Year: 1876

The real work of the Commons-the
work which involves Wholesale debate,
much anxiety, and occasionally diss0-
luton of Parliament-takes place in what
is called Committee of the Whole House.
The mace has been removed from off the
table and placed on a rack underneath
its ledge, Indicating that Mr.. Speaker
has left the chair, and that his place for
the time is filled by the Chairman of
Ways and Means. 1t is vote of money
that is being considered, and the debate
has been angry and prolonged. Men,
bers have dined, which is certain sign
of the interest in the question before the
House not being likely to be relaxed by
inattention, and for want of gentlemen
TO discuss it. A popular member is upon
his feet, and is appealing to the Legisla-
ture not to pass the vote. Anon an un-
tried gentleman in debate rises, and, in
wearisome tones of mOnOtonous repeti-
tion, reviews the whole point under discus
sion. The House shows signs of impa-
tience. Gentlemen take up their hats
and leave. Still the wearisome member
plods along in the most irritating way,
spinning out thread of argument which
has previously been spun into marvel
ously finished form in few minutes by
some more practised speaker. By-and-
by. out of three or four hundred men,
bers at one moment in the House, not
above dozen remain.


One of the dozen is a gentleman, with
arms folded and feet outstretched in COM
Portable attitude, doing, with his chin
resting well upon his chest, apparently
in utter and sublime ignorance of all
that is going on. The untried debater
wakes energetic, occasionally his voice
rises into tones of angry entreaty; still
the gentleman with the folded arms
sleeps the minutes away. No one is pay
ing the smallest attention to the argu-
ment of the speaker. The House generally
is in the tea-room engaged in pleasant
conversation. Mr.. Chairman of Ways
and Means is talking of the pleasure of
dining. At last, to the intense relief of
everybody - strangers, distinguished
strangers, ladies and reporters-the gen.
tleman, utterly untitled to represent any
constituency in debate, has sunk back
into his seat, probably much rejecting
upon the greatness which will be his to-
morrow, when he reads his speech in
print, which no type, fortunately,
however, is ever destined to set up.


Now the gentleman who has slept
away the weary half hour rises. He gives
slight jerk of the shoulders as if
pleasantly stretching himself in becom-
ing manner after his nap, pulls the front
skirt of his frock coat down that it may
appear to the best advantage, gives a
slight cough, advances to the table, rests
his right hand in the breast of his coat,
his left upon the dispatch-box on the
table in front of him, and proceeds to
speak. Immediately the House is filled.
The speaker is the prime minister, and
it is his intention to reply upon the whole
question. He has been merely sitting in
the House for this purpose. Cries of
" Hear, Hearp' now and again disturb
the periods in the speakers carefully
considered reply. With great delibera-
ton every word Of it is uttered, and,
even if well.told anecdote or joke
should draw the House into laughter Of
somewhat boisterous kind, the speakers
face does not relax so much as a muscle.
Steadily he hslds his points in view, and,
in fewer minutes than it took the untried
debater to introduce the topic of his
argument, it has sufficed the present ex-
perienced orator to discuss every item in
it worthy of consideration, to unravel
the skilIfully tangled skein of cunning
argument wrought by the opposition,
and to present to his own wavering sup
porters battery of proof why their
votes should support the Queens gov
eminent on this occasion. lie resumes
b;o eact amid chaarinu