, 1866-04-02
FROM ENGLAND.
The British Parliament in Ses.
sion.
NIB. GLADSTONE PROPOSING THE
REFORM BILL.

l An~ NAAOoAVNE fRUPOSlNE III
| REFORM BILL.
Scenes in the House OF Coumons-Tl,
Chamber and Its Occupnuts-s;lad
Atone. Dlaraeii, Bulwer, Stuart Mill
john Bright, Earl Russell, Earl G. ran
FilAes &c-Mr. GIadAtone's Speech
Prospects of the Refuem Rlll-Th
AouAe Of Lords and IL Functions.
Correspondence Of the Chicago Trbune.1
LONDON. March II, 1sG6.
a few days aeo the Times, contained
sketch from Washington Of ' Congress in ses
sion, in which the peculiasities Of that bod
were set Of By no friendly hand I hav
since met With extracts from the article In on
provincial journals, and have been amused
by the prominence given to facts with which
IL editors ever visited their own House o
Commons, they would be perfectly familiar
I have NOT get seen Washington ami
the Capitol, but know every scat
every bench, every lobby, every room II
the Houses of Parliament, ut Westminster
and the faces and habits OF our Legislator.
hare come equally within my observation
Ny own feeling on reading accounts OF thu
American Congress, is always one Of inter
csted surprise, as note how much The
Legislatures Of the two countries arc alike
| in the characteristics Of their official cxpe.
rience- propose to give you some idea ol
| the scene In our House Of Commons on Mon.
day evening last, when AE. Gladstone, or
tho part Of the Government, moved the. in.
PRODUCTION Of the new Reform BILL, mud ]
dare FAY you Will recognize. American features
In the sketch.
TIE CHAMBER OF THE COMMONS.
The limited space Of the Chamber OF the
House Of Commons is forced upon VISITORS
attention on every great occaslon,., What IN
absurdity 1t seems that there should not be
proper room for nl the members, II ali choose
10 attends The Idea Of the archItect must
have been that the members Of the House
never would attend in full force, and that the
attractions Of the the opera houses. Of the eve
ming parties, Of the turf, would ut all times
overweight those of Parliamentary debate,
and that IS large proportion OF them owe
their membership to the will Of landowner
or the possession of title, they were respon.
siblc to nobody for the performance of their
nominal duties. No doubt In nine nights
ont Of ten, the architects theory
~. -. ,,.1,o -a1 s - ~ enoueu
~. euoss ~ - eut ~, "a. tnat worthy
ags.,s ~ ~ a.s,as,,s ta ~ .,a ' ~. a'n.lons tne
e,>o.,.o, era,,,a s.;e '". ". 1850 taas
dra,r AVN tts .nos, ,,nssasa.s sA. ~ 49, "vu.a ~
hunting and panridse-shoot If. P.s to the
House, and so In consequence Of his, or some
body else's, negligence, We hive hall dozen
ooss,rs 49, eo1a.s1 80. " =. .ss s.a ~ 81
49,, 49, =. - a.i' ~ ~ a.aoe, auu u
~ 49, san.s ] eA0ue0 A'1'1A e'"aaias s"o
" sA''' 1,n.s..,, rou.s.
,..a. -. - a.' ...
.Ant' t"ousn piaJets "fe
ha-s ot,e., y s 49,. ~ T.n., A, out 'e" msm'
80 % ;.1s;aa.anaa 1um a"e u'a''ons eno" lhat
~. noa-s,s .,s.. "as - 'o.eeeen' .uAsn"sn ~
ey Fo'4"e .uaI "uoe'cf pseeen. "nits
pA5as 10y .ast a4e ue' ,cu, ean, ~ putting us
80. W .as usneH ~ tne oaea VI nts seal, re-
.4 pN' .,Hau az. PaAse ios 1oe "no1e OF Tue
~ eu"s tne p11sess, o. course, arc taken
t.om ~. .ms w., snu.eu " Inslaou prayer oook'
Wv ~ LILLY - sno"a aoout them that one
y. " w 1.oa1 use'o' poone nen, on accidental
y uest1ns tne" one session, sala 10 friend
ne 1noneat taean very good, and he wondered
where ne could get acopyI On Monday night
men OF all creeds-Church Of England, Roman
Cathohc, Unitarian aud Jew-heard the very
short prayer, which was read, but as they
appeared IN ther places out OF sci
hsh motive, ! fear they were not
much edlned By what they listened to. The
occupants Of the reporters gallery, Including
besides the reporters, who sit in the front
row, editors, managers and proprictors Of
the London daily journals, are not allowed to
be present while prayers are being read,
though other strangers" are subject to no
such exclusion. Why this distinction Is made
habitue Of the House. The reporters tell you
1t is because the Speaker is aware thcr have
already performed that duty for themselves,
and the editors will say 1t Is because the re-
porters are 90 tr1everent; but be the cause
what 1t may, We who SIT In that particular
spot can only sec the members at their deYo-
tions, and asc not able the share any farther
the privilege IN the matter.
now TIE MEMBERS ARE RANGED. D.,
Looking into the Chamber about half an
hour after Mr. Gladstone's speech had COM
and standing near the Speakers
chair, this Is what yon would haveseen: On
your right arc half dozen rows Of benches
extending lonsitudinally down the nooT and
rising one above the other. These are occu-
pied BY Ministers and their supporters, but 1t
happens Whh the present parliament that many
oi those supporters are only nominal ones,
nnd that the most damaging thrusts at the
Liberal members are made at their backs. On
loe olnet slee OF Inc Cha'r are similar bench
es' occupied os tne conservative opposition
Ann naf 1F1na