The Sun.
London, England, 1801-01-23 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PJRI,I,I.4IIENI:

' HOUSE OF PEERS,

THURSDAY, tANUA;ItY 22, tBot.. <
Tins day a Meeting took place' pursnant to
the at Prorogation, whzn a considerable number
of Peers attended.

The Lotto CH ANC LLOE, in the mode usual
on similar occasions, communicated to their Lord-
ships Hts MAJESIY'S Royal Will and Pleasure,
that, as it was not convenient to His MAJESTY
to attend personally that day, the first proceed-
ings of the Imp4rial Parliament should take place
by, virtue of His MAJESTY 's Royal Commission
prepared for that purpose.

Accordingly, the Lords Commissione4,3 then
present, namely, tile' ARCHB IMO?. of CANTER.'
BITRY, the LORD CHANCELLOR, the Duke of
PO RTI. AND, and the Marquis ofSALisatuty, re-
tired to Robe ; and on their ro:urti, having
taken their Seats on the Bench in, front of the
Throne, Sir FRAIsTC IS MOLYNEUX, Bart. Gen-
tlernan Usher of the Black Rod, was deputed
to order the attendance, of the Commons ; a
number of whom forthwith appeared at the Bar,
preceded by the Clerks and Officersbf the House ;
Mr. ADDINGTON, the late Speaker, attending as
a private Member.

The Loan CHANC LLott. then addressed the
House in the accustomed manner, and declared
the Royal Will:and Pleasure, that they should
forthwith proceed to the Election of a Speaker,
whom they wery . desired to present to-morrow
for His Majesty's Royal Approbation."
The Coixnnons having retired, the Clerks pro.
ceeded, to administer the usual Oaths to several
;of the Peers present. ...
The Deputy Clerk of the Crown in Ireland ap-
peared at the Bar, and presented an official list
of the 'Peers returned 'n) represent the Irish Peer-
age in the Imperial Parliament.

The-Clerks .of the House continued to admi..
nister the 04the to .the Peers present, and., among
them, to several of the Irish Representative Peers
who attended.

Their Lordships then adjourned till half past
twelve o'clock to-morrow.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

TiIURSDAY, JAN. 22.

At a quarter past two o'clock the Gentleman
Usher of the Black Rod, informed the House, that
the Lords, authorized by virtue of Ills MAi Es.
Tv's Commission, required the attendance of
that House in the House of Peers to hear the Com-
mission read. •

• Upon which, the Members present went up to
the House of Peers, and returned in a few
mites, and after a pause of about half a aninUte,
Mr. P4LHAM rose,' and spoke nearly as fol..
lows it is the undoubted. Privilege of this
House to elect its SPEAKER; upon which oeca,
sinn it has been customary to state the cualific4-.
tions which are necessary for the Person on whoM
the choice falls. it is . essential for the Interests
of the Public* as well as conducive to the conve-
'nience of the House,
.that such qualifications
should be possessed' by the Person Who fills its
Chair—these are, an unifiirm attachment to the
Principles of the Conititution of this Country ;
abilities to explain the' Rules and Orders of our
Proceedings ;—diligenceand assiduity in attend-
ing to the Business of the House ;--.-;experience in
the praftiee and knowledge of the Record's of
Parliament ; together with a firmness of .Mind
and steadiness of.Condua, to support the 'Rights
and ,Privileges of This. HOU6e iri all cases and un.
der all circumstances ;---11 temper to recommenit'
•andpreserve moderation of. Debate ;---a spirit to
support the Dignity.of the'Housei and an even-
ness of disposition that shall'shew impartiality a:.
,all times, and upon all occitsions.—All these have
been generally, considered as requisites for the
Persoi) who is called into the Chair-of this•Housc,
at all times, and surely in the Present time ,
they are as requisite as ever ; when an event has
taken place, which indeed has given birth to our
preient discussion, and which will, in'its'conse-.
[l.lences, as I firmly, believe, tend to estahliA
anti confirm the constittitiOn of this Country, as
well as add weight to. our Political Power and
National Importance—it will, I- hOpe and be-
lieve, increase our happiness and renew Our
fi.iendships—it will, however, ,also increase the
duties and, the, labours of this House, and particu_
larly those of the. Person who shall sit in the Chair
—I do not wish to' raise any difficulty the
mind of any Person in this House, as• to the fitness
of one of its Member; :for, the performance of that
duty—they are, in my mind„.no difficulties at
all, when comp :red to the talents, of the Person
who Lpropose to you to choose for that station.
I therefore take the liberty of proposing, that tile
Right Honourable HiNRY .ADDINT GON, who
has, so much to his own honour, and, to the ad..
vantage of the Public, filled the Chair of the Bri.
tish House of Commons, be now called to fill the
Chair of the House of Commons of the imperial
Parliament—l will not dwell on the superiority
of his talents or on the excellent qualities which
so eminently :listingiiish him, as the most fit for
the °Mee ; they are too well known to require
recital from nie, and they might suffer some
jury by my attempting to describe them—l
ill only say, it is fortunate for this House, and
this Country, that, a Person of such distin-
g:,ished abilities is one of our number, and who,
had he , chosen any other course of life, might
have meared to himself equal advantages, pos.
sibly, with less labour and.ffiligue, but in none
could he, or any other person, have been of
more. real service to this Country, awl'• that
!tight Honourable Gentlettein has been, by dedi-
cating his distinguished talents to the Btelness
of this. flouse.—l consider. these points as of g tea:
irukatance, and.l am confident •I shall, 11;17e hot
f.hlty, the cobcurrenee of all those who, haV'e
in the, British Parliament„. but the cOnetn•rell:::e
also of every , other ,Member of this House now,

.44,at I.4clelaa Wil6VI. vu I.IIC raIIGMC
01 IDOSe
whom I. have the honour of addressing, but pro-
pose «. That the Right Honourable HENRY AD-
DIN log do take the Chair of this .House."

YO RKE.--" I rise with great satisfailion
to second the Motion. lam persuaded it is un-
necessary for me to add many words to what has '
been already said. I am perfectly convinced it
would be a waste of time, for me to endeavour
to persuade the House-Of that which' it feels al-
ready, namely, the fitness of my Right Hon.
Friend for the Office now proposed for hbri, and
of which we have bad ample experience; nor
will I say every thing I feel to be true on the
qualifications of my Right Hon. Friend, because
I am assured, that however just, it would not be
agreeable to himself to hear,the detail of them.
For my ownpart; I will say, that,much as I feel
for the honour of a person with whom I am in-ha-
bits of intimate friendshiP, and which I relic&
upon with pride ; and although I know that,
which, is now proposed,, is-one of the higheit ho-
nours that can, be conferred 'on a .Subject of this'
Country, yet do I feel. that thedutiei of the
Office are equal to all -the considerations that can
move any man of .integrity to enter on the dis-
charge,of them. But Heel also, 'that lam ailing
for the Public, when I support the Motion which
is now before us. The times in whiCh we live
are critical. The whole system of policy in Fu_
rope is shaking by the terror of some, and the
treachery of others ; and all, fomented by thc
restless ambition of our common'Enemy, diced-
ing their attacks -against the Honour and Inde-
pendence' of this Nation. In this condition of
affairs, it is absolutely necessary that all the ta-
lents and abilities in:the Nation should come for-
ward and arrange themselves for its defence, its
honour and. its happiness ; these. talenti and abili-
ties should shew themselves in the Senate and in
the Field, where every exertion should be rm-de
that can serve. us,. add where every energy of
which the human mind and' body are capable,
.should be brought into action. In this state of
things, I would ask, in what situation can ex-,
perienee and wisdom be more requisite than in
the Chair,of this House Necessary they were
at all times for that Office, but more necessary at
the present conjunilute, thati at any other pe..
riod ; for now, not only the British, but the
United British and Irish Parliament are assem-
bled, in consequence of which alone, many very
important arrangements will be, necessary to be
made; as-well as the general business of the- Na:
tion having become more laborious andfatiguing.
The. talents of my Right Hon. Friend point him
out as the fittest person for th 4 situation,;, for it
is 'absolutely necessary there should-be -placed in,
that Chair a' person of intimate and' profound:
knowledge of the Rules, Orders, and Proceedings
of the Hotise—of a.steady temper, and Urbanity
'of disposition—of a reilitude. and honour of prir
vate.charatter. When I pronounce the name-of
the Right Hon. HENRY ADl:ornotos, all these
qualities occur to the minds 'of those who he4r
me ; we know' he is in possession of them all, and
that points him out better than any language Of.
mine can -do, 4s a' fit- person -to 'fill the Chalr of
this' House, and therefordo without another,word,
I will second 'this Motion."
After a pause- of.a few seconds,

Mr.. ADDINGTON, rose; and spoke nearly
as .follows The House must, I am sure, be'
aware, that such a Motion, so supported, and,
if I may be permitted. to say . so, so received,.
Must have made the strongest impression on the
mind of the person to whom it was particularly
applied. .I trust,, that all that has past on this
day, as well as, much of what has past, on former
occasions, has excited in my mind those emotions
and feelings which duly correspond vNith these
favours, but which, I can assure the House,
mu unable to express. For the convenience of
our Proceedings, and for purposes intimately
conneetcd with the Funt!tions and Privileges of
this House; in ob'edience to HIS MA) ESTY's
Command, and in, conformity to the established
course and u of Parliament, this House is now
on one of its Metnbers, a great
most consider:
co imps=" rack,, and to repose. a trust the
rrsiPdceCa'::rte chat can be confsrred by the
Representative., of the P,eople cis, an individual
Member of their ov.'n II dv, independent of the
other branch of the Legistature. On the nature_of
the Office it is unnecessary fbr me xo dwell ; these
points are well known, and.cannot be better dis-
posed of, than by being entrusted to the wisdom
of those,. who, for the first time, •happily
think for the British Empire, 'constitute a part
of the.Colledive Voice of its Legislatu?e: The
qualifications required in the 'Person who is to
fill the ,Office now proposed to be filled, can
truly say, are so great, that the :enumeration of
them constitutes a strong obje6liori to the Motion.
With respect to the experience, which the Right
Hon. Gentleman who made the Motion, and the
Hon. Gentleman who seconded it, have supposed
•me to possess, Iran only say, it has not so much
increased my facility of discharging the duties of
the Chair, as it has the sense I always entertained
of their 'importance. I feel very. strongly .with
the Hon. G,:.ntleman who conveyed to us, short-
ly, his • ideas on the present situation of this
Country, ',and the necessity theie is of every man
employing all the energy he possesses, of mind
and body, its support. lam ready to do so ;
I feel it a duty 'incumbent'on me to sacrifice ease,
and in. some (levee, health itself, . for this consi-
deration ; but when 1 compare the duties of the
Office now 'proposed to 'filled, .with,the suffi-
ciency of the Person now proposed .to discharge
them, I and myself driven to the contemplation
of a subject} that is mortifying to myself—but af.
ter considering the manner in., which the House
has been pleased to receive the Motion, I am he.
cane unable to express my feelings—l, mast pass
that s.cibjea hy—l should be extremely concern-
cd if. any doubt could he entertained of my cyst-
proving myself as much attached at any irdividuai
in this .House,, or in this Country, to the Prim
ciples. of ' the Free",,Constitution under which
we live., Indeed. I re pea highly those Rules
nd Orders of I .ung which have regu.

hlcn.

w

:his

d

4,

result ot accumulated experience, an,_
I trust, : therefore, will be renewed in ti,.
House. I feel also, in common with the
House, a veneration for its .Libeaties, and the
principles from whence they emanate ; for they ate
most essential. I trust it is manifest to those
who have considered-that subjeti, that I haVe
always endeavoured, with an unbiassed and an
unprejudiced mind, to fill the station in which,
the House has thougLt fit to ',Lice Mc, and that I
have pursued the path, the plan) path which the
duties of the Office haev,..., prescribed, the ,which it
would not only have been unbecoming, but repre•
hensible in me, if I had Omitted. It would be so itt
any Member of the Houserbut ranch more so in a L
person who would fill the Chair, either .with 7
credit to.himsell, or advantige to this House. If
any successes, or' whatever saccesses; have at-
tended my labours, I know .the. House tot) well,
and, I hoppi myself too well, not to be aware of
the cause of such success—,-It is to be attributed
much to the good temper and candour of the House
itself--much to the assistance I have derived Igo
the abilities and unremitting diligence of the Go•
tleman at the Table CAdr..l.4 top). It has, how'
ever, been.prineitisaiiy owing to the House itself,
which has always she wn a great zeal for the preser-
vation of its own Orders.—l can truly say, that
during a period of 1 z years, under all the fluCtuatiel!
of circumstances which haVe intervened since I
had first the honour of being called to that Chair)
I have experienced, in private, from the Members ,
of this House, nothing but attention and kiud•
ness, and, by the House itself, nothing but in. '
dulgence.; the which, I hope I have not negleatd/ t '
or shall ever forger. lam also fully aware that
the Office subjects me to the greatest responsibi
I
lily ; and whoever on the preseni or any future OC'
casion, shall be chosen to till that Office, I hope be
will either experience the same support that I
have had, or stand less in need of it.—,r win
~.
trespass no longer on the indulgence of the House; r
if it is its opinion that I should be chosen to MI '.;
the Office, any Command of their's,- I shall feel it
'
my duty to obey, and I have only to desire leave
to express an earnest wish, which is, that the
consequences of such a choice may not be, in anY
negree, injurious either to the House or the Pub'
lic."

Mr. W I LBE RFORC E said, he should think
he acted "with great. impropriety, if by any unve-
cessary observations of his, he prevented the
House from immediately deciding the (Peel°
before them, and he, certainly should not ne'r
have risen, if he had not felt. that in.entimerati4
the qualification* which the Right lion. Gcetle'
;.
man possessed tOr the office of. SriAxsa, both
the Mover a.nd Seconder of 'this Motion ii 3 ~!.
,omitted one very important' -and essential fOir.l.l'
He fell himself bound, on the .parr of his Gotha.
ruents, to 'discharge what. he .conceived to be a
elebt,of Gratitude to the Right Bon.. Gentleingt..
for his services, and upon no other ground Ayala
he hive intruded upon the attention of the House.
The .Gentlemen _who ei.;de and seconded thc
Motioni- had dispey!.:4 grcaceloquencc in coal,
meriting upon the quaiificattons neceisary for. so
irz.pottAnt an Office, but in doing so they sect"
ed to be recurring to past experience, and d'i
sciibing that which the House had for #orne
years witnessed. But there was one point which
they had omitted. Where there was much labour,
there was always much that was not Manifest, ,
though not less useful than that which fell more
under general observation. With reaped to the
public conduit of ,the Right Hon. Gentleman, in
the arduous situation of . P BAKER, every Gen'
tleman must have observed it, and there cowl
not be' two opinions upon the subjed.—But he
wished Gentlemen to look to the privte Ads of
Parliament, in which' the Rights ,of Jodi videa'i
and of Corporate Bodies were so deeply intereit"
ed. He wished they would consider the immen'e
fatigue and labour - that Right Hon. GentiC'r
man must have sustained in twelve years I
unremitted attention to that less, public, but,
perhaps, not. less important part of his dull'
This was a subject which Gentlemen must taro
into their consicletation, before they'could MI,
estimate the services of Mr. ADD!' NGViN. iw
believed that no man .who Was not ilerfeetly e#
quainted with the subjeCt upon which he ``li
-peaking, could form . an idea: of the laboer ac'
tending upon private Bills_ in their passage
through the House. With respect to Otheroinr4
he was, perhaps, less-competent to speak, be: -
cause he could not discriminate between his F'11;
vate feelings and his- public. duty ; but,
thotight, they .could 1 not consult the interest 1).
their Constituents, or the dignity of ihe.l4°u,sc '
better, than by placing the Right Hon. Gent'c''
man in the Chair. - ' ''' '.
The cry of " Cha;_e', Chait," resounded. from 'll
ea '
sides,bf tile House, eei Mr. ADD ING TO,n,' -," ~, "-a 5 l
to the Chair by Mr. PE minisi and,Mr. Yoao'.
The SPEAKER -then said,—" I have to ,i''
`:
treat. the House to accept 'my most grata aC:,
knowledgements for the great lidnour they hrr;
conferred upon me; ',and, if I 'may he allowed t°
say so, for the manner in which it has been den''.
lean really :more thein, that it hi 4 made a deci'
and laSting impression upon my mind."
Lgrd !LWKESBURY begged to Congratulso '
the SetAxsa
_upon his re-eleetion' to an nflidec
which, for many years, he had' so ably fill'
If ever there 'was a period when it was necessarict
for that House, that their organ,, instructor, 0, .
m
guide, should be known for his knowledge of the
Laws, for his diligence,.,for
.his oder3tl°n* 1()r
his diarader, and tetriper it was at this moment'
The House,' he was persuaded, in the choice the/
had inade, had not been-guided,by any partiality)
but by that by which they could hardly be ‘ties;
ceived, viz,. experience. The unanimity of N.
House upon this
;occasion, refleded the higher:
credit both upon themselves, and upon the Per"
sot chce•en. - He hops,' they would always te-iic
that the dignity, of. the House, and•that of t'
Chair, weie ire,eparably
.coneeded, , and, el'in
,
all. future occasions, whaiever difference oi. (), P ith
niors there might arise, he hoped that:theY, ni'g
be adeated by the same motives and feel'g