Henry Parkes

“ Yet I must say the House of Commons is entitled to rank among its chief virtues its tolerance of bores, notwithstanding what has been so often written of its disposition to cough and crow men down. It is scarcely possible to conceive a greater and more pretentious dunce than Sir Robert Peel, and yet the House, from some whim or other, will lustily cheer the Right Honorable baronet, even when he utters the most errant balderdash. ”

“ RUMOURED ABDICATION—OPENING OF PARLIAMENT—THE HOUSE OF COMMONS—MR. DISRAELI—MR. GOLDWIN SMITH—GOSSIP.
A RUMOUR is circulating among men who repeat nothing lightly, that England is soon to have a king. Albert Edward is now in the East completing his princely education by a course of travel in the lands of classical and sacred story. He will return, it is said, on the attainment of his majority, to ascend the throne abdicated by the sorrowing Queen. The great grief that has fallen upon Queen Victoria would naturally incline her to seek retirement ”

“ And so the House of Commons rose after its first day's sitting in 1862.
Dr. Lang has received a powerful advocate of his theory of Australian independence in no less a personage than the popular Oxford professor, Mr. Goldwin Smith. In the latter end of January a letter from Professor Smith appeared in the Daily News, boldly advocating the absolute emancipation of all the colonies of England. The Times took up the subject in a leader extending over two columns, but utterly failed, as every candid reader must admit, to meet the Professor's ailments. ”