HL Deb 12 January 1886 vol 302 cc1-4

THE LORD CHANCELLOR acquainted the House, That Her Majesty, not thinking fit to be personally present here this day, 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 (Lord Halsbury); The LORD PRESIDENT OE THE COUNCIL (Viscount Cranbrook); The EARL OF IDDESLEIGH (First Lord of the Treasury); The EARL OF COVENTRY (Captain of the Corps of Gentlemen at Arms); and The VISCOUNT BARRINGTON (Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard)—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 Commis- sioners desire their immediate Attendance in this House, to hear the Commission read."

Who being come;

The LORD CHANCELLOR said— "My Lords, and Gentlemen of the House of Commons, "HER MAJESTY, not thinking fit to be present here to-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 the 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, and this will more fully appear by the Letters Patent themselves, which will be now read.

Then the said Letters Patent were read by the Clerk. And then

The LORD CHANCELLOR said— "My Lords, and Gentlemen, "We have it in command from Her Majesty to let you know, that Her Majesty will, as soon as the Members of your House shall be sworn, declare the causes of Her calling this Parliament; and it being necessary that a Speaker of the House of Commons shall 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.

PRAYERS.

The Lord Chancellor—Singly, in the first place, took the Oath at the Table.

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 Twenty-third Parliament of the United Kingdom: The same was ordered to lie on the Table.

Certificate of the Election of Sixteen Representative Peers for Scotland—Delivered, and read as follows:—

Several Lords—Took the Oath.

CLERK OF THE PARLIAMENTS—The Lord Chancellor informed the House that Her Majesty had been pleased to appoint, by Her Letters Patent dated the 26th day of December last, Henry Graham, Esquire, to the office of Clerk of the Parliaments, vacant by the death of Sir William Rose, K.C.B., the late Clerk of the Parliaments: Patents read; and the said Henry Graham then made the prescribed declaration (which declaration is set down in the Roll amongst the oaths of the great officers), and took his seat at the Table.

The Earl of Buckinghamshire—Sat first in Parliament after the death of his grandfather.

Several Lords—Took the Oath.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales—Singly took the Oath.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh—Singly took the Oath.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn—Singly took the Oath.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge—Singly took the Oath.

Several Lords—Took the Oath.

House adjourned at Four o'clock, till To-morrow, Two o'clock.

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