2: ANNUAL RE 
would be constantly found in the 
ranks of whoever was the minister 
of the day, and would give him apre- 
ponderating influence over every 
constitutional opposition that eee 
be made in parliament; and, 
this point of view, he thought the 
union between the two countries 
injured most materially the consti- 
‘tution of Great Britain. Whether 
those fears were well or ill founded, 
the history of the times we live in 
will best evince; if however it should 
prove, that the representatives of 
Ireland were equally independent 
of ministerial influence with those 
of Great Britain; in that case it 
must be allowed, that such was the 
alarming aspect of affairs at the 
opening of the first imperial parlia- 
ment, that all the united talents of 
_ the empire appeared necessary, not 
“only to secure its honour, but its 
very existence. Ifthe Irish repre- 
sentation was so constituted, as to 
e€all the best talents of their coun- 
try to assist in the grand council of 
the empire at this momentous Crisis ; 
in such case the uffion would doubt- 
Jess have been of immense advan- 
tage to both countries, and to the 
interests of the empire at large; 
this however is a question that ra- 
ther belongs to the page of history 
than to the temporary nature of 
a periodical work. 
On Tuesday the 16th of Navan 
ber the parliament was called to- 
gether. The lord chancellor, in 
the mode usual on similar occa- 
sions, communicated to the house 
of lords that his majesty had ap- 
pointed commissioners to open the 
business of the sessions. The lords 
commissioners who attended, were 
.the archbishop of Canterbury, the 
lord chancellor, and the duke of 
GISTER, 1805. 
Portland. The commons attended 
to hear the commission read, and 
retired to choose their speaker. 
The peers, who were present, then 
took the oaths, and the commons 
proceeded to the election. The 
members, who attended in the 
house of dies ees being sworn by 
the clerk, 
Sir W. Scott rose, and addressed 
the house in a speech of uncommon 
neatness. He pointed out the great 
importance of a proper choice in 
the person who was to be their 
speaker: the various talents which 
should be combined in the person 
who was to fill that high office, the 
principles which he ought to have 
of loyalty and attachment to the 
‘sovereign, and a profound venera- 
tion for the constitution. After 
describing, with great eloquence, 
the rare assemblage of talents and 
virtues which were necessary to fill 
such a situation, he concluded by 
moving “ that Mr. Abbot be again 
elected to the discharge of the of 
fice of speaker of this house.” 
The hon. Henry Lascelles second- 
ed the motion. He observed, that 
if this assemblage of virtues and ta- 
lents were at all times necessary in 
the person who was to fill the situ 
ation of speaker of that house, they 
were more peculiarly necessary at 
a time when not only the fate of 
this kingdom, but of Europe, might 
be involved in the future delibera- 
tions of parliament. He concluded 
by warmly seconding the motion of 
sir W. Scott. 
Mr. Abbot then rose, and ina 
very handsome manner expressed 
his high sense of the honour that 
was intended to be conferred upon 
him. Although he declared that 
he felt strongly his own inability to 
discharge 
