8 FEBRUARY 1851, Page 13

ORDERS AND ORDER.

NaTuRE abhors a vacuum—the Commons abhor simple order. Order which is not simple they will continue readily enough. The Sessional Orders, for instance, which were renewed on the second night of this session, are full of anomalies ; but if in the past any objections have been raised, they failed, and this year there was no comment. The House therefore continues its practice of resolving to exclude "strangers," but making elaborate arrangements to admit strangers • under which Yankee term it includes reporters.

On one important subject, indeed, the House does take steps to secure the utmost attention and order through a standing committee of supervision, appointed at the instance of Mr. Stafford ; and thus one great institution is placed under a strong and faithful guard—it is the Kitchen and Refreshment Rooms.

We should have greater confidence in Parliamentary thrift if the public purse were reposed in custody of a well-selected committee ; but it would be "unconstitutional " thus to delegate the authority : the Commons keep the public purse under their own control ; and "what is everybody's business," &c. We all know how they manage that : "generally speaking," says Mr. Hume, "the House is very negligent on this subject, and when money is about to be voted, honourable Members leave the House." Mr. Hume thercifore moved that no new vote in Supply be asked aftermidnight. Little debated, this motion was negatived by 116 to 47. Honourable Members will continue to vote money after midnight. Mr. Brotherton's broader motion, that the Speaker should leave the chair at midnight, was negatived by the comparatively larger majority of 108 to 32.

These facts speak for themselves. Among the faithful Commons the party of Order is in a miserable minority, and not strong enough to effect the work of discipline—long needed, and more than ever needed this year. Party is broken up, and there is every prospect of that disorder which results from the want of settled purpose. The Anti-Papal debates will not help to concentrate scattered attention ; many taxes will keep up a clamour for repeal; and the holyday spirit, paramount with the Exposition of the season, will give an extraordinary impulse to irregularity of all kinds : at certain periods we may expect to see much absence of Members, and more absence of mind ; much presence of white waistcoats, and more impassioned eloquence. The House positively refuses to check these irregularities ; it will not put a veto on a midnight debauch in legislation. It chooses that this session, like those before it, should be stamped with disorder prepense.

Appropriately constructed is the pen allotted to the faithful Commons in the House of Lords. It is small, lest too many should crowd in, as that might be dangerous to the tamer Lords. But it is difficult of approach, and so contrived as to suit the wild habits of the inmates : there are post and pillar to knock the head against ; even douce Mr. Hume finds occasional safety in the live padding of some "stout Member." The architect thoroughly understood the genus Member, and its genius, when he constructed that pen : it is as cunningly contrived for its purpose as the otter's house in the Zoological Gardens or the bear's den. Honourable Members are very tenacious of these things.