Friday.—­Met BROOKFIELD in corridor just now.  Capital fellow BROOKFIELD, though not very well known in House, much less to fame outside.  Was in the 13th Hussars; is now promoted to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of 1st Cinque Ports Rifle Volunteers.  Has sat for Rye these seven years, but never yet spoke.  This the more remarkable since he is a trained student of art of public speaking; has, indeed, just written profound treatise on the business.  FISHER UNWIN sent me copy from Paternoster Square.  Sat up all night reading it.  The speech of “our worthy Member,” proposing “The Town and Trade of X,” is thrilling.  Another, put into the mouth of “the youngest bachelor present,” responding for “the Ladies,” makes your flesh creep.  BROOKFIELD’s idea novel and ingenious.  Sets forth what he calls a conventional speech.  This fills up Column A. In Column B. he comments on it, rather severely sometimes; in Column C. throws out suggestions which, duly followed, make speech perfect.  All possible occasions are dealt with, whether responding for Bishop and Clergy, Army, Navy, Reserve Forces, House of Commons, or House of Lords.  BROOKFIELD, moreover, goes behind the scenes; shows the wretched man who has to make speech preparing it.  You see him making up his mind what he has to say; jotting down a note; revising it after asking everyone he meets what he thinks of it.  Then you write out your speech; learn it off; get up to address company; things swim before your eyes; tongue cleaves to roof of mouth; and you sit down.

[Illustration:  An Apt Pupil.]

Admirable book:  useful on all occasions of daily life; invaluable on eve of General Election.  Surprised to find BROOKFIELD looking miserably dejected.  Tell him he ought to be quite otherwise.  Explains that, fact is, means to catch SPEAKER’s eye.  Parliament can’t last many more days; hasn’t made maiden speech yet; must do it now, or never; Rye getting anxious.  Could I give him a few hints?  With great pleasure; full of the subject.  Begin at the beginning.  Ideas; memoranda; methods:  (a) The arrangement of speech, (b) the management of the voice, (c) attitude or gesture.  On this last I am very particular.  “Holding up one finger,” I say, “is a favourite way of bespeaking special attention to some ‘point’ which you are trying to make; and waving the right hand, with outstretched arm, the forefinger leading, is an easy and not ungraceful method of illustrating the narrative portion of your speech.  For the more vehement passages, a sudden flourish of the hand upwards, over your head, generally accompanies some aggressive, triumphant assertion, such as, ’I care not who he may be!’ And a similar movement downwards, with both hands, would indicate some indignant complaint, such as, ’And never, from that day to this, have they fulfilled their promise.’”

“Excellent!” cried LEVESON-GOWER, who, as I spoke, involuntarily waved the right hand, the forefinger leading.