The humour and the wit which made him the joy of groups in the smoking-room on the occasions when he was in full vein of reminiscence never got into his set speeches--though no man oftener lit up debate with some telling interruption.

He was often merely rhetorical; he had the name--though in my experience he never deserved it--for being indiscreetly vehement.

His early reputation, which he had never lived down, is not unkindly represented by a story which he used to tell against himself.

When the first Home Rule Bill was introduced he had a great desire to speak in the debate, and went to Parnell with his request.

"Will you promise," said Parnell, "that you will write out what you are going to say, and show it to me, and say that and no more ?" He promised, and handed in his manuscript.