fatiguing in no common degree. It is not only a constant attendance that is required, but the evening debate is not unfrequently protracted to a late hour in the morning, while, unmindful of the refreshment of sleep, and almost of the calls of nature, the Speaker is to support decorum, enforce obedience to order, decide ultimately in respect to every contest, regulate pre-audience, and not unfrequently declare the law and usage of Parliament on any disputed points.

Nor is it only during the time that the mace is placed before him, and while attended by a secretary, trainbearer, and serjeant at arms, that his powers are called into action. It is by means of the clerks and officers of the house regulated by, and solely under his controul, that the whole business of the Commons of England is organized, adjusted, and completed. In the Speaker's office the money and other bills which originate with the House, are first engrossed, and all of what may be termed the mechanical bussiness of Parliament, commences, and is carried forward; so that the operations not only of the individual members, but of the whole of this branch of the legislature are thus silently indeed, but expeditiously effected.

An employment of another kind remains to be mentioned. The Speaker of the House of Coinmons (who is always previously approved of by the King, and usually nominated er officio a member of the privy council), is supposed and indeed enabled to exercise the rites of hospitality, and that too with all becoming magnificence. For this purpose he is

provided

provided with a noble service of plate, and a liberal allowance, to which a spacious mansion in Palaceyard has been recently added.

To the high office, part of the duties of which have been thus briefly enumerated, Mr. Abbot was first nominated on Feb. 10, 1802. He was proposed by the Master of the Rolls (Sir William Grant), and the motion was seconded by Mr. Baker, Member for the county of Hertford. Mr. Sheridan, without specifying any objection, briefly remarked, “that in better times it was the practice to choose a speaker from the landed interest," and then nominated Mr. Charles Dundas, in which Lord George Cavendish concurred. The latter gentleman, however, declined in a handsme manner, observing, "that Mr. Abbot was so much better qualified for the office, that he himself was determined to support him," on which the latter was immediately elected.

On the succeeding day, being attended by a numerous body of the members, he presented himself at the bar of the House of Peers, to which he was introduced with the usual formalities by the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod. He then briefly informed the Lords Commissioners* of his election, on which the Lord Chancellor complimented him on his capability for the discharge of the important functions assigned to him by the decision of the Commons; and added, that this choice was accompanied by his Majesty's complete approbation.

* The Lord Chancellor, Lord Hobart, and Lord Walsingham.

A new

A new parliament having been called in the course of the same year, Sir William Scott, after descanting on the qualifications necessary for a Speaker of the House of Commons, and the peculiar claims which the gentleman who lately occupied that office had on the House, observed, "that during the time the right honourable person just alluded to had filled the chair he had discovered industry the most severe; joined to attention the most unremitting and the most minute. To knowledge the most extensive," continued Sir William," he has added principles the most strictly consonant with the genius of our excellent constitution. Public decorum he has ever made. consistent with the mildness of private intercourse. Dignity in his official situation has never been found unmixed with the most bland and engaging manners. Every expectation formed of him has been amply realized; and as the House seems to entertain the same sentiment, I shall sit down with moving that the Right Honourable Charles Abbot be called to the chair."

Mr. H. Lascelles having seconded the motion, Mr. Abbot remarked, that " the highest honour to which any member of that House could aspire was, to be recommended to its notice as a person qualified to fill the office in question." He at the same time alluded to his own insufficiency, and observed, that "although the journals of the House, and the recorded transactions of our history, afforded much instruction to a Speaker, yet neither his knowledge nor his conduct could be serviceable un· 1805-1803.

U

less

less he possessed the confidence and good opinion of that House; nor ought he to hold it one hour aftes that confidence was withdrawn."

Having been then led to the chair by Sir William Scott who had proposed, and Mr. Lascelles who had seconded the motion, he was seated in due form, after which he again addressed himself to the audience as follows:

Placed in this chair a second time by the indulgent favour of the House, I beg leave to assure it that I am impressed with the deepest sense of gra titude. But I am persuaded that the House will rather judge of my gratitude hereafter, by my sincere endeavours to discharge the duties of this office, than by any language which I could now use, and which must be inadequate to express the extent of my obli gation."

Lord Castlereagh then congratulated the right ho nourable gentleman on receiving the greatest honour that it was in the power of the representatives of the nation to bestow, and at the same time compli mented the members on the credit that would accrue from so judicious a choice; after which he moved an adjournment, which accordingly took place.

The Speaker still continues to exercise the functions of his office with his accustomed ability; and it is not a little to his praise, that no member of any party has ever accused him of prejudice or partiality.

*It has always been the practice of those who have presided in the chair of the House of Commons, to maintain the rights and privileges

On the contrary, an occurrence has recently taken place which will reflect eternal honour on the independance of his character. We now allude to, without presuming to enter into the merits of, the case of a member of the other house lately accused of malversation. On this occasion, as is well known, the numbers were exactly equal, and the Speaker was called on to decide.

privileges of that branch of parliament with a salutary vigilance. A proof recently occurred, that Mr. Abbot is not deficient in this point of view. On Wednesday February 6, 1805, the Speaker noticed the amendment lately made by the Peers in the Pensionduty Bill, which consisted of the simple addition of a single word, viz. "that," which appeared to have been omitted, and was now wanting to render the passage grammatical. He observed that "it was his duty to call the attention of the House to this alteration, as when any amendment was made by the Lords in a bill of this kind (it proved to be a money bill), it was customary to exercise the most vigilant jealousy.

"When the amendment attached to the substance of a bill, the Commons on no occasion consented to it; but if it was evidently nothing more than a mere clerical error, it had not been unusual to adopt it. An instance occurred, with regard to the act passed in the 38th of his present Majesty, entitled, An Act for granting an Aid to his Majesty by a Land.' The bill went up to the Lords, and it appearing there was some omission, they filled it up with the word tax. These matters, however slight in appearance, were entitled to a grave and serious consideration; because the House must be aware, that if slight and trivial alterations were overlooked, it would be difficult to say how far subsequent ones might encroach on the privileges of the Commons."

A special entry was accordingly made of this alteration, that pos terity might be made acquainted with the grounds on which it had taken place.