The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1806-12-16 00:00:00



ptefaced his Motion, by pointing ent the greenest
tt the taste to be performed,"aied The chetedel: `uncle
qualifieations which 7are.netessare to disilierst
with setisfaillion to the .public. He who ciileulatta
its :rest importance, has imposed upon 11:mit.
great task. It is an office which is intimately ron-
neded with theeereetnees of this empire, and may
be said to operate as a cause of promoting true
happiness throughout all itsinhabitants. The cum•
lifications which are necessary, are acknowledged
by all, to be great and numerous, but perhaps we
are not so likely to form a just and proper estimake
of their real value, on account of the quiet times
in which we live, as there is a disposition in mtn-
kind to vie* and appreciate things in the Lehr
which existing circumstances may justify. At pie-
, sent we are not troubled by internal commotion ;
affairs go on quietly, and, comparatively speak-
ing, the greaten unanimity prevails. Every
thing being thus situated, and while bustle, con-
sternation, and confusi in are nut of view, this ir,
notWehstanding, far from being. the manlier in
which we are to estimate the qualifications necessary
for so high and responsible a situation. We must
proceed. by xie,,ri,:g it more minutely, if we wish to
clothe it with efficiency and harmony in all its parts.
Sir, undoubtedly we are not to suppose; that because
we have lived happily, in times is which our pub-
lic liberties have been secure, and the rights of this
House, and of every branch of the Legislature, have
been peeeerved entire, and their pis lieges use in.
fringed upon, it is unimportant for us to choose a
person intimately acquainted with all the branches
of our glorious Constitution. We sboold onneme
ber, that the happiness of a great country is not to
be exposed to danger, by regulating our coniud
by common events, or truscieg entisely to an ap-
preciation of eireutnstances, formed in times
free from commotion. No; 'sir, this ought not to
be wit line of conduet. We should guard against
probable events; we should remember that the per-
son whom we choose ought. on all occasions. be
one who is pettedly acqueinted with the minim-
lion of his country. We fhould ever keep in wur
view, that anal deviation. may in the end conduce
to great changes. It is folly by an intimate ec-
queintance with the c ‘ntaitn irri, that ally mail een
estimate the effets of small changes, so as to knee:.
where they ate or are not of real Importance. On
these ir i dples, therefore, most undoubtedly one of
the quelificatioos we teq•iire in the person we chose
as our Sprain. is a pefeu! ~ertemtance with the con-
stitution ; are, 1
miy almost say, that he should be'
one who possesses a complete fore of it. These ex.
pressions, however, are almost identical ; for every
one who knows the blessings to be enjoyed
from it, and who has been in the enjoyment
of those blessings, cannot but be, in some de-
gree. 'in love with that constitution from which
they originate, and pow more and more attached
to it, in proportion as he feels the secret springs
which regulate it. Sir, undoubtedly too a ;.erfel
arapaintanee with the history of the country, ante
its eiporitutionel history, or, I may say, the Parlia-
mentary history of it, must be obvious to every oat
to be sebsolutely necessary as one of the (pals:ice-
d ins to be sought after ; as also earegacity to decide,
upon the instant, upon puce affairs or delicate ques-
tions'; a perfed recoiled. on a memory, soui.dueas
of inigolehie a temper not te be milled, a suavity
of MALIUMINS, are ell hiehly important. as described
by my Right
.Flon.l:rienici. • ThemAgereyere7t is
almost unnecessary
for me to spicily, tee they OSHA
accord amide the feesiugs of all who have been. its the
Haase, whi:e the Ragnt rion Gent:easel :tow pro-
posed necupied the Caine. l'!veir recon.dions w.ll
nesdoebt supple them with stuficient evidene • •.1 his
qualifications in these rasped". Sir. 1 eine. :net-
den also various other qualificatiot.s t (sai- ...we is
one branch only of those wisien have be s•laded
to, which I shall yet nr4ice, as it has r -to a pc-
°wham manner within my own knowledei . ..aid con-
sequently is fresh in, my rectiiiedion, meal t e
peculiar qualifications which are levered of a
Speaker of toe Heim of Commons, in toe manage-
ment of the private boon is eonneded with that
House. his branch may, perhaps, to some ap-
pear somewhat imnteterial, when it is measured by
those larger and more ptominent duties, which more
immediately occupy the anention of Members.
Besides the public husiner, with which .'very one
is acquainted, them is a private branch, on which
we find much to approve, and much to estimate,
not only by the v.slue of the prim, ny at stake. the
amount of wMclieweuld astonish every individual
taforrned of it ; but the charuder of Parliament it-
self is in s- me degree interested upon the decision
of various qiiestire s coAcerni:l; private property.—
Of these owe pestions cancer:rag the rights acid pro-
perties of individuals. whictscome be:wetly House.
in comparatively a private shape, these is no person.
Sir, who can jades s a welt as yourself (meaning Mr.
Les, the Chief Choi is) both on acceun• tot your long
experience of Pailiamertery affairs, and the varisus
ovortuilities thereby Afforded you a thing so.
lints nitro be a sense of adherence to the ;teat prin-
ciples of the English Law. in the management of
private bills, as well as in great national-concerns;
for I know ncehing which could be more likely to
produce an alienation hum the Hee e of Coro-
moos, than the non-consideration of that place.
as being the most proper for deciding such ques-
dens as con.ern the rights and properties of
individuals. This is reudered the more import-
ant, as the moan who is appointed to the Chair is,
its general, deemed the ouardian of the weak, the
protedor of the poor. We know that the rich and
'the powerful may be able to adopt measures to pro-
ud their own rights, but this is not tfsa case with
regard to the cut er CIJOS of society. Is it not. there►
fore, of the utniebt iniportaecte that in- all Ircestalet
and biils; which co.M before this House, we. the
Kepreseutatives of the People. &owl' be convinced
that we have teirointed an individuil who is both
We and wi lirg to attead to theth minutely, and to
see that t:v., !fee g riaciPles of le,islatio.s 1111 OL.t,
any degree. erpatted from. or the rigito of private
itsaeidaals tiempled upon i Sir. 1 have said the
mare upon that particular subject, as it noes each
it is 1113"10Sal.lk to !too,: the caniequence of ; ail as
I have lead massy occasions to enable isne w appre-
ciate them, in the ehorader of the individuel whose
qvaltneatirres we are now diestissiog, I tern well coo-
vmcerlthat he,. way adequite to the task; and chat.
in that triodeofer, es well-as others, be aid aroltar
himself te the-HiWere-etiCkeentons. It is. t lowest.,
wit:i sineealar setisfaCtion, that I rise to eve end the
motion ail my Right Hon. Friend. lor,:fedeehtedly,