Majority

,—the cattle belonging to the ministry; or, in other words, a set of men whose business it is to plunder the nation, under pretext of representing it. The greater part of them, during a debate, are lounging about the lobbies, or dining at Beverley’s. When the harangues are over, they are summoned by their keeper, and ranged in the order in which he wishes them to be placed. Some of them are in a profound sleep at their own houses when they are obliged to attend a division upon war and peace, or some other solemn and important question; and, having performed their legislative functions, with unbuttoned breeches and ungartered hose, they return as expeditiously as possible to their beds. But there are always some who sit in the house to utter “hear him,” as loud as they can bawl, when the minister or Lord Mornington is making a drowsy speech. This tribe has been augmented since the rise of the new sect of Alarmists. See Alarmists.