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corded), and when there was a possibility of strangers slipping into the chamber unno ticed and being reckoned by the tellers on one side or the other. One of the last divi sions under the old system took place on the i gth of February, 1835, when the last Speaker chosen from the Conservative party, Mr. Manners Sutton, was driven by the Lib erals from the chair to give place to Mr. Abercrombie. The scene is described by McCullagh Torrens in his " Life of Lord Melbourne." It came off in the temporary structure used by the House of Parliament, between the destruction of the old buildings by fire and the erection of the present palace of Westminster. "The question was at length put by the clerk at the table, Mr. Fry, who, as bound" (writes Mr. Torrens) "in courtesy to the former Speaker, declared him to have the majority. The galleries were cleared, and the counting began. It was customary then for both sides to remain in their places and then to be reckoned by the tellers, who stood between them with their wands of office. The Ministerialists were declared to Jae three hundred and six, and already those about him congratulated Sutton on having mani festly won. Then came the reckoning for his opponent (Abercrombie). Except the Opposition whips, few felt sure that so great a number could be beaten, but when three hundred had been told, and some difficulty was found in seeing 'accurately into the last corner of the crowded gangway on the left, the suspense for the moment was breathless. 'Three hundred and five,' and then there was a slight pause. ' Three hundred and six' — a briefer pause — and then — 'three hundred and seven ' called forth such a cheer as wholly drowned the rest of the announce ments, which went on until the final numbers were declared to be for Abercrombie, ' three hundred and sixteen '." In the following year, 1836, the present system, by which members voting on differ ent sides of a question walk through sepa

rate division lobbies and have their names recorded, was introduced; but it was not till 1853 that the House came to the conclusion that strangers present in the galleries might be allowed to remain during a division with out any embarrassment to the tellers. The Speaker's order, " Strangers will withdraw," is now only enforced in regard to visitors who occupy the two benches under the clock, which are level with the back benches of the House itself, whence it might be possi ble for a stranger, if allowed to remain, to pass into one of the division lobbies. But that he could be counted — even if he suc ceeded in getting into the lobby — is an utter impossibility, for the names of members vot ing are ticked off by division clerks as they pass through the lobby. Dr. Croke, the well-known Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cashel, once climbed over the low barrier which divides these seats from the House, and thus entered, unobserved by the sergeant¡ at-arms or his attendants, the sacred precincts of the chamber. Of course, Dr. Croke did not know at the moment of his breach of order. Mr. Parnell, who sat at the other side of the barrier, conversing with the arch bishop, invited him to accompany him to the members' quarters, and his Grace, unaware that the proper way was out through the lobby, got over the barrier, before Mr. Par nell could stoj) him, and then quickly disap peared with the Irish leader through the side door giving access to one of the division lobbies. The House, however, has the right to clear all the galleries, including the gallery in which the reporters work, and to go into secret ses sion, with closed doors, when it pleases. Formerly, any member could at any time have the galleries cleared by simply rising in his place and saying, " Mr. Speaker, I espy strangers." But after a curious incident which occurred on the 2/th of April, 1875, this autocratic power was very properly re moved from the hands of the irresponsible private member. On that evening there