Scene in the House of Commons [From the Court Journal]
The honorable and learned member for Westminster, Sir De Lacy Evans, who has fought Many brilliant battles in Spain, and who invaded the Crimea without loss of life or limb, measured his full length on the floor of the House of Commons, the other evening, in a very distressing and undignified manner. The honorable and gallant gentleman was passing in front of the Treasury Bench, when his spurs got entangled, some way or other, in the long legs of the Right Honorable F. Peel, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, and the result was that he lost his balance and sprawled over the feet of the whole Cabinet! Lord Palmerston most fortunately managed to get his legs out of the way in time, and escaped disaster, but Mr. Milner Gibson and the Chancellor of the Exchequer were sadly spurred although they good-naturedly picked up the member for Westminster and set him upright. Mr. Frederick Peel rubbed his shins, as well he might—an operation which occasioned no small amount of amusement to the occupants of the Treasury Bench opposite. For the future, it is clear that Sir De Lacy must either abandon the use of spurs in the House of Commons, or Mr. Frederick Peel must keep his legs out of the way. The former, we scarcely say, is far more easy of accomplishment than the latter.
Boston Daily Advertiser, August 6, 1863 [Historic Newspaper Collection]