The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-06-19 00:00:00

THE HOUSE OF LORDS ON MONDAY

NIGHT.

(From Tuesday's Morning Star.)
At no period during the passav,e of the Irish Church
Bill through the House of Commons were there no
many outward manifestations of interest as those ob-
servable last night when the second reading of the
bill was moved in the House of Lords. Probably the
even current of success upon which the measure
floated to its completion in the Lower House was
powerless to excite that amount of feeling which a
sense of danger, of doubt—a foretaste, perchance, of
defeat—is likely to evoke, and did certainly create
last night. It is not often that public attention in
the form of crowds of people inside and outside the
Hi iuses of Parliament centres upon the Upper
Chamber of the Legislature. Indeed, it is doubtful if
a crowd ever assembles, within the duration of
a whole Parliament, at New Palace-yard, in the
vicinity of the Peers' entrance, unless upon the
rare occasion now-a-days of the sovereign opening Par-
liament in person. The hard work eif legislation being
done in another place, that other place naturally at-
tracts the public curio-ity and interest which, on great
debate nights, fill Westminster Hall, the lobbies, and
the corridors of the House. But last night New l'alace-
yard was full of life, and all eyes were turned towards
the fine Gothic entrance through which their lordships
pass on the way to their splendid chamber. About fifty
men of the A Reserve police force were drawn up imme-
diately in front of the entrance, and kept the crowd in
line, leaving sufficient room for the carriages to draw up
at the door. As early as four o'clock peers, peeresses,
and the sons and daughters of peers were being
rapidly set down at the House from the magnifi-
cent carriages, which drew up in rows on the op-
posite side of the yard, close to Poet's Corner. New
Palace-yard was invaded by plush, and the powdered
wearers of the bright liveries appeared to be, of all the
people who were there, not excepting the policemen,
the only persons who carefully ab•tained from dropping
a word about "the Bill," or talking to their neighbours
of its chances at the hands of their masters. But in
contrast to the strictly conservative bearing of the foot-
men, the general crowd broke into groups and dis-
cussed, evidently coo amore, the great topic of the day.
A few clergymen were scattered about, and paid marked
attention to the observations of the people. As noble
lords who are leaders of the respective parties drove up
to the entrance, the usual street ejaculations, in which
the titles of the peers were completely ignored, were in-
dulged en. There was no attempt either at cheers or at
disapprobation. The Lordslobby wastolerably crowded,
and the utmost anxiety to gain admission to the House
was manifested. At five o'clock the interior of the
House of Lords presented a very brilliant appearance.
The scarlet benches at either side of the House were
filled with peers, there being a strong muster on the
episcopal bench; the bar and the steps of the throne
were thronged with members of the House of Commons,
and the Peeresses' Gallery was occupied by ladies
dressed in the richest style. Duchesses, marchionesses,
countesses, and their daughters came to watch the
struggle, and many others fund it impossible to obtain
admission to the House. The Strangers' Gallery was
crowded to excess. When Earl Granville rose, shortly
after five o'clock, to move the second reading of the
Irish Church Bill, there was a profound silence, which
remained almost unbroken to the end of the noble earl's
speech,