Middletown transcript., 1868-02-22

From Old England, its Scenery, Art and Peopien BY
sf%s aeSP2 YS College published
Ascending the noble staircase leading,
up from old Westminter Hall, enc passes
into an avenue or corridor, connecting with
the new Houses of Parliament. This su-
perb avenue is called St. Stephens Hail.
Along its sides are ranged full length
statues of Hampden, Falkland, Selden,
Chatham, Burke, Pitt, Fox, and others of
the great Commoners of England. This
Hall leads into o vestibule highly decorated
and gilded, by which one enters immedi-
ately into the House of Commons on the
one side, and the House of Lords on the
other. II Let us enter the House of Com
mons. We go up. a flight of stairs, and
seat ourselves in what is named the Repor-
ters Gallery. Opposite US are the report
ers' desks, at which you see anxious-lookipg
men seated, who. after writing little time
with intense application, get up and 20 out,
being relieved Of their toll by others. The
House of Commons is almost as gorgeous
as wrought gold, fine brass, lakewood car
wing, rich frescoes, and stained glass win
dows can make it. L say almost, for the
House of Lords, though of the same gen
eral architectural character, is still more
elaborate in its finish and ornament. 1t
blazes with crimson and gold. b.; ..s,.....
2. After having looked around and above,
and sated your eyes with richness, and
studied out the, Tudor rose and portculis
ornaments, and other historic emblems,
then look down and see what this magnif-
cent house, of the gods contains. Are they
gods Or men ~ They are truly but men: |:
and they are men who all wear their hats
on as at a Quaker meeting. But it is no
Quaker meeting |; for the spirit of heavenly
repose which broods over the assemblies, of
the saints, is not surely here. There is an
anxious, angry, almost fierce spirit Of de-
bate, and conflict. The only ,unexcited
countenance is that of the Speaker, who,
profoundly buried in his big gray wig, sits
imperturbable,as a machine, or rises at long
4 intervals to put q vote in the shortest, and
driest manner. riuriY3t -5 baa q ~ %
/ 1t is odd to see the quiet, matter-of-fact
way in which vast money-bills are voted
upon and disposed, Of in the English Par
lament heard money enough to set up
a small goyernment appropriated in about
| five minutes, alllthe members voting in fa-
/ vor ofit,, though there had been a protract-
cd and violent debate on at, in which it
seemed as if hetottering government must
| give way. The ieei business goes on by
machinery. Discussion is like dance on
the mill-Aoor " Hid the great wheel goes
steadily rouadi, The cold j firm will of the
4 governing class, sovereign in the House of
Commons as in tho House of Lords, allow
ing little possibility of popular interfer-
cpce, manages every thing in its own way.
A long, green table stands in the center of
4 the room, at one end of which two be-
wigged clerks are seated, and at the other
end hangs the ponderous mace. The Gov
this table, and the Opposition on the other.
! There is an impression now prevailing
1 in England, that the business of the nation
has become SO gigantic and complicated
that Parliament Is really not equal to its
transaction. i have certainly rarely seen
a more wearied and fagged-out set Of men
than the government bench at that time
presented. The brilliant gas light streamed
down on care-worn, and haggard faces
They were then, it is true, It a. state of
siege, and brought by powerful and unre-
lenting opposition into the most desperate
condition. Lord Palmerston, hewever,
carried bold air. In the broad and racy
expression of his face he looked the born
Irishman.l He seemed to have the elas-
ticity of immortal youth. It was highly
interesting to hear this inimitable veteran
debater roll off his easy and stereotyped
phrases of defense, now rising into stately
rhetoric, now getting up an immense indig-
nation, now casting himself back on his
official dignity, and now darting fatal
thrust Of mingled ridicule and power into
the weak place of his opponents harness.
His venerable compeer, Lord John Russell,
has pompous way of speaking for a small
man., but is ingenious in gliding oilily
around difficulty; and when he cannot
answer it, has an imperious way Of. tramp
ling it down.H Il was wonderful to see
these old men sustaining these severe mid
| night debates; for the sessions of Parlia-,
ment begin at five or six in the evening |,
and last sometimes until three o'clock in the
morning. baE iFs,1 s8i esaF5 s5rf
Confcssedly the most polished and fluent
speaker in Parliament is Mr.. Gladstone !;
but, as a rough Englishman said to. me,
''He Is too eloquent to be honest;". not
that this is literally true, but with English
people. too much facility is looked upon
with suspicion. / was fortunate to hear
Mr.. Bright speak, although but briefly.
He has a round, full forehead, and reso-
lutte mouth, but the expression seemed to
me gentler and more. refined than had
imagined of this strong popular tribune.
He looks like a good mana man whose
heart, whose moral nature, predominates
over and 'subordinates his intellect. You
get just the reverse of this idea, / think,
from the face Of Gladstone, who is pure
intellect, though he has shown that he pos
sesses noble heart. Bright's speech was
characterized by a straightforward plain
ness, and also by singular force Of cons
Y densed Achdlarly expression. There was