THE PARLIAMENT, which had been Prorogued in the usual form from the 16th day of August to the 2nd day of November; and thence to the 30th day of November; was now commanded to assemble on the 5th day of December for Despatch of Business by Proclamation, as follows:—
§ "BY THE QUEEN—A PROCLAMATION.
§ "VICTORIA R.
§ "Whereas Our Parliament stands prorogued to Saturday the Thirtieth Day of November instant: We, by and with the Advice of Our Privy Council, hereby issue Our Royal Proclamation, and publish and declare, that the said Parliament be further prorogued to Thursday the 2 Fifth Day of December One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight; and we do hereby further, with the Advice aforesaid, declare Our Royal Will and Pleasure that the said Parliament shall, on the said Thursday the Fifth Day of December One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight, assemble and be holden for the Despatch of divers urgent and important Affairs; And the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, and the Commissioners for Shires and Burghs of the House of Commons, are hereby required and commanded to give their Attendance accordingly, at Westminster, on the said Thursday the Fifth Day of December One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
§ "Given at Our Court at Windsor, this Twenty-seventh Day of November in the Year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight, and in the Forty-second Year of Our Reign.
§ "God save the Queen."
3§ And the PARLIAMENT having met accordingly, the Session was opened by Commission.
§ THE HOUSE OF LORDS being met;
§
THE LORD CHANCELLOR acquainted the House,
That it not being convenient for Her Majesty to be personally present here this day, She has been pleased to cause a Commission under the Great Seal to be prepared, in order to the holding of this Parliament.
Then Five of the LORDS COMMISSIONERS—namely, The LORD CHANCELLOR; The LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (The Duke of Richmond and Gordon); The LORD PRIVY SEAL (The Duke of Northumberland); The LORD STEWARD (Earl Beauchamp); and The LORD SKELMERSDALE—being in their Robes, and seated on a Form placed between the Throne and the Woolsack, commanded the Gentleman 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."
§ And the COMMONS being at the Bar, with their Speaker:—The Commission was read by the Clerk:—Then