THE BIRTH OF THE CAUCUS : AN HISTORICAL PARALLEL.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIE,—The letter of a correspondent describing the methods of the Australian Parliamentary Labour Party in caucus
recalls Arthur Young's account of similar methods of the Jacobin Club in 1790 :—
"In this club the business that is to be brought into the National Assembly is regularly debated, the motions are read that are intended to be made there, and rejected er corrected and approved. When these have been fully agreed to, the whole are engaged to support them. Plans of conduct are there mined; proper persons nominated for being of Committees and presidents of the Assembly named. And I may add that such is the majority of numbers, that whatever passes in this club is almost sure to pass in the Assembly."—Travels in Prance, p. 305.
The parallel is singular. Absit omen !—I am, Sir, &c., Fore Street, Bridgwater. MAname E. PAGE.
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