CHAP. XIV.] INFLATED ELOQUENCE. 199 



A member of Congress, who frequented, when in London, the 

 gallery of the House of Commons, tells me he was struck with 

 what seemed an affectation of rusticity, members lolling in loung 

 ing attitudes on the benches with their hats on, speaking with 

 their hands thrust into their breeches pockets, and other acts, as 

 if in defiance of restraint. The English method of coughing 

 down a troublesome member is often alluded to here, and has, on 

 one occasion, been gravely recommended for adoption, as a par 

 liamentary usage which might advantageously be imitated, rather 

 than the limitation of each speaker to one hour, a rule now in 

 force, which has too often the effect of making each orator think 

 it due to himself to occupy the house for his full term. 



It would be impossible to burlesque or caricature the ambitious 

 style of certain members of Congress, especially some who have 

 risen from humble stations, and whose schooling has been in the 

 back-woods. A grave report, drawn up in the present session 

 by a member for Illinois, as chairman of the Post-office Commit 

 tee, may serve as an example. After speaking of the American 

 republic as &quot; the infant Hercules,&quot; and the extension of their 

 imperial dominion over the &quot;northern continent and oriental 

 seas,&quot; he exclaims, &quot; the destiny of our nation has now become 

 revealed, and great events, quickening in the womb of time, 

 reflect their clearly-defined shadows into our very eye-balls. 



&quot; Oh. why does a cold generation frigidly repel ambrosial gifts 

 like these, or sacrilegiously hesitate to embrace their glowing and 

 resplendent fate ? 



&quot; Must this backward pull of the government never cease, and 

 the nation tug forever beneath a dead weight, which trips its 

 heels at every stride ?&quot; 



From the Senate House we went to another part of the Capi 

 tol, to hear Mr. Webster plead a cause before the Judges of the 

 Supreme Court. These judges wear black gowns, and are, 1 

 believe, the only ones in the United States who have a costume. 

 The point at issue was most clearly stated, namely, whether the 

 city of New York had a legal right to levy a tax of one dollar 

 on every passenger entering that port, who had never before 

 visited any port of the Union. The number of emigrants being 



