Having thus sketched the structural arrangements of the Lords in contrast with those of the Commons—I proceed to describe the aspect of the Upper House itself as it used to appear to Commoner The aspect of the Commons at certain times in almost every day will be eager, flushed, expectant, even atdent—as if their political fate hung on the issue, as indeed would often be the case seeing that they must bear in mind their friends, supporters, and constituents outside. At similar' times in the Lords the aspect will be firm perhaps but still serene and subdued, neither of the two sides hindering the other, and the individual members being all free from any anxiety regarding support or opposition. Each Peer may feel himself answerable to the nation in the abstract, but not to any person or set of persons. Thus he is able to contemplate the situation with an equanimity rarely known to Commoners. This consideration markedly affects the general aspect of the Upper House, fader the induence of political ex ment there is constant temptation tending to breaches of order in the Commons but hardly at the Lords. In the Commons the authority of the Speaker is ever displayed, his rulings ring in the ears of members, the provisions for the enforcement of Parliamentary discipline are in the minds of everyone—and the necessity for all this is universally recognised. The Speaker, too, as Jupiter, sits up aloft and takes no part in the debates. As one member sits down after speaking, several members rise to speak: it is for the Speaker to select from among them by calling on the one who is to continue the speaking. But in the Lords there is little or nothing of this discipline by rule or order—so far least as a spectator can perceive. The Lord Chancellor is in the Chair—but apparently without much of disciplinary authority—more like a primus inter pares. The Peers seem to preserve order among themselves; and by some mutual under. standing or by some previous arrangentent they settle who shall speak on both sides and in what order. Peers seldom or never seem to rise in competition with one another, and the Lord Chancellor does not have to call upon any one by selection to speak. The difference Letween the two Houses it these respects is quite intelligible in reference to the representative character of the Commons and the hereditary conditions of the Peers.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.