The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-11 00:00:00

ARMY ESTIMATES.
Mr. F. PEEL give notic3 th st he should clove th
army estimates on Thareday nex,, in 2upply.
VOTE OF TITANKS TO TITE SPEAKER.

Lord PALMERSTON (whose rising was the
signal for bre atiless silmcv) said—Sir, it was
my duty yesterday to be the organ of the regrets of
this house at the commanic &on which you then
thought it your duty to make, and of their concern
that the next Parliament were not to have the b -
nefit of your assistance in conducting their delib.:2-
rations. I have to-day a task to perform of a ratite
more agreeable to myself, and one which, I am sure,
will be more acceptable to the house. (Cheers.) 1
have to propose to this house to return, by their
unanimous vote, their thanks to you, sir, for your•
able and distinguished service in the chair for the
long period of 18 years during which you have occu-
pied it. That man must have been a very superfi-
cial observer of the proceedings in Parliament who
has not remembered in how essential a degree the
usefulness, and respectability, and influence of this
house must depend upon the manner in which the
person who fills that chair performs the duties
which he has to discharge. (Cheers.) Iu a great
assembly like this, composed of so many persons
come from all parts of the country, it is obvious
that unless the person who regulates the proceed-
ings inspires among the members of this house that
temper and forbearance and equanimity which ha
himself possesses, this house might be led by the
warmth of discussion, and, by the agitation of pub-
lic questions,. to depart from that order and mode-
ration, and regularity of proceeding which are so
essential to maintain in public opinion that respect
which is due to this branch of the Legislature. It is
needless, I am sure, to say in how eminent a degree
you have performed that duty. It is needless to re-

mind those who have watched your proceedings
how you have c:.,mbincd promptitude of decision,
justness of judgment, firmness of purpose, with the
most conciliatory manner, and how that dignity,
that natural dignity, which belongs to yourself,
which is most striking when accompanied by simpli-
city of mind, and the absence of all artificial affecta-
tion—how that natural dignity which adorns you. -
self has been communicated, through your direc-
tion, to the general proceeliugs of the Common,'
House of Parliament. (Cheers.) Not only have
you performed in this exemplary and useful man-
ner your duties in the chair, but there are other
duties—l will not say less important, but nearly
important—which the Speaker of this house has to
perform out of that chair. lam sure I shall meet
with the concurrence of every gentleman who hears
tue when I say that no one ever approached you for
the purpose of obtaining that information with re-

spect to our proceedings, either public or private,
which it was his desire to receive, without expe-
riencing from you not only the most courteous re-
ception—not only the most ready hearing—but also
the most accurate information, in regard to the
matter in respect to which it was his desire and Ys
duty to consult you. (Cheers.) There is another
matter, also, in which you have been eminently con-
ducive to the interests of this house. Our forms of
proceeding are founded upon ancient usage ; many
of our forms were no doubt the result of accident, and
perhaps of design, at periods when those forms were
more essentialthan at present to maintain the prin-
ciples upon which they are founded. You had, sir,
the judgment todiscrimina.tebetweenthose'priaciples
which ought ever to be maintained, and technical
be varied. or modified without
forms which might
and by suggestions
, public inconvenience; you have
from dispatch
time to time, contributed much to the
of the
of business in this house, to .the advantage
public, and the convenience of members of this
house. (Cheers.) lam sure that, in what I have
been saying, I have been not only expressing that
Which is passing through the mind of every mem-
ber of this house—but that; in moving
the address
which I propose to submit to the house, I shall
only be embodying the sentiments naturally arising
in the mind of every one present. (Cheers.) I
therefore move—.

" That the thanks of this house be given to
Mr. Speaker, for his eminent and distinguished
services during
.the period of nearly eighteen
years for which he has filled the chair of this house;
that he be assured that this house fully appreciates
the zeal and ability with which he has discharged
the duties of Speaker under circumstances requiring
unprecedented labour and exertion ; and that this

house has the strongest sense of the firmness and

dignity with which he has maintained its privi-