The Express.
London, England, 1852-11-05 00:00:00

ELECTION OF SPEAKER.

After an abs.uce of about tau minutes. Sir PINK Le
111•Atl AA r returned and took hie beat at the table as pro-
ud. i.t usual a S,maker should be elected.
'the hon. members having taken their plane,
11r. ROBERT I'ALMER rose and said—Sir Denis le
blarelotot, at now devolves upon this house, in obedience to
hi r finch eye command, to perform its first and one of its
most isi.eurtant duties, namely, that of selecting from
among it. own body some hoe. member who dunce the
present parliament shall till the chair of this hon. assembly
—an litho., sir, at all tune• of much responsibility, and not
les. so on the present occasion when so many hon. gentle-
men an returned for the first time to parliament, and who
for that ream meet be imperfectly acquainted with the
yule. and ploceedioes of this holies. if on the present
oc,asion it had been my duty to propose for the considera-
tion of the house any untried so mbar—any hon. gentleman
who for the first time might be called upon to iliecharge the
ins! ,otant duties of the chair—though I am well aware
that there are many hon. member. who would fully justify
any choice that We bouse might think proper to make, still
I should have he.itated before I had underteken this task,
because I am well aware that a considerable il:gree of re-
spoolielity attaches smell to any individual who rims to
propose • gentleman upon whose ability to discharge the
duties of his oiliest the regularity of our proceedings must
necessarily depend. I am also well memo that there are
many other hon. gentlemen upon whose judgment you
might much more tautly rely. But, tir, upon the present
oteasein 1 am, fortunately for no self, relieved from any
didi.uoy on the suO,ece for I rejoice to see amongst us •
right.lim. gentlemen, a friend of mine. the right hon.
souther for Nneth Ilants—(loud cheere)—who has filled
the chair of ems house during the last 13 years with so
much advantage to the country and with so much honour
to Mum if (loud cheers)—that the house is lilt in
no al iubt, and is relieved from all difficulty in
selecting him at once as the beet qualified to
fill that high and distinguished situation. Sir,
under these circumstances, I do not think it is acces-
sary to trespass udon the attention of the house—(cheers)—
by any enumeration of the duties which attach to the
Speaker of that house ; for they are sufficiently well known
to most hem. members. Suffice it therefore to say, that in
the choice of a Speaker we must look for some inelieulual
who has such an intimate acquaintance with the law and
practice of parliament as will render him at all times a
ready exponent of all those rules and orders by winch our
proceedings are regulated; anal will enable us on all OCCA-
WOOS eontidestly to rely upon his eleci.ion. We mu't like-
wise look for a person who wiil uphold and defend the an-
cient tight. and privileges of the House of Commons if they
sheuld at any time become the subject of attack from any
quarter, for they aro privileges that we ail know arc not
greuted to us for our own benefit, but for the benefit of the
public by whom we are sent here. We most also look
to • ewes who, in the heat of debate, is able to
lay aside all party feeling, and who, in presiding
ever ear deCtlfAike., will maintain a strict and undeviating
impartiality. (Chem) Now, with all the qualifications
that 1 have just shortly enumerated, 1 am our. that all who
bate witnessed the conduct of my right bon. friend in the
chair, will agree with me in saying, that be has proved him-
self to he most eminently endowed. (Loud cheers.) I thank
I may also add that, for upbuielins the dignity of the house.
for preserving au unruffled equanimity of temper under all
circumstances, and fur his courteous demeanour towards
every member, the right hon. gentleman has not been ex-
ceeded by any of his predemasers. (Loud cheers.) I think
I bole said sufficient, therefore, to induce every hon. gentle.
man to warm with me in the motion which I am about to
make ; belt if I may be permi•ted to my one word to that
large sunhat of gentlemen who for the first time hoes been
snit here to Inks • part in out deliberations, I am sure that
la the denmetion of the private business of the house which
will devolve upee them, they will always find my right hoe.
friend reedy to samlst them with his advice and experience,
la any difilculty that may arise. (Heer, hear.) I rejoice
to think that inn the present messianic has not been thought
neemeary to make the choice of • Speaker an object of
parry I.cling or of political strife. (Loud cheers.) Such
CATAIIIO,eILC,I have occurred before, bat for myself, I feel
setremely gratified that on this easesio• I am not con-
strained by soy party
_aanadialadena ea sweader those feel-
ings of private tricadsbip and pgmemal regard which I have
for the right hon. gentleman. (Cheers.) I am sure that
al those who have wito-ssed his past career will agree with
ono when I my that his uniform eoaduet in the high sitar
-ta he ban filled has more than proved the wisdom of the
choice that was made in 1839, eenlnned as it has been on
two subsequent reessioos by the 110111111iM9110 vote, of this
house. I trust that the house upon the Ramat OeCaleell is
about to exhibit the same degree of unanimity, and that we
shall plate the right hon. gentleman in the chair without
a dissentient voice. (Cheers.) We aka/Iglus be offering to
the right honourable gentleman the only reward
that is in our power for the eminent services which
be has &heed: rendered us, and, 1 doubt not, he will
be reedy again to reader, with equal seal and ability—oar-
vices that will become yet mere valuable from his Meer
impudence. (Cheers.) I think I shall now be best con.
saltine the feelings of the hoses by moving that the Right
Hoe. Charles Shaw Lorene do lake the chair as Speaker.
(Loud awd lonircentinosd theers.)
Lord R. OKOSVKNOS—fiIe Deals Le Marebant, I
claim the indulgesee of the hams for • few moments, in
order to second the motion that has been made by the hon.
mentOor for Berkshire; sad I have dim so in accordance
with te. etch of the right beet. gentleman opposite, who
said that as his right has. frisad the member for North
liasts bad formerly belonged to the party sitting on this
aide of the how*, it would be more agreeable to him, and
at the seine time it would be more expressive of that ens-
Dimity of opinion which it is most desirable should be seen
to-diy .n selecting out highest officer, if the sootiest were
seconded by • member of her Majesty's opposition. I en-
tirely concur with the propriety of that sentiment; and
my only regret is that the right honourable gentle-
man did not make the application to some gentleman
more calealated than myself WM,. weight and authority to
the reemastendation, nod to one that might more fairly be
be looked upon as the organ—the unofficial organ—of that
party with whom I have the hamar to act. I say the an-
off.cial organ of that parq, because it is sot usual for any
gentleman holding high.fes, or who has been connected
with bigh office, to propose or second a candidate for the
chair. But, be that as it may, it gives me the sincerest
satisfaction to have this public opportunity afforded me of
bearing my testimony to the manner in which my right
hon. friend, Mr. :Shaw Leferre, km performed the arduous
duties which have devolved upon Lim. I am sure than I
am giving utterance not only to my own feelings, but to the
feelings of every hon. gentleman around me, when I say
that we are proud that my right hon. friend has sprung
from the rank, to which we belong; and, now that he has
laid aside all party feeling, we are still more proud of him
a. • membir of that legislature of which we are all mem-
bers. (Loud cheers.) The qualifications of the right hon.
gentleman are so well known, not only to those who
have had the advantage of taking a part under his
auspices in the business of this house, but also to the
public at large, that it would be a work of supvserogation in
Me to dilate at any length upon them ; and certainly upon
this recession it would be extremely so after the good taste
and ability with which the hon. member who preceded me
hasepoken. (Cheers.) Bat before I sit down I should like
to make on. remark, which I hope the house will notson.
eider altogether foreign to the subject. It is said to lene
of the infirmities to which human nature is liable to give an
undue, said perhaps exaggerated, prominence to events
which era peeping around us ; but, if I have any doe
appreciation of events at all, there has hardly over been in
the history of the world a more important crisis than that
at which the imperial legislators is summoned together for
the despatch of business. At • time when the liberties of
Ramjet, and the rights of free, full, and open discussion
(and I might almost say, the rights of public opinion), bang
tof this Lare"ad-i;atdeaepimyoitenty.odf this sort, characterom
us to ace with unusual prudence, calmness, awl
wisdom. I think that we should take the utmost
pains that the liberty of free thought and free discussion,
that we have so long and so happily enjoyed, may not be
abused for any personal, party, or factious purposes ; hut
that we should gaud that right, which has heen committed
and which is now committed to us. it is seareely any eras-
e-ration to my, for the benefit of mankind at large I
(Cheers.) If this be the position in which we now stand,
and which I think I gather front the assent with which
them remarks seem to be received by at team a portion of
the house is felt to be the ease, it is a matter of great re-
jolting for us that we can avail naming of the services of a
man whose high standing and discriminating judgment—
whose large and varied experience—anal whose indefatigable
attention so eminently quelify him to be the moderator of our
discussions, and to preside over our debate., at a period,
recollect, at which, if there were no other disturbing causes
than those to which I have adverted, the nicely balanced
state of parties alone would render the office one of very
great difficulty and delicacy indeed. (Loud cheers.) 1
Wlll not trespass any longer upon the attention

of the hens*, but I shall conclude by seeandiag
the minion of the has. Member for Berkshire, whose pro-
position 1 understand to be, that the most It and proper
gentleman to be plated in the chair is my right hoe. friend
the member fur North Haub—• man who, arnr4lt • long
series of years, while 'maintaining to the almost the inde-
pendence, the honour, and d;gitity of this Uwe, has been
enabled to demean himself so as equally is conciliate the
good-will, the respect and esteem of every member of every
elms and every party in this house. (Load sheen.)
Sir R. INGLIS—Sir Denis Le Merchant, I rise to ton-
gra•sdate the right hose gentleman, but my feeling is to
congratulate far mnra warmly the house by whom he is
about to be cloned. (Hear, hear.) In our presence, in
the presence of so many hon. gentlemen oblong experience,
it is needless to add a single word a• to the personal qualifi-
cations of the right hen. gradient°. It is perhaps not un-
necemary, however, to recall to the recollection of some
hon. members, and to state to others, the very different
amount of time and labour which are now required of the
Speaker of this house from what used formerly to be
the case, though that time and that labour have
bun bestowed most cheerfully and most beneficially
upon the public service. (Hear, hear.) Why, souse
hundred years ago the Speaker had not, perhaps, one-
tenth part of the labour which now devolves upon the or
cupaut of that chair. A hundred years ago there were not
above three debates and fifteen divisions in • session ; but
lust )I,lr we had 212 divisions, and the Speaker, whom 1
trust shortly again to address in that chsrrcter, has sat in
the coons of his occupancy of the office no lees than 13,000
hours in that chair. (Loud laughter and cheers.) When
you say that one speaker tilled the chair during the whole
reign of George 1., and another during the entire reign of
George 11., 1 say that the right hon. gentleman has com-
pressed into the period of has service more labour, more
attention, and more sucetuful energy than any of his pro-
decemon. (Loud cheers.) 'Llimete.re, sir, knowing whet
he has been, and rejoicing to see am still enjoying such
health as may justify us in hoping that he will continue to
render us his services with equal seal and success—having
heard one hon. gra:essan on the ministerial benches
pr-
pose and ano:her hon. gentleman on the opposition side
second him—as no one else rose, I telt it my dui),
as an old member of this hours—(cheers)—to endeavour to
etpress the feelings of gratitude towards him which I
believe are sharel with me by a large majority of the house.
(Cheers.) 1 hope that every individual who has had cape-
risen of the right boa. gentleman's conduct will express
their sentiments by their vie, and that those who have
not had elperienee will have confidence in those qualities,-
thins which so pre-enidsentiv lit him for the chair. (Cheers.)
I cordially concur in the motion. (Loud cheers.)

- - .
A slight pause ben ensuing, and a cry of "Question"
being
• •

- -
Mr. UV MI: said that the right hon. gentleman hasiog
been proposed and seconded, it now became the duty of tlist
clerk of the house to put the question. 'That h trine bent
carried, the mover and seconder ought then to had the
right hoe. gentlemen to the chair.
Sir Dents Lt AI•ICHANT accordingly put the motion,
which was carried unanimotudy.

Mr. LEFEVRE—Perhaps before the question is put the
house will indulge me by allowing me to make one observa-
tion. It is not nemeesary for me to say that I highly value
the friendship and regard which can alone have suggested
the complimentary tense in which the hon. gentlemen
have done me the tumour to introduce my name; and I
hope it is equally unnecessary for me to assure the
house, that 1 have not only listened to the speakers,
but I bare witnessed the very flattering reception which
the house has been pleased to accord to me, with feelings
of unfeigned oratitude. (Cheers.) The experience of more
than thirteen years has confirmed the opinion which I held
soon after 1 entwined a seat in parliament, not only of the
value and importance of those privileges which, as the hon.
member for Seri:shire has said, are enjoyed bytb.s house
for the benefit of the people at large—(cheers)—but also of
the practical wisdom by which the forms and orders of the I
house have been [rimed for the regulation of our proceed- '
logs, and for the due and proper conduct and discharge et
the public business. But, sir, that experience has also
taugat me the enormous amount of responsibility which
attaches to that individual to whom the guardianship of
those and the enforcement of those forms and
orders have been entrusted. (Hear, hear.) My hon. friend
the member for the University of Oxford (Sir It. Inglis),
whose long standing and the respect in which he is held in
this house so well entitle him to pronounce an opin ..... utwn
a subject of this nature, has stated the anxious and labo-
rious duties which are now attached to the office of the
Speaker. They are such that I should almost, even after
the experience to which I have referred, hesitate to under-
take them, were it not that I feel there is day from me to
the house a debt of gratitude for the unvarying kindness
which 1 have received from it during the penod of my
view in the chair ; and, were it not above all, that I enter-
, tain a strong conviction thetas' honest determiaation on my •
part faithlully and impartially to discharge the duties which
the odic, will impose upon me will meet not only with the
indulgence but with the cordial support and co-operation of
the house. (Loud cheers.) With these few observations
1 shun bow to the decision of the house whatever that may
be. (Loud cheers.)

The question, however, was not again put, but, amidst
loud applause, the right hen. gentleman was at once con-
ducted by Mr. Palmer end Lord it. Grosvenor to the chair.
Having taken his seat, he said—As it has been the pleasure
of the house again to place me in this chair, 1 trust that
they will permit me to express the sincere obligation I feel
to them for this additional mark of thek confidant* and
esteem ; and I beg to assure them that these repeated marks
of kindness will, it possible, redouble my anxiety to devote
every energy in my power to their service. (Lund cheers.)

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—Mr.
, Speaker, It now becomes my gracious duty to cougrata.a.e
you, sir, upon having received the highest hon:ur whit
English gentlemen can confer upon one of their number
who possesses their confidence and esteem. Those hon.
gentlemen who have preceded a• have intimated the
great and eminent qualities necessary to be possessed
by one who fills the situation you now occupy,
and it is unnecessary for me, remembering that during the
four p aliment,' of the Queen yon have occupied the same
chair, myself to refer to that; but knowing the courage
with which you can vindicate our privileges, the firmness
with which you can maintain the order of the house and of
our debates, and the spirit of impartiality which always
guide, your conduct, I may, perhaps, having had the
honour of a seat in this house when you were first elected,
and having been a member in the interval, I may, perhaps,
without presumption, notice one trait in your character
which I have often observed, and which I believe entitles
you to our increased confidence and trait. It is this. I
have always observed that at those conjunctures which oc-
casionally occur when may, routine cannot guide an indi-
vidual, and when you have been taken at the moment, your
resources have never faded. You have always been
sustained by sufficient of that self-retinues and self-re-
spect which are necessary at such a crisis. (Chars.)
There is one other reason which I think renders it a subject
of great congratulation to the house and the country, that
our choice to-day his fide* upon yea, air. I cannot but re-
member that this is not only a new parliament, but that
the individual on whom, from his position, the practical
control and government of its busbies. rests, is admitted by
all to have hardly had that nifiteient experience which is
necessary for the poit I occupy ; and although I feel confi-
dent that whenever the order or the honour of this house
are concerned, so long as I sit hem I shall never appeal in vain
to hoe gentlemen on whstever aidie they may bit, still I feel
that, under the circumstances, the selection we have made
is one upon which the house is much to be congratulated—
falling, as it does, upon an individual who possesses not
onljithe confidence of the house, but who has frequently
and repeatedly received the approbation of our most gra-
cious Sovereign. (Load dorm)

Lord J. RUSSELL—Sir, I may be allowed to add one
word to what has been said by the right hon. gentleman.
I feel it is a matter of the greatest importance and of the
greatest good fortune that at this particular period, when
there are so many Dumber' in this house without experience
in its debates, we should have to preside over our discus-
sions one who has already shown his qualifications for the
eminent post he occupies, and who, whenever it his been
nee/mare to enforce the rders and rules of the house, has
done so *Rh such judgment, and at the same time with
such courtesy, as always to obtain the willing obedience
even of those who seemed most inclined to infringe the
rules. (Loud sheen.) I will only add one further remark,
and do so because the right hon. gentleman opposite has
alluded to his short experience in the conduct of businern.
I feel persuaded that I am "peeking on the part
of other honourable gentlemen, and at all events I
give him an assurance on the part of mrelf, that
say assistance in carrying on the business of the house,
which the house can render to the right hon. gentleman,
will be cheerfully and readily given ; hecause I feel it Is of
the utmost importance that we should cautinue to set that
*sample which we have hitherto done for more than two
centuries, of a deliberative "suitably which can carry on its
discussions with the utmost freedom, and at the same time
with the utmost regard to propriety and decorum. (Loud
cheers.)
THE SPEnli Elt'S LEVEES.

Mr. TIC MR said he &mold have then perfectly satisfied
with the speeches which he had heard, had it not been for
a request which he had been asked to make on behalf of
several hon. members. The right hon. gentleman (the
Speaker) hsd not yet given them an opportunity of
doing that which he (Mr. Hume) was most entices
to see more frequently carried out, namely.
of paying their respects to him as Speaker,
(Laughter.) Ile looked upon the right hon. gentleman as
the first commoner in the land. (Some interruption, in
consequence of which the Speaker, for the first time this
parliament, called " Order "") lion. gentlemen were pre-
cluded from attending the Speaker's levees, in order to pay
their respects to him ns the fist eommoner in the land, by
a practice which he (Mr. Hume) considered to be not in ac-
cordance with the original constitution. lie could attend
upon her Majesty to present the addresses of the house in
his ordinary attire—(laughterl—but ho was not enabled to
pay his respects to the Speaker in his common dress. (More
laughter.) lion. gentlemen might laugh; but Mr. Aber-
erousby, when speaker. seceded to a similar request to that
which hewn making on the part of several members. (No.)
lie could assure theist that, as far as dinners went,
he should not often trouble them. (Renewed laughter.)
There were 00 members, and he wished to see the
Speaker's levers attend, il, not by .10 or 100, or 150, but by
a major part of the house. No man could be mare ready
or anxious than hi.nself to support the nibs and ...Men of
the house; the stiiet übstivance of which he considered
e•sent,al to the maintenance of its hi;11 character; and no
one wished less to detract from the honour and respect
which were due to the Speaker; but it was because he
thought these would be both promoted by acceding to the
request which he was now making, that he was induced to
take thin, the tint opportunity, of communicating to the

right hos. gontleinan the wishes of those iambus who bad
desired hit• to mention the subject.
Mr. F. MACKENZIE reeved that the honest do now ad-
journ till oreborrow (this day), at two s'elnek in the after
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NIGH WATIE AT LONDON BRIDOIL
ten D.. 71. Is A "'pm)" 711.345.
r.tittats—stetlti. tt. 7s. A smut. Vt. Is.