The Republican Club was the means of promoting many delightful and charming dinners and evenings among a circle of brilliant and interesting friends. It was not a dark centre of conspiracy or revolution, and its members were not concocting a nineteenth-century version of the Gunpowder Plot. Unfortunately a weird and garbled account of the Club appeared in the papers and struck terror in the hearts of Fawcett’s constituents. To them republicanism meant revolution and all the horrors depicted by Dickens in his _Tale of Two Cities_. One of Fawcett’s best friends talked of making an amendment to the usual vote of confidence at the next Liberal meeting in Brighton. Though the proposed motion was given up, Fawcett profited by the opening to state clearly his principles; he said that he adhered to ‘merit, not birth,’ and denied any revolutionary predilections for his friends or himself, or any sentiment of disloyalty. [Sidenote: Hatred of Flunkeyism.] Fawcett was essentially a peace-loving citizen when peace and progress could go hand in hand. He had no plans for upsetting the monarchy, though he alone objected to the dowry voted by the House to the Princess Louise. He abominated flunkeyism as an aping of loyalty, and had no more regard for distinctions of rank than for differences of creed. It is characteristic of him that while a democrat to democrats, he did not fall into the mistake of many broad-minded people, and forget that tact and congeniality are essential in bringing people together socially. He was very keenly alive to the differences in individuals, and took care that the gatherings at his house should be congenial and harmonious. When a proposed party was being plotted out he would say, ‘Oh, don’t ask the So-and-so’s, they are such frumps.’ [Sidenote: His very own Salt Cellar.] Mrs. Fawcett and he were delightful hosts; they liked having people at their house, and he greatly enjoyed his own as well as other folks’ dinners. He was abnormally fond of salt, and to ensure an unfailing and adequate supply, carried a little sprinkling salt cellar with him, which he had carefully filled before dinner. He appreciated his food very much, and though not in any way a gourmand, paid full tribute to the high art of the cook. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE NEW M.P. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XV BLIND SUPERSTITIONS Speech before the British Association—Mill again—Bright and Lord Brougham—The Mythical Committee Room—Defeat at Southwark. [Sidenote: Blind Superstitions.]