The Sun. — London, England, 1802-02-11 00:00:00

IL► E tI I, 1' AR. I, lAMEN HOUSE OF' PEERS, WEDNESISAY, FEB. 12. • The LORD CHANcELLokticame' down to the House rather earlier than usual, and shortly alter, Prayers were read. It was expected judgement would have been given relative to the. important Appeal Cause, jolt NSON versus STOTTS—however, that proceeding, after. some routine business had been transafted, was deferred by then- Lordships till to-morrow. The hearing of the Areal, STEWART versus MILLER, was deferred till Monday. The'. further . hearing of the Case, Sir William Augustus Cunningham, Bart. versus Higgins and Others, which was fixed for to-morrow, was post poned till Monday. Their Lordships then, after waiting some time, adjourned till to-morrow. • _HOUSE OF COMMONS, WEDNESDAY, Ftß. 10. ELECTION OF A SPEAKER. A great number of Members assembled at four o'ci-eck, when, The MASTER of the ROLLS rose and said, that the event communicated to the House on the preceding day, rendered it necessary they should proceed to the election of a new Speaker. It was impossible not to regret the loss they had experienced, of the ability with which the duties of the Chair had been exercised by the Right Hon. Gentleman who had jut ',Flitted it. p. O ssessin g , as that Right Hon. Gentleman did, knowledge so comprehensive and so useful, and information so extensive and so ac. curate, he had filled the Chair with the utmost ability, dignity, and impartiality, even difficult as his prerie cebsor had made it to shine in that situation. It was some consolation; however, if the talents of his Right Hon. Friend were lost to the House, that they were about to be exercised in a situation for which he was peculiarly fitted ; how well the duties of that situatico would be exercised, it was needless for him to say, for there was nothing in legal Science which the comprehensive mind of his Right Hon. Friend did not embrace; from the minutest,particu lar of forensic disquisition, to the most enlarged system of National Jurisprudence. That House con tained, within itself, an abundance of knowledge and ability, but it always happened, that a few Gentle men, from their situations, or the nature of their v di es , were more peculiarly fitted for the exercise of those duties which were _attached to the Chair. Of those .few, One might be generally pointed out as emi nently acquainted with Parliamentary knowledge, it was not, at the same time, to be supposed, that one was to be distinguished to the exclusion of all informa tion upon the subjet, in others—one only could be chosen ; hut the choice of one did not imply the want of sufficient information and ability in others.— If, then, a great knowledge of Law, and of the Constitution, if an intimate acquaintance, not. only with Parliamentary History, but with those Records on which the Proceedings of that House were founded ; if an unwearied attention to busi ness, if a constant endeavour to direft the atten. tion of the House to measures of acknowledged public utility, and which were calculated for the benefit of the Country; if unceasing exertions to assist the House in carrying into effeCl those mea sures ; if these were qualifications which fitted for the Chair, then he was convinced- the House would agree with him, that the Gentleman whom he.should have the honour to propose was peculiarly fitted for that situation. He meant Mr. ABBOT. The House had witnessed the measures that Right Hon. Gentleman had brought forward, and they must be convinced that his conduft had lies, one continued scene of useful exertion. If such had hiiherto been the condua of that Right H'on. Gen tleman, surely they might expeef, if they made him the objet of their choice, a display of exer tion eminently calculated to contribute to the pub lic interest and the pubic welfare, to add to the dignity of the House, and ensure the accuracy of its proceedings, whilst, at the same time, those exertions would be stimulated by the illustrious exam:c of his predecessors. Convinced of his distinguished ability for the office,. he proposed, that the Right Hon. CHARLES ABBOT do take the Chair of the House. Mr. B AKER, in a few words, seconded the Motion. The Hon. Gentleman had, he said, spoken so ably upon the subjeci as to leave him little to say. He perfectly agreed with the Hon. Gentleman, that the ability and exertions of the Right Hon. Gentle -man who had been proposed, peculiarly qualified him for the high and important Office which was now vacant. He was convinced that the Right Hon. Gentleman possessed pvery essential qualifica tion which could entitle him to that situation. Of this all those must be persuaded, who had witnessed the labour and exertions of that Right Hon. Gen tleman for four years in that House. There was • one quality which he thought highly essential to that situation, and that was the temper with which .the Right lion. Gentleman, in the execution of the various busines in which he had been engaged, had net the difaulties which he- was compelled to en counter, and surmounted the obstacles that stood in hip way:There was also another consideration—the Right Hon. Gentleman was at a time of life when th,ey might look forward to his long continuance in the Chair, and to Isis thus becoming thoroughly intimate aad fray acquainted with the bnsiness of that House. There was an inconvenience in ehusing a Speaker, who might soon be removed from them, and this was the only inconvenience he had to complain of, with respect to the Right Hon. Gentleman who last filled that situation, about whose ability anti atten tion in the Chair, there could he no difference of opinion. Under these circumstances, and con vinced that the choice of the Right Hon. Gentleman who was propwzd, would be found highly satis fataory, he should content himself with seconding the Motion. Mr. SIII4IDAN saki, that when Abe Right Hon. Ctntlecnah, who was flow cal* to a high legal situation in another Country, was proposed for the Ciiair, it was lot to - differ in opinion with a great majority of that House. He could not, howeVer, suffer the opportunity to pass with out giving his entire concurrence to every word .that had been utteted in praise of the Right Hon. Gentleman who was now proposed tor the Chair, and he was st.re that every part of the United 'King_ dam would join in that praise. He should -act, however, inconsistently, if he did not now make the same objedion that he made when the Right Hon. Gentleman was proposed, who had just quitted the Chair ; he made this objeaion, at the same time, with every respeft and esteem for the Right Hon. Gentleman who was now proposed. — He thought,. however, that the pra(tice which had lately arisen, of looking to the profession of the Law for Gentlemen to fill the Chair, was not war ranted by ancient custom, or the usage of Parlia ment, He knew that it was formerly the custom, upon such an occasion, to look to those Gentlemen who were wholly unconnected with His Majesty's Ministers, and not to those who held places at the pleasure of the Crown. He perfeftly well knew that it was the prerogative of His MAJtSTY, to appoint whomever be pleased to offices in the gift of the CroWn, with which the House had no right to interfere'; but when a person was to he chosen to fill the high and important office of Speaker, 'that House ought to entertain a watchful jealousy of the influence of His Majesty's Ministers. He did not know wlr ther the Right Hon. Gentleman now pro posed, had resigned the office which he held at the pleasure of the Crown, hut the Right Hon. Gentle man who had just quitted the Chair, did resign the office which he held at the pleasute of the Crown, previous to his being proposed for the Chair of hat House. He then thought this was presuming too much, as the House ought to stand in a situation free from all suspicion of being influenced by His Majesty's Ministers. He thought, therefore, they ought to look to those who stood aloof from His Majesty's Ministers, among whom many might be found possessing the most competent general know ' ledge : he did not consider technical knowledge as a necessary qualification, for if that alone was to be looked to, their choice would be very much narrow ed. An Hon. Gentleman (Mr. BAKER) had said that the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. ABBOT) was at a time of life, when they might look forward to his bong continuance in the Chair-Lif nothing but death could remove a Speaker, such an - argu ment might certainly become an inducement in the choice, and the House would not readily prefer a man advanced in years. It happened, however, that Gentlemen who had been eleeted to the Chair, although they had told the House that it was the highest objett of their ambition, yet if an office was offered which they thought more suitable, or more advantageous, they did not scruple to accept it. This was a misfortune, as Gentlemen - might be removed before they had time to acquire the habits and manners of the House—it was a misfortune yrith respea to the Right Hon. Gentleman who had just quitted the Chair ; but if the Right 'Han. Gentleman (Mr. As sea) would guarantee that he would remain in the Chair until death should re- move him, he would certainly give that Right Hon. Gentleman all his support. He. adverted to an objeCtion made from the other side of the House at a former period, to a Gentleman being proposed who had not taken the Oaths, and observed that it might perhaps become a subjett of future discus sion. He concluded by proposing Mr. CHARLES DUNDAS. Lord GEORGE C APENDISH spokit in so low a tone of voice, that we could hear very little of what he said, but we understood he objeCted to an Officer of the Crown being elefted to the Chair. He concluded by seconding the proposition of Mr. SHE ,IDAN. Mr. COURTENAY said, he could..propose a Right Hon. Gentleman, wTho he was .sure would be eletted with unanimous approbation, and who, if placed in the Chair, would delight all around him. The Right Hon. Gentleman he alluded to had already most admirably displayed his fitness for that situation, and he wished that Right Hon, Gentleman had continued there. He did not know much of the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. AB BO 41, but many Gentlemen had been called to situations which developed talents that could not be before discovered ; some had been called to the Chair who had not been remarkable before for any display of talent, but who, on getting into the Chair, had by means, as it seemed of a kind of friCtion, bt cOme'perfed adepts in all the business appertaining to the office. It was remarkable also, that the habit of impartiality which a Streaker acquired, generally stuck to him when he quitted the Chair, and there had been instances of Gentlemen (pping that situation in consequence of being appointed to a high office under the Crown, who had afterwards titled so•perfectly impartially, in a dispute between .their new friends and their old allies, that it was absolutely impossible to understand whether they supported their old allies or their new frLnds. He did not approve of their constantly looking to the profession of the Law for Gentlemen to fill the Chair, he thought it was in some degree libelling the plain sense of the House, though he did not, at the same time, mean to cast the least refection upon that profession. He concluded by supporting the proposition of Mr. SHERIDAN. Mr. ABBOT said, that he had been anxious to. obtrude himself upon,the notice of the House, be cause it was impossible for him not to feel the strongest emotions of resped for the House, and of gratitude to his friends, for the kindness and par . - tiality which they had evinced upon this occasion ; but he could not consent that the kindness of his friends - should be accepted as proofs of his fitness to Jill the arduous and hynourable situation for which he had been proposed. When he reflected upon the learning, the talents, and tile virtues, which had for so many centuries digoified that Chair, he could not avoid beinz . appwheosive of his own insufficiency to fill it with that dignity and ability which so important an office de►nanded. If an ardent zeal for the maintenance.of our Con stitution, if the most tooted attachment to the Privileges of that House, if the most sincere ad m►ta ion of its admirable Forms of Proceeding, mig ►t be supposed to overate upon the House . in it ww.: going so ►u._kv:, he t; , ..sted these , - - qttali4cations telongta . eammon to all its Mein. hers. If the House should be pleased to give its indulgent support to any Member in that office, he might accomplish much, but, without that support, every'effort would be.unavailiug. He had only to add, that his humble services were at the disposal of the House, and whether accepted or rejected, no event could..weaken the respect, and deferense he must always feel for the decisions of the House. Mr. C If ARLES DUND AS said, he felt conscious of his own inability to encounterthe duties of the ar. duous situation to which he had been proposed. His previous habits rendered him disinclined to take upon himself the duties. of such a -situation ; his only ambition was, as it had been since he entered that House, to continue a private Member. He rather wised to call the attention of the House to the Rib Honourable Gentleman (Mr. ABBOT) of whose ability to fill the Chair with dignity and propriety he had no doubt. He should be justified in declaring his own inability, and he did not in this declaration speak the language which had fre quently been used by Gentlemen who were pro posed to that Chair, and which was perfedly under stood on such an occasion, big he had made this declaration in the sincerity of his heart. He en treated that the Honourable Gentleman 'and the Noble Lord would. withdraw the Motion they had made and seconded, as he did not for a moment pre sume upon his own ability to exercise the duties of such a situation. Mr. ORMSBY said, that, as a Member for that part of the United Kingdom called Ireland, he could not avoid expressing how gratifying it must be to him, and to the Gentlemen who tepresented that part of the Empire, to see, by every at of the United Parliament, the bonds of affedion be. tween the two Countries drawn closer, never, he hoped, to be broken asunder. Nothing could be a• more gratifying proof 9f the harmony that subsisted between the two Countries, than to see that a man . • could find a reward for the greatest and most eminent services performed in this Country, in: an appointment to an office of the highest rank and confidence in the other. The nomination which had been made of the Right Honourable Gentleman who had lately filled that Chair, to the important office of Chancellor of Ireland, was the strongest proof of the cordial interest which was taken in'this part of the Empire for the welfare of the other, by parting with such great and distinguished talents, for the benefit of that Country. There was something equally gratifying to the pride of that Country, in the Motion which had been made for a successor to that Right Hon. Gentleman, but he must be allowed to say, that they paid dearly for that gratification ; because, by the promotion of the Right Hon. Gentleman now proposed to the Chair, Ireland would lose the assistance of as per. severing, as diligent, and as unbiassed a Friend, as ever administered the affairs of that Country. This was not his opinion only, but the universal voice, and he spoke without the hazard of being cont,ta:. dieted. Every inttivisluak stiblea, every affive, faithful, and diligent Servant of the Public, found in him an unsolicited friend and patron. If there were any of a different opinion, they could only circulate their calumny in whispers, for the univer sal voice of the Country was in his favour. In his choice, between the two Gentlemen who had been proposed, he was ashamed to say, that he could only give his vote from a positive knowledge of the merits of the one, because he was not sufficiently acquainted with the other Gentleman who had been proposed, to enter into a comparison between them. He had not the smallest doubt of the qualifications of the Gen. tleman who had been proposed on the other side of the House, but he had not the materials to form a comparison. In supporting the Right Honourable Gentleman who had been first proposed, he knew that he 'vas borne out by the opinion entertained by the ,People of this Country of his abilities, for he was sure that there was hardly a part of the Country that was not aware of the efficient talents of his Right Hon. Friend. He was sorry to say that a Right Hon. Friend of his (Mr. CoRRY) who was at the head of the Financial Department in Ireland, was unavoidably absent from illness. If he had been present, he would have borne ample testi mony to the exertions of the Right Hon. Gentle man (Mr. ABBOT), in Ireland, and "no testimony could be drawn from a more pure and honourable source. He begged pardon for having taken up so much of the time of the House, but the uniform in. dulgence which Gentlemen from the other part of the United Kingdom always experienced in that House, and the constant attention that was paid to the Interests of that'Country, had emboldened him upon this occasion to trespass so long upon their time. Mr. ARCHDALg ;Aid, he rose merely in con sequence of an observation of an Hon. Gentleman, that the talents of the Gentleman who had bein proposed we—, unknown. If they were unknown to that Gentleman (Mr. COURTENAYI), he could only say, that they might be easily known to any man of common observation ; and, he would venture to say, that if the Right Hon. Gentleman brought to the Chair those talents, which he displayed while in Ireland, he would bring with him four most es sential and invaluable qualities, viz. Impartiality, Vigilance, Knowledge, and Decision. Mr. I. 11. BROWNE said, he was sure the Hon. Gentleman on the other side of the House would not have expressed a doubt of the talents of his Right Hon. Friend, if he himself had not been for some years but very little conversant with the business of the House.—That Right Hon. Gentle. man had been placed in the Chair of the Committee of Finance, and in that situation no man ever gave stronger proofs of vigour and independence than he had done—The abilities of that Right Hon. Gentle.. man were so well known, that he had been almost always chosen Chairman ofevery Committee to which he belonged—the Committee on Records, the Corn. mittee on the Promulgation of the Statutes, the Committee for the Improvement of the Port of Lon don, &c. His condutt upon these occasions, had given strong proofs of his qualifications for the Chair of that House, independent of his legal knowledge. Mr. Coo RTENAY The House was then cleared, and we understood that Mi. As isor was chosen without a Division...-. T-Te WAS thee eoccidlea fo the Chair, from -- -1 5 he, in a most elegant Speech, returned his than i l, to the House. He was afterwards compli m ented 1 Mr. YORKE upon the occa,ion, and the House ,1. journed till to-morrow. THE SUN. SOLLA: QUIS DICERE FALSIJM AUDEAT ? 'LONDON, FEBRUARY 11, 18°2° FROM the Proceedings of the House of Conl fg°lls last night, it will be seen that the Right 0011 ' CHARLES ABBOT is chosen Speaker of that ri° uge; and the Right Hon. Wm. WICKHAM had yesterday the Honour of being presented to His MAJESTY' on his appointment to be Secretary for Ireland' His MAJESTY yesterday held a Levee at St, James's Palace, which was attended by their l';'; cellencies the. INti. ERIAL, FRENCH, K 115 57 , 5! NEAPOLITAN, HANoVERIAN, PORTUGUESE , * I 4, SIAN, TURKISH, and AMERICAN ArllbaSSadOrSt th Baron NOLKEN; the LORD. CH AN C E LLOR, y CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, the Arrol ti4 " . I • and SOLICITOR GENERAL, and the Cablnec S nisteri. The Levee commenced at one o'clock, an d the following persons were present : The Bishop and Dean of Rochester, Bishop of Litc- 044 and Coventry, and Dr. Wilson. Dukes—Portland and Roxburgh. Atarquirres--Salisbury, Bute, Sligo, and Hertford. , or , Zarls—Cholmondeley, Balcarres, Camden, Cassillis,,rt or thampton, Chatham, Galloway, Fortescue, Morton, hope, - Courtown, Chesterfield, Harrington, Westrnal" Aylestiird, and Essex. Viscsunts—Howe, Stopford, Grimstone, Hood, Durlgl rlll°llt and Selsea. ' T 3 la' Lords—Pelham, Hobart, Whitworth, Cawdor, Bcston, 50, quier, Gwydir, Gleribervie, Sheffield, HawkcshurY ,C3 Paget, Kinnaird, and Dacre. , fl it' Sirs—T. Leonard, J. Pulteney, A. Clarke, J. Duff , „;„ a gla' ford, J. Durno, GC. Prescot, A. Mackenzie,C. . . ton, and H. Parker. ; ari d Generals -- Balfour, Bertie, Lenox, , Constance, 131V' Craig. Admiral Smith. Colonels —Dyke. Blaquicre, and Cameron. Captains—C=oell, Dacres, Skinner, and Gulch*. 01c Illes,rs.—Montague, Egerton, Mack,enzie, Finch, Le lo ti lit i l jun. Hon. H. Pusey, Knox, Fawkener, Foster , b bar all Stanhope, Lock, Baker, Cholinondelq, Bragge, 2 ' W. Dundas. SiC I The Presentations to Hrs MAJESTY wer e ',..,' his A. MACKE NZ lE, in the Highland Uniform , 11- 1 . 0 1 arrival from Montreal, who received the horPu of Knighthood ; Sir J. MITFoRD, 0;1 being arr' n ,l 3 Lord Chancellor of Ireland, who is to be crel or a Baron WlciotAll, Secretary to the / 0 ( Lieutenant, accompanied him; Lord FR i - D s i s 4s , BENTI Aide-de-Camp to Gener al by DOW'S ; Mr. rITZGEEALD, Knight of Ker r }' a c• Lord KENMARE ; Sit GEORGE PRESCOT,_ t o • seeding to the tithe, on the d em i se o f his forb er f r re . The Right Rev, the DEAN of RArHOE, - land, kissed hands on his preferment. s era Counsellor LEGGE and Mr. FINCH, sen. introduced by Earl DARTMOUTH. his Sir T. LEONARD had the Honour to k• -5 ,, ti 0.• Majesty's hand, on being knighted ;he was sir duced by His Grace the Duke of Pox-I-LAI ; r i o f CH R LEGGE, by his uncle the I ' 3 " t ire DARTMOUTH, Captain GOLDING, on taki n go , command of the Woodley Corps, by the CliA se , A ft LOR of the EXCHEQUER ; and Captain 11: 0 ` 13 t " :4 6 , of the tst Life Guards, by the Earl of HO IR. TON, on hii promotion. 'oo# After the Levee a Council was held, for n0n1,1303 ing the Sheriffs for the Counties postpor leu 'ollr after the company had withdrawn, His I\ ll / 4 " returned. to Buckingham House. I The Hoy:burgh Mail due yesterday, is t sc N rived. ogr e I The DUKE of YORK 1.-ares Cavendish -54 ,0 next week, having purchased a ready fu rni o - y0 house in .Portman - square, for which fit s —it Highness gave, on : Tuesday last, 56001. p od, The present Master of the Roils, it is whi s P' declined the Irish Chancellorship . ' „ t Yesterday a Court of Diredors, was !l e l' : c joci P Easr.lndia House, which adjourned at six ° till to-morrow. ' c/ i° The following Gentlemen, at present in t- e n ottf Ind4a,piretlion, go out b y rotation. bin APr" ViZ/STMON FRASER, Esq. CHARLES M IL L s, ; (the present Chairman), THOMAS PARO' a,;111v c' ABRAHAM RUB ARTS, Esq. DAVID seri., GEORGE TATENI, Esq. , 5 1 ) 0 0 Letters of undoubted authority by the last .0" Mail mention, that the National Bank of Spa t been declared Bankrupt. ' i "e We state, on the authority of a 'private etillg/ just received from Bengal, that our Tto"P, s it , t he , in the Carnatic have been very successa lt tb several Aftions with the Polvgars, insonn le 1 -114 they retreat whenever our Army approacholsosst signal advantages lately obtained by Colone l vdtP and the total expulsion of the Polygar ®f d patchee, as well as the notorious Polygar del l LVM COUILCHY, whom the Rvots securea 451 vered over to the Army under Colonel A G i o n 0 leave no apprehension as to a speedy terroinast the War. Titmi.velly, it seeing , has offe r ' ' mission. - to" The KING of PRUSSIA is using all his ilw-elotrif promote the woollen manufaCtories of his °,/rt He has just obtained permission of ,the C ° s i o . W • Spain to import IO Spanish Sheep into r °s 0 11 5 . ~11 0 A Letter from Paris says—" A pers" n himself Colonel Lille is arrived here iron-) Gert;coo swindling every body on the road : to a lie 04./ whom he had defrauded out of 50'. ste rling , / o . fessed himself to be the noted ,liafir Scll,P le. ..1„ 1 , The Betsey, Heath; fro:n Shields to I, `". lost on the Middle Sand. Crew savt;d.