HL Deb 01 May 1857 vol 145 cc12-3

Who being come,

MR. EVELYN DENISON

said,

My Lords,

I have to acquaint your Lordships that, in obedience to Her Majesty's commands, Her Majesty's faithful Commons, in the exercise of their undoubted right and privilege, have proceeded to the election of a Speaker, and that their choice has fallen upon myself. I now present myself at your Bar, and submit myself with all humility to Her Majesty's gracious approbation.

Then THE LORD CHANCELLOR

said,

Mr. Denison,

We are commanded by Her Majesty to assure you that Her Majesty is fully sensible of your zeal for the public service, and of your ample sufficiency to discharge the important duties which Her faithful Commons have selected you to discharge, and Her Majesty does most readily approve of and confirms you as their Speaker.

Then MR. SPEAKER

said,

My Lords,

With the most profound respect and gratitude I bow to Her Majesty's command; And it is now my duty, in the name and on the behalf of the Commons of the United Kingdom, to lay claim, by humble Petition, to their undoubted rights and privileges, especially to freedom from arrest and molestation for their persons and servants, to freedom of speech in debate; and to free access to Her Majesty whenever occasion shall require; and that the most favourable construction shall be put upon all their proceedings. And I have humbly to pray, on my own behalf, that any error that may occur in the discharge of these duties may be imputed to me alone, and not to Her Majesty's faithful Commons.

Then THE LORD CHANCELLOR

said,

Mr. Speaker,

We have it further in command to inform you, that Her Majesty most readily confirms all the rights and privileges which have been ever granted to or conferred upon Her faithful Commons by any of Her Royal Predecessors.

With respect to yourself, Sir, though Her Majesty is sensible that you stand in no need of any such assurance, we are commanded to assure you that Her Majesty will ever put the most favourable construction upon your words and actions.

Then the Commons withdrew.

Several Lords took the oaths.

The Duke of Norfolk took the oath prescribed by the Act 10th Geo. IV. to be taken by Peers professing the Roman Catholic religion.

The Right Honourable Charles Shaw Lefevre, having been created Viscount Eversley, was (in the usual manner) introduced, and took the oaths.

House adjourned at a quarter past Four o'clock, to Monday next, quarter to Four o'clock.