New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-03-31

despair Of nothing, and all must yet come right.
To the American traveller visiting Europe there 10
perhaps no object which offers so much attraction
as The British Parliament. The influence which
that legislature exercises on European affairs, the
antiquity of its institution, and its similarity TO our
own Congress, which has been built to great OK.
tent on its model, all conspre to make it the first
in the LIT of lions; and especially toward the close
Of its sttires in Summer there lie scarce evening
in which crowd Of our countgmen msy not be
seen in the court VIII Oh surrounds the Commons
doors, eszpg with eager curiosity on the different
distinguished men as they enter the House. or wait
irg the coming of some friendly member to procure
an order to the CELERY. No one who has been in
that crowd can forget the quiet but imposing scene
which prtients itse)f each evening as, at quarter
to a O'Clock, the hour of opening. a cry comes OF,
"Hats of, gentlemen; the Speaker OF the House
Of Commons" and noble and stately man In dark
robe, with train.bsarer, and preceded BY chap
lain and the Sergeant at Arms, bearing the insignia
of tfice moves down the aisle with simple dignity
and enters the House of Commons.
This was CHARLES SHAW LEFEvRI, the
Speaker of the House, the interesting and, we msy
soy, touching proceedings attending whose retire
nent from the poet be has SO long and so worshily
I'll ed will be found briefly reported in another por-
tion of our columns. The scene, as pictured, is
ope of those refreshing spots which come 20 sci.
dom in the rough journey of political strife. in
which men of all parties unite to offer hon.
sge of respect and even affection to long.
tried and honOred public servant Such parting
scenes are always sad. An old Judge leaving
the bench, an old actor quitting the stage,
are things of sadness; and in the feeling Of the
moment shortcomings are often forgotten, for men
are generous in the mass. But in this instance tho
sadness appears to have been enhanced by the fact
that there were no shortcomings to be forgotten,
and that the House of Commons is not likely to fur
nsh soon, if ever, another man so capable of pre-
siding over its deliberations with dignity aud effect
as he who bids farewell at the close Of the present
Parliament. Perhaps there never was man 80
fitted, physically and mentally, for the position he
occupied as Mr.. Lefevre. In person he is much
above the ordinary stature, being about six feet
two Of sipgularly noble and commanding presence,
and in mind of 90 kind and gentle disposition that
his slightest intimaton was obeyed, much .
matter of delicacy as Of duty His clear and sonor.
GUS voice could be heard ringing the cry of order"
above the shouts OF "divide," and the inpatient
clsmor, which, in the British Parliament, always
assail prosy or unpopular Speaker on nights Of
fierce party fight
There is in The hands Of Speaker Of the English
House of Commons more power OF displaying party
prejudice and prediction than cursory observer
of its proceedings would imagine. For instance,
the privilege Of reply is supposed to beaccorded t.
the member who first catches the Speakers eye.
But even Speakers eyes are occasionally accommo-
dating, and some Of Mr.. Lefevres predecessors have
been known, after brilliant speech Of one Of their
own party, to select among ahost Of candidates for
reply some one least or little competent for the con.
aict Indeed they have often carried party feeling
even beg ond this, and it may be remembered that
Mr. Manners Sutton, afterward created Lord Can.
terbury, but few years Mr.. Lefevres predecessor,
was voted out of the chair for having taken an
active part in the intreues for the destruction Of the
Wing Government in 1884. But though in he pri-
yaie opinions Liberal in the most enlarged and
popular sense having voted when member for the
ballot and short ParEaments, Mr.. Lefevre was
never Known, during the long period Of eighteen
years in which he has presided over the House of
Common.-a period, too, full Of momentous poiti-
cal change and violent party struggle, 10 have
exhibited the smallest party prediction. So
strong was the feeling of bis impartsisy and fitness
even among those who held different political
views, that Sir Robert Peel, though commanding q
majority of over one hundred in lsal, did not VEN
ture to propose candidate from his party to re-
place Mr. Shaw Lefeyre
Among themsny duties laid down for the Speaker
Of the House Of Commons there was none, perhaps,
~hich Mr.. Lfevre discharged with greater grace
ard pleasure than that assigned BY his warrant of
Office, "to entertain the members at dinner in due
"succession and at stated periods." He was
thorough believer in the doctrine expended by Lord
Eldor a. par, of the Britsh Constitution, of din
ing often tcet tber and his Dinners were unequaled
both for social charm and exquisite caisine.
Mr. Leievre il now about sixty yexs old, bred to
the bar, but hA,iog inherited his parental estates
early, be never prse,ieed law. He devoted himself
to TIE duties and pleasures Of Country Squire 10
Hlnpshire, which county he has represented fr