than he meant, for he was evidently not master of his stuff. Among other things, the following words pleased me extremely.--"I am a soldier and no orator. I am utterly deficient in the talents requisite to play a part in this great assembly. I must be more than mad if I ever entertained the insane thought (of which I am accused) of becoming Prime Minister."[55] All the Lords who had resigned made their apology in turn, as well as they could. Old Lord Eldon tried the effect of tears, which he has always at hand on great occasions: but I did not see that they produced any corresponding emotion in the audience. He was answered by the new Peer and Minister, Lord Goderich, formerly Mr. Robinson, for himself and the Premier, who, being a commoner, cannot appear in the House of Lords, though he governs England, and is become too illustrious, as Mr. Canning, to exchange that name for a title. The new peer's speech was a very good one, but the beginning excited an universal laugh. True to long habit, he addressed the speaker of the House as "Sir." He was so 'décontenancé' at his blunder, that he put his hand to his forehead, and remained for a time speechless; but recovered his self-possession with the help of the friendly "Hear, hear!" Lord Holland distinguished himself as usual by sharp and striking exposition; Lord King by a great deal of wit, not always in the best taste; Lord Lansdowne by calm, appropriate statement, more remarkable for good sense than for brilliancy. Lord Grey far excelled the rest in dignity of manner, a thing which English orators, almost without exception, either neglect or cannot acquire. The want of decorum, remarkable in the lower house, which is like a dirty coffee-house, and where many of the representatives of the people lie sprawling on the benches with their hats on, and talking of all sorts of trifles while their colleagues are speaking, seldom appears here. The place and the deportment are, on the contrary, suited to the senate of a great nation. When I question myself as to the total impression of this day I must confess that it was at once elevating and melancholy;--the former when I fancied myself an Englishman, the latter when I felt that I was a German. This twofold senate of the People of England, spite of all the defects and blemishes common to human nature which are blended in its composition, is yet something in the highest degree grand; and in contemplating its power and operation thus near at hand, one begins to understand why it is that the English nation is, as yet, the first on the face of the earth. _May 3d._ To-day, for a change, you shall follow me from the serious business of Parliament to the theatre. The piece was a mere spectacle:--dramatic exhibitions of that sort are more beautifully and skilfully executed here than in any other country. I shall confine myself to describing the 'scenery.'