§ The Speaker came to the house at 12 o'clock. Soon after this, Mr. Quarme, deputy usher of the black rod, appeared at the 14 bar, and summoned the house to the house of peers.
The Speakeraccordingly went up, followed by a number of the members. On their return he addressed the house thus:—I have to acquaint the house, that I have been in the house of peers, where his majesty, by his commissioners, has been graciously pleased to approve and confirm the choice of this house, in the election they have made of me to be their speaker, and that I have there laid claim, by humble petition to his majesty, to all our ancient and undoubted rights and privileges; and more especially, freedom from all arrests or molestations, for ourselves, and our servants; freedom of speech in debate, free access to his majesty's royal person, as occasion may require, and that all our proceedings may receive the most favourable construction. All which his majesty has been pleased to allow in as full and ample a manner as has ever been done to any of my predecessors. And now I have again to return you my warmest and most grateful thanks for the high honour which you have been pleased to confer upon me, assuring you, that it is my purpose to act in all matters with the strictest impartiality; and I have, at the same time, to entreat the house to afford me their constant support in maintaining the established rules and orders, all which have been found so necessary for the dignity of our proceedings, and the dispatch of business. I have now only further to remind the house, that the first thing to be done upon the present occasion, is, for the several members to take and subscribe the oaths of supremacy, abjuration, and qualification as the law requires.—The speaker himself first took the usual oaths. The members then came to the table by parties, and were sworn in the usual manner. This business continued till 4 o'clock, when the house adjourned till to-morrow.