Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/38

 one word in a telegram, and an additional grievance to the relationship will thus be removed." The Honourable Member for Canterbury replied that he was not in a position to benefit by the change, as he grieved to say that his mother-in-law had long been in a better world. His efforts for the reform had been made solely on behalf of Honourable Members who were not so unfortunately situated as himself.

The use of questions in the House, which H. H. found so effective a weapon, did not however commend itself to all the members of his family. There was a small midshipman son who did not fail to express his views on the matter. One day when R. was home on leave H. H. said to him:

"I am always very glad to get your letters, but I notice you never tell me anything of interest about the Navy."

"No, thank you," replied the small midshipman, "too many of our fellows have had their careers simply ruined by their fathers asking questions in Parliament."

"One day in the Parliamentary calendar," wrote "The Manchester Courier," "is Mr Henniker Heaton's own particular festival—the day on which the Vote for the salary of the Postmaster-General comes up for discussion. In the intervals between the recurrence of these festivals the great mundane movement goes on, apparently unheeded by the member for Canterbury: the House of Commons sees little of him and hears him still less. Irish Land Bills are introduced, Army schemes are agitated, crises in the Far East come and go, but the elect of Canterbury gives no sign. While the world with careless levity permits itself to be distracted by all this multitude of interests, Mr Henniker Heaton keeps his searching