The Press.
London, England, 1853-07-09 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

LETTERS FROM A SILENT MEMBER.

LETTER 111.
TO THE EDITOR OF " THE PRESS."

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
THERE are different phases of conversation in the House of Commons
during its average of eight hours sitting every night. The first may
be counted from four till half-past—an important period, though a
short one : it consists of the gossip of the day, rumours of another
split in the Cabinet, boasts on the part of the Government supporters
that Lord ABERDEEN only lost his temper twice in the House of Lords
the night previous, and the whole of what is called the private busi•
new A hundred Members find themselves, without the smallest dis-
tinction of party, in a particular lobby, and are heard explaining to
each other the particular bill on which they are voting, or the reasons
that induce them so to vote. Alt ! too confiding public, if you did but
know those reasons ! Perhaps the most excusable, as well as the most
frequent, is the popularity of the Member advocating or opposing the
bill. I remember during a great parliamentary struggle hearing that
an opponent of some private bill dextrously placed the name of a
most obnoxious speaker upon it, incited him to address the House in
its favour, and thus secured its annihilation. To this day Mr. —is
uuconsious of the reason, for no one believes himself unpopular. Nothing
is more remarkable than the total absence of party feeling on these
occasions—we do without it for private business—respect for our Com-
mittees supplies its place : but either in public or private business the
merit of the bill is only one ingredient in its consideration. After
the private business comes the Ministerial Catechism—the "Assembly's
Longer Catechism" now, and getting longer every session. It was
during one of these catechisms, the other day, that, in answer to
a question about the coinage, Mr. JAMES WILSON advertised
for copper. if I were not a silent Member I should ask him
whether he had paid the advertisement duty. The art of question-
answering is totally distinct from that of making speeches.
I have never observed any one improve in it—the answerer is as the
poet, " nascitur" : no one will fora moment hesitate in awarding the palm
to Lord PALMERSTON—there is a silence in the House the moment he
rises, being impudent, resourceful, lively, bitter, and terse. I have seen
him put down the most inveterate questioner who, with every advan-
tage of preparation, ventured to measure swords with him. Then to
bear him defend his subordinates—none of them have ever been yet
victed of fallibilil he that Dor

con', ty—in one sentence can prove .
PACIFICO could not have bought a cheaper bedstead. Mr. GLADSTON
is the worst answerer (always excepting the advertising WiLsos) : his
answers are like his published works, where you will look in vain for a
short sentence. Lord JOHN is unequal; CARDWELL ponderous; BETHELL
wonderful. That a man should go out of his way to speak like Mr.
VINING, when he acts Lord Trinket or any other fop at the Princess's,
Basses all comprehension. Virus° learnt the style, and so must
ETHELL. 1)o they know each other ? If not, they should ; or
at all events BETHELL should see Visiso in some other
part, and then give us some variety : his perpetual Lord
Trinket is becoming quite insufferable. The questions being all
answered, away scampers half the House to the Park, the other half dis-
cussing whether such and such a motion will come on, or whether the
debate will end to-night. At about seven the " equites" return, and the
process of pairing begins—an indispensable part of our representative
system. " IVill you pair with me till ton?" " Say half-past." " No, I
dare not ; my constituents will expect to see my name in the division."
" Oh, but RICH is going to speak to-night." " Is he? Then I'm your man
till eleven." (Poor Ram 0 But the art of pairing deserves an essay in itself.
I am surprised none have been written on this integral part of our
representative system.
Equitilms (Thais, the conversation becomes for the most part
critical. I have heard it even diverge into the subject before the
House. Merciful Morpheus, aid the foot of time till at about half-
past ten the more meritorious of our white neckcloths begin to appear.
It. is somewhat indecorous for officials to appear in these significant
vestments unless accompanied by what are technically called tights.
If, dear madam, you do not know what they are, I dare not tell you;
but those who wear them have been to the Palace, where looser sub-
stitutes are not permitted. It is on record that an official in a former
Government, much given to dining out, was wont to conceal the same
by redressing as he returned in his brougham, and that at the critical
moment of substituting a pair of grey for a pair of black
inexpressibles the aforesaid brougham was overturned, and
the policeman—we have his number—to this day is wholly unable
to. explain the appearance that presented itself. The joke was in type
fit Temck: but Whigs manage so admirably that the paragraph never ap-
peared—its point, however, was about Dives and his purple and fine linen.
From half-past ten to eleven the white neckcloths increase exceedingly,
and, to do them justice, they are a fraternity in themselves. They con-
template the Succession Tax with less horror than we do ; they are more
sanguine about India, howbeit they enter not into details; and, if they do
not consider that war can be averted, at all events they view its issue
with no alarm. Thus, cheerful and buoyant, they approach the division
or the evening, and, us I have never yet read the description of a divi-
sion by one who took part in it, I may at some future time trespass
upon your apace HOW. It is a noble thing, a division—like death, it,
levels all distinctions; the most fluent rhetoricians, the most unwearied
cheerers, become useless then—

" went the praised ear, and mute the tuneful tongue."
In the lobby eb in the grave, you only count for one, and that one is—
A stun. Aram

SATURDAY,

A CONTEMPORARY CHAPTER FROM " THE VANITY

OF HUMAN WISHES"