which preceded the impeachment of lord in the private duties of the chair, he had more frequent opportunities than others to Melville. Sir, what induces me more particularly to allude to this fact is, the circum- observe the punctuality of attendance, and stance of my conviction, that this must be the zealous endeavours to forward the busi an inquiring parliament, otherwise we shall ness that came before him, by which the find that the people will be infinitely disap right hon. gent. now proposed established pointed in the expectations they have formed the strongest claim to the approbation and of those they have sent to it as their repre- confidence of the house. It was unnecessasentatives. Upon such grounds, therefore,y to add any thing to what had already been I think, that the high trust and responsabili-said; but he could not abstain from advertty of a Speaker of this house cannot be de-ing to one expression which had fallen from The right hon. gent. legated into the hands of any man with the right hon, mover. greater propriety, or with greater safety, expressed a wish, that all other discussions than into the hands of one, who has already might be equally free from party motives as this. He could only say in answer, that if executed that situation with firmness and independence. What he has already done, every proposition that should be introduced upon a former occasion, we surely have should be equally unexceptionable in its naevery reason to expect he would not hesitate ture, no party interest should traverse it, at to do upon a future occasion. The firmness, least so far as he was concerned. (An univerthe impartiality, the spirited and dignified sal cry of chair, chair! Mr. Abbot, Mr. Abbot!) Mr. Abbot then rose. He said, the proindependence, which he has already shewn, should certainly induce us to believe that he position which his right hon. friend had would act so again, should another similar submitted to the house as its first act, so far This, therefore, is my as it concerned the magnitude of the duties opportunity offer. governing principle for voting for the right annexed to the chair, received his fullest conThe history and practice of parhon. gent. If his conduct upon that day currence. had been otherwise, I most unquestionably liament, at al periods, confirmed that opiBut if it had been thus matter of would have voted against him. I do not de- nion. ny, but, on the contrary, I admit, that he grave and solemn deliberation, at all periods, possesses all the qualifications which have into whose hands the high, important, diffibeen enumerated; but I mean fairly and cult, and delicate duties of the chair should frankly to own, that this last one, which I be entrusted, a just sense of the difficulties have stated, is with me the chief induce- of the times in which we live, difficulties, which might be expected to increase instead ment, the governing principle which actu ates my vote in his favour. Lest it should of diminish, must make it matter of partibe said that I am introducing party princicularly serious consideration now. The parples, and party prejudices, I shall abstain from making any further observations; but, while I give my most cordial assent to the motion now before you, I cannot conclude without observing, that if ever there was a parliament likely to create great warmth of discassion upon great political and party topcs, it is the present parliament, which is now, for the first day, assembled.

tiality of his friends had ascribed to him a capacity for discharging those duties, which, gratefully as he acknowledged it as a mark of their kindness, filled him with fear when it led him to a comparison of the arduous nature of the task, with his humble ability to execute it. He had further only to add, that if the house, in the exercise of its first privilege, should think fit to call Mr. William Smith gave his hearty con- again into its service the qualifications it had currence to the motion, and had great satis-experienced in him, they should be exerted faction in seeing recalled to the chair a gen- with the utmost zeal and ability of which he was master. With this he submitted to the tleman who had acquitted himself in such a (An universal cry of manner in the public and private duties of the pleasure of the house. othee, as to prove himself possessed of the chair! chair!)-Mr. Abbot was then conbest disposition as well as the most perfect ducted to the chair by the mover and seconder of the motion, and when scated therein ability to fill it in the most beneficial manThe discharge of the public duties of for a short interval he again rose and adi the chair in the house was a matter that dressed the house thus :-Since the house has been pleased to place me again in this came under the observation of every member. He should, therefore, say nothing on chair, I desire from this place to return you that head, though he believed there was the my humblest thanks, and most grateful acmost ample room for commendation; but, knowledgments, for this additional proof of

ner.

your confidence and esteem. I have only now again to assure you, that while I have the honour of occupying it, I will constantly labour to deserve a continuance of your regard, by maintaining the dignity and authority of this house unimpaired, and by endeavouring to do so with fidelity and strict impartiality.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer availed himself of the usage of the house, to offer to the Speaker, not his congratulations, but the unanimous contratulations of the house of commons, and the unanimous congratulations of the public The feelings of the friendship with which the Speaker had long honoured him, were alone sufficient to make him rejoice to see him again restored to a situation, which from every consideration, public and private, must be as desirable to him as it was honourable. But it was not so much from private considerations, as from a sense of the importance of the duties of the office, and of the peculiar qualifications to discharge them, that he exulted in the present appointment to the chair, to which the Speaker's former conduct in it gave additional lustre. The proper object of congratulation, was, not the Speaker, but the house, whose good fortune in providing so amply for the respectability, and utility of its presidency, could not be too highly estimated. On the first occasion on which the Speaker had been called to the chair, he had made the same modest comparison between the duties of the office and his sense of his own abilities to discharge them. To compare his feelings on that occasion, and on the present, was a thing that could scarcely be abstained from. The statement then offered of the arduous duties of the office, and of the incapacity, as the Speaker had been pleased to call it, of the individual to perform them, was then subject to the test of a severe criticism. There was fresh in the memory of the house the conduct of a predecessor in the chair, who in a time deeply marked with the violence of party conflicts, had so conducted himself as to acquire the unanimous approbation of men, who scarcely agreed in any thing else. Lord Sidmouth, the person to whom he alluded, was supposed to have possessed every quality which the idea of a perfect Speaker of the house of commons comprehended. It was enough to say, that on the comparison with him, the present Speaker was not found in any sense wanting. The dignity, authority, and utility of the character of the chair was as fully supported as at any former

period; and the respect which it was properly entitled to command, was not in any the slightest degree diminished. All that could be wished now, was the continuance of the conduct already experienced. The trial to which the Speaker was called was less unequal All that was necessary to his honourable acquittal, was to persevere in doing as he had done. Nothing could be so gratifying, as to be called unanimously to a station so arduous and so exalted, after so full a trial. The silent assent of the house would have been perhaps sufficient to mark its according approbation. But, from the express and declared concurrence of persons, who were not in other instances likely to agree, the most unequivocal sanction of universal approbation was given. Thus, however, in the frequent changes of administration that had lately taken place, the minds of men might differ, as to those who might be best qualified to hold the reins of government in the country, there was no doubt any where that the chair of that house could by no other person be so well filled as by its present holder. Conscious that he must fall infinitely short of giving an adequate description either of his own feelings, or of those which the house entertained upon the present occasion. he should conclude with moving, that this house do now adjourn.-The question being | put from the chair, the house adjourned accordingly.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Tuesday, June 23.

At three o'clock, the lords commissioners took their seats, and immediately sent the usher of the black rod to desire the attendance of the house of commons, with their Speaker elect, in the house of peers, to present him for his majesty's approbation.—In a few minutes, the commons, with Mr. Abbot at their head, attended at the bar.-Mr. Abbot then addressed the lords commissioners to the following effect: I have to acquaint your lordships, that in obedience to his majesty's commands, and in virtue of their ancient rights, his faithful commons have proceeded to the election of a Speaker, and that their choice has once more fallen upon me. Deeply penetrated with the most heartfelt gratitude for this new mark of their confidence and good opinion, and in humble compliance with their wish, I now present myself at your bar, and have humbly to pray, that his majesty will graciously allow them to re-consider their choice, and to elect a worthier person.

The Lord Chancellor.-Mr. Abbot, the | ty's approbation.-The commons accordinglords appointed by his majesty's commission, ly, with the Speaker at their head, imme have it in command from his majesty, to diately attended. On his return, signify, that his majesty, fully persuaded of the wisdom and prudence of his faithful commons, is perfectly satisfied with the choice they have made, and convinced of your ample and tried sufficiency to execute all the duties of that office, We, therefore, by the authority of his majesty's commission, do allow and confirm the choice they have made of you as their Speaker.

liver in to the cerk of this house, an account of their Qualification, and to take and subscribe the oath of Qualification, delivered in such account, and took and sub-diation undertaken by his majesty, for the scribed the said oath accordingly.

taken place in the Sea of Marmora, and in Egypt, he did not wish to cast censure any where until those documents were before the house, which could enable it to decide with propriety. He trusted, however, that in the mean time no attempt would be made to throw the blame upon the officers employ

and can alone enable his majesty, under the blessing of providence, to carry on successfully the great contest in which he is en gaged, or finally to conduct it to that termination which his majesty's moderation and justice have ever led him to seek, a peace in which the honour and interests of his kingdom can be secure, and in which Eu-ed on those services. The events were most rope and the world may hope for independence and repose.'

unfortunate; but he trusted they would only prove an additional incentive to our gallant The commons then withdrew, and the soldiers and seamen, to efface their memolords adjourned for a short time to unrobe. ry by splendid victories and brilliant achieveHaving again assembled, his Majesty's ments. He trusted, also, that the measure Speech was read by the lord chancel- since adopted would have the desired effect, lor, and afterwards by the clerk at the table. of inducing the Porte to adopt those mea. The Earl of Mansfield rose to move the sures which were consistent with her real address. At a crisis like the present, he interests. There was another topic in his wished it had fallen to the lot of some noble majesty's speech to which he wished to adlord more able and experienced than himself, vert, although it was rather addressed to the to move an address to his majesty, he felt house of commons than to their lordships, himself incompetent to the task and hoped inasmuch as it formed an additional arguto meet with the indulgence of the house. ment for the address which he should move; He did not come forward upon this occasion he alluded to the wish expressed by his mawith any party views, and whilst he disdain-jesty, that they should proceed in those ened to be the servile tool of any administra- quiries respecting the economy of the pubtion, so, on the other hand, he was equally lic money, which they had commenced in inimical to a systematic opposition to the the last parliament. This was an additional measures of government, whether those incitement for their lordships to express to measures were injurious or conducive to the his majesty their loyalty and attachment, public good. Some parts, however, of his whilst it proved that there was not the slightmajesty's speech, had struck his mind very est wish that those inquiries should be dropforcibly, and upon those he would briefly ped, which had been interrupted by the disdeliver his opinion. The circumstances solution of parliament. It was his most arwhich occurred respecting the proposed con-dent wish that upon such an occasion, encessions to the Catholics, and the differences gaged as we were in war, carrying on a conwhich on that occasion took place between test in which all the energies of the country his majesty and his late ministers, rendered it impossible that those ministers could remain in office, and rendered an appeal to the people absolutely necessary. He rejoiced at the effect of that appeal, he rejoiced that addresses had poured in from every quarter of the country, evincing the most zealous and steady loyalty and attachment to his majesty's government, and to the constitution of the country, and whilst he regretted that any of those addresses should convey a censure upon many eminent characters, he should have still more regretted if no such addresses had been presented. It was greatly to be lamented that a subject should have been agitated, which of all others was the most likely to inflame and irritate men's minds; he hoped that that irritation would now be allayed and that union and concert would invigorate the hands of government, and strengthen the country. In alluding to one topic mentioned in his majesty's speech, namely, the unfortunate events which had

were required to be exerted, and when, as in the present case, the speech from the throne was temperate and conciliatory, that there should be an unanimous vote. If that, however, in the present state of parties, and under the present differences of opinion, was not to be expected, he trusted that they would be at least unanimous in expressing their cordial, zealous, and loyal attachment to his majesty, whose mild and benignant government, and whose unerring discretion in the exercise of his royal prerogatives called loudly for that tribute to his numerous virtues. His lordship concluded by moving an address to his majesty, which, as usual, was nearly an echo to his majesty's speech. -The proposed address having been read by the lord chancellor,

Lord Rolle rose to second it. His lordship declared, that he came forward uninfluenced by any party considerations, and solely from motives of loyalty and attachment to his majesty. He condemned the conduct