphere of palaces, he could hardly have been more “at home” in the position in which he found himself.  His speech, in which he proposed the health of the Prince and Princess of Wales, was a model of adroitness and good taste.  Without giving himself away by indulging in effusiveness, or being carried away by the glamour of the occasion, he managed to make a very circumspect, clever, and appropriate speech, which, though closely scrutinised, brought no reproaches or even adverse criticisms from Republicans or Royalists.  No doubt it was a somewhat scorching ordeal for Mr. Chamberlain to pass through, but he came out of it unsinged and triumphant, and was afterwards more popular than ever.