HL Deb 15 February 1883 vol 276 cc1-3
THE PARLIAMENT,

which had been Prorogued from the 2nd December, 1882, to the 15th February, 1883, met this day for the despatch of Business, according to Proclamation, as follows:—

"BY THE QUEEN—A PROCLAMATION.

"Victoria R.

"Whereas Our Parliament stands prorogued to Thursday the Fifteenth Day of February One thousand eight hundred and eighty-three: We by and with the Advice of Our Privy Council, hereby issue Our Royal Proclamation, and publish and declare Our Royal Will and Pleasure that the said Parliament shall, on the said Thursday the Fifteenth Day of February One thousand eight hundred and eighty-three, assemble and be holden for the Despatch of divers urgent and important Affairs; And the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, and the Commissioners for Shires and Burghs, of the House of Commons, are hereby required and commanded to give their Attendance accordingly, at Westminster, on the said Thursday the Fifteenth Day of February One thousand eight hundred and eighty-three.

"Given at Our Court at Osborne House, Isle of Wight, this Twenty-eighth Day of December, in the Year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty-two, and in the Forty-sixth Year of Our Reign.

"God save the Queen."

The Session was opened by Commission.

THE HOUSE or PEERS being met;

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

acquainted the House, That it not being convenient for Her Majesty to be personally here present this day. She has been pleased to cause a Commission under the Great Seal to be prepared, in order to the holding of this Parliament. Then Five of the LORDS COMMISSIONERS—namely, The LORD HIGH CHANCELLOR, The LORD PRIVY SEAL (The Lord Carlingford); The LORD HIGH STEWARD (The Earl Sydney); The EARL OF CORK AND ORRERY (Master of the Buckhounds), and The LORD MONSON (Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard)—being in their Robes, and seated on a Form placed between the Throne and the Woolsack, commanded the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod to let the COMMONS know "The Lords Commissioners desire their immediate Attendance in this House, to hear the Commission read."

Who being at the Bar, with their Speaker:—The Commission was read by the Clerk:—Then