of the question. I do declare it then decided by this meeting, that the Mental Capacities of the Sexes are equal.

[This Debate has been selected from a work of great merit, entitled" The Debater," by Mr. F. Rowton; in it will be found, in addition to many other debates, an extensive collection of subjects. suitable for class discussion].

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE,

On a Resolution for the Admission of Ladies to the Gallery of the House of Commons, during the Debates.

can be

The SPEAKER.

The Opener. Mr. Speaker,-I am sure no arguments necessary to recommend this Resolution to the adoption of the House. It speaks for itself. It addresses you as men; it addresses you as gentlemen, and cannot therefore address you in vain. (Hear, hear, hear!)

The adoption of this Resolution,whilst, on the one hand it would pay a deserved compliment to the Ladies, would, on the other, confer a most important benefit upon the House (hear, hear). For, to what, I ask, have those scenes of uproar, which have so often degraded and disgraced this House (hear, hear,) been owing, but to the absence of that sex, whose presence restrains, as much as it inspires; of that sex from whose presence all tumult flees— but that of the heart-(general cheering).

For our own sakes, therefore, even more than for the Ladies', (hear,) I beg to move, that it is the opinion of this House, "that its dignity would be consulted, and public business advantaged, by the admission of Ladies into the Gallery during the progress of the debates."-(Cheers.)

Second Speaker. Sir. I consider myself singularly honored in being allowed to second such a motion as that of my honorable friend. From its success, which, as it appeals alike to your gallantry and to your interests, cannot be doubtful,-I anticipate a train of the happiest consequences, to the world philanthropically, (hear)-to the country politically (hear, hear,)-to the members of this House personally. (General cheers from Ministerial side.)

I dare not trust myself to enlarge upon any one of these points, because, if I once made a beginning, I should never make an end;—and as this would be fatal to the success of the motion itself, simply upon that consideration, I beg to conclude with seconding the resolution of my honorable friend. (Cheers.)

Third Speaker. Sir.-Before this question is put to the House, I shall be pardoned the expression of my surprise at its novel and strange nature—(hear). The honorable gentlemen have not given one reason between them, to show that it is worthy your adoption. I do not blame them for this; I well know, that it was impossible—(cheers and laughter from the opposition). I do not wish to take a position at all adverse to the ladies; I think them all very well in their places; but I confess, I am astonished, that my friends are so little aware of the power of one Goddess of Discord, that they are here introducing fifty. (Cheers.) I shall give my decided opposition to the motion. (Cheers.) Fourth Speaker. Mr. Speaker.-I really am at a loss to conceive, when there are already so many old women in the House, what objection there can possibly be to the introduction of a few young ones. (General laughter, with two rounds of cheers.)

Consider, I beseech you, the influence they would exert, -first, upon the language of our orators,-the grace they would inspire! how effectually they would banish all rudeness and offensive personality! What expressions would be suffered to pass a gentleman's lips unfit to enter a lady's ear? (Hear.) And if the effect should be the extinction of a set of noisy orators, whose whole resources of language would be thus cut off,-I am sure, neither this House nor the country would be a loser by it. (Hear, hear.) Then, as to the deportment of Members. We should not then see—you, Sir, with that eye which must be peculiarly disgusted with the unbecoming, (the Speaker bows)-would not then see Members in all the varieties of posture of which we can conceive, or rather cannot conceive;—some reclining at full length,-others with heels more elevated than their heads,-literally as well as figuratively; nor would our ears be assaulted by all the sounds incident and proper to a menagerie; nor by the still more inarticulate

sounds, which tell of Members sleeping over a nation's in terests. The ladies enter! (Hear, hear.) Observe how hushed every ungentler sound. (Hear, hear.) How decent the postures! (Hear, hear.) How watchful the attention! (Hear, hear.) How manly the air! (General cheering.' Then again, anticipate their influence upon our deliberations What encouragement to virtuous and pacific policy! What man would venture to invade the constitution of a country. under the very eyes of those who are its brightest ornaments and its dearest pledges? (Cries of hear.) What man would lightly counsel war in sight of that sex, which war finds the most helpless and leaves the most suffering? (Cheers.) I "pause for a reply!" (Cheers.)

Fifth Speaker. The honourable gentleman shall not pause long. Nothing, it will be admitted on all hands, would conduce more to the dignity of our proceedings than that they should sometimes be conducted with a little more attention to order. (Hear, hear). The honourable member has alluded to the disorderly conduct of the opposition. I will tell the honourable Member,-and I beg the honourable Member will mark what I say particularly, -that if there is one man more than another in this House, who more frequently tramples under foot all the rules of order, violates all decency, and whose whole public conduct is as disgraceful to himself, as it is detrimental to the country, the honourable gentleman is that man. (Loud cries of "Order!" Several Members rise at once. "Mr. Speaker!" Chair! Chair!" are heard from twenty voices on both sides the House. The Speaker cries "Order!")

Sixth Speaker. I rise to order; and beg to put it to the Chair whether such remarks should be allowed to proceed, (Hear, hear).

Seventh Speaker. I also rise to order. Why is my honourable friend to be thus interrupted? If the honourable Member opposite feels aggrieved, let him retract his own expression; but do not let him take refuge from the retort himself has provoked, in a paltry appeal to the Speaker. (Order! rder!-chair! chair! and much confusion. The Speaker is observed to be rising, and the stillness is awful).

The Speaker. Both the honourable gentlemen, I am

sure, will at once see the necessity of retracting their expressions,—which, I am bound to say, are totally inconsistent with the rules of this house. (Hear, hear). The expressions complained of are- that the honourable Member's whole conduct has disgraced him, and that he has made a paltry appeal to the Chair. (Hear, hear, hear).

Eighth Speaker. Sir,-I bow with pleasure to your decision. I spoke only of the public conduct of the honourable Member; and I by no means intended the epithet “disgraceful" to convey an offensive sense. (Hear, hear).

Ninth Speaker. I also applied the word "paltry" without meaning any offence. (Hear, hear).

Tenth Speaker. After the very candid explanations of the honourable gentlemen opposite, I can have no hesitation in saying that my remarks upon the conduct of the opposition member, were hypothetical, and intended to give no offence whatever. (Hear, hear, and general cheering).

Eleventh Speaker. I would venture to suggest, Sir, now that the tempest is stilled-(hear, hear,)—and all these satisfactory explanations have been made, that for aught that has been proved by the honourable mover or his friends on that side of the House,—even when the gallery is provided, there will not be a single lady who will enter it. (Hear, hear). If the honourable gentleman will prove that, and will so far depart from his usual economy, as to provide eye-glasses, at the public expense, for the use of shortsighted Members, I will venture to predict that his motion will be carried with acclamation. (Hear, hear). But if, on the contrary, as there is too much reason to expect, no ladies, or only ladies about the age of seventy-(general and vehement cries of order, chair!)

The Speaker. The gentleman will understand me, if I do not repeat a phrase which is, in the eyes of this House, peculiarly offensive. (Hear, hear). A lady's age is, like the privileges of this house,-not to be questioned. Most dangerous consequences have resulted from the practice, which it is impossible too strongly to condemn. Ladies have been known to be "only eighteen" for three years together.(General burst of laughter and cheers). The phrase is "ladies of a certain age." (Another burst of laughter, and cheers, during which the Speaker and Member sit down).

Twelfth Speaker. I beg to inquire, what provision the framer of this resolution has made, in the event of its passing, for maintaining the requisite silence in the Ladies' gallery? My only fear is on this ground. Should the honourable Member succeed in removing it, he may rely on my support. (Hear, hear).

Thirteenth Speaker. Sir.-One honourable gentleman who has addressed you, enlarged, with his accustomed eloquence, upon the refining influence which the ladies would exert upon the manners of the House. Let me remind the honourable member, that if the three GRACES were women, so were the three FURIES. (Hear, and cheers from the opposition).

Fourteenth Speaker. Sir.-An objection has occurred to me, which I must be permitted just to mention. Should several of us happen to rise together to address the House, 'with ladies in that gallery, what chance would any of us have of catching the Speaker's eye?

The Speaker. Feeling that the honourable gentleman's remarks apply to myself personally, I trust I shall not be deemed to overstep the duties of my office by venturing a remark. (Hear). The success of the motion will undoubtedly place myself, personally, in a peculiar position; -(hear!)—but I do assure the house of my firm resolve

that

my regards shall never be attracted towards any lady who may sit in that gallery. (Hear, hear). It is the duty of Members on all occasions to support the Chair; and gentlemen will not fail to follow my example. (Hear, hear, hear), Perhaps the house would feel the advantage of a screen. (Loud cheers).

Fifteenth Speaker. Sir, I feel more than I can express. My profession is one more conversant with deeds than with words; but, were it the reverse,—were I as ready with my tongue as with my sword,-all the powers of language would fail to convey the feelings of apprehension with which I contemplate the passing of this resolution.

Many of us, even now, find no small difficulty in expressing our sentiments; but, Sir, to stand up in front of a battery of bonnets, all pointed at you, and calmly and coherently deliver an oration!-it is too fearful even to contemplate.

Let me not be told, Sir, that I am a coward ;-my