The LORD CHANCELLORobserved, that he was that day to have announced to the House that Her Majesty had been pleased to appoint Benjamin Currey, Esq. to the office of Clerk Assistant of the Parliaments, vacant by the retirement of Mr. Birch. Their Lordships were aware of the melancholy event which had occurred that morning to absolve him from that gratifying duty, and to deprive them of the services of an able and excellent servant. His experience had proved to him that Mr. Currey would have been in all respects peculiarly well qualified for the situation to which he had just been nominated. He was admirably informed as to the mode of the proceedings in that House, and possessed an amount of zeal and intelligence which it was not likely would ever be exceeded. There would be some difficulty in providing for the service of the House. He was informed that Mr. Currey having succeeded to the office of Clerk Assistant, Mr. Rose would in the natural order of things have succeeded to the second place, and Mr. Leonard Edmunds to the third. At present there was great want of assistance; but, notwithstanding the melancholy event of that morning, it would provide for the immediate performance of the duties devolving upon the officers of the House, that the two appointments should be confirmed, leaving, of course, the first appointment open until the pleasure of Her Majesty should be ascertained on the subject. He had now to state, for the information of their Lordships, that, by virtue of a power legally vested in him as Lord Chancellor by the Statute 5th Geo. IV. cap. 82, sec. 84, he had appointed William Rose, Esq. to be Additional Clerk Assistant, in the room of Benjamin Currey, Esq.; and also that by virtue of the same authority, he had appointed Leonard Edmunds, Esq. to be Reading Clerk and Clerk of Outdoor Committees, in the room of William Rose, 456 Esq. Those appointments were vested in the Lord Chancellor, but were subject to the approval of the House; and he accordingly begged leave to move that they be severally so approved.
§ The EARL of DEVONbore testimony to the great merits of the lamented gentleman whose loss they all so much deplored. He had sat by his side for nine years, and never knew a man who possessed qualities better calculated to endear him to those who enjoyed his acquaintance.
§ Motions agreed to.