The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-08-12
NO. XVII.
The House of Commons.

Through the kindness of our Minister, Mr.. Law
renee, received ticket for the House of Commons
BY its potency, found myself, at five last evening,
occupying (perhaps by mistakc) scat in the little
lobby connected with and reserved for, the House Of
Lords The galleries above pretty full, mostly
of Americans; for strangers from the continent SCI
dom visit the +" Commons" My company was
rather more aristocratic than had been accustomed
TO. However, taking Strangers privilege. l
learned from my right hand man, whom afterwards
found out to be Lord Lyndhurs, the late Lord High
chancellor, and from those in front, one Of whom
was the Earl of Mimic, late Ambassador to Rome.
and tather-ln-iaw Of the Premier, all I wanted to
know OF the rules and Constitution Of the House, re-
paying them in kind BY answering them queries as
to our legislative assemblies. Let here say, that
however exclusive the English nobility seem in the
streets anu IN their houses, there is perfect courtesy
ano ureaniy among whom here observed. There
was a luii attendance of the Commons, and largo
number Of the Upper House present 10 hear the dis
cussion the Catholic bill. The House is opposite
westminster Abbey You reach the hall through
long aSsases, guarded by several porters. II is not
much larger than Senate room in Columbus, rath-
or longer, not SO wide. There is but one desk un-
der the speakers chair, in which three wigged gen
tlemen SIT scribbing. The speaker is gowned and
wiggcd' lie is large, red-faced, thick-tongued old
Saxon, fuli OF veibosy and consequence. He is the
only member who has his hat off. 1t strikes
American strangely to the delberatve gravity Of
"the greatest power in Chistendonl" sitting ranged
maps, account for the number Of bald heads among
the English. You carnot sec their eyes faces ex.
cept when they rise 10 speak. At Grst blush, is
apt to condemn the Assembly a convention Of stu.
pidity and careiessness. Yet there is an agreeable
surprise In finding much ease, and, compared to
my previous fancy, very little formaity in the
fangement and conduct Of the House. The
motion pending was that of Tom Duncombe, as he is
famiiary known--a radical, and genuine trump.
besides being handsome black-eyed, b!aek-haired,
pfarpfy NJ L., bo1 DvoI fbnf
the FIRST clause # the bi furnishing those who take
titles under the Pore, he postponed until the House
shc;ild be IN possession Of the bricf rescrr, Ie
.ers apestocal, uron which the enacting clause was
founded and he proceeded TO make what called
decided hit, between wind and water. He poured
hot shot the heads and into the eyes Of tho
ministers, cha gina them with de- serting the pTinci-
pies OF the Emancipation Act of 1920, and denouno
ing the pseainbi TO the present bill compared with
that OF 1929 As miserable, wretched, narrow minded
asi pe;ttogsag. The speech directed TO the
SUBJECT CT the m-tion, He contended that pub
he notiie'y or common camor, (to use the Saxon)
was rot Ihc evidence for gIave legislation. This
speech called ou the legal advisers Of the govern
lnent, who played the game Of stave off nicely. The
Solicitor Genciai is tail, white headed, good-na-
tnred man, of imperfect enunciaton. Indeed, no.
ticed that very few of the speakers tailed stuer
4 good deal. D'israeh was perfect stammerer
throughout What he said was pointed, hut his
manner was vciy indifferent. The most graceful
SiOCutioH Nds 'tidt Cl uf, w whose DneIy Wo-
ven words TITLED mus,cally upon the ear, he
de,ed the Conservative force to the Government by
which they enabled TO PASS their bill. But Roe
buck is thc sasher Of the parliament. Every other
member has his 'sight honorable and learned freud
from so-and So over twenty times in ten minutes
speech. His under lip curis over in scorn; but ho
met more than his match in the tall cgay-whskered,
cou.tly precise, and bsiness-Iike Home Secretary,
Sir, George Giey He looked to me the ablest man
in the cabinet. Lord John Russell made short and
pointed speech. display ing both ard good nature
He always in to the help Of MS adutan,s when
they are pushed TO the wall, and leads them Off
The Premier Of England, whom had good op-
porunity To see, is little man, with high foIehead
bright eyes, and hair somewhat MINUS but s,rag-
Cling over his face. lie sits perfectly quiet, with
his counenance under deep shadow, that it is i'm
possible to tell whether the arrows strike hcme or
not. Let not fail TO commend the bTevi,y and
pith of the English speakers. Up they star, in a
twink ling, the nat coming of simultaneously They
preamble little but shoe, right the hte
their antithetic brance iDr the conclusion, which
hardly uttered before the hat on, and they drop:
ifyou should put istol bali through the heart you
could not bring them down quicker. There is
loud bawlng in speaking, among the Irish. But
the cheers cries If ''har,' and al times the reifct
Babclism Of the House, is comica il is novel to
American.--H Home J51raal.