The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-15 00:00:00

" DISCUSSION FORUM."

There is no doubt that many a man who fancied
himself tolerably familiar with the " lions" of the
metropolis felt his knowledge unexpectedly en-
larged when he read in the pamphlet " L'Empereur
Napoleon 111. et l'Angleterre" the alarming fact
that there is a coffee-house near Temple-bar called
" Discussion Forum," where people eat and drink,
and at the same time talk politics, the debates
being directed by a man paid by the proprietor.
Still more terrible is the further fact that in the
month of November the question was discussed,
"Is regicide permitted under certain circum-
stances ?" We may remind our readers that these
are alleged as proofs that direct provocatives pre-
ceded the bombs of the 14th of January.
The broad statement that there is a place where
people, eat, drink, and talk politics, will probably
not appear extraordinary to any inhabitant of Lon-
don—nay, the genuine Cockney would be rather
more surprised if he heard that there was a public-
house at which such things did not take place.
Even the hypothesis that the functions of a chair-
man, who by his very presence attracts consumers
of edibles and potables, are secured by a valuable
consideration is not so utterly astounding that the
more imaginative Londoner might not conceive
its possibility. The extraordinary part of the busi-
ness is the mention of such an ordinary sort of
place as " Discussion Forum" in the quasi-official
pamphlet.
We are afraid that the halo of importance thus
suddenly cast upon "Discussion Forum" wil: not
stand the test of personal investigation. The word
" Forum" sounds lirge, and the mind, to supply
it with an adequate image, is forced to take a
sweep to which the dimensions of the Fleet-street
establishment by no means corresponds. A. very
small room at the back of a public-house, with its
floor chiefly occupied by tables, set out, not for the
composition of seditious manifestoes, but for plates,
dishes, and tumblers—this is the Forum in which
discussions take place that we are informed on such
high authority fling terror across the British Chan-
nel. Whether they have been equally successful in
awakening curiosity in the next street may be
reasonably doubted.
"Discussion Forum" by no means courts obscu-
rity. A conspicuous lamp is inscribed with its dig-
nified name, and in the window of the public-house
is a slip of paper on which the subject of discussion
is formally announced—that is to say, if the day be
Thursday or Saturday, for on the evenings of those
days does the discussion take place. The subject is
couched in the most abstract terms, and the heed-
lesa passenger who glanced at the paper might pos-
sibly hurry past the door, fancying that if he
entered the precincts of "discussion" he would
have to encount.,r, not something terrible, but
something exceedingly "slow."
Llt us add, that his supposition would be wrong.
" Discussion Forum" is a most amusing place, a
debating room of the thorough old English school,
in which public questions are discussed sometimes
cleverly, sometimes bombastically, sometimes non-
sically, but for the most part iu a manner that,
from some cause or other, is highly entertaining.
Two or three foreigners may perchance drop ii to
pass away an idle hour, but they must soon feel
themselves lost in a place so utterly English in its
patrons and its usage. " Discussion Form" is in
fact, a concentrated essence of Londondom, with a
due quantum of Caledonian and Hibernian ele-
ments. Thoroughly British is the portrait of the
founder, which holds the post of honour assigned
in the Roman Capitol to the statue of the wolf,
Thoroughly British is the chairman, who with mild
benignity rules the storm of debate. Thoroughly
British are the glasses of stout and grog, the chop,
the Welsh rabbit, and the. " long clay." Tho-
roughly British is the good humour that, even mot*
than the authority of the chairman, prevents the
feast of reason from being too highly seasoned.
The speakers and their auditors, who are all
mixed together, so that any ambitious auditor may
become an orator if he pleases without stirring from
his place, belong mere or less to the middle class.
To a Chartist meeting the assemblage does not bear
the slightest resemblance, and, though the tend-
ency of the debate is naturally democratic, the de-
mocracy is not of a kind that would greatly shock
even a Conservative old lady. It is of the kind, in
short, that belongs to people who have something
to
asslaosssei,tmatniodnw d be
s.oullnde the
Indeed, tree
in
iaemosttheexciwuoirsild to
te plot
enjoy-
ment seems to arise when the speaker, deviating
from a denunciation of despots and tyrants artfully
contrives to hurl a successful bit of " chaff" at the
head of his " forensic" adversary. The triumph of
the orator is, we should say, a more important
matter than the triumph of the doctrine enunciated.
At present the Forum is a little indignant at the
manner in which it is mentioned in the Imperial
pamphlets though the indignation is probably quali-
fied internally by the pleasure that everybody feels
on becoming unexpeetgdly important. The orators
complain that their proceedings are watched; they
are convinced that every word they utter will find
its way to France by electric telegraph ; they
accuse intrusive Napoleonists of venality ; they
wrathfully repel the assertion that their own chair-

man is paid by the proprietor, or by any one else ;
they ask if the subjects for discussion are to be
dictated by a foreign Power. We are not sure
that two or three dreamy enthusiasts do not ap-
prehend the arrival of some dreadful day, when the
little slip of paper that, invites the Fleet-street pas-
senger will be supplied by the Government of
France.

But beneath all this virtuous indignation there
is a solid substratum of chuckle. Even the enthu•
siastic defier of prisons speaks in the full conviction
that he has no more chance of being incarcerated
than of being broken on the wheel, while the gene-
ral tendency of the assembly is to take the side of
common sense, and to laugh down bombast of every
description, the cool sarcastic speaker always sain•
ing the victory over the vociferous rhetorician.
"Discussion Forum" is, in short, a pi ice of more
amusement, supported by people who lore to heat
themselves talk, just as other people love to hear
themselves sing. If we call it a political " free--
and-easy," we shall give it a name very intelligible
to a large class of the community.
There is no doubt that there are a hundred placos
in London to which our description would apply
quite as well as to "Discussion Forum." However,
let it enjoy the proud distinction which has been
conferred upon it by the French pamphlet, and let
it show that it is in some way worthy its pre-
eminence by improving its ventilation.—Tones.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.— (This Day.)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

WILFULLY BREAKING- CSUBCH WINDOM—DIN.
TUBBING A CONGREGATION.—A young man, who gars
the name of Thomas Johnson, a pianoforte tuner, was
charged before Mr. Beadon, with wilfully breaking
some panes of glass in the window of St Patrick's
Church, Sutton-street, Soho.
Mr. John Joseph Laidler, of 2, London•street,
Fitzroy-square, said he was in the church on Saturday
night, there being a private entrance, when he ob-
served the prisoner, who was about two yards in advance
of him, get over some palings, and break some panel
of glass with a poker, which he took from under hi
coat. He did it purposely, and as soon as he had done
so ran to the upper part of the church, and hid himself
in a pew. The principal clergyman asked him why he
did it, he denied it. Witness then asked him why
ke had done it, or whether he had any reason for:
doing so. The prisoner said, " Oh, I'll pay the damage.
A. person went and looked in the pew, and there found
a poker with marks on it. The prisoner was a stranger
to all parties connected with the church. On his way to
the station the prisoner told the witness, "It was an old
score he intended to pay off, but it was n t so muck as
he intended to do." The congregation WAS mach die-
trurbad by prisoner's conduct.

The pii;oner, in answer to Mr. Beadon, said he never
had a poker.
_

Mr. Beadon said the prisoner had gone to the church,
and besides breaking the windows, had disturbed the
congregation. He should order him to pay the damage,
or be should commit him to prison for two months.
SHOPLIFTING.—Two showily-dressed females, named
Mary Ann Daley and Eliza Nicholls, were charged with
stealing a mantle, valu,,d at 55. 6d., the property of Mr.
Steele, linendraper, Oxford-street.
From the evidence of the witnesses, it appeared that
the prisoners went into the shop of the prosecutor and
asked to look at some goods, and while the prisoner
Nicholls was examining them the other prisoner was
observed secreting something under her clothes. Ors
being taxed with the theft she dropped a mantle. She
was then given into cuftody.
The prisoners were remanded till Friday.

TIE GREAT GLUM—The ordinary attractions of tbia
popular place of eutertainment and instruction are being
reinforced by a fine pan ,tamic view of China, or, at
least, of the chief cities of that empire known to Euro.
peans. The great picture is of course that of Canton,
which is done with excellent taste and good effect, show-
ing out prominently the different bongs, its batteries,
pagodas, and towers. Here is the "Gate of Eternal
Purity" amid close streets and noisome lanes, while I!
still less brilliant portal is the "Gate of Eternal Joy.
which is close to the long thoroughfare known as the
street of "Benevolence and Love." The five-etoried
pagoda is a conspicuousobject here, as is also the ay /Duo
or the renowned Commissioner Yeh, and other build-
ings with which the graphic letters of our special cor-
r -oona.nt in that part of the world have lately wads
uso iamiliar. The extraordinary medley of boats of
ail kinds Which contain the floating population of di'
river is well depicted, the chief points of inter, et in the
work being clearly explained in a brief and comprehen-
sive lecture which is delivered by Mr. Liriugstouv-1.