He, too, had a speech to prepare for Parliament to-morrow.
The meeting promised to be an important one in many respects.

It was the first after the boat-race, and consequently party feeling was likely to make use of the opportunity to let off a little of its steam.

Then, of course, it was the captain's first public appearance as the head of Welch's, and that was sure to excite a good deal of curiosity and interest.

And last, but not least, the subject for the evening was a debate on the question, "That Willoughby is Degenerate," to be opened in the affirmative by Ashley, and in the negative by Porter, and on this burning question the debate as well as the division promised to be pretty interesting.
There was the usual lively time before the regular business was reached over "Questions," of which there were a good many on the notice-paper.
But it will be best to report the meeting in the usual Parliamentary style, as it would have appeared on the records of the House, had any record been kept at Willoughby: Mr Bloomfield took the chair at three o'clock.
Mr Merrison (Welcher) gave notice that at the next meeting he would move--"That this House gives its support to the Liberal candidate in the coming election at Shellport, and does all in its power to kick out the Radical." (Loud cheers.) Mr Pringle (Parrett's) asked the Home Secretary what day the summer holidays were to begin.
Mr Ashley replied that he was not in a position to inform the hon.
member, but probably in about six weeks.
Mr Wyndham, jun.

(schoolhouse), wished to ask why Parrett's would not row another race when the schoolhouse had offered it?
(Great schoolhouse cheers.) Mr Game (First Lord of the Admiralty), amid equally loud cheers on Parrett's side, replied that as soon as the schoolhouse found out who had been mean enough to cut the Parrett's rudder-line, and gave him up to justice, they would see about it.
Whereupon Mr Wibberly begged to ask the schoolhouse stroke whether he had any information to give the House on the subject.
Mr Fairbairn .-- The information I have to give the House is that Mr Riddell and I, directly after the race, went to Mr Bloomfield and said we were sorry for the accident--( ironical laughter from Parrett's)--and offered to row them again any day they liked, and the offer was declined.