§ The House met at Two o'clock, and a Message being received to attend the Lords Commissioners, the House went; and being returned,
§ MR. SPEAKER(standing on the steps leading to his chair) addressed the House as follows:—I have to acquaint this hon. House that I have been to the House of Peers, where I communicated to the Lords Commissioners authorised by Her Majesty that this House had proceeded to the election of a Speaker, and that their choice had fallen upon me. The Lords Commissioners confirmed that appointment, and gave me the assurance of Her Majesty's gracious sanction thereto, whereupon I laid claim, on the part of this House, to its ancient and undoubted rights and privileges, especially to the privileges of freedom from arrest for ourselves and our servants, freedom of debate, free access on the part of this House to Her Majesty at all reasonable times whenever we require it, and that the most favourable constructions should be put upon our words and actions. And I have to inform the House that the Lords Commissioners were authorised on the part of Her Majesty to concede these privileges to the fullest extent to which they had ever been conceded by Her Majesty and Her predecessors to this House. I cannot make this communication to the House without again repeating to the House my sincere and respectful thanks for having again placed me in the high position which I now occupy, and without assuring them that it will always be my earnest endeavour, with the assistance and support of this House—and, after the proceedings which took place yesterday, I am confident that I shall always receive that assistance and support—to maintain the dignity and authority of this House, and that respect for its rules and orders, on a due observance of which not only the proper and satisfactory discharge of public business, but also the character of the House, must entirely depend. I have now to remind the House that the only business with which we can proceed is to take the oaths at the table required by law.
§ MR. SPEAKERthen took the oaths, 11 first alone; and after the remainder of the sitting was occupied in swearing Members.
§ House adjourned at a quarter after Four o'clock.