Curious to think how Ireland at this epoch belonged to the classes!  DANIEL O’CONNELL was just in his prime, and, in addition to himself returned three of his name.  SMITH O’BRIEN was yet far off the cabbage garden, and HENRY GRATTAN sat for Meath.  There is a living image of him now among the busts in the corridor leading out of the Octagon Hall; a fiery dramatic speaker in the House, who, as someone said of him at the time, used in his passion to throw up his arms, bend over till he touched the floor with his finger-nails, and thank Heaven he had no gestures.  The O’CONNOR DON whom Members younger than I remember as he sat above the Gangway in the Parliament of 1874, then represented Roscommon.  But for the most part the Irish Members of those days were Earls, Viscounts, Knights, Baronets, Honourables and Right Honourables.

There were, on the Motion for the Address, big debates in both Houses on this particular night, when I first saw the SPEAKER in wig and gown.  The fate of the Ministry could scarcely be said to hang in the balance; they knew they were doomed.  In the Lords the shrift was short.  Not too late for dinner, their Lordships divided:  “Contents 96, Not Contents 168,” majority against Government 72.  I well remember COVENTRY’s speech; worth reciting as a model for these later days.  He followed LANSDOWNE, and House wanted to hear NORTHAMPTON.  When COVENTRY presented himself, fearful row kicked up.  He stood there till silence partially restored, then he said in deep voice, as who should say “My name is—­Norval,”—­

[Illustration:  “AU REVOIR!”]

“I am Lord COVENTRY.  A few words from me.  I think the country is in a safe state, and I hope to find it placed in the hands of the Duke of WELLINGTON.  My Lords, I hope I have not detained you.”

Then he sat down.

In the Commons, debate lasted four days; majority against Government 91.

The LABBY of 1841 spoke at length, and was followed by Mr. D’ISRAELI (he spelt it with an apostrophe in those days):  a good Disraelian ring about the last sentence of his speech.

“The House,” he said, “ought now to act as it had been acted upon in times when Parliament was unreformed, when DANBY found himself in a dungeon, and STRAFFORD on a scaffold.  Now the Whigs hold office by abusing the confidence of the Sovereign, and defying the authority of Parliament.”

After him came the still budding BERNAL OSBORNE, CHARLES NAPIER, ROEBUCK, JOHNNIE RUSSELL, fighting to the last with his back to the wall; COBDEN, HENRY GRATTAN, PAM, MILNER GIBSON, O’CONNELL, PEEL, and Colonel SIBTHORP.

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[Illustration:  MR. PUNCH KEEPS HIS EYE ON CRICKET.

THEN (1841) and NOW (1891).]

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[Illustration:  PUNCH PRESENTING YE TENTH VOLUME TO YE QUEENE. (1846.)]

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FROM W.M.  THACKERAY TO MR. PUNCH. (FEBRUARY, 1849.)