The Express.
London, England, 1866-02-02 00:00:00


IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT,

HOUSE OF LORDS.-THURSDAV, FEB. 1.

Amongst thaw who were first to teke the usual oaths
were Earl Russell, Earl Granville, the Duke of Somerset,
the Vi•count Falkland, the Marquis of Westmeath, the
Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of Durham, Lord
Ebury, the Marquis of Lowdown, Earl Rodeo, Viseciont
Sydney, Earl Dalhousie, lord Stanley of Alderley, the
Duke of Argyll, Lord Harris, Lord Taunton, Lord Eversley,
Lord Colchester, the Bishop of Liocobt, and the lit'shop of
Ely.
Ther lordships adjourned at 5 o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—THIIRSDAY, F. 1.
(Contioaed from yesterday's Express).

After Mr. Mottssit. and the Earl of Games:ma had
spoken.
Mr. BRIGHT expressed his opinion that the critical
choice of Mr. Denison was one of the best that could have
been made. and the la; se of nine years had couliraied that
opioioe, as the right hoe. gentleman had shown all the ne-
eetaary qualities of capacity and impartiality, and had
achieved a success is his high functioe. He heartily sup-
ported the =Mien. He took the opportunity of drawing
attention to the rule which compelled all members
to awed the levees and dinners of the Speaker
in omit dress or unifotin, urging that such a custom
was inapt for a popular assembly and ra'her out of date.
The fact of so many new members being in existeem
rendered it the more nece airy to revert to the subject,
and to urge its inconveoience ; and though of mane he
did not put his objection oe the mere ground of expense,
yet he knew of a case in which it had oust
a member fifty guineas to appear in the required ors-
tume at a Speaker's dinner. He stated that the late Mr.
Cobden, for the twenty-four years during which he sat in
parliament, was precluded by this rule from accepting the
kindness and hospitality of the Speaker ; and be did so
from so mere caprice, but for reason. which were conclu-
sive to his min& He (Mr. Bright) did not object to any
member who so chose appearing in a gorgeous costume
but he thought that those who, like himself, had no such
&rite, might be permitted to visit the Speaker in a quieter
garb. He threw out to the suggestion to the Speaker in
the hope that be might be induced to repeal the Act of
'Uniformity on this point.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—I rise in
consequence of the suggestion of my hen. friend to add a
single word to what has been said by him in calling the
attention of the house to this subject, which is undoubt-
edly cemented with the convenience—it may be
with the opinions or feelings—of many members. I think my
bon. friend will sgree with noe—l almost think the house
in general will feel—that my right hon friend, with re-
specs to whom this propoeal is made, cannot be expected
at once to deliver a biodiog judgment on a matter of such
Pave importance. (Laughter.) I think the right hon.
gentleman ought not to be compelled to commit himself
without a full opportunity of considering the question.
(Hear, hear.) I are sure that any communication which
any of us may make to my right hon. friend, either now or
at any future time, touching either the dignity or eomfott
of any member, will be considered hyhino, if he be chosen for
the chair, with his accustomed patience and courtesy. (lieu.)
Mr. DENISON who spoke from the front bench below
the gangway on the &material side of the house, said—l
offer my most grateful thanks to the house fur the honour
it his proposed to confer open me. lam much beholden to
my right hon friend and to my noble friend for the manner
in which they have proposed and seconded my nomination.
I can hardly venture to mums to myself much of the corn.
mend/time they have been pleased to pass upon me. Such
words, the favour of the house, and the gracious way in
which that favour has been conferred by the unanimous
choice, for the third time, of the house, may unduly elevate
me in my owe estimation; but I bare a strong and
abiding awe of many imperfections and short-
oomines, and I attribute the favour of the house to
an iodufgeet spprecistion of my imperfect services. That
1 have mdmvoured to do my duty as a zealous and faith-
ful servant of the hones I can truly say. (Loud cheers.) ,
What I have been enabled to do you all know, but it would
not become me to enlarge upon the subject, nor would you
desire that I should make professions for the future. I will
not occupy the house with one sonemesary word ; and I
will only my further, that I submit myself to the house
with ell possible respect. (Cheers.)
The right hon. gentleman was then led up the hones by
the mover and seconder to the chair, Mr. Mooeell taking
him by the right hand and Earl Grosvenor by the left.
Having taken his seat amidst cordial cheers, the right hoc.
gentleman immediately rose and addressed the house is the
character of SPEAKER as follows :

I offer my thanks once mere to the house from this chair,
for the great bosour conferred upon rue by being called to
it. Is looking &mod the house I miss, sod we all miss,
ogre familiar face. The house has sustained a great loss.
We have loot him who was the foremost man amongst ne—
the leader of this house—one who by his great abihtios, by
his long experimion, end by a rare combination of qualities
bad obt.ined for himtelf the confi !mice of this house. You
remember, often, after long sittings, when the patient* of
the hotpre was nearly exhausted, how his good
temper and his genial spirit composed the ruffled
surface, and sent os home at peace with each
other ;rod with him. (Hear, hear.) I do not propose to
pass an eulogium upon LordPalmenton. but I feel bound
to otter Oleos few words of regret, esteem, and grateful
recollection. (Cheers.) From the great body of this hone/
—those who were ruy colleagues in the past parliament—l
ask f. r a renewal of that generous support which they have
on former occasions occluded to me. There are a largo
number of members be this house who take their seats here
for the first time. They succeed to no ignoble inheritance.
I will say to them that much of the fame of this house in
the conduct of the debates and in the transaction of busi-
ness depends en the rules and orders which it has framed
for itr owe government. A knowledge of these t tiles will
be useful to every member, and the better they are known
the more sore I shall fool of general co-operation io my
endeavours to uphold them. (Hear, bear.) If any thffi•
milty connected with the conduct of business should occur
to any member of the house. I trait he will communicate
with me, and it wit give me pleasure at all times to re-
ceive him, and confer with him in a spirt of frank and
friendly oennseL (Hear, boar.) I offer my respectful
thanks to the house.

The right hon. gentleman was here again greeted with
general eheeriog.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—I presume,
sir, in my own name, mod I amours I may add in the tame
of °Heir members of this house, to tender to you the most
cordial cosgratulatioos on your baying been for the third
time, by the unanimous voice of the house, placed at the
head of the Commons of England. (Cheers.) Sir, you suc-
ceed to • chair eocompassed by growing duties and growing
responsibilities. The mutts of modern society make them-
solves felt within these walls, in the increasing amount both
of public business and what is termed private business.
Your duties in the lattiir respect are io a great
withdrawn from the observation of the world,
at they are partially withdrawn even from the observa-
tion of members of the house ; but the long experi-
ence of those who are cr items:tot with that im-
portant breech of our occupations has convinced
them that the whole of that department never
was more 'carefully, never wee more efficiently, at-
tended to than during the period you, sir, have
occupied that chair. (Cheers.) As regards the public
business of the house, all those who hear me, and, I
may ad,l, the public out of doors, are oompetest judges of
the m.soner in which you have performed your arduous
functioes, as is indicated by the adept but noaci-
moue cots which has just been passed by the house.
Bat it is true that in some respects you have difficulties to
eonfrost oven beyond those that •riee from the constantly
increasing ells upon the time, diligence, and wisdom of the
house. We have seen within a generation • great change
in the composition of the house, and likewise • greet
change in the contpo.ition of those constituencies by which
it was chomp. At the period of the Reform Act, the effect
of the important alterations of a constitutional character
which were made was immensely softened by the continuing
presence on the benches of this house of numbers of men
who had gained distinction and acquired authority under
the old parliament iry system. From year to year, from par-
liament to parliament, one by one they have pas-ed away.
So lately as oa the last oomeion when you were chosen
to ill that chair, there were remaining three persons
who bed attained to great parliamentary distinction and
bad filled high offices before the pawing of the Reform
Ball. The bust was my noble friend Earl Russell, who has
been removed, in acknowledgment of his public services,
to the other house of the legislature. Seciodly, there
was my right hoe. friend, the late Sir James
Graham, than whom few members had over made
more valuable contributions to the conduct of the
bunnies of this house. The last end the most
eminent of them all, from the place he occupied on these
benches sad from the favour sad attachment of the bonze,
was Lord Palmerston. (Hear, bear.) It is not necessary,
and it watdd hard'', be seemly for me, after what has bees
said by my right hon. Mewl and also by yourself, to dilate
on the character of that great man, the more especially as
it may be my duty very shortly to make a proposal to the
loose which will naturally introduce the subject. But one
tiding I will venture to say. You have glanced at the
loss experienced by yourself by the lamented death
of Lord Palmerston ; bat there is one other person
at heat is this house who may venture to compete even
with you, sir, in the tame of that loss, sod that i. the
humble perso• who has now the honour to address you,
eonsideneg the responsibilities which have devolved upon
him. (Cheers.) We have, as was to be expected after the
brie of so many years sine the last parliament was
aitited, had as unusual number of gentlemen chosen for
the first time to the high duty of representing the interests
of their fellow countrymen within these walls. Bat there
is antaziegstreogth in the incline= of this house, and I
em happy to say there is equal aptitude is English gentle.
men for conforming to the spirit of those traditions.
It was remarkable to observe, from parliament to parlia-
ment, bow little those who watch the proceedings of this
he from without, or those who take part in its premed-
kop within these walla, are able to nark my differsece in
llt• firmness, regalanty, and distiplim of this beam, in
mosequemse of the large isfesion of new members which
naturally follows • dissolution of parliament.
however, we lamest the heavy lessee we have sustained,
we may still reflect with pleasure that there are oa both
skim of the hones mess wham ability. whose experience, whose
ohaisorksy awl whose pest sathority, win noble awn to

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