The Sun.
London, England, 1837-11-25 00:00:00

a departure from the course in: by nature, and
approved by common seusc. But how are the
interests of the Public consulted hr such a mode of
managing its affairs ? It is, surely, not asserting
too much to say, that the people have a right to expect
that their repr,scntatires will bring to the discussion
of questions involving the IA elfarc of the country
their best faculties in their best state—the fresh and
healthy eneri7.-,y of the minl, before it is worn out and
I exhausted by laborious exertions. Yet this the people
can seldom if ever obtain, according to the present
actice.

The rules which the House adopted last night, and
for the details of which we refer our readers to the
debate, will, we think, do something to remedy the
evils complained cf. One great good, we anticipate
fcom their observance is that they will tend to check,
11 not to cure, the itch for talking with which so many
Honourable Gentlemen have lately been infocted. The
extent to which this propensity towards eloquence
has been carried is really alarming. Orators of
all grades and descriptions seem to think that they
have been sent to Parliament for no other purpose
than to talk ; and that he is the greatest man
who talks the most. If Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S ex-
perimental resolutions (to nothing else than correct a
theory so false and dangerous as this, they will pro-
duce a very beneficial effect. The time of the public
will he saved, and the quality of the oratory will be
infinitely improved, by a wholesale diminution of its
quantity.

Long speeches, like great books, have ever been
reckoned great evils. They have been pests of society
in every age. " Vain words," and " words without
knosk ledge," sadly tried the patience of JOB. The.
lively and talkative Greeks found them such an ob-
struction to the despatch of business, that they were
driven to the necessity of inventing a machine to mea-
sure out time to their pleaders and orators—even the
staid, dignified, and less loquacious Roman was forced
to follow the example—but it would appear all in vain,
for we find the greatest of Roman orators, with the
benefit too of a Greek education, contrived to spin
out a speech against a peculating Proconsul longer
than BROUGHAM'S celebrated long speech on law
reform, and probably as long as O'CONNELL'S six
hours' speech on the Repeal of the Union, with
SPRING RICE'S six hours' reply tacked to the end of
it. The case, indeed, does appear, at first 'sight, very
hopeless, and no wonder the collective wisdom were
sadly puzzled last night to find a remedy. Lord
JOHN RUSSELL tried his hand, so did Mr.
HUME, and Sir ROBERT PEEL, and Lord STANLEY ;
but with so little effect that even the individuals them-
selves, in proposing the remedy, admitted that the cure
at best could only be partial. It is, indeed, lament-
able to see the progress of legislation so impeded by
this endless desire to make speeches; but let us not
despair ; Ise cling to the hope that there is
no esil without a remedy, and are impressed
with the conviction that if our Legislators
cannot submit voluntarily to the painful operation of
curtailment, the public voice will in time compel them
to submit, and the evil will cure itself. The remedy,
however, appears to us very easy. The French, with
all their propensity to talk, manage these things better
than the taciturn English ; and why may we not take
a lesson from an old enemy ? But it is not necessary even
to go so far as France. We have an example worthy
of imitation in a House which seldom deserves praise, but
which in this respect far surpasses the House of Com-
mons. In the House of Lords there is none of that
scrambling for the precedence in putting down notices
of motions, and comparatively little desire to make
long speeches, or many speeches. There seems a
tacit understanding that the mover of a Bill, and the
Peer best qualified to oppose it, shall alone be heard
at full length, and that the other Members who do
speak shall confine themselves to suggestions or ob-
servations which may occupy but little time. There
is indeed rarely an exception to this rule, and the
consequence is that Bills pass the House of Lords in
half the time they pass the Commons. It is, in fact,
the voluntary adoption of a rule laid down in Courts of
Law, that only a certain number of Counsel shall be
heard on each side ; and so just and wise is the principle,
that, after long experience, it is now universally ap-
proved of. If the influential Members in the Com-
mons' House of Parliament were to come to a similar
understanding, probably the time of the House would
not be wasted in futile declamation ; but if Ow vain-
talkers still remain blind to their own honour, and to
the interests of their constituents, then let them be
kept down by positive enactment.

A brief, but animated, discussion took place last I
night in the House of Lords on the subject of the
Imptisonment for Debt Bill, when Lord BROUGHAM
triumphantly vindicated himself from the charge indi-
rectly brought against him that he was the " innocent
cause of its delay." It gives us sincere pleasure to
find his Lordship again exerting his various powers in
the Senate, with all the fire and energy of his best
days. Last night, as on the previous evening, not a
trace of his recent serious indisposition was visible ;
and it is evident the Tory organs are painfully
aware of this, by the virulent spirit in which
they renew their attacks on him. He has again
become a bugbear to the faction ; and no wonder,
for the observations he has made in the House
of Lords within the week, though few and. brief,
arc characterised by that' firmness, end decision, and
determinatlon of purpose, which none have
more reason to regard with apprehension than the
Tories. Lord B ROUG 11 A 51, WC pred:C, Will 46 flutter
the Volscians" sadly this Session. He sees that it is
necessary to umnask their maeceuvres, lower their
present tone of exultation, and make a bold stand
against their insidious encroachment:4 ; and he will set
about his task in a right earnest sp:rit. To him the
people will look, as to one of their most unwearied and
unflinching friends, while the Tories will be sure to
regard him as their bitterest and most powerful enemy.
The position he is now taking, is just the one that
best becomes him. He sees that Reform is in dan-
ger,' if not from the treachery, at least from the
lukewarmness, of some of those who should give
it a wholesome impetus, instead of throwing petty
obstacles in its way ; and he feels, therefore, that it is
now more than ever necessary that he should stand
prominently forward in defence of that great question.
Heaven knows, we need a statesman of Lord
BROUGHA M'S influence and energy to watch over us
at the present crisis ! prospects of Reform are
at best but cloudy ; the remedial measures which we
had so confidently reckoned upon, bid fair, some of
them, to be adjourned to the Greek Kalends ; and
even the "finality of tire Reform Bill" has been the
subject of discussion among the Ministerial circles.
A menth ago, who would have believed this possible !
However, it is idle to despond ; no good was ever
yet gained by indulging in inert regrets ; so, the
sooner we take heart and exert ourselves, the better.
We have a faithful ,guide and leader in Lord
BitouGesAm, who having been our advocate, through
good report and evil report, for thirty long years and
upwards, is well acquainted with our wants and wishes,
and will take special care to see that they meet with
suitable attention from the Legislature.

The Hon. Member for Monmouth, Mr. BLEWITT,
has given notice that he will move the annexed string
of Resolutions in the House of Commons on Wed-

nesqay ncxt :
" .I. That it is a gross breach of the rights and privileges