LORD NORTH.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 351, 8 April 1911, Page 7

LORD NORTH.

A Famous House of Commons Sleeper. Lord North slept in the House en Commons more than any other man who ever led it, hut even he was at times. There was an occasion on whirl; some gentleman was denouncing tlie noble lord in really tine style, and the noble lord pave every indication of being not only asleep, but. fast asleep, and snoring-. The indignant member exclaimed, "Sir, even in this crisis in the history of our nation the noble lord is asleep." Lord North opened one eye for one moment, and made the memorable remark, "I wish to God I was," and then he resumed his attitude of repose. His assailant could not very well controvert that decidedly pointed retort. On another occasion Lord North really and actually and of malice aforethought went to sleep. The subject before the House was the condition of the British Navy, a topic which does come up now and then. The noble lord said to a friend beside him, "We shall have a tedious speech from Colonel Barre to-night. He will give us our naval history from Alfred the Great, not forgetting Drake and the Armada. All this is nothing to me ; wake me up when he gets near our own time, and until then let me sleep on." Then Colonel Barre held forth, and the noble lord slept. At last his friend jogged poor North ; "Where are we ?" he exclaimed. "At the battle of La Hogue," was the reply. '"My dear, dear sir," growled North "you have woke me at least a cen-

tury too soon." —Spencer Leigh Hughes, in the "Tatler."