HC Deb 06 May 1839 vol 47 cc870-1
The Speaker

rose and said, before I proceed to the Order of the Day, I must respectfully request that I may be permitted to make a communication to the House, of which it ought to he informed. Experience admonishes me that I have no longer strength to enable me to meet as I have done heretofore the fatigue and labour which are inseparable from the discharge of the duties of the station in which I have the honour to be placed. I have, therefore, come to the determination not to resume my seat in the chair after the recess at Whitsuntide. I have adopted the course of making this communication to the House, because it will afford to the House an opportunity of deliberating on the choice of a Speaker, and will afford the least obstruction to the progress of public business. As I propose to continue in the discharge of my present duties until Whitsuntide, I do trust that the House will be of opinion that I am acting with propriety in now limiting my observations to the simple announcement of the fact of my intended resignation.

Lord John Russell

Sir, I am sure the House has heard with great concern the announcement you have just made. It I were to consult my own feelings rather than yours, Sir, I should be disposed to make some remarks on that announcement, but I am sure that I am consulting your feelings best when I say, that I will not now enter upon the question of the merits which have been so conspicuous in the situation which you have held. I will, only say, therefore, that in leaving the chair, I can assure you, Sir, you carry with you the respect, the regard, and the gratitude, of this House.

Sir R. Peel

Sir, as the noble Lord has declared that, out of consideration for your feelings, he has laid a restraint upon the expression of his own, I feel myself almost compelled to follow the example he has set. But, Sir, as my situation is not altogether the same with that of the noble Lord, as on your first proposal to the chair, you had the cordial support of the noble Lord, and as it was my painful duty to give a vote to the other candidate, I may, perhaps, be justified in so far departing from the example which the noble Lord has set, as to offer my public testimony to the integrity and impartiality with which you, Sir, have discharged your duties in presiding over the deliberations of this House, and to declare, that I think, that not only on account of your discharge of the duties of the chair, but on account of your persevering efforts to improve the conduct of private business, you are entitled to the expression of public gratitude.

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