§ The Speaker Elect took the chair at Two o'clock.
§ Message from the Lords Commissioners, desiring the immediate attendance of the House in the House of Lords.
§ The House went:—and being returned,
§ MR. SPEAKERsaid: I have to report to the House that the House has been this day to the House of Peers, where I have had the honour of communicating to the Lords Commissioners appointed by Her Majesty, that this House, in the exercise of its undoubted privilege, had proceeded to the election of a Speaker, and that their choice had fallen upon me; which choice Her Majesty's Commissioners were pleased to signify had received Her Majesty's Royal confirmation. Whereupon I made my humble petition to Her Majesty, in the name and on the behalf of the Commons of the United Kingdom, for all their ancient and undoubted rights and privileges, 15 especially those of freedom of debate, freedom from arrest for themselves and their servants, free access to Her Majesty whenever occasion may require, and that Her Majesty would be graciously pleased to place the most favourable construction on all their proceedings. All which privileges the Lords Commissioners were pleased to signify Her Majesty conceded to as full an extent as they had ever been conceded by any of Her Majesty's Royal predecessors. Having made this communication to the House, I hope hon. Members will allow me to take this opportunity of again offering my sincere and grateful acknowledgments for the very honourable distinction they have again conferred upon me by placing me, for the fourth time, in this chair as their Speaker. I invite them to aid and assist me with their counsel and support in maintaining the authority of the chair; and I hope I may assure them that, as far as lies in my power, that authority will be exercised with perfect impartiality, and in the manner most conducive to the public interests, and to the honour and dignity of the House. I will now remind hon. Members that the only business with which we can at present proceed is to take the oaths as prescribed by law.
§ Mr. Speaker then took the Oaths, first alone; and after him several other Members took the Oaths.
§ House adjourned at a quarter after Four o'clock.