i3rbatritanZv pratettingd its 19arIiantrtit.

THE OPENING.

The session of Parliament was opened on Wanesday the 15th. Soon after Iwo. the Loan CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack ; and inlJrined the few Peers who were present, that the Queen did Hot think proper to appear in person on that day, but had caused a commission to be issued under the Great Seal for the opening and lioldirg of Parliament. The Commissioners were the Duke of Cum- &gond, the Duke of Sussex, the Duke of Cambridge, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Marquis Corlytigham, Lord Duncannon, and the Earl of Mulgrave. The five last.named Commissioners only were present. The Commons were summoned by the Usher of the Black Rod ; and a number of Members appeared at the bar, headed by Mr. Ley, Chief Clerk.

The LORD CHANCELLOR directed the letters patent, constituting the commission, to be read ; and then spoke as follows- - 11:. Lords owl Gentlemen—We have it in command from her Majesty to let you know that Ii .1. Majesty sill, as soon as the members of both Houses shall Le sworn, declare to you the causes ot her calling this Parliament, and It being necessnry that us Speaker of the [louse 01 Commons should be first chosen, it is her Majesty's pleasure the cu, th•utlenwn Ed the House oilommons, repair to the place a here you ate to sit, and there prt.cced to the choice of some proper prison to he your Speaker ; and that 7..oti present such person whom you may so choose, here tomorrow, at twoo'clock, for her ld y.ls toy al improhation."

The Commons t1.-en retired to their own chamber; and the Lords pro. eeeded to prayers, which were read by Dr. Musgrave, Bishop of Here- ford. Afterwards, several Peers, including the Duke of Wellington and Lord Durham, took the oaths. The swearing in continued till four o'cluck ; when their Lordships adjourned to five o'clock the next day.

There were about four hundred Members in the house of Com- mons. Most of the Ministers wcre present. The four Members for

But there were other considerations which ought to influence the choice of the House- ,' The House will recollect, that during the last session of Parliament the attention of the House was directed to the inconvenience experienced by the

delays and interruptions which arose in the progress of public business, and to the still more unsatisfactory state of private business, and that a Committee was appointed to consider these questions. The Committee have made a report on the state of public business, and have made several suggestions for amendment;

but have not proceeded with the inquiry into the condition of private business, owing to the abrupt termination of the session. I, for one, sincerely hope that

thia Inquiry will be resumed at the earliest practicable period, because I believe that the character of the House has suffered much in public opinion front the mode in which private business has been transacted. During the last few years,

private bills have increased to a great extent ; if the last year's proceedings are to be taken as a satisfactory index of the future quantity of this business, it will continue Cl) increase—it is the necessary. result of the increasing wealth and en- terprise of the community ; and when we consider the magnitude of the bite. rests involved in those bills, and when we bear in mind that the opinion out of doors is that our decisions on them are not always founded on strict and impar. tial justice, we waist all feel anxious to remove the obloquy. But, whatever may be the decision of this House—whether it sanction the report of the Com- mittee or adopt other recommendations, either with regard to the public or pri- vate business of the House—it is evident that new duties will be imposed on the Speaker, and that an intimate knowledge of the usages of Parliament and unceasing vigilance will be most important. An expounent was made in the last session of Parliament by the appointment of Select Committees on Petitions and Private Bills; and, as Chairman of that Committte, I am bound to state, that many difficulties occurred ; that we had frequently to apply to the late Speaker for advice and assistance ; that great emir- testy, kindness, promptness, and ability, were on all occasions accorded to us; ( Cheers from both sides of the House ;) that our labours were thus greatly lightened, and that it is to this our success is to be attributed. So important and arduous are the duties of the Speakership, that if I were about to move the election of a gentleman still ono led, I would have left it in other hands' and with • Member of greater talents and more experience, and who would have been entitled to greater attention from the House than myself, the present duty; but that duty is lightened when I have only to propose that the right honourable' and learned gentleman who so ably presided over our deliberations in the last st onion shall again take the chair Of this House. ( Renewed cheers.) The high talents and acknowledged abilities of the right honourable and learned gentle. man, which will aniply acquit me in bringing his name before the House, are known to all. I am restrained by his presence from speaking of him in the terms most congenial to my own feelings; hot, for the value of his public set- vices, I will appeal to the gentlemen who were Members of the last Paths. meat, and who witnessed the dignity, the urbanity, and the strict impartiality with which he discharged the duties of his office; and I will put it to them, whether, sitting on this side of the House or on the other, if the right honour-- ab:e gentleman did not act as the moderator of our delAtes, and the piotector

our privileges, so as to gain the respect and approbation of all parties. I feel that I .shall not be considered as giving way to flattery or to private regard,

when I predict that the right honourable gentleman, in the qualities essentiak to the office of Speaker, or in the faithful discharge of his important duties, will not fall short of any of those in the longline of distinguished persons whom this-

House has p i laced n the chair. I have peculiar pleasure, therefore, in pro- posing that the Right Honourable James Abercromby do take the chair.'

(Great cheering.)

Mr. STRUTC seconded the motion ; with, he raid, a due consideration of the responsibility incurred by the Member who recommended & person to fill the high and important office of Speaker- " Any person acquainted with our own history, or who has paid any Wen. tinn to the course of events in France, during the last century, will admit that the most important results may follow from the rules which regulates legislative assembly like this, and the manner in which they are enforced from the chair. I do not feel doubt and hesitation in seconding the present motion, becaude I can nowhere find in this House a gentleman who can discharge its duties with more honour to himself or advantage to the country, than the right honourable gentleman the Member fur Edinburgh. During the last three years, the house have experienced the manner in which my !gannet! friend (lit+. charged his duties; and I am perfectly confident that persons who have watched the course pursued by my right honourable friend must be convinced that his faculties of mind peculiarly fitted him for the discharge of his important duties. Inflexible integrity and strict impartiality. great attention to the duties of the chair, accessibility at all times to persons anxious to consult him on public or private business, added to strong good sense and discrimination, joined also to a

knowledge of the law and practice which regulate our proceedings, with a de- termination to support our rights and privileges—these are qualities possessed by the right honourable gentlenhin; and the House is peculiarly fortunate iu finding

them united in the person of one (if its Mi.nibers. When thelight honourable gentleman first entered upon the duties of Lis office, be was beset with great

difficulties ; lie was elected only by a narrow majority, and it was at a time of great political excitement ; yet it will not be considered that I am speaking the

the City of London took their seats, according to their privilege at the head of the front bench on the right of the chair. Among the most conspicuous persons in the House were Mr. Fyshe Palmer and Mr. O'Connell. The latter took his seat near the bar, and carried on an animated conversation with Mr. William Holmes !

Mr. Ley, with the Members who had accompanied him to the House of Lords, baying returned, the Commons immediately proceeded to the

CHOICE OF SPEAKER.

Mr. CHARLES SHAW LEFEVRE rose to propose the reelection of Mr. Abercromby— • " If at any former period the election of Speaker were a question of peat responsibility, not only as respects the character of this House, but also al regards the success of its deliberations, it is not at the present time that the responsibility is diminished, or that this important function of the Commons creates less interest in the minds of the people; and if we value the privileges of this House, which in fact constitutes the best security for the liberties of the People, we shall not be indifferent to the choice of the individual who is the organ of our opinions, and by whom those privileges are to be maintained. The mote those privileges are threatened, the more does it increase the responsi. bility to select as our presiding officer one on whose wisdom, discretion, and impartiality, we can most fully rely ; and the more necessary also does it become to choose one well acquainted with those privileges, and with the duties of his office. Looking at the present state of public measures', looking at the position of parties, and -looking also at the excited state of party feeling, aggravated as it has been by the recent election contests, it becomes Of great importance that the chair should be filled by an individual to whose sound judgment, equable temper, and profound knowledge, we can trust to interfere at the proper time, and in the proper manner, to prevent those irrelevant discussions and those in. temperate expressions which occasionally arise in the warmth of debate ; so that our deliberations may be rendered both useful and profitable to the country." language of mere compliment, but of strict truth when I say that his conduct hal not only secured hint the confidence and respect of his aupporters on that occasion,

' of the great body of the Members of this House. There is only

one other point on which I wish to say a few words; and it is respecting the

alterations introduced by the late Speaker in the conduct of the private business of the House. It is universally admitted that he has effected a great improvement. It would have been perfectly easy for him to have gone on in the usual routine, without suggesting any amendment himself, or giving sanc-

tion to any proposition for reform from others ; and he would thus have avoided much labour and considerable responsibility. This course would have

been more favourable to himself; but he preferred the advantage to the country derivable from the improvments which he haa introduced. All parties will agree in this opinion ; and if he be repl wed in the chair, he will proceed in his course of progressive and effectual reform, which will not only be satin- fietory to the Members of this House, hut tend to the advancement of the public business. I will conclude with simply seconding the nomination of my

Tight honourable friend ; for I am confident that his success will contribute to the dignity of this House, to the advancement of public business, and to the maintenance of our just rights and privilegea." ( Cheers.) Sir ROBERT PEEL said, he intended to offer no opposition to the motion, though he felt some difficulty as to the course he ought to take-

" It is exeedingly difficult to lay down any rule as to the manner in which

any i Member, or any party opposed to persons in office, should act either by acquiescing n or opposing propositions of this kind. It is difficult to lay down am general rule. Much depends upon the circumstances of each case, on the time %ben it occurs' on the value of the competing claims of individuals, and we must look to many other temporary considerations: and considering the present state of party warfare—considering that a majority, though a smallione.—( Hear, hear I) —vet that a majority of this House would decide in favour of the right honour- able gentleman who has been proposed, and looking at his public conduct in the chair, coupled with the feelings of personal respect which I avowed for him Aden be wag a candidate opposed to my honourable friend Lord Canterbury, and which feelings I still retain, I avow my readiness to acquiesce in and not to oppose his present nomination. ( Cheers.) Special reference has been made by the honourable mover and seconder to one consideration, to which we all wish to direct out attention, and in which we are all anxious to effect an im- provement—the conduct of private business in this House. If, as I believe, the light honourable gentleman has paid great attention to this subject, if he will still turn his intention to the perfection of his plan, not only will the conduct of our business be easier to the Members of this House, but the improvement will tend to the preservation of our privileges and to the good of the public at large. From this consideration alone I would most unwillingly lose the services of the right honourable gentleman. Referring to all the circumstances in the present state of affairs, and avoiding all allusion to the contest in 1835, I most willingly went to the proposition of the honourable Member fur Hampshire for the reelection of the learned gentleman ; and I state not only as my own in- dividual opinion, but as the opinion of those with whom I have the honour to art, that his reappointment to the chair will conduce to the credit, the cha- racter, the honour, and the independence of this House." ( Cheers.) Mr. A DERCROMBY rose amidst loud and general cheering, and spoke as follows- " I owe the recommendations of my honourable friends to their kindness, and not to any merits or efforts on my part. If I revert to the circumstances in which I was placed in the chair, it is only for the purpose of expressing niy willing gratitude for the prompt and cordial support which I have received from all planters of the House, a support to which I was mainly indebted for my success when placed in trying circumstances. With regard to what ban been advanced by the !mill:nimble Member for Hampshire, and adverted to by the right ho- nourable baronet, I feel under the necessity of adding a few words. I certainly concur in the opinion expressed, that under the circumstances in which the House is placed, a more important duty could not devolve upon it than to place its character fairly before the country, by endeavouring to secure to that portion of the public whose private rights and pecuniary interests are the subjects of deliberation a just and impartial decision. By reference to the state of busi- nesg, both publiti and private, and the imperfect state of the proceedings commenced in the late House, I conclude that the House will again be called upon to consider the subject: and it will be obvious that not only is great im- portance to he attached to the attention of the Speaker in reference to any alter- ation in the proceedings of the House, either by adopting any of the suggested alterations in the old rules, or by enforcing new rules, or a different practice, but that the success of the alteration niust depend on the good understanding which may subsist between the Speaker and the House, and whether he can de- peed upon the support of the House. la conclusion, I assure the House, that whilst I highly va:tie the confidence and good opinion of my friends, there is whim; I would more deprecate than being placed in the chair with any feeling of iliatrust that I should not receive the cordial and steady support of the House. And awing these feelings, I submit myself to the consideration of the House." (Cheers.)

Mr. Abercromby was conducted to the chair by Mr. Lefevre and Mr. Strutt ; and again spoke-

" Gentlemen, being placed in this chair under any circumstances roust be deemed by any Member of this honourable House to be a very high honour ; lea being replaced here, after having before filled the chair for three years, and he the unanimous votes of the House, is a distinction which I shall esteem as the greatest which could he conferred on lute; and in acknowledging it, I can telly express my declaration, that I resume this chair with a most firm and zealous desire to merit the coafidence of this honourable House."

Lord JOHN RUSSELL spoke the usual address of compliment to the newly- elected S peaker- " lui rising to move the adjournment of the House, I congratulate you, Sir, on your being again chosen to till the office of Chairman. An ordinary ob- server, when considering the number of precedents to be acted upon, and the rules and regulations framed in the course of centuries, and by which the House 15 50 be governed, might be of opinion that the office of Speaker was attended with little difficulty ; but such a person would not take a. just view of the duties of the situation. The incidents attending the distant:0os of the House continually interpose iliffieulties, which by no foresight can be provided for; but bevuud this, the circumstance to which the honourable Member for Hemp- shipeha5 alluded—the state of the private business of the House, the increased number ef bills by which the transactions of this great commercial country are continually being brought before the House, together with the complaints which from time to time are made of the manner in which the matters connected with thu‘e subjects are treated—alone call upon the Speaker to exercise very great judgment in order to give effect to, and very great prudence to assist by his experience the deliberations of the House upon questions of very great difficulty; arid they besidea require very great discrimination in their investigation, and in the decisions to be given upon them. 1 feel confident that your election, with. out oppoaitimi, will tend very much to settle the difficulties which may arise as to the inanner of conducting public business ; and if you can in this way serve the public, you will congratulate yourself as well upon the honour con- /cried on you by the Muse, as, on the other hand, upon your being the means of bringing to perfection those regulations; and you will thus, by obtaining for the House an increased character, return it the honour which it has conferred on you, and on which I again most sincerely congratulate you."

The House then adjourned.

On Thursday,the SPEAKF.It took the chair at two o'clock ; and a few minutes afterwards, being summoned by the Usher of the Black Rod, went to the House of Lords, preceded ny the Sergeant-at-Anne, with the mace, and accompanied by Mr. Lefevre' Mr. Strutt, and about thirty other Members. The Lord Chancellor and the other Lords Commissioners had taken their seats at the foot of the throne. The following form was gone through.

Mr. ABERCROMBY (speaking from below the bar) said—" My Lords, I am to acquaint your Lordships, that in obedience to her Majesty's commands, her Majesty's faithful Commons have proceeded to exercise their undoubted right and privilege to choose their own Speaker ; ;old I have now to acquaint your Lordships that their choice haa fallen, however unworthily, on me; and I now humbly submit myself to her Majesty's royal will and pleasure."

The LORD Ciaveresacia—" Mr. Abereromhy, we are commanded by her Majesty to assure You that her Majesty is fully sensible of yonr zeal for the pub- lic service, and of your ample and tried sufficiency for the discharge of the im- portant and arduous duties for which her faithful Commons have selected you, and that her Majesty most readily approves of and confirms their choiee."

Mr. ABERCROMBY••••" My Lords I submit myself with all humility and gratitude to her Majesty's royal will and pleasure. And I have now, in the name and on the behalf of the Commons of the United Kingdom, to lay claim, by way of petition' to the free exercise of all their ancient and undoubted rights and privileges; and more especially to those of freedom of debate, freedom from arrest for themselves and their servants, free access to her Majesty whenever occasion may require it; and that her Majesty will be graciously pleased to put the most favourable construction on all their proceedings ; and for myself I am anxious and most earnestly entreat, that whenever they may fall into error, the fault may be imputed to me, and not to her Majesty's faithful Commons."

The LORD CHANCELLOR—" .Mr. Speaker, we have it further in com- mand to inform you, that her Majesty most readily confirms all the liberties, rights, and privileges which have ever been granted to or conferred on the Com- mons by any of her Majesty's royal predecessors. With respect to yourself, Sir, though her Majesty is sensible that you stand in no need of any such assu- rance, we are commanded by her Majesty to inform you, that the most favour- able construction will be ever put by her Majesty upon your words and actions."

The Speaker and the Commons retired to their own House ; and Mr. ABERCROMBY, from the chair, addressed the Members present- " I have to acquaint the House that this House, has been to the House of Peers, where the Commissioners authorized by her Majesty's commission have expressed her Majesty's gracious approbation of the choice of Speaker which this House has made. In the name and on the behalf of the Commons, I have claimed all the undoubted rights and privileges—freedom of debate, freedom from arrest for ourselves and our servants, fret acce.s to her Majesty's person whenever circumstances may require, and that her Majesty will be graciously pleased to put the most favourable construction on all our proceedings ; and have to acquaint the House that her Majesty has been pleased to confirm all these rights and privileges in as full and ample a manner as they have been enjoyed under any of her Majesty's royal predecessors. In now proceeding to the duties of may office, I have again to express my grateful acknowledgments for the confidence which the House has been pleased to confer upon me, and my anxious wish that the choice which the House has made may not retard its pro- ceedings or injure its character."

The Speaker then took the usual oaths, and afterwards proceeded to administer them to the Members ; calling the counties in alphabetical order, and swearing in the Members for those counties and the Mem- bers of boroughs belonging to them. The ceremony was continued till four o'clock ; when the House adjourned. On Monday, the Queen will go in person to the House of Lords, and open the business of the session with a speech from the throne.