HL Deb 05 August 1886 vol 308 cc1-4

THE HOUSE of PEERS being met,

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

acquainted the House, That Her Majesty, not thinking fit to be personally present here this day, has been pleased to cause a Commission to be issued under the Great Seal, in order to the opening and holding of this Parliament. Then Five of the LORDS COMMISSIONERS—namely, The LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord Halsbury); The LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Viscount Cranbrook); The LORD PRIVY SEAL (Earl Cadogan); The SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (The Earl of Iddesleigh); and The LORD BRABOURNE—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 come,

THE LOBD CHANCELLOR

said— "My Lords, and Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

"HER MAJESTY, not thinking fit to be present here to-day in Her Royal Person, hath been pleased, in order to the opening and holding of this Parliament, to cause Letters Patent to be issued under the Great Seal, constituting us and several other Lords therein named Her Commissioners, to do all things in Her Majesty's name, on Her part necessary to be performed in this Parliament, and this will more fully appear by the Letters Patent themselves, which will now be read.

Then the said Letters Patent were read by the Clerk. And then

THE LORD CHANCELLOE

said—

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 the causes of Her calling this Parliament; and it being necessary that a Speaker of the House of Commons shall 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 shall so choose, here, To-morrow, at Twelve o'clock, for Her Majesty's Royal Approbation."

Then the Commons withdrew.

PRAYERS.

The Lord Chancellor—Singly, in the first place, took the Oath at the Table.

ROLL OF THE LORDS—Garter King of Arms attending, delivered at the Table (in the usual manner) a List of the Lords Temporal in the First Session of the Twenty-fourth Parliament of the United Kingdom: The same was ordered to lie on the Table.

Certificate of the Election of Sixteen Representative Peers for Scotland—Delivered, and read, as follows:—

Several Lords—Took the Oath.

House adjourned at half past Two o'clock, till To-morrow, Twelve o'clock.