ookseller on this bridge. From off this bridge leaped an industrious
apprentice to save the life of his master's infant daughter, dropped into
the river by a careless nursemaid; the father was Lord Mayor of London.
The industrious apprentice married the daughter, and the great-grandson
of the happy pair was the first duke of Leeds. On the first of August,
1831, New London Bridge was opened with great pomp by King William IV.,
and since then the stream of life across the bridge has rushed without
intermission on.

CHAPTER X.
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS AND THE EARLY-CLOSING MOVEMENT.

When is common sense to reign over man? According to Dr. Cumming, in a
few years we are to have the Millennium. Will it be then? I fear not.
At any rate, I am certain it will not be before.

Look, for instance, at the House of Commons: the Lords meet for debate a
little after five, p.m., and separate generally a little before six,
p.m., and it is perfectly astonishing what an immense amount of business
they get through; but the Commons meet at four, p.m., and sit till one or
two, a.m.; the consequence is, that very little business is done: that we
have a great deal too much talking; that really conscientious members,
who will not forsake their duties, but remain at their posts, are knocked
up, and have to cut Parliament for a time; and that what business is done
is often performed in the most slovenly and unsatisfactory manner. A few
minutes' reflection will make this clear. A bill is introduced, or,
rather, leave is given to a member to bring it in. It is read a first
time. To the first reading of a bill generally little opposition is
made. The member who introduces it makes a long speech in its favour,
and little discussion takes place. The real fight is when it is read a
second time. There are many ways of throwing out a bill without the
discourtesy of a positive rejection. The first of these means consists
in giving a preference to other "orders;" the second is, moving "the
previous question." Another is, moving "that the second reading take
place this day six months." If the bill get over the second reading, it
then goes into committee, when objectionable clauses are struck out and
fresh ones added, till the original proposer of the bill can hardly
recognise his offspring. The bill is then read a third time, and
afterwards sent up to the Lords. Possibly the Lords object to some parts
of it; a conference with the Com