The National Register.
London, England, 1812-11-29 00:00:00

t)11'. 29i

Ihe Earl of Mulgrave was introduced by the Earls of Westmore-
;3,l,l and H.irrowhy. ills patent of creation having been react at the
his Lr;rdship. also took the oaths of his sear.'fix oaths were likewise administered to the Duke.: of Kent and
Ilipot, and other Lords, until four o'clock, whet the Ilcuse ad-
purni:(l.

THVRSDAY, NOV'. `1.3.
The Lord Chancellor came to the house at three o'clock, and some
','.rrs took the oaths. Adjourned at tour o'clock.

rhe reminder of the week Lis been emp!oyed by the Lords i❑
:4i..n6 or the oaths and scats.

110UE OF COMMONS.

ivrll kV, NOVI:MIMI% 01.

1 great number of Nlembers were present at about a quarter to three
jleck, when the Usher of the Black Rod arrived, aisd desired tneir
.:7:rndance at the bar of the House of Lords, to hear the Commission
'cad for assembling the I resent Parliament. On tiieir return, they
procee(fed, as used, to elect a Sreaker, when
Sir pas: N rcuoL7., rose, and observed, that their fast duty was
exercise their antient and undoubted privi we tin the electi,-n cl a
to the Chair of that House. It might, he thought, in •orne
;wee tend to assist them in a proper choice on the present occasmv ;
i!lg v -nte red briefly to con,ider the duties, pnblic as well as pri-
vate, which the person tilling that Chair had to perform, and the
cinaliEations necessary to a leper discharge of them They con-
sisted in re;ulatiag the proceedings of that House, in presiding over
their legislative deli`Tritions in enforcing order and dec,aurn, in ex-
pres!iog the approbation of that House and its censure, and in w.itch-
i-g over its privileges with a jealous eye, and in aserting its rights with ,
f.rmness and decision. In addition, also, to those great poolic
dit-
ties, there were others of a private nature, which consti.toei no
mall part of the labour of the situation in Ihe present state and in ,
the improving condition of the wealth and prosperity of this country .
The discharge of those various duties, require I talents and attain-
mews, such as was rarely found united in the same individual. There
ran, indeed, hardly a qualification which went to the tiirmati, n of
a perfect character, that the situation of Speaker did not, at some
time or other, 'cquire. It demanded an understanding enliclvened
as highly cultivated, learning various, elegant and profound, an ar-
dent attachment to our glorious Constitution, a minute acquaintaoce
with the history of this country and its laws, and a correct and ac-
curate knowledge of the forms of Parliament, as recorded in their vo-
,aminaus proceedings, or as existing in their unwritten practices.
Nor would he pass over entirely the subordinate duties of the station—
lainctuality ofattendance and quickness in the dispatch of public hit li
-
sx,es , coupled with correctnesq. Among the qualities, also, that
strc emiwntiv necessary to maintain and enforce the dignity of that
ht,;) station, he would enumerate promptness of decision, firmness
almoner, a suavity of temper not to be ruffled by rudeness, an easi-
nass of access, and an attention not to be exhausted by the laborious
duties of the office in questi;m, and, above all, he would add, a strict
impartiality essentially necessary to secure the universal confidence of
the House. Numerous as these qualifications were, others were still
requisite. The Thanks of the House would want much of their hieh
and effect, if dolivered without an adequate and corresponding
dignity of manner and expression, and their censures would lose part
of their corrective force. unless they were uttered with a demeanour
;!:lil manner, firm and impresive. In asserting the privileges of that
ri.use, against the encroachments of the other branches of the Con-
eituanan, they should expect in their Speaker a judguvnt beyond
controul. and an integrity beyond influence. In transacting the pri-
v.ae business of the House, nothing was more desirable than ur.
biaity of disposition, an easiness of access, a courtesy of demeanour.
an indefatigable industry in adjusting conflicting claims, and a
constant watchfulness in protecting the rights of individuals. Nor
would he wholly pass over that liberal and dignified hospitality
which became their Speaker, and which suited the rank and station
the most dis'inguisheci Commoner in the realm. These appeared
hint to ha the most prominent qualifications necessary t' exist
Lithe individual who should have the honour of tilling that Chair ;
if, in presuming to propose a person fit for that high office, it
alit been necessary for him to resort to his own private judgment, of
4 person so qualified, he hoped he should have known himself well
enough to have shrunk from the task, and left its performance to
: °ille one better entitled to the confidence of the Hons.!. But he
ould not avoid congratulating himself, and he would venture to con-
ratulate the House also, that it was not necessary on the present oc-
casion to select a Speaker on the hope and promise of future exec:l-
'1,1%e, and of qualifications to be developed by the :itiultion. • he
1
might fix its choice on the secure basis of tried exc,•llenee.
:,3nose Members W.) were then present for the first time might p-
se, perhaps, that while he had endeavoured to dcscaibe—im-
rertet:tly he most willingly admitted—thequalities • • be
necc.,.„a‘ to
!Ilelbnled in a person filling that Chair, he hail been tracing merely
the outlines of a picture which existed only in his own imagination ;
they who had set is the four proceeding Parliaments would