ORIGIN OF "HEAR, HEAR!"

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 88, 13 April 1912, Page 12

ORIGIN OF "HEAR, HEAR!"

fn connection with . Parliamentary "cheers," Lord Maoaulay has an interesting note on the origin of "Hear, hear." He states that in 1689 the Convention was debating a Bill. The debate was warm. Sharp personalities were exchanged. The phrase "Hear him," which had originally been used only to silence irregular noises and to remind members of the duty of attending to the discussion, had during some years been gradually becoming what it now is; that is to say a cry indicative of admiration, acquiescence, indignation, or derision. On this occasion the Whig 6 vociferated "Hear, hear" so tumultuously that the Tories complained of unfair usage. Charles Dickens, who had some experience of Parliamentary and general reporting, has given three variants of the phrase, "Hear, hear 1" At the reception, in "Martin Chuzzlewit," of the Hon. Elijah Pogram, Colonel Groper ejaculated, "Good, very good ! Hear him ! Hear him !'' At the company meeting in "Nicholas Niokleby l ' gentlemen cried 'Hear !' " and at the charity dinner in "Sketches by B02," the company called "Hear, hear!" Colonel Groper'e first ejaculation is the favourite one in the French Parliament, where members usually applaud by .Baying "Treg bien!"