3-052-737 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Parliamentary Sketches: in the Lobby - tribunes of the people, 1880. '"Tribunes of the People" who have waited till office came to them rather than discard one iota of the Liberalism wherewith they started on their political careers in order to gain power, Mr. Bright and Mr. Henry Fawcett may both be said to have involuntarily pushed themselves to the forefront by sheer oratorical force and single-minded advocacy of principles they believe will increase the sum total of the nation's freedom and happiness. The features of Mr. Bright seem to be difficult to depict...the Lobby sketch may be excused for not having caught the spirit of Mr. Bright's expression. At the same time, the white-haired senior member for Birmingham (who has the reputation of being as exceptionally facile a conversationalist as he is unquestionably powerful as an orator) will be easily identified in the drawing which represents Mr. Bright in genial converse with his tall colleague, who, albeit afflicted with the loss of sight, bears his burden cheerfully, and, moreover, boasts a keenness of mental and political vision which many of his fellow-members cannot hope to approach'. From "Illustrated London News", 1880.