The sun., 1881-01-23
SOME VIEW BOOKS.


An attempt was made somc years ago tC
set forth somo Of the moro striking facts in the
history of tho British Parliament and In tho
public llfe Of It's distinguished members. Il
was. however. but n tentative essny in n new
aud fruitful field. and one OF tho authors o
that book. Mr. q. II. JENNINGS. has now worked
out the same idea on much more extended
scale In An Anec,iotdi History 0f the British
Parliament tAppletonsk In this closely printed
volume Of 800 pages has becn accumulated n
vast quantity OF carefully verified and strik ing
facts illustrating tho riso and progress Of Par
liamentary institutions. together with multi
tude OF stories about the statesmen and polti-
clans who hayo contributed to their de-
velopment Tho author has collected In
distinct sections. those data that have a
diroct bearing on the evolution OF politi-
cal principles. and that supply the prece-
dents on which tho somewhat nebulous and
fuctuatinR conception OF the British Constitu-
ton Is based. Mr.. Jennings's lnbors In these
directions will prove OF not little utility to tho
student OF contemporary English politics, IL
Illuminating, rs they do. such obscure and per-
picking questions M those raised by the Brad
laugh case and by Mr.. Psfnoii's obstructive
tactics. II is nor. however. tho political and
regal aspects OF this unique compilation to
which wo would now advert, for any one OF q
dozen topics suggested by these features OF the
book would invite prolonged attention. We
prefer to avail ourselves Of the light thrown on
the character and abilities Of eminent states
mon. and on important incidents in their Parlla-
mentary careers by the personal anecdotes
which form the core OF Mr.. Jennings's volume
The part OF the authors compend devoted to
individual portraiture begins with Sir Thomas
More. Mono OF the pointed and memorable
sayings, however, attributed to tho author OF
the Utopia" arc here quoted. To Wolsey
who preceded him In tho Chancellorship. thero
nre only incidental illusions. while to Thomas
Cromwell. who succeeded him. there is no ref
erence Mt all. Neither has the author found
much to record concerning the Parliamentary
leaders in tho reigns OF Edward vi. and Mary.
Coming to Elizabeths time he cites a remark OF
Peter Wentworth, tho outspoken nsserter OF
civil liberty. which attests tho vgilant resist
ance to authority evinccd by tho Puritan ole
ment In the Church of England at a critical
period. II was" says Wentworth. sent for.
by the Archbishop OF Canterbury [Parkerl.
touching the articles OF religion that passed the
last Parliament I1574l He asked us why
we did put out OF the book the ar
ticles for the homilies. conservation OF
Bishops. and such like? Surely. SIR said l.
because we were so occupied in other matters
that we had no time to examine how thoy agreed
you mistake the matter; you will refer your
selves wholly to us therein No! by the faith
] bear to God said l. we will pass nothing be-
fore wo know what 1t Is for that wero but to
make You Bishops Popes Make you Popes who
list said l. for we will make you none'"
That Elizabeth was not far behind the sturdy
Puritan in her willingness to hold cheap the
dignity OF her spiritual lords may be inferred
from her well-known lotter 10 Cox. Bishop OF
Ely. whom he showed somo reluctance to sacri-
fce his garden in Holborn to one Of the Queens
favoritos: Proud prelate. you know what you
were before made you what you are : il you do
not Immediately comply with my request by
God. will unfrock you'll" Regarding the ra-
pidity with which Parliamentary business WAS
despatched In those days. Lord Bacon relates
That, Speaker Popham coming To Queen Eliza
beth at n time when the Lower House had sat
long and done nothing. she said to him: Now,
Mr.. Speaker. what has passed In the Lower
House" Popham answered. II it please your
Majesty. seven weeks"
Ono OF the neat things said on tho pa
triotc side in the Parliaments OF Charles
I. was dream related by whimsical.
crack Drained politician. He saw. he said.
in n dream. two good pastures-a flock OF
sheep In the one. and a bellwether alone in the
other-a great ditch between them, and narrow
rupted by the Speaker. who told him that it
stood not with the gravity OF tho House to listen
10 dreams; but tho House was inclined to hear
him out. The Sheep" he continued would
sometimes go over to the bell wether or tn 0 bell
wether to the sheop. but once both met on the
narrow bridge. and the question was who should
go back. Ono Sheep" he added. with nod to-
ward Hydo and other royasts. gave counsel
that the sheep on tho bridge should lie on their
bellies. and let the bellwether go over their
bacss." The application OF this dilemma was
left to the House. About the same time Pym
saved By an ingenious piece of sophistry his
friend. Sir Henry Ludlow. from being CEN
sured by tho House. Ludlow had said.
in reference to a certain communication
from Charles l.. that " he who sent this message
ls not fit to be King OF England" He was about
to DO punished for the words. when Pym de-
plared that they contained nothing OF dshonor
10 the King. III these words be SUCH" ho
Bad. that a fair conclusion is naturally de-
duceable from them. then they cannot be evil in
themselves. Now that a fair conclusion natu-
rally ariseth from them may be proved by sylo-
Rism. He who sent this message Is not worthy
10 be King OF England; but King Charles is
worthy to be King OF England; therefore. King
Charles sent not this message Now" said
Pym. Il leave it to judgment whether or no
ofcensure." Pym's remark to Wentworth. when
the latter was about to forsake the patriotic
party for the sake OF a peeraGe. is we'll known
You are going to leave us. but will never
leave you while your head is upon your shout
ders." As 1t happened. they did not meet again
until the great occasion in Westminster Hail.
when Pym set forth Straifords impeachment
on behalf OF tho Commons of England. At the
eliminating point OF his nvectiyc. the speaker
turned and met the haggard look OF his old
comrado who had been intently regarding him.
and for the moment the stern tribune is said to
have beon deprived Of his self possession.
One OF tho FIRST OF Pym's contemporaries to
avow himself republican was Harry Marten,
whom Isaac Disraoli calls the Sheridan Of his
day. AS early as lG40 Marten startled Hyde
(afterward Earl of Clarendon) by saying: :"
do not think one man wise enough TO govern us
ALL" Three years afterward Marten was ex-
PEELED tho House and committed TO the Tower
for saying: 1t were better that one family
should be destroyed than many" On ono oc-
casion godly member OF the Long Parlia-
ment mado motion to have all proIane and
unsanctined persons expelled tho Houec.
Harry Marten stood up and moved that all fools