§ The first Parliament of Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, assembled to-day, pursuant to the proclamation, for the dispatch of business.
§ The Lord Chancellor,on entering the House, said, My Lords, Her Majesty not thinking fit to be present here this day in her royal person, has been pleased to cause a Commission to be issued under the Great Seal for the opening and holding of this Parliament.
§ The Lord Chancellor,the Marquess of Lansdowne, the Marquess Conyngham, the Earl of Mulgrave and Viscount Duncannon, then took their seats in front of the Throne as Her Majesty's Commissioners.
Sir A. Clifford(the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod) was directed by the Lord Chancellor to summon the Commons.
The Members of the House of Com- 2 mons having been summoned in the usual form, a considerable number of them with Mr. Ley, the chief clerk, at their head, appeared at the Bar.
§ The Royal Commission having been read in the usual form.
§ The Lord Chancellorsaid, My Lords and Gentlemen, we have it in command from her Majesty to let you know, that her Majesty will, as soon as the Members of both Houses shall be sworn, declare to you the causes of her calling this Parliament; and it being necessary that a Speaker of the House of Commons should be first chosen, it is her Majesty's pleasure, that you, Gentlemen of the House of Commons, repair to the place where you are to sit, and there proceed to the choice of some proper person to be your Speaker; and that you present such person whom you may so choose here to-morrow, at two-o'clock, for her Majesty's royal approbation.
§ The Commons withdrew.
§ The Lord Chancellorfirst took the oaths at the table by himself, and then a great many Peers took the usual oaths.