Unparliamentary Sounds.

Evening Star, Issue 8406, 6 January 1891, Page 3

Unparliamentary Sounds.

Lord Brougham onco likened the House of Commons at certain seasons to a menagerie, and said of a certain night, had a blind person been conducted into the House and not told what the place was, he would certainly have supposed he wa9 in some zoological establishment. It was on the 17th July, 1835; an account of the sitting of the House may be found in either of the morning papers for the next day James Grant was there, and he has described it; but the * Morning Post' gives a graphic description of the sounds issuing from the benches—imitations of hand organs and bagpipes, the yelping of hounds, the crowing of the cock, " so admirable," says Mr Grant, " that you could not have distinguished it from the real chanticleer," the bleating of sheep, tho brayiDg of asses. Upon another occasion we have an account of an hon. member who rose amid tremendous uproar and confusion. He said :" I riße, sir (ironical cheers, mingled with all sorts of zoological sounds)—l rise, sir, for the purpose of stating that I have ("Oh !oh !" " B*h !" and sounds resembling the bleating of a sheep, mingled with loud laughter.) Hon. gentlemen may endeavor to put me down V>y tbeir unmannerly interruptions, but I have a duty to perform to my con (ironical cheers, loud coughing, sneezing, and yawning, extending to an incredible length, followed by loud bursts of laughter.) I say, sir, I have constituents who, on this occasion, expect that I (Cries of " Should sit down," and shouts of laughter.) They expect, sir, that on a question of Buoh importance ("O-o-a-a-u," and loud laughter, followed by cries of " Order ! order!" from the Speaker.) I tell hon. gentlemen who choose to conduct themselves in such a way that I am not to be put down by (Groans, coughs, sneezings, hems, and various animal Bounds, some of which closely imitated the yelping of a dog and the squeaking of a pig, interspersed with peals of laughter.) I appeal ("Cock-a-leerie-o-oo !") The imitation in this case of the crowing of a cock was so remarkably good that not even the most staid and orderlj members in the House could preserve their gravity. The laughter which followed drowned the Speaker's cries of " Order 1 order ! '—l say, sir, this is most unbecoming conduct on the part of an Assembly calling itself re ("Bow, wow, wow," and bursts of laughter.) Sir, may I ask any hon. gentleman who can. (" Mew, mew," and renewed laughter.) Sir, I claim the protection of the chair.—(The Speaker here again rose and called out " Order ! order !" in a loud and angry tone, on which the uproar in some measure subsided.) If hon. gentlemen will only allow me to make one observation I will not further trespass on their attention, but sit down at once.—(This was followed by the most tremendous cheering in earnest.) I only beg to say, sir, that I think this is a most dangerous and unconstitutional measure, and will therefore vote against it." The hon. gentleman then resumed his seat amidst deafening applause.—• Leisure Hour.'