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Leader (1850-1860), 6th November 1852, Edition Country of 2, Page 2

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      The New Parliament Opened On Thursday, A...

      the people of England ought to know what is done in its name . On our own side of the water , an official proceeding that looks incompatible with the supposed diplomatic amity , is th # appointment pf General Sir Charles James Napier' to the Kent militia division ; Sir Charles , it will be remembered , being the strenuous advocate of a militia as a means of national defence against invasion , and also being the most distinguished of our living Generals . But we have always regarded the present Commander-in-Chief , Lord Hardinge ,

      as a man of truly national spirit . He avouches the natural capabilities of the young Militia men who have come forward ; and in appointing Sir Charles Napier to head the men of Kent , Lord Hardinge shows that he means to perform the duty of national defence in a workmanlike manner . Although , therefore , Lord Malmesbury may be dallying with unnatural French alliances against the popular party of Europe and the United States of America : although the Electric Telegraph Company has been recognising the Empire , the honour of a soldier proves too strong for concurrence in such intrisues .

      Commerce is moving its great engines with chequered success . In the endeavour to make the most of narrow space and time , the Directors of the Brighton Railway Company permit the repetition of acts which may , at any day , induce desperate accidents ; and one has happened . It is so desperate , indeed , that the people injured and affrighted are likely to take steps which may draw upon the managers some species of coercion . The steam ship , Melbourne , is dismasted at sea ; and there is a new burst of complaint from

      the passengers , of hardship and danger through the meanness of . the management . This unpleasing example of sharp practice in commerce , is compensated by the launch of the Bengal , the forty-first steamer of f . he Oriental and Peninsular Company , which is extending its network of communication from London to the most distant parts of the world . Three hundred and ten feet long , exclusively of outworks , fitted up in a style of the highest magnificence , the Bengal is a fine specimen of naval architecture ; and her addition to the steam fleet is a public event .

      1054 The Leader- [Saturday , 1 ' \F\ Ir ...

      1054 THE LEADER- [ Saturday , 1 ' \ f \ ir - ^^ = S =

      Opening Of Parliament. Parliament Opened...

      OPENING OF PARLIAMENT . Parliament opened on Thursday , in a , very humble , quiet , and respectable way . There was very little Kpeochmakui £ indeed , and still less was there that is worth repeating in our columns . But there attaches to our Legislature , at this juncture of European politics , a degree of importance-not easily equalled , as ours is perhaps the only uninenaced assembly in this quarter of the globe . Somehow , no matter how trivial may be the mailer discussed , one feels in the presence of a venerable institution which seems to have a personality of its own , as it were , independently of the speakers , and which , at the opening of a session at least , commands respect and wins affection . The Hritish man loves his Parliament and he loves bis home ; and not until he loves neither will the freedom of these islands be . seriously endangered . Ah far as the IIoiJSK oi » LoitBB was concerned , it met , those members of it , who did meet , and they were few , merely to open tho mission by Royal Commission . Hitting on the woolsack , the , Lord Chancellor called up the Commons , and the writ having been rend to them , they wens requested to return and elect n Speaker . Tho Lords , among whom Lord Uioughain , the Duke of Leinstor , Lord lOglinton , Lord Miibnesbury , the I ) uIce of Northumberland , wero noticed , then adjourned . The interest , of the opening , what there wus of it , lay in the Commons . The members mustered in great fltrengtb . Among the earliest was Sir Robert , Inglis , who took up a Ministerial Hitting at once ; thm Mr . Christopher , first of the Ministers to arrive ; Mr . Disraeli , Sir John Pakington , and Mr . Wulpole , cmiio in nearly together ; and Mr . Disraeli , having shaken hands ' with Mr . Hume , entered into lively chid , with Mr . Diuieonibo . Lord John Russell and Mr . Disraeli are described as looking unwell . Mr . Gladstone and Lord John sat together . . Huron Rothschild appeared , sitting on tho Treasury bonchen , and come to vote for Speukor . Among tho leading niemhern whoao absence were rcjuwrked were . Lord Fiduaeraton , Sir James Urubiuu ,

      Sir William Molesttprth , !! Un Gqx & buvn , Mr . Roebuck , Mr . Cobden , and 3 $ r . Bright ; Having , as abc , fi 3 narrated , attended the House of Lords , the members proceeded to elect a Speaker . This business was ^ ottly disposed of . Mr . RosEBfc Pa ± jjp : b , in a speech of no pretensions , but straight to the point , proposed that Mr . Shaw Lefevre , who has filled the chair of the House for the last thirteen years , "with so much advantage to the country , and honour tp himself , take the chair of the House .

      Lord Robe £ 3 ChttOsvENOB , from the Opposition § jde ., seconded the nomination . They were proud of Mr . Lefevre as a Whig in former times ; but having laid aside party feeling , they were more proud of him as a member of the House . Beside this . Lord Robert delivered a homily , not uncalled for , reminding the House that more than ever , when the liberties of Europe , when the rights of free , full and open discussion—the rights of public opinion—hung upon a thread , did it become the House to act with unusual prudence , calmness , and wisdoin .

      Sir Robert Ingxis spoke of the increased work of the Speakers in modern times . Mr . Lefevre had sat not less than 13 , 000 hours in the discharge of his duty , and he had done more work in thirteen years than Speakers a hundred years ago did in a whole reign . There being no opposition , the election would have passed by acclamation ; but some members calling " Question , " the Chief Clerk put the question , which was carried in the affirmative . Mr . Lefevre bowed to the decision of the House , made a short speech of

      thanks , and was conducted to the chair by Mr . Palmer and Lord Robert Grosvenor . There he was respectively addressed in brief and commonplace remarks by Mr . Disraeli and Lord John RtjsselI ; . The former congratulated tlie Speaker upon having again conferred upon him by the Commons of England the highest honour they could confer on one of themselves ; and the latter expressed his satisfaction at the election to preside over the debates of a new House of Commons of a gentleman who could enforce with judgment its rules and orders .

      Mr . Hume offered some suggestions as to the costume in which members should appear at the Speaker ' s levees ; and the House adjourned until Friday , when the Speaker elect would be presented for her Majesty ' s approval in the House of Lords .

      The Following Circular Has Been Addresse...

      The following circular has been addressed to the supporters of the Ministry in the House of Commons : — " Treasury , Oct . 25 . " Sie , —The re-election of the Speaker , to which I anticipate no opposition , will take place on the 4 th . of November . " The Address -willbe moved on the 11 th , and I earnestly request that you will take the oaths and your seat not later than Tuesday , the 9 th , or Wednesday , the 10 th . The oaths must be talcen before 4 o ' clock . " I have the honour to be , Sir , " Your obedient servant , " W . Fokbes Mackenzie . "

      Mr. Macaulay's Great Speech At Edinburgh...

      MR . MACAULAY'S GREAT SPEECH AT EDINBURGH . Elected , without solicitation , to iill the distinguished post of representative of the modern Athens , and disabled , for a long time , by a painful illness , from even visiting bis constituents , Mr . Macaulay has happily , at length , been able to fulfil a long-standing promise , and to address a most willing auditory . Few political scenes could be more affecting to both parties . Religious bigotry , live years ago , ousted tho orator of the Whigs , and ono of its brightest ornaments from the House of Commons : and he , taking counsel of a

      manly pride , resolved never to sit again in that House , unless be sat as representative ! of Edinburgh . Five years have passed , Kdiiiburgh has repented of its folly , and returned tho rhoforician of the Whigs at the head of the poll . And , sifter that long and bitter parting , forgiving and forgetting , they met again , face to face , on Tuesday . It is not easy to imagine the scene in the Music Hall , whoine vast area was crowded in every part , whose orchestra was filled with hundreds of ladies , and on whose platform , moved deeply by the affectionate cheers of the a . isembly , utood the pain-stricken and worn figure of tho great orator , aurronnded by his friends .

      As soon an tho burnt ; of cheering was over , Mr . Adam Hlaek was appointed to the chair , and disposed around him were Mr . Tufnell , Mr . Fergus , Mr . Moncrielf , Mr . Ilastie , of Pawley , Sir W . Gibson Craig , well-known Whig I ' arlinmenteer . s , Mr . Cowan , the Metni-Radical , Mr . llorsman , tho rejected of Cockermouth , und a lnwt of the hest , which Whig Edinburgh can product ) on a political gala duy . Mr . 15 luck ' s judiciously nhorf . introductory speech was greeted with delight , and when turning to Mr . Mucaulay , ho usked him " to addrew * hw conutituentw , " the

      meet again in kindness after a long separationf " It is now more than five years since I stood in thi « very place . A large part of human life ! There are few of us on whom five years have not set their mark- the are few circles from which five years have not taken awav what can never be replaced . Even in this multitude of friendly faces I look in vain for some which would this day have been lighted up with joy and kindness . I migS especially one venerable man , who before I was born in evil times , in times of oppression and corruption , adhered with almost solitary fidelity to the cause of freedom . And I knew him in advanced age , but still in the full vigour of mind and body , enjoying the respect and gratitude of his fellow-citizens . I should , indeed , be most ungrateful if I

      whole audiencp , jftxmd away by their enthusiasm ro « instantaneously tp f $ gi * feet , and cheered in thrir'Jr ! " empha ^? ftshioft . r most For some moments after he stood up before th people , Mr . Mapaulay ponld not master his emotin and was unable to proceed . » Their opinion , he said , was more valuable than „ vulgar object of ainbition , than any office , however W f or dignified ; indeed , no office could have tempted hi ™! leave again " the hat > pie § fc and most tranquil of all iX 1 ° for theWfe of political » The honour n ? w conferred ^ him , of which the greatest man might well be proud C such as ' ¦ ' only a free people could % ptow ; " and it wouS have shown ingratitude and pusillanimity not to make on effort to serve them . And , he continued , affectinHv h ^ T

      could this day forget Sir James Craig , his public spirit his judicious counsel , his fatherly kindness to myself . ( Cheers ) And Lord Jeffrey , too ( renewed cries of ' hear , hear' ) -l with what an effusion of generous affection he would this day have welcomed me back to Edinburg h ! He , too , is gone ; but the remembrance of him is one of the many ties which bind me to the city he loved , and with which his fame is imperishably associated . ( Cheers . ) But , gentlemen , it is not only here , on entering again , at your call , upon a course of life which I believed that I had quitted for ever , that I shall be painfully reminded of the changes which the last five years have produced . In Parliament I shall look in vain for virtues which I loved and for abilities which I admired . Often in debate—and never

      more than when we come to discuss those great questions of colonial policy which are every day now acquiring a new interest—I shall remember with regret how much eloquence , and wit , and acuteness , and knowledge—how many engaging qualities and how many fair hopes lie buried in the grave of poor Charles Buller . ( Loud cries of ' hear , hear , hear . ') Other men , too—men with whom I had no party and little personal connection—men to whom I was for the greater part of my public life honestly opposed—I cannot now . think of without grieving that their wisdom , their experience , and the weight of their great names will never more in the hour of need brine help to

      the nation or to the throne . Such were two eminent men whom I left at the height , the one of civil , the other of nxilMary faino ( cheers)—one the oracle of tho House of Commons , the other the oracle of the House of Lords . There were , no doubt , parts in their long public life which they themselves , would , on a calm retrospect , allow to be censurable . But it is impossible to deny that each in his several department served the State—that the one brought to a triumphant close the most formidable conflict in which this country had ever been engaged with its foreign enemies ; that the other , at a sacrifice—an immense sacrifice—of personal feeling and ambition , freed us from an odious monopoly , which could not have existed many years discora

      longer without producing most fearful intestine . ( Loud cheers . ) I regret both , but I peculiarl y regret mm who is inseparably associated in my mind with that p lace to which you have sent me . I shall hardly know the House of Commons without Sir liobcrfc Pool . ( Loud cheers . ) On tho first evening on which I took my seat , in the House of Commons , in 1830 , ho was then at tho head of the Government in that house , and during all the years of Parliamentary service which followed , 1 scarcely remember one important discussion in which ho did nott ' ™

      a part with conspicuous ability . His figuro » now heioro me—all tho tones of his voico ore now sounding m my cars : and tho pain with which 1 think I shall never utu them again would bo embittered by tho recollection oi somo sharp encounters which took place between us , w it not that at last an entire and cordial reconciliaUo t <*> place , and that a few days only boforo his death I . lm" } ploasurd of receiving from him marks of hm kindn sh esteem of which 1 shall always cherish tho rccollu" °

      Not only tho changes which tho natural law of wort y produced have happened , during that Kvo yeiir » w « 1 lived many liven . Tho rovolutioim of ages have " , pn-HHod into a low months . Franco , < 3 e " ' {" { V . , „ ,, JI " ungury -- what a hwlory ban been then re . W | ll ) n | , wllft ( , thoylaHfc met ., few even among tho wisohI know . wild paHHiom ., what , wilder theories , ' won . « [" ^^ under " the outward nhow of tranquillity- ^» ^ , . rcsiHtanco to reasonable reforms gavo the Higna 1 ' t () plosion , and in an mutant , from tho bordern ot iti ^^ tho Atlantic Ocean everything was m contusion <« ^ ^ The moHt , hononfc friondH of rofonu ^ 'S ' } , , ' ; oHity dcHimir of l . ho progress of mankind . AlfkmdHot amm

      burwt forth together . , m j ,,, rully " For niyHolf , I confenH I nlood ag bust , ana i ^ ^ Hanifuino iw-Iam , and dinnoflod to look witn » ' ) ,, 1 ( . progreHS of mankind , I did doubt for a mom * J ^ ., 1 , tho progrcHH of mankind would not bo *«>«•¦ ' , ( , rliii . »' and wliothor wo woro not doomed to pans m <» " h ^ , | Jir . from tho civilization of tho « in « t « oiitli ««™ I 11 V s iUl niul liariHin of l . h « fifth . 1 roinombon . il tliul Ad * ft ,, „ Gibbon had told um thai thoro would iiov . yi () )()| 1 Ht . riii . tion of civilization by bijrbariiuis ¦ - t " <¦ ^ | heJf would nevor again return to cover tho oaru . _ CIiao seemed to reason iustly for they conipar « TWo ^ vtrongth of tho combined ™« V \ w ^ hence * ere ^ who rvinoipod bttrbarouii , and they ookod wnon < -

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 6, 1852, page 2, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_06111852/page/2/