Scene II. – The Same Chamber. Five o’clock. Lords present.
Lord Fitzwilliam (moving the Address). Mumble, mumble, mumble, mumble, mumble, mumble. (Applause.)
Lord Truro (seconding the Address). Mumble, mumble, mumble, mumble, mumble, mumble. (Applause.)
Lord Grey. Some of the Address is all very well, but the Commercial Treaty with France is a mistake. Why should we take off the duties on French products, unless to do ourselves good? All stuff. If France chooses to be so idiotic as to stick to prohibitions, let her suffer and be laughed at, until she takes them off without a bribe from us. And we are all wrong about Chine, and might serve trade better without war. I move an amendment to that effect.
Duke of Newcastle. You know nothing about the Treaty, and you don’t understand the Chinese question. The honour of this country is not to be made subservient to the interest of the tea-trade.
Lord Normanby. I-a-am very old, uncommon old, I assure your Lordships-and-and I am myself assured that I was never very wise when I was young, and wrote silver-fork novels, sneering at everybody that didn’t live-a-in Belgravia. But I hope you won’t do anything to encourage that firebrand, Mr. Garibaldi; for I do assure you, my Lords, that the Dukes and Princes of Italy are the dearest fellows on earth – most gentlemanly, I assure your Lordships – most attentive to myself – uncommon attentive, yes.
Lord Brougham. Let the Italians do their own work. Let us arm.
Lord Derby (pleasantly). I couldn’t hear a single word that those two fellows said in moving and seconding the Address, but I’ve no doubt they made deucedly fine speeches, and I beg to congratulate them. But I don’t congratulate anybody on the Commercial Treaty, and I don’t at all see my way in the China business, and though I don’t in the Least understand what position Ministers have taken up on the China business, I condemn them just as mush as if I perfectly comprechended it.
Lord Granville. As you talk only for the sake of talking, I shall say very little in reply, except that we have done everything for the best, and that a great loss has been sustained by the House and the country, in the death of Lord Macaulay. (General assent.)
Lord Grey. I shan’t withdraw my amendment; but as those Tories are afraid to support me, thought they would like, I shan’t divide.
(Address voted, and Scene closes.)
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