The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1807-06-23 00:00:00

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6144% of publica*. that forb;da the to r;weri thi op- Gentleman, whose chareler and qualifications Sri
portunny of-declaring soy opinion and the coo Iscien- now the snbjefts of discussion. He has former sy
tines convAion which is iMpressei u; on my Mind filled that Chair in such a manner, that I thi. k I
with respect to the Hes. Person who is most worthy shot.l.l not be doing justice to my own feelings. it I
ni i epresentiMe this House in the present most dii'- did not say, that I do not kit iw of any one indi-
ficult and critical situation of puhlic affairs. An- vidtial so well qualified to fill that dignified and
other circumstance that induces !ne thus to step honourable situation, as that Right kloaourahle
forward, is the satisfaction I feel iii adding my tri- Gentleman opposite. lie saying thus much of him,
bute to the merits of a man, whom the longer I t I may perhaps by some he thought to be going too
know, the more I approve. I cannot avoid, I far in my einogium, and I ackoowledgere I t they o
h a might
upon such an occasion, expressing my conviaion think so with same degree of jock*, we
that he is a person who will recommend formed this opinion merely upon the basis of those
himself by being totally free from all party I (ratifications which have been touched upon by
prejudice and partiality ; yet, at the same time, the mover and seconder of the motion. I do
I cannot but deplore the continuance of all not mean to infer, that there may not be se-
those difficulties and dangers to which the present I ver'l men now prese t in this House, who,
times render him liable, in undertaking such a flighty I from their abilities, extoisive knowledge, and
responsible and dignified situation. and one so ma. l experience, are perhaps equally adequate to the
terially calculated to offal the most important in- important arid Ardu us task of OM./ that office ;
teiests of this couatry. The present difficulty will bit, Sir, under the present circumstances in whiJi
be as to how that Chair can he most usefully and that Right lion. Gentleman stands, and in the pre-
honourably filled. I am hopeful, that as to the i sent situation of offairs. I think there are other con-
Hon. Gentleman whom I am about to propose, sideratitms and other qualities which ought to enter
there can be but one opinion. and I shall hail his into the computation. I am convinced, I ..y.
unanimous election to the tespeflable situation of I from this mere comprehensive view of the etiloeti,
Speaker of this House, from a knowledge of his that the House could not make a more ;it:litmus
character and ability. as a happy omen of the choice than in elefting that Gentleman. 1 p riecrly
justice and irripattiolity with which our furore dc= i concur in every thing that has been stated coocere-
iiberarions will be comilifted. It has not been on-ing him. I approve of the detail which the two
usual to enlarge, upon such an occasion as the Hon. Gentlemen who preceded me have s v‘n of
present, upon the nature of the office. and the his charafter. While Ido this, however, I rousc also
various qualifications necessary to fit an individual be allowed to state, that from such q 1446 .soon
to fill it with honour and advantage ; but, upon this I alone does not arise the g 'veining m tree of my
occasion. there 'cannot be any necessity for me to acquiescence. What more immediately ieo is to in-
take up the time of the I louse very largely upon dace sotto support this nomination, is that spirit of
inch topic's, as we lately elefted the very same firmness and independence, with whitls he has al-
person,
who has filled the situation, for several years ways executed the high trust comit
Out mooe parmted t hi.
past, in a manner the most hosorurahle and saris- and this, too, opt every occasion, mr
tottery. If 1 were callsid upon to give an instance t tictilarly upon a memorable one, the cireiimstances
of what 1 thought the Speaker of this Haute ought of which are yet fresh in your see Ale.: •n. The
to be, and to choose that example foam amongst all situation in which he was placed was, indeed,
those individuals who have formerly beep &card t“ singsilar ; but it was such ai may .ur as on
that dignity, many of whom have fill:.! it with —1 allude to a ttansaCtion which 1.,.k piece in
great honour sad iespeCtability to themselves, and this House, at a time when .rieny wh.) a
tos,re
advantage to their country, I should nitrite the now here were no: present ; an os ca. on, wa
Right Hon. Charles Abbot. I could dwell, writ: upon a division taking place, oa tote propose
rest pleasure, upon his anmerou, goalitication.. I ii.,n of an lion. Friend ut mine, who i. :. me. absent,
Lis charatter tor accuracy of mind,h;• conmierleisove t ;Mr. Whithreodj. the nurrt) rs of Members
knowledge of the proceedings of 'his House, his on both side. of the qiiesii ai were o, .1. Stich
love of the ConstatutiOu, and the gear imoarthili,y 'Was the predicament in wok : t let its . .ion.Gen-
which he has always evinced in the Chair ; v.cre I tisman was placed. when .• :it spying as o • Chair to
to attempt to detail all these particulars, lam con Wiich we are man prop• ..0., no recali • ... ; a ore-
vinced the description w uld fall infinitely short of di ament in which' he ,•.1 a rein.. ; .d.o. oopttou-
his real niero. When that Right Hon Gentleihan nay of exerciona that ti naess of IT: ..• .N:liCh is so
occupied the situatioa of Chem Secretary for I's-- becoming hi all shoot ;'s of life, but pculatiy
land, I, as a Member of the then existing Govetn- in that to which he i. .d been ca.led hy che un mi-
meo% and au opportun.ty il knowing how much moos cot:currency ..1 Otis Huse. He gave, es it
Ireland had TO lament i.is quitting the charge of thoo I v/Zr:!, A tram aiol b itly to the wishes of the people,
c iuntry, to fill our Honourable Color,- in this sine. 1 by rionvettiog toe propositions which were then sub-
know him personally to tie one rf the bit and j milted too.. Into /I solations of this /Louie ; I menu
most faiti.ful servants of the public that we c told ;!t ism Rcsolu I..ns which ~receded the Impeachment
possibly procure again to ot: enpy that sat:Liam ; et i ..rd \Heine (Lend erns of &or i haw I hoer !
and of all the Members of tot mer Admirn ot al ians, i fr,,,n tie tarsiers at Opposltsoas J Sir, what induces
who have encountered difficulties, none woe -ye I tne moot p ,ai -utility to allude to this fact, is, the
better able to extricate their count, y Wan then) eirenmstance et my eanviaion that this must he a
with greater ease, and at the came '.na.: maul greeter I inquiring Parliament. other wise we shall find a, .1
pleasure to t Iteinsel yes. With •to .1, taming you. 'he people of this country will be intinitely disaopoi• •
Sir, and the House, by enterseg twilitt into cult, edin the expeadionstneyheve formed of those %el
gloms upon the great aid imoettanie coal-attar I they have sent to it as their Representatives. U
allude to. I shall conclude wi.h m.sving. " r. at such grounds, therefore, I think, that the
the Right Honceirabl.• Charles Abbot do take the I nest and resposis;biny of a Speaker at s
(pair of this House." House, caoaot be delegate I into the hands of
This motion was followed by universal marks I any moo with greater propriety, or with greater
of aoptobatien ; and immediately after they bad safety. than int . the hands of one. w'-o has
subsided, already executed that situation with firm .s and
Mr. BANKES presented himself, and address- independence. What be has already dot .... ;spun
ed the House thus :—" Sir, I never rose with more a former occasion, we surely have ever? ' Ai to
satisfaction to second any motion than I now do expel tie would not hesitate to do upon • re oc-
that which has just been submitted to you ; because casion. The firmness, the impartiality,.. irited
lam sure lam speaking the unanimous sent;ments and dignified independence, which lie h. . :eady
of those I address, when I say, that lam persuaded shown, should certainly induce us s• • slieve
nothing could conduce so much to the dignity of that he would aft so again, :broad alma milar
this House, and the general interests of the country. opportunity offer. This, therefore, is m ' vein
as the placing such a person as Mr. Abbot in that ing principle for voting for the raight I : . Gen-
Chair, which he has already repeatedly filled with demon. If his cundoa upon that day .• a: been
honour. As I speak in the hearing of many of I otherwise, 1 most unaniesti .nahly would • .• voted
those Members who formerly filled this House. it against him. Ido nit deny, but, on the a , -airy, l•
may be thought, that, as to them, it is totally untie- admit, that he possesses all the qualificatio which
cessary to enlarge ; but there are now many amongst have been enumerated; testi mean lair one :- r,ikly to
us who had hot tormerly a seat here,and therefore 1 own, that this last ooe, which I have sta . o o with
hope they will excuse rise for telling them, that me the chief inducement, the govero ~.incipe
there is no person who has exercised himself which aftuates my vote in hialavour. L osi should
in the duties of that most important office, Ibe said that lam introducmg patty pros pies, and
with more integrity. ability, candour, and fidelity, i party prejudices, I shall abstain from making fur-
than the Right Honourable Gentleman who has titer observations; but while I give my most cordial
been nominated to their choice. He is a Gm- assent to the Motion now before you, I cannot con-
ileman. who. to the most diligent research adds cleat*, without observing. that if ever there was a
the most profound knowledge of mankind, with Parliament likely to create %gamin of discussion
great legal knowledge, extensive expo rience in his.. t upon great political anti parry topics, it is des pre•
tory, and a great and accorate understanding in sent Parliament, which is now for the first day as-
Constitutional and Petliameotary Law. These are sembled•" /Hear! broil)
endowments which quality him most abundantly Mr. WILLIAM SMITH—II Sir, aft• what
to undertake that arduous and difficult situation to he, fallen from those who hate spisken c ion the
which we recommend him. The easy access surojeal of this motion, it would be unnecessary to
which he glee to all who had occasion to consult sise, were it not meirly for the purview of moress-
him. is limit in the recast:bora of merry whom I log my hearty concurrence in the ohservations which
address. To them, too, it is abundantly known, how I have been made by my Hoe. Friend who spoke last.
usefully and honourably he filled the Chair, for Duringthe
last six months, my experience of the
several years. To myself it
.is a great gratification Right Hon. Gentleman who is proposed to, your
to feel, that in dischtirgiiig wsiat l- conclave to be a choice, has not been small, either in regard 'to
great public and Piarliarnentary • Duty. I am also the public or the private trusts comminted to him.
obeying the call of a long and uninterrupted friend-
In those Nations. which ke has officially to per-
ship.He was, Sir. amorgat the hest of my friends foam, in private, his abilities, his perseverance. and
inis world, and it is a great pleasure and satistae- his punauality, have been no less eminently conspi-
tion to sue, to find, in a great Assembly of enlight- cuous to those who intimately know him, and have
coed men. of great qualifications. and Parliament- io no smaller degree qualified him for his situation,
ary experience, that such a friend, whom I have that
those
endowments, which, in this House, have
known so long, and so intimately, should be the come more immediately to the eyes of the public.
person repeatedly deemed most fit to fill the situe- I shall also abstain trom party principles, as much
thin of Speaker amongst us. lam sure that *poo ias the lion. Gentleman who introduced this motion;
this occasion, as upon former ones, those who know I deprecate fation ; Ido not wise to be Vitiated
his abilities, perseverance. and integrity, which have by party motives; and I shall only sat . that if every
signalized hem, will again deem him most fit to resolution that is to be introduced iota the House
resume it, and that those who have not known
him so sufficiently as to have experienced his qua- during this Session, could be as unex:eptionable as
the proposition of this day. f should itsl the greatest
liiicatiows, will never have cause to regret their ac-
quiescence in the opinion and choice of those who satisfaction "
Mr. ABBOT then rose from the Tri cry Bench,
have. On these grounds I concur with my Hon. and expressed himself to the folio +' i . purport :
Friend in every sentiment be has nursed, and .. sie, the important remarks which h.tv • -seen made
to conclude with seconding the motion upon this occasion, so far as they cnncei., the mag-
titled to your coasideratioo." nitude and importance of the situation, svlsich the
LCRAFT. addressing Mr. Ley, said, partiality of the House induces them to p; pose me
ter rose with more pleasure in this House, to occupy, and the variety of quithicatit..a which
feel in rising to express my concurrence are necessary tor adequately filling that r ' if , will
Tin. I have witnessed. in common with lam le:alio:led receive the unqualified vie nence
i now present, the great talents, the in- of all. and particularly of those ',rho hi .e wit-
becoming cambia of that Right Host. 5 nessed She statics ref it. At every period, it is. a si-