66

Appearance of leading Members.

porters upon one side, and more cautious ones upon the other. It is usual, when a member of the government resigns office, to retire below the gangway, and take his place among the more distant supporters of the party. In the gallery above the speaker's chair, are the "reporters," listening with all eagerness, and writing with all speed, while opposite are visitors, among whom I secured a very comfortable seat, to overlook, and note upon my memory the appearance and doings of this august assembly, representing the popular mind of the British realm. There, upon the treasury bench,” are Lord John Russell, Lord Palmerston, Sir James Graham-on the opposite, Mr. D'Israeli, Sir John Packington, &c., each with a greater or less number of followers and supporters, to cheer on friends, and groan down opponents. Does Lord John bring forward a measureD'Israeli pounces upon him with his relentless talons. Does Sir James advance a position-Sir John brings all his forces to bear upon its demolition, the great object ever seeming to be, to shame the government officers into a resignation, and thus secure their snug berths. The subject under discussion, when I visited the Commons, was that of national education, which elicited a discussion, to which my American ears gave most interested attention. An opponent of merely secular education, evidently a good man, had the floor, and urged the sentiment with great force of argument and appeal, that no education for the country was better than education without the Bible. His remarks were producing quite an effect in his favor, when, as he took his seat, there was a call for Cobden, the great Socialist, who slowly arose amid deafening applause. He pleaded earnestly for education, but against religious education, and for the

Cobden.

Statement and Proposal.

His

trite reason that there would be no agreement as to what religious system to teach. "Shall it be the Bible of King James?" "Shall it be the Douay?" "Shall it be the New Testament?" "What says the honorable gentleman opposite?" (meaning D'Israeli—a Jew.) Thus he argued in a manner calm and earnest, simple in language, clear in style, though possessed of nothing which might be termed eloquence, closing, of course, with a phillipic on the government, which brought to his feet Lord John Russell, a small, neatly attired and bald-headed boy of a man. words indicated a clear mind and an admirable acquaintance with his opponent's manner of attack, and the most successful mode of repelling his darts. Being the representative of the crown, he was of course constantly cheered on taking his seat, apparently quite satisfied that he had said the right thing. A gentleman from one of the midland districts arose, and when pleading the cause of education, made this remark: In my judicial character, I have been led to the most accurate and extensive investigation on the subject before us, and am now prepared to say advisedly, and with no fear of successful refutation, that one-third of the people of this British realm can neither read nor write; and I intend to bring in a bill at the next meeting of Parliament having these two features-the establishment of a system of national education; and the modeling this system after that of the New England and New York States of America. One heart, if not voice, cried out-Hear, hear! They who are wont to decry our "House of Representa

NOTE.-I looked over the "Times" next morning in vain for any notice of this last suggestion. Quere.-Why omitted?

Want of Dignity in Public Assemblies.

tives," as without comparison, for want of proper and dignified deportment, would do well to pass.a few evenings in the Commons of England. Wearing of hats-passing from one to another to engage in earnest and often audible conversation—a refreshing nap, with legs outstretched upon the bench-cheering, clapping, hissing, shouting, with ferocious tones and frantic gesticulation-springing to the feet, with waving of hat and swinging of the arms-these, and the like, may be witnessed with other scenes more personal, and violent still, across the waters as with us.

Lord Brougham once compared the House of Commons to a menagerie. Nor is the term altogether inappropriate. The morning papers report scenes, in which an honorable member repeatedly indulges in a sort of drone-like humming, having almost exactly the sound of a distant hand. organ or bag-pipe,—another imitates very accurately the yelp of a kennelled hound,—another copies the crowing of a cock so admirably, that one could not have distinguished it from the performance of a bona-fide chanticleer, while at a little distance, are issuing sounds marvelously resembling the bleating of a sheep-blended occasionally, with an admirable imitation of the braying of an ass, while on all sides are coughing, yawning, whistling, yelping; gymnastics most amazing to behold, and sounds most strange to hear, from beings having a human form, and occupying the dignified post of a nation's representatives, met to deliberate upon the concerns of an empire, whose "drum-beat" ceases not between the rising and setting sun. To illustrate by a few cases which occurred not long ago-names and dates omitted: Mr. G. W. W. rose to reply. (The laughing, jeering, shouting and coughing were such as we never before wit

Illustration.

nessed.) The honorable gentleman said, it had been declared that the bill, in its present form, differed essentially from what it was, when he had the honor to introduce it to the House. (At this moment, two honorable members, "o'er all the ills of life victorious," suddenly entered from the smoking room, into the opposition gallery, and stretching themselves at full length on the seats, secure from the observation of the speaker, commenced a row of the most discreditable character.) This he denied. ("I say, can't you crow?"-laughter and uproar.) The provisions had not been altered. ("Hear him, how he reads!") The enactments were in every respect unaltered. (Loud cheering, followed by bursts of laughter.) The question was ("read it; read it!" and great uproar); the question was ("just so; read it"); the question was (great cheering and laughter), whether the universities should be opened at all, or be forever under the control of mere monopolists. ("Where's the man what crows?"-laughter and cries of "order!" from the speaker.) Public opinion—(" Order!" and great uproar, during which the speaker, evidently excited, was loudly calling for order.) The scene here was indescribable.

On another occasion, a member began: I rise, sir. (Ironical cheers mingled with all sorts of zoological sounds.) I rise, sir, for the purpose of stating that I have. ("Oh! oh! bah!" and sounds resembling the bleating of a sheep, mingled with loud laughter.) Honorable gentlemen may endeavor to put me down by their unmannerly interruptions; but I have a duty to perform to my con. (Ironical cheers, loud coughing, sneezing and yawning, extended to an incredible length, followed by bursts of laughter.) I say, sir, that I have constituents, who, on this occa

Illustration-Continued.

sion, expect that I-(Cries of "Should sit down!" and shouts of laughter.) They expect, sir, that on a question of such importance ("O-o-a-a-u," and loud laughter, followed by cries of "order! order!" from the speaker.) I tell honorable gentlemen, who choose to conduct themselves in such a way, that I am not to be put down by—(Groans, coughs, sneezing, hems, and various animal sounds, some of which closely imitated the yelping of a dog, and the squeaking of a pig, interspersed with peals of laughter.) I appeal("Cock-e-luri-o-co!" The imitation, in this case, of the crowing of a cock was so remarkably good, that not even the most staid and orderly members in the House could preserve their gravity. The laughter which followed, drowned the speaker's cries of "order! order!") I say, sir, this is most unbecoming conduct on the part of an assembly, calling itself de. ("Bow-wow-wow," and bursts of laughter.) Sir; may I ask, have honorable gentlemen who can -("Mew! mew!" and renewed laughter.) Sir: I claim the protection of the chair. (The speaker here again rose and called out—"order! order!" in a loud and angry tone, on which the uproar in some measure subsided.)

In both cases these are the exceptions, not the general rule-exceptions we wish were never to be witnessed; but this cannot be expected so long as it requires so little to awaken human passion, and the great effort demanded to allay it, when aroused. With this rather trite "saw," we bid adieu to the Lords and Commons of our Fatherland.