The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-10 00:00:00

THE DANUBE.

Mr. MEA.CIHER asked the First Lord of the Trea-
sury whether he could afford any information as to the
present state of the river Danube, as far as its safe and
proper navigation was concerned ; and whether there
were any reasonablf hopes that the river might now be
sufficiently clear to allow of spring shipments being made
to and from the Danubian provinces I
Lord PALMERSTON said that the Commissioners
had not been able to come to a decision on this
matter. A question had arisen, that the St. George's
entrance south of the Suboa would be the better
entrance, and they were considering that point.
RETIREMENT OF THE SPEAKER

The SPEAKER rose and said—Before I call upon
the Clerk to proceed with the orders of the day, I hope
the house will permit me to occupy their attention for a
very few moments. After the statement made by the
noble lord at the head of the Government to the house
on Thursday last, it is quite evident that a dissolution
of Parliament is rapidly approaching—(hear, hear) —and
I feel it to be only consistent with that respect which is
especially due from me to the house, that I should inform
them that it is my intention to retire from Parliament at
the close of the present session. It is very nearly
eighteen years since I first had the honour of being
elected Speaker of this house, and I cannot contemplate
the termination of my official career withcut great pain

—(hear, hear)—nor can I allow it to close without offer-
ing to the house my sincere and grateful acknowledg-
ments for Cut uniform confidence and support. 'which
I have received, not only from all parties in the tiouse, but
I may say with perfect truth from every indi•ridual mem-
ber of the house. (Cheers.) lam quite aware that in the
discharge of the delicate and very onerous duties of this
chair I have had great need of that kind indulgence
which has always been extended to me, especially of late,
when I have been too frequently reminded of my increas-
ing inability to do full justice to the task which has
devolved upon me. (Cries of " No, no.') It has been
my constant endeavour, as is well known to the house,
to improve and simplify their forms of proceeding—
(cheers)—but at the same time I have endeavoured to
maintain unimpaired all those righti and privileges, and
those rules and orders, sanctioned by ancient usage,
which long experience has taught me to respect and
venerate, and which, I believe, never can be relaxed or
materially altered without prejudice to the freedom and
independence of the House of Commons. And if I have
been in the least degree instrumental in promoting
objects so desirable and so essential to the public interests,
I am perfectly aware that I owe that success to the cor-
dial co-operation I have always received from the house,
and for which I never can be sufficiently grateful. (Loud
cheers.)

Lord PALMERSTON said—Sir, I am sure that I
am but the faithful organ of the opinions of every mem-
ber of this house when I assure you that it is with the
deepest regret—(hear, hear)--that we have heard the
announcement that has fallen from you. It is no compli-
ment to you, nor any flattery, to say that I believe there
never sat in that chair any man who combined a greater
degree of all those various qualities which should consti-
tutea speaker of the house—(cheers)—and with the regret
which I am sure every member must feel at losing your
services for the future must be mingled sentiments of
deep gratitude. (Cheers ) I trust that the house will
not, on this present occasion, enter into any el-
pression of those feelings, which every man
here present must entertain, and I give notice
that I shall to-morrow, before the commencement of
publ;c business, move an expression of the thanks of
the house
onuse
wtohyat wou,esihr,avae justndan heard.app
appropriate address to the
Crown