Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: that followed. A Member returning to the House at ten o'clock found Lord Adolphus Vane, who naturally wished to speak on his own subject, addressing the House: he said to Disraeli, " What, still at Six-Mile-Bridge?" He replied, "Oh no! we have got over that: this is Dolly's bray!" MY FIRST SIGHT of Disraeli was in the "Crush- room" of the Opera. I recognised him at once from the caricatures. His face was then a mass of wrinkles; absolutely wizened. In later years it was much smoother. At this period he wore several gold chains on his waistcoat. I believe that in earlier days he was absolutely hung in them. The lady whom he paints as "Mrs. Felix Loraine" in " Vivian Grey," who was not Lady Caroline Lamb, asked him, while taking her down to dinner, " What is the meaning, Ben! of all these chains ? Are you practising for Lord Mayor ? or what ?" The same lady said, " You have described me, Ben! in your novel. I admit that I have committed all the crimes you mention, except one: I assure you that I never committed murder." I had this from one who was present, and who outlived Disraeli. I ASKED HIM, whether the present generation could produce the Jesters of the middle-ages, who, as we know, attended at great men's feasts. He said, " Yes! where there is a demand there is always a supply." His recollection of details was exceptional. When Lord Palmerston was Member for Tiverton, an insubordinate butcher gave him occasional trouble: the scene usually ended in his driving the Knight of the Blue Apron round the town in his carriage. Representing a neighbouring Borough, I naturally observed and remembered the name of the butcher. Many years afterwards speaking to Disraeli about Lord Palmerston, who was then Prime Minister, he said, " We must put him out: and have a 'Rowcliffe' Administ... --This text refers to the Paperback edition.