(52 RANDOM RKCOLLECTIONS OF THE HOUSK OF COMMONS. 



who have experienced it can form any idea of the paralysing effect pro- 

 duced, both on the matter and manner of the speaker, when, instead of 

 having his almost every sentence greeted with the deafening plaudits of 

 a mixed assembly, he is not only heard without a murmur of applause, 

 but perhaps with the most marked indifference and inattention. A new 

 member who meets with a cold reception when making his first speech 

 in the house, especially if previously popular with promiscuous assemblages 

 of people, is usually so mortified, disappointed, and disheartened, that he 

 either never makes another experiment of the kind, or if he do, the 

 chances are ten to one he will be so disconcerted by the recollection of 

 his former failure, as to meet with no better success on his second effort. 

 There are many new members, however, who make an unsuccessful 

 debut, — as I have already mentioned when speaking of Mr. Sergeaitf 

 Talfourd's failure, — simply from ignorance of the best time to address 

 the house. Unless the person have a very high out-of-doors reputation, 

 indeed, for his oratorical acquirements, he is sure to have a listless un- 

 willing audience if he speak between the hours of five and nine o'clock, 

 when a question of importance is before the house. Not only, as ob- 

 served in a previous chapter, is no good speaker, or member of talent, 

 expected to address the house in that interval of time, but the constant 

 bustle and noise occasioned by the ingress and egress of members, are 

 most unfavourable to oratorical effect. 



I know there are many new members who are aware, that to address 

 the House at an early hour when any question of importance is under 

 discussion, is sure to operate against them ; but then they are equally 

 aware that there is very little chance of catching the eye of the Speaker 

 at a later hour, the most distinguished men in the house being, in almost 

 every instance, previously fixed on in the Speaker's mind, for addressing 

 the House after nine or ten o'clock. The best course for new members 

 to adopt, who are qualified, or conceive themselves to be so, for making 

 an appearance, as it is called, in the house, would be to give notice of a 

 motion for a particular evening on some question of general importance. 

 They would, in that case, make their debiU under every advantage. 

 Those anxious to see how they would acquit themselves on their first 

 effort, would be present, and be attentive listeners, which would go far 

 to insure the attention of others. The debtltant would be allowed to 

 speak as long as he pleased, and would be certain of meeting with no 

 clamour or interruption ; for I hardly recollect one instance, — with the 

 single exception of the case of Mr. Hunt, when he brought forward a 

 motion which had folly on the face of it, respecting the propriety of grant- 

 ing a general pardon to those who had been convicted by the Special 

 Commission of that period, and which he prefaced by a speech extending 

 to so unreasonable a length as to occupy four hours in the delivery,* — 

 with this exception, I scarcely recollect an instance of any attempt to 

 put down a speaker when introducing a motion to the House. Then, 

 again, new members have, in this case, the right of reply, which affords 

 an excellent opportunity to those who have talents for extempore speak- 

 ing, of displaying those talents to advantage." 



• Tliis motion was negatived by a majority of 209 to 2. 



