Wednesday.—­Municipal Corporations Act, 1882 (Amendment) Bill first Order of Day.  Doesn’t seem to promise anything exciting; Debate, however, not gone far before discovery made that it hides a deep design.  Wouldn’t think, looking at FORWOOD as he sits at remote end of Treasury Bench, that he had anything to do with Hecuba, or Hecuba with him.  Only suspicious thing about him is, his extreme desire to keep out of sight.  When SPEAKER took Chair he was standing at Bar surveying House, and wondering when it would be made.  As soon as MATTINSON rose to move Second Heading of Bill, FORWOOD. so to speak, went backward, and planted himself well in shadow of SPEAKER’s Chair.

Turns out in course of interesting Debate that, though the speech on moving Second Reading is the voice of MATTINSON, the Bill is the Bill of FORWOOD, whose interest in the political affairs of Liverpool is said to be extensive and peculiar.  NEVILLE puts it in another way.  “Whenever,” he said, “any political manipulation is afoot in Liverpool, be sure the Secretary to the Admiralty will not be far away.”

[Illustration:  “This Way to London!”]

At first, FORWOOD affected indifference to proceedings.  “His Bill! s’elp him, never seen it before.  ‘L’pool.’  What’s that?” But as Debate went forward, and gentlemen opposite insisted on dragging him in, he finally yielded, and taking off coat, “went for” other side.  Rev. SAM SMITH interposed with charming story about a gentleman whom Liverpool Tories had appointed Chairman of Watch Committee, “he being solicitor to the two largest publicans in Liverpool.”  That didn’t at first sight seem much to point, supposing even the united cubit measurement of the worthy tradesmen exceeded twelve feet.  But Reverend SAM went on to explain what he meant was that, “between them, they owned about 120 public-houses.”  Curious movement in Strangers’ Gallery as of involuntary smacking of many lips, FORWOOD said this (which he daintily alluded to as “an allegation”) had been denied.  SAM, couching the retort in clerical language, said in effect, “You’re another!” whereupon Ministerialists roared, “Oh! oh!” and FORWOOD, now thoroughly roused, proceeded to show that SAMUEL and his Liberal allies were the real Gerrymanders, and that he, FORWOOD, was the spotless advocate of the true interests of the Working-Man.

House began to look askance on S.S.  Never suspected him of being a man of that kind.  Glad when painful discussion came to end.  Bill read Second Time; but jubilation of promoters suddenly chilled by TIM HEALY, of whom no one was thinking at the moment, stepping in and adroitly putting spoke in wheel of Bill, by moving to refer it to Select Committee; which, being translated, means it will get no Forwooder this Session.

Business done.—­TIM HEALY puts FORWOOD’s clock back.

Friday.—­EDWARD WATKIN home from honeymooning trip.  Pleased to find his Bill giving the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway direct access to London passed all its stages in the Commons.