SCENES IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. 



an infirmity of the Honourable Member opposite (cries of " Hear, hear !" and 

 "Order!" "Chair!"). 



Mr. METHUEN rose, amid loud cries of ' Order," and " Chair !" I think, said the 

 Honourable Member, it is due, not only to this House but to the country, that the 

 Chairman should declare whether the language of the Honourable Gentleman opposite 

 (Mr. Kearsley) is such as should be addressed to this House, or such as it is becoming 

 in us to hear without reprehension (cries of "Order!'' and "Oh, oh!"). I come 

 here to do my duty to my constituents, and not for the purpose of listening to language 

 which is unbecoming the dignity of this House (cries of " Chair 1 ." and " Oh, oh!"). 



Mr. BERNAL rose, and, after saying a few words to those near him which were not 

 audible in the gallery,' resumed his seat. 



Mr. KEARSLEY then rose, and assuming an extremely grave and earnest air, and 

 placing his glass to his eye with one hand, and putting his hat under his left arm, 

 looked very stedfastly across the House at Mr. Methuen, and exclaimed: Sir, when 

 the Honourable Member for North Wiltshire thinks proper so precipitately to inter- 

 rupt me, I am tempted to exclaim, " Paul, Paul, why persecutest thou me !" (Here 

 the whole House was convulsed with laughter, which continued for several minutes, 

 and which was much increased when the Hon. Member left his seat on the second 

 row of the Opposition benches, and walked down quietly to the floor of the House, 

 where, after bowing twice, in a style the solemnity of which made it irresistibly 

 ludicrous, he made two efforts to retire, but, being stopped at the bar, came back to 

 his place amidst renewed shouts of laughter, and cries of" Chair and order"). 



The Chairman and Dr. Baldwin rose together. The Chairman gave way, and 



Dr. BALDWIN proceeded to address the House in reprehension, as we understood, 

 of the disrespectful conduct of the Honourable Member for Wigan, but scarcely an 

 observation which fell from the Honourable Member could be heard in the gallery, 

 from the loud cries of (" Order and Chair"). 



The Chairman and Mr. Walter then rose. There were loud cries for Mr. Walter, 

 and the Chairman sat down. 



Mr. WALTER said that he felt it his duty to address the House on a subject upon 

 which he could give some practical information. 



A scene of this kind continued for about ten minutes longer, when 

 Mr. Kearsley eventually withdrew the offensive expressions he had 

 made use of. 



We believe that any thing in the shape of comment on the above, 

 is unnecessary. We congratulate ourselves on the reform of the House 

 of Commons, which the spirit of the age has extracted from the iron 

 grasp of Tory corruptionists ; verily there is much need of yet further 

 reforms. There must be a Radical reform in the individual conduct 

 of many of the leading Members before the House can expect that 

 respect from the people of this country which it exacts of them. The 

 Speaker has much in his power to prevent such discreditable exhibition. 

 If he had only the energy to exert the authority with which he is vested 

 by the House, it would be an easy matter to crush such scenes in the 

 bud. 



