The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-06-25
HEKNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
BY ANTHONY TROLLoPE.
Continued
CHAPTER LXVIII.
MAJOR MAGRUDER's COMMITTEE.

Willesden on the morning after Lady
Rowley's return from Rivers Cottage,
because on that day he was sum-
moned to attend at twelve o'clock
before q Committee of the House OF
Commons, to give his evidence and
the fruit of his experience as to the
government of British colonies general
": and as he went down to the House
in cab from Manchester Street he
thoroughly wished that his friend Colo |
mel Osborne had not been go etdcaclous
in bringing him home. The task before
him was one which he thoroughly dis !
liked, and of which he was afraid. Hell
dreaded the inquisitOrs before whom he
was to appear, and felt that though he
was called there to speak as a master of
his art of governing, he would in truth
be examined as servant,--and proba-
bly as a servant who did not know his
business. Had his sojourn at nome
been in other respects happy, he might
have been able to balance the advau-
tage against the inquiry, but there was
no such balancing for him now. And
Moreover, the expense OF his own house
in Manchester Street was so large that
this Journey, in q pecuniary point OF
view, would be of but little service to
him. So he went down to the House in
all unhappy mood; and when be shook
hands in one of the passages with his
friend Osborne, who was on the Com
mittee, there was very little cordiality
in his manner. This is the most I'M
grateful thing l ever knew" said the
Colonel to himself; 81 have almost dis
graced myself by having this fellow
brought home; and now he quarrels
with me because that idiot, his sou-in-
law, has quarreled with his wife,"
And Colonel Osborne really did feel that
be was q martyr to the ingratltude OF
his friend.
The Committee had been eOnvOked by
the House in compliance with the eager
desires of a certain ancient pundit OF
the constitution, who had been for many
years q member, and who had been
known as q stern critic of our colonial
modes of government. To him 1t GER
tainly seemed that everything that was,
was bad,-as regards our national de-
Tendencies. But this is so usually the
state of mind of all Parliamentary
critics, it is 80 much a matter of course
that the members who take up the army
or the navy, guns, India, our relations
with Spain, or workhouse management
should find everything to be bad, rotten
and dishonest, that the wrath OF thu
member for KilkicTankie against colo
NAL peculation and idleness, was no
thought much of in the open House
He had been Mt work for years, and thu
Colonial Office were so used to it tina
they rather liked him. He had made
himself free of the office, and the clerk
were always glad to see him. 1t wa
understood that he said bitter things il
the House; that was Majors Magruderi
line OF business; but he could be quite
pleasant when he was asking questions
of private secretary, or telling the
news of the day to senior clerk. AS
he was now between seventy and eighty
and had been at the work for at least
twenty years, most of those concerned
had allowed themselves to think that
he would ride his hobby harmlessly tC
the day of his Parliamentary death.
But the drop from a house corner will
hollow a stone by its eonstancy, and
Major Magruder at last persuaded the
II ouse to grant him Committee Of In
quiry. Then there came to be serious
faces at the Colonial Office, and all tn,
little pleasantries of friendly Opposi
tion were at an end. 1t was felt tina
the battle must now become real fight
and Secretary and Under Secretar'
girded up their loins.
Major Magruder was chairman of hi
own committee, and being man Of
laborious turn of mind, much given L
blue-books, very patient, thorough,
conyersant with the House, and Undue,
with strong belief in the efficacy G
Parliamentary questionings to carry
point, if not to elicit fact, had haf
DIV time of it during this session. II
was a man who always attended tn
House from 4 P. NJ. to the time OF II
breaking up, and who never missed
division. The slight additional task Q
sitting four hours in a commlttee-roor
three days week, was only delight
the more especially as during those tou
hours he could occupy the post of chair
man. Those whoknow Major MaSrude
well did not doubt but that the Com
mittee would sit for many weeks, an,
that the whole theory of colonial gov
eminent, or rather of imperial cOntro
supervising such government, woult
De trlea to the very utmost. Men VIII,
h"u heaFu the old Major maunder a few
years past on his pet subject hardl!
knew now much vitality would b
ionhu IN MIN when his maupderint
had succeeded in giving him commit
tee.
A Governor from one of the preato
colonies had already been under oneo
ton for nearly week, and was genera
" thought to have come out of the fir
unscathed by the flames OF the Major
criticism. The Governor had been
picked man, and he had made it appe,
that the control of Downing Street W,
never moro harsh and seldom less T
freshing and identifying, than sprir
shower in April. No other lands und
the sun were 80 blest, in the way
government, as were the colonies wit
which he had been acquainted; and, {
natural consequence, their devotio
and loyalty to the mother country WEI