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ment moved by Mr. Watson, for leaving out the clause allowing relief from the poor-rates to persons contributing to the savings banks, was negatived, and the question for passing the bill was carried in the affirmative, by 60 to 27.

On the question for the second reading of the Irish insurrection bill, sir S. Romilly objected to the renewal of a measure of such ri gorous enactments without further inquiry, and moved that it be read a second time that day six-months. General Matthew, sir H. Parnell, sir W. Burroughs, and others, supported the amendment.

Mr. Peel, Mr. Leslie Foster, Mr. D. Browne, and several other members, contended that the measure was absolutely necessary for the internal tranquillity of Ireland.

The amendment was then negatived without a division.

The poor employment bill, after a few words from Mr. Western, was passed.

May 30.-Mr. Dyson stated that he had received a letter from the speaker, which, with the leave of the house, he would read:

"Palace-yard, May 30, 1817. "Sir,-It is with the sincerest concern and regret that I feel myself obliged to request, that you will inform the house of commons, at their meeting this day, of my inability, from continued illness, to attend any longer upon their service. After holding the high office to which I have been raised by their favour, in five successive parliaments, it is impossible that I should resign so honourable and distinguished a situation, without feeling the deepest gratitude for the constant kindness with which they have been pleased to accept and assist my humble endeavours to discharge its various and arduous duties.-It 1817.

was my earnest wish to have continued longer in the service of the house if such were their pleasure. But the interruption of public business which has been already occasioned by my state of health, and the apprehension of the same cause recurring, which might again expose the house to the like inconvenience, have made me deem it necessary that I should retire at this time, and have left me now no further duty to perform, than to return my heartfelt acknowledgements to the house for all the favours it has bestowed upon me, and to express my fervent wishes for the perpetual maintenance and preservation of its rights, its privileges, and its independence. I am, sir,

"always most truly yours,

"CHARLES ABBOт. "To J. Dyson, esq. deputy-clerk, house of commons."

Lord Castlereagh said, that after the communication which the house had just heard, combined with the recollection of his uniform conduct, there could be, he apprehended, no difference of opinion as to the great merits of the speaker, or as to the propriety of accepting his resignation. From the able, dignified, and conciliatory manner in which the speaker had discharged the arduous duties of his office, at once reflecting the highest credit. upon his character, and affording the utmost satisfaction to the house, all who heard him must regret the resignation of that highly respected and universally esteemed individual. The loss, indeed, of such an officer, he felt no doubt, in common with the house, it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, adequately to supply. The noble lord concluded with proposing an adjournment until Monday, when probably he would be authorized to I

make

make a communication to the house, which would mark the estimation in which the speaker was held by the illustrious personage at the head

of the government, and which would enable the house to proceed at once to the election of another speaker.

CHAPTER IV.

Election of a New Speaker-Message from the Prince Regent respecting the former Speaker-and respecting the State of the Country-Secret Committee regarding the further Suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act -Bill respecting licensing Public Houses-Report of the Secret Committee on the further Suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act-Debate on the Irish Insurrection Act on the further Suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act-Fourth Report of the Select Committee of Finance.

OUSE of commons, June 2. Lord Castlereagh delivered a message from the prince regent, signifying that the speaker had informed his royal highness of his resignation, and intimating the pleasure of his royal highness that the house should proceed to the election of a new speaker.

Sir J. Nichol described the duties of the office of speaker, praised the abilities and conduct of the person who lately filled that situation, and proposed Mr. Manners Sutton, the judge advocate-general, as one every way qualified to succeed him in the chair.

Mr. Littleton seconded the mo

tion.

Mr. Dickinson proposed Mr. C. W.W. Wynn as speaker, and expatiated on his peculiar fitness for the situation, from his learning, intimate acquaintance with the privileges of the house, the forms of parliamentary proceedings, and his uniform manly and independent conduct.

Sir M. W. Ridley seconded the

motion.

Mr. Manners Sutton said, he was aware of the difficulties of the si

tuation, and of his inferiority to the learned gentleman proposed from the other side of the house. At the same time the dignity to which it was proposed by his friends to raise him, had been the first object of his ambition; to that point his studies and attention had been directed; and if he should be honoured with the choice of the house, his whole faculties should be devoted to their service, and he would make every exertion in his power to perform the duties of the office in a inanner suitable to its high importance. If another, however, should be preferred, he would submit with perfect acquiescence to the decision of the house.

Mr. C. W. W. Wynn thanked his friends for the eulogium they had bestowed on him, and that opinion of his merits and talents which had induced them to put him in nomination. One qualification he felt himself to possess, and that was an ardent zeal for the maintenance of the rights and privileges of the house; and whether he should be raised to the situation of speaker, or remain in his present situation (the only situation which he could anticipate

anticipate that he should fill), he should always exercise the same watchfulness, and afford such assistance as he was able to the maintenance of their dignity. He then praised the conduct of Mr. M. Sut ton in the situation of judge-advocate-general, and expressed a confident expectation that he would do himself equal credit in the chair of that house.

Sir C. Burrell, Mr. serjeant Onslow, and Mr. Wilberforce, spoke in favour of the appointment of Mr. Wynn.

A division then took place, when the votes were, for Mr. Manners Sutton three hundred and twelve; for Mr. C. W. W. Wynn one hundred and fifty-two; giving a majority for the former of one hundred and sixty. Mr. M. Sutton was then conducted to the chair by sir J. Nichol and Mr. Littleton, and returned thanks for the honour conferred on him.

Lord Castlereagh then rose, and after congratulating the right honourable gentleman on his election, moved an adjournment, which was immediately carried.

House of lords, June 3.-The earl of Liverpool presented a message from his royal highness the prince regent, which was read by the lord chancellor, and was as follows:

"G. P. R.-His royal highness the prince regent, acting in the name and on the behalf of his majesty, thinks it proper to inform the house of lords, that having taken into his consideration the circumstances under which the right honourable Charles Abbot has retired from the situation of speaker of the house of commons, and the arduous and eventful period during which he has performed the duties of speaker, he has conferred upon him the dignity of a baron, by the style

and dignity of lord Colchester, of Colchester, in the county of Essex; and his royal highness recommends to the house of lords to concur in making such provision for the said lord Colchester, and the heir male succeeding him in the title, as under all the circumstances may appear just and reasonable."

On the motion of lord Liverpool, the message was ordered to be taken into consideration on Thursday.

Viscount Sidmouth delivered in a message from the prince regent,, which was as follows:

"G. P. R.-His royal highness the prince regent, acting in the name and on the behalf of his majesty, has given orders to lay before the house of lords papers containing information of the continuance of those practices, meetings, and combinations, to which his royal highness thought it proper to call the attention of the house of lords at the commencement of the present session of parliament, and showing that these practices are still carried on in different parts of the country in a manner and to an extent calculated to disturb the public tranquillity, and to endanger the secu rity of the constitutional establishments of the empire: His royal highness recommends to the house of lords to take this message into its immediate and serious consider

ation."

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been taken by surprise, having been some time in possession of the intentions of ministers on the subject. Earl Grey hoped that the committee would look to the motives and situations of the witnesses brought before them; and if any part of the intelligence that influenced the former report had been given under any peculiar or disqualifying bias, he hoped it would now be rejected.

The earl of Liverpool and marquis of Buckingham were for an immediate inquiry.

Earl Grosvenor, earl Spencer, and lord Holland, were in favour of delay.

The motion was then carried; and lord Sidmouth proposed the revival of the old committee, with the substitution of lord Talbot for the duke of Bedford, which was agreed

to.

On the motion of lord Liverpool, the name of lord Sidmouth was added to the list of the committee. In the commons, the same day, Mr. Speaker, on his return from the house of lords, stated the confirmation by the prince regent of the choice the commons had made; again thanked them for the distinc tion they had conferred upon him"; and solicited their support and indulgent consideration in his efforts to maintain their rights and privileges, and to discharge the duties of his high situation.

The sheriffs of London appeared at the bar, and presented a petition of the common council against the further suspension of the habeas corpus act.

Lord Castlereagh brought down a message relative to seditious meetings, to the same effect as that delivered in the upper house. It was ordered for consideration on Thursday.

His lordship then brought downa message relative to the late speaker, similar to that delivered in the upper house; and gave notice that on Thursday he should move a vote of thanks to the late speaker.

Mr. Vansittart intimated that he should, the same day, move for the consideration of the message.

Mr.Wynn, Mr. Ponsonby, Mr.H. Sumner, and sir J. Newport, objected to the course proposed to be pursued in remunerating the late speaker, as being contrary to all precedent, and trespassing on the privileges of the house, with whom the knowledge of the services of their speaker was exclusively supposed to rest, and to whom it belonged to originate any measure for rewarding them.

Lord Castlereagh, Mr.Vansittart, Mr. V. Fitzgerald, and Mr. Huskisson, thought it a matter of indifference whether the proposal originated with the crown or the house; but ultimately agreed to the course suggested by the opposition, and Mr. Vansittart shaped his notice of motion accordingly.

Mr. Shaw brought up the report of the committee on the alnage laws of Ireland.

Lord Milton and Mr. Abercrombie objected to the report, as recommending 5001. a year to lord de la Blaquiere, for giving up an office which had no duties to execute, and from which no profit had been received. The report was ordered to lie on the table.

House of lords, June 5.-The message relative to the late speaker of the commons having been taken into consideration, earl Liverpool, after a panegyric on his merits, moved an address, assuring the prince regent of their disposition to concur in making a suitable provision for lord Colchester and the

next male heir succeeding him in the title.

In the commons, the same day, sir J. Shaw presented a petition from the livery of London, and Mr. S. Lefevre one from Reading, against the further suspension of the habeas corpus act.

A petition from Sheffield, against the employment of boys in sweeping chimneys, was referred to a select committee.

Lord Castlereagh addressed the house on the services of the late speaker, and moved a vote of thanks; which was carried, and the same was ordered to be communicated to him by the new speaker.

Lord Castlereagh rose again to move an address to the prince regent, beseeching him to confer some signal mark of his favour on lord Colchester, for his great and eminent services as speaker of that house; and assuring him, that, whatever might be the expense in curred, that house would make good the same. After a conversation of some length, in which it was stated that it was intended to settle on lord Colchestet 50007. a year, and on his next heir 30007. (to which Mr. Tierney objected as too large), the motion was carried. Lord Castlereagh appeared at the bar with a green bag containing several papers, which was ordered to be brought up and laid on the table. The message from the prince re-. gent, as to the continuance of seditious meetings, &c. being then read, his lordship moved an address of thanks for the communication, and signified that he should, upon its being carried, move to refer the papers to the same committee which sat at the beginning of the session, with the substitution of the present solicitor-general for sir W. Garrow, not now a member.

Lord Folkestone said, his predictions at the time when the alien act was under consideration had proved true. He then said that, if ministers obtained the power of issuing lettres de cachet, whether against aliens or natives, other measures would speedily follow, entirely destructive of all British freedom. The crown, however, had been suffered to retain a large standing army, a large staff, and large establishments; and if, in addition to this, we suspended the habeas corpus act, we put the whole liberties of the country into the hands of the crown; we made the crown a despot; and the people of England were as complete slaves as the people of any other country whatever. His lordship then solemnly protested against the course which ministers were now following.

Mr. Curwen concurred in the sentiments of the last speaker; and said he would give his decided opposition to a separation of parliament under a suspension of the habeas corpus.

The address was then carried.

On the question being put, That the papers presented to the house by lord Castlereagh should be referred to a committee; lord Folkestone moved, as an amendment, to add the words, "to examine and report the substance thereof to the house, omitting only the names of such persons as, in the opinion of the committee, it would be dangerous to the persons themselves to name."

The amendment was negatived; and it was agreed that the committee should be a committee of secrecy, and consist of twenty-one members. On the question that it should consist of such members of the committee of the 5th of February as were now in the house, I 3

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