361 



RANDOM RECOLLECTIONS OF THE HOUSE OF 



LORDS.* 



No book on issuing from the press has given such general satis- 

 faction at least of late years, or required so early a reprint, as 

 "Random Recollections of the House of Commons ; " for, within 

 the short space of three months, three large editions have been pub- 

 lished. The merit of that work has been equally allowed by per- 

 sons whose political sentiments widely differ. It furnishes us with a 

 very graphic description of the personal appearance, manners, &c. of 

 the representatives of the British nation. 'I'hiswork, wehesitatenotto 

 say, will be read with much gratification, for years to come, by all 

 who take an active interest in the various governments of Europe, 

 and will be referred to by the biographers of our own country, when 

 recordino- the lives of those who have rendered themselves eminent 

 in our day. The same writer having prepared another work, under 

 the title of " Random Recollections of the House of Lords,'' which 

 reached us just as we were going to press, we hasten to lay before 

 our numerous readers such extracts as will not only amuse, but highly 

 gratify them. This latter work is written in the same plain, discriminat- 

 ing manner and style as the former. It is replete with interesting ob- 

 servations on the persons manners, and every thing which relates to the 

 public character of ihe noble Lords introduced. So the reader, whether 

 personally acquainted with the individuals or not, may be said to have 

 a full-length portrait of both " body and mind.'' The writer in this 

 volume as in the former, proves himself to be "one of no party.'' 

 The touches of his pencil, whether they be light or otherwise, must be 

 considered relatively as necessary to bring the character fully out on 

 the canvas. 



As we have already mentioned, the work only reached us when on 

 the eve of going to press, we are consequently unable this month 

 to give any detailed account of its contents ; and must satisfy 

 ourselves with a few extracts. 



To such of our readers who have never visited the House of Lords, 

 the first chapter will be highly interesting, for it gives a minute de- 

 scription of the building, its offices, decorations, &c. 



From Chapter II, which is restricted to the Forms, Rules, Regu- 

 lations, &c. of the House, we make the following extract : - 



" The opening either of a new Parliament, or of a new Session of Parlia- 

 ment, when the latter is opened by the King in person, is a very imposing 

 spectacle. The former is always done by the King in person, except under 

 very extraordinary circumstances. The interior of the House, on such occa- 

 bions, presents a most interesting sight. 



• Random Recollections of the House of Lords. By the Author of Random Recol- 

 ections of the House of Commons. Smith, Elder, and Co. 



