Ivo THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—In your interesting article
in the Spectator of May 18th on the length of speeches in Parliament you remark that "constituents do like to feel that they have got something" when they read their Member's speech in the papers, and that "the Member feels that he is only doing what is expected of him." Readers of Dr. Murray's "Oxford Dictionary" may be amused to remember that this is just the way in which the peculiar term "Buncombe" is supposed to have arisen. A certain Member of Congress for Buncombe County, in North Carolina, about forty years ago—I quote from memory, not having the book at hand— rose to make a speech near the conclusion of a debate, when there was nothing fresh to be said. Notwithstanding that he was greeted with loud cries of "Divide! divide!" he persisted in taking up the time of the House, and justified himself by saying : "I must make a speech for Buncombe."—I am, Sir., H. C. F.
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