"
This was received very well. The Senator spoke with a clear,
sonorous voice, no doubt with a twang, but so audibly as to satisfy
the room in general. "I shall not," he said, "dwell much on your
form of government. Were I to praise a republic I might seem to
belittle your throne and the lady who sits on it,--an offence which
would not be endured for a moment by English ears. I will take the
monarchy as it is, simply remarking that its recondite forms are
very hard to be understood by foreigners, and that they seem to me
to be for the most part equally dark to natives. I have hardly as
yet met two Englishmen who were agreed as to the political power of
the sovereign; and most of those of whom I have enquired have
assured me that the matter is one as to which they have not found
it worth their while to make inquiry." Here a voice from the end of
the hall made some protestation, but the nature of the protest did
not reach the platform.
"But," continued the Senator, now rising into energy, "tho' I will
not meddle with your form of government, I may, I hope, be allowed
to allude to the political agents by which it is conducted. You are
proud of your Parliament."
"We are," said a voice.
"I wonder of which house. I do not ask the question that it may be
answered, because it is advisable at the present moment that there
should be only one speaker.
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