§ THE NINETEENTH PARLIAMENT of the United Kingdom, which had been prorogued successively from the 31st day of July, 1868, to the 8th day of October; thence to the 26th day of November; was dissolved by Proclamation on the 11th day of November: by which Proclamation, also, new "Writs were ordered to be issued for the calling a new Parliament; which Writs were made returnable on Thursday the 10th day of December; on which day it 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, 2 has 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 PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (The Earl de Grey and Ripon), The LORD PRIVY SEAL (The Earl of Kimberley), The LORD CHAMBERLAIN OF THE HOUSEHOLD (The Viscount Sydney), and The Marquess of Ailesbury (The MASTER OF THE HORSE), being in their Robes, and seated on a Form placed between the Throne and the Woolsack, commanded 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,HER MAJESTY not thinking fit to be present here this day in Her Royal Person, hath been pleased, in order to the 3 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. And 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 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 Choice of some proper Person to be your Speaker; and that you present such Person, whom you shall so choose, here, To-morrow, at two o'clock, for Her Majesty's Royal Approbation.
§ Then the Commons withdrew.
§ The Right Honourable Sir William Page Wood, Knight, having been appointed Lord Chancellor, and being present—Sat Speaker.
§ House adjourned during pleasure.
§ House resumed.
§ PRAYERS.
§ ROLL OF THE LORDS—Garter King of Arms attending, delivered at the Table (in the usual Manner) a List of the Lords Temporal in the First Session of the Twentieth Parliament of the United Kingdom: The same was Ordered to lie on the Table.
§ Certificate of the Election of Fifteen Representative Peers for Scotland, certifying also with respect to the Sixteenth Peer that the Votes for The Earl of Kellie and The Lord Rollo were equal—Delivered, and read.
§ Several Lords—Took the Oath.
§ House adjourned at half past Four o'clock, till To-morrow, Two o'clock.