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    760 THE LEADE R. [Sat^ri>ay,

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    "A Stranger" In Parliament. "The Best Pr...

    Russia , England would not fight : her fleet would fight ; and we can sleep at home at ease while Jack is making mince-meat of Sebastopol horse-inarines . To fceep a fleet fighting costs no more ( with the exception of the gunpowder , which is now very cheap ) than to feeep a fleet mpored or . on . a cruise ; and stories of naval battles ( particularly when : they are successful ) fill newspapers , and interest ; an . inert public . The corn trade might suffer , as it does already , by suspense ; but there is a wonderful American harvest ; and other trades would gain . Birmingham would

    double its wealth in a long war ; and not a firm in Liverpool but would fit out privateers for prizes in the hemp and tallow trade . All these are thoughts in course of thinking by the public , which is beginning to understand something about Russia and the East ; and such considerations suggest that , on the whole , a war with Russia would now be popular . With or without France by our side , it would be a safe war ; we should be sure to win ; and skilful diplomacy ( which ours in the East never will be , so long as routine and timid Redcliffe is with Abd-u'l- Medjid ) could readily render a war worth our while . Nicholas

    maintain ? that France is bribable ; and why should not we argue that way , too ?—that we might get Egypt as a colony , with hereditary viceroys in the present Pasha's family , and secure a Greek empire , with a liberal tariff , at Constantinople . Our statesmen tremble at the idea of Russia getting into the Mediterranean ; but it is an old lady ' s fear ; if England choose to let loose the Republicans , Russia would be harmless in Europe . Therefore , bribe Nicholas away from Constantinople by letting him into the Adriatic . He wants eyes for his empire , he says ; give him Mazzini to look at , opposite that coveted port almost in sight of Italy . Obviously a

    great struggle is coming , above and beyond the grasp and the ken of these old diplomatists who now rule England ; and the capacity of Englishmen to save England by a sweeping policy , may soon be tested , Englishmen must do it themselves . Lords Aberdeen , Palmerston , Russell , Clarendon , Lansdowne , Redcliffe , Westmoreland , and Cowley , all average 70 years of age ; and men of seventy seldom build or bulwark an empire—particularly an unwarlike empire . Russia has gone so far only because she saw that the English protests against her proceedings have been in the trembling handwriting of over-old and over-courteous lords .

    The " intelligent foreigner "—Nicholas included in the class—cannot suppose that English attention is at all fixed on Russian affairs , if they read our Parliamentary reports . The Moniteur makes much of the fact , that there was a Cabinet council on Saturday , which sat four hours ; but against that fact Russian diplomatists will set another—that the House of Commons sat an average of fourteen out of every twenty - four throughout the week ; and that only once , incidentally , was the " difficulty" on the Pruth and the Danube referred to . What can the " despotic system " apprehend when it sees its favourite aversion ,

    Palmerston , placidly engaged in contesting whether he should " go on" with a Truck Act , or " withdraw" a Smoke Nuisance Abatement Bill ? Can Aberdeen be supposed to be active as to Turkey when ho is found making the longest and profoundest speech which he has delivered this session , on the subject of chicory admixtures ? Cnn Gladstone be considering the state of the East when he is furtively attempting to pass a Colonial Church Regulation Bill , or openly exhibiting his anxiety to get the session over as soon as ever his Budget is quite throughp Can Card well really mean resistance to Russia when ho refuses to accept Captain

    Scobcll ' a amendment on the Pilotage Bill—intended to keep foreigners off the command of swift British steamers ? Graham may bo really norvous or conscientious about Russia , for ho is making the navy oflicienr , and his work lies in a defensive and preparative direction . But , watching other Ministers just now , tho intelligent ; foreigner would como to tho conclusion that England is doing anything but calculating on , war . The aspect of Sir William Molcsworth , for instance , during ' the week , particularly when asleep , has been highly pacific ; ibr oven when awake ho is only describing 1 tho inroads of French fleas upon tho British embassy at

    Paris , or questioning tho financial genius of that groat artist in confectionary , Sir Charles Barry . And as to Sir . Tamos Graham ' s Secretary , tho onco lively and vigorous Bornal Osborno , ho made his first ; appearance for tho summer on Thursday , and tlion only to suggest —even in that showing an original turn of mindthat not a bad way of ventilating the . House of Commons would bo to opon tho windows—an idea which novor occurred to any of tho . scientific " authorities" ! In fact , looking not alono at Ministers , but at tho confident industry with Winch tho IIouso wadon through potty details of" business , " how is tho Emporor of Russia to BuppoHO that wo aro paying any attention to liis movoinonts " or how in Abd' -u- 'l-Medjid to beliove that

    a people so careless about a question which affects Europe so deeply can really mean to save him in his extremity ? The trifling nature of the work of the House of Commons last week was moralized upon in this place with proper effect ; and some reason was shown for the argument which assumes that the plan of the French Chamber to class secondary " subjects " into large committees , is very preferable to the system of talking about everything and effecting very little which we continue to adopt . But this week the evil is more flagrantly conspicuous ; and the House of Commons looks less and less dignified . The House has

    devoted a large share of the week to silly drivel , all about itself ; at the very end of a wasted session members affecting to set about putting their house in order . Intelligent foreigners might pay us the compliment of supposing that the discussion on Thursday , in supply , on-the . lighting and ventilation of the chamber , had a hidden meaning ; and that the Radicals were attempting by innuendos to advance the cause of reform . For instance , what Mr . Bowyer said — that there was always a residuum of foul air in the House , inconsequence of the close way in which it was kept ; and what Mr . Osborne said about throwing open the doors

    and windows , and about the lights under the galleries being ( at 11 P . M . ) only fit for Vauxhall or Cremorne ; and what various other gentlemen said recommendatory of a thorough cleansing and purifying of the establishment :- —might easily be converted by those wonderful Frenchmen who dilate on English manners , into a debate of double entendre significancy . But we , at home , know that all these unaffected platitudes of helpless M . P . ' s are sincerely of but a single tendency ; and the inevitable suspicion arises that the bod y wliich cannot light or ventilate its own sitting-room cannot be perfect for the regulation of the million's

    households of the empire . But in various other ways has the House been confessing the absurdities of its constitution and management . Lord John Russell agrees with any one and every one who , says or states anything to"bring the House of Commons into contempt —which is a fine trait in the leader of it . For instance , he led a good cheer when the Chairman in supply on Thursday , came to the vote of 30 , 000 ? . for the Commissions of briefless barristers who have been inquiring into " corrupt practices" at various places . The barristers have been paid by the day , and , sensible fellows , they have spun the inquiries out with great

    adroitness ; and the House was rather delighted than not at having to pay them 30 , 000 ? . It's a sum to suggest that the House ( which doesn't pay all the taxes ) is really in earnest in trying to get purity . Then , on the same subject , it was incidentally mentioned that , in consequence of the refusal of the House to issue certain writs , the constitutional complement of members will be short through the recess by sixteen ; and Lord John was asked if that wasn't A ery dreadful : at which Lord John smiled , and said , with a laugh , ho didn't know ; but that he supposed it wasn't to bo helped , if the House wouldn't issue the writs . Then ,

    again , when Mr . Thomas Duncombo made a motion about the constitution of Election Petition Committees , stating , in a parenthesis , tho enormous number of petitions against members during this Parliament , Lord John quite agreed with Mr . Duncombo , and was not at all shocked at the hideous array of shameful statistics . All this is very strange in tho Leader of the IIouso : and tho opportunity may bo taken to point out , again , how completely Lord John Russell has abnegated the functions which attach to his official or quasi-official position . It was his business as Loader , as it was his tactic as contingent reformer , to use all tho materials

    which tho election petition committee's proceedings gave him for tho furtherance of real measures to re dcom tho character of tho House in tho country : and throughout tho session Lord John Russell has lazily loft the whole question of electoral corruption to accident ; aa , on Tuesday and Thursday , idly patronising the struggles of independent members , and loosely endorsing any sort of plan or moral , and always evidencing a very lax indifference to tho wholo question about which , next session , ho is , as party man , to be so professionally anxious . Of tho enlightened constituencies of England ho loaves eight or ten unrepresented , because

    they are soinvcterately corrupt that they cannot ho entrusted with their constitutional privilego ; and wp arc paying briefless oarristoi'B at tho rate of 1 . 000 / . per week for taking ovidenco to confirm a conviction ; nnd when tho astounding fact is forced on his attention , Lord John gently grins and raises that ; collective Parliamentary hilarity which stenographers report as " a laugh . " Laughing at the vice in , in this day , tho best way to get at tho Re-form ; but what Lord John laughs at in tho idea of bin being- ut all active in doing his duty ; it not being , this year , a party necessity with tho Whigs in tho Cabinet to raiso a Radical cry ; and even of a good simulation of earnestness next year there

    cannot be much hope , after the systematic conduct of Lord John , during these six months , in leaving everything to chance . " Lord Brougham interjects a hope , in the Lords , that his noble friend does not mean a "large measure" of Reform ; 'to which hope all the coalition lords said , hear and hear , and to which the extremer Whig lords who haven't got their cue say nothing ; and Lord Brougham is very likely to be gratified . Lord John himself- is not very eager to change the character of the club which cultivates politeness and so endures him ; and of the tendency of his Peelite colleagues there was an unexpected illustration in the treatment which Sir James Graham extended , on Tuesday , to Mr . C . Berkeley' sbill for forbidding music and banners in election contests . Sir James was

    astonished at such an attempt to deprive the British subject of his immemorial privilege to run candidates like jockeys — -by colours—and to uphold free and independent spirit by villainous music ; Sir James was , in fact , in his way , as indignant as Colonel Sibthorpe , who was very wrath ; and , accordingly , Sir James leading the Ministerial side at the moment , Mr . C . Berkeley was snubbed and put down . What could the intelligent foreigner have thought of that debate ? One half the House of Commons maintaining that this enlightened country went mad , at election times , under the influence of red silk and trumpets ; and the other half of the House contending that the enlightened country liked this sort of thing , and ought not to be deprived of this—one of its public amusements !

    But , finally , what would the intelligent foreigner have thought of the speech , and consequent laughter , of Sir G . Brooke , on Monday , after the division on a clause in an Irish land bill ? Sir G . Brooke complained , almost with tears in his eyes , that it was shamefulthat it was—for the House of Commons to divide without even having heard the debate ! The intelligent foreigner could hardly understand the plaint without being present ; but had he been ( as he could have been on Monda 3 ' , when strangers , myself .. among , them , first saw the operation ) , he would be bewildered at one of the workings of representative institutions . Take the

    division in question . The clause had been discussed by a House of twenty ; ten Irish " liberal" members , who affect to bother the Government that lias bought them , and ten Irish Orange members , who vote continuously against the people , and oppose every concession to the tenant , as antagonistic , which he is in Ireland , to the landlord . Each of the twenty had spoken ten times ( it is in Committee ) , and then they agreed to divide . " Division ! " roar the door-keepers ; the Sergeant-at-Arms rings a bell , which rings ( by electricity ) a dozen other bells ; and " Division—division" is the cry in every room of the building . The clerk at the table

    puts a heavy sand time-glass on the table ; it is a two-minute glass , and when the sand has run down , the doors are to be closed . But two minutes i ? enough . As tho bells ring , members rush in , in dozens , in twenties , in fifties , in a rapid stream of M . P .-dom . Some of them have been chatting about the lobbies or in the ladies gallery , others have been in the library , and it is only a few have been in the dining-room , but it is nine o ' clock , and therefore most have been in the smokingroom . As they rush in , they are ignorant of what has been going on and what they are to divide about ; but as they run they learn ; a whisper or a word , as they

    pass some trusted friend or official , is enough , and they take tho lobby that belongs to them by an instinct . On this occasion , a few Irish Orange members are opposing tho Government , and for guidanco to tho Coalitionists , it is enough that they see where Hay tor stands . Past tho smiling Hayter they trot , in confident — touchingly confident — submission . In the lobby , when they havo decided on their vote , they ask and hear , " What ' s tho question ?'' And so woll understood is tho Freemasonry system of winks and nods that few havo over to regret their choice , or to record a regret . And as it was on Monday , so it is on all divisions : tho majority , disgorged of the smoking room , aro ever in blissful ignorance of tho debate . Sir G . Brooke- was a simpleton to complain of the

    established system of an enlightened senate : and it was natural that Lord John , rising as loader to answer tho taunt ; of a freshman in that knowing club , should rnisn a laughing cheer when ho said that lie should bo sorry to see the day when members of that House would not thus always testify their confidence in thoir selected chiefs . It is well understood , in and out of doors , that only onco in a decade does a debate influenco a division ; and it would bo a moro fiirco for all those who vote to « it through tho dreary talk of ovor-coriBciontious senators , who ar « bores , and worse than bovcH , in July , But that being ho , why continue tho lunatic arrangements developed for tho first time to tho uninitiated on Monday , and carried ont , to their groat aina' / oment , through tho week ? It ' B perhaps promaturo , though the ogo of talk

    760 The Leade R. [Sat^Ri>Ay,

    760 THE LEADE R . [ Sat ^ ri > ay ,

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 6, 1853, page 16, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_06081853/page/16/