CHAPTER XI. PARLIAMENT. An Evening in the Houses of "Lords" and "Commons." Now with a giant's might, He heaves the ponderous thought, Eloquence that charms and burns, AN American, upon arriving at the British capital, takes an early occasion of calling upon his country's representative. Aside from obligations of courtesy, passports must be viséd, and tickets to the Houses of Parliament secured; both which require the service of the "Secretary of Legation!" It being "despatch day," we had not the honor of meeting Mr. Buchanan; but his assistant, Mr. Lawrence, furnished us immediate and cheerful aid in the respects named. I was fortunate in the evening assigned for a visit to Parliament, and shall long retain a vivid recollection of the six hours divided between the Lords and Commons. The room in which the Peers of England meet, is comparatively small, but finished in the highest style of decorative art. At one end stands the throne, surrounded by a railing of giltiron, guarding the sanctuary from vulgar foot-treads; while Earls, Bishops and other titled ones, occupy benches upon either side, rising amphitheatrically, the presiding officer in House of Lords. Lord Brougham. gown and wig, sitting near the center of the room, upon a large square bag of wool without back or arms, covered with red cloth, and significantly styled "the woolsack." The feature which struck me earliest, was the free and easy attitudes of the members; hats on, rising and walking here and there for a chat with a friend, reclining, and leaning upon the elbow; in a word, each seeming to feel quite at home, though in the council chamber of the first among civilized realms. A general glance over, I began to search for individuals, for one especially, and that was Lord Brougham. No assistance was required in discovering this world-famed personage; this eminently learned, eloquent but eccentric Statesman and Orator. There he sat on the front bench, a hand on each knee, his head erect, and eyes roaming rapidly from one part of the room to another, evidently listening to the speaker, yet seemingly attentive to all persons and things beside. Up he starts, trips boy-like across the room, and after a brief chat, returns with like rapidity to his seat. There he is again, téte-à-tète with the occupant of the woolsack, when back he goes, all the time thinking-thinking, as his countenance clearly shows. A prosy speech from Earl somebody over, up jumps his Lordship, and at it he goes with the rush and speed of a war-horse. His words flow like a torrent, his hands go up and down with parallel palms, and perpendicular cuttings of the air, then the fist of the right hand beats into the palm of the left, with a rapidity and power which threaten destruction to bone and sinew; thus on, on, he dashes, his voice rising higher and higher, till a climax is reached, and he takes his seat with cheer upon cheer from his colleague peers and nobles. In the oratory of Lord B. (the two speeches heard, being my guide of Lords Campbell and Aberdeen. House of Commons. judgment) there are few of the graces of manner; but there is great earnestness. He appears himself to feel what he utters, and you sympathize with him in his ardent emotions, though not always with the assent of your judgment to his arguments and conclusions. And there sat his rival, Lord Campbell, hat on, and in what might be styled a lounging attitude. A speech is in progress, and the speaker turning with the accustomed "The noble and learned Lord," Lord C. doffs his hat in recognition of the compliment, and replacing it, reclines as before. He is now on the floor to reply, and the "MY LUDS," with which he begins, indicates the Scotchman that he is, and one that the north need not be ashamed of. His remarks were clear, earnest, and uttered with a grace to which Lord B.'s oratory laid no claim. And there is Lord Aberdeen, premier of the realm, the first Scotchman who ever filled that honored post, his head reclining on his chest, and feet far out in the room, in a thoughtful attitude, scarce moving, except to notice some allusion to himself. And there are the bishops in their lawn gowns; and in the gallery, are reporters and visitors, seeing, hearing and recording what is passing below. This Upper House usually adjourns about seven o'clock, and that hour being near, I left for a visit to that more democratic assemblage-the House of Commons. This is a lofty, oblong chamber, about seventy feet in length, with a gallery extending entirely around the building. The members' seats are long leather-covered benches, running parallel with the sides and extending the whole length of the chamber; of which there are five rows, rising one above the other, as they approach the wall so as to form a kind of gallery. The speaker's chair stands in the mid E The Mace. Seats of Members. dle of the floor, at one end of the house, slightly raised on a platform and surmounted by a finely carved canopy, bearing in front the royal arms. In front of the chair, at the distance of a few feet, is the table of the House, loaded with bulky-looking volumes, parliamentary papers, &c.; at one end of which sit the clerks in gown and wig, while at the other end lies the mace, a heavy and highly ornamented club with silver heading which acts an important part in the doings of the evening. When the speaker takes his seat, this badge of office is placed before him, to remain there till he retires, or the House goes into "Committee of the Whole," and then is put away till he resumes his official station. This is the "gilded bauble" which Cromwell ordered away, when he entered with his revolutionary soldiery to dissolve the long parliament. The more important members of the governmeut occupy the front bench on the right of the chair, facing the tableknown as the "treasury bench," the subordinates in office and the more zealous adherents of their party, taking their seats immediately behind, their feet coming often almost upon the shoulders of their leaders. So that "between the heads of Lords S. and P. are the feet of one subordinate, and between Lord J. S. and Sir J. G., another," with others in the same undignified attitude, at least so it would be deemed among us in America. Those opposed to the government, "rank and file," sit upon the left of the speaker. Half way down the House, on either side, there is an opening in the benches, which forms a passage from the floor of the House to the walls, and separates the seats above and below, by the distance of two or more yards. This is the "gangway"—the boundary between the more zealous sup |