course, and what with sky scrapers (I counted 36 stories. in one), elevated railways, tram cars everywhere and a general sense of bustle and confusion, and the heat, we were mighty glad to get out of it all and be on the ocean with its air.

To the Same.

On board R.M.S. "Oceanic."

29th Sept. 1908.

There is much to talk about. The sun has just set in great glory, and the moon has shewn her silver crescent over the waters. The day ending fair and calm after a bad beginning. Greatly to my surprise, I have never missed a day at table on either voyage.

Our days are filled with thankfulness at all we have been permitted to accomplish.

Amongst the things to be spoken of were visits to the Lloyd G. Garrisons at Boston, and to Goldwin Smith at Toronto. "Very deaf, an interesting survival. His philosophy of the French Revolution the most notable, economic, rather than political." A dinner given by Mr. Bridgmen1 at New York was also an interesting

occasion.

A note on the return home is characteristic:-

Good

Greeted warmly by servants inside and out. faithful creatures, what blessings one has to be thankful for, after a travel of 9,250 miles in 32 days.

The Autumn session was faced resolutely, though not without some misgivings:

Oct. 15th. To House of Commons where my sands begin to feel to be running out, for although my physical vigour and mental power have not, I think, much abated, I am sensible that the changing conditions leave me less able to meet all that is now required of a Member.

1 Chairman of the Peary Expedition Committee.

1908]

ASQUITH DINNER

Amongst the entries of this time are:

Nov. 3rd. With J. M. at India Office for a delightful 50 mins.

30th. Took chair at New Reform Club for Gokhale1as to reform in India Government. A successful gathering.

The next function was in this wise:

To J. R.

29th Nov., 1908.

We unofficial members are giving the Prime Minister a dinner on the 11th, and my colleagues who have it in hand have pressed me to take the chair, rather a heavy responsibility, though certainly the greatest honour in some respects I have had offered me. The thing follows the precedent of the Harcourt dinner in 1894. Jacob Bright in the chair, toasts the "King" and the "Prime Minister" and of course only one speech.

I wish someone would give me a pair of new lungs, for asthma is troublesome now and again. The damp and gloom are very great here.

Dec. 11th. At National Liberal Club by 7.45, up to Library where Members soon began to arrive. Asquith there by 7.40 as he had promised, and we went down the staircase to the dining room. P. M. very pleasant, spoke of travelling, recreation and some memories of old contests. His speech fully typewritten to my surprise. I got through well (from the applause) from pretty full notes. Sat down after 10 minutes, back about 10.50, my dear wife receiving me as ever joyfully.

This year at the suggestion of Mr. Lewis Harcourt Ellis presented a complete set of mezzotint portraits of the Prime Ministers of Great Britain from Sir Robert Walpole downwards to the Tea Room of the House of Commons. Amongst other personalia of the year may be mentioned his resignation from the chairmanship of the Colliery, in which office he was succeeded by his son. 1 Hon. Gopal Krishna Gokhale,

"One of Life's milestones" he says of the incident. Another change in his life to be recorded is his having for the first time the services of a private secretary. In previous years he was wont to chaff his intimate friends. on their dependence on such help, but his experience at the India Office, among other reasons, caused him to alter his opinion. After getting some temporary help he was fortunate in securing the efficient aid of Miss Julius, to whom the diary frequently testifies his indebtedness and who continued to help him to the end.

The following sketch of his Christmas holiday time, written of course solely for himself, is suggestive of the daily life he lead at Wrea Head.

1909. Jan. 13. Pretty much the same routine these days after breakfast. Letters first, then a walk round in keen air, now violent wind, now sleet, with intervals of bright sunshine, my asthma making uphill walking in wind troublesome, but the little plantations very enjoyable. Not much out after lunch, letters, work on speeches, accounts, reading, meditating much.

Garden roses, seeds, borders, pond finished.

H. G. (under gardener) Shrubberies and plantations. Rhododendrons finishing.

R. H. (farm bailiff) Farm improvements finished.

Dairy Herd, going through milk-yields with Sedman. H. S. (Gamekeeper) Moor draining finished. Scalby Temp. Hall. Accounts very Accounts very satisfactory. 30th. Finished Morse's life (2 vols.) of Lincoln,1 most remarkable being. Rather coarse backwoodsman up to early manhood, then for the last few years head among the stars.

a

Feb. 15th. Pile of letters and papers, but manageable thanks to help beforehand from my faithful clerk and help now from Miss Julius.

1 Abraham Lincoln, by John T. Morse, Jr.

Of all the various interests which attracted Ellis perhaps none appealed to him so much as farming. The pursuit of agriculture was in him a second nature, and with it was coupled a great fondness for animals. As a farmer his great hobby was his pedigree herd of Guernsey cattle in which he took particular pride. At the end of his diaries there appear the minutest particulars of the various animals, records of sales and purchases and the doings of local shows. He was one of the first in the country to keep tabulated records of milk yields, and so thorough was he as an agriculturist, as in all else, that farming might have been the main business of his life. Of lighter forms of recreation shooting took the first place, and after it came riding and a love of horses. When a young man he was fond of chess and accounted a good player, but he seldom played in later life. Very occasionally he would take a hand at whist, but more for the purpose of providing recreation for guests at Wrea Head than because of any real interest in the game.

Before returning to the House Ellis made a series of speeches in his constituency, dwelling chiefly on the one dominating issue before the country-the action of the Lords in rejecting both the Education Bill and the Licensing Bill of the House of Representatives. Later he formally handed over a Swimming bath to the District Council of Hucknall as a present to the town, congratulating it at the same time on being in no wise a "one man town, but free and self-governing in thought and word and deed. Hucknall is always near to my heart, and to my dying day my highest ambition will be to serve its people."

CHAPTER XV

LAST DAYS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

THE beginning of the first session in 1909 is thus noted in the journal :

House about II. King's voice very hoarse, otherwise he looked well. Greater precautions than usual as to gallery on account of the suffragettes. This matter becoming very lamentable.

The Armaments question was now engrossing Ellis's whole attention, and indeed appeared likely to dominate the session. It was well known that many Liberal members were prepared to oppose tooth and nail any increase of expenditure, and had indeed signed a forcible protest to this effect. The signatories, amongst whom was Ellis, held frequent meetings in Committee Room No. 10 and made their effort to stem the torrent which finally overwhelmed both sides of the House.

Nothing is more difficult at Westminster under the present party system of Government than for a member truly desirous of serving his leaders to oppose them face to face on a matter of national importance. The difficulty is all the greater when such a member is practically one of the official circle and must differ openly from his colleagues on the Treasury Bench. The possibility that an eager Opposition may from