sailed by a volley of groans, growls, and other Mr. Scarlett is a member of the English sounds, which I know not how to character- bar, and practises at the Old Bailey. He i ise in what is called parliamentary language. not encumbered with professional business I shall say of them-on the principle of least but I am disposed to think that this is in said soonest mended-I shall say of them, great measure his own fault. My impression i that they are of a most unmusical character. that he is constitutionally indolent-a disposi They are so to the ears of strangers: need Ition which a moderate family independency add, they must be doubly so to the ears of enables him to indulge.

Mr. Scarlett himself. He manages, however, In the same part of the House as that pa in the majority of cases, to preserve his tem-tronised by Mr. Richards and Mr. Scarlet per. As to getting into a regular downright Mr.ARTHUR TREVOR, member for Durham,wil passion, that is a thing of which Mr. Scarlett, always be found when in attendance on hi so far as my observation extends, has never parliamentary duties. Mr. Trevor is also: been guilty. Judging from his appearance, decided Tory; and he is, if possible, stil I should say that, though not so cheerful nor more unpopular among his brother legisla possessing so laughable a countenance as his tors than either of the two gentlemen jus father, he is like him, full of good-nature. He named. What scenes of uproar and confu seems to be an easy-minded gentleman, sion have I not witnessed on his tall thin per always on good terms with himself and every- son appearing perpendicularly when som body else. I do not recollect ever having heard other member has resumed his seat! I could an ill-natured observation escape him, though have wished, on such occasion, that there had I have often seen him receive such provoca- been written above the door outside, "No tion as would have irritated the minds of admission for strangers." One minute in the most other men. His countenance has some- House during such scenes would do more thing of a heavy appearance; whatever in- to lower its dignity in the estimation of the telligence is in it, he owes to a couple of good stranger than all that has ever been written eyes. His head is large; but I fear, as they against it. Then would be the time to make say in Scotland, there is little in it. Certainly, up one's mind as to the propriety of the memas yet, he has given no display of anything bers being called the "first assembly of genlike superior intellectual acquirements. How-tlemen in Europe." Lord Brougham said, in ever, as he is not an old man, being only the session of 1835, that he had been in the in about his fortieth year, there is no saying habit of addressing a mob for the four last what he may yet do. Many a great genius, years. There was no mistake in the allusion. whose name was previously unknown, has What would his Lordship say, in some of his burst on the world all at once after having hot and hasty moments, of the House of attained a much greater age. His person is Commons, were he still a member there, and muscular, and he has all the appearances of were to meet with the same interruptions as excellent health about him. His stoutness he often does in the House to which he now verges on corpulence. He is a handsome belongs. As I have mentioned in my "Ranman. There is a ruddiness in his complexion dom Recollections of the House of Comof which I am convinced no other member of mons," Lord Brougham,'then Mr. Brougham, the six hundred and fifty-seven can boast. called it a menagerie in its unreformed state; His hair is something between a dark and a now it is ten times worse than ever it was in brown, and his whiskers are tolerably large, the days of Tory domination. The scenes without deserving the application of Dominie which are often exhibited in it when Mr. ArSampson's favorite adjective of "prodigious!" thur Trevor and some other unpopular memAs a speaker, Mr. Scarlett possesses no re-bers rise to speak, are such as would make putation. He usually addresses the House in any promiscuous assemblage of mechanics so low a tone as to be almost inaudible; very in a pot-house quite ashamed of themselves often he is wholly so. He gets on, however, with passable case and fluency. His language is not fine: it is very plain: sometimes it is not more correct than it should be. He never speaks long at a time. It is quite an era in his existence to be on his legs ten consecutive minutes, even including the period which usually elapses before he is allowed to speak. And this circumstance of not, to use parlia. mentary phraseology, trespassing long on the attention of the House, constitutes the crowning aggravation of the conduct of those hon. gentlemen on the opposite side, who always endeavor to put him down. Sometimes I have seen Mr. Scarlett, on such occasions, resume his seat, without having uttered a word; but * Here let me observe, in the spirit of impartithen it has often been a question with me whe-ality, that the scenes in question are invariably ther he has not, in some such cases, stood up remember a single instance of a Reform member got up by some of the Liberal members. I do not without intending to speak, in order that he being assailed, on his, rising to speak, with hisses, might give his tormentors an opportunity of groans, or hootings, of any kind, from the Torv making themselves ridiculous. side of the House.

were they to be the performers in them.*

Mr. Trevor is evidently a man of good temper: otherwise he would resent in warmer terms than he does the disrespectful manner in which he is usually received. On several occasions, it is true, I have seen him appeal for the protection of the Chair; but that has always been when the House has exhibited the appearance of a perfect bear-garden. He deserves great praise for his courage: I have never known him, in a single instance, put down bythe clamor of the Liberals. Rather than give them so much of their own way as to resume

his seat, I have seen him persevere in ad-er: at any rate he professed and acted on dressing the House for several minutes with- Liberal principles for some time after the out one syllable he uttered being heard even by the hon. members sitting next to him, and when in more distant parts of the House, his voice was so completely drowned that you could only infer that he was speaking at all from the motion of his lips.

He is not an orator. His manner is heavy and monotonous. The tones of his voice and the action with which he tries to give effect to his speech, are destitute of variety. His articulation is distinct, and his utterance is timed with some judgment to the ear; but their effect is marred by the sameness of his voice and gesticulation, to which I have just referred. His action is not only always the same, but it is tame in no ordinary degree. It consists simply of a little motion of his arms and a slight movement of his head.

Neither does the matter of Mr. Hughes Hughes redeem his manner. It is always dull: you might as soon look for the lily of the valley amidst the everlasting snows of the cloud-capt summit of Mont Blanc, as you might look for a brilliant idea or an eloquent passage in the speeches of the hon. member for Oxford. His style is feeble and unpolished; and is consequently in keeping with his sentiments. He manages, however, to get through his speeches, which have always the merit of being brief, with tolerable ease. Sometimes, indeed, you would be inclined to call him a fluent speaker; though, if you bestow a single thought on his ideas and diction, you must at once see that his addresses are "poor indeed."

passing of the Reform Bill. I have no theory to advance as to the causes which have led him to enrol himself among the Tories. The date of his political transformation was a short time before the meeting of the Parliament of 1835. He wrote a letter to a Tory Mr. Trevor is well acquainted with the sub- norning paper, in which he threatened his ject of political economy, and possesses a re-opposition to the Liberal party, and indicated spectable amount of information, on most a disposition to support the Peel administraquestions which come before the House. As tion. Before that time he had a respectable a speaker, he has no chance of ever rank- status in the House; since then he has had ing high. His voice is weak, and his man-none whatever. ner has too much of languor about it, ever to be popular. He is monotonous, both in his elocution and gesticulation. Indeed, he can hardly be said to have any of the latter; for, with the exception of a gentle movement of his right hand, and a slight occasional turn of his face from one part of the ministerial benches to another, he stands as steady, to use Colonel Sibthorpe's expression as a rock. His face like his figure is thin. His features have something of a pensive expression. His complexion is sallow, and his hair of a darkish hue. He does not look so old as he is. Though about his forty-second year, one would take him to be at least six or seven years younger. Mr. HUGHES HUGHES, the member for Oxford, also sits in the same locality as the two hon. gentlemen of whom I have been speaking. And that, I may mention, is the reason why I have taken the trio in the order which I have done. That locality, it may be right to state, is on the left of the Speaker, and immediately behind the seats occupied by Sir Robert Peel, Lord Stanley and Sir James Graham. Had I carried my original purpose of devoting a separate chapter to the "Unpopular Members," the name of Mr. Hughes Hughes would not have been omitted in the list of contents. He is nearly as unpopular in the House as the other two honora- He is apparently about his fortieth year. ble gentlemen of whom I have given sketches. His personal appearance, like his speeches, Possibly it may be because of a sympathy is heavy. He is about the middle height, with each other on account of finding themselves brothers in the same species of adversity, that they are severally attracted to the same topographical department of the House. This, however, is only an hypothesis of my own. The reader is of course at liberty to MR. GALLY KNIGHT, member for Nottingreject it if he do not deem it a sound one. hamshire, is a gentleman with whom I shall The fact, at all events, is as I have stated. make short work. He graces the ConservaHis rising to address the House is usually the tive benches; but where I to call him a Consignal for an uproar. The approved means servative, I know he would not relish the deof endeavoring to put down an unpopular signation. I shall therefore leave my readers speaker-the means, namely, of hisses, yells, to call him what they please; only it is right, and all sorts of zoological sounds-are im- in order that they may have some data on mediately resorted to. He generally, how. which to ground their opinion as to the secever, stands the fire exceedingly well. He tion of politicians among whom he ought to seldom gives wayto clamor when he does rise: be classed, that I should mention two or three but the unfavorable reception he has been very plain matters of fact. Well, then, Mr. in the habit of meeting with for the last two Gally Knight, for many years, professed himor three years has had the effect of prevent-self to be a Reformer; he did more he voted ing his addressing the House with the same frequency as before.

Mr. Hughes Hughes is in pretty much the same predicament as to his past and present nolitics as Mr. Richards. He was a Reform

and rather fully made. His features are large: his eyes are particularly so. His face inclines to rotundity. His complexion is sallow, and he generally rejoices in an ample crop of dark brown hair.

and acted with the Reformers. A few years since, however, he took it into his head to abandon his seat on the Reform side of the House, if not his reform opinions. Since then he has not only gone over to the Tory side of

the House, but he has, with one or two unim- | Mr. Gally Knight as I premised in the outset portant exceptions, proved himself a thick- I would do. A word or two more will cer and-thin supporter of Tory principles. To tainly suffice. If there be truth in the system be sure, he calls himself an independent man. of Lavater, he is full of good nature. He has So, I have always observed, does every one a remarkably cheerful countenance. I canwho has apostatised from his former opinions. not answer for it at those times when he may The very moment the change is openly avow. be sitting hearing others; but this I will say, ed, they set up for independent men. Lord that I never yet saw him rise to speak, withStanley, Sir James Graham, Sir Francis Bur- out at the same time having the satisfaction dett, Sir George Sinclair, and others of lesser of looking on a countenance lighted up with calibre, such as Mr. John Richards, and Mr. a very interesting smile. He is of the midEmerson Tennent, all claim to be indepen- dle height, and rather stoutly made. His dent men. Question their independence, and head is large, and his face of the oval form. that moment they will fly into a passion, just His complexion is clear and healthy for a as if you had offered them a personal insult. man who is considerably on the wrong side And why should not Mr. Gally Knight, as of fifty. He is very bald-headed: the little well as his betters, arrogate to himself the hair that still remains is of a darkish color. virtue of independence? And to do him jus- Mr. Plumptre, member for East Kent, is a tice, he has given better proof of indepen- decided Tory; but his religious principles dence than either of the gentlemen whose prevent his taking an active part in mere ponames I have mentioned; for, to mention only litical questions. He hardly ever speaks exone instance, he did actually vote against the cept when the question before the House has Tories, and with ministers, on the 12th of a manifest bearing on the great interest of June last, on the motion of Lord John Russell for the appointment of a Committee to inquire into the administration of the revenues derived from bishops' lands.

religion. When such questions are before the House, he seldom omits to speak. He is a man of great private worth; one who really does embody, in all the relations of life, But to drop the subject of Mr. Gally the religious principles by which he professes Knight's independence, and to come to a to be guided in his conduct. He is a man of word or two touching his pretensions as a decided piety, without anything that apspeaker. These are humble enough, without proaches in the remotest degree to fanaticism. a doubt. He has got a tolerable voice, but He has for years past actively co-operated the evil of it is, he has got no ideas in the ex- with those hon. members who have been aspression of which to employ it. He speaks siduously laboring for some legislative enactseldom in that he is wise. When he does ment which should ensure a better observspeak, he is generally very brief; very wise ance of the Sabbath. He does not, however, again. He attempts none of the loftiest flights unless my memory misleads me, go to the full of oratory: a most commendable resolution; length of Sir Andrew Agnew's notions on the for he was never destined to soar. He con- subject. Some of Sir Andrew's views he tents himself with giving utterance two or deems impracticable. He does not often three times a session, to thirty or forty sen- quote Scripture in the House; but when adtences, not sentiments. And this done, be dressing public meetings held for religious resumes his seat, with a look of infinite self- purposes, he quotes as largely from the incomplacency, just as if he had thereby re-spired records as any clergyman on the platlieved his conscience of a burden which was form. He is a decided churchman, but not pressing on it. His orations, like the king's bigotedly so. He concedes the possession of speeches at the opening of parliament, are both piety and learning to the Dissenters; for the most part only remarkable for their and does not admire an able evangelical work absence of any thing and every thing but words. He cannot be charged with making much fuss about his speeches, not, at least, in so far as gesticulation is concerned. He usually puts his hands to his back, where he joins them, and standing as steadily as if he were transfixed to the spot, talks away very good-naturedly for four or five minutes. He seldom attacks those who differ from him; he hardly ever quarrels with what others mean to do; it is enough for him that he tells the House what he means to do himself. That seems to him a very important piece of information, and once given, he sits down contented.

Mr. Gally Knight is one of the most unpoetical men in appearance I have ever seen, and yet he is the author of a small volume of miscellaneous poetical pieces, which posseses considerable merit and has been very favorably received,

I have hardly made such short work with

the less because it emanates from the pen of an author whose conscientious scruples have induced him to secede from the church. He is well acquainted with the beautiful hymns of Dr. Watts. At a large public meeting of churchmen, assembled in February last in the Freemason's Tavern, to petition parliament against the abolition of church rates, he concluded a very excellent speech, with the following quotation from Watts:

"There is a land of pure delight,
Where saints immortal reign;
Infinite day excludes the night,
And pleasures banish pain."

I give his quotation for the purpose of observing, that as it was the fashion at this meeting to heap all manner of abuse on the Dissenters, there were, perhaps, few there who would have the generosity of mind to acknowledge their acquaintance with, and

virtually their admiration of the works of a body, whom most of the other speakers seemed to make it the chief object of their speeches to vilify.

the gentleman in him, to allow himself to be betrayed into those paroxysms of passion which so often characterise the oratorical exhibitions of ultras of both parties. He is a Mr. Plumptre has a fine mellifluous voice. very respectable speaker. He is always clear Were the intonations of which it is evidently in his matter. His style is simple and unafsusceptible managed with skill, and had Mr. fected. It has nothing of that meretricious Plumptre the requisite animation of manner, ornament without which some hon. members, he would be an exceedingly interesting who fancy themselves modern Demostheneses, speaker. His utterance, however, is so slow, would think their style was no style at all. and his manner so tame, that nothing but the He speaks with considerable ease and fluenmanifest sincerity of his opinions, and the ex-cy; he is seldom at a loss for a word, and cellence of his character, would secure for when he does hesitate for a moment, he almost him an ordinary share of attention. He invariably chooses the right one. His utterscarcely ever smiles. In the House I do not ance is rapid, but his distinctness renders it recollect having seen him smile at all, though easy to follow him. His voice is not strong, he doubtless has done so amid the convulsions but it is sufficiently so to make him audible of laughter into which Mr. Kearsley and in all parts of the House-that is to say, when some other hon. members, as elsewhere de- tolerable order prevails. His matter is genescribed, occasionally throw the House. I rally good; sometimes he displays considerrecollect seeing him take a hearty laugh at able acuteness; but there is never anything some humorous remarks made by the Rev. profound or original in what he says. PerMr. Cumming,* at the meeting in the Free-haps as correct an idea may be conveyed of mason's Tavern just referred to. But his his mental calibre, when I say that he is usual appearance is that of great seriousness above mediocrity, as by any other expression without anything cynical or austere. He is I could employ. He is a man of excellent a fine looking man. His features are regular, business habits. He held a subordinate situand the general expression of his counte-ation in the short-lived administration of Sir nance is pleasing. His complexion is some- Robert Peel, He filled the office with much what dark, and his hair black. He is seem- credit to himself. It is chiefly on matters of ingly about forty-five. a business character that he speaks, when he does address the House. He does not speak often; nor does he ever speak long at a time. A favorite subject with him is the miscellaneous estimates. He is expert at figures; and seems to have a partiality for them.

SIR THOMAS FREEMANTLE, member for Buckingham, is one of the most strenuous supporters of Tory principles on the opposition side of the House. He is, however, too much a man of sense, and has too much of

In person he is under the usual height, but well made. He is of a dark complexion, which appears much darker from the circumstance of his immense whiskers casting a shade over his face. They are not only the largest which are owned by any hon. memher in the House, but I have seldom or ever seen them equalled out of doors. They are of a dark color, and are in excellent keeping with his ample crop of black hair. His features are large, but their general expression is pleasant. He is in the prime of life, being in about his forty-fifth year.

Mr. Cumming is minister of the Scotch Church, Crown Court, Little Russell Street, Co. vent Garden. His speech on this occasion almost electrified his large and intelligent audience. It certainly was one of the most effective I have heard delivered from a public platform for some time; but I should have listened to it with much greater pleasure, had I not heard him, on the previous Sabbath, express his conviction from his own pulpit, that nothing was so unbecoming in a minister of the gospel, and that nothing could be more calculated to impair his usefulness, than to mix himself up with the politics of the day. Fully concurring with this sentiSIR GEORGE CLERK, member for the counment, I heard it with the greatest delight. Need ty of Edinburgh, chiefly confines his speeches I say, then, that it marred the pleasure with to questions immediately affecting Scotland. which I should otherwise have heard Mr. Cum-On these he scarcely ever lets slip an opporming's able and eloquent speech, when I saw him so soon acting in opposition to his own avowed convictions. His speech was throughout of a political complexion. He praised the leading Tory journals by name in terms of warm eulogy, and sneered at those of a Liberal character. He was also witty at the expense of the " "hungry London University," as he called it, and heaped His figure is above the usual height, and is indiscriminate and unmeasured obloquy on Dis- rather stout. His hair is of a dark gray coseaters. How different his speech in these re-lor; but bald to a considerable extent. In spects from that of Mr. Plumptre, the gentleman addressing the House he stutters a good deal; who preceded him! I am willing, however, to believe that Mr. Cumming was carried away by the excitement of the moment, and that there were some things of a political character in his speech, which, on mature reflection, he would not justify; for he is not only a gentleman of great talent both on the platform and in the pulpit, but of decided ture. He is a quiet speaker; his manner piety and of amiable manners. would not lead any one to infer that he was

tunity of addressing the House. On all Scotch matters, indeed, he may be said to be the leader of the Tory benches. He is a good. looking man for one who has reached his fiftieth year. He has a fresh complexion, and has all the appearance of good health.

not, however, in that unpleasant way in which many hon. members do. His voice is clear, and his articulation distinct. He speaks with some rapidity, but there is no variety either in the tones of his voice or in his ges

anxious to be considered an orator. His action, if so it must be called, almost exclusively consists in an alternate gentle waving of his right hand, and in seizing one of the buttons of his waistcoat. He is a man of fair talent. His speeches always contain good sense, but never any thing brilliant. His style is plain but correct. He is a man of a sound judgment rather than of a masculine mind. He is incapable of grappling with first principles. It is on matters of small in terest that he appears to most advantage. He is most at home when discussing the details of a measure. He is much respected by all parties; and is always listened to with attention. In return for what other members call "the indulgence of the House," thus extended to him, he makes short speeches. Nothing but a question of what he conceives paramount importance, will induce the right hon. baronet to speak longer than ten or fifteen minutes at a time. Five minutes often suffice for his purpose. He is a decided Tory in his politics, but is amiable and gentlemanly in his manners. He has long had a seat in the House, and may consider his tenure of the county of Edinburgh secure for many years to come. The excellence of his private character contributes to swell the list of his supporters.

transition from this crane-like appearance of Sir John's neck to the insertion of his head in his breast, as if he had no neck at all, has, as I have just said, a very ludicrous effect; and this oddness of manner, coupled with the humorous character of his matter, invariably affords amusement to the House; which seems to be, in Sir John's estimation, the great business of a legislator.

He is a most exemplary Tory, in so far as his votes are concerned; but he shows no traces of party virulence in his speeches. They are full of good nature; he makes no personal allusions to any one. He seems to be on good terms with everybody, and everybody in return seems to feel kindly towards him.

Sir John Elley is a man considerably ad vanced in years. He is upwards of sixty. The active military service he has performed in the Peninsula, and various other parts of the world, has contributed to make him look older than he really is. He has somewhat of an infirm appearance. He is tall, and, if anything, slenderly made. His face inclines to the angular form. His nose is sharp, and of large proportions. His complexion is sallow, and his hair of an iron-gray color. He has a couple of moderately-sized whiskers, and large eyelashes.

Sir John is manifestly uncomfortable in the House. It was a mistake in his destiny to send him there. He usually leans on his staff with both hands. At times he is to be seen leaning the back of his head against the wall; for he almost invariably sits on the backmost bench. In such cases he usually takes a nap to himself, especially if the proceedings, which is no uncommon thing, have a soporific tendency. I was amused one evening in February last, to see the sudden start which Sir John gave on the utterance of a "tremendous cheer," with which one portion of the speech of the Irish Attorney-General was greeted. Possibly he may, at the time, have been in that half-waking, halfsleeping state, during which one's imagination is so active, and he may have fancied the loud shout of applause which broke on his ear from the ministerial benches, was the cannon's roar of the enemy. There is another hon. gentleman, whose name I have never been able to learn, who, when the house is full, sits within arm's length of Sir John. They are in the habit of exchanging pinches of snuff together; but I have never observed them enter into conversation with each other.

SIR JOHN ELLEY, the member for Windsor, does not often trouble either himself or the House with his speeches: but whenever he does "drop a word or two," to use one of his own expressions, he is always listened to with attention. There is something, indeed, so indicative of good-nature in his appearance, that no other feeling than one of kindliness could be shown towards him by the House. Both his matter and manner are always humorous. His speeches have always the merit of originality. He never attempts argument; nor does he try his hand at declamation. The utmost extent of his ambition, as a parliamentary orator, seems to be to excite a laugh in his audience. In this he is always successful. His observations have generally something humorous in them; the effect of which is greatly heightened by his odd manner of delivering them. He speaks in a slow, cautious manner, and in a curious lisping tone of voice, caused in a great measure by the loss of some of his teeth. There is a perpetual smile on his countenance when on his legs; and whenever he comes to the end of any sentence which he deems adapted to produce a laugh, he dives down with his head in his breast, and waits patiently in that po. sition until the features of hon. members Sir John is quite a lost man in the House. have resumed their wonted gravity. There While seeing him sitting on the back bench is something unspeakably odd in the way in by himself, he has often reminded me of cerwhich Sir John manages his neck and head tain personages in Milton's "Paradise Lost," when addressing the House. His shirt collar who far "apart sat on a hill retired." There is always so high as to press against his ears, is, however, this difference between Milton's consequently very little of his neck is seen personages and Sir John, that while they were in ordinary circumstances. The moment, lost in "reasonings high” about certain metahowever, he rises to speak, he stretches his physical points in polemical theology, Sir neck to such an extent, that one cannot help John throws metaphysics, as Macbeth adinferring it possesses something of the elastic vises his doctor to do his physic, "to the properties of India-rubber. The sudden dogs;" and either loses himself in sleep, or