The Press.
London, England, 1857-03-14 00:00:00

RETIREMENT OF TIIE SPEAKER.

Before proceeding to the orders of the day, the
SPEAKER announced his retirement, at the close of
the present Parliament, from the duties of his office.
In a brief address he expressed his regret at the
severance of his connection with the House of Com-
mons, and his acknowledgments for the courteous
support he had received from all sides in the per-
formance of the functions he had exercised for
eighteen years.
Lord PALMERSTON, after testifying to the regret
which all members felt at parting with their Speaker,
gave notice that he should the next evening move a
vote of thanks to the right hon. gentleman for his long
services in the chair, proposing also to memorialise
the Crown, praying her Majesty to bestow upon him
some special token of her favour.

Mr. iiOUVERIE obtained leave to bring in a bill to
continuo the act for charging the maintenance of
certain paupers upon the union funds.

'!'he ATTORNEY-GENERAL had leave to introduce a
bill to make fraudulent breaches of trust and duty
by trustees, directors, and agents criminally punish-
able.

HOUSE 0 LOP.DS.—WEnxEsimr.

Earl STANHOPE moved that the resolutions in the
report of the select committee upon the minutes and
journals of the house be made standing orders,
which was agreed to.

Lord DVN6ANNON moved for certain returns of the
correspondence between the Dublin Protestant
Association and the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland,
relative to the conduct of certain Kilkenny magistrates.
Agreed to.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-WEDNESDAY.
VOTE OF THANKi TO THE SPEAKER.

Before the commencement of public business,
Lord PALMERSTON, addressing the Chair, said, it
had been his duty, on the previous day, to be the
organ of expressing to the right hon. gentleman who
filled it the regret of the house at the intimation
that the new Parliament was not to have the benefit
of his assistance in conducting its deliberations.
That day, he observed, he had a more agreeable
duty to perform, that of returning to the Speaker, by
a unanimous vote, the thanks of the house for his
able and distinguished services in the chair during
eighteen years. In a warn eulogy upon those
services Lord Palmerston dwelt upon that combina•
tion of promptitude of decision, justice of judgment,
and firmness of purpose, with the most conciliatory
demeanour, which distinguished the Speaker, whom
no one, he remarked, ever approached in search of
information, not only without receiving the most
courteous reception, but without experiencing the most
accurate information in rega %1 to the matter upon
which he consulted the Cha.r. He likewise spoke
in terms of stron g commendation of the manner in
which the Speaker had contributed to the despatch
of the business of the house, and concluded by
moving the following vote of thanks to the Speaker
for his eminent and distinguished services and his
exemplary conduct in the chair :
That the thanks of this house be given to the Speaker
for his eminent and distinguished services during the
period of nearly eighteen years for which he has filled the
chair of this house; that he be assured that this house
fully appreciates the zeal and ability with which he has
discharged the duties of Speaker under circumstances
requiring unprecedented labour and exertion; and that
this house tntertains the strongest sense of the firmness
and dignity with which he has maintained its privileges, of
his unremitting attention to its business, of the care which
he has devoted to the improvement of its forms, and of the
urbanity and kindness which have uniformly marked his
conduct in the chair, and which have secured for him the
esteem and gratitude of every member of this house.
(Loud and prolonged cheering.)
Mr. DISRAELI (who was received with cheers,
and spoke in a tone of evident emotion) rose and
said :

Sir, I have the honour to second the motion of the noble
lord, and to express on behalf of the gentlemen who sit on
the left of the chair their entire concurrence with the
description which the noble lord has given of your high
palities, and in the estimate he has offered of the services
which, unfortunately, we are soon to lose. (Cheers.) Sir,
we too can► bear witness to the blended firmness and cour-
tesy with which you have regulated our debates, and winch
have when necessary controlled them. We, too, can bear

245

witness to that learning which has guided and enlightened
our laoours—to that high bearing which at all times a nd
under all circumstances, even tho most trying, 111.8 sus-
tained the dignity of the exalted office which you have
tilled. (Cheers.)

Sir, the eighteen years during which you have occupied
that chair have been a memorable period in the history of
the Parliament of this country. Some of the greatest
measures that have ever been proposed in the counci:s of
the nation have been carried during that period ; and some
of the greatest men who ever flourished within these
walls have been under your guidance. Sir, I make
no doubt that in the page of history your Speakership,
under those circumstances, will figure as no unimportant
one in the parliamentary, annals of this country. (Cheers.)
The severance of ties so long, so intimately, and
so cordially maintained between you, Mr. Speaker, and this
house cannot be witnessed without deep emotion. (Cheers.)
I confess myself, sir, utterly unequal to the language of
panegyric—l confess myself, sir, at this moment unequal
to offer you those compliments which you so well deserve ;
yet I can express to you for those who sit on this side of
the house, sad I may perhaps presume to say fur all
present—(cheers)—but certainly for him, sir, whom you
have often so condescendingly aided and guided by your
counsel, the tribute of our affectionate respect —( renewed
cheers)—the hope sir, that when your name is mentioned
in your absence in this house you will believe that it
will always be quoted with regard and reverence, and
our anxious and earnest wishes that in the compare.
tive retirement which may await you you may enjoy that
perfect satisfaction which you have so worthily earned.
(Loud cheers.)

Lord J. RussEi.r, added his cordial concurrence in
these sentiments, observing that the proper conduct
of the ordinary business of the house had been
greatly facilitated by the Speaker, who had, he said,
marked the line where it was wise to concede, and
where it was necessary to resist, innovation on
established forms.

The motion was agreed to nem. con.
.... _ .

The SPEAKER, in-a
tone of deep feeling—every
member of the house uncovering—returned hie
grateful thanks for this crowning mark of the favour
and approbation of the house. He said :--

Daring the long period in which, by God's blessing, I
have been enabled to discharge the duties of this chair, I
have had abundant experience of th kindness, forbearance,
and indulgence of the house, whi have shown to
mo under all circumstances and on al casions. (Cheers.)
But I have not words at my command, nor can I suffi-
ciently control my feelings so as adequately to express my
gratitude for this crowning mark of their favour and np-
probation. I can only assure the house that I shall cherish
to the last moment of my existence the remembrance of
the proceedings of this day, and of the resolution& which
this house has unanimously agreed—this great an/I inesti-
mable reward for public service ; and in all sincerity, and
from the very bottom of my heart, I thank them for the
distinguished honour they have conferred upon me.
(Loud cheers.)

Lord PALMERSTON rose again, and, in order to
give, he said, to the Crown an opportunity of going
hand and hand with the house in acknowledging the
great and eminent services of Mr. Speaker, moved
(following the examples on former similar occasions)
an address to her Majesty, praying that her Majesty
will be pleased to confer soma signal mark of Royal
favour upon the right hon. gentleman, assuring
her Majesty that the house would make good any
expense attendant upon such mark of Itoyal favour.
The motion was seconded by Sir J. PAKtsorox,
and agreed to nem. con.
Lord PALMERSTON further moved the thanks of
the house to the Speaker for what he had said that
day, and that it be entered upon the journals of the
house.

This motion was likewise agreed to.
LAND TRANSPORT CORPS.

Mr. T. DUNCOMBE called attention to the griev-
ances complained of in the petitions of the non-
commissioned officers and drivers of the Land Trans-
port Corps who served during the late war in the
Crimea, and moved that they be referred to a select
committee.

Sir W. ContirNorom seconded the motion.
Mr. F. PEEL offered no objection to the motimi
which was agreed to.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER obtained
leave to bring in a bill to amend an act of the last
session of Parliament for repealing and reim-
posing, under new regulations, the duty on race-
horses ; and
Mr. WILSON a bill to amend the Cinque Ports Act.