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CHAPTER VIII.

Impeachment for some centuries the favourite instrument of

the Commons' vengeance, their longest weapon and

sharpest-History of impeachments before the Revolution.

summarily told-Several abortive impeachments immedi-

ately subsequent to the Revolution glanced at-The first

seriously followed up against the Duke of Leeds for cor-

ruption-Full account of that extraordinary investigation,

illustrating the manners and morals of statesmen of the

reign of William III.-Biography of that thrice impeached

Peer-The cashierer of the Pensioner Parliament-Early

career of Lord Danby-A daring but unscrupulous Trea-

surer impeached for consenting to the king's bartering for

bribes from France-Imprisoned five years-His lofty

remonstrance-Released by the courage of Jeffries—The

old Cavalier malcontent under James and William-A

grumbling member of the Cabinet-Dissatisfied even with

his Dukedom-Unpopular, terse, and epigrammatic in

speech-The most able of the courtiers of Charles II.

CHAPTER IX.

The next impeachment of the Commons, a degradation-The
hunting down a Lustring Company-Disputes between the
two Houses on points of ceremonial respecting the trial—
The loftier flight of the Cominons in their next assault,
that of Lord Chancellor Somers-His impeachment taught
a great constitutional lesson, the responsibility of Minis-
ters of the Crown-Futile in its immediate consequences
and disgraced by faction-A still more important national
question discussed on the impeachment of Dr. Henry
Sacheverell-The subject's duty of passive obedience-
The Crown's hereditary right tried in this feigned issue—
Complete analysis of this important trial-Of the articles
and speeches of the managers-Palm of eloquence awarded
to Serjeant Parker-Able defence of Harcourt and Phipps
-Dramatic power of the Doctor himself-Arrayed in per-
sonal advantages-Specimen of his pathetic peroration-
Its effect-Rejoinder of the indignant managers-The
sentence a mockery of punishment-Memoir of this lucky

208

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pseudo-martyr-His protracted trial one long festive

ovation-His triumphant tour in the nature of a royal

progress-Subsided into comparative obscurity-Used as

a torch, then cast aside like a piece of blackened wood 242

CHAPTER X.

Impeachment of the Jacobite rebels in 1715, who had acted on

Sacheverell's principles-Of the Earl of Derwentwater--

Earl of Wintoun-Curious trial of this half-witted Peer

--Cruelty of the law illustrated which did not then allow

prisoners accused of High Treason a full defence by coun-

sel-Humanity of the Lord High Steward, Lord Cowper

-Escape of Lord Wintown to France--Impeachment of a

brother Earl, more shrewd and fortunate, the Earl of

Oxford-His eloquent defence-His peace of Utrecht

ignominious, but not treasonable-Anecdotes of the in-

trigues that led to his acquittal

CHAPTER XI.

Impeachment of Lord Chancellor Macclesfield for corrupt prac-

tices-Amusing but degrading interviews between the

Masters in Chancery and the Chancellor's private Secretary

-Douceurs freely asked and freely given, say £2,000,

sometimes 3, or £5000-Defence of the Chancellor rather in

extenuation than denial-Unanimously convicted-Justice

of his condemnation and sentence questioned by Bishop

Pierce-Memoir of the unfortunate Earl-Parliament

breathed awhile-In 1746 impeached Lord Lovat of High

Treason-The Speaker went up for the last time in the

annals of Parliament, to demand judgment against that

double traitor-Subsequent fruitless impeachments glanced

at-That of Warren Hastings-The first which ended in an

absolute acquittal-His acquittal just Also that of Lord

Melville, an excellent Public Minister-The power of im-

peaching in abeyance, like the royal veto, or privilege of

refusing the Supplies

. 286

. 318

CHAPTER XII.

Internal economy of the House reviewed-Number of Mem-
bers formerly in constant fluctuation-Their attendance
irregular, but strictly enforced-Excuse for absence during

the winter season, in the difficulty of travelling and badness

of roads Necessity of constant attendance enforced-

Many important measures carried by slender majorities, or

the Speaker's casting vote-Instances-Length of Session

greatly increased, also length of sittings-Speakers far

more numerous and prolix than of old-Examples-

Amount of business quadrupled-Vast increase and evil

of post-midnight legislation-Progressive increase of late

hours-Former and more regular times of the House

meeting and rising contrasted-Late hours, deprecated by

Burnet and Speaker Onslow, attained their climax in the

reign of George III.-Present custom of adjourning at

twelve o'clock at night most consonant with the requisites

of business and habits of society

CHAPTER XIII.

Page.

. 357

Multiplication of orators checked by fear of failure and modern
fastidiousness-Instances, Mr. Ward and Gibbon-Also by
two useful Statutes, that of William III., annulling the
elections of all under twenty-one years of age, and that of
Queen Anne requiring a qualification in land from all
Members, excepting a few classes-The House formerly
crowded with minors-Quaint remonstrance of Recorder
Martin against the growing evil at its zenith in the reign
of Charles II.-Senators of fourteen-Prynne's pamphlet
-Indignant at being thrust aside to make way for grand-
children-Persons of quality smuggled into the House
after the Statute before the statutable age-Examples in
Lord Chesterfield and Fox-The great orators, with the
exception of Burke, all entered Parliament young-Happy
results to oratory from the blending together of young
speakers with the Fathers of the House-The limits set
upon age more felicitous than those of ancient or conti-
nental senates-The Statute of Anne an excellent correc-
tive against the influx of too many young and handsome
adventurers-Importance of a wealthy aristocracy in Par-
liament-Undue importance attached by our ancestors to
the possession of large landed property-Examples-Con-
tempt for mere delegates illustrated in the composition of
the States General-Paradox of Soame Jenyns-Disap-
pointment of a stranger at the carelessness of Members'
dress and demeanour-Anecdotes of former strictness-

Wearing of swords-Periwigs-Full dress-Propriety of

Senators wearing robes advocated at the Revolution--

Attention of Lord Chatham to costume-Former gay

appearance of St. Stephen's Chapel-Effect of the levelling

principle in dress

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.390

CHAPTER XIV.

Contrast between the present and former manners—'

-Traits of

indecorum in primitive times-Interruptions by spitting

and hissing, humming-Modern signs of impatience-

Long intervals of silence formerly--Rank and degrees of

members formerly more marked and regarded-Distinc

tion as to seats-Rules for exact discipline rigidly laid

down by the Long and Pensioner Parliaments-The Lax

practice-Balance in favour of modern decorum not very

great-Manners of old Parliaments softened by distance

of time and paucity of reporters-History of reporting-

Sir Symonds D'Ewes-Townsend-Sir Benjamin Rud-

vard-Burton-Anchitell Grey-Somers' pencil notes-

Singular debate in reprobation of reporting introduced by

Speaker Onslow's complaint-Denounced by Walpole and

Pulteney, advocated by Wyndham-Subsequent reports

with asterisks and Roman names-Dr. Johnson's speeches-

Triumph of the printers in 1771-Subsequent impertinence

and present power-The Reporters' gallery, a fourth

estate of the realm-History and anecdotes of admission

to the Strangers' gallery-Effect of old St. Stephen's

Chapel on a stranger-The genius Loci

424

MEMOIRS

OF

THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

CHAPTER I.

In the long gallery of Parliamentary Portraits, in that department at least appropriate to the eminent lawyers of the House, there are none of greater interest than the two chancellors, who illustrated the reigns of Queen Anne and George I, with their eloquence-Harcourt, and Cowper. Descended alike from ancestors of rare antiquity, rivals in Westminster Hall, antagonists in St. Stephen's Chapel, the leading champions of their party, still more renowned in the senate than the forum, and elevated by their oratory to the height of legal ambition, they might be compared together after the manner of Plutarch, though their political character affords rather a subject of marked contrast than comparison. Unscrupulous as a public man, unprincipled, unstable, at the suggestion of selfinterest versatile, a renegade on calculation, Lord Harcourt has left a name, which it required a century of merit in his descendants to redeem from ignominy, The mild, disinterested, course of Cowper, beaming with public virtue to the close, and never shadowed

VOL. II.

B