On the record
The House of Commons, even in its most inquisitive and turbulent moments, would scarcely permit a note of a Cabinet meeting to be read.
Said by
Walter Bagehot
Source
gutenberg.orgWalter Bagehot: “The House of Commons, even in its most inquisitive and turbulent moments, would scarcely permit a note of a Cabinet…”
Editor's note · Context
Bagehot observes that the House of Commons would not allow notes from Cabinet meetings to be disclosed, reflecting its secretive nature.
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More from Walter Bagehot
But it is natural also that persons used to analyse political institutions should look at these anomalies with a little tenderness and a little interest.
It is natural that those who by special and admirable culture have come to look at all things upon the artistic side, should start back from these queer peculiarities.
I cannot, therefore, join in the full cry against anomalies; in my judgment it may quickly overrun the scent, and so miss what we should be glad to find.
I own that I do not entirely sympathise with the horror of these anomalies which haunts some of our best critics.
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