He was a very fine specimen of the
unassuming, honourable, high-minded English gentleman.
In the 1886 Parliament, Mr. Akers-Douglas, now Lord Chilston, was
Chief Conservative Whip and he was singularly fortunate in his
Assistant Whips. Sir William Walrond, now Lord Waleran, Sir
Herbert Maxwell, and the late Sidney Herbert, afterwards
fourteenth Earl of Pembroke, formed a wonderful trio, for Nature
had bestowed on each of them a singularly engaging personality. The
strain put on Members of the Opposition was very severe; our
constant attendance was demanded, and we spent practically our
whole lives in the precincts of the House. However much we longed
for a little relaxation and a little change, it was really
impossible to resist the blandishments of the Assistant Whips.
They made it a sort of personal appeal, and a test of personal
friendship to themselves, so grudgingly the contemplated visit to
the theatre was abandoned, and we resigned ourselves to six more
hours inside the over-familiar building.
Sir William Hart-Dyke had been Chief Conservative Whip in the
1868-1873 Parliament.
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