ducation, if carried out, be a public
benefit? Let men talk on these subjects if they will, and as long as
they will, but I think they will think more clearly, and talk better, and
come sooner to a rational decision, if they do not drink. I am sure I
have seen the audience and the orators more inflamed by beer than by
eloquence, and when turned out into the street after a long sitting,
many, I imagine, have seen a couple of moons and double the usual
allowance of lamps and police. The worst of it is, that after the
discussion is over, there will be always a few stop to have a bit of
supper and another glass. I remember, just as the war broke out, I was
at one of the places to which I have already referred, the subject was
the propriety of erecting on the ruins of Turkey a united Greece. The
Philhellenists came down in great force, and young Greeks, Sophocles and
Ionides, and many more screaming at the top of their voices, were there
as well. What with the excitement of the subject and what with the
excitement of the drink, the whole affair settled into a regular orgie,
and the tumult of that night still rings wildly in my ear. Dumbiedikes
would have stared at the gift of tongues exhibited on that occasion.

If you admire pot-house oratory, then attend one of these places. The
chair is generally taken about nine, and the proceedings close at twelve.
A gentleman already agreed on commences the discussion, then the debate
is left to drag its slow length along, sometimes giving rise to animated
discussions, and at other times being a terrible failure. What is
considered the treat of the evening is generally something of this
sort--An indifferent speaker, perhaps a stranger, gets up and makes a
short speech, which brings up one of the old seasoned debaters, great in
his own eyes and in those of almost every one present. I assure you he
is down upon the modest debutant in fine style, making mincemeat of his
facts, and ridiculing his logic. The easier his work is, the more does
he labour at it. The audience frantically applaud, and the orator, as he
sits down, evidently thinks Brougham could not have slashed an opponent
in better style. The gravity of these speakers is really amusing. Did
they speak the language of millions--did principles of eternal import
dwell upon their tongue--did nations breathlessly wait for their
decisions--did they shake the arsenal and fulmine over Greece--they could
not set about their