He was not in accord with those who declare that a Parliament is a collection of windbags which puff, and blow, and crack to the annoyance of honest men.

But to him Parliament was a debating place, by having a majority in which, and by no other means, he,--or another,--might become the great man of the day.

By no other than parliamentary means could such a one as he come to be the chief man.

And this use of Parliament, either on his own behalf or on behalf of others, had been for so many years present to his mind, that there seemed to be nothing absurd in an institution supported for such a purpose.

Parliament was a club so eligible in its nature that all Englishmen wished to belong to it.