140 FIRST JOURNEY IN EUROPE, [1839, 



nothing very important brought before the house, yet 

 on different subjects nearly all the leading officers of 

 the administration took the floor, Mr. Rice, the Chan- 

 cellor of the Exchequer, Lord John Russell, who is 

 evidently a man of most ready talent and tact, Lord 

 Palmerston, Lord Morpeth, the new member of the 

 cabinet, etc. I was exceedingly amused by the man- 

 ner in which Lord John Russell worsted a Colonel 

 Sibthorpe, an opposition member, who moved cer- 

 tain resolutions relative to Lord Durham's expenses, 

 couched in an offensive manner, and made a still more 

 objectionable speech. Lord J. Russell, in very placid 

 manner, set him out in such a ridiculous light, that 

 the gallant colonel first lost his temper completely, 

 and then lost his point, being obliged to withdraw his 

 own resolutions. I heard also, for a moment, Sir 

 Robert Peel, Dr. Lushington, Mr. Hume, and others 

 too tedious to enumerate. As to general decorum, or 

 the manner in which members often treat each other 

 in debate, I don't think we have much to learn. . . . 



I spent this morning at the British Museum ; dined 

 with Mr. Putnam at a chop-house, and went to spend 

 the evening at Mr. Quekett's. I found, instead of 

 having the evening alone as I expected and wished, 

 that he had invited several friends, most of whom I 

 knew. Still, after tea the microscopes were produced, 

 and I had the opportunity of examining very many 

 curious things. 



If they don't get out of my head in the mean time 

 I will try to mention some of them to Dr. Torrey 

 when I go on with my letter to him. As eating is a 

 very important matter here, we had a magnificent 

 supper at half past ten, and it was near twelve when I 

 left, with a walk of four miles before me. . . . 



