32 LITERARY ASSOCIATION, 
gentlemen was particularly enthusiastic upon the excel- 
lence of the dish and exclaimed, as he threw down his 
knife and fork, ‘‘ well! sheeps-heads forever, say I.’’ 
**There’s egotism,’ remarks Douglas Jerrold. 
Very recently, one of our prominent magazines pub- 
lished an article describing London mock Parliaments, 
and I venture to give a few brief extracts from that arti- 
cle, feeling that though it must have been read by many 
of my audience, I should else pass over most important 
facts relating to my subject. 
The oldest of the bodies there described is ‘‘ The Tem- 
ple Discussion Forum’’ which now meets every evening 
in the ‘Green Dragon.”’ It was established in 1667. 
Across the window every morning is placed a paper an- 
nouncing the subject of the evening’s debate, and invit- 
ing strangers to enter and engage in the discussion. Says 
the writer ‘‘ For more than two centuries, generations of 
incipient statesmen, diplomatists, and Queen’s counsel 
have made their maiden speeches here, and these walls 
have echoed to the budding eloquence of many a future 
Lord Chancellor.’’? The chairman sits at the top of the 
room upon a mahogany and horse-hair throne. Many of 
the freaquenters were elderly men who looked as if they 
had passed their whole lives here. The eloquence was 
rough, the argument was vigorous, and the convictions 
evidently strong. Ale, porter and spirits were served. 
Ye ancient Society of Cogers was established in 1755. 
Here, also, the question for each evening is posted, and 
strangers invited. On the walls of their room hang nu- 
merous portraits of distinguished Cogers of past genera- 
tions. Nearly everybody drinks stoutand smokes a pipe, 
and long-stemmed pipes are scattered about on all the 
tables, free to all. The men who frequent the meetings 
are of all ages, classes and conditions ; budding lawyers, 
newspaper reporters, clerks, artisans and tradesmen. 
The discussions are always well disciplined and good hu- 
