On Tuesday Sir William Harcourt, while moving the usual resolutions
giving the thanks of the House to the Speaker, and praying the Queen to show him some signal mark of her favour, laid down what was expected of a Speaker. " We expect dignity and authority tempered by urbanity and kind- ness ; we look for firmness to control and persuasiveness to counsel ; we demand promptitude of decision and justness of judgment ; tact, patience, and firmness; a natural superiority combined with an inbred courtesy, so as to give by his own bearing an example and a model to those over whom he pre- sides ; an impartial mind, a tolerant temper, a reconciling disposition accessible to all in public and private as a kind and a prudent counsellor. These are high and they are exacting demands, and in you, Sir, we have found them all fulfilled." Mr. Balfour and Mr. Chamberlain spoke in a similar strain, and Mr. Justin McCarthy and Mr. John Redmond, repre- senting the Irish parties, were equally cordial. The Speaker then shortly thanked the House, and the motions were carried without any dissentient voice. The whole scene was most im- pressive, not only from the dignity of the speeches, but from their obvious sincerity and the reality of the feeling aroused throughout the House.
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