There
Are, It Seems, Some Few Persons Who Are Constant Attendants On The
Parliament; And So They Pay The Door-Keeper Beforehand A Guinea For
A Whole Session.
I have now and then seen some of the members bring
their sons, whilst quite little boys, and carry them to their seats
along with themselves.
A proposal was once made to erect a gallery in the House of Peers
also for the accommodation of spectators. But this never was
carried into effect. There appears to be much more politeness and
more courteous behaviour in the members of the upper House. But he
who wishes to observe mankind, and to contemplate the leading traits
of the different characters most strongly marked, will do well to
attend frequently the lower, rather than the other, House.
Last Tuesday was (what is here called) hanging-day. There was also
a parliamentary election. I could only see one of the two sights,
and therefore naturally preferred the latter, while I only heard
tolling at a distance the death-bell of the sacrifice to justice. I
now, therefore, am going to describe to you, as well as can, an
Election for a Member of Parliament.
The cities of London and Westminster send, the one four, and the
other two, members to parliament. Mr. Fox is one of the two members
for Westminster. One seat was vacant, and that vacancy was now to
be filled. And the same Sir Cecil Wray, whom Fox had before opposed
to Lord Hood, was now publicly chosen. They tell me that at these
elections, when there is a strong opposition party, there is often
bloody work; but this election was, in the electioneering phrase, a
"hollow thing" - i.e. quite sure, as those who had voted for Admiral
Hood now withdrew, without standing a poll, as being convinced
beforehand their chance to succeed was desperate.
The election was held in Covent Garden, a large market-place in the
open air. There was a scaffold erected just before the door of a
very handsome church, which is also called St. Paul's, but which,
however, is not to be compared to the cathedral.
A temporary edifice, formed only of boards and wood nailed together,
was erected on the occasion. It was called the hustings, and filled
with benches; and at one end of it, where the benches ended, mats
were laid, on which those who spoke to the people stood. In the
area before the hustings immense multitudes of people were
assembled, of whom the greatest part seemed to be of the lowest
order. To this tumultuous crowd, however, the speakers often bowed
very low, and always addressed them by the title of "gentlemen."
Sir Cecil Wray was obliged to step forward and promise these same
gentlemen, with hand and heart, that he would faithfully fulfil his
duties as their representative. He also made an apology because, on
account of his long journey and ill-health, he had not been able to
wait on them, as became him, at their respective houses. The moment
that he began to speak, even this rude rabble became all as quiet as
the raging sea after a storm, only every now and then rending the
air with the parliamentary cry of "Hear him! hear him!" and as soon
as he had done speaking, they again vociferated aloud an universal
"huzza," every one at the same time waving his hat.
And now, being formally declared to have been legally chosen, he
again bowed most profoundly, and returned thanks for the great
honour done him, when a well-dressed man, whose name I could not
learn, stepped forward, and in a well-indited speech congratulated
both the chosen and the choosers. "Upon my word," said a gruff
carter who stood near me, "that man speaks well."
Even little boys clambered up and hung on the rails and on the lamp-
posts; and as if the speeches had also been addressed to them, they
too listened with the utmost attention, and they too testified their
approbation of it by joining lustily in the three cheers and waving
their hats.
All the enthusiasm of my earliest years kindled by the patriotism of
the illustrious heroes of Rome. Coriolanus, Julius Caesar, and
Antony were now revived in my mind; and though all I had just seen
and heard be, in fact, but the semblance of liberty, and that, too,
tribunitial liberty, yet at that moment I thought it charming, and
it warmed my heart. Yes, depend on it, my friend, when you here see
how, in the happy country, the lowest and meanest member of society
thus unequivocally testifies the interest which he takes in
everything of a public nature; when you see how even women and
children bear a part in the great concerns of their country; in
short, how high and low, rich and poor, all concur in declaring
their feelings and their convictions that a carter, a common tar, or
a scavenger, is still a man - nay, an Englishman, and as such has his
rights and privileges defined and known as exactly and as well as
his king, or as his king's minister - take my word for it, you will
feel yourself very differently affected from what you are when
staring at our soldiers in their exercises at Berlin.
When Fox, who was among the voters, arrived at the beginning of the
election, he too was received with an universal shout of joy. At
length, when it was nearly over, the people took it into their heads
to hear him speak, and every one called out, "Fox! Fox!" I know
not why, but I seemed to catch some of the spirit of the place and
time, and so I also bawled "Fox! Fox!" and he was obliged to come
forward and speak, for no other reason that I could find but that
the people wished to hear him speak. In this speech he again
confirmed, in the presence of the people, his former declaration in
parliament, that he by no means had any influence as minister of
State in this election, but only and merely as a private person.
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