The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-11 00:00:00

REMARKS.

Atmospherical pressures are still lower than they were yesterday
morning at all our stations : the diminution on the Channel coast
has been Olin., and has been quickest during the night. Readings
are now very low, especially in the N. of Great Britain and in Ireland.
The difference between those at Rochefort and Leith is eight-tenths
of an inch. Pressure at Cape Clear is also very low. Temperature
has increased in the S. of England, but is lower on the Irish coast.
Yesterday the gale from S. to S.W. prevailed on all coasts : it was
heaviest in the S. of Ireland, where it ceased about midnight. The
direction of the wind at Yarmouth was SE. This morning it is still
blowing hard from S.W. on the Channel coast, but in the W. winds
have veered to N., and moderated. A gale from the N.W. is re-
ported torn Nairn. The weather is not more settled : the sky is
cloudy, and rain is falling in the S. and W. In the Channel the sea
is high. Warnings were issued to all coasts yesterday.

DINNER TO MR. SMITH, M.P. FOR

WESTMINSTER.

The Conservatives of Westminster have been celebrating
the return of Mr. Smith at a dinner, under the auspices of
the Londcn and Westminster Working Men's Constitutional
Association. Between 700 and 800 visitors wero present,
and the galleries of the hall (St. James's) were occupied by
ladies. Lord - George Hamilton, M.P., for Middlesex,
was in the chair, and among the company were Mr. W. H.
Smith, M.P., the Earl of Longford, Henry Lord Lennox,
M.P., Lord Vaughan, Admiral Hamilton, the Hon. Robert
Grimston, Col. Brownlow Knox, M.P., Mr. S. Vickers, M.P.,
,Sir Henry Edwards, M. P., Sir Walter Farquhar, Bart., Gen.
the Hon. Percy Herbert, M.P., the Hon Colonel Stuart
Knox, M.P., etc.

The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the toast of the evening,
namely, " The Health of Mr. W. H. Smith, M.P.," con-
gratulated those present, and the electors of Westminster in
general, upon the glorious triumph which they achieved
when they succeeded in returning that gentleman.
The victory which had been achieved in Westminster
in the return of Mr. Smith had beerr appreciated
throughout the length and breadth of the land. This
was clear by a telegram which had been received that even-
ing from Salford, which said, " The working men of Salford
congratulate the working men of Westminster on the glori-
ous victory which they have won."
Mr. SMITH, in returning thanks, said he did not desire to
speak in any spirit of bravado, but he must say that he
believed there had been a most powerful reaction in
favour of constitutional principles, not only in West-
minster, but in Middlesex, and certainly in Lancashire.
It might be said that ho was connected with a party
which, although recently in power, was now in a mino-
rity in the House of Commons. In reply, he could only
say that however much he might personally regret that
his noble friend (Lord Henry Lennox) was now leaving
official life for a short time, yet ho could not help think-
ing that the step which Mr. Disraeli had taken was the
wisest which he could have done under the circumstances.
They had, at present, no cause to despair. The battle was
not yet lost. It had still to be fought. There were many
changes which had overtaken political parties in the past,
and he certainly believed that many more changes would
overtake political parties in the future, and he felt that there
was abundant reasons for the Conservative party to be satis-
fied, and confidently await the result.

On Tuesday night Earl Dudley gave a grand ball
at Witley Court, in honour of his ltoyul guest, the Crown
Prince of Prussia. The Duke and Duchess of Au.laic, the
Dec do Chartres, Gild M. Van de Weyer were amongst thy,
guests. His Royal Highness visited Worcester on Wednesday
and took an opportunity of inspecting the Cathedral, and the
new works. The Rev. Canon Wood was luckily in the
Cathedral when his Royal Highness arris ed, and conducted
the Prince over the building—the crypt and choir claiming
the especial attention of the Prince, who, before leaving
the Cathedral, signed his rattle in the visitors' book. Ifs
Royal Highness honoured Canon Wood with a visit to his
house, and expressed his gratification at all ho bad soon in
the Cathedral.

IMPERIAL PARLIABIENT

TIIIS DAY.

HER MAJESTY'S APPROVAL OF THE SPEAKER.

Mr Denison to-day appeared in the House of
Commons in a court suit, and what is called a
" bob wig ;" and on the members being again sum-
moned by Black Rod to the House of Peers, the
right hon. gentleman took precedence, and arriving
at the bar, stated to the Lords Commissioners that,
in obedience to her Majesty's commands, her Ma-
jesty's faithful Commons, in the exercise of their
undoubted rights and privileges, bad proceeded to
the election of a Speaker, and their choice bad
fallen upon himself. He therefore submitted him-
self, with all humility, to her Majesty's most gra-
cious approbation.

The LORD CHANCELLOR, addressing the right
honourable gentleman by his name, assured him
that her Majes'y was fully sensible of his zeal for
the public service, and of his sufficiency to perform
the important duties he had been selected to di3-
charge and most readily approved and confirmed
him as the Speaker of her faithful Commons.

Mr. J. E. DENISON then bowed to her Majesty's
command, and then laid claim on behalf of the
Commons to their ancient and undoubted rights
and privileges, " especially to freedom from arrest
and molestation of their persons and servants, to
freedom of speech in debate, and free access
to her Majesty whenever occasion shall require,"
concluding with the request that the most
favourable construction might be put upon all their
proceedings, and that any errors that might occur
in the discharge of their duties might be imputed
to himself alone, and not to her Majesty's faithful
Commons.

The LORD CHANCELLOR then addressed the right
hon. gentleman as " Mr. Speaker," and gave
an assurance that her Majesty most readily con-
firmed all the rights and privileges which have
been granted by her royal predecessors, and would
be ever ready to put the most favourable construc-
tion upon the
_right hon. gentleman's words and
actions.

The Speaker then returned to the House of Com-
mons and reported what had passed to the House
of Peers, and thenceforward assumed his ordinary
official garb, and the swearing in of members com-
menced, and was continued up to the hour of ad-
journment.