The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-06-05

wine than words--eave an elegant o'"a -
the deanery Of 81. raul's, :" iMsI 49, d,o.
gentlemen connected with bis ior'snP 20
cese. CA laugh.) When the pso
Westminster saw these things III ING "o"s
papers and saw the way IN whicn ,io s'ea'
n.o,le oc cpn;ed tbemselyes,h he wanted 10 KNOW
whe,ba, thew had not great reason 70 com
nla;,, ,h,, thew were not able to enloy ihtneir
r;,.-,L.a ra,;onal aniuserpenis which o'ner
.,a sn;oyed He knew not upon what
nrr,,,,ds his motion was 10 be resisted. IL
,hev went back merely 10 the customs oil
Ien, they might revive many full as old, as
n,arsible and respectable as this. For in
stance. there was Lenlen custom recorded
"a having existed short time previous 10 the
reign of George H., the time when the bill
was passed under which entertainments were
nrobibited in Westminster. At that time
there existed an officer denominated the
kings cock-crower. A laugh) Twas the
duty Of this Off er during Lent TO peran,buate
the precincts OF the palace, growing the hour
OF the night. The Prince Of wales al,er-
wards George H., being at supper, this oiiicer
entered the room, land began Growing the hour,
but the prince. not being aware OF the Gus.
tom, or non understanding the Language OF the
cock-crower Ia laugh) and thinking il was
personal insult seized the cock-crower, and
rudey deprived him Of the faculty OF ever
growing again. (Laughter.) The result was,
that this absurd custom was put an end TO.
If old customs were TO be kept up, he did not
see why the Lord Chamberlain should not
revive the Office Of kings cock-crower "a
laugh
lie thought he had said enough to show
that here was grievance that ought 10 be put
an end to, aud that he had shown that with
out any new act Of parliament ministers had
il in their power TO put an end to II. lie
would, therefore, move that g il is the opinion
of this house, that during Lent no greater re-
strictons should be placed upon theatrical
entertainments within the city Of Westmin-
ster. than are placed upon the like amuse-
ments at the same period in every other part
OF the metropolis" (Cheers.)
Lord JOHN RUSSELL, notwithstanding the
amusement derived from the honorable gen.
ileman's facetious speech, did not think the
matter fit one to be dealt with in light and
sarcastic tone. (Cries OF "Oh.'D All he
could say was, that since the last discussion
Of this question he had had The opportunity Of
consulting the Bishop Of London and olher
distinguished preates on the subject, and they
had said that it had always been looked upon
as mark Of respect to the established rell-
gon that those performances should not be
allowed on the Wednesdays and Fridays
during Lent, and that it would be certainly
considered as want Of respect to the e,ta-
blished church and established religion of the
country, if her Majesty's government should
advise departure from the custom. Gre
newed cries of '!Oh oh!'0 For his own
part he must say, that upon subject Of this
kind he thought it beloved the advisers Of
her Majesl placed in the situation which
she was with regard to the church--rather
to refer to what was the opinion of the heads
tom from time inlmemorial, than to 90 over
the river to Surrey, or across Oxford to Ma
rylebone, and finding tile theatres open in
those places, to declare that they should also
be open in Westminster. (Oh!
After some further observations in opposi-
ton to the ction, the noble lord concluded
by moving the previous question. A discus
sion of some length cnsued, in the course of
which Mr. Leader, Lord Dungannon, Mr..
Warburton, Nlr. Ward and Mr.. D1sraeli
spoke in support of the motion, and Lord
Teignmouth Sir James Graham aud the
Chancellor Of The Exchequer against it.
The house divided-for Mr. Duacombe's
motion, 81; against it, r. The result of The
division was received with tumutuous cheer
ing, which was renewed on the original mo-
ton being put from the chair, and The minori-
~ declining 10 divide again.