§ The Speaker reported his Majesty's Answer to the Address, as follows:
§ "Gentlemen; I return you my warmest thanks for this loyal and dutiful address. It gives me the utmost satisfaction to receive these assurances of your veneration for the memory of my beloved father, and of your attachment to my person and government, on this first occasion of my meeting you in parliament since my accession to the throne; and I shall rely with confidence on your support in my endeavours to promote the welfare of all classes of my people, as affording, under the blessing of Divine Providence, the surest pledge of a prosperous and happy reign."
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, he had searched the Journals of the House, and had found two precedents in former reigns wherein it had been the practice of the House to return thanks for the royal answer to the address presented to the throne by the first parliament of a new reign; therefore as hon. gentlemen had now heard read from the chair the most gracious answer of his present majesty, he should move "that an humble address be presented to his majesty returning the most humble thanks of this House for his most gracious answer to the address; and that such address be presented to his majesty by such members of this House as were members of his majesty's privy council."—The motion was agreed to.