If The Charge Was Vehement, His Defence
Was No Less So.
He justified himself against Lord Fielding by
maintaining that he had not opposed this election in the character
of
A minister, but as an individual, or private person; and that, as
such, he had freely and honestly given his vote for another - namely,
for Sir Cecil Wray, adding that the King, when he appointed him
Secretary of State, had entered into no agreement with him by which
he lost his vote as an individual; to such a requisition he never
would have submitted. It is impossible for me to describe with what
fire and persuasive eloquence he spoke, and how the Speaker in the
chair incessantly nodded approbation from beneath his solemn wig,
and innumerable voices incessantly called out, "Hear him! hear him!"
and when there was the least sign that he intended to leave off
speaking they no less vociferously exclaimed, "Go on;" and so he
continued to speak in this manner for nearly two hours. Mr. Rigby,
in reply, made a short but humorous speech, in which he mentioned of
how little consequence the title of "lord" and "lady" was without
money to support it, and finished with the Latin proverb, "infelix
paupertas - quia ridiculos miseros facit." After having first very
judiciously observed that previous inquiry should be made whether
Admiral Rodney had made any rich prizes or captures; because, if
that should be the case, he would not stand in need of further
reward in money. I have since been almost every day at the
parliament house, and prefer the entertainment I there meet with to
most other amusements.
Fox is still much beloved by the people, notwithstanding that they
are (and certainly with good reason) displeased at his being the
cause of Admiral Rodney's recall, though even I have heard him again
and again almost extravagant in his encomiums on this noble admiral.
The same celebrated Charles Fox is a short, fat, and gross man, with
a swarthy complexion, and dark; and in general he is badly dressed.
There certainly is something Jewish in his looks. But upon the
whole, he is not an ill-made nor an ill-looking man, and there are
many strong marks of sagacity and fire in his eyes. I have
frequently heard the people here say that this same Mr. Fox is as
cunning as a fox. Burke is a well-made, tall, upright man, but
looks elderly and broken. Rigby is excessively corpulent, and has a
jolly rubicund face.
The little less than downright open abuse, and the many really rude
things which the members said to each other, struck me much. For
example, when one has finished, another rises, and immediately taxes
with absurdity all that the right honourable gentleman (for with
this title the members of the House of Commons always honour each
other) had just advanced. It would, indeed, be contrary to the
rules of the House flatly to tell each other that what they have
spoken is FALSE, or even FOOLISH. Instead of this, they turn
themselves, as usual, to the Speaker, and so, whilst their address
is directed to him, they fancy they violate neither the rules of
parliament nor those of good breeding and decorum, whilst they utter
the most cutting personal sarcasms against the member or the measure
they oppose.
It is quite laughable to see, as one sometimes does, one member
speaking, and another accompanying the speech with his action. This
I remarked more than once in a worthy old citizen, who was fearful
of speaking himself, but when his neighbour spoke he accompanied
every energetic sentence with a suitable gesticulation, by which
means his whole body was sometimes in motion.
It often happens that the jett, or principal point in the debate is
lost in these personal contests and bickerings between each other.
When they last so long as to become quite tedious and tiresome, and
likely to do harm rather than good, the House takes upon itself to
express its disapprobation; and then there arises a general cry of,
"The question! the question!" This must sometimes be frequently
repeated, as the contending members are both anxious to have the
last word. At length, however, the question is put, and the votes
taken, when the Speaker says, "Those who are for the question are to
say AYE, and those who are against it NO." You then hear a confused
cry of "AYE" and "NO" but at length the Speaker says, "I think there
are more AYES than NOES, or more NOES than AYES. The AYES have it;
or the NOES have it," as the case may be. But all the spectators
must then retire from the gallery; for then, and not till then, the
voting really commences. And now the members call aloud to the
gallery, "Withdraw! withdraw!" On this the strangers withdraw, and
are shut up in a small room at the foot of the stairs till the
voting is over, when they are again permitted to take their places
in the gallery. Here I could not help wondering at the impatience
even of polished Englishmen. It is astonishing with what violence,
and even rudeness, they push and jostle one another as soon as the
room door is again opened, eager to gain the first and best seats in
the gallery. In this manner we (the strangers) have sometimes been
sent away two or three times in the course of one day, or rather
evening, afterwards again permitted to return. Among these
spectators are people of all ranks, and even, not unfrequently,
ladies. Two shorthand writers have sat sometimes not far distant
from me, who (though it is rather by stealth) endeavour to take down
the words of the speaker; and thus all that is very remarkable in
what is said in parliament may generally be read in print the next
day. The shorthand writers, whom I noticed, are supposed to be
employed and paid by the editors of the different newspapers.
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