The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-09-22
SKETCH OF PARLIAMENT.

The Christian Intelligeneer has letter
| from an American in London, giving pen
| and ink sketch of Parliament, as follows
''At A o'clock last evening I went to visit
the House of Parliament. The new build
ings are a perfect wilderness of Gothic
towers, groined ceilings, superb halls, lined
with marble statutes of departed states
men auu warrIoIs. hinnons or uIouoy--
enough to endow a school in every parish
have been lavished on this gorgeous ediee.
AS we reached the door of the House of
Commons, the elegantly dressed doorkeeper
called out, The Speaker is in the chair -
| was shown to seat in the small Speakers
gallery. The hall is superb in ornament,
of oblong shape, with rows of green cush-
ioned benches on each side, and no desks
in front of members. The Speaker wears
a huge wig and gown. The members, most
outlandishly, all wear their hats, except
while speaking. The effect is exceedingly
bad. was also surprised at the youthful
appearance of many of the House at least
a score of them seemed like members of
senior class in college. A considerably
loud conversation was carried on during the
the debates, and members were walking
about continually. .r ..r
The speaker of the evening most listened
to was Mr.. Gladstone, of Oxford. He is an
easy nonchalant converser, with no elabor-
ate harangue; but his style was very at
tractive. While he was speaking there was
a constant cry of "Hear, hear" which
sounded like "Yeh-yeh-yeh." After
him came the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
graceful, fluent statenicc. maker. Lord
Palmerston pulled off his hat and spoke in
a slow, careless tone for half an hour. He
does not look so old as 1 expected. Sir
James Graham is huge, easy country gem
tleman, who sat like man of leasure in
coffee room. The only outer and shabby
member, in face, figure and dress, is the
Radical Roebuck, of Sheffield. He has
waspish petulance in his tone, and is a man
for Enquiries and investigations" The
old heroes, Sir Charles Napier and Gen.
Williams, of Kars, attracted much attention.
As a body of men, the House of Com
mons is not as imposing in appearance
as our American Senate. Lord John Rus
sell sat smiling and silent, D'Israeli looked
sarcastic and suller. He is the sharpest
debater of them all. s.-
From the House of Commons we go by
splendid hall to the House of Lords. Their
room is the most superb in the Kingdom
1t is blaze with crimson and gold. As we
enter we see the noble Lord Shaftesbury
on the red cushion by the door. Beside
him, that handsome youthful face, under
the thick golden hair, belongs to the Duke
of Argyle, the rising hope of Scotch Pres
byterians. Old Lord Aberdeen sets next,
in deep reyerie.
Those magnificent women in yonder gal
lery are the wives and daughters of the
Peers do not know eneghh of millinery to
describe their, rig" for your lady readers;
but it may be some qualification to Ameri-
can ladies to know that the lace and pearled
bonnets on the head of the ducheses and
countesses were fully as large as saucer.
Their faces were generally fair and brilliant
in beauty.
l came away from the house of Lords
(which contains many able and noble charac-
ters,) in nowise converted to belief in the
hereditary houses of legislation.
~ A Western paper offers to write
mr." before or ESP after the names of
such of its subscribers, in directing their
papers, as will pay in advance