the ears of their audience (great laughter), who would not speak if the ladies were there to hear them. He would not detain the House, but would conclude by moving that, 'It is the opinion of this House that the Resolution of the Select Committee appointed in 1835 to consider the means of admitting ladies to a portion of the Strangers' Gallery, together with the plan of Sir R. Smirke, should be adopted, and that means should be taken to carry it into effect, with as little delay as possible.' "Mr. Potter, amidst the loudest laughter, begged leave to second the motion. He could not possibly conceive any good reason which could be assigned against it. The plan had been tried in the old House, in the Ventilator. (A laugh.) Surely the female sex were as much interested in the proceedings of that House as the other, and if any portion of them were disposed to hear the debates, they ought not to refuse them. It was well known that the ladies exercised an important influence in the State, and why should it not be properly exercised? Why should the beneficial influence of a virtuous and enlightened mother (a laugh) not be exerted over her son who had a seat in Parliament? And if the wife of any hon. member wished to hear the debates, why should she not have the opportunity? They were admitted into the French Chamber at Paris, and it was well known that the ladies had seats assigned to them. He had seen them there pay as much attention to the debates as any one else, and he had never witnessed the slightest appearance of levity. (Loud laughter.) The ladies were also admitted to hear the debates of Congress at Washington, and surely we ought not to act in this exclusive and Oriental manner. "Mr. Kearsley said that he did hope that every hon. member, who was blessed with a bride or daughters, would give his negative to this idle, this ridiculous proposition. (Loud laughter.) "Mr. O'Connell remarked that in the Irish Parliament ladies were admitted to hear the debates, and he was afraid the detail of the cause of their being admitted would throw something like a censure upon the members of the Irish Senate. However, he would state that at that time hospitalities of a particular kind prevailed in Ireland, and the consequence of these hospitalities was that many members came drunk to the House. (Laughter.) The remedy proposed was that ladies should be admitted. This was tried, and from that moment not a single person was seen drunk. He did not say there existed the same reasons for admitting the ladies into this House (laughter), but at all events he thought there existed no good reason why they should be excluded.