Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-06-22
FLETCHER OF sALToUN.
FOR TIE ENQUIRER.

ORIGINAL .4NECDOTE.
Dnrns the administration OF William Pitt the
Younger, at the ti,ne when Mr.. Arlington (no,v
Lord Sidniouih) was Speaker OF the British House
orCommons, often repaired To the gallery OF S.
Stephen 5 Chapel; aud more especially in the win
ter season. listened for whole nights to the speeches
OF all tie great parliamentary debators The speak
or, cer! and chaplain commonly arrived about two
o'clock + VI Prayers were sometimes read when
only these individuals were in the house After this
the speaker, by the cxcrtion of the officers in at
tendance, usually o3;ained quorum for business,
y .. forty momtefs, about o'clock. As soon as he
had counted THIS number, scores of private acs
before twilight every transaction, not of general
were read FIRST, second or third time ; and in iced
interest, was concluded. At the period To which 1
refer, no great public measure was debated, in the
British House ct Commons, until the minister APP
peared and candies lighted. Meanwhile il
was 4 custom for most of the members Tho meant TO
be present on'y when great questions were agi,ated
To appear III the house between 3 and D l.. NJ take
particular seats, place their name upun them wit
ten ON small piece of paper, and immediately 90
out ag1n--and perhaps not return ill after ticv had
dned a coiicc-houSe contiguous to the lobby.
IL happened one day when | occupied the front
scat IN tue gallery of the House Of Commons where
sometimes remained 1--WE hours before any debate
began, tlat observed Il member, a respectable
country gentleman, j. Johnston, Esq. enter the
house early take his seat and then after placing
ms name on At, 20 ont again. Soon after bchcld
t!ils piece OF paper, by a pun of air, waited from
that seat. Meanwhile, a member hv the name OF
Sumner came into the house. and took the same seat
rs vacan and retained it for several hours. At
length, about lin the evening, while a committee OF
the whole house were in eager debate, Mr.. Johns
ton entered, and stalking up directly to the ses now
hhed by Sumner, in boisterous tone demanded IL
rs ms right To this demand Sumner demurrcd-
vhereupon Johnston seized him by the shoulders
and torcibly laid him sprawling on the iloor-curs-
ing INN and the Speaker with the lungs of Stenior.
sumner arose and smotc him. @ Order'-S' Or
der =" Chair -" Char''-" Adjourn, adjourn
was vncierated from all quarters of the house
Many memh a., the friends of the combatants,
rushed in between them. Four or five of the stout
est, aiding the proper officers of the house, CATER
renonstrancc proved unavailing) laid violent hands
upon Johnston, and by main force uggcd him out OF
the house into the lobby, and then into a hackney
coach. Half an hour had elapsed before the strife
aud uproar could be quelled, the debate proceed
ed. Meanwhile the minister the speaker and the
leaders OF opposition concurrcd in the opinion that
Johnston must apologize in his for such outrage
and submit to the apprehension of the Speaker and
house the next day
The next day the gallery and house were throng-
cd. Johnston III his scat being called upon, arose
and addressed the chair in few dsjointed SCI ten
ceS TO this effect go Mr.. Speaker, they tell me
was very drunk yesterday, aud that behaved i'll
and made great uproar. j believe. Mr. Speaker,
that you and other members here often GET drunk
too and behaving rs did, are the next dav asham-
cd OF 1t. did not mean 10 insult YOU OF amy body
else. '---hcrc Johnston interrupted by peais
Olianghter, and shouts of q Hear him. hear him -
The Speaker ut length Obtained a pause, and as
sumng gravity, put the question TO the House.: Is
the apology OF the disorterly member satisfactory p
=" Aye was re-echOed in unanimous reclamation
and thus ended more clamorous and unruv scene
than ever Witnessed before or since in anv deb-
crdtIyc assembly. G