London, June 7, 1861
For after all that may be said, there is not and cannot be any assimilation of manners and social habits between Americans and English people. All intercourse with the aristocratic class is necessarily but formal. We are invited everywhere, and dine out almost every day, but this brings us no nearer. Everybody is civil, but each one has his interests in England, so that a stranger is but an outsider at best. . . .
You may be more interested to know a little about the House of Commons. My diplomatic privilege gives me the entree there, and I have used it twice. The last time was at the close of the debate on the budget, when it was generally understood that the fate of Mr. Gladstone, if not of the whole Cabinet hung on the decision. More than six hundred members were present, and the array showed great equality on the two sides of the House. I had attended on the Monday before and had made up my mind that if the division should follow, the opposition would prevail by a decided vote. The ministry however had influence enough to command an adjournment, and on Thursday the case stood differently. The attack was neither so vigorous nor so confident, whilst the defence was bolder and more strenuous. The first effective stroke came from Lord John Russell, which I did not get in time to hear. The next was from Mr. Cobden, which was plain, direct and evidently telling on the House. The decisive blow came, however, from Mr. Gladstone, who stood like a bull in the arena surrounded by dogs. He began by tossing the very last one who had attacked him, and he went on with every one in turn, until he had them all sprawling on the ground. He is by all odds the best speaker I have heard, and though I cannot think him a very great man, I must award him the palm as a skilful debater. Lord Palmerston is evidently powerful more from his character, talents and position, than from any oratorical qualities. The ministry triumphed by fifteen majority only.
The characteristic of the House is that it is in essence a real deliberative body, whilst our House has ceased to be one. We speak to the people and not to the audience. Hence we make orations and not speeches. I know not how this can be remedied in America. Some members of Parliament tell me that this is perceptibly growing even here. So it must be, in proportion to the control which the people exercise over their representatives. . . .