He said not a word, and made no sign, but sat with his eyes
fixed upon the member from whom the compliment had come. Mr. Daubeny
went on with his tirade, and was called violently to order. The
Speaker declared that the whole debate had been irregular, but had
been allowed by him in deference to what seemed to be the general
will of the House. Then the two leaders of the two parties composed
themselves, throwing off their indignation while they covered
themselves well up with their hats,--and, in accordance with the
order of the day, an honourable member rose to propose a pet measure
of his own for preventing the adulteration of beer by the publicans.
He had made a calculation that the annual average mortality of
England would be reduced one and a half per cent., or in other words
that every English subject born would live seven months longer if the
action of the Legislature could provide that the publicans should
sell the beer as it came from the brewers. Immediately there was
such a rush of members to the door that not a word said by the
philanthropic would-be purifier of the national beverage could be
heard.
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