GENERAL HISTORY. 



[57 



CHAPTER V. 



Resignation of the Speaker, and subsequent Proceedings. — Lord SidmoutH 

 circular Letter discussed in both Houses. 



SPEAKER S RESIGNATION. 



ON May 30th, the following 

 letter was read from the 

 Speaker of the House of Com- 

 mons, addressed to Jeremiah Dy- 

 son, Esq. deputy clerk ofthe House. 



SIR, 



It i.s with the sincerest con- 

 cern and regret that I feel my.-elf 

 obliged to request that you will 

 inform the House of Commons at 

 their meeting this day, of my in- 

 ability, from continued illness, to at- 

 tend any longer upon their service. 



After holding the high office to 

 which I have been raised by that 

 favour in five successive Parlia- 

 ments, it is impossible that I 

 should resign so honourable and 

 distinguished a situation without 

 feeling the dec])est gratitude for 

 the constant kindness with which 

 they have been pleased to accept 

 and assist my humble endeavours 

 to distharge its various and ar- 

 duous duties. 



It was my earnest wish and 

 hope to have continued longer in 

 the service of the House, if such 

 were their pleasure ; but the in- 

 terruption of public business which 

 has been already occasioned by 

 my state of iiealth, and the appre- 

 hension of the same cause recur- 

 ring, which might again expose 

 the House to the like inconve- 

 nience, have made me cbem it 

 necessary that I should^renre at 

 this time, and have Ifft me now 



no further duty to perform than 

 to return my hijartfelt acknow- 

 ledgments to the House for all 

 the fav(mrs they have bestowed 

 upon me, and to express my fer- 

 vent wishes for the perpetual 

 maintenance and preservation of 

 its rights, its privileges, and its 

 independence. 1 am, Sir, 

 always most truly your's, 



Charles .Abbot. 



Lord Castlereagh then proposed 

 that the House should adjourn 

 till Monday next, when it was 

 probable they would receive a 

 communication from the Prince 

 Regent on the subject. — Ad- 

 jcmrned. 



On June 2, there being an un- 

 usually full attendance of mem- 

 bcis. Lord Castlereagh rose, and 

 said that he was conmianded by 

 the Prince Regent to acquaint the 

 House, that being anxious that 

 no fuither delay should arise in 

 the progress of public business, 

 he was desiious that they should 

 immediately proceed to the elec- 

 tion of a new Speaker. 



.Sir /. Nicholl, addressing him- 

 self to the deputy clerk, then 

 arose, and after paying a well- 

 merited compliment to the Speak- 

 er, he presented the Right Hon. 

 Charles Manners Sutton to the 

 choice of this House. 



He was seconded by Mr. E. J. 

 Littleton. 



Mr. Dickinson then rose to re- 

 commend Mr. Charles W'atkia 



Williams 



