The Press.
London, England, 1853-07-02 00:00:00

"Their tameness is shocking to me."

Some of them seem to think that the honour of a seat in this House
in bent appreciated by never sitting in it ; but it will be a strong
though novel rearm,' for repealing the Septennial Act if every member
is expected to be "on his legs " for the greater part of seven years. A
formidable feature of our times is, that, while there are so few new
Members who will study, there are so many precocities who will speak.
We silent Members too often commit the suicidal error of sneering at
" prepared " speeches. Nothing can be easier than to avoid this
criticism ; and, if all which was not preparation was inspiration in this
House, it would be full of Beam' and Prers at the present moment.
But is it, or is it likely to be so ; even when the reporters have washed
our dirty linen, what poor stuff it often is, compared with what the press
produces ; and the reason in that we give insufficient encouragement to
diligence, insufficient discouragement to slovenly mediocrity. We
cheer with too little judgment, we cough with too little mercy. Cries
of " Bar, bar ! " mean with us that we want to go to dinner; "Divide,
divide! " that we want to go to bed; but the expression of these
physical desires availed' nothing for the purpose of real criticism, and
how can we hope for good orators if we show ourselves at one time
impatient of a Datimmosa and at another submissive to a WILLIAMS.
There is one thing—probably more, but, at all events, one thing—
no longer to be endured, and that is the behaviour of the Treasury
bench while Opposition members are speaking. A silent member can
comment on this without suspicion of personal motives, and be assured
he can name the offenders, though this week, and this week only, he
refrains. I may mention, however, that my censure does not apply to
Lord .11011% Itutoom., to Lord PALMERSTON, Or to Sir JAMES, who all
either listen or slumber with the decorum of the old school. The old
school ! No one knows exactly when' or when the old school was: it
it associated in our minds with pigtails and leather breeches, yet
amid all our reforms. all our laughter at it, all of us respect it, and
everybody wishes that everybody else would observe its rules. There
is, so to say, no new school now. no discipline, no culture; an anarchy ;
a wilderness of manners. We observe now on the Treasury bench
audible whisperings, perpetual titterings, ostentatious oseitation, and
heels laid on the table evidently not by "command of her Majesty."
What would Sir ROBERT have said to these things, he who had the
greatest gift of listening I ever met with, and who, pineing the fore-
finger awl thumb above and below his mouth, could so articulate
during smother'm speech that the orator and the Opposition imagined
he had been completely silent? Certainly there is this excuse for the
subordinates of Lord ABERDICEN : he ham told us, through Mr. Moxaxt.l.,
that it does not the least matter what any of them say, so long as
they are found in the right lobby ; of course, therefore, no official need
give or hope for the least attention from any of his colleagues. But
a coalition Government may, like other blessings, pass away, while an
Opposition is likely always to remain ; so we must assert the de
mimics of office, always bearing in mind that a time may return when
idem wear( de republics.' meaut what it used to mean before Lord
Assapxxs insulted Lord JOHN RUSSELL.

A SILENT MENDER.

SATURDAY,

A PARLIAMENTARY PASTORAL.—No. I.

(Occasionally end slightly altered from Virgil, and other Poets.)