Lords Sitting of 30 April 1857

Preamble
THE SIXTEENTH PARLIAMENT of the United Kingdom was dissolved by Proclamation on the 21st March, and at the same time writs were ordered to be issued for calling a new Parliament, which writs were made returnable on Thursday the 30th April; on which day the Parliament so called met for Despatch of Business.
The PARLIAMENT was opened by Commission.
The HOUSE of PEERS being met,
THE LORD CHANCELLORacquainted the House, That HER MAJESTY, not thinking fit to be personally present here this day, had been pleased to cause a Commission to be issued under the Great Seal, in order to the opening and holding of this Parliament.
Then Five of the Lords Commissioners, namely, The LORD CHANCELLOR, The LORD PRIVY SEAL (the Earl of Harrowby), The LORD STEWARD (Earl Spencer), The LORD STANLEY of ALDERLEY (President of the Board of Trade), and The DUKE of ARGYLL (Postmaster General), being in their robes, and seated on a form placed between the Throne and the Woolsack, commanded
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the Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod to let the Commons know "The Lords Commissioners desire their immediate attendance in this House, to hear the Commission read."
Who being come;
The LORD CHANCELLORsaid—
"My Lords and Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
"HER MAJESTY not thinking fit to be present here this day in Her Royal Person, hath been pleased, in order to the opening and holding of this Parliament, to cause Letters Patent to be issued under Her Great Seal, constituting us and several other Lords therein named Her Commissioners, to do all things, in Her Majesty's name, on Her part necessary to be performed in this Parliament: This will more fully appear by the Letters Patent themselves, which must now be read."
Then the said Letters Patent were read by the Clerk.
Then the LORD CHANCELLORsaid, My Lords and Gentlemen, we have it in command from Her Majesty to let you know, That as soon as the Members of both Houses shall be sworn, the causes of Her Majesty's calling this Parliament will

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be declared to you; and, it being necessary a Speaker of the House of Commons should be first chosen, it is Her Majesty's pleasure that you, Gentlemen of the House of Commons, repair to the place where you are to sit, and there proceed to the appointment of some proper person to be your Speaker, and that you present such person whom you shall so choose here to-morrow at Two of the clock, for Her Majesty's Royal approbation.
Then the Commons withdrew.
The House was adjourned during pleasure, to unrobe.
The House was resumed.
PRAYERS.
The LORD CHANCELLORsingly, in the first place, at the Table, took the Oaths, and also took and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, pursuant to the Statutes.
Certificate of the Sixteen Peers for Scotland delivered, and read.
Garter King of Arms delivered at the Table of the House (in the usual manner) "A List of the Lords Temporal in the First Session of the Seventeenth Parliament of the United Kingdom."
Ordered that the said List do lie on the Table.
Several Lords took the Oaths.
The Lord Kenmare took the Oath prescribed by Act 10th Geo. IV. to be taken by Peers professing the Roman Catholic religion.
House adjourned at half-past Four o'clock till To-morrow Two o'clock.