The Sun.
London, England, 1802-02-11 00:00:00

legal situation in another Country, was proposed
for the Ciiair, it was lot to -differ in opinion
with a great majority of that House. He could
not, howeVer, suffer the opportunity to pass with-
out giving his entire concurrence to every word
.that had been utteted in praise of the Right Hon.
Gentleman who was now proposed tor the Chair,
and he was st.re that every part of the United 'King_
dam would join in that praise. He should -act,
however, inconsistently, if he did not now make
the same objedion that he made when the Right
Hon. Gentleman was proposed, who had just quitted
the Chair ; he made this objeaion, at the same
time, with every respeft and esteem for the
Right Hon. Gentleman who was now proposed.—
He thought,. however, that the pra(tice which had
lately arisen, of looking to the profession of the
Law for Gentlemen to fill the Chair, was not war-
ranted by ancient custom, or the usage of Parlia-
ment, He knew that it was formerly the custom,
upon such an occasion, to look to those Gentlemen
who were wholly unconnected with His Majesty's
Ministers, and not to those who held places at the
pleasure of the Crown. He perfeftly well knew
that it was the prerogative of His MAJtSTY, to
appoint whomever be pleased to offices in the gift
of the CroWn, with which the House had no right
to interfere'; but when a person was to he chosen to
fill the high and important office of Speaker, 'that
House ought to entertain a watchful jealousy of the
influence of His Majesty's Ministers. He did not
know wlr ther the Right Hon. Gentleman now pro-
posed, had resigned the office which he held at the
pleasure of the Crown, hut the Right Hon. Gentle-
man who had just quitted the Chair, did resign the
office which he held at the pleasute of the Crown,
previous to his being proposed for the Chair of hat
House. He then thought this was presuming too
much, as the House ought to stand in a situation
free from all suspicion of being influenced by His
Majesty's Ministers. He thought, therefore, they
ought to look to those who stood aloof from His
Majesty's Ministers, among whom many might be
found possessing the most competent general know-
' ledge : he did not consider technical knowledge as
a necessary qualification, for if that alone was to be
looked to, their choice would be very much narrow-
ed. An Hon. Gentleman (Mr. BAKER) had said
that the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. ABBOT) was
at a time of life, when they might look forward
to his bong continuance in the Chair-Lif nothing
but death could remove a Speaker, such an- argu-
ment might certainly become an inducement in the
choice, and the House would not readily prefer a
man advanced in years. It happened, however, that
Gentlemen who had been eleeted to the Chair,
although they had told the House that it was the
highest objett of their ambition, yet if an office
was offered which they thought more suitable, or
more advantageous, they did not scruple to accept
it. This was a misfortune, as Gentlemen-might be
removed before they had time to acquire the habits
and manners of the House—it was a misfortune
yrith respea to the Right Hon. Gentleman who had
just quitted the Chair ; but if the Right 'Han.
Gentleman (Mr. As sea) would guarantee that he
would remain in the Chair until death should re-
move him, he would certainly give that Right Hon.
Gentleman all his support. He. adverted to an
objeCtion made from the other side of the House
at a former period, to a Gentleman being proposed
who had not taken the Oaths, and observed that it
might perhaps become a subjett of future discus-
sion. He concluded by proposing Mr. CHARLES
DUNDAS.

Lord GEORGE C APENDISH spokit in so low
a tone of voice, that we could hear very little of
what he said, but we understood he objeCted to
an Officer of the Crown being elefted to the Chair.
He concluded by seconding the proposition of Mr.
SHE ,IDAN.
Mr. COURTENAY said, he could..propose a
Right Hon. Gentleman, wTho he was .sure would
be eletted with unanimous approbation, and who,
if placed in the Chair, would delight all around
him. The Right Hon. Gentleman he alluded to
had already most admirably displayed his fitness for
that situation, and he wished that Right Hon,
Gentleman had continued there. He did not know
much of the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. AB BO 41,
but many Gentlemen had been called to situations
which developed talents that could not be before
discovered ; some had been called to the Chair who
had not been remarkable before for any display of
talent, but who, on getting into the Chair, had
by means, as it seemed of a kind of friCtion, bt-
cOme'perfed adepts in all the business appertaining
to the office. It was remarkable also, that the
habit of impartiality which a Streaker acquired,
generally stuck to him when he quitted the Chair,
and there had been instances of Gentlemen (pping
that situation in consequence of being appointed to
a high office under the Crown, who had afterwards
titled so•perfectly impartially, in a dispute between
.their new friends and their old allies, that it was
absolutely impossible to understand whether they
supported their old allies or their new frLnds.
He did not approve of their constantly looking to
the profession of the Law for Gentlemen to fill the
Chair, he thought it was in some degree libelling
the plain sense of the House, though he did not,
at the same time, mean to cast the least refection
upon that profession. He concluded by supporting
the proposition of Mr. SHERIDAN.
Mr. ABBOT said, that he had been anxious to.
obtrude himself upon,the notice of the House, be-
cause it was impossible for him not to feel the
strongest emotions of resped for the House, and of
gratitude to his friends, for the kindness and par.-
tiality which they had evinced upon this occasion ;
but he could not consent that the kindness of his
friends-should be accepted as proofs of his fitness
to Jill the arduous and hynourable situation for
which he had been proposed. When he reflected
upon the learning, the talents, and tile virtues,
which had for so many centuries digoified that
Chair, he could not avoid beinz.appwheosive of
his own insufficiency to fill it with that dignity
and ability which so important an office de►nanded.
If an ardent zeal for the maintenance.of our Con-
stitution, if the most tooted attachment to the
Privileges of that House, if the most sincere ad-
m►ta ion of its admirable Forms of Proceeding,
mig ►t be supposed to overate upon the House. in
it ww.: going so ►u._kv:, he t;,..sted these

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