§ The Lords Commissioners — the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Privy Seal (the Marquess of Salisbury), the Lord Steward (the Duke of Montrose), the Earl of Eglinton, and Lord Colchester—being seated, and the Commons, who were summoned, being come, the Right Hon. Charles Shaw Lefevre, Speaker elect, addressing the Lords Commissioners, said: My Lords, I have to acquaint your Lordships that, in obedience to Her Majesty's commands, and in the exercise of their undoubted privilege, Her Majesty's faithful Commons have proceeded to the election of a Speaker, and that their choice has fallen upon me. Deeply impressed with a sense of my own unworthiness, I now submit myself for Her Majesty's gracious approbation.
The LORD CHANCELLORMr. Shaw Lefevre, we are commanded by Her Majesty to assure you that Her Majesty is satisfied of your ample sufficiency to discharge the important duties which Her faithful Commons have elected you to perform, and that Her Majesty most fully approves and confirms their choice.
MR. SPEAKERMy Lords, I bow with all humility to Her Majesty's Royal will and pleasure. It now becomes my duty, in the name and on the behalf of the Commons of the United Kingdom, to lay claim, by humble petition to Her Majesty, to all their ancient and undoubted rights 14 and privileges; more especially to 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 will be pleased to place the most favourable construction upon all their proceedings. For myself, I humbly entreat that any error which may be committed may be imputed to me alone, and not to Her Majesty's faithful Commons.
The LORD CHANCELLORMr. Speaker, we have it further in command from Her Majesty to inform you that Her Majesty most readily confirms all the rights, liberties, and privileges which hare ever been granted to or conferred upon Her faithful Commons, either by Her Majesty or by any of Her Royal predecessors. With respect to yourself, Sir, although Her Majesty is sensible you will stand in need of no such indulgence, we are commanded to assure you that Her Majesty will ever put the most favourable construction on your words and actions, as well as on those of Her faithful Commons.
§ Then the Commons withdrew.
§ House adjourned to Monday next.