Commons Sitting of 25 November 1812

Preamble
The Usher of the Black Rod, at twelve o'clock, summoned the House to the Peers, in order that they might inform the Lords Commissioners on whom the choice of Speaker of the House of Commons had fallen. Mr. Abbot, followed by all the members present, accordingly proceeded to the House of Peers.
The Speakerhaving been confirmed in his office by the Lords Commissioners, addressed the House at his return from the House of Lords:
"I have to acquaint the House, that this House has been in the House of Peers, where the Lords authorised by his Majesty's Commission have declared, That his royal highness the Prince Regent, acting in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty, has been pleased to approve of the Choice which this House has made in electing me to be their Speaker.
"And I have thereupon in the name and on behalf of the Commons of the United Kingdom in parliament assembled, laid claim to all their antient and undoubted

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rights and privileges: Freedom of Speech in debate, Freedom from arrest and molestation for themselves, their servants, and estates; free access to the royal presence as occasion may require, and the most favourable construction of all their proceedings;—all which have been granted and allowed in as ample a manner as ever they were granted and allowed by any of his Majesty's royal predecessors.
"For the high honour conferred upon me by this House, and confirmed by his Majesty's royal approbation, I have again to tender my best acknowledgments, and to repeat the assurances of my fixed purpose to serve this House with diligence, fidelity and impartiality.
"At present, I must call to their remembrance that the first proceeding is for each member to take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy at the table, to make and subscribe the Declaration; and also to take and subscribe the Oaths of Abjuration and Qualification, as by law required."
A general cry of hear! hear! followed this speech, and the Speaker proceeded, as the first Commoner, to take the oaths. He afterwards placed himself in his Chair. The other members were then called up to the table in alphabetical order, according to the counties they represented, and took the oaths. Generally speaking only one or two appeared from each county, until the name of Cornwall was pronounced, when more than twenty members left the ministerial benches, and advanced to receive the oaths. This remarkable disproportion excited not a little mirth in the House.