in woman, I feel sure that she posseses it. (Hear, hear). Although, then. I own, that there are great and inborn differences between the intellectual capacities of the sexes, I cannot for an instant imagine that the one is, in the aggregate, at all inferior to the other. (Loud cheers). [A pause ensues.]

The Chairman rises and says: If no other gentleman is inclined to speak, I will put the question.

Sixteenth Speaker. Perhaps our worthy Chairman would like to offer a few observations.

my

[The Chairman then temporarily vacates the chair.]

Chairman. Gentlemen, I should. I have reflected calmly and dispassionately upon the question before us, whilst I have been listening to the speeches made by my friends around me; and although I own that I was at first inclined to vote in the affirmative of this question, I am not ashamed to say that my views have undergone a material alteration during the debate, and that I have now made up mind to defend and vote for the ladies. (Loud cheers). In the first place, I think we are necessarily unfair judges: we are interested in the verdict, and therefore, ought not to sit upon the judgment seat. It gratifies our pride to think that we are superior to the other sex; and reflection upon this point has convinced me, that upon the ground of good taste and modesty alone, we ought at once o give up the point, and admit woman's claims to be at least equal to our own. (Hear, hear).

Reason also moves me to adopt the same conclusion. I concede at once, that there are great differences between the capacities of the sexes; but not greater than between various races of our own sex. The African savage is inferior to the European philosopher. Why? Because he has not been educated. So with woman. When you can shew me that woman has received the same advantages as man, and has not then equalled him, why then I will vote against her; but not till then. (Loud cheers).

In conclusion, I would say, that as the Creator formed woman to be a help meet for man, I cannot believe that she was made inferior. She was given to him as a companion and a friend, not as a slave and servant; and I think that

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we are displaying great arrogance and presumption, as well as a contemptuous depreciation of our great Creator's best gifts, if we declare and decide that she who adorns and beautifies and delights our existence is inferior to ourselves in that intelligence which became a part of man's soul when God breathed into him the breath of life! (Loud and continued cheering).

[The Chairman having resumed his seat, calls upon the Opener to reply].

The Opener (in reply). Mr. Chairman,-You have called on me to reply. Now I beg at once, and frankly, to say, that I, like you, have undergone conviction during this debate, and that I mean to vote against the proposition which a short time ago I recommended. (Loud cries of hear, hear, and cheers).

I was misled by appearances. I looked into history; but I did not examine it correctly. I looked at the surface only. I saw great deeds, and I saw that men had performed them; but I did not estimate what had been done silently. I forgot to ask myself how much of the good these men wrought, was owing to the wisdom and goodness taught to them in their infancy by their mothers. So with philosophy, so with science. The glitter caught me, and I fear I lost the substance. (Cheers).

I am not sorry, however, that I introduced the question. It has changed those who were wrong, it has confirmed those who were right, and it has caused all to think. Let me hope that all who spoke on my side of the question are, like their leader, converted; and let me in conclusion say, that I trust we shall take to our hearts the truth we adopt; and whilst we vote here, that the mental capacity of the female sex is fully equal to our own, shew by our conduct towards that sex, that we feel their high value and dignity, and treat them in every respect as our full equals and as our best friends. (Enthusiastic cheering).

The Chairman. Those who think that the Mental Capacities of the Sexes are equal, will please to signify the same in the usual manner. (Loud cries of " All”! “ All”!) I am happy to see, gentlemen, that we are all of one way of thinking;-there is no need for me to put the other side

of the question. I do declare it then decided by this meeting, that the Mental Capacities of the Sexes are equal.

[This Debate has been selected from a work of great merit, entitled "The Debater," by Mr. F. Rowton; in it will be found, in addition to many other debates, an extensive collection of subjects suitable for class discussion].

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE,

On a Resolution for the Admission of Ladies to the Gallery of the House of Commons, during the Debates.

The SPEAKER.

The Opener. Mr. Speaker,-I am sure no arguments can be necessary to recommend this Resolution to the adoption of the House. It speaks for itself. It addresses you as men; it addresses you as gentlemen, and cannot therefore address you in vain.-(Hear, hear, hear!)

The adoption of this Resolution,-whilst, on the one hand it would pay a deserved compliment to the Ladies, would, on the other, confer a most important benefit upon the House (hear, hear). For, to what, I ask, have those scenes of uproar, which have so often degraded and disgraced this House (hear, hear,) been owing, but to the absence of that sex, whose presence restrains, as much as it inspires; of that sex from whose presence all tumult flees— but that of the heart-(general cheering).

For our own sakes, therefore, even more than for the Ladies', (hear,) I beg to move, that it is the opinion of this House, that its dignity would be consulted, and public business advantaged, by the admission of Ladies into the Gallery during the progress of the debates."-(Cheers.)

Second Speaker. Sir. I consider myself singularly honored in being allowed to second such a motion as that of my honorable friend. From its success, which, as it appeals alike to your gallantry and to your interests, cannot be doubtful,—I anticipate a train of the happiest consequences, to the world philanthropically, (hear)—to the country politically (hear, hear,)-to the members of this House personally. (General cheers from Ministerial side.)

I dare not trust myself to enlarge upon any one of these points, because, if I once made a beginning, I should never make an end;-and as this would be fatal to the success of the motion itself, simply upon that consideration, I beg to conclude with seconding the resolution of my honorable friend. (Cheers.)

Third Speaker. Sir.-Before this question is put to the House, I shall be pardoned the expression of my surprise at its novel and strange nature—(hear). The honorable gentlemen have not given one reason between them, to show that it is worthy your adoption. I do not blame them for this; I well know, that it was impossible (cheers and laughter from the opposition). I do not wish to take a position at all adverse to the ladies; I think them all very well in their places; but I confess, I am astonished, that my friends are so little aware of the power of one Goddess of Discord, that they are here introducing fifty. (Cheers.) I shall give my decided opposition to the motion. (Cheers.)

Fourth Speaker. Mr. Speaker.—I really am at a loss to conceive, when there are already so many old women in the House, what objection there can possibly be to the introduction of a few young ones. (General laughter, with two rounds of cheers.)

Consider, I beseech you, the influence they would exert, -first, upon the language of our orators,-the grace they would inspire! how effectually they would banish all rudeness and offensive personality! What expressions would be suffered to pass a gentleman's lips unfit to enter a lady's ear? (Hear.) And if the effect should be the extinction of a set of noisy orators, whose whole resources of language would be thus cut off,-I am sure, neither this House nor the country would be a loser by it. (Hear, hear.)

Then, as to the deportment of Members.-We should not then see-you, Sir, with that eye which must be peculiarly disgusted with the unbecoming, (the Speaker bows)—would not then see Members in all the varieties of posture of which we can conceive, or rather cannot conceive;—some reclining at full length,-others with heels more elevated than their heads,-literally as well as figuratively; nor would our ears be assaulted by all the sounds incident and proper to a menagerie; nor by the still more inarticulate

sounds, which tell of Members sleeping over a nation's interests. The ladies enter! (Hear, hear.) Observe how hushed every ungentler sound. (Hear, hear.) How decent the postures! (Hear, hear.) How watchful the attention! (Hear, hear.) How manly the air! (General cheering.) Then again, anticipate their influence upon our deliberations! What encouragement to virtuous and pacific policy! What man would venture to invade the constitution of a country, under the very eyes of those who are its brightest ornaments and its dearest pledges? (Cries of hear.) What man would lightly counsel war in sight of that sex, which war finds the most helpless and leaves the most suffering? (Cheers.) I "pause for a reply!" (Cheers.)

Fifth Speaker. The honourable gentleman shall not pause long. Nothing, it will be admitted on all hands, would conduce more to the dignity of our proceedings than that they should sometimes be conducted with a little more attention to order. (Hear, hear). The honourable member has alluded to the disorderly conduct of the opposition. I will tell the honourable Member,-and I beg the honourable Member will mark what I say particularly, -that if there is one man more than another in this House, who more frequently tramples under foot all the rules of order, violates all decency, and whose whole public conduct is as disgraceful to himself, as it is detrimental to the country, the honourable gentleman is that man. (Loud cries of Order!" Several Members rise at once. Mr. Speaker!" Chair! Chair!" are heard from twenty voices on both sides the House. The Speaker cries Order!")

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Sixth Speaker. I rise to order; and beg to put it to the Chair whether such remarks should be allowed to proceed, (Hear, hear).

Seventh Speaker. I also rise to order. Why is my honourable friend to be thus interrupted? If the honourable Member opposite feels aggrieved, let him retract his own expression; but do not let him take refuge from the retort himself has provoked, in a paltry appeal to the Speaker. (Order! order!-chair! chair! and much confusion. The Speaker is observed to be rising, and the stillness is awful).

The Speaker. Both the honourable gentlemen, I am