Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-09-16
From the .aAjany Erening Journal.
LETTERS FROM MIR. wEED-No. Nv.

From the -4i6dnY Eren'ng JourndL
LETTERS FROM MIR. wEED--No. Nv.
LoNDoS, july %, 1913. /
Having failed to get into the House of Com |
mons Immediately after our arrival here, during
the somewhat exciting debate upon the Irish
Arm bill, delayed my visit several days, in the
hope that some other question of interest would
elicit debate. But nothing sprung up in
that way, went the other evening, and was
shown into the Speakers Gallery, by the Hon.
Mr.. TnoRNLEy, an intelligent, practical mem"
Der from Wolverhampton, to whom had let
ter of introduction from his mercantile friend
Mr.. H. L. WEBB Mr.. T. remarked that the
sitting would be n very dull one, and advised
me tc 90 into the gallery of the other House,
bat in repairing ihhpr for the purpose of pro-
curing my admission, we found that "the Lords
were up" as is their term for an adjournment.
] therefore returned to the Commons.
Parliament sits, Won know, in wing adioin-
ing Westmirstcr.IIa IIal where the higher Courts
hold their sittings. The sessions commence,
or to use their own terms the Houses meet at
L b..
and especially if the Lords are in session, you
see 80, 40, and sometimes 80 grooms mounted
(and in livery of course) holding saddlcd horses
in readiness for the members, who generally,
like John Randolph, 90 and return to and from
Parliament in this manner. If you are
stranger, porters very ciyilly conduct you to
the entrance, Tor which service they look for
penny. Here an individual receives your rm-
brela, overcoat, cane, &c, for taking care Of
which, when YOU return, he OF course expects a
gra,uity You then pass through long narrow
corridor into an anteroom, where, II you want
t. sec a member. your card Is handed to a door
keeper with gown and wig, who transmits II
without leaving his post, through some "ho'"
in The wall" to the member, who obtains a
Speaker's order and ushrrS you into the Gallery.
And here instead OF the magnificent Hail. the
brilliant Chandelier, and the grave, diguifed
and eloquent Representatives Of the United
kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland,
you find yourself in long, narrow "ball-ro0m, "
with rows Of benches and settces covered with
green baize, and occupied (when went I'M by
some fifty or sixty garulous gentleman hudded
together and gabbling with as little regard to
sense as order. OF what was sad excep,
"hear," shear" "hear," by at least dozen
voices, could for a long time understand lii
tie but finally, one persevering genteman's
voice was distinguished ab9ve the "hear
shear" "hcai,' who spoke an "infnitc deal OF
~ urttb H.. o,ali n
detect the "kerncl of wheat" in his "bushel Of
chat There are no chairs or desks for mem
berS, who, when they speak, collect round a
table, upon which they lean with one hand
while they hold their hats in the other The
members sit with their hats on and their leg
up a la Trollcppe Many of them sleep very
soundly; and one member gave this as an cx
cuse few days since, in the London papers
for having voted wrong. ! remained here tNt
hours without seeing or hearing anything tha
raised these members ofthe British House o
Commons to an intellectual equality with
board OF supervisors in the counties of Wash
ington, Cayuga, Tompkins, Ontario, Monroe
Livingston, Genesee, Erie, Niagara, Chau
tauque, &c. &c.
The House of Lords, though presenting tn
same architectural aspect, was intellectual
dignificd, elevated and imposing. Inmy yisi
here had the good fortune to hear Lord
BaoUouAM and ABERDEEN, the Duke OF WEI
LNGroS, the Marquis of LASsDowN, Earl
SrANHorE and MoNrE.GLE, and several ohe
Peers Of less consideration. OF Lord BRouGT
AN I only heard enough to make me exceed
ingly desirous TO hear more. lie is truly
great man, whose voice and manner, instead
being harsh and stiff, as had been led to SUI
pose, are clear and graceful. Lord ABERDEE
is evidently an enlightened statesman. ii
spoke for some time IN relation to former Tre