Commons Sitting of 20 August 1841

APPROVAL OF THE SPEAKER.
The Speakeraccompanied by Members present proceeded, having been summoned, to attend the Lords Commissioners.
The Speakeron his return stated, that the House had been to the House of Peers, where the Lords authorised by her Majesty's commission had signified the Royal Approval of the choice the House had made of a Speaker. He added that he had then claimed at the Bar all the usual and undoubted privileges of freedom from arrest, freedom of speech, &c. "I trust I may now be permitted," the right hon. Gentleman continued, "again to offer to the House a sincere expression of my gratitude for the honour it has conferred upon me. I cannot pretend to discharge the duties of the office in which I am placed with the ability it may require, but I feel that I shall constantly need the indulgence and assistance of the House. Without that assistance my best effort will be unavailing; but with it I hope to be able to conduct the business of the House in a manner satisfactory to it and beneficial to the country. I have now to remind the House that our first duty is to proceed to take the oaths prescribed by law, without which Members cannot be qualified to take their seats."
The Speaker then took the oaths, first alone; and after him, several other Members took the oaths in the usual manner.
Adjourned.