MR. MANNERS SUTTON.—Of Mr. Manners Sutton himself, all must speak
with respect. The urbanity and dignity of his manners, his conciliation and temper, we readily allow ; but these are surely no very rare qualities in a high- bred gentleman, presiding over a deliberative assembly. Of his impartiality, truth obliges us msay one word. We have noted instances in which it seemed to us more than doubtful. The leaders of a party cannot be so much aware of this error in a Speaker as the ordinary herd of members,—the former arc sure to be fairly balanced against each other, and to catch the Speaker's eye when it seems to them the fitting opportunity to rise; but among members in general it is otherwise. We have often anti often, after an effective speech by sonic of the lesser of the Tory luminaries, when some six or seven of the Reformers, of equal or less calibre, sprung up to reply, observed the Speaker carefully give the pre- ference to the one least able to dti it with correspondent efficiency. To the abler of the young Tory members he was invariably indulgent ; to those of the Libe- rals pertinaciously blind: This was especially remarkable among those who belonged not to one of the great dominant parties, and who were therefore not so loudly called for by the House, but that they might be condemned with impu- nity to silence. But this partiality was still more evident in the case of Hunt, whorh, as a constant thorn in the side of the poor Reform Bill, the Speaker in- variably managed to see the instant he arose. No man, surely, ever less deserved to be heard,—no man ever obtained from the Speaker's peculiar selection such prompt opportunities of delivering'his sentiments. We believe the Speaker to be far too honourable to be conscious of his tendency to be partial, which we state, indeed, with reluctance, and after the most scrupulous and dispassionate practical observation ;—but a warm partisan is partial, despite himself, and Power winks at its own abuses. We should be very happy if this page at least, Liberal though it be, should ever "catch the Speaker's eye."—New Monthly
Magazine fur February.' • [We wish that Mr. Bulwer, who took up his station in the House on Tuesday close to Mr. Hume's Pillar, had then stated this serious drawback on the Speaker's qualifications for his office.]
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