This plain-spoken opinion of Lord Randolph Churchill was induced by the fact that Mr. Gibbs and his friends had now resolved on a desperate step to secure attention to his complaint.  This was no other than refusing to leave the House, and take part in the division.  It is more than twelve years since this extreme, violent, and almost revolutionary step was adopted before.  On the dreadful night—­how well I remember it!—­when the news came that Michael Davitt had been sent back to penal servitude, the information sent a thrill of such horror and almost despair amongst the Irish Benches, that some method of manifesting their feelings became inevitable.  By a series of circumstances, into which I need not now go, the manifestation took the shape of refusing to go into the division lobby, and retaining our seats.  We were all suspended in turn, and removed from the House by the Serjeant-at-Arms.

[Sidenote:  Logan.]

Meantime, the unexpected and extraordinary delay in taking the division had brought back some members from the division lobbies; and some had actually recorded their votes, and were returning in the ordinary course to their seats.  Among these was Mr. Logan.  Mr. Logan peered somewhat curiously at the angry faces and the shouting figures on the Tory Benches, and approached them with the view of finding out what it was all about.  His air, somehow or other, suggested—­quite wrongly, as it turned out—­to the Tories that he was meditating an assault upon some of them:  and there rose angry cries from them of “Bar!  Bar!” This, in Parliamentary language, means that the member is violating the rule against any member standing on the floor of the House, except in the narrow and short interspace which lies between the entrance door and the bar—­a very small bit of free territory.  Logan, in his turn, was exasperated by these remarks, and used some retort.  Then there were renewed cries that he was not in order in standing up on the floor, together with a multitude of expletives at the expense of his party and himself.  And Mr. Logan thereupon said he would put himself in order, and sat down on the Front Opposition Bench.  In doing so, he certainly did put himself in order, for a member can take his seat where he likes during the progress of a division.  But this step is what led to the violent and unprecedented scene which followed.  For Mr. Hayes Fisher immediately caught hold of Mr. Logan by the collar, Ashmead Bartlett, I understand, followed suit, and thus the first blow was struck.

[Sidenote:  Colonel Saunderson hits out.]

It was partly curiosity—­it was partly, I have no doubt, indignation—­it was partly the determination to rush to the assistance of a friend—­that led to the moving of the Irishmen from their own seats to the benches above the gangway, which are occupied by their political opponents.  In making this move they had no intention whatsoever, I believe, of striking or even hustling anybody, but the result of