§ The right hon. Charles Shaw Lefevre, Speaker elect, was presented, and approved of, by the Lords' Commissioners, by command of her Majesty.
Mr. Shaw Lefevre,accompanied by a numerous body of Commoners, having come to the Bar, the right hon. Gentleman said: My Lords, I am to acquaint your Lordships that, in obedience to her Majesty's commands, her Majesty's faithful Commons have proceeded to exercise their undoubted right and privilege in the election of a Speaker. I have now to acquaint your Lordships, that their choice, however unworthy, has fallen upon me, and I now humbly submit myself to her Majesty's royal will and pleasure.
§ The Lord ChancellorMr. Shaw Lefevre, we have in command from her Majesty to assure you that her Majesty is fully satisfied of your zeal for the public service, and that it is amply sufficient for the discharge of the arduous duty imposed on you; and her Majesty, therefore, does most readily and fully approve of the choice of her faithful Commons, and confirms you as their Speaker.
The SpeakerMy Lords, with most profound gratitude and humility I bow to her Majesty's will and pleasure, expressed by her royal confirmation of the choice of her faithful Commons; and it now becomes my duty, in the name and on behalf of the Commons of the United Kingdom, to lay claim, by humble petition, to the free exercise of all their ancient and undoubted rights and privileges, and more especially to those of freedom of speech in debate, freedom from arrest or molestation for their persons and their servants, free access to her Majesty at all convenient times, whenever occasion may require it, and that her Majesty will be graciously pleased to put the most favourable construction on all their proceedings: and for myself I am anxious and most earnestly entreat that whatever error may be committed the blame may be imputed to me
§ alone, and not to her Majesty's faithful Commons.
§ The Lord ChancellorMr. Speaker; we have it further in command to inform you, that her Majesty doth most readily confirm all the rights and privileges which have ever been granted to or confirmed on the Commons by herself or any of her royal predecessors. With respect to yourself, Sir, though her Majesty is sensible that you stand in no need of such assurance, her Majesty will ever put the most favourable construction upon your words and actions.
§ The Speaker and Commons retired.
§ The usual oaths were then taken by several Peers.
§ Adjourned.