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PRINCIPAL IIII2liNE210 OP THE WEEK. , .

Ironic or Lonna. Monday, March 9. Royal Assent to Marine Forces Bill, Chief Constables Bill, Ionian Subjects Commissions Bill, and Public Health Act Supplemental Bill-Opium Traffic; Lord Sbaftesbury's Motion. Tuesday, March 10. Minutes and Divisions of the House ; Earl Stanhope's Resolutions.

Thursday, March 12. Relations with China; Lord Ellenborough's Motion for returns.

Friday, March 13. The Persian Treaty ; Lord Clarendon's Statement—Incometax Bill read a first time-Indemnity Bill read a first time-The Dissolution ; Earl Derby's Notice of Motion. HOUSE Or COMMONS. Monday, March 9.—The Speaker announces his intention to Retire-Income-tax Bill read a second tine—Supply; Navy Estimates—CustomsDuties Bill read a first time—Indemnity Bill read a first time. Tuesday. March 10. The Speaker's Retirement; Vote of Thanks, Ike. thereupon — Income-tax Bill reported—Revision of Expenditure ; Mr. Gladstone's Motion-Customs-Duties Bill read a second time—Indemnity Bill read a second time. Wednesday, March 11. Supply; Civil Senice Estimateii-Custoros-Duties Bill committed—Indemnity Bill committed.

Thursday. March 12. The Crimean Commissioners; Mr. Palk's Motion—Supply ; Army Estimates—Income-tax Bill read a third time and passed—Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Bill read a third timkand passed—Customs-Duties Bill read a third time and passed—Indemnity Bill read a third time and passed. Friday, March 13. Mr. Speaker's Retirement ; the Queen's Message considered

— Mutiny Bills read a first time.

Early on Monday evening, the Ser.sxmi made the following annotmcement

" Before I call upon the Clerk to read the Orders of the Day, I hope the House will permit me to occupy their attention for a very few moments.. After the statement made by the noble Lord to the House on Thursday last, it is quite evident that a dissolution of Parliament is rapidly approaching ;. and I feel it to be only consistent with that respect which is especially due from me to the House, that t should inform them of my intention to retire

from Parliament at the close of the present session. It is now very nearly eighteen years since I first had the honour of being elected Speaker of this. House; and I cannot contemplate the termination of my official career without great pain. Nor can I allow it to close without offering to the House my sincere and grateful acknowledgments for that uniform confidenceand support which I have received not only from all parties in this House, but, I may say with perfect truth, from every individual member of it.. (Cheers from all parts of the House.) I am quite aware, that in the discharge of the delicate and very onerous duties of this chair I have had much need of that kind indulgence which has always been extended to me, and more especially of late when I have been so frequently reminded of my increasing inability to do' full justice to the task imposed upon me. well cries of" Ho, no !") It has been my constant endeavour, as is wen known to the House, to improve and simplify their forms of proceeding ; but at thesame time, I have striven to maintain unimpaired all their rights and, privileges, together with all those rules and orders sanctioned by ancient usage which long experience has taught me to respect and venerate,, and which I believe never can be relaxed or materially altered without prejudice to the freedom and independence of the House of Commons. (Cheers.) HI have been in the least degree instrumental in promoting objects so desirable and so essential to the public interests, I am perfectly sensible that I owe that success to the cordial cooperation which I have always received from the House, and for which I never can be sufficiently grateful." (Loud and general cheering.) Lord PALMERSTON expressed the regret of every Member of the Houseat hearing this announcement. He spoke in strong terms of the character and conduct of the Speaker ; and gave notice that on Tuesday he should move a vote of thanks to him, and an address to the Crown on the subject.

On Tuesday, Lord PALMERSTON moved a vote of thanks ; which he introduced by the following speech.

"Mr. Speaker-It was in), duty yesterday, Sir, to be the organ of the regrets of this House at the communication which 'you felt it your duty to make to them, and also of their concern that the next Parliament are not to have the benefit of your assistance in conducting their deliberations. I have today a task to perform of a nature more agreeable to me, and one which I am sure will be more acceptable to the Roue°. ((Theers.) I have to propose to this House to return, by their unanimous vote their thanks to you, Sir, for your able and distinguished services in the chair during the long period of nearly eighteen years for which yoe have filled it. (General and sustained cheering.) Sir, that man must have been a very superficial observer of the proceedings of Parliament who has not remarked in how essential a degree the usefulness, the respectability, and the influence of this House, must depend upon the manner in which the man who occupies that chair shall perform the duties which he has to discharge. In a great assembly like this, composed of so many persons coining from all parts of the country, it is obvious that unless the person who regulates their proceedings inspires among the Members of the House that temper, forbearance, and equanimity which he himself possesses, this House might be led by the warmth of discussion and the agitation of public questions to depart from that order, moderation, and regularity which are so essential to loamtain in the public mind that respect which is due to this branch of the Legislature. Sir, it is needless, I sin sure, to pay in how eminent a degree you have performed your functions. (Cheers.) It is needless to remind those who have witnessed your proceedings, how you have combined promptitude of decision, justness of judgment, and firmness of purpose, with the most conciliatory manners ; and how that dignity, that natural dig' nity which belongs to you, and which is most striking where it is accompanied by simplicity of mind, and by the absence of an artikcial affectation-how that natural dignity which anus vourself has been communicated through your direction to the general proceedings of the C0101110T1S House of Parliament. (Cheers.) Sir, not only have you discharged in the most exemplary and useful manner your duties in that chair, but there are other duties, will not say less important, but nearly as important, which the Speaker of this House has to perforin out of the chair. I am SW* that I shall meet with the concurrence of every gentleman who listens to me when I say that 110 member ever approached you for the purpose of obtaining information with inspect to our proceedings, either public or private, which it was his wish to receive, without experiencing from you not only the most courteous reception, not only the most ready hearing, but aleo the most accurate informa

tion in regard to the subject upon which it was his desire and his duty to

consult you. (Cheers.) There is another matter, Sir, in which you fiave eminently conduced to the interests of this House. Our forms of proceeding are founded upon ancient usage. Many of them were, no doubt, the result of accident, or perhaps of design, at periods when those forms were more essential than at present to maintain the principles on which our discussions should be based. You, Si-, have had the judgment to discriminate between the principles which ought ever to be upheld and the technical forms which might be varied and modified without detriment to the public ;

and by the suggestions which you have from time to time made, you have

contributed much to the despatch of business in this House, to the advantage of the country, and the convenience of the members of this body.

(Cheers.) I am convinced, Si-, that in what I have been saying I have been only expressing the feelings which animate every gentleman who hears me ; and that in moving the address which I propose to submit to the House, I shall only be embodying the sentiments naturally arising in the minds of all who sit in this assembly." (Renewed cheers.)

The terms of the motion were—"That the thanks of this House be given to the Speaker for his eminent and distinguished services during the period of nearly eighteen years for which he has filled the chair of this House; that he be assured that this House fully appreciates the zeal and ability with which he has discharged the duties of Speaker under circumstances

requiring unprecedented labour and exertion ; and that this House enter tains the strongest sense of the firmness and dignity'with which he has maintained its privileges, of his unremitting attention to its business, of the care which he has devoted to the improvement of its forms, and of the urbanity and kindness which have uniformly marked his conduct in the chair, and which have secured for him the esteem and gratitude of every member of this House." (Loud and prolonged cheering.) Mr. DISRAELI seconded the motion, and on behalf of the gentlemen who sit on the left of the chair expressed entire concurrence in what Lord Palmerston had said.

"We, too, Sir, have been witnesses to the blended firmness and courtesy with which you have regulated our debates, and, when necessary., controlled them. We also can bear witness to the learning which has guided and en lightened our labours, and can bear witness to the high bearing which, at all times and under all circumstances, even the most trying, has sustained the dignity of that exalted office which you have filled. The eighteen years during which you have occupied that chair have been a memorable period in the history of the Parliament of this country. Sonic of the greatest mea

sures that have ever been proposed in this council of the nation have been

carried during that period, and some of the greatest men that have ever flourished within these walls have been under your guidance. I make no doubt that, in the page of history, your Speakership, under these circum stances, will figure as no unimportant one in the history of the Parliament of this country. (Cheers.) The severance of ties SO long, so intimately,

and so cordially maintained between you, Mr. Speaker, and this House,

cannot be witnessed without deep emotion. I confess myself utterly uuequal to the language of panegyric. I confess myself at this moment unequal to offer you those compliments which you deserve ; but I can offer you for those who sit on this side of the House—and, I may presume perhaps to say, for all present—certeinly for him whom you have often so condescendingly aided and guided by your counsel—the tribute of our affectionate respect, and the expression of the hope that when your name is mentioned in your absence in this House, you will believe that it will always be quoted with regard and reverence, and of our anxious and earnest wishes that in that comparative retirement which may await you, you may enjoy that perfect satisfaction which you have so worthily earned." (Loud cheers.)

Lord Josue Russetn said, that although it was unnecessary to add anything to these eloquent speeches, yet, for his own gratification, it might perhaps be permitted to him, having been brought much into personal communication with the Speaker, to say how greatly his conduct had facilitated the transaction of business.

"I cannot forget that at the period when you were elected you succeeded to one of the most distinguished Members of this House—a man eminent for

his learning, and who for many years had taken a prominent part in the de bates of this House, and who spoke, therefore, with the authority which accompanied that learning and that experience of the affairs of Parliament.

But, Sir, although you might seem so far to have been placed at a disad

vantage, yet your merit so speedily attracted the respect and affection of this House—I may say you so thoroughly won the heart of the House—that the exercise of your authority became comparatively easy, and every person was ready, whatever were his previous prepossessions, whatever his previous wish to persevere in some course of which you disapproved, to bow at once to a single word from you. (Cheers.) . . . . I beg only further to express my extreme regret, accompanied with that, I am sure, of every member of this House, that we have on this occasion to take our final leave of you, and that the succeeding Parliament will not have the advantage of your presence." (Cheers.) The question having been put and carried nem. con, with much cheering, the SPEAKER returned thanks, the House uncovering when he rose. lie said " During the long period in which, by God's blessing, I have been enabled to discharge the duties of this chair, I have had abundant experience of the kindness, forbearance, and indulgence of the House, which they have shown to me under all circumstances and on all occasions. But I have not words at my command, nor can I sufficiently control my feelings so as ade quately to express my gratitude for this crowning mark of their favour and approbation. lean only assure the House, that I shall cherish to the last moment of my existence the remembrance of the proceedings of this day, and of the resolution to which this House has unanimously agreed—this great and inestimable reward for public service ; and in all sincerity, and from the very bottom of my heart, I thank them for the distinguished honour they have conferred upon me." (Loud cheers.) Lord l'atirinurrox then moved, and Sir Josue PAKINGTON seconded this resolution— "That an humble address be presented to her Majesty, praying her Majestythat she will be most graciously pleased to confer some signal mark of her Royal favour upon the Right Honourable Charles Shaw Lefevre, Speaker of this House, for his great and eminent services performed to his country during the long and important period in which he has with such distinguished ability and integrity presided in the chair of this House; and to assure her Majesty, that whatever expense her Majesty shall think proper to be incurred upon that account this House will make good the same." The motion having been unanimously carried, Lord PALMERSTON moved, "That the thanks of the House be given to Mr. Speaker for what he has said this day ; and that the same be entered in theJournals of this House, and printed with the Votes."

This motion, carried also with unanimity, brought the striking ceremony to a close.

On Thursday, Lord Patafrourrote acquainted the House, " That the address to her Majesty, praying that her Majesty would confer some signal mark of her Royal favour on the Right Honourable Mr. Shaw . Lefevre for the great and eminent services which he has conferred upon the country during the long and important period during. _which he has presided in the chair of this House, has been presented to her Majesty ; who has been pleased to receive the same most graciously, and her Majesty has commanded me to acquaint the House, that her Majesty is desirous, in oompliance with the wish of her faithful Commons, to confer upon the Right Honourable Mr. Shaw Lefevre some signal mark of her Royal favour ; but as the same cannot be effectually granted and secured without the concurrence of Parthunent, her Majesty commands that the House of Commons shall take such measures as may be necessary for the accomplishment of such purpose." He gave notice that he should move on Friday that the House should go into,Committee to consider the message. The House accordingly, pt a very short sitting yesterday, went into Committee, Lord Monck in the chair' and Lord PA.LMERSTON moved that an annuity of 4000/. per annum be granted to her Majesty wherewith to pension Mr. Speaker on his retirement from the chair, and that the pension should take effect from that period.—Agreed to nem. eon.