WHO ARE THE TALKERS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS?

FREQUENT and well-founded complaints have been made of the time consumed by the new Parliament in unprofitable talking. These complaints have not proceeded exelusively from the Conser- vatives, who might naturally endeavour to derive some consolation for their defeat in grumbling at the proceedings of the Reformers. On the contrary, the most zealous advocates for the late changes have been earnest and persevering in calling the People's Repre- sentatives to account for their neglect of important duties and waste of precious hours. The Anti-Reformers exult mightily at the disappointment of the public; and cordially take up the cry that there never was a Parliament in which so much trash has been spouted forth and so little real business done. This, they maintain, is the natural and inevitable consequence of the Reform ; by means of which, noisy and inexperienced men—low -bred mob- orators—have gained admission to those seats which, in the palmy days of Boroughtnongering, were occupied by sagacious and thoughtfully silent statesmen and legislators of high degree. Now, we always knew, of course, that this assertion was as false as it was impudent—that the members returned by the newly-enfran- chised constituencies were not the men who took up the time of the House by long speeches ; and that the slow rate at which the business of the nation proceeded was owing to no fault of theirs. Still we felt the difficulty of replying to these Conservative slan- ders in any other way than by general contradiction. If our sug- gestion of a "Parliamentary Time-Bill" had been adopted and acted upon by our ingenious and ready-witted friends the Re- porters, we should have had a table, which would at once enable us to silence the unfair and carping attacks of the Anti-Reformers. In default of such means, however, we have betaken ourselves to the next best method of ascertaining how great a proportion of the time of the House has been occupied by the members whom the passing of the Reform Act has sent into it, and bow much by the old stagers. We have taken the Mirror of Parliament, which, if not a perfect, is certainly the most copious record of Parliamentary speeches and proceedings ; and have procured an account of the number of times each member has spoken since his Majesty opened the session, with the number of columns and even the number of lines of the Mirror which his speeches have occupied. Every thing that can be called a speech, however short, has been taken into the account—mere matters of form only, such as mov- ing "that a petition be read," being omitted. From the materials thus collected, we have formed the following table; by which, at once, the reader will perceive how often each member has spoken, and how many columns and lines of the Mirror (in other words, how much of the House's time) his speeches occupy. The period which the table embraces, commences with the formal opening of the session by the King, on the 5th of February, and ends at the 14th March, the latest date to which the Number of the Mirror published on Saturday last carries down the proceedings.

SP11.41CSAA. TIMIS. SPAM Cols-Lines.

Abercrombie, J. .... 2 ... 1 56 Acheson. Visct. .... 1 ... 2 18 Aglionby. H. 5 . 0 83 Agnew, Sir A. 3 0 42 Althorp, Visa. 182 59 62 Ashley, Lord 6 .. 0 85 Atherley, A. 1 . 0 11 Attwoott M . 0 28 Attwood. 1. 21 14 24 Baillie, Lt. Cot .... 1 ... 0 14 Baldwin, Dr 13 . . 7 81 Bluing, A 2... 0 19 Baring, F. T. 15 .. 6 79

Barron, II. W

6 . . 13 39 Barry, G. S

5 Bateson, Sir R. 2 . . 1 66 Bayntnn, 8

56 Beauclerk, Maj. A 9 ... 4 0 Beaumont, T. W 5 ... 0 64 Bellew, R. M I. . 0 12 Benett, J 12 . 5 8 Berkeley, Copt ..... 3 ... 1 32 Berkeley, Hon. C. F. 1 ... 0 19 Bernal. it 1... 0 42 Bish, T. 1 . . 0 23 Blakeney, W. 3 ... 1 45 Blunt, Sir C. R.....

1 ...

0 12 Bolling, W. 1 . 0 45 Briscoe, J. I. 4 . . 1 49 Brocklelturst, J..... 2 ... 0 76 Brotherton, .1 3 . . 0 95 Browne, D. 1 . . 0 67 Browne, J 5 . 5 1 Buckingham. J. S. ..

7 ...

3 23

Buller.0

4 . 5 64 Buller. E.

Bulteel. J. 2...

1 .. 0 0 51 12 Bulwer, E. L. 9 .. 8 71 Bulwer, II, L 2 .

47 Burdett. Sir F.

7 ...

3 84

Seidl:ARS. TIMES.

SPAM. Cols. Lines.

Burrell, Sir C

1 33 Burton, II.!' 1 ... 0 12 Butler, lion. P 2 . 0 50 Buxton. T. F. ... 3 0 33 Byng, Sir J 1 . 1 13 Callaghan, D 1 . 1 16 Campbell, Sir 3 23 ..

7

30 Carew, R. S. 1 . 1 54

Carter, 3. 13.

1 . 0 23 Castlereagh, Vis. 1 ... 1 37 Cavendish, Col. H. . 1 ... 0

Cay ley, Sir G .. . 3 ... 0 71 Chandos, Mar 3 . 0 36 Chapman, M. L. 5 . 2 5 Chichester, J. P. B. 1 . • 1 11 Christmas, 3 2 . 0 21 Clay, W. 3 . 1 10 Cobbett, W. 65 ... 44 43 Codrington, Sir E... 7 ... 1 15 Conolly, Cu!.

4 44 Cooper, E 1 ... 0 36 Coote, Sir C

1 78 Curteis, E B

0 64 Dare, R. W. H 1 . 0 15 Darlington, Earl of . 1 ... 0 18 Daunt. W. J 1 . 2 9 Davies, T. II, 16 . . 4 23 Biwa, T 2 . 0 15

Dugdale, W S

o

12 Duucannou. Vis 2 ... 2 87 Dmicontixa. Hon. W. 2 ... 0 17 Darning, Capt. J. W. 1 . 0 83 Dunlop, J

0 8 Dykes. F. L. B 1 ... 0 4 Ebrington, Vis 5 . 5 38 Ellice, Edward Elliott. Hon. G 12 .

1 ... 2 0

27.

Ellis, W. 2 . 0 34 Esteonrt, T. B...... 3 . 1 12 Evans, G 1 ... 0 21 ' Finch, G 1 .. 0 Finn, W. F 15 . 9 Fitzgerald, T 5 2 Fit zsimon, N 3 .. 1 Folkes, Sir W. 1 .. 0 Forster, J. C Fremantle, Sir T 7 ... 2

French, F 1. 0

Fryer, It 5 . . 1 Gillon, W. D. Gladstone. T 12 .. 2 Golsou, It 6 • 7 Gordon, Captain W 1 ... 0 Goring, H. D 3 . 0 Goulburn, II 15 .. 7 Graham, Sir 3 4 . 0 Grant, Rt, Hon. C. 3 ... 4 Grattan, II 17 16 Grattan, J 6 .. 2 Grey, Sir G. 2 3 Grosvenor, Lord R 4 ... 2 Grote, G 11 . 4 Guest, J. J. 1 .. 0 Halibut, 11 1 . 0 Hall. B. 1 . . 1 H

Halse, 3 2 9 , Handley, W. F 2 . 0 49

hardy 1 2 .. 0 I I arland, W. 1 0 I !navy, D. W 23 . 18 I [awes, B. 1 . 0 9

I lawkins, J. II 4 . 7 39

I lay, Col. L 1 .. 0 13 I [again:rate, G. J 1 . 0 13 I leatheote, 3 1 . 0 32

I ferries, R t. lin. J. C 2 ... 1 47

Hill. M. D. 8 . . 8 12 Hoblunise, Sir J. C 6 ... 4 22

lodges, '1'. L. 0 . 0 24

Hodgson 1 1 . 0 17 Horne, Sir W. 9 . . 9 21 Iowan', P. II. 7 ... 2 19 I lowick, Viscount 1 ... 0 33 Hudson, F. 2 . 1 25

Hume, J. 98 . 55 89

5 . 0 83 Hutt, W.

Ingham, R. 6 . 1 46

Ingilby, Sir W. A. 4 ... 0 50

Inglis. Sir R. II. 14 ... 7 29 James, W 3 . . 0 21 Jeffrey, F 6 .. 1 39 Jermyn, Earl 1 0 7 Jervis .1 5 .. 1 37 Johnstone, J. J. II 1 ... 0 13 Johnstone 1 10 2 56 Jones, Capt. T 1 0 14 Ream. Sir It . 1 0 18

Kennedy, T 2 . . 0 53 Key, Sir J g . 1 47 King .E 13 1... 0 18

Knatclibult Sir E 4 ... 0 81 Labouchere, II 1 . 0 46 Lalor, P 8... 4 79 Lamb. Hon. G 11 . 2 82 Lambert, II. 2 . 6 39 Langdale, C 4 1 56

I.efroy, Dr. 7 . 9 35 Lennart', T. B 7 3 24 Lennox, Lord A 1 ... 0 10

Lennox, Lord G 3 ... 0 84 Lennox, Lord W. .3 ... 0 59 Littleton, E. J 15 . 3 57 Lloyd, J. II 3 3 15 Loch, J 1 . 0 20 Lushington. Dr. S 6 ... 8 40 Lynch. A. H 1 . . 3 17 Macaulay, T. B 2 ... 6 55 Mackenzie, J. 1 . . 0 6 Macleod, R Mahon. Vise Maxwell, J. W

Methuen, I' 2 .. 0 52

Molesworth, Sir W 2 ... 0 13 Morpeth, Visct 10 ... 2 21 Morrison, J 2 ... 0 24 Mosley, Sir 0. 1 . . 0 26 Murray. J. A 3 . 0 30 Nagle, Sir R 1 . . 0 30 Nichol, 3 2 . 0 13

North. F. 1 0 7

O'Brien. C 1 ... 0 33 O'Connell, D. 134 . 107 49

O'Connell, 3 2 . 5

O'Connell, Morgan 4 ... 0 80 O'Connell, Maurice 6 ... 5 5 O'Connor, D 1 ... 0 10 O'Connor, F 19 13 10 O'Dwyer, A. C 20 . 14 5 O'Fernill, R. M 2 1 77 Oliphant, L. .. 1 ... 0 28 O'Reilly, W. 2 . 0 19 Ormelie, Earl of 2 ... 5 9 Oxnaantown, Lord 2 ... 5 12 Patten, J. W 2 0 26

Sessrislui. Tunas, Srsce.

Cols. Lines.

E wart, W. 10 .. 3 35 3. 2 . 0 27

FaithluLG 6 1 49

Fancourt, Major 1 ... 3 14 Ferguson, Sir R. C. 1 ... 0 36 Fergusson, It 2 . 1 25 Fergassun, R. C. 12 ... 4 33 Fielden, J. 9 . 2 82 6 71 10 25

7

43 78 9 17 24 86 14 13 57 83 60 64 17 34 4 55 38 17 56 43 61 5 63 1 . . 046 ... 1 10 1... 043

&Amato. nuns. Srsce. Cols. Liner,

Palmer.Gen. I 0

Palmer, C. F 1 0 36 Palmer, R. 3 0 47

Pahnerstou, Vint. 3 • • - 6 19-

Parker, J. 1 . 0 52 Parker,lir II 1 . 0 14 Pease T 8,.. 1 47 Peel, Sir R, 17 .. 30 66 Perceval. A. 11 . 4 4 Perrin, Serg. 2 . 0 46 Petro, Hon. E 4 2 33 Phillips M 3 0 66 Plumptre, J. 1' 1 0 14 Pollock, F 1 . 2 15

Portman, E B 3 . 1 46

Potter, It 3 86 Pr) me, G 6 3 9 Bice, T. 8 7 12 24 luchards, J 13 . 10 43

Ridley, Sir M. W 7 28

Rippon, C 1 0 29 Robinson, G. It. a3 ... 10 29' Roche, D 1 13 Roche, Via 2 3 8 Roe, J. 1 . 1 20- Roebuck, J. A. 9 6 54 Romilly, J. 2 3 6 Ronavne, D. 3 6 22 Ross:C. 1 0 4 Ross, II 1 0 18

Rota, B 5 0 81

Rourke, J. 1 . 0 76 Russell, Lord J. 25 ... 16 4 Ruthven. E. 8 16 12 29 Rutliven, E. jun.— 2 ... 0 25 Sandford. E. A 4 0 48 Saltation, Vis 13 ... 11 ';3

8earlett. Sir J 0 . 1 72

Seale, Lt.-Col 1 0 54

8adaright, Sir J. " . 0 32

Shaw, F 16 . 8 slot we, R. N n 0 32 Shell_ R. L 19 . 32 45

Shepperd, T. 30

Sinclair, G. 1 ... 0 22 Skipwith. Sir G 2 ... 0 10

Wri.ley, R. A 7 • • 5 36

Smith, it. V. 1 . . 0 30

Somerset. Lord G. 5 ... 0 33 Spankie, Serg 1 • . 0 15

Stanley, E. 3. 3 . 0 52 Stanley, E.G. 29 47 52' Stewart, Sir H 1 . 0 57 Stewart, E 1 0 64 Stewart 1 ° . . 0 07 Stewart, Ii. ° . 0 42 Stewart, Sir M. S 1 ... 0 8 Stormont, Vis 3 . 0 41

Strickland, G 19 . 2 76

Sullivan. It I . 0 .33

Sutton, RI. Iln. C 46 ... 7 76

Talbot, J. II 4 ... 2 8

Tancred, II. IN 2 5 31.

Tennant, J. E ° . 1 42 Tennyson, C. 4 7 76 Thomson, C. P 3 ... 3 19 Tooke, W

Torreng, Cot R. 7 ... 3 60

Trevor, G. R 2. 0 55' Turner, W. 1 . 0 2 Tynte, C. J. K 2 0 8 Tynte, C. K. K 2 ... 0 20'

Tyrell, Tirell, 3. T 0 . 0 30

Verner, Col 1 0 33 Verney, Sir H 1 . 0 29. Vigors, N. A 1... 0 24 Vincent, Sir F 1 . 0 11 Vyvyan, Sir 11 4 ... 5 59

Walker, R 2 2 26

Wallace, It 6 2 37 Walter, J. 3 . . 1 - 45 Warburton, II. 37 6 32 . Ward, II. G o - ason, W. R 17 3 75 Weyland, Major R I 0 10 White, L 1 ... 0 14 Whitmore, W. W..., 1 0 72 Wilbraham, G 2 ... 0 85 Wilks, J. 17 . 3 30 Williams. Col. 6 ... 1 18 Willoughby, Sir H 2 ... 1 45 Wilmot, Sir J. E 2 ... 0 83 Wood, Alderman 1 ... 0 9

Wood, U. W. 1 0 12 Wrottesley, Sir J 5 ... 2 40

Wynne, (1. W. 28 ... 12 59 Yelverton, W. H 1 ... 0 14.

Yorke, Capt. C. P 4 .. 0 53

Young, G. I, 1 . 0 17

— -- Total of Speeches... 1,776 Sp.1,057 11

A Number of Speeches bare also been tondo by " Honourable Mem- bers," whose names are not given by the Re-

porters. These amount to 54 And one Speech by a " Noble Lord" 1 0 6

12 13 1,831 1,069 30

(The Mirror column contains 90 lines.) 5 to the extent of

0 83 21 14 24 13

7

81 9 4 0 1 0 5 1 0 45 2 0 76 3 0 95

7

3 23 2 0 21

It appears from this table, that the number of Speeches is 1,776, (made by 292 Members), and that they occupy 1,057 columns and 11 lines of the Mirror of Parliament. Now, let us see how much of this space is taken up by such New Members as may fairly be presumed to owe their return to the alteration effected by the Reform Act, and how many speeches they have made.

NEW MEMBERS. TIMES. COT.. LINES.

Mr. H. Aglionby has spoken...

Mr. T. Attwood Dr. Baldwin Major Beauclerk Mr. G. S. Barry Mr. W. Bolling Mr. J. Brocklehnrst Mr. J. Brotherton Mr. J. S. Buckingham Mr. J. Christmas NEW MEMBERS. TIMES. COLS. LINES.

65 1 2 6 9 15 1 . 5 11 1 0 1 8 5 6 2 1 3 2 4 19 20 2 1

0

3 3 13

1

1 9 2 5 1 1 2 o 3 1 6 320 44 0 0 1 2 9 0 1 4 0 0 0 8 0 1 1 3 3 0 0 13 14 0 0

1

0 0 10 0 1 6 3 2 0 0 5 1 1 1 1 43 4 27 49 82 71 43 17 38 17 61 9 12 83 46 47

17

15 15 80 10 5 19 51 47

66

86 43 29 20 54 6 81 54 15 31 14 45 12 18 185 56

Tile whole number of Speeches made is 1776 Deduct those made by Members returned in consequence of the Reform Act being passed 320 Speeches made by the Old Members 1456

The whole space occupied in the Mirror by Speeahes is 1057 cols.

Deduct space occupied by the New Members 185 872

The Old Members, then, after all, are the talkers ; and there is no real or substantial reason for charging upon Reform the delay which has taken place in the conduct of public business. We must look else- where for the cause of it ; and we shall not be forced to look far. The Ministers, for reasons of their own, thought proper to make the state of Ireland the prominent subject in the King's Speech, and in the debates which followed it. This was a subject which had nothing to do with Reform, but which served to produce everlast- ing harangues, and prevented the discussion of matters of prac- tical benefit' to the country. A reference to our table will show that the Reform members occupied but a small proportion of the time wasted on the Coercion Bill. The charge against the New Members, therefore, of having impeded the progress of general business by long and useless speeches, in whatever light we view it, wants the support of truth, and falls to the ground.

Mr. W. Clay ...j•

Mr. W. Cobbett . Mr. F I.. B. Dykes

Sir. J. Ewing

Mr. G. V•iithfal Mr. 1. Eaten Mr. W. F. Film Mr. J. C. Forster Mr, R. Fryer Mr. G. Grote Mr. J. Guest 3fr. J. Ilardy Mr. B. Hawes Mr. M. D. 11111 Mr. W. Hutt

Mr. R. Ingham

Mr. J. Kev

Mr. A. H. -Lynch

Arr. J. II. Lloyd Mr. J. O'Connell Mr. Morgan O'Connell Mr. F. O'Connor Mr. A. C. O'Dwyer Mr. W. O'Reilly Mr. .1. Parker Mr. J. Pease Mr. M. Phillips Mr. It. Potter Mr. J. Richards Mr. C. Rippen Mr. J. Roe . Mr. J. A. Roebuck Mr. I. Romilly Mr. B. Botch Colonel Seale

Mr. Sergeant Spankie

Mr. II. W. Tattered Mr. W. Tooke Mr. J. Walker.

Mr. G. W. Wood

Colonel Williams

Space occupied by the Old Members