It would be idle to deny that Mr.Chamberlain had then one of the most triumphant moments of his life.

It was a small point, after all, and, as everybody soon knew, it was all the result of a natural and a perfectly honest mistake.

But the House of Commons is not particular in weighing things in judicial scales at moments of intense political passion.

There rose from the Tory and the Unionist Benches one of the longest, fiercest, most triumphant shouts that was ever heard in the House of Commons.

But then, as I again must say, and as will soon be seen, the passion was overdone, and a swift retribution came by-and-bye.