The Sun.
London, England, 1839-05-28 00:00:00

CANADA.

The NOBLE and LEARNED LORD then said, that ri%t-
withstanding the mention made in the Queen's Speech,
and notwithstanding the message from the Crown,
that a measure should be brought forward with
reference to Canada, the House was still without
any such measure before it, and he should like to ask
whether it was likely that such a measure would be brought
forward soon. He thought it would be very desirable that
it should be-brought forward immediately if possible, rather
than probably three weeks hence, when the House might
be much more fully occupied than it was at present.
Lord MELBOURNE said it was very true that that
subject bad been ad►erted to in the Queen's Speech, and
bad also been brought before both Houses of Parliament by
a message from the Crown. Under these circumstances a
measure was in contemplation—it was a measure of great
importance, and required great consideration, but it was
the intention of her Majesty's Government to bring it for-
ward.

COLONEL PRINCE—CHARGE OF MURDER.
Lord BROUGHAM wished to ask the Noble Mar-
quis on his left hand, if he had any objec-
tion to state whether any steps bad been taken
to stigmatize a person in the Militia of Canada of the
name of Prince, who if there was any truth in the
reports of his conduct had disgraced the name of a
British officer, and degraded that of an English Colonel—
he meant that person who had ordered to be shot
in cold blood four miserable persons taken prisoners
by the Indians, and afterwards released that they ,
might be reserved for the tender mercies of an Eng-
lish Colonel of Militia, who instantly drew them
out one after another, and ordered them to be shot
on the spot. That was true, because it had
been reported by Colonel Arthur.—( Hear, hear.)
He vindicated that by saying that Col. Prince was in a
state of excitement at the time. There was but one state
of excitement which could justify his conduct if tried by a
jury., and that was that he was at the time he perpetrated
the act, of unsound mind. He butchered these four per.
sons without trial in cold blood. Col. Arthur stated that,
and he (Lord B.) asked whether Colonel Prince was
still renewed to hold a commission in her Majesty's service.
The Marquis of NORMA NBY said the matter had
been inquired into, and on the report made to her Ma-
jesty's Government, they had signified their disapprobation
of Colonel Prince's condct. The Noble and Learned
Lord had brought forward all the circumstances of aggra-
vation attached to the case without taking into considera-
tion the circumstances of mitigation.
Lord BROUGHAM thought there could be no harm
in moving for a return of the evidence given upon the in-
vestigation. He had read the sentence : that was anything
but satisfactory. He (Lord B.) had stated no circum-
stances of aggravation—these men had been taken
prisoners, and quarter was given them by the
officer whip took them. They were brought in
one at once, and an hour or two afterwards they
were taken out separately, and ordered to be shot by Co-
lonel Prince without a trial, for which Governor Wall
was hanged, and Colonel Prince was guilty of murder.
That was the fact; he was guilty of murder. Governor
Wall ordered a man to be massacred ; he flogged h;m to
death without trial by Court-martial, and he was hanged
for that. 4-le (Lord Brougham) bad no hesitation, as a
lawyen, in stating that Colunel Prince was guilty of murder.
The Marquis of NORM ANB Y—lf the Noble and
Learned Lord moved for the papers he would have no
objection to their production ; at the same time he
iirot;ld observe that her Majesty's Government had con-
veyed their disapprobation of Colonel Prince's conduct
even after his explanations had been given.
Lord 11ROUG HAM:—It was long after the action—
after -sterreader—after quarter had been asked—in the
atreetio--in the presence of ladies. " Disapprobation" of
murder. no doubt there would be, there will be—but
there must be something more, there must be punishment,
and severe punishment, also.

Lord REDESDA LE presented a petition in favour of
Mr. Rowland Hill's plan of Postage.
Lord WHARNCLIFFE presented petitions in favour
of Church Extension (Scotland).
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE and Viscount. DUN-
CANNON presented several petitions from parishes in
Suffolk, in favour of the Penny Postage, on the plan of
Mr. R. Hill.

Viscount DUNCANNON laid on the table of the
House several papers relating to the discharge of prisoners
it; Ireland.

The LORD CHANCELLOR gave notice that to-
morro►.o week he would move the second reading of the
Church Discipline Bill.
The Earl of WINCHILSEA begged to ask the
Noble Viscount if it was his intention to make any state-
ment as to the principles upon which her Majesty's
Government was in future to be conducted, and if so when ?

Viscount MELBOURNE had no intention to make any
general statement upon the subject.

The Earl of WiNCHIL St; A would then give notice
that on Friday he would make some observations which
would call forth an answer upon the subject.
Lord BROUGHAM said that as it was always the case
that party questions took up a great deal of time, the notice
he had given for Friday he should bring on on Thursday.
The Noble and Learned Lord then said that he had a ques-
tion to ask the Noble Lord at the head of the Governmnt,
which he should not ask, but that the other House, now
rLpresenting the people, had totally abandoned all care and
economy of the public purse. In fact he might say that a
generation hid grown up that knew not Joseph--( A laugh,
cau ed by Ea Noble and Learned Lord turning to Mr.
Hume who w,ts at the bar.) The question he wished to
put was whether Sir John M'Neill, who had been ap-
pointed to the Persian Mission that was now broken up,
received vny salary ?
Lord MELBOURNE said that he was not able to give
any answer to the Noble and Learned Lord, but he
thought it was very improbable that he did receive any
salary.

LOrd ELLENBOROUH said that Sir John M'Neill
received no salary from this country, as the whole expenses
acre paid by the East India Company.
,After a short conversation the subject dropped, and the
Homo adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, MAY 27.
The Stranger's Gallery was opened at Three o'Clock,
at woich time there were a great number of Members in
the body of the H. use. At a quarter to four (the time at
wnich Lord John Russell rose) the House was crowded to
as great an extent as we remember to have seen it on any
former occasion
ELECTION OF SPEAKER.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, her Majesty has corn.
mended me to inform this House that it has been notified
to hqr Majesty by Mr. A,bercrornhy, that for reasons al.
ready known to the House he has determined to retire
from the honourable but laborious service in this House as
Speaker. lam further commanded by her Majesty to
state to this House, in order to prevent any interruption to
business, her Majesty has given leave to the House to pro-
ceed immediately to the election of a Speaker.
Mr. HANDLEY immediately rose, and said—hi rising
to propose to the House a successor to the Right Hon.
Gentleman who had resigned the Chair, though be was
aware he was pr eluded from dwelling on the loss occa.
sinned by his retirement, yet this much he might be per-
mitted to state, that although the Right Hon. Gentleman
had quitted the Chair too soon for the public advantage, yet
, from the excellent manner in which he had performed that
duty, he had secured and carried with him the warmest wishes
of every Member of that House fur the re-establishment
and enjoyment of that health which be ( Hr. H.) feared
the labours in their service had but too much tended to
impair.—( Hear, bear.) Were be on the present occasion
addressing a new Parliament it would be incumbent on
him to enter somewhat at large into the duties of Speaker,
but in as much as he was addressing MAnbers who

had all of them ample experience of what those duties were,
, he should merely refer to them so far as to point out how
fitting fer the discharge of those duties was the Right
' Hon. Gentleman whom he was going to propose. Hon.
Members were fully impressed with the importance of those
duties--duties in which not only their own personal
Iconvenienee, but the character and efficiency of that House
were involved. He could not pass over this part of the
subject without with great deference expressing his dissent
from the opinions of the Right Hon. Baronet the Member
foe Tamworth, judging of those opinions from what the
Right Honourable Gelntleman had said a few evenings
ago in enumerating to the House the difficulties he would
hare had to contend with on forming an Administration.
The Right Hon. Baronet observed that he would on the
first night of his appearing as Minister of the Crown
have had to risk the fate of his Government, or to
have resorted to a dissolution of Parliament on the elec-
tnof Speaker. He ( Mr. H.) protested against that
Chair being considered as an appendage to Ministerial
patronage.—( Ironical cheers on the Opoosition benches.)
1 Ye protested against any Minister of the Crown, be he
ad might, o he dictating- to. the House of Commons who
should fill an office Which tihe Right Hon. Baronet himself,
) in 1819, in proposing Mr. Manners Sutton to the Chair,
described in terms so constitutional, and in language so
imuch better than any he (Mr. H.) couldth t
of
the House, command,
.4
i he would, with the permission
Right Hon. Gentleman described it as an office
read it.
The
which has this peculiar character, that is the only highly
important situation in the state which does not depend on
0 visiosimmglisonswesanewwwinewesewal

the nomination of the Crown, but which proceeds entirely
from the representation of the people. Now in this view
of the office, which was also his ( Mr. Handley's), ' ow
could the Right Hon. Gentleman propose to risk his
Government upon a question, for the result of who h he
was not responsible, and threaten the Members of this
House with a dissolution, and thus endeavouring
to control the election that ought to depend on the repre-
sentatives of the people. Neither should that chair be
looked upon as a reward or a convenient retirement for
long official services, he they ever so meritorious. Predi-
lection and habits of partizanship, which were inseparable
from official life, were incompatible with that strict impar-
tiality which was the first attribute of a Speaker of this
House. To Honourable Members forming a large
mass of this [Luse, who were unconnected with office,
and who represented the people, it could never be a matter
of indifference what Gentleman was placed in the Choir
to preside over their deliberations, and to whom they were
bound to yield implicit and unconditional deference. He
doubted not, amidst that numerous class, that many Hon.
Members would be found who were competent to the dis-

charge of that office, and it was from that class that he
should venture to propose an Hon. Member, the Hon.
Member for North Hampshire, Mr. Shaw Lefevre.
Loud cheers.) Arid when he named a Gentle-
man of character and attainments so unexceptionable,
one whom he had reason to believe was personally accept
able to many even of his political opponents, he did hope
that he might have been spared the pains of a struggle on
the matter, and that on a question in which they had all a
common interest they might have come to a unanimous
conclusion. He was aware that in periods like the present,
when parties were so equally balanced in this country, that
there might be smile difference of opinion, and he gave Gen-
tlemen credit for the sincerity of their opinions, inasmuch as
in 1835, acting on it in his own individual case, he separated
from those political friends with whom he usually acted,
and voted for Lord Canterbury. It was not abilities, how-
ever great, that alone were sufficient to qualify Hon. Gen-
tlemen to perform the duties of the Chair. In the Speaker
of this House they looked for vigilance to protect, and
courage to defend their ancient rights a aci privileges
against any attack, come from whatever quarter it
might. They looked for a gentleman versed in
Parliamentary practice one possessed of habits of
business, unwearied attention to his duties, and one who
had judgment to moderate, and firmess to repress any of
those unfortunate irregularities of debate, which tended
only to impair the character and efficiency of the House.
—( Hear, hear ) These qualifications he believed his
Hon. riend to possess in a very eminent degree.
(Cheers.) But the duties of Speaker of this House, did
not end here. The rapid advance of science, the great
increase of the wealth and population of the country, tend-
ing to human enterprise, had given rise to such an increase
in the private business of the House, that at this moment it
was quite unparelleled.—(Hear, hear, bear.) It wa3
the duty of the Speaker, as the arbiter between the
great interests that were at stake, on the one hand to pro-
mote the public advantage, and on the other, to protect

- .
private rights. And it-was with confidence, he ( Mr.
Handley) asserted, that no Member of that House had
devoted more time, talent and attention. to the considera-
tion of these objects than his Hon. Friend the Member for
Ncrth Hampshire.—( Hear, hear.) It might be in the
recollection of the House that two years ago, owing to the
state of the private business, they bad met with much—
and be feared, justly acquired obloquy, out of doors,
and it was thought fit to appoint a Committee of 42, to
consider the petitions upon Private Bills, of which Com.
mittee his Hon. Friend (Mr. S. Lefevre) was chairman.
He (Mr.' Handley) could appeal to Gentlemen on both sides
of the House whether his Hon. Friend had not, in the dis-
charge of his duties, evinced a talent, a zeal, an assiduity,
and a soundness of judgment which had tended mainly
to the success of that Committee.—( Hear, hear, hear.)
But there was yet one other qualification essential to a
Speak*, and he was sure every Hon. Member would
bear a cordial testimony to the urbanity of manner, the
frank and open bearing, the equable temper, and the
virtues of private life, which had endeared his Honourable
Friend to the large circle who bad the pleasure of his
acquaintance.—( Hear, hear, hear.) On this subject, he
(Mr. Handley) felt that he could scarcely dwell ;
thus much he might however say, with unhesitating con-
fidence—that his Hon. Friend might be spoken of most
enviably—as never having gained an enemy, or lost a
friend.—( Cheers.) He Nit that be owed an apology to
the House—having no claim upon their attention beyond
that of representing the constituents who had done him
the honour to send him there—for his having consented to
recommend to the House any Hon. Member to fill the
important office of Speaker. The ties of personal friend-
ship—though he trusted he should always acknow-
ledge their force—would not, alone, have in-
duced him to come forward in this manner.—
But he felt that he was about to propose a gentleman ac-
ceptable to the great body, he hoped, to the majority of
that House—and a Gentleman, whose qualifications were
so well known and appreciated, that his cause would not
suffer from the inefficiency of his advocate. Thanking the
House for their indulgence, he now begged leave to move
" That Mr. Shaw Lefevre de take the Chair as Speaker."
—( Cheers.)

Sir S. LUSHINGTON had great pleasure in second-
ing the proposition of his Hon. Friend, calling Mr. Sbaw
Lefevre to the Chair. He could assure the House that be
would not unnecessarily intrude himself on their attention,
but he trusted that whenever his services should be
called for on behalf of a friend, he should not be found
wanting in the discharge of his duty. His Honourable
Friend who had preceded him had adverted to the resig-
nation of the late Speaker. As an old friend of that Gen-
tleman he might be permitted to express his entire con-
currence with spore to all that had fallen from
his Honourable Friend on the subject of that
retirement ; but he could not reflect without great gra-
tification on the testimony which had been borne from
both sides of the House to the merits and impartiality
of the late Speaker ; and he would more especially

advert to the very high encomium which the Hon.
Baronet the Member for Tamworth had pronounced on
hitt, so much to his own honour and to the honour of the
late Speaker. This consideration was not unimportant on
the present occasion; because it showed a truth for which
he had frequently contended before, that whatever
the political bias of an individual might be before
he was elected to the the high office of Speaker
of the House of Commons, yet when once he was elected
to the Chair of that House, be had always been found to
have sufficient courage to lay aside all party feelings.—
( Hear, bear, hear.) He knew that there were many per-
sons better qualified than himself to describe the qua-
lifications requisite for the person who was to fill the Chair
of that House, and after the recent speeches which had been
made on the subject of those qualifications, it would be a use-
less waste of the time of that House to insist on them at any
length, but he apprehended that the present was a peculiar
crisis, and one in which those qualifications were more
peculiarly required to enable an individual to fill the
Chair with honour to himself, with credit to the House,
and with advantage to the public. In order to do this,
greater and more important qualifications were now requi-
site than had been at any preceding period. He did not
doubt that many might be found who by labour and appli-
cation might acquire sufficient knowledge of their proceed-
ings to fill the Chair, but the present crisis required more
—it required an individual who would uphold the
privileges of that House if they should be assailed ;
and he could not avoid expressing his apprehension
that an intention existed in some quarters to attack some
of the privileges which they most highly valued, and re-
specting which he was happy to observe that both sides of
the House manifested an intention to preserve them in-
tact. There were many other events and circumstances
which might require the utmost firmness on the part of the
Speaker, and whoever aspired to that honour should take
into the account that that would happen to him which had
happened to every Speaker who had filled that chair here-
tofore. He (Sir S. Lushington) had never known a Speaker
but who at one period or another of his career had had his con-
duct animadverted on by one side of the House or the other.
Sometimes it was said of him that he adhered too much to
the opinions of those under whose auspices he was elected ;
and at others that be inclined too much to the favour of the
party who opposed him.—( Cheers.) Whoever sought
the Chair of that House, must not look to temporary
popularity, he must expect to be the subject of much
obloquy; and he must not look at the termination of
his services for the impartial consideration of that
House, which be believed had never yet been given to
psi Speaker.—( Cheers.) When he thought of the quali-
es which his Hon. Friend, the Member fur North Hemp-
shire possessed, and which, he thought, entitled him to
the consideration of the House, he felt how utterly impossie
ble it was for him in his presence to attempt any praise; but
this he might say, that his situati in in life, his conduct,
his principles, and the whole of his demeanour being
known to the House and the country, it would
meet with the approbation of a considerable majority of
that House and the country too.—( Cheers.) He doubted
not, that should he be elected to the important office of
Speaker, the Hon. Member would bring to bear many of
those qualificatious so indispensably requisite to fill that high
office, and that having once stated his opinions, he would,
with undaunted perseverance, support them. Before he sat
down, he trusted the House would eller/ him to say that
it was his decided opinion that at the present time it was
most necessary they should choose a Speaker whose opinions
were in unison with a majority of that House and the people
of the country.—(Cheers.) He believed that the eyes of
the public were now upon them.—( Great cheers from the
Opp isition.) He believed that the people were anxiously
waiting the result of the nomination of Speaker, because
they believed that that election would, in a great
degree mark the general feeling of the House —(Cheers.)
The people of England were looking to see whether that
House was determined to advance or stand still—( Cheers)
—and he would maintain, though there might be many
Members in that House who entertained different opinions
—he professed and avowed, because in honour and
candour he aught to avow it—he avowed that he sup-
ported
Mr. Shaw Lefevre because he entertained popular
()pinions, and because he bad always shown himself a
warm advocate of Reform—( Cheers)—and because he
believed the election of Mr. Shaw Lefevre would tend to
satisfy the people of the country that the House were de-
termined to proceed until they had realized the just expec-
tations of the people. Those just expectations being that
that House would not give way to the objects of deluded
individuals, and would not be deterred by the cla-
meur they bad raised, from carrying into eft ct all the
reasonable wishes which the people entertained. It
was with these feelings that he hoped a considerable
majority of that House would support the motion which he
had the honour to second.—( Loud cheers.)
Mr. WYNNE said the Hon. Gentleman who had first
addressed the House, and the Learned Civilian who bad
seconded the nomination of the Hon. Member for North
Hants, had differed very considerably on the grounds upon I
which they had supported the nomination of the Han. Mem-
ber.—( Opposition cheers.) The Hon, Gentleman who pro-
posed the Hon. Member for Meta had stated that he did
s.ot consider the present as a political rote—(Cheers)—
while the Hon. Member who seconded the motion stated
that he supported it upon political grounds, and that it
was a question between those who were for carrying fur-
ther
the measures of Reform, and those who were resolved
to support the existing institutions surd laws Lithe country.
cc (Renewed cheering.) He agreed most entirely with
what had fallen from both the Hon. Members on the ira- I

portance of the election of a Speaker for that House—
wherein they agreed together. He (Mr. Wynne) agreed
with him, and he believed that the present was a juncture
in which it was of the greatest consideration.—( Hear,
hear.) It was not necessary—indeed it would be a most
shameful and improper course to take—to depreciate
the Hon. Gentleman who had just been proposed to the
House. He believed he deserved all the praise which had
hecn bestowed upon him.—(Cheers from both sides of the
House.) He believed him to be a most useful and able
representative.—( Hear, hear.) They had constantly felt
the credit of that House was to be maintained not by de-
preciating those whom the regard of their friends had se-
' lected and proposed as candidates for that high office.—
( Hear, hear.) He would not allude further to the very
different course which bad been adopted with respect to
his Right Hon Friend whom it was his intention to pro
pose.—( Hear, hear.) He would only say that the ac-
counts he had seen of what had been said made him feel
deeply that any body of men—any meeting of men could
be found in that country who could listen to such wanton
abuse and ribaldry—(Opposition cheers)—without senti-
ments of the deepest disgust.—(Cheers.) Let him who
could, so far forget the character of a gentleman—
( Vehement cheering from the Opposition Benches)—to
that he would make no further allusion ; but certainly
be felt that not only those Gentlemen who usually
acted with him—not only those Gentlemen opposite,
but even those who usually acted with the indi-
vidual who was reported to have made use of the ex-
pressions, would concur with him in those feelings of
distaste which he had felt it his duty to indulge in
upon that occasion.—( Hear, hear.) He had al-
ready stated that he had agreed in all that had
fallen from the previous speakers with respect to the im-
portance of the office. The office of Speaker had at all
times been an arduous one, but it had been rendered much
more so by the degree of labour in private business which
the House had thrown upon it last Session, and the scenes
which had been seen in it last So-lion. The House had al-
ways felt that its own honour was bound up in the honour
of the Cnair, and that could not be maintained if the
whole House did not give their support to the individual
whom they ha i called upon to preside. Whoever was
chosen upon that occasion to fill the office of Speaker was
not the Speaker of the majority, but of the whole House.
—( Cheers.) The whole House would be bound to main-
tain his authority by giving that force to his decisions which
alone would render them valid and of effect. The Speaker,
from the office he held, bad no sort of authority over the
House. It is the confidence which the House places in
him, from their determination to give effect to his di cisions,
which gave him all authority. He felt, therefore, that it
was necessary the Speaker should possess firmness and de-
cision—promptness to interfere even without waiting for
any call from the House. There are many instances in whicn
the Speaker, from the office which he holds, may interfere
to prevent the very commencement of disorder
—(Cheers)—and at a time when a political opponent of
the party could not call his attention to it without laying
himself open to the charge of capriciousness; but the
Speaker, from the office to which he is elevated, was not
only justified, but called upon to interfere at the com-
mencement of disorder, and at a time when from
his interference at that particular moment it would
be rendered of much greater effect, and probably put
an end to what might be a very disagreeable scene.
It was essential, therefore, that he should possess vigour
and resolution, and withal, that he should have that dispo-
sition of temper which should qualify him to conciliate the
good feeling of the House. Believing his Right Hon.
Friend near him to possess all those qualities, and to be
also better qualified by a longer experience of the
practice of the House, to fill the chair than the
Hon. Member who had been proposed—he having
been more extensively engaged likewise in carrying on the
business of the House, he was determined to propose him
to be their Speaker, and to give him his support. The Hon.
Gentleman on the other side, who had opened the present
proceedings, had objected to any one as Speaker who had
held any office under the Crown, or who had been at all
dependent on the Crown. He (Mr. W.) could not sec how
the House in its present election was to be so limited or
narrowed. The Right Hon. Gentleman he was about to
propose had proved himself to be fit for the very high
office; and was it to be said that he was to be regarded as
unfit, therefore, to be recommended to her Majesty
for the office now vacant?—( Cheers.) What had
been the practice in this respect ? Sir John Mitford
had beet► elected to be Speaker from the office
of Attorney. General. His successor had been elected
from the office of Chief Secretary for Ireland. Mr.
Manners Sutton had been elected from the office of Judge
Advocate. Mr. Abercrombie had been elected from being
a Member of his Majesty's Cabinet. He could not
believe therefore, that the House would adopt the
principle now proposed as one that ought
to be acted upon. If it was a principle that ought to be
acted upon, it would have been discovered long ago and
acted upon previous to this. He for one therefore could
not subscribe to that as a sound pr.nciple—it
would be as unjust to a Member of that House
as it would be to the country at large.—( Hear, hear.)
He could not avoid that opportunity of joining in that
tribute of justice which had been paid by the proposer and
seconder of the Hon. Gentleman opposite to the Speaker
who had last retired. A long and intimate acquaintance
with that Right Hon. Gentlemen bad enabled him to pre-
judge what he had since had the great satisfaction
to see, that he would act with fairness and impartiality,
both to those who had been opposed to him, and to those
who had always acted with him.—(Cheers.) He was also
confident that the same course would be pursued by the
Gentleman on whom the choice of the House might fall;
and having made these observations. he, would,nut longer
detain the House, but would conclude by' propOsing that
the Right Hon. Henry Goulhurn do take the Chair.—
( Cheers )
Mr. WILSON PATTEN rose to second the proposi-
tion, If his Right Hon. Friend Mr. Goulburn was less

known than he was, and if his public and private character
had less weight with the country. the very circumstance
of his being proposed to fill the office of Speaker by the
Right Honourable Gentleman the Member for Montgo-
mery would of itself be a sufficient guarantee that the Gen.
tleman selected was duly qualified to fill the office. The
Right Hon. Gentleman had paid such constant and unva-
ried attention to the duties of the House—was so indefa.

tigable a defender of the privileges of the House, and had
paid such attention to the character and proceedings of the
House, that he could not hesitate for a moment in second.
the nomination.—( Hear, hear.) But the character of his
Right Hon. Friend was of itself a sufficient recomn-enda-
tion. He (Mr. P.) had listened with great attention to the
encomiums passed on his Honourable Friend the Member
for North Hants, and to all of them he would not only give
his most ready assent but could, if necessary, himself bear
testimony from personal observation, that he did possess in
an eminent degree many of the qualifications for the office.
But he was sure his Honourable Friend would not be
offended either with the Right Honourable Gentleman
or himself, or any other of his personal friends, if
they did claim for Mr. Goulburn not only the same qua-
lifications, both in his public and private character, but if
they did venture to point out one or two other qualifications
which they thought he possessed in a pre-eminent degree.
It was a requisite qualification for a Speaker, not only
that he should enjoy the respect, and attention, and defer-.
ence of all the Members on both sides, which both Hon.
Members did, but also that he should enjoy that general
character in the country which would give confidence to
the public mind, and satisfy it that this House would be
properly presided over.—(Cheers.) It was not the fault
of the Honourable Member for North Hampshire that
it was the advantage of the Hon. Member for Cambridge
that he had had opportunities of obtaining that character
in the country, which had not been possessed by the Hon.
Member for North Hampshire. Mr. Goulburn had filled
great public situations, he had been high in office, and in
those several stations he had had the opportunity of evinc-
ing every qual ficat'en the most requis to for the G,intleman
who presided over this House.—( Hear, hear.) He had
filled public situations, tire duties of which had more
than any other subjected him to animadversion ;
he had filled offices, the duties of which had been
of the most unpopular character,• and where discretion,
firmness, and decision were equally required with a kind and
gentlemanly and courteous behaviour —(Cheers)—and he
wou:d venture to say that he had profited most amply by
those opportunities, and that he did enjoy a character for
decision, for firmness, and accompanied that with a cour-
teous arid gentlemanly demeanour.—( Hear.) There was
also another point which was certainly likely to attract
public attention and create confidence in the Honourable
Member for Dublin—(Loud laughter)---he meant
the Honourable Member for Cambridge, the cir-
cumstance of the place which he represented;
for his Hon. Friend represented a constituency not sur-
passed by any other in the United Kingdom for its talents
and respectability.—( Loud cries of " Oh, oh," met by
Tory cheers.) Notwithstanding the cheers which he had
just heard from a certain quarter, he would state that the
time had not yet passed in this country when those who
were honoured by the confidence of the Universities of the
country, carried with them the greatest esteem and re-
spect.—( Hear, bear.) It had been objected by the Right
Hon. Member who proposed Mr. S. Lefevre, that the person
who had filled a public office was not the person who ought
to fill the Chair in this House. He should have thought
the Hon. Member had forgot the services so ably recom-
mended by the Right Hon. Gentleman who recently va-
cated the Chair. It was a great satisfaction to the
House, to hear from the Honourable Gentleman when
be quitted the Chair, the encomiums which he was
pleased to pass on this side the House for the
manner in which his authority had been treated, and he
would not do the other side the injustice to believe that
if his Hon. Friend was so fortunate as to be elected
to fill the Chair, that he would receive one tittle less
support than they had given to the last Speaker.
But, believing the deliberations of the House would be
presided over in the most befitting manner, and that their
privileges would be better defended by his Right Hon.
Friend, the Member for Cambridge University, he had
great pleasure in seconding his nomination.
Mr. SHAW L EFE VRE then rose, but

Mr. W. DUNCOMBE, amidst cries of "Oh, oh,"
insisted in addressing the House. He said it was his in-
tention to give his most cordial support to the nomination
of his Right Hon. Friend (Mr. Goulburn). He did not
think that the merits of that Right Hon. Gentleman
had been at all exaggerated by his Hon. Friends who had
moved and seconded his nomination. He concurred in the
statement of the Hon. Member for Lincolnshire ( Mr.
Handley), that he lamented this matter had been made a
decided party question ; it was to be regretted that the im-
portant office of Speaker to the House of Commons should
have been made so decidedly a matter of party, and that it
had been so not only on the present occasion but on a former
occasion, when the Right Hon. Gentleman, the Member
for Edinburgh ( Mr. Abercromby) had been put in opposition,
from party motives, to Lord Canterbury.—( Opposition
cheers.) He wished rot to say one word in disparagement
of the merits of the Hon. Member for North Hants, but
he thought that the Government had unjustly passed over
the superior claims of another Honourable Gentleman,
(Mr. Bernal) who had for many years filled the office of
Chairman of Committees of Ways and Means, an office only
inferior in importance et) the Speakership, with great credit
to himself and honour to the House.—(Chee,s.) Had that
gentleman been proposed he would have relieved the pro-
peedings from the present party character, and would have