§ The House being informed by Mr. Speaker, that he had received notice that a Commission to give Her Majesty's Royal Assent to certain. Acts of Parliament is ordered for this day, and that, being disabled from attending with the House in the House of Peers, he should be obliged, by permission of the House, to withdraw before the arrival of the Usher of the Black Rod,
§ MR. WALPOLEsaid, that some years ago provision was made for the compulsory absence of the Speaker by a Resolution 1764 which enabled a Deputy Speaker to be appointed to discharge the duties of the office for the time contemplated by that Resolution. That Resolution had been acted upon recently during the illness of the Speaker, in consequence of an unfortunate accident which they must all regret. The House by Resolution could enable Mr. Speaker, not merely for the whole evening, as contemplated by the Standing Orders, but for any limited time to vacate the Chair whenever an occasion rendering such a course desirable should occur. A Commission was about to be held by command of Her Majesty in the House of Lords, and in order to enable the Speaker to vacate the Chair and to obviate his attendance in the other House he would move a Resolution to that effect, at the same time mentioning to the House that the Speaker did not absent himself from the Chair more than was absolutely necessary, and that directly the Royal Assent had been given to the Bills in the other House, the Speaker would resume his position in the Chair.
§ Resolved, That during the temporary absence of Mr. Speaker from the House, this day, for the reason stated by him, the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means do take the Chair as Deputy Speaker, and do attend with the House in the House of Peers, and do report to the House the Royal Assent to the said Acts.—(Mr. Walpole.)